My thoughts exactly. I watched this for Seo Kang Joon (who did not disappoint) but found myself fast forwarding through the last 3 episodes just to get to the end. The story wandered all over, the villainess became a caricature and the “romance” was blah. The Quiznos product placement was blatant and jarring especially in one of the final scenes as you mentioned. I won’t even add this to my completed list.
Out of curiosity, I have been noticing several dramas on mdl get
For me the storytelling, direction and cinematography today seem rushed and poorly planned. I’m rewatching Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo and that walk in the snow at the end of episode 5 makes me realize what I’ve been missing. It’s a beautifully written scene, the dialogue says so little but conveys so much and each shot is exquisitely filmed. I do think the quantity of Kdramas has increased, but the quality has declined.
I have watched both and prefer the Korean version. Lee Joon Gi’s performance is very charismatic.
I have not read the original work, so if you are a fan of the C version, you may not like the K version. I suggest watching the first 3 episodes of the K version and stop if you’re getting a bad vibe. At least you will see what all the buzz is about. (Viki is only releasing 5 episodes a week so as of 3/21 there are only 10 episodes available.)
I have watched both and prefer the Korean version. Lee Joon Gi’s performance is very charismatic.
I watched the Korean one first, then the Chinese shortly after. Since the K version is only 20 episodes, the story is more condensed, but all the plotting and tragedy is still there.
Thank you! I completely agree with you—trust in so many Kdramas is portrayed as if a handsome face is enough…
The fact that this drama currently sits at an 8.4 rating on MDL will just reinforce to young writers and producers that this type of story sells. I will continue to search for dramas with depth, so I hope you will keep reviewing. There are certain reviewers I look for-those who critique all aspects of the drama and aren’t just swept away by the visuals. I will look for your reviews in the future.
Finally someone listed all the things that bothered me about this drama. Thank you! I started with high hopes because I really liked the cast, but even a good cast can’t overcome an awful script. I did not find the ml cute or romantic. Maybe he can make puppy eyes, but that doesn’t excuse ghosting the fl for 5 years without an explanation and then expecting to resume their relationship. And how could the fl lead trust someone like that? I saw no reason for them to get back together except that the writer insists. I did think Kim Jae Wook turned in a good performance as the older brother, but in the end that was not enough to keep me watching. I kept waiting for the story to improve, but as the episodes went on I got annoyed with all the characters. In the end, I dropped it. I don’t necessarily expect reality from Kdramas, but I do expect believability.
Thank you for reading. I posted my review early because I saw some misleading and even lies in some of the negative…
When I saw some of those comments like “sociopath “ and “misogynistic” I wondered if I was watching the same drama. Perfect Match was a delight and I have added it to my rewatch list. Thank you again for doing it justice in your review.
Thank you for your excellent review that reflects all the intricacies of this drama. I loved it from the beginning and wondered why it was getting negative reviews. I also dislike reviews posted as “Completed” when the drama is still ongoing. So thank you for pointing that out. I will look for more of your reviews in the future.
Wow, thank you for your hard work. It must have been so difficult only choosing one recommendation for each genre. I was looking for a good historical. Longest Day in Chang’an now goes into my plan to watch list.
Thank you for your review. I’m at the village arc and already having second thoughts about finishing this drama. I really like LXY, but even his great acting isn’t enough to overcome the disintegrating plot. Now I’m reading reviews and comments from those who finished this and I’m not going to spend 15 more hours torturing myself for another unhappy ending.
I did think Kim Jae Wook turned in a good performance as the older brother, but in the end that was not enough to keep me watching. I kept waiting for the story to improve, but as the episodes went on I got annoyed with all the characters.
In the end, I dropped it. I don’t necessarily expect reality from Kdramas, but I do expect believability.