This review may contain spoilers
Sweet and Satisfying
Loved the drama from start to finish! Minor spoilers.Ji Eum has the memory of all her past lives but the person she most wants to meet is Seo Ha from her 18th life which was cut short. Meanwhile he is still reeling from the loss he suffered from the accident years later. Though I am not sure how much of it was taken from webtoon, I hear it's not an exact replica. Irrespective of that, it is cinematically beautiful with captivating performances by all actors and beautiful OST to set the mood.
The added mystery was a nice touch towards the end which kept things fresh. The pace might feel a little on the slower side but every minute was enjoyable. Loved the way the story portrayed all the relationships that Ban Ji Eum had and both the highs and the lows of carrying the burden of past lives. It was also interesting to see how she used it to her advantage in the present life.
Loved the completely different character portrayed by Ahn Bo Hyun compared to the one he had in Military Prosecutor Doberman. I love when actors can convincingly perform different types of roles well. The child actor Kim Shi Ah also stood out for her performance as the young Ju Won. This was my first proper introduction to Shin Hye Sun and although I had my doubts at first, I fell in love with her character when she is standing outside her mother's mom and reminiscing about the relationship they shared. Such a tragically beautiful moment that it brought tears to my eyes.
I also loved the back and forth between Cho Won and Do Yoon. Will they? Won't they? And the late but memorable entry of Minki to add some spice to the plot.
"Juicy Juicy" by Jo Yuri has become one of my favourite OSTs and it got stuck in my head almost as soon as I heard it!
This is a perfectly binge-worthy show that I hope finds more viewers.
If there is something to complain about, it would be that Seo Ha's dream was to renovate his mother's hotel which we didn't quite see finished. And I wish we would have seen some development in his relationship with his father just to tie up everything neatly.
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A mess
I enjoyed the first 4 episodes but the 5th was bizarre. That's when I realised, this show has disjoined stories and many times those plots are just left without explanations of what is going on.I would like to say I'm enjoying the acting but let's be fair, what exactly do the main male leads have to do? The museum owner just looked worried and Dome looked like a deer in highlights or spaced out. The only exception being 1 episode where they were more free to emote. I would say the secondary characters had more range and possibilities because all the action involved them. Again, this is on the writers.
Even though at the end, they explained some of the main mysteries like why Khatha hired Dome and the source of his abilities, it doesn't explain Dome's origin. I can't tell if the story is meant to end here or they are suggesting a continuation. Then again, I won't watch part 2.
There is a real issue with the writing and directing of the show. I honestly don't know how so many gave this show anything above a 7 with such massive problems. This show is also not interesting enough for me to try to rewatch it in order to understand what I missed.
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This Is How You Make A Show!
Not a SINGLE dull moment! Loved Crash Course In Romance from start to finish! The only flaw, so to speak, is that this is a mixed genre show with A LOT happening and that might not be appealing to everyone who love pure Romance or Rom Com dramas. But there is so much realism and amazing (as well as toxic) relationships and a wholesome storyline that you will be missing out on if you skip this drama.What I loved:
The main plot revolves around a 30s-40s couple, their connection, their enemies to lovers journey, and their supportive nature towards each other. It's a couple that is perfect for each other. It's a bit of a slow burn romance.
The female lead's relationships:
- First with her sister's daughter who was abandoned and has been raising her in such a pure and loving way. And that upbringing has made her daughter a strong person.
- Secondly, with her brother who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. He works in the store along with her best friend. Again, it's such a supportive and understanding relationship. One can imagine how she would have had to also raise him after their mother passed early on.
- And thirdly, her friendship with her amazing and supportive best friend who runs a side dish store with her. Both are super-caring towards each other and this is a friendship we all wish we had. The best sismance!
We also see the daughter's friendships and how much they care for each other. But we also see insecurity because of the unusual family she has and has been judged in the past for.
The rivalry to bromance between the students was heart-warming.
The crazy competitive education system and how it drives students but especially their mothers bat-**** crazy.
The mystery element and the whole back story. It's a tragic one.
Normally I would write about what I disliked but I genuinely can't think of anything wrong with this show. I don't know what to criticise which is RARE. Maybe more romance would be my only expectation.
The show is a 10/10 for me! I would definitely rewatch and recommend to others!
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Surprisingly good
When I read the title, it had immediately caught my attention and curiosity but watching some promo clips made it feel very cheesy. I thought it isn't something I could possibly enjoy. But because I've liked the Male lead (Dylan Wang)'s work in the past, I decided to give it a go and binged the entire show in 3 days.The story isn't very complex which is a good thing for first timers like me being introduced to a new fantasy world. A devil (Dong Fang Qing Cang) is held prisoner by fairies for 30,000 years. An ordinary orchid fairy unintentionally gets locked in with him. The fated meeting results in both escaping but unable to part ways. Thus beginning the journey of their love.
The opening theme has stunning illustrations with hauntingly beautiful music. The wardrobe, sets, CGI, all add to the beauty of this show. The work gone into producing this shows. The cast have performed brilliantly especially while varying their emotions and depicting different personalities. The male lead did do the superior job in this regard. The second Male lead is also astounding. The plot moves fairly quickly and the episodes are edited to cut off at a critical point in the conversation or story which makes you want to jump from episode to episode.
The OST is wonderful. The only issue being that it's hard to read the lyrics and the dialogues at the same time. There are a few points where the story slows down considerably for effect and I had to forcefully move it along due to my impatience.
I don't have experience with this genre in cdramas but I definitely want to give more a chance thanks to Love Between Fairy and Devil.
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Epic journey
Someday or One Day was a surprise watch as I went in with little expectations or idea about the show other than it being really good. It exceeded my expectations.Time travel is more complicated than one might think because of the unpredictability of the travel and return as well as the outcome of interference. This makes it easy to mess up a good plot. Fortunately this Taiwanese drama manages to neatly take us on this journey and add a new dimension to the story telling through the concept of "body swap" or perhaps body inhabitation would be more accurate. Everything is connected and intricate.
I loved the complexity of the show but also the simplicity and unpredictability.
Though some might consider the show to have a slow start, I was hooked from the start and didn't feel that. Most of the questions that I had were answered or I figured them out as I watched. The sequence of events are fairly easy to follow despite time jumps because you are prepared for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters and each contributed to their own perception of the world which I loved. Getting a glimpse into each person's lived experience and being allowed to understand the characters is what attaches you to them and feel what they are feeling.
If you love time travel shows with mystery and romance and don't mind tearing up a bit then this show is ideal for you.
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Special in every way
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is one of the most unique shows I've seen in recent times. It is certainly not your ordinary law drama.Depicting the imaginative world through the eyes of this bright rookie attorney obsessed with whales was insightful and brilliant. She is more than her diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Along with sharing the perspectives of caregivers and other relations she develops, the show dares to challenge the ableist views society has towards such individuals in an innocent and honest manner. The animation of EAW adds an element of fun to what could have been a very serious topic.
"Though my life is unusual and peculiar, it is valuable and beautiful."
If you are looking for a heartwarming drama which also presents how attorneys deal with moral dilemmas in cases of social justice then this is certainly a drama for you.
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This review may contain spoilers
Second chances, revenge and intrigue!
If you were given a second chance at life, what would you do differently?Kim Hee Woo is a talented lawyer with an immense sense of justice working at the prosecution office. His desire to bring criminals to justice lands him in peril when he decides to take on a politician, Cho Tae Sab, who sends his personal hitman to end his life. As fate would have it, Hee Woo is brought back to life by a grim reaper for one purpose - take down Cho Tae Sab and make his life hell on Earth. This is where the real story begins.
A lot of people have given a lot of different takes on this show which can be confusing so let me share elements that might help you decide wherher to watch or skip.
What you can expect from the show:
- A methodical and driven main lead working his way to bringing down his target. The story is following him most of the time and his target as the contrast. These two are the main leads.
- Lots of plotting and how these play out.
- Fast pace. Even though the episodes are over an hour long, there is a lot happening and time flies.
- Endearing characters and positive moments.
- Time-jump. You'll also see some back and forth berween the old timeline and the new one. I like how it was done to make the story easier to follow along with.
- Action. The male lead was a boxer in his past life but still no match for his killer. You'll see a lot of martial arts training and fights throughout the show.
- Mild humour. As its mostly a revenge drama, there are not a lot of funny moments but you might still find yourself smiling.
- Lots of famous faces. And a lot of names to remember! From the good to the bad. It was a bit hard to follow since I was watching weekly but might be better if one watches at a stretch. Even when the names were hard to keep track of, enough evidence was given to help you recall or the person was shown in the next instance so one can keep following along.
- A certain amount of realism towards the end. I personally enjoyed it.
What the show lacks:
- Other than the way in which Hee Woo is brought back to life, there is no other fantasy element to the show.
- Romance. If this is important to you, you may not enjoy the show as it is mostly serious.
- Bromance. Though friendships are explored, this is not the focus of the show.
- For a law drama, you won't find moments in courts. It jumps from evidence finding to final result.
- Some prefer a picture perfect ending but that is never how real life works and neither will you find it in this show.
The reason I rated Again My Life a 9 is because every episode was enjoyable. I wanted to keep watching which is what every director aims for. It was interesting to see how the characters were working together as a team towards the same goal. Hee Woo had the advantage of his past life to know whom to bring on board to help him and the lives he can change. Not just his own. Thus making some powerful allies along the way.
There is not a lot that bothers me about the show. The things that do are major spoilers so I will skip them because they are fine within the realm of a show. It also shows that people can be unpredictable. There is some product placement which is a bit funny and awkward at times.
The ending was not disappointing, in my opinion. It was different. And I can appreciate it for what it is.
I hope people give it a shot.
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A well packaged short drama
I had a lot of fun watching this drama. It was certainly not something I expected. There are a lot of tropes likes "it's not what this looks like" and "accidental kiss" but keep watching. It keeps getting better and better.Story revolves around a rich CEO that has a secret. If he holds someone's hand for more than 5 seconds, he will turn into them. It lasts 3 days which makes it extremely inconvenient but then he meets the FL and it turns out her kiss can turn him back instantly.
The story might sound silly but the drama definitely has fun with it and that's what makes it worth watching. There were parts that I couldn't predict which made me like it more.
Besides the main leads, I really liked the brother and the secretary. They did a good job with the story. At no point did I want to speed the story up. And there were even funny scenes I replayed because of how much I was enjoying the drama.
There are minor flaws here and there but worth watching! Do give it a shot.
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Perfect For A Binge
Although the story is quite basic, the execution was done well. The FL is in debt and asked to be a spy at a company. She dresses as a man and wouldn't you know it, her boss develops feelings for her.There are a lot of typical drama tropes in this as well. But I quite enioyed myself. The chemistry is nice and everyone acted well.
But this is one of those dramas where their relationship was hotter before the confession.
It was a fun binge.
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A Bit Disappointing
I enjoyed the premiee. The ML wakes up after an accident missing 10 years of his life's memory and has to rediscover his past. He has difficulty coming to terms with his new living situation and even has to relive some of his old traumas.It started off very interesting but there are some parts which don't make sense. Why did he think he and SaeByeok were enemies and why he couldn't imagine they were together given their past relationship? There is a scene where he was fighting with him 10 years ago but fhat situation was not clarified.
Overall the drama is nice but everything feels a bit dull and muted. There are also things that don't make sense. Like why not have security camera just in case you catch your stalker. Why the police was so incompetent? Why quit your career? Very strange.
There were moments when the episode felt like it was too slow and I had to speed it up. I will probably forget this drama with time unfortunately.
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Skip the Thai version, watch the Japanese drama
I love fantasy and Sci-Fi themes revolving around time manipulation and parallel worlds so that is how I ended up deciding to watch this and I'm so glad I did! I have watched a few Japanese BLs and at most you get are a couple of kisses. I have yet to see one where the NC scenes are so hot. I even blushed a few times.Both MLs are good looking and great actors. The older ML is serious, jealous/protective without going overboard, at times cold and warm with the one he loves. The younger ML is shy and soft spoken. They make a really good pair and their chemistry is fire! I have seen the Thai original and I couldn't even connect to them emotionally the way I did with these two in this drama.
There are many cases of poor direction in the Thai version and the Japanese version fixes all of them. Even the house layout is better in the Japanese drama. A lot of unnecessary moments were removed and majority of the drama focuses on the relationship of our leads. In the Thai drama, I found the younger ML's portrayal very childish and there is a point in ep2 where he climbs on top of the older ML just to look at his injury which is so silly and unnatural. Meanwhile in the Japanese version this moment is changed and shot is a much more natural way with the leads falling on one another during a tug of war over his laundry.
I must say that Ep1 was a bit confusing to me at first and couldn't understand what was going on but the show really got better from mid episode. From ep2 onwards I was hooked!
I enjoyed all the side characters, most of whom I ended up disliking in the Thai version. I like how they explained the mother's backstory and how they resolved the issues with her. A much better conclusion than the Thai drama which was AWFUL.
The OST is really nice and I like the opening theme song. I even enjoyed the older ML's singing.
The few things I disliked were the younger ML going back and forth with his feelings, no clarity on why his friend can read minds, and the boring trope of a mean girl trying to get with one of the leads. This is common to both versions.
There are 2 special episodes that add more depth to the story of the parallel timelines and include the future of the couple. It was quite fun to watch.
I don't understand why people are hating on the Japanese remake. I genuinely found it way better than the original and I would even suggest you skip the Thai version and just watch the Japanese drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Watched the Japanese version first and it put the Thai drama to shame
I read a few of the reviews for this drama and realised my views are entirely different. Starting from the fact that I did NOT enjoy the Thai boys chemistry AT ALL. At times I felt like laughing and other times I was cringing. But let's review all my criticisms with this show properly.The Thai (uncut) and Japanese drama are almost identical plot wise but the Japanese version is superior is many ways. Mostly because of the acting and the way the scenes are shot. Spoilers ahead.
What I disliked:
- The younger ML acts so childish. It was an immediate turnoff. Especially the way he speaks. The other boys and girls (his peers) are not this cringe. This is the main reason I just couldn't get into their relationship. The way he spoke was just awful to hear.
- In ep1, opening scene older ML is hit on his back but he is clenching his stomach after that.
- In ep1/2 older ML wakes up in the hospital after being hit by a car and is able to run all the way to the younger ML's home. Fastest recovery ever!
- There is a scene in ep 2 where the younger ML jumps on top of the ML and was moving around too much to get a look at his scar. Are you being real? Who behaves like this? My friend said he looks like he's looking for lice. Lol! At least that would have been believable! Japan just did this better.
- In one scene, the younger ML is sitting in the cafeteria talking to himself out loud and instead of just doing that, they show him hopping seat to seat back and forth acting as if he is two different people. The most cringe scene! So ridiculous!
- There is a scene where the 2 leads are standing in the middle of the road (crosswalk) and the younger lead is yelling out to him instead of just going closer to talk. Plus he gives this huge speech and I'm like, "you know you could just go closer so if a car comes, you can just die together." My whole focus was on the road and watching to see if any car was going to come.
- Don't get me started on the paper cup scenes. The only way that works is if the string is taut but half the time you'll notice the string is very loose and I doubt that would work unless you both are hearing each other from a close range like the final scene. Not likely to work if you're in two rooms speaking in a soft voice.
- I didn't really enjoy most of the side characters. I only liked a few of them. Because of that I felt like watching a lot of scenes in 2x.
- The date that the 2 MLs go on was so lame. They just spent their entire time on the claw machine and then took pictures in a photo booth and the older guy says it was the best day ever. Come on man. Again this was much better in the Japanese drama.
- The fiancee comes and slaps the younger ML in a cafe and none of the other customers in the background so much so as bat an eyelid. In today's day and age, most people would have immediately picked up their phones and started recording.
- Frankly, I just didn't like the romantic scenes. Again because of the whiny younger ML. Older ML was nice. His acting was decent. But I just didn't see their chemistry and didn't feel their emotions.
- Coming to the mother which a lot of other viewers also complained about. So toxic and bizarre. But the worst part is that the father just shows up at the end and the brother agrees to switch places with the older ML. And also says he'll now marry his fiancee. Are you guys okay? Japan handled this very well.
- The friend who has the superpower - why does he have it?, are there other people with superpowers? - nothing is explained.
- Friend's superpower is exploited by the guy he likes. So casual.
- I hate when a character is looking at something and is becoming more and more horrified or upset and the other character only looks at his face and asks "what's wrong?" instead of looking at what he is looking at. The direction is just weak.
- The video created by the older ML was just too damn long. Also who stopped the recording, sir?
- There is always a nasty girl trying to ruin the relationship. When will they retire this trope?
So what did I even like about this drama?
- The opening theme song is genuinely great.
- The plot concept. I'm a sucker for these types of shows and movies.
- The friends of the two MLs. I liked them the most but mainly the mind-reading friend.
- In the Japanese version, they don't always show what the person is thinking but in the Thai version they did which I liked.
- The older ML acting as multiple versions was nice.
- The other versions of the younger ML who weren't as cringe were okay.
- In comparison to the Japanese version, ep 1 was less confusing and events were easy to understand. Some of the dialogues are also clearer in the Thai version so I only understood a few scenes after watching the original Thai version.
Now there are many reviews mentioning the older ML's stalking. TBH they don't really show much of that so it didn't make much of an impact on me. Plus, other versions of the younger ML were also stalking the older ML, leaving food at his door, hiding behind plants watching him, etc. I didn't see them ever go overboard but I do want to kmow how the older ML knew the younger ML's passcode? That's the only thing that really made me raise my eyebrow. Was it from watching other versions of himself?
If you want to see a good version ofnthis drama, just watch the Japanese drama. The NC scenes are similar. The Thai has one extra scene at the end if I'm right. But I think the Japanese drama scenes are longer.
Overall the plot is decent. I liked the way in which the ML learns of parallel worlds. It was a new concept. But sadly the show was a let down in my opinion.
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Underrated
I trusted those that said this movie is not scary but a scaredy-cat like me got scared numerous times and I had to pause it. The movie doesn't have many jump scares. The slow build-up of horror is what got to me each time. It was quite fun though. I loved the comedy especially. It made me laugh numerous times and that is why I enjoyed it this much.The story isn't exceptional. It is quite a situational horror comedy and the straight faced comedy is truly my style. I genuinely loved the characters, especially the 3 students. The movie also makes you burst out laughing at awkward moments. Again, totally my type of movie.
At the end of the day (I literally watched this in the wee hours of the night), if a horror comedy delivers, it doesn't have to be perfect. And I was thoroughly entertained and will be recommeding it to others.
For true horror lovers, this movie might feel very mild though and may not impress you.
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No Horror No Comedy
The movie is completely overrated. I do dislike zombie genre but I enjoyed Train To Busan, #Alive, All Of Us Are Dead and few others in this genre. I also scare easily so this movie completely fails as a zombie horror flick. It relies completely on it being a comedy and it was terrible at that as well. It feels childish and silly and even dumb.The plot was unique so I will give them points for that and that only. The acting was so-so. To be honest, I disliked the family from the start since they were scammers risking the lives of others for their business.
The movie really has no redeeming qualities from start to finish. A waste of time in my opinion.
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Strong Start, Lost The Way Midway
The first half was quite good. I laughed a lot in the first 4 episodes. It got boring in the second half. I didn't really care for the second female lead's presence. I would have liked more of the friend and sister's stories but they barely got development or screentime later.The show was stolen by Ji Hoon (male version). Whenever Ji Eun appeared, it was just very normal. They gave all the personality to Ji Hoon. Commendable job by the actor, Yoo Jung Hoo. I could see him as a woman. The FL has less of an impact when she is a woman than most of the cast which makes me feel bad for Arin. They didn't build much of a chemistry between the leads. I also think she could have toned down the girlyness a bit more later to show her getting used to behaving more manly like the part when she drives away the stalker. That was her best scene.
The male lead's character was also good as a supportive and understanding boyfriend.
The show lost it's footing when they tried to force in the second female lead. It got more annoying to watch and I started speeding up the show a lot. The ending was okay. Nothing really special which is unfortunate as it had a strong start.
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