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Interesting historical family saga
The story of ink in the Ming Dynasty was interesting. Learning about the process, artistry and prestige such a commodity was during those times is similar to stories of silk. China really guarded their secrets. interesting also to watch the Japanese/ Chinese conflict.coming from a western background and new to Chinese drama I enjoy the historical content. I don’t know if the story was historical accurate or not but each scene seem to convey a natural and multidimensional interaction between family and community over the years that was believable.
the only characters I didn’t like as I found them too one dimensional was fourth Aunt and the father Tian. all actors were complex and interesting and the supporting characters provided the depth for main characters to shine. Tian Bangchan should have been billed as the main character because (apart from Li Ying) he was the main character and villain ( driving the plot)
I also enjoyed the fact that this story focused on the determination and success of a woman (not sure if it would have been possible during the Ming Dynasty) and how her family worried and encouraged her.
maybe this drama should not have been billed a romance as on that front it was disappointing especially the ending. I fact I deducted a whole point due to the ending. I wanted clear closure and happy ever after ending after so much angst, hardship and sadness that went of for previous 40 hours of watching. I was drained.
at time the story drifted and some scenes were really drawn out. for me the chief complaint was the length of the drama. I often fast forward through many scenes eg the whinging by Aunt or father Tian and son colluding or seling off the daughter were repetitive.
flashback scenes were also overdone.
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Seriously Boring ?
i felt the frustration of dating and stress being in Korea society where status, income and family matters more than compatabilty and companionship.The script and dialogue was boring and often awkward. the overall feeling of the drama seemed meloncolc (not romantic comedy). Was it just the acting by leads Han Ji Mn, Park Sung Hoon and Lee Ki Taek and others or the script?
FL Han Ji Min seems to play angry, sad, arrogant, immature, stiff and uptight roles. This was the same personality type as in Love Scout and Behind Uour Touch. She seems incapable of having chemistry with her costars even in a happy situation she has a fake laugh and forced smile. At 40 + this is not good acting.
ML Park Sung Hoon’s character was also a bit strained but he knew what he wanted. But who goes on a blind date and at the first meeting talks about marriage? unrealistic. furthermore who sits back and waits while the person he likes goes on multiple blind dates and several dstes with another man. Does this ever happen. I’m not one for jealousy but seriously he acted like a door mat. I’m sure this was how the script was written’cliche’ triangle romance. But seriously this was not acceptable.
The second leads were happily ‘in love’ but they split up because 2FL was on a dating spp??? Scenario was opposite to first leads and it felt like conservative moralising, which became a real turnoff.
Meeting the mum was excrutiating !!
The best bit was the end. scenery of Seoul in background was beautiful.
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Nothing new and weak female characters
It was okay, overly dramatic in parts - with so many people screaming. There are some nice stories of the people living in an island community but the central story overall was flat. Unfortunately, it was the lack of anything new, the same empty shells where one is not entitled to happy, they must feel guilty and sorry for something. Always the same entitled politicians who want kudos but are incompetent and corrupt and sexual encounters gone wrong. We live in the 21 Century and censorship of sexual content especially contraception has done a real disservice in this drama.However the worse part of the drama (for-me) is the way women characters, particularly the female lead, is written. The character is a cliche that is they are educated, paragons of virtue, well liked, kind, but at their core selfish and self centred and righteous. They are usually consciously or unconsciously desperate for love, hiding hurt and loss, wanting their own way without compromising but expect the men in their lives to treat them as no 1 priority. Even at the drama’s end, there is little change or growth just a realisation that they have a great green flag of a boyfriend and maybe he’s the one.
At least our ML - Dr Do stuck to his principles and believed he was a doctor first even if others thought he should put his girlfriend first. 🤨 his character gradually heals, learns heaps, becomes more competent and grows and like and good ML he becomes a hero. The other ML are too good to be true (no faults). They might be young but mature and reliable and even understanding when treated badly.
All actors did a reasonable job. Given the script and direction. The scenery was beautiful.
Not enough good points in this story to raise this story above okay. The k drama romance cliches are just too overwhelming and so annoying for any lasting enjoyment to be had.
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Strong female lead and great chemistry
Love this drama have watched it three times already since it was released.No sappy, crying, or cute female here. no damsel in distress needing a white knight to pull her out of drudgery.
This drama will make you feel like life is worth living on your own terms. definitely not your regular k drama. this is one reason why I am glad Netflix has been producing k drama. the sad cliche romances in K dramas are getting annoying. I am even starting to enjoy the Chinese dramas better as the female leads are so much more interesting and mature.
ML was also very good. A bit arrogant and aloof at the start but ready to acknowledge that sometimes a woman can compete with a man on a level playing field. Loved how many of her male colleagues came to support this unique woman at the time of crisis. despite their misogyny they were green flags for me as they stood up for her character and values.
The supporting actors were also fantastic.
stunt scenes were great and overall I laughed and enjoyed this drama every time I watched it.
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A good story ruined as it was too slow and drawn out.
This drama initially annoyed me so much I dropped it and went back while waiting for other dramas to drop. The drama is so very slow and boring In parts that it becomes difficult to watch without hitting the Fast Forward button.The leads have an awful experience growing up and at least the first 10-12 episodes focus on the period when the lead characters are growing up in the 90s. The abuse and neglect by their parents is hard to watch. As the older brother, Chen (ML) does heavy lifting when it comes to protecting and providing a safe home for Miao (FL). As a result Miao (for me) becomes a somewhat annoying helpless female i”but when she returns to Teng city 6 years later she is stronger but still demanding and secretive. The twists and turns as her role starts to gradually reveal itself in episodes 12 onwards is gripping. This is where the drama really starts to develop and become watchable. The love story and chemistry between Chen and Miao is the routine push pull and distracting third parties creating intentional misunderstandings. While some may see this as a main storyline I enjoyed the side plot more and the love story is complementary.
Teng city is a gritty poor environment which is a good change from the glamorous settings of Shanghai and Beijing etc. Chen has been recruited into a world of crime and is trying to break free by running his own small business. The pace is slow and raw. The head gangster (Zhang Bin) is menacing in his calm emotions, and manipulating those around him. He was mesmerising. There are some loud aggressive types but the quiet boss of the underworld is disturbing as his threats are so subtle that one wonders if it is really a threat or good advice.
The three lead actors Song Wei Long, Zhang Ji Yi and Zhou Tie play their roles brilliantly.
Production was generally good and supporting characters never overshadowed the main characters but provided the necessary context for them. I think the Director overused the ‘quiet’ reflection scenes, drawn out scenes such as sickness, death and burial of Miao’s mother and memory flashbacks that contributed to the dragging slow pace of the drama.
Overall I think this drama would have been better if kept to 20 episodes rather than the 32episodes. If it wasn’t so slow and drawn out I would have given a 9.5.
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Mature, unique and fun to watch
Filing for LoveI really enjoyed this drama/ rom com. It is a much more mature drama than the sickly sweet overdone romances , first love and teen bulling , angst ridden child hood cliches that seem to constantly bombard the k drama scene in the last 12 months. For me the story was unique and refreshing.
The world of corporate politics never looked so sexy and scandalous. I don’t know if Korean companies actually audit ‘Public Morality’ or not but it is an interesting concept from a westerner’s perspective. While people having affairs at work is not acceptable, people are more often or not given their privacy unless the affair has secondary misdemeanours directly affecting others (discrimination) or financial loss to the company. The idea of a hot line to audit to report affairs or the release of ambiguous photos to staff / management generally seems more like invasion of privacy and defamation. Drama Touched upon this but not followed up this issue unfortunately.
I sometimes cringed at how intrusive Audit and colleagues pried into people’s lives especially when no wrongdoing was evident or found. I also was disgusted by how quickly the team and others condemned and gossiped about their colleagues without knowing the truth. Is emotional cheating a thing if not acted upon? Lots of morally questionable behaviour to think about.
The Acting by all characters were brilliant. The characters were intelligent, real and generally likeable. Even Secretary xx was more pitiful rather than a malicious horrible despised character. The chemistry between Gong Myoung and Shin Hae Sun was believable and their first kiss is just how I imagine and remember attraction and desire to be. Their relationship developed in a modern way based on partnership and shared goals. They were both experienced in previous relationships and this showed. As a result it felt balanced rather than an immature one of pushing and pulling and demanding perfection but not giving it.
The pace and stories underpinning each episode were all intriguing and kept me watching without hitting a fast forward button.
Episode 11 jump 3 months annoyed me at first but led to a new case after the fallout from previous case.
Episode 12 wrapped up loose ends nicely. For me it was not rushed but a satisfying conclusion.
Congratulations to all the crew and cast for a great drama.
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disappointed
Despite a strong start in episode 1 & 2, giving us an introduction to the lead couple and their relationship and kidnapping, the next 4 - 5 episodes were a bit difficult to stay focused.Whether the director intended to portray the lead couple with a flat and distant chemistry I’m not sure but to me they never seemed to be a plausible couple that were once in love with a strong partnership who are now dealing with marital problems. However the tension in their marriage was evident. A lot of the scenes were slow and short focusing mainly on past and current conflicts in the hospital workplace and dealing with the kidnapping. It was if we were given short glimpses rather than the story unfolding. Some of it didn’t flow logically.
There were a few holes in the story line / direction. The most annoying one being the police, even when they knew what the kidnapper looked like, didn’t seem to be out chasing him. The uncovering of the who and the reason behind the kidnapping wasn’t done by police only Dr Kang.
The storyline is compelling and the acting superb. Kim Dae Mung is one scary evil man and manic. Namkoong Min (The Husband) is brilliant deadpan face - Slowly watching and observing. Lee Seol was also very convincing as the kidnapped wife but her support for Kang Tae Ju after the kidnapping didn’t fit with the backstory and character (spoilt rich daddy’s girl) revealed.
I thought the true mastermind behind the kidnapping was obvious right from the beginning. But was wrong he was only an accomplice. The real evil mastermind besides the rogue psychotic kidnapper isn’t apparent until episode 11. Maybe it is the fact that K Dramas keep repeating the same old troupes that many will fail into the trap of jumping to early conclusions.
The backstory of the couple (Dr Kang Tae Ju and Dr Ko Se Yun) was explained slowly with full detail kept until episode 11. The backstory of other characters was revealed later in episode 9 plus and somewhat lacking this for me made watching the drama frustrating. This meant that the motives behind the supporting characters (apart from the obvious greed) didn’t explain the level of violence and brutality or even justify the kidnapping. The criminals were absolutely psychotic and the conspiracy and the masterminds were overdone. Support characters (in the hospital) with suggestive attraction and petty jealousy didn’t add to the suspense. The police were predictably incompetent.
While the story and action did move at a reasonable pace after episode 8, excessive time was spent on repeated memory flash backs. The middle episodes especially were slow and repetitive. The connection between the mastermind and accomplices was unclear until episode 9, by which time I was tired of the repeat conflict between criminals and Dr Kang Tae Ju. These additional interactions and poorly judged actions by Dr Kang just drew out a story that was getting old and boring.
The drama could have been 10 episodes and enjoyable without repetition of mistakes, lack of judgement and repeated mistakes, a tighter script, and less people being unnecessarily part of the background conspiracy.
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Too long and drawn out scenes
I really liked the story from the the background of the main characters and the dynamics and intrigue of both the mortal and spiritual realms.However many scenes were drawn out too long and this made the whole drama very slow and way too long. it could have easily been condensed into 30 episodes without loosing its charm, depth and character.
I loved the acting by all actors. Arthur Chen was a mix of a cheesy and sentimental fool who portrayed the deep commitment really well which was a surprise.
Dilmah perfectly portrayed a cold and intelligent woman of integrity which is how I would imagine a person without senses might come across. the transition to a playful deeply emotional person once experiencing senses such as taste and the love of a man willing to give his all for her was believable.
While I was moved by the romance it was not passionate nor did it exude chemistry. This romance started slow and deepened throughout becoming achingly beautiful.
I cried and cried. not many CDramas have made me feel such despair. 😞
The loss of friends, comrades, family and love ones felt by all characters was truly memorable and well acted by all the actors.
CGI and othe special effects were really well produced to make the fantasy world like magic but overdone when used in the real world. so much beautiful landscape naturally available looked and felt fake and not appealing when characters were in the mortal realm.
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Story was interesting but…
The story of Overdo was interesting. Four prominent families all vying for power, prestige and the institutions of their own ideals.the backdrop is the turmultuous time of the China Republican era. I’m not sure how historically accurate this drama is but there appears to be some very corrupt people around at that time all with bad motives.
Our heroines are girls that have been kidnapped by the elite, installed in an orphanage and abused , trafficked and killed for amusement. they escaped and plan revenge for justice.
Our heroes are brothers. Two by blood and one, due to a hospital mistake was adopted, Two were treated well by the parents (Quinq yu and Bose) even if their destiny was somewhat controlled by a wicked and selfish mother.
Quinq yi was the outcast abused by his adopted father and shunned and abused by his biological mother. his life goes from one bad event to another. despite that his older brother shielded him to some extent and he became a doctor. but ruthless and corrupt men in the peripherals of high society are trying to bring the family down and take their place.
Love is found and lost, found again and lost again through circumstances and in the pursuit of revenge, justice and ideals. Betrayal is inevitable as one or more tries to keep the promises to ancestors, friends and family and protect their loved ones.
Many have thought Qinqyu was a doormat. but I don’t. he understands the hardships and evil behind the situation he and SuSu have faced. maybe not everything but enough to know she has her reasons and that it . may not preclude a love for him.
they will all team up from time to time to fight the bad guys but will love and hate each other out of necessity.
the main actors were brilliant but many supporting actors were just too dramatic for my liking.
The production was not the greatest. fight scenes were generally poorly executed. backdrops were so fake looking.
The worse for me were the continual memory flashbacks and a rehash at the end of what life might have been.
the ending was so painful to watch. it was left open which is okay but so cringe worthy.
the music was repetitive.
such a shame this show didn’t live up to expectations. the director and producers let some very fine acting skills go to waste.
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A depressing and pathetic waste of time
Another slow drama with young people suffering trauma. Ha Ran (FL) from loosing both parents and Chan (ML) from loosing his mum and having an overbearing father.On top of that we have a case of amnesia, hidden identity, misunderstandings, self loathing and self flagellation (metaphorical) and so so many tears - so many cliches and so oh hum. Can’t writers come up with something different?
FL so narrow minded as if she is the only one in the world suffering. She knows that the ML has experienced trauma and the physical and mental damage that is ongoing but ignores it because of her victim mentality and needs and unyielding standards are all that matter- all the supposed growth in character was just a facade. Being open to forgiveness, even of one’s self, is not big in Korean dramas.
The second couple (younger sister ) and Mr Yeon were a better couple and she was the better female in love much more understanding, happy and mature despite her youth and impetuous behaviour.
It was obvious that the boy Han Ra thought she fell in love with (what a joke! She had just strung him along as she was more focused on her own interests ) was loosing interest. No intrigue it was so obvious. All very sad.
The show was so depressing and struggled to watch especially at the beginning. It had repeated flash back memories that just kept piling up and dragging it out. Why do I allow myself to be dragged into these quagmires?
Doesn’t anyone in Korea want happy, normal and real grown up relationships? Can Korean drama not come up with a formula that gives characters real opportunities to grow create sustaining relationships through shared goals, achievements and actions?
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