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Where this drama truly stands out is in its nail-biting edge of your seat twists and turns. Every episode delivers something surprising and unexpected at a fast pace that will have your heart racing as you watch. These unexpected events keep you guessing all the way till the end of the show so if thriller dramas is what you are looking for then you will find it here. The twists do often connect the coherent dots as the story moves along, even if you don't particular enjoy those dots at times it will still have your emotions on hyperdrive.
Where this drama had trouble was with the romance portion. I don't know if it was a lack of chemistry or not enough scenes to really convince you that the two actually like each other but the romance here was just boring. There were several cute moments in the first few episodes as they get to know each other but then too quickly and without reason the relationship progressed and that forced story line began to feel a bit awkward. The emotionally heavy scenes were not carried well between the couple either which just left you feeling a bit blah about their relationship. There was also too much hopping between worlds that occasionally got confusing and tiring. The ending also did not give me the sense of completion that I was hoping for. Almost like it just wasn't enough of an explanation to make me happy.
Even with its flaws I would still highly recommend you watch this drama as it kept me firmly attached to the screen and continuously guessing.
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The novel arc and romance portion after returning to the real world has topped my list of favorites. The production quality, cinematography, OST, and acting were all fantastic. There was great chemistry between all the characters, fun lines and interactions with little references to other works. There are a couple one dimensional characters in the novel world but it made sense for the story and was delivered well from the actors. The romance was told well and progressed in a way that felt natural and fun.
I do recommend watching this show but be prepared to skip over large sections of the real world sibling power struggle story line because it was overly dramatic and only detracted from the series. There was also a poorly constructed villian in the novel arc that was used as a plot point to force the main characters to confess.
Also be prepared for the obvious and repetitive product placement in this show.
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This review may contain spoilers
I decided to watch this after seeing a lot of the reels from different moments of the show. I grew attached to the characters after seeing them in those little snippets so many times and wanted to watch the show. Unfortunately it felt like the reels that I saw were the best moments of the show. This just did not live up to the hype for me. It was enjoyable enough but missed the mark in other ways. Story: the basis of the story and the title is about how the main female lead Joo Gyung was always called ugly for having an acne filled red face, big glasses, and large eyebrows. She was maliciously bullied in school for her appearance until one day when she was able to transfer schools. At the new school she had learned how to apply makeup and wear contacts which changed her appearance so much that she was then considered a real beauty. Life was dramatically different for her because of the makeup and she was always worried that her true face would be revealed. Of course she meets someone that finds out about her secret and he ends up falling for her and not caring what she looks like with or without makeup. This concept last until about the halfway mark. Then the second half of the drama focuses more on the love triangle of the 3 leads where the 2 male leads are best friends and an unexpected event separates the main couple for years but the secondary lead stays by her side.
In terms of story it has a very simple concept that has been seen many times. My gripe with the concept however is that while makeup can completely transform your face, it can't change the texture so often when they show her without makeup and she has acne but somehow has perfect skin with makeup I tend to roll my eyes. Also when her secret finally gets revealed its like all of a sudden her 'ugly' no makeup appearance is not that different from with makeup. She adds a pair of glasses and her skin is slightly pink but that is it so calling her ugly for that seems offensive. While her new skin care routine would have helped improve her it was still annoying to watch everyone around her act like she was so dramatically different without makeup.
The love triangle. This is one of the shows where I fell hard into second male lead syndrome. While the main male was fine and everything, I still felt myself leaning far more heavily into the second. His character was so endearing and relatable that it is impossible not to like him. And while you understand the ending I actually found that I did not like it very much because it felt like the female lead did not care about his feelings at all. It felt callous since he has stayed beside her for 2 years and they had gotten so close that even all their friends expected him to care for her when she was drunk. But her care of his affection was not handled well at all. While she did not need to return his affection she could have handled it so much better. It left me mostly just feeling sorry for the second male lead all the way up until the end.
Acting: as far as acting goes it was acted fairly well. I was especially drawn to and impressed by Seo Jun. He was by far my favorite character throughout the entire series. The actor portrayed him so well and he was so entertaining to watch in all of his scenes. Su Ho was also acted well and the actor did a good job of transitioning the character from arrogant jerk with a chip on his shoulder to shy and nervous teenager in love for the first time to the more grown up version. The side characters also all held their own and did great. Joo Gyung was the one that got on my nerves the most. The actress often used this baby sounding voice that I really did not like but other than the voice she did act the part well. I also had a very hard time liking the character very much pretty frequently.
This series had several fun and memorable moments but the writing really let the show down. Joo Gyung was a very hard character to truly like for me so this show holds little rewatchability for me.
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best version out of 5
I have seen all five versions of this story and this one is my favorite. This is a complete story that felt fairly believable, with good character growth and appropriate suspense. The production of this drama was done very well making it enjoyable to view and very aesthetically pleasing. The OST was good and the acting was done well by all the actors. If deciding to watch only one version of this story then I would recommend this one but also if you want to watch another version of a familiar story then you won't be disappointed in this one.Like all of them this has slight variations in the story to make it different from the others. It starts off with their relationship being a bit different. They meet and spend time together before the accidental night (versus in all other versions he is drugged and photographed as blackmail). The male lead takes longer to warm up to after their marriage than other versions as well but once he figures out his feelings and makes a decision then he stays firm and true to them. This version also has the best/ most heartwrenching scenes and the male lead really carries those moments very well. You get pretty annoyed with the female lead toward the end because her character growth goes from being too soft and pliable to too stubborn and unreasonable. But the male lead saves it and keeps you watching to see how far he is willing to go.
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Now if I were to compare this to all the other versions available to for you to see then I would say this one is okay but not my favorite. This is most like the Korean version as far as the storyline goes. As with them all there are slight variations in this compared to the others. What I preferred the most with this version is that the female lead was more realistic and likeable. She is soft, a people pleaser, and a push over but in a much more believable way that makes her character feel more fleshed out and not just dumb like some of the other versions have portrayed her as. The male lead is also softer and gentler in this version and his expressions begin showing his emotions much earlier though he is again most like the Korean version of this character. I also really like that he figures out what he wants pretty quickly and sticks firm to it. What I did not like about this version compared to others is that their attraction to each other was almost to quick. There was not enough moments between them to make you truly understand why either is so crazy about the other but thats a small gripe and pretty easy to get over.
If I had to rate this story and say which one I prefer the most it is probably the most recent Chinese version. So if you were going to watch only one I'd probably recommend that one. This one and the Korean version feel about the same as far as enjoyment to me though I do like the main leads in this one more as he is not as eccentric and she is not as boring as the Korean version of their characters. The Japanese version was the worst purely because it was cut short so you don't get the full story. I did like the original Taiwanese version but the end felt too dragged out.
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Weakest remake of them all
First I will look at this drama subjectively by itself even though I am familiar with the story. If you go into this never having seen this story you would just find an average drama. Nothing that stands out but nothing that really make you hate it either. The production is fine, the visuals are nice, the actors did an okay job with the script, and the OST was okay. But honestly none of it was really memorable except that one scene that will break your heart every single time. One of the biggest problems is that the characters were not given time to develop. Aya was such a weak character and you never got a chance to see her grow since this was cut so short. Its length also plays heavily on my ability as a viewer to feel invested or connected to the characters. If you are looking for something short to just pass the time then this could fit the bill though you may end it feeling dissatisfied.This is the fourth version of this story that I have seen and it is the weakest. The length played a heavy role in that. By the intro and outtro you can tell that they had intended or possibly even shot the full show with the same ending as all the other versions but then decided to stop airing the show so it was condensed and the last episode rewritten. Because of this you end on a sour note with no real feeling of closure since the misunderstanding isn't completely explained. Aya was a weaker character in this version and her interactions with both male leads felt forced and awkward because there was no time to create a believable relationship with either one. For the same reason it was also hard to believe Kei's change in feelings because it was like a switch for the purpose of moving the story forward but as a viewer it did not feel genuine since all the interactions up until the abrupt change of heart did not give you enough of a sense of depth in his relationship with Aya.
I watched this out of curiosity since I had seen the 3 previous versions but I would not have if I was not familiar with the story previously.
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Bingeable but not memorable
Written with the most popular historical drama tropes in mind this drama offers a story about a strong but misunderstood male lead and a clever but underestimated female lead that find themselves forced together in a political marriage and must now work together. Ming Tan, the FML, is quick witted but spoiled and Jiang Xu, the ML, is cold and unafraid but falls hard for the female lead and is fiercely protective. Beautifully designed with a generic script this drama is very bingeable. The leads have good chemistry and the plot moves well with good pacing so if you are looking for something light to pass the time then this will definitely hit the spot for you.If you do not like damsels in distress or ever changing personalities that suit the story, however, then you may not find enjoyment in this. While Ming Tan is often presented as independent and clever she is also spoiled and self centered; which suits a daughter born in a noble family as she has never had to really struggle but it can be off putting if you prefer your female leads to be strong minded and able to care for herself and others. But if you enjoy seeing the female lead being constantly rescued then this is for you. If you enjoy a male lead that is presented to be the perfect suitor with pretty much no flaws then again, you will enjoy this. But if you like your men to have some edges and realness to him then Jiang Xu may not be for you.
Personally I have a very hard time liking the female lead Ming Tan. She is too self absorbed and stubborn for my taste and I spend a good portion of the show just irritated with her so I will not be completing this drama. The second couple is a delight though. Such entertaining personalities meant to bring comedy and the accomplish that.
Overall not a bad drama but also not very memorable.
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The Uncanny Counter Season 2: Counter Punch
11 people found this review helpful
Disappointing sequel
If you are like me and you went in to this season right after finishing the first season than you most likely also feel like you picked up a completely different show. This season does not feel like the previous season; especially if you are going in to right after watching the first and it is fresh in your mind. If you are picking this up after having seen the first season when it first came out then you might find it more enjoyable.If you are coming into this season hoping to feel the magic of the first then you'll be disappointed like I was. The first season did an excellent job of setting up the plot and characters that you kept you bound to the screen. The characters all had depth and their own stories that made them all endearing to you as a viewer. The main plot was well thought out and executed with the subplots contributing well to the overall picture. While So Mun is the main character and you do find yourself attached to him and his story the writing for the other characters was also done very well all the way down to the side characters that had little screen time. I rate dramas based on my enjoyment and season 1 kept me captivated from the first episode and I never wanted to fast forward through any part of the show which is very common for me to do in kdramas.
This second season however ignores many of the rules that were established in the first season while also abandoning the original character profiles for the main cast. The characters are supposed to be 2 years older in this season and obviously SO Mun has grown both mentally and his powers have also grown quite a bit. The writers firstly did not do a good job of explaining the power growth as it does not feel very reminiscent of the first season. While psychokinesis was touched on last season, this season it is now in every move all the characters make, even the villains, making the production feel more cartoonish and over the top. This season is also more about the villains from the very first episode to every episode after that. The villains are also made to be the evil version of the counters and while villains are not meant to be likeable these are downright obnoxious to watch. They get so much screen time but no backstory or explanation for how or why they are doing the things they are. Even Mr. Ma became more powerful so quickly that it did not make sense based on the rules you previously understood in season 1. While the first season made you feel like these people could actually exist, this season has turned them into super heroes instead. The humbleness that you felt in all the characters before is no longer present. The addition of the comedic relief new counter just leaves you frustrated any time he is on the screen instead of finding him funny.
I wouldn't recommend you watch and just let the end of season 1 be the end for you.
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Transmigration? Revenge? Reverse harem? Sign me up
I am enjoying this short drama a lot more than I expected to. Transmigration is always a favorite of mine and that topped with revenge and a reverse harem, this show packs an entertaining punch. A beautiful drama with stunning clothes, jewelry, and stylishly handsome men. Centered around Zhang Wange and her rebirth to 3 years earlier this show follows her pursuit of those that tortured her to unravel truths and bury her enemies instead. Still very much a damsel in distress, Wange captures the attention of three men that previously did her harm either directly or indirectly and manages to use he wit and charm to have them chasing her in this life instead. But being tangled in this web of powerful families and secrets could still ultimately bring her doom before she can take her revenge.Each male lead is compelling for different reasons. Their character and back stories become more interesting as the story progresses. It is also wholly satisfying to see the typical vindictive second female lead continue to be outsmarted by Zhang Wange. While the drama can be confusing at times, the unraveling of the story is still done well enough to keep you engaged and interested. Definitely a short drama I would recommend to waste some time on.
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Found family will always heal the soul
This show is a sweet slice of life about struggle and finding a home and overcoming difficulties. Three children raised as siblings but not by blood find themselves navigating life without mothers and with prejudices placed on them due to their circumstances that were beyond their control. Ju Won who lost her mother before she even knew her to death, San Ha whose mother abandoned him after being stuck in her own grief, and Hae Jun who was left behind and taken in by a stranger. All three raised by Ju Won and San Ha's fathers creating a tight knit family of 5 for 10 years. But as life has a tendency to do things begin to unravel when the boys are seniors in high school and getting ready to graduate. They find their situations changing again and taking them in different directions separating the three 'siblings' for 10 years before the two men find their way back home.I actually really liked this show a lot. It was really very beautiful and acted very well. The child actors in the beginning were fantastic and the adult actors all embodied their roles with near perfection. The drama also makes a point to show early on in the series the difference in how Ju Won treats San Ha and Hae Jun while growing up which makes the romance later in the story more palatable for some viewers. I like how their struggles are often handled with grace and understanding between the close knit family of 5.
I also like how they made this story their own but stayed true to the characters and their personalities. Ju Won here is much more reserved in this version and I actually like that for her character. She doesn't come off as spoiled or naive but strong and independent which makes sense and fits perfectly as someone that was raised by someone that loved them so well and worked so hard. She learned from him and met her own difficulties with determination and grace. I also prefer this version of Hae Jun as well. His trauma of being abandoned and feeling like he had to earn a place and the way that trauma molded him works here. He is strong and soft hearted like Ju Won's father who raised him but his fear of being thrown away is shown to perfection here. I also really loved Dal in this show and wish she had been shown more, especially her interactions with Hae Jun which were some of my favorite. I actually preferred this pair over Ju Won and San Ha.
What did not land perfectly for me was the chemistry for the romance and I will forever hate San Ha's mother no matter version I watch. I watched this show through the eyes of having seen the original so that knowledge I think fills in some gaps that may be missing in this show because of the shorter run time. There were some things that felt rushed and others that felt too slow. Like the wedding at the ending felt rushed and unnecessary though I thought the same in the original. The last episode also felt so long and boring to me which is not a good feeling when it comes to a finale.
But overall I enjoyed this and would recommend for the found family and even for the dialogue. Some of the advice given to the characters throughout the show hits emotionally even to the viewers who may be able to see themselves in some of the aspects of the characters. Well written script, seasoned actors that are great at their craft, beautiful OST, and stunning visuals make for a good show.
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Enjoyable ride
All in all this is a perfectly fine drama. Well thought out plot that is mostly well executed with characters you can root for and villians you can hate. Beautifully shot and styled with stunning cast. A story about a woman who is given a second chance to go back and change her life a year before her death so she chooses to make those responsible pay and finds a man that is willing to help her do just that.I have nothing bad to say about this drama. I enjoyed watching it and was fairly happy with the progression and conclusion of the story. I liked the main characters and felt like for many of them their motives were understandable and rooted in a believable way. Greed is one of humans most toxic traits and it will make some people do anything. Yi Joo's personality was also believable with her trauma clouding some of her actions in a way that makes sense and isn't as frustrating as I have seen done in other dramas.
My one complaint would only be that my curiosity about the ending for the villains was not completely fulfilled but they did at least give you a shadow of an answer. This is a fine drama. Not mind blowing or one of a kind but an enjoyable way to pass the time.
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from perfectly unhinged to sheer nonsense
A short drama with an unhinged and ruthless female lead that cares for nothing else except her revenge. After being brutally discarded for her 'family' to earn a purity plaque and lift their rank she is given a new face by a powerful ally that comes upon her and makes her way back into the very family that killed her. Dismantling their influence from within our female lead manages to take them down one by one with seemingly little effort.Short dramas in general have a much faster pacing format than normal dramas but this puts even that normalcy to the test. Moving at lightning speed, the story takes you unto the Liu household and topples each member systematically with ease and brutal satisfaction. But it fails to build a complete story or believable characters. The perfectly unhinged female lead, Wan Qing, has very little background information given to explain her initial sacrifice and then nothing to really give credit to her later revenge build up. You see her steal from and then abandoning her savior so where does she get the skills and network to pull off her schemes before he finds her again 3 years later? Then her massacre of the family becomes swift but with such little believability that you find yourself just sitting back and enjoying her truly insane enjoyment over the whole thing. Until suddenly the show shifts and you are instead scratching your head trying to figure out exactly what you are watching.
Our male lead if the powerful but silent backing that is only there to save her again and again as she recklessly throws herself into danger but you don't see how he really adds anything. He is a high ranking official that is set on bringing down the Liu family for its corruption but no screen time is given to his skill, network, or grievances to explain his whys. The pair do have plenty of chemistry so I found that all the plot holes could be easily ignored until, again, the shift in the story happened.
Our villains here are one dimensional and stupidly easy to fool and manipulate. The son Wan Qing marries is just a drug addict with a bottle permanently attached to his hand and no other personality trait other than sniffing it. The mother is clever enough to embezzle money, control a kidnapping ring, and fool her husband but easily falls for the simplest tricks. The father is shown as just being greedy, lustful, and obsessive. But, sure, we can believe that they massacred an entire family and carried out their corruption by being pawns of the big bad. Now enter the big bad's story line. And this is when the show loses me. For all the enjoyment I got from the beautiful visuals and our female lead's one track revenge journey was snuffed out in a single episode where I truly though I had accidentally clicked on a different drama. The trek to the end of the drama from here really does not improve and just gets more and more ridiculous.
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interesting plot but lacks the charisma needed
I personally really like transmigration/ time travel type of dramas and the plot for this one is really intriguing. The female lead is sucked into her own novel because of the backlash of the horrible ending she gave it. The ending she wrote gives the character she becomes a quick death and the villain ultimately winning in the end. In order to get out of the novel she needs to rewrite the ending and do that by not being killed by her now husband, the villain of the story.The idea of this is really nice, the setting and costuming is also really pleasing. What this show lacks however is the right kind of female lead to carry it. Since the entire show hinges on her then all your attention as the viewer goes to her. Unfortunately this actress does not pull it off. I saw and liked her in Ever Night so I know she is a capable actress, this role just does not suit her. They needed someone that has a stronger presence. Unfortunately in this setting the costuming does not flatter her figure which makes her come off as childish and not as appealing as you would expect from a character in this role. I also dislike her facial expressions and interactions with the male leads. I think they wanted to go for a more comedic approach but ended up with her feeling immature and annoying. She often gives strange facial expressions and the way she carries herself and moves seems so odd to watch.
The male leads are impressing me a bit, especially Ji Chu, most are unknown to me so this is my first time seeing them on screen. The poor choice for leading lady and weak comedic attempts unfortunately detract from this drama and make it difficult for me to be interested in how it continues.
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Unpopular Opinion
I started watching this because it kept appearing on my suggested page and it has very high ratings. But while watching it I found myself unable to really get invested in it. I couldn't get attached to the characters or the story and began to wonder what exactly I was missing. So I came here and began to read all the reviews to see why my impression of the show feels so dramatically different than the vast majority. And in the end I still can't figure it out. For such amazing ratings I really thought it would have either an incredible plot or incredible portrayal of the characters. I found neither of those to really be the case.While the characters here are acted well I find them to be very stagnant. To be fair I only watched half this series and I do not see myself completing it. But at the half way point I would expect to feel some attachment to the characters since this show is very character driven but this far in and I still can not stand the uncle and have no real feelings toward the other two mains. Outside of my annoyance for the neighbors mother I don't feel anything. I could get past the lack of character growth or change if the plot was worth it but it seems like the plot has no clear direction. I like the idea of the trauma cleaners and how they work to complete the final wish of the deceased. The methodical and sincere way they approach the person's belongings to better understand them and bring them piece was interesting to me but then the lack of context surrounding them was a let down. Fulfilling what they believe the person would have wanted is touching but ultimately difficult to become emotionally invested in because often the people surrounding the deceased were insufferable.
Because the majority of the focus was placed on the episodic jobs that they team completed it lent very little time to build a firm foundation for you to care about the characters and what they are or have gone through. We get pieces in flashbacks occasionally but not enough to give weight to carry the narrative.
I will say that in a lot of the reviews on here I found people would reference other shows like Its Okay to Not Be Okay and Extraordinary Attorney Woo and I did not care much for either of those shows either for fairly similar reasons. This just appears to be a genre that just does not work for me and I am writing this review purely so others that may be similar to me feel like they aren't alone in their thoughts. Highly rate does not mean everyone will enjoy it.
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Wealth is too much but love is never enough
A mini series that rivals many high ranking full series with its simple and yet endearing and at times powerful portrayal of reversing fate and overcoming trauma. This mini has some of the most cinematically stunning shots I have seen on screen, a somewhat repetitive but beautiful soundtrack, and a few of my new all time favorite dialogue exchanges. For its short run time and relatively basic plot this show packs a punch and deserves high praise.Ning Chu Xi is a college student that is pulled into a novel she has read and becomes the side character that is destined to die at the hands of her husband. In order to avoid this fate she immediately leaves the capital and flees her future husband to instead spend her days in comfort and wealth staying uninvolved with palace conflicts and power struggles. News of the Emperor choosing brides for the Princes reaches her and she determines to return to the capital to avoid being forced to marry the Third Prince and following the original plot. Ning Chu Xi ends up capturing the attention of the Crown Prince Xiao Xing Heng and they start down a path of friendship and love that changes the story revealing revelations about the original story that Chu Xi did not know.
Does this drama have plot holes? Yes, it absolutely does which become more apparent in the last stretch. However, this show ends up giving one of the healthiest relationships between two emotionally mature individuals that actually communicate and that is so incredibly refreshing to see. Chu Xi and Xing Heng have chemistry in spades and their ability to use words and actions to convey their emotions makes them one of my all time favorite couples in Cdrama-land. This relationship is what carries this drama as the romance is organic and endearing making it impossible for you as the viewer to not root for them.
My two favorite interactions:
"Do I have many flaws?"
"As many as the stars in the sky"
"What about my strengths?"
"As few as the sun"
"Then why do you like me?"
"Because when the sun rises, all the stars grow dim"
And
"I love you without any reason and without any conditions."
The team also did an excellent job choreographing and shooting action scenes in ways that are beautiful and believable without actually having a large cast or technically perfect martial arts. By using simple props like leaves or water and the ability to choose camera angles wisely the director is able to create visually impressive scenes that have a big impact.
I am not personally a fan of the styling and makeup for this drama, specifically for the women. Leaning more into a fantasy style this drama has elaborate hair accessories, flowing gowns, and heavy makeup. I assume they chose this style to portray the fantasy element of being inside a novel but the setting and story line lends itself more as a historical about romance and palace power struggles. The men tend to have much better styling that is attractive but the over the top hair dressings and makeup on the women were distracting for me.
There is also no real follow through with Chu Xi's transmigration. The original plot of the novel is eluded to fairly often but how and why Chu Xi came to that world is never addressed. Even with its flaws I would still highly recommend this drama. With a short watch time and phenomenal elements you won't regret having seen it.
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