This review may contain spoilers
Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun Jin made this look like reality
The producers and director captured and presented exactly what this story told. It's cinematography is spectacular & makes you feel like you're right there amidst the jangle and luxury of 1636. Try not to read reviews that spoil the crafting of this story's characters; just let this one happen to you for it is sublime & epic. There are dramas/movies where the wonder and appeal cannot be easily described, only experienced. And if you're a lover of Classic Art in any format, once the soundtrack and ballads begin it will touch your senses deeply.The main characters are unaware they will start a journey of recognition and self discovery . Gil Chae is immature & thinks she already has life figured out because of her beauty. Jang Hyeun is a man with deep convictions learned from real life encounters, to him love is sacred & humans are incapable of it. He thinks the woman he desires doesn't exist; he's seen them all. Yet the mystery of recognition starts once these characters meet. I found myself speaking to them out loud. Many times I wanted to advise and comfort Jang Hyeon; or give Gil Chae a wake-up call. The casting is phenomenal; each role delights, disgusts, infuriates, intoxicates, puzzles, and surprises you as needed. And if any role gives that icky uncertain feeling, time will expose their true nature. One in particular (Ryang Eum) will capture your enduring empathy as a tragic character. Whatever attracts us to dramas is very subjective; if actors Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun Jin don't capture your imagination immediately this drama might not be for you.
The romance involves a lot of characters vying for our two main characters affections; sometimes very tenderly and sweetly, sometimes brutally; sometimes in an covert manner. Jealousy will reveal or defeat itself in countless ways - tenderly or brutally. I would have watched this sooner had synopsis been better. But there are true heroes within the realm of humanity (warts and all). Even though romance is my main draw, the historical backdrop is eye opening and educational (about politics, philosophy & culture). Psychological conflicts, mental instability and insanity abounds.
It isn't obvious this is a 2 season series. Series 1 ends in the storyline where things are almost too confused to see forward. So although it backtracks a bit in Series 2, DO NOT use any fast forwarding when scenes get uncomfortable because the story is told in a way you will miss important information and dialogue. And because dream sequences are a prominent theme throughout, you will get the wrong idea or make assumptions especially towards the end.
After watching this to completion, I have two criticisms:
(1) the happy ending is scrunched up in the last 10 minutes. I don't know why this is a constant in many long dramas!!!! It would be more satisfying if "the END" took at least half of the last episode's runtime - say 35 minutes. Viewers would WELCOME that reward having persevered through the nerve wracking twists, turns, and angst of a 21 episode battle for the main characters.
(2) this story took place over 23 years. But the passage of time isn't always obvious with vast distances back and forth between Joseon and the Qing dynasty. A date given at the end of this story means our lead characters are in their 40s at the very end.
So this is a VERY ‼️sad tale if the timeline is taken into account. And especially why producers should give viewers more in the way of satisfaction. We want to see what "happily ever after" looks like by golly!!!!. Still, this really is a 10 ⭐️ production.
Additional warning ⚠️ : watching Jang Hyeun's character express and welcome feelings he's never had before is dazzling. If you're very sensitive, it will be emotionally exhausting to watch when he repeatedly risks his life for the people/person he loves. Actor Namkoong Min dupes you into thinking his role is non-fiction. Be forewarned, your empathy will pour out in buckets. He is self sufficient, clear thinking but misses well deserved happiness by seconds countless times. Yet from the beginning to the end he remained true to his nature against he backdrop of such a horrific time in history.
This is now, the MOST BEAUTIFUL historical (sageuk) drama I've ever seen.
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As the days go by the bitter taste grows larger
Sometimes a drama comes along, and instinct declares "this one isn't for you deary." But social media influencers - from individuals to the promotors - all say, this is an epic like none other. After all it stars Lee Jun Ho and Kim Min Ah - two exceedingly talented actors with youth and lots of presence on their side. The roster of supporting actors is likewise, great. But the WRITERS and DIRECTOR botched what could have been a close masterpiece about the IMF days in South Korea,The beginning episode was refined and promising. Introducing characters that should prove not just interesting but with enough abrasion to hook. Here's the short - why waste my time explaining everything - review.
Tae poong is a well-known type; young with money but rudderless in how he lives. Not much but a vague desire to do what he wants. Mi Seon is a strong willed, highly intelligent young woman with no support structure to improve her lot in life as the IMF crisis begins. She has an immediate attraction to a young man while taking a train; she looks but dismisses it. The young man is Taepoong, her CEO's son but they don't know each other. The financial collapse is sudden and the lives of everyone related to Typhoon Trading plummets. It's the start of what SHOULD be great drama. (Promises, promises but no cigar).
Unfortunately, the story involves a cycle of unfortunate circumstances that is repeated ad nauseum from episodes 1-15. By then the audience gets it, at least I did, and by then I lost all interest in anything the drama had to offer. Romance, Plot, resilience, family, none of the story mattered anymore. It was no longer worth my time. Even after two long anticipated actions from the characters happened, I really didn't care. I watched the last episode and thought "well I'm glad it's over". And I was happy to see the characters find peace and stability. But seriously, had Typhoon Family cast less popular actors, the drama would have tanked and had ZERO ratings by episode 5.
I cannot recommend this drama for anything. Well, maybe to see Kim Min Ha play a truly unique and capable female who was shown no respect until the company collapsed and she literally became the only employee.
Watch it if you must. But don't blame me if the taste of metal clings to the palate once it's over.
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Worth the watch even if a bit mediocre at times
An incredible and enjoyable story that bounced back and forth from remarkably good to lame and cheesy. I seriously enjoyed it because it landed on the side of 'almost great'; but what an effort to get there.What I loved was the fresh manner of presenting the main characters; the thriller/mystery part of the back story; the amazing martial arts scenes and the underlying complex story about human beings.
What I didn't like was the terrible let down in handling the main love relationship in the last 2 episodes. Too much time is spent breaking hearts and leaving all the resolutions until the last minute. I despise when drama writers think a happy ending is something that can wait for the last 30 seconds of the last episode. Besides that our lead female character is written to be an odd combo of a childish and stupid 30 year old who at a few moments in the script becomes wise & mature - just so the story falls into the usual kdrama parameters. Seriously. Still, she and all the main characters are very likable and I would recommend anyone to watch this for sparks of freshness in the kdrama world.
The BEST things were the soundtrack (which outperformed the series); the actors cast for each part; costumes; cinematography; and martial arts choreography.
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Byeon Woo Seok deserves notoriety - but LR was just above average; not great
Everyone's favorite drama from 2024; my opinion is it had unnecessary storylines just to make it 16 episodes long. Still, in the end it was worth watching - and enduring the few stupid parts - for a pretty engaging and beautiful story.The choice of actors for this drama was truly wonderful. And as a viewer who did not find her previous roles appealing, I absolutely give Kim Hye Yoon high marks on this one. Byeon Woo Seok is always great in every role I've seen him, and he was particularly well chosen for this role. If this is why Lovely Runner was everyone's favorite, then I have to agree. I also truly loved Song Geon Hee as probably the most complex role in the series - superbly acted and believable in every scene. And all the other supporting actors and actresses were fantastic.
The ending was beautiful - except for the stupid parts added. But I doubt the writers were aiming at a masterpiece, so I "forgive" them...I guess.
I might re-watch this at some point; it will depend on how many other dramas are out there to engage me. But I certainly recommend this one as a must watch - if only for conversation with your other kdrama watching friends. It's kind of sad not to be able to discuss what you like or dislike when you haven't seen something.
Soundtrack was good; Cinematography also good. Length of series - too long. Quality of storyline - above average but lower than BEST. Casting = EXCEPTIONAL. Director - could have done better directing the female actors.
SPECIAL NOTE: This is by way of comparison.' Lovely Runner' FAR, FAR!!! outperformed another popular drama called 'Love Next Door' which I found a complete waste of time.
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A great fantasy and love story; but couldn't the subtitles be more accurate?
An exciting and action filled tale told in an exaggerated way with beautiful visuals - cinematography, costumes, lighting, locations and very nice-looking young actors. And while I mostly enjoyed it, my enjoyment level was not at a high watermark. There are so many baffling things about the production it was difficult to just sit back and watch it comfortably. Instead, it left me - the viewer - confused every thirty minutes.One expects to have questions from the beginning, but once 3 or 4 episodes have gone by, the person watching should relax and let the story unfold. Frankly this was an annoying drama to watch. First, the female protagonist was written to get on your last nerve from episode 1 all the way to the end of episode 24. And yet I stick with the drama ever hopeful she would improve in further episodes. And she did, but only slightly. Second, the King's personality was just as frustrating.
The ultimate draw for this epic story is the General; a stoic brave man who hasn't lived from the heart in years. Visually, his story is what holds this entire world together. Lee Min Ho, plays general Choi Young (referred to as "that person") who enters a portal in search of a doctor and unwittingly chooses a plastic surgeon he feels drawn to as the correct choice. This kidnapping sets the story in motion. Very interesting and potentially engaging. However, for English viewers, the subtitles are literal so the meaning of what's happening often goes astray. Grammar, tense and many cultural indicators are so vague, that much of the meaning in conversations is completely lost. But understanding Korean will allow you to comprehend more of the story and fine details. Hence my one-word evaluation of "baffling".
Still, with so much effort put forth by the actors playing the General, endless villains (Prince of the Court, the Kings Uncle, the superpower duo, Yuan Envoy etc.) you may still want to give this a try for its mix of fantasy, history, superheroes, intrigue and two sweet romances.
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Good and Light entertainment. Watch it when you need a reprieve from high stress Kdramas
An enjoyable and beautiful human story with more than one moral. When a story has a relatable moral, it makes for good drama. And if you can accept the unbelievable premise that a professional entertainment company hires a doctor without ever checking her credentials or ID you should have a good time watching.Visually, the main lead characters don't seem suited to each other. And the couple more likely to make a great match is very clear but you still cheer for the lead male over the second lead male. Why? Maybe because his flaws need the most work.
Having watched about 100 kdramas, guessing several scenarios in advance of their happening was easy. From: financial scam, mistaken identity, who finds out the lies first, even down to the links between friends that reveal the inevitable after delays to "come clean" meant this was a standard kdrama. That didn't make it terrible but does make it a bit less interesting.
The relationships between the K-pop group members is special, interesting and very believable. And there is an unusual upswing in nutty humor before and during the crash and burn tragedies.
As much as I enjoyed watching this, I can't rate it any higher. Too much time is wasted on "slow speak" instead of beefing up story telling. And for me the romance portion was a letdown.
Top grades for all the actors especially Lee Jun Young.
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Older dramas really can be quite unique
When compared to current dramas of this type, this is so much better than I expected. It's already 10 years old and it is visually appealing enough to forget the lost decade.The lead actors brought so much to their roles - life, depth, true human feeling. Partly the script but the actors made it real. Uie is usually a witch and I wasn't sure she knew how to be so lovable, vulnerable, innocent and naive. As Yoon Ha, she really made herself a target for the lead males ambitions. Sung Joon as the lead male was breathtaking in how he revealed a deeply contemplative character. Yes. He was calculative and planned everything out like a game of chess. But in time we see how he traps himself and how things resolve. Not sure I've seen him before; he's excellent. Yoon Ha's best friend played by Lim Ji Yeon, is a very unique character. I've not seen her type before. She's poor, but has tremendous self-knowledge. And the decisions she makes are completely unexpected. Her thought process is so refreshing it's no wonder she wins hearts while being simple, honest and lovable. And she has NONE of the awful - overdone - qualities seen in countless kdramas about love between the rich and the "poor". On thus point alone, the drama gets 10 stars. Park Hyung Sik delivers in spades. He was everything his role needed.
'High Society' could have exceeded a 10/10 rating but the writers must have edited the story details heavily towards the end. I expected some serious resolutions around the supporting character storylines. But those issues were left to the ether. And the ending was almost bordered on underwhelming due to a few Director's cuts and choices. But all in all this is a wonderful drama with a beautiful story, journey and ending for the main characters.
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This review may contain spoilers
Utterly Enjoyable from the first Title Sequence on Nov 12, 2025
This drama was such a refreshing brilliance of artistry, music, casting and cinematography from the get-go, it took the globe by storm. What was to be a simple, lighthearted romcom became the weekly addiction of millions of kdrama fans worldwide. Shocking not just the producers, but the actors as well. Jang Ki Yong and Ahn Eun Jin who played the lead roles worked really hard to give us chemistry, comedy, heartache and happiness.SHORT REVIEW: Excellent for 13 hours and 15 minutes. It had everything you could want, and things you didn't know you wanted in a romcom. The chemistry between the lead male and female was exceptional - it will become legendary. And if you can look at it as a whole and not get stuck in 5% of its story timeline, you will adore this one. The haters trying to topple Dynamite Kiss can try but they can't undo the love of a global audience for this one. No one expected anything this delightful. So, if you hate romcoms, don't watch them.
LONGER REVIEW:
At 14 episodes, it is 2 less than many of us expect but that trend for shorter romcoms is affecting decisions made by the Director and Writer also. Did they make perfect decisions? No. But they did great.
The soundtrack for Dynamite Kiss was spectacular. 'Special Day' captures your imagination with the artwork used in the Title sequence and gives so many clues about this special story. The brilliant colours used give the impression of ultimate happiness to come.
Episodes 1 and 2 set the foundation for the story amazingly well. The choices of scenes and each character's interactions with their day-to-day environment, tell you who they are. It's graphic and it's clear; these are mature adults with specific strengths and weaknesses. Many viewers obviously didn't pay attention and so came to very incorrect assumptions about both leads during the thick of the drama. The soundtrack supports every detail and once the leads meet, that same soundtrack haunts the viewer.
Main strengths of this drama is character development; or revealing the potential of each character. The potential of our leads isn't just the delivery of job requirements; it includes growth in self-knowledge or adherence to their virtue as a human being. It is also the realization of how truly mysterious love comes into being between a man and woman. Theres a spark and sizzle that takes place somewhere, and neither can pinpoint when it occurred. Only point to the obvious result of attraction and an explosive kiss that leaves an indelible mark on the soul.
There is such a hue and cry about cliches and tropes. Frankly I didn't notice any of these being a problem until the very last episode when it became obvious the Writer was struggling to control the flow after introducing so many heavy situations that influence a clean ending. The faltering starts in episode 11 but got out of hand in 14. This is the only real problem that affected my enjoyment of this drama. But the trend these days among dissatisfied viewers is to be toxic and tear down the popularity of a drama to suit themselves. I've seen the comments here..."it's still has a rating 8.2. It shouldn't be that high" then the haters go to work with their 1 star ratings. I feel just like Ji Hyeok during the interview when the water spilled on him...."WOW!" Intentional actions just to be mean really are a thing in our times. Petty.
If there really is unforgivable content in the story and characters, it will be the second ML and FL. Their story really tanks due to the 5% oddball writing at the end. The second ML was just too rigid and it begs the question about why he's single and divorced. The second FL was too good for the likes of the 2nd ML. The child involved was left to fend for himself due to his father's issues. This part of the drama really sucked!
If anyone reads this review, I hope they enjoyed Dynamite Kiss for what it was. A romcom about two unique and enduring characters who met, fell in love, started to live new lives that improved them as persons, and then made a beautiful future together. It had so much to offer it's hard to put into words because so many characters are loveable or need ultimate ruin to fix them.
DEFINITELY one of the BEST dramas of 2025. And one of my absolute favourite romantic comedy dramas - definitely in the top 5.
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Bad script & production. Talented actors.
A story with attractive synopsis but delivered so little after 16 arduous episodes. At fault are writers who could not craft likable main characters in the first 3 episodes. That's right! It took 10 episodes to find a glimmer of connection with the main characters. It was a bad combination of situational drama, weak/mousy females, arrogant males and too much hidden from the viewer to grasp any enjoyment. Even the wardrobe made the women look even more pitiful than needed. An all round dud in my opinion. Really poorly written and executed. On to the next thing....The high 9.3 rating misrepresents what's here. Other things that affected it:
Soundtrack - nothing appealing & 1 song repeated too often that wasn't even that good.
Wardrobe - also lacking. The women looked comical and badly dressed.
Editing - Writers & Director probably didn't communicate with each other.
Series length - overkill at 16 episodes could have presented in 8.
Story - had promise. But lost the mark early on.
Characters - second lead male had all the emphasis. Mystery and secret surrounded the lead male and second female. Lead female was left undeveloped for too long. As a result the 4 main characters were never likable or had any pull until episode 12 which is too long for anyone wanting to engage with a drama.
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Joy who plays Tae Hea, lights up the screen with her smile
Screen play: 8/10 moral of story lackingDrama Direction: 7/10 not balanced by a moral
Actors: 10/10
Characters: 10/10 well drawn
Entertainment value: 6/10 due to sociopathic behaviors
Soundtrack: 10/10
Art Direction: 10/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Series classification accuracy: doesn't classify as romance comedy. Watch at your own risk if tender hearted.
Comments: excellent acting by all, not just the leads. This is a high intensity drama with roles showing clear sociopathic personalities. 19 year olds with too much money, little responsibility or direction in life. Idleness is indeed the devil's playground. The Director could have adjusted the end storyline to show how (if at all) the main characters were molded into responsible adulthood. So the end was a real slash and burn with little satisfaction for 15 hours of high-level emotional trauma. In other words, an overload of emotional distress dismissed by 5 minute happy ending.
Final thoughts: the greatest consolation in this drama is Joy who plays Tae Hea so remarkably well. Her smile lights up the screen and brings transforming joy, beauty and peace into the darkness Shi Hyun's world.
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Entertaining enough to watch and enjoy especially if you like the cast of actors
Ok Taec-Yeon and Kim So-hyun are always pleasant to watch in any drama. And Keon Yul gives a bone chilling portrayal in the evil role. But the writers created two very unlikable supporting characters. At least for me the ghost busting duo were EMBARRASSING and the old monk extremely dull witted. To be honest, this made watching unappealing and I almost ditched it. Instead, I decided to fast forward through 80% of the scenes showing Cheon Sang and In-Rang's schemes.The best part of this drama is the romance between Bong-pal and Hyeon-Ji. The writers did a good job showing how they develop and grow into happy, responsible and fairly well-adjusted young adults.
As much as I admire and enjoy actor Kang Ki-young, I couldn't endure his repulsively written role in this drama. He's an excellent actor, but the creators should have toned down the intensity of Cheon Sang's selfish personality. It wasn't necessary it be so intense. Especially since Kwon Yul's role was already intensely uncomfortable.
Overall, the story was worth getting into but for me, too much of the drama spent too much time focused on very unattractive characters (especially Cheon Sang and Myung-cheol).
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Worth watching for the end result
Every show about bullies Should come with a TRIPLE WARNING about the level of predatory evil and violence depicted. Are there animals like this as living examples of the perps in this movie? While I shudder to think the devil has spawned such human beings, history proves they do exist. Therefore, watch at your own emotional and psychological peril. Viewer, know yourself!The bullying behavior is unfiltered, so this has no entertainment value for normal people. And even the retribution favor is dialed back (thankfully). A difficult watch but our leading lady actress does an amazing job as always. And the head bully (Lee Jun Young) did too good a job in his role. Very frightening. I have zero desire to rewatch this. But it was worth while.
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How I came to love Lee Min Ho. But epic character stereotypes involved.
At viewing, this drama is 15 years old, so it IS dated. And while I don't mind the older fashioned hair, wardrobe, music, or cinematography it was the cartoonish representation of several characters that made it hard to watch. The lead female character in particular was written in a way that was beyond silly. Absolutely unbelievable and in no way likable or sympathetic to this viewer. Several other roles suffered the same unappealing characterization.The story format of "My Fair Lady" has been redone in countless movies and dramas, yet the level of "woman as unrefined idiot" in this one is in no way ingratiating. I watched this to the end because I was sure the character transformation needed for this dramas success would be worthwhile. Sadly, for me, it wasn't.
What saves this drama from the abyss of having a style "too old to watch" is Jin Ho (Lee Min Ho). His role is believable, complex, sympathetic and frustrating enough to be appealing.
End Comment: to each his own. While the complex story content and dialogue was high quality, the dated stereotyping of women was utterly unsatisfactory.
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All about young idols and their coming into true adulthood. Watch for the actors as young people
Such a sweet story trying to use the classic Sound Of Music idea of Maria - an aspirant religious who goes out into the world to help.Watch it to see actors Jang Geun Suk, Uie, Jung Yong Hwa and Lee Hong Ki steal every scene. Park Shin Hye will be the same pouting female you've seen before - not much to entertain you.
This is one seriously frustrating drama to watch with such poor acting direction. Yes it's already 16 years old but our lead female never convinces you that she ever tried to be a boy. Still it's in the old soap opera style with one farce after other. And with that frame of mind should be enjoyable enough for most viewers. There is a very happy ending in spite of a lot of wasted scenes and the following...
Possible Triggers for audience:
Excessive apologies from the FL - she must have said "I'm Sorry" no less than 500 times. Who the heck writes these scripts? Are they even trying to present a rational being to the audience or just a caricature. Question answered.
Weeping for long periods of scene exposure by FL. Surely it added up to 2 hours. Was this necessary?
'Terrible Twos' pouting. Again the FL excelled here. But the Director had our ML join in for added effect. Really?!! Why?
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Most iconic of all kdramas. Watch it, even if you can't finish it.
Tender hearted viewers take heed - do not binge this drama. It's one of the most painful dramas I've ever watched and the writers used every method to make it uncomfortable. While a homely, immature, ungainly, lacking in sense female with extremely unpolished eating habits is a norm for many a kdrama, Jan-Di might take first place. The actress brought all these characteristics across to perfection. The series is now 16 years old since originally airing and dramatic styles have changed. This may have been the style people expected back then; I had a hard time sticking to it.Besides this female character trope, the unending lucky and unlucky circumstances surrounding the main 3 of 5 characters were quite unreasonable and unrealistic. By episode 15 I wanted to exit; it felt like a dreadful journey to keep watching. Much of the writing is too emotionally brutal to call entertainment. At the very least, gives reasons to why countless people in our real world, have such deep traumatic and psychological scars. Boys Over Flowers is classified as a Romantic Comedy and Drama. I suggest it be classified as a Romantic Melodrama. The moments of comedy are not compensation for the continuous stream of unhappy events that befall the main couple.
DO NOT BINGE watch this series if you have intense emotional sensitivities. (where violence, overt meanness, melancholy music, touch you on a deep level). It can drain you to the point of exhaustion if you don't take a break. Upon reflection, I should have assigned my own viewing to smaller increments of time over a couple weeks.
If you can watch this all the way to the end, there are a good number of sweet, endearing and rewarding moments along the way. Especially where lesser characters in supporting roles act as rays of light and hope when things are dreadfully dark. Still, for me it was a torment to watch and at times watched with the sound off to lessen trauma of listening to the musical soundtrack that fed so much sadness during heart rending scenes.
For me I don't love Boys Over Flowers and didn't find it enjoyable. Ultimately I felt exhausted from the experience (binge watched 6 episodes at a time which took its toll). But yes I still recommend it because not everyone feels the same way; or is unable to detach from such ludicrous stories. What kept me going is Lee Min Ho's acting - and I despised everything about his character in the beginning. Never been a fan of his, but I give credit where credit is due. It makes sense seeing him in this role why he is considered so great an actor. And to be honest - that hair!! which is so ridiculous - I don't know who else could have pulled this character off. And I found humor in the fact the writers did not think his hair was normal. They made fun of it through the script. Other reasons to keep watching are, the other lead male actors and many characters who supported Joon Pyo and Jan-di throughout the strife and heartbreak they suffered as teens and young adults. As a bit of a spoiler, Gu Joon Pyo's hair gets less freakish towards the end - even attractive.
Why watch? This may be the most iconic of all kdramas and in order to have dialogue or exchange opinions with your kdrama friends you can certainly benefit by knowing what happens and how things go. And maybe why other fans of kdramas love it. At my writing, Boys Over Flowers is 16 years old and still drawing an audience of avid Korean drama fans who absolutely love it.
My Disclaimer: never been into soap opera. And BOF is an intense and short version of that genre. Melodramatic, absurd situations are perpetually created for their own sake and not necessarily the characters. This made BOF painful to watch. Yet, it had its moments and I ultimately came to care for all the characters in their limitations and circumstances. Not many, but some other reviewers have pointed out similar likes, dislikes, and observations which stand as proof we are all very different in how we find pleasure in entertainment.
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