So well done you won't notice it's 20 episodes long!
A refined, spectacular and well told Joseon period drama that I enjoyed from start to finish. It's 20 episodes of neatly crafted taletelling and cinematography with a dazzling array of great actors. While less a romance than a mystery suspense, romance was a theme that I thought was done well without too many usual tropes.Park Hyung Sik is a popular actor and suited the role of Prince Lee Hwan. Jeon So Nee was excellent in her role as the framed murderer Min Jae Yi. And Lee Tae Sun stole every scene as a wacky genius & black sheep of a noble family; he stole every scene as one the most congenial characters I've ever seen. And the actor who plays the Right State minister I've seen many times and excels in being diabolical.
A sinister plot springs immediately from the opening credits of Episode 1. From there it's balanced with a generous amount of silly and sincere humor. The characters in Our Blooming Youth are well crafted, and the plot and dialogue exceptional. With a length of 20 episodes the complexity of the story seemed appropriate. And I found it delightful even up to episodes 18-20 when just a few k-cliches showed up in the main characters behavior that pointed to "time to rush the ending". Although the romantic relationships lacked zing and skin-ship, there is a pleasant and happy ending.
Key Attributes:
Dialogue was A+++; almost entirely free of annoying phrases or exasperating pauses.
20 episodes were just right 👍🏾👍🏾
Jeon So Nee portrayed a believable heroine who is emotionally mature
Love story between Jae Yi falling for Lee Hwan was delightful. Jae Yi displays a natural and refreshing joy as her feelings develop. Prince Hwan is more reserved, and it matched his personality.
All Character crafting (by writers) was coherent and consistent throughout. Another A+++ especially the villains that make you spit nails
Use of Humor as a balance and part of understanding the characters was great 👍🏾👍🏾
No overly intense cliff hangers (IMO)
With well written, believable characters, and wonderful dialogue I found watching this intensely enjoyable. Highly recommend it!!
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Delightful - made me smile, giggle and feel good no matter how things went. Sometimes you need that
If you're looking for an interesting story, romance, laughter, beautiful costumes, beguiling music and enough intrigue to keep you entertained but not drain your emotional battery...this could be the satisfying drama you're looking for. There's so much to love about this period romance and while the synopsis doesn't hint at how cleverly created & produced this drama is, it is visually stunning with a beautiful soundtrack.The photography/cinematography was great, although in a few places the look of actor's makeup suffered. The core story is actually tragic - as most Joseon period tales are - but the humor is great. Maybe over-the-top silly, and childish... I loved it. True to the writers intent, this is not a serious historic piece. Many traditional Joseon ideals are thwarted and replaced with 21st ideas and opinions. And it's certainly far from proper with use of erotic manwah as a way of enticement for all the male characters. There are also inside jokes about popular kdramas you' might recognize.
As I experienced it, Episode 1 of The Forbidden Marriage explodes with a prelude of eye-popping color and graphics, a literary disclaimer, intro to our scam artist So Rang who tries to make a living during the nationwide marriage ban in Joseon. Our 3 main characters are King Yi Heon, So Rang and Sun Won. Of these the King and So Rang are the funniest especially after they meet within the confines of the Palace. Both roles are exceptionally acted, and you can sympathize with their condition; enter into their feelings and empathize. The fact So Rang is a swindler is not really important, and neither is the elevated status of King Yi Heon, whose personality is laughable and allows for much comic relief. At times the humor is enough to make you stop watching to recover and catch your breath.
The soundtrack is excellent with so much diversity. One ballad I believe is Chinese and is lovely enough even without subtitles.
This drama came as quite a surprise to me as the synopsis didn't attract me. Also, its viewership was low for the genre. But Rom-Com type dramas vary widely, and this one is much more lighthearted; easy to watch because it's only 12 parts and takes an irreverent diversion from the more explicit cruelty of period dramas. I am delighted I watched it and hope more fans of Korean romance comedy will find it and add to its popularity. It might not be equivalent to The Kings Affection, Flower Crew: Joseon Wedding Agency or Lovers of the Red Sky, for its story presentation but is definitely entertaining and enjoyable without the emotional turmoil of a classic 16-24 part drama. I highly recommend it as such.
Summary:
For what it's worth, this lighthearted drama is well worth watching for the delightful story, beautiful visuals, mesmerizing music, comedic main characters and feel good ending.
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Want to see a drama that paces the story really well? Here it is
An enjoyable drama with a strange but happy ending. This drama was unique in that, unlike so many, the pace was so good you never noticed each episode was over an hour. There were no frustratingly long pauses between the love interests. Every scene was tempered to satisfy. And while there were numerous times going backwards in time to fill in the details, it was not annoying.The story was well written, and the characters felt real. Misunderstandings were well done, and even if a character takes a wrong turn, you can truly see their perspective and feel their humanity.
Although the synopsis is rather deceiving and the actual story is quite different in its direction; I knew long before this drama went "on air" I wanted to watch it. And I'm so glad I did.
All the young people are about 20 years old so I guess it isn't that strange that the ending was a bit storybook like. And while I stay away from dramas that focus on pre-twenty-year-olds, this one felt more relatable from my point of view.
I highly recommend it as an engaging and entertaining series. Simply beautiful and well done.
The missing star is for the weird happy ending; the ordinary soundtrack; and bizarre changes in tone during the last 2 episodes. The final minute gives me the feeling there may be a season 2. I guess that would be ok but not necessary.
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This review may contain spoilers
Well known doesn't always mean you can't endure the heart ache
You need a stout heart to watch this one, and I barely managed it. As one of over 50k subscribers harassing Viki to get this drama back for viewing, I was determined to see it through. I'm not disappointed to check it off my "must watch" list. But goodness gracious me, it was a bitter journey. Frankly, if Viki didn't limit it to 5 episodes each week, I might have ruined myself. It took about a week to recover after watch each 5 episodes.Definitely one of the best dramas‼️ The soundtrack was too good. And the choice of cast actors was Directed in an exemplary manner from start to finish. The costumes were beautiful, but some wigs were really terrible distractions. The story was great fantasy but heart rending from beginning to end. And the end was disappointing. Now I understand why so many people have spent years crying for the second season. But too many years have passed.
While I highly recommend it as HIGH quality, not everyone can endure the ultimately sad journey of such wonderfully crafted characters. So in the world of Korean Dramas, this one is definitely a 10⭐️. But in the heart of this viewer, the end didn't satisfy. And as a person who loves a happy ending and can accept well written sad endings - I simply cannot endure ambiguous holes for an ending.
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What starts as fluff develops into worthy fare; give it a chance and patience
This story is really good and eventually surprised me with its sweet sincerity. Of course, the first episodes are fairly annoying like most dramas of this kind so by episode 8 the story gets going and characters settle down to show who they really are.It is interesting to see how a matchmaking business works and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing both main male characters (Namkoong Min & Choi Tar Joon) develop into stronger personalities.
Once the romance and confessions begin, our lead female is less pathetic. Hwang Jung Eum seems to fit these kinds of roles because she's cute. Unfortunately her acting during kissing scenes is flat. The male actor does all the work, making the hearts of viewers flutter but she is stiff and unresponsive (really disappointing). Goodness me, Namkoong Min is so handsome 🤩🤩
At episode 17 the main characters became precious amidst competition and jealousy but as per kdrama stipulations, it's time for roadblocks and misunderstandings.
I used the FF (fast forward) liberally as there's a lot of dead space in the 32 episodes. I gave this drama 8 stars overall, but the male actors for the main & supporting roles all deserve 10/10 🌟🌟👍🏾👍🏾. Especially Namkoong Min who has charisma oozing from every pore.
Since putting this series in my Viki watchlist & completely watching it. The rating went from 8.8 to 9.2 on Viki. Maybe the ratings here will also increase.
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Know as 'Hwayugi' -- an Odyssey none the less
AKA: Hwayugi and considering how long this series is, and how many scenarios it covers that makes absolute sense it be called an odyssey. This is definitely a must watch for anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾This is yet another tale about relationships between human and supernatural beings. And it's the fabric and quality of these relationships that give all the substance for this feature. However the love story is both its strength and its weakness - long, drawn out and in the end melodramatic.
Our main supernatural character is well written, and superbly acted by Lee Seung Gi. Our main female is also well written but I found actress Oh Yeon Seo a disappointing choice (she seemed wooden at times in her portrayal & was not a convincing kisser) 🙄. Most other actors were fantastic. The soundtrack was good and the cinematography was great. All in all a great tale to watch and enjoy.
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Excellent drama - but not every drama gets the funds for spectacular cinematography and production
Compared to many favorite romance dramas, this one seems highly overlooked. This drama should be sporting an overall rating of 9.8‼️Although the cinematography isn't the best, the story, actors, characters, soundtrack, pace and romance are exceptionally good. In a word, Excellent. There are no stupid fisheye kissing scenes. In fact, the kissing is on the adult level - no immaturity involved. And while this might seem slightly a spoiler, there's no love triangle. How spectacularly refreshing.
Jo Bo Ah is one of my favorite actresses. First saw her in Destined With You, Tale of the Nine Tailed and then Doberman. Most recently her role in Dear Hongrang was also compelling. Park Hae Jin I am less familiar with, although he was good in My Love from the Star. With both actors being so attractive and well matched, the drama was easy to get into from the very beginning.
Highly recommended. I enjoyed it so much.
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Unique doesn't mean perfect; but can be the means to finding a fresh and entertaining drama
A really different and entertaining drama. Watched before reading any reviews & was extremely surprised many didn't like it. For me it's not the best ever, but certainly worth the time and emotional investment getting into the story.An unusual pairing of lead actors who made their roles extremely believable plus the way all cast members interacted in their varied roles was phenomenal. I've seen Na In Woo before but not Seohyun (until I snuck a peek at 'First Night With The Duke' and wanted to see more of her acting style). She's a very good actress and I like her style. Will be looking for her in other dramas now; but am waiting for all episodes of 'First Night...' to complete. This review is dated 7/6/2025.
My opinion is, the story got a little off track towards the end with several characters being reconciled after a lifetime of bad choices. Granted it was a tricky/tenuous way to achieve the desired ending (which is happy but also not fairytale - be warned; watch until the very, very end). So, ignoring this one caveat, I found 'Jinxed at First' a very satisfying drama in my opinion. Maybe other viewers had preconceived notions about how everything should have gone. After all, people's tastes differ when it comes to entertainment. I say, Give it a chance. You many enjoy as much as I did 👍🏾💚
Special Note: . When we first meet the main character is Seul Bi, she's the most innocent and joyful person imaginable. Midway through the drama, you the viewer, will have to endure changes in her personality as things get complicated and very unhappy. It's well done but also heart rending. Another actress might not have done as good a job. So I personally think our lead actress made this drama a real treat‼️
Additionally, the soundtrack supports the tale telling so well - never causing the viewer to disengage from the plot. So WELL DONE you might overlook it how brilliantly he music worked.
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Close to perfect in the romance genre of fantasy KDramas
DELIGHTFUL!! No disappointments from this drama as far as I'm concerned. A true fantasy tale that delivers on romantic comedy needs. It was extremely satisfying to watch and funny in so many different ways. While additional time (by way of 2 more episodes) spent explaining foundational points of the first 3 episodes and tying up loose ends on the last 2 episodes, I still give this 10🌟‼️ as it was a close to perfect romance drama,Ok Taec-Yeon and Seohyun had a chemistry so real, thrilling and tender it covered up any gaps in telling such a unique and fun story. Some inconsistency around supporting characters caused a bit of plot anxiety. Heros become villains, villains become heroes for no other reason than to direct the story to a satisfactory end. Yes it worked! Some months ago in writing another K-drama review I mused that some viewers want a happy ending that takes you with the characters into their everyday future. Just to see what it looks like. IMO it would make a drama so much more memorable and enjoyable to see the outcome some time in the future. What was the family life like? How many children did they have? Are they happy? And so forth. Instead of the old "and they lived happily ever after" with a 30 second wrap up. Let's just say, I found the ending to my personal taste.
Below are my spot check ratings:
Actors Chosen. 10/10 (100% 👍🏾)
Characters as written 9/10
Story/Plot 10/10
Story as told 9/10
Art Direction/Cimematography 10/10
Music OST 10/10
Costume 10/10
Entertainment Value 10/10
Fantasy Story Resolution 10/10
Length of drama 10/10 (even though it could have had an extra 2 episodes to refine the tale telling.
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Found this by accident - a true "must watch" if you really are addicted to Kdramas
After watching all 20 episodes I definitely recommend it. It has a few flaws like misleading subtitles which cause viewer to lose some the story detail or character development; poor film quality and camera angles in a few scenes also cause some confusion. An excessive use of the melancholy OST music may create emotional overload for highly sensitive viewers (as was case for me).As a slow burn type romance viewers might lose interest when plot bogs down after episode 10 - I myself came close to stop watching.
Actors chosen, do a good job conveying the interior emotional conflicts of their situation. Especially Jang Keun-suk, and Im Yoona who play the youthful lovers in both time periods. The actors playing their much older counterparts were a bit less vibrant and interesting except for Yu Hye-Ri. This actress nails her role as Hye Jung - self-centered, toxic, manipulative yet unable to attain what she craves as a self-destructive and ultimately pathetic human. She is a study in psychology that someone can lose decades of happiness wanting what she can't have by force, only to achieve emotional ruin for those around her.
Thankfully there are lots of funny moments and situations that make you appreciate the foibles of youth. Both the innocent and worldly characters begin to slowly influence each other. And it is a very slow process for Seo Joon once he's bitten by the love bug. His ideology that love doesn't exist slowly derails and is a slow and painful process for him and the innocent Ha Na.
At my viewing, this drama is 13 years old, and I didn't find it too difficult to enjoy. Seo Joon's "styling" as far as wardrobe was a bit much to endure but I got over it.
While there is ambiguity in how the romance is presented in the last episode the story and characters come to a happy and very satisfactory end.
The following is MY personal interpretation from each character's perspective: I could be misguided.
Seo Joon is sexually experienced and becomes careful in his expressions of affection (hugs instead of passionate kisses) due to Ha Na's innocence in this area. You can believe in his respect for her. Ha Na accepts that Seo Joon doesn't believe in marriage because of his family life. Yet with the deep love & physical attraction they have she still feels the need for caution by running away to "cool off". It's her way of never pressuring Seo Joon into a life choice she wants - marriage.
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If you like a quick and satisfying romance
Quick and easy to enjoy. Highly recommend as a light, effervescent romance series. Especially when you need a good romance without trauma or overdone intrigue. The characters are interesting and while this is only 4 episodes, their personalities are complex enough to not feel like a brainless interlude. Great series to cleanse the palate without dryness or boredom.Was this review helpful to you?
Watch it yourself - only you can decide if The Red Sleeve is as great as it seems
While I gave it 10 stars I have seriously mixed feelings about it as the story plays with your emotions like a cat toys with anything it catches. Never killing it outright, just toying until the prey exhausts itself.It was a tragic love story with a surprising and consoling ending. So I forgave the writers for the difficult choices they made to present it. And in all honesty it was a thousand times easier to watch than Goblin and a much better ending than Scarlet Heart. So with that in mind, The Red Sleeve was more satisfying.
Not everyone watching it will have my opinion, so I do highly recommend it as a must watch. I put it off a really long time because of opinions I read. But there's nothing like seeing it yourself.
And do watch it right up the very, very end - don't blame if me you don't.
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A fair and thoughtful drama. Entertaining yet serious about health challenges.
As a romance this is a good, middle of the road non-melodrama, no serious disparity between the classes. And delves into some interesting topics we each encounter in modern life.Not taking time to properly discern our health due to lack of time, work stress, personal image etc. And while it seems this is all related to the main two persons - it actually encompasses everyone in the story. So that is actually very good. In fact I was personally impressed with how well and nonthreatening the subject of excess weight was approached. To very honest, it made an impact on my own view of my health image. So there are many things to like and engage with in this drama. The challenge of improving one's health in the face of what is possible to change by attention. And also the almost impossible challenge of a devastating illness for which you have no control and can only try to face with technology and state of art medical procedures.
What I didn't like was the so-called bravado of "Venus" who seems to have lost grip on reality. She is no longer the queen of beauty in high school and has no presence whatever. She's overweight, dressed badly and has no concept of the danger of declining health. Granted this is where the story takes us and makes a tale of encounter that is quite unbelievable. But that is what KDramas are good at. The other things I didn't like were choice of actors in some supporting roles. But the most annoying thing was, too many popular English songs in the soundtrack. What a bore!
Still, how the story plays out is very heartwarming and suitable even satisfactory. So feel free to watch and have fun in your own way. My taste is not yours. But, Shin Min Ah and So Ji Sub eat up their roles and make this fairly compelling.
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AKA: Fated to Love You (can we agree on the name for this Korean version please?)
With all the visuals of the "generation 2 idols" it's gonna look different - even though the year is 2014. But this drama has a lot of heart. And from the very start, we meet some familiar characters: the young choenoble who needs to marry and help safeguard the future of a conglomerate and a happy, sweet but not smart poor girl who everyone takes for granted. Here ends the often seen roles of many kdramas. For you have now met two very well written and enduring characters that will deliver one of the best stories to warm your heart and become your imaginary friends.Fated To Love You is often referred to but has never garnered the kind of hype many other (undeserving) dramas have. Yes there will be a lot of meddling, misunderstanding and missed opportunities. But everyone you meet will grow on you. And you will come to love them like your own family (foibles and all).
The story is fun and remains quite humorous throughout. But that doesn't mean your heart won't ache or break as time goes by. Everyone important to you will develop and grow but will they ultimately make the right choices. Why not watch and become friends with these characters? I am glad I did. I never thought I'd meet such likably sweet and wonderfully sincere characters outside "the classics" in literature.
Definitely 10 stars!!
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Mature, intelligent and entertaining, even if it's a contract marriage story.
This drama gets a full, unapologetic rating of TEN stars. With the exception of 2 KDrama tropes, most of the "expected usuals" were put aside for an intriguing, funny, heartwarming, and romantically mature series. Much more grown up a drama than one is accustomed to find as the norm in Romance Kdramas.Released in 2016, it is a totally fresh twist of telling a story about the conglomerate family heir and all that's expected of him. There is no lacking, mousy low-income girl facing off against the rich guy who needs to intimate her. And there is no silly emotionally immature behavior between these young adults.
Our "heir apparent" Lee Jae In is worldly, cold, and focused on his own goals; he's had many shallow dating relationships. Kim DaDa is our female lead from a middle-class family and has no debt to hinder her life choices or make her the least bit desperate; she's fully aware of herself and is comfortable bing who she is. In a word, she can hold her ground intellectually. She certainly has more depth of personality than you expect when you first meet her because she is such a kind person.
Ha Seok Jin and Jun So Min are the two actors in our lead roles: I've never seen them before in my almost 200 dramas. Neither is fabulously handsome, but they are utterly convincing and likable from the first episode. In the many supporting roles and many actors with very familiar faces and they all do such a great job that this drama lacks nothing in its story telling and has no "slow episodes" either.
The plot surrounds how the lead couple enter into a contractual relationship due to the interference of the retired conglomerate Chairman, who is also Jae In's grandfather. It's a stoke of forward thinking and wisdom on his part and how this spark unfolds is where this series shines above many of the usual dramas we've come to know.
The only failing I could find in this production was the OST; it's a bit mediocre with reliance on a few boring "Western" pieces. The Korean language ballads are however, beautiful and suit the scenes very well.
I do HIGHLY RECOMMEND this drama. Why it isn't as popular is a bit of mystery. But maybe it's because of marketing budgets. The quality of the costumes and cinematography are above average but not exceptional but isn't necessary for your entertainment.
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