JLM

I agree with the people who are getting stressed by this show. I think it's good, well acted etc. but its like watching a sloth climb up a tree, it's so mind numbingly slow. Some of the responses of both leads seem endlessly protracted, as if they are being confronted by some insoluble quantum physics equation. Then there are the long shots of them just thinking and reflecting or waiting outside on the street and staring, then there are all the flashbacks.It's like Waiting for Godot, just going nowhere. I get that the lead characters are introverted and complex, but sometimes they act and talk normally, and laugh etc. Then it's back to slow mo. It's that old Kdrama trope of "I have been so traumatised that I can't function....but god forbid I should explain any of it and actually communicate, better to act weirdly and screw up my own life and every one else's as well.

Wow it's amazing to see how this series has caused so much reaction. Personally I'm really enjoying it, I really like all the characters, mainly the leads. All of the misunderstandings and screw ups and machinations such as 'the fake affair' are the driving force to push the narrative forward to a resolution, otherwise you have a bland, paint by numbers kind of story. I feel like the main leads are really endearing people who screwed up badly but they are not BAD per se. There are so many seriously warped and psycho characters in some Kdramas, these are just normal people battling along in their lives, making mistakes, trying to figure it all out. That's essentially the nub of the story to me. They are essentially kind hearted underneath all the passionate, silly misunderstandings and overreactions. I find the support characters quite funny really and I think the script is well written and witty.

I never thought of this but I think you're right. Hopefully though it will be only a plot twist
and additional drama, let's face it there are 5 eps to go, and then HSS and ASY will finally end up together phew!!!! If they don't it will be pretty depressing,

Up to this point I agree, the first 2 eps were amazing, now it's seems flat and focussed on business deals, don't know how they can revive the edge of your seat interest factor?

Great to hear the back story, I'm inspired to read the novel, only if I can find it in english lol!

Thanks for that makes sense re FZJ!! The series characterisation of the mother doesn't gel with her insane judgemental, hypocritically uber moral, self righteous behaviour, and the father for that matter, probs clearer from the novel. It's interesting though, I imagine that stuff goes on a lot, sad for those kids outside the safe protected boundaries of wealthy, connected families. Otherwise I do think it's a really good show,
Actually re your comment below re "fan control" of celebrities both in K and C dramas. I also find it really disturbing. Actors lives are SO controlled by fans and netizens opinions in a way that seems off the charts insane to me. I wonder how these celebs can handle it long term giving over their lives to agency control and fan opinion. A lot of these fans are exceptionally immature and feel they have delusional control over the celebs. Which in fact they probably do. Also Kdrama content is often very controlled and censored according to the viewers. It certainly doesn't work that way in say Europe, Us, UK etc.

This drama is amazingly addictive in a "Twilight" kind of way, The acting for such a young cast is so believable and impressive. One plot question however, why did Zhu Yun never sit her mother down and explain in detail about Li Xun desperately trying to save his dying mother, his immense talent, the way he supported so many people, how he tried to help his sister, how he taught her so much in her studies, his kindness masquerading behind arrogance and abruptness, his vulnerability etc. Of course I know the answer to this...the mother's misinformed opinion of him is what drives the rift and hence the plot, but it's really annoying to watch. Similarly his noblesse oblige response to this situation is also irritating when he could have explained his decision to her to not cause her a divide with her family, and just left. Rather than the whole masquerade with the other girl. Again this causes the epic drama, as did the revenge beating up of Fang Zhi Jing. On that point, how is it possible that this blatantly corrupt person, who was publicly shown to be inept as a programmer and bribe his way into the competition, won gloriously the year after??? Is everyone brain dead??
Having said all that, this show is great, and I'm loving it!!!

The martial arts classes clearly did not pay off, neither did the taser lol

This show is quite entertaining, only comment is that everyone seems quite sedated all the time, the way they talk, react, etc even the fight scene was lethargic, and it's not helped by that fairly boring little background song that plays every five minutes. Looking forward to see how ML and FL sort out their relationship, it's cute. One more comment, not entirely sure why Wu Fei seems like a 12 year old.

This drama is great! Enjoying every minute. Kim Hye Soo as always is just fantastic, she manages to be beautiful, intelligent, interesting, strong and forceful, witty, I love everything I have ever seen her in. she is one of the few Korean actresses who totally inhabits the role, you just can't see her acting.
The rest of the cast is very strong. Really looking forward to the rest of the series.

Yoo Mi Ho should sell a few more bags and move out, why Sang Eun and Gwang Nam let her move in is beyond me, after all all she does is sit in her room, or in the lounge room like a bad smell, and scheme about exploiting her daughter.... again. Not a quality life. Hae Jin's mother is equally odd, she's a one trick pony, get her son married off, you can see the wheels trying to turn in her mind, sadly they can't, she's just too stupid. Same can be said for the rest of his family, including the brother. Hopefully HJ can distance himself from that toxic bunch and focus on his very successful career, despite his infatuation for SE, he can see it isn't really being reciprocated. Hasn't Sang Eun paid off her mother?? So therefore she's kind of free to move on and have a great relationship with Ji Ho isn't she. Thankfully JH is manning up and expressing his feelings at long last. There were some pretty dreary, awkward, prolonged dinners there for a while. SE should concentrate on getting her shit together, and stop co-operating with a bunch of losers. And put some weight on.
I guess if all that was achieved there wouldn't be a drama lol. One last point, Koreans drama writers should really step into the current century with their attitude to gay men and women. The attitude is anachronistic to the max, it's an embarrassment.

8 eps in and boring as hell. No one is doing anything, the stumbling, bumbling, uninteresting conversations over another boring dinner! That old hackneyed trope, "I'm so dysfunctional and wounded due to my traumatic childhood", PMY is a really charming person, but her roles never seem to change much, and I feel distracted because to me she looks really thin. I also think GKP is pretty good in most things, but he's as dull as dishwater in this. Maybe second half will pick up.

Have not stopped laughing, Please forward to Jung Seo Kyung!!

Exactly!! But with Won Sang A and PJS killed off, and the destruction of the orchid thing...there has to be a whole new plot (or should I say a whole new series of insanely, unrelated, unresolved...but grippingly addictive sub plots) what could possibly happen next lol

I loved this series, just fantastic acting, with no expectations that anything made any sense, everyone was beyond crazy. it was just a great watch. But....what happened between Do il and In Joo???? How many times did he madly rush to save her, remember the scene where he holds her while she's unconscious, he buys her jewellery, clearly is besotted when she is all dressed up at the auction, puts up with her idiotic decisions, tries countless times to get her on a plane to do something sensible. He even nearly goes to prison for her. She clearly is crazy about him also. There such is an intense a build up of chemistry during over all 12 series. And then poof.....see you later!!

She was constantly talking about it, and getting shut down. I think she did too.

Totally. lol

I think KGE is a phenomenal actress, even in this totally demented makjang, she was amazing. She is capable of a vulnerability and rawness, you hardly ever see in Kdramas where female leads are often have to look perfect. I hope she gets an award for this one.

I thought this drama was initially very well crafted in all respects, and what could go wrong with a fantastic cast like that. All events, behaviour, motivation were convincing and credible.
Then suddenly midway it has changed into the drama with a million subplots many of which are left dangling because it's not possible to to resolve them all in 12 ep drama. The sisters have become more and more stupidly naive, and the baddies more psycho batshit crazy. So yes "the plausibility factor" is now out the window, and it has become a not credible high action/thriller roller coaster ride. So what can you do, just sit back and enjoy.

So far I couldn't see any connection between the two, that is a really interesting interpretation.