So-so comedy drama
Whilst I'm not familiar with Choi Kang Hee, so don't know her other roles, I am not sure she was the right casting for this drama. Her chemistry with Kim Young Kwang didn't work for me, as the romance just wasn't believable, they were more like good friends. I am familiar with him, and whilst he did well portraying a lead male who's immature (but not completely clueless) and 'disinterested-in-the-company heir' type character, I'm again not feeling his casting quite worked, but that may be due to aforementioned lack of chemistry with FL.Apart from the 2 company kitchen staff ladies, Geum-ja and Mi-ja, none of the characters stood out for me, and Ha-ni's younger self, I really found quite unlikeable.
It's also another one of those lead female characters who, whilst in her downtrodden mode, is shown as unattractive and frumpy. I get fed up with that, although I suppose it did show that a person's overall image has less to do with features (or even build) and more with hairstyle, flattering clothing and a little makeup; they worked wonders in her character's case.
Her family were also forgettable and treated her extremely badly, I thought, especially the awful sister.
The plot didn't fully engage me either and I lost interest quite early on, when she readily accepted being treated as a doormat. How the arrival of her younger (selfish, whiney and conceited) self, spurred her on to take a restock of her life, I honestly questioned, as she wasn't exactly a great role model.
I also didn't get the odd shaman character, or her younger self's return to the past, although that could be due to losing interest in the overall story.
Certainly not one I'd watch again and with so many other, better, dramas out there to see, not one I'd recommend either.
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Wish You: Your Melody From My Heart (Movie)
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Series also available
Kang In Soo and Lee Sang are really sweet together. Their characters are quite understated; there's no OTT melodrama or unnatural discomfort. Sang-yi's slightly shy and humble, yet supportive and positive personality sits so well against In-soo's deeper more confident one. They compliment each other well.The 2 more intimate scenes were nicely done and the actors were believable. No wooden or uncomfortable posturing.
I liked the story, but did feel that some of the scenes in which feelings were being individually contemplated, against the fitting soundtrack, were a little lengthy. They could have been shortened and a bit more added to other parts of the story; possibly their relationship deepening, or a bigger hint of their musical success to come.
A very nice watch though.
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Series and edited into film
I watched the film, as sometimes find such short episodes interruot the story's flow.Kang In Soo and Lee Sang are really sweet together. Their characters are quite understated; there's no OTT melodrama or unnatural discomfort. Sang-yi's slightly shy and humble, yet supportive and positive personality sits so well against In-soo's deeper more confident one. They compliment each other well.
The 2 more intimate scenes were nicely done and the actors were believable. No wooden or uncomfortable posturing.
I liked the story, but did feel that some of the scenes in which feelings were being individually contemplated, against the fitting soundtrack, were a little lengthy. They could have been shortened and a bit more added to other parts of the story; possibly their relationship deepening, or a bigger hint of their musical success to come.
A very nice watch though.
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The tables are turned on a manager who once bullied and mistreated a young intern... what goes around really did come around and initially it felt good!
However, through various events and struggles, all concerned get life lessons that open their eyes and enable them to grow.
This is not intended to be a heavy watch with messages and depth, but it is touching, quite positive and with more than a few giggles.
I loved the characters of Han-gil and Oh-kyung/ Anasatisia (snr interns), who show that older people aren't necessarily dull, can still be sharp (and in the case of Oh-kyung, attractive too), plus have lived fascinating lives... no one is born old, it comes to everyone and people should be judged on their character not age.
Another favourite was intern Yoon-soo, whose character faced numerous challenges and whilst he made several bad judgement calls, faced up to it each time.
Jun-soo (especially) and Man-shik, were characters that I couldn't help but like, even though the former was spoilt and and tried to manipulate people, and the latter was often egotistical and beligerant!
I'd have liked a little more romance between Yeol-chan and Tae-ri, which seemed imminent on several occasions, but never really delivered.
I thought this role was a little different for Park Hae-jin, as neither smug, cold or cocky, although a stubborn and vengeful side came out when he felt both threatened and lacking in confidence. He played this really well.
The office environment contained the mix of people and irritations that many will be able to relate to, but loyalty is there too.
The music (mostly Trot) really suited the series and what it was about.
Not to be taken seriously, but enjoyed, which I did!
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Story is lacking, but acting isn't
Nice cast of young, fresh actors, some of whom nevertheless have several drama appearances under their belts. Also some Idol actors (Nu'est/Wanna One, Victon, ex Momoland, TXT guest appearance).The cast acted very naturally and worked well together in a story very much aimed at a younger audience, although that's not to say older viewers wouldn't enjoy it (I did 😊).
The issue of school bullying was treated / portrayed very lightly in the script. Even if not shown, to say someone is beaten up would entail the victim to at least show bodily pain/discomfort in the absence of facial bruising, in order to convey that storyline.
From the way the bullying was exposed during the course of the story, the character's mental scars due to the experience, were quite OTT. Also, for someone mistreated, to behave so nastily to others without reason, was hypocritical and where the 'pitying' aspect came from was never backed up in the scenes from that time, so it didn't make sense why that person would feel that way about even their supposedly closest friends.
At the same time, in the present day, the bully's perspective about their actions was unusual, but I think true to life.
The supporting romantic side stories were sweet and I especially liked So-hyun and Yoo-shin. There was very little kissing, which considering their character ages and personalities, was a bit odd (it doesn't have to be full-on kisses.... but there were less of any kind, than fingers on a hand).
Noh Jong-hyun is an actor with more experience and I've enjoyed watching him in some favourite dramas; however, he blended in well with the other cast members, which I suppose means they got on well and enjoyed working together.
Hopefully we'll see many of them mature into successful actors with lead roles, in the not too distant future.
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Twists and turns
The character of Eun-sol is in turn likeable and incredibly infuriating, for the first few episodes, but as she gains both experience and confidence, her over eagerness and assumptions that she must be right, lessen greatly.Baek-beom's nickname of Grumpy Beom is an understatement and it's hard to believe anyone could get away with some of the stuff he does. Again though, as the story progresses and we learn more about his past, which is gradually uncovered for him too, he begins to very slowly come out of himself.
The forensic post mortems are quite graphic, even though blurred out, and there are some quite gross scenes. The crimes include abuse and rape, so could be a trigger for some (hence the "18' rating I imagine).
Surrounding characters are varied. Some deep, others arrogant and also a wonderfully light hearted police officer, Cha Soo-ho. A couple, though, are incredibly annoying, one from being so thick and negative (if he applied himself half as much to caring about his work as he does to eating, he'd be better than everyone at the lab), to another constanty speaking in English, which I found ridiculous.
The crimes and criminals overlap, lacing together to form a pretty good and intricate plot. Things are not always as they seem and there are some surprises.
The strange working relationship that forms between Eun-sol and Baek-beom is very amusing at times and it's her tenacity and quite thick skin that seem to appeal to him.
There is a lot of shouting and screaming at times (too much on occasion), but also some moving and distressing story lines.
Series 1 leaves us at a bit of a cliff hanger and I'm invested enough to head straight for series 2....
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The Wolf grew teeth
Captivating from the start, Darren Wang's duality in this role is well played. He has an aura as Prince Bo and can exude both sex appeal and menace.Li Qin also gives a good performance and her character's development from young and naive to one with responsibilities and regrets is quite melancholic.
I liked the mix of supporting characters, from light hearted to wicked. Xiao Zhan is, as always, a pleasure to watch, as his character returns to his obligations and surprises everyone.
The story itself is pretty good, with the usual scheming, plotting and treachery that surrounds the King and heirs, and mistrusting clans.
It's something of a melodrama and not a fluffy watch, although there is plenty of romance.
My only gripe is how Zhai Xing would not face up to the fact that her Wolf Boy was a person that no longer existed. She herself was changed by her experiences, yet she somehow insisted that You Wen was still an intact personality, as though stuck in time.
There's fighting, battles, laughs, cries, heart ache, redemption, regret, loyalty, everything! A good watch and one that could be revisited after a time, as there's so much going on and it's a relatively complex story.
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Big feels
This is a very moving story, funny one minute, infuriating the next.It shows an older generation, warts and all. The sexism toward women and changing culture toward older people is obvious and plays a pivotal part of the story.
Aging is different for everyone and the many facets of it are wrapped up, sometimes messily, here.
The saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, goes out the window in this story, especially for one quite awful character who gets a big wake up call. He redeems himself, but I could never like nor forgive him his past behaviour.
Lasting friendships through thick and thin, good and bad times, highs and lows, are heart warming. Misunderstandings, selfishness, only seeing ones own problems, all have consequences that are eloquently played out.
Seeing one's own grown up child treated so badly it causes anguish and anger, is a lesson that should be taught to everyone who's ever bullied or abused (whether mentally or physically) a partner themselves.... most people are someone's beloved child.
A poignant drama so worth watching. The cast were amazing. I loved it in a very strange way, as there were times I got really angry, but that's what a wonderfully acted drama draws out of me.
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Family life and strife
Mini soap opera with laughs, cries and everything inbetween.Great cast and chatacters. So enjoyed the daily lives of the Song family. Watching characters grow and develop was a real pleasure. Great motivator for anyone whose lives have gone off track, finding themselves lacking confidence and feeling like failures.
My favourites in this were characters acted by Lee Jung-eun, Lee Sang-yeob, Lee Sang-yi and Ki Do-hoon.
I found it hard to like some characters, even after they'd acknowledged their own short comings, but then life is really like that - we can't like everyone!
Sometimes I found the story became a little silly, which detracted from what was overall a well written drama, with many laughs and realistic plots.
Song Da-he was a unique character, but her childish way of speaking did irritate me.
I wish the ending wasn't quite so abrupt, but this is one I would consider watching again.
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A frustrating guilty pleasure
There was a lot I liked and quite a bit I didn't. Plus points are a likeable cast of characters, played by decent actors, with not too many cheesey or clichéd moments and a female lead character that's not a wet weekend. The men that end up gravitating back around her, are all very different. I liked how she didn't see herself as a victim, was independent, yet had her weaknesses. Her mum is played by a favourite actress, whose character was so supportive. The young actress playing the daughter/granddaughter was excellent and it was refreshing to see a mature young character that wasn't selfish and overly needy or full of cuteness and little else.What I didn't like was the complete lack of communication, which became totally ridiculous. The initial misunderstandings were believable and understandable, but later, there were too many occasions when explanations were interrupted and never forced, even though the facts were crucial. Situations where the plain truth would have been most rational people's first and only response, were instead met with frustratingly weak and ridiculous ones instead, making things worst. This meant any empathy or sympathy with those characters just vanished.
That aside, there were quite moving moments and some funny ones, which are what made me enjoy it overall.
It's not one I would watch again through.
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You'll cry with laughter and sadness
Filled with laughs and emotional scenes; a real roller coaster.Characters develop so well, from arrogant to humble, cold to warm and enemies to friends.
Family misunderstandings, painful memories, traumas, love and loss ~ this drama has it all.
Heo Im (Kim Nam-gil) was a real life physician who developed his own techniques of acupuncture and wrote journals on the practice. Whilst there is a comedic theme through the series, his legacy is not undermined, whilst the drama also balances the use by complimenting with modern medicine; both have their place.
I loved the cast of characters and there are other true ones, such as Japanese general, Sayaka, who was actually a Korean named Kim Chung-seon.
I loved every aspect of this drama and whilst it was occasionally a bit far fetched and melodramatic, overall it was a joy to watch.
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Just Desserts
I was very pleasantly surprised by this off-the-wall Rom-Com drama, which was far better than I expected.Loved the foodie bits, apart from references to Sharks Fin Soup, which should be illegal due to the cruelty involved and birds nest soup ~ also damaging if wild.
Sound acting from a good cast; I loved Jang Hyuk's portrayal of a likeable gangster-come-loan-shark. Jung Ryeo-won is perfect as the somewhat ditzy but feisty and quietly confident love interest. Lee Jun-ho was the most lovable combination of serious yet cute chef, whose smile completely changed his face.
I particularly like the fact that the relationship aspects to this drama are more grown up than usual. There are few clichés and the female characters in this are all quite strong and opinionated, rather than doe eyed and dull.
The evolving friendships, loyalty and just desserts make for a funny, touching and rewarding watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
I enjoyed this series a great deal. I especially liked that, for a change, neither of the lead couple (Pete/Ae), used the "I'm not gay, I don't like men, I just like you" line, which is so overused in many BLs.The characters were pretty varied and included a straight couple, which was nice, as this makes it a more inclusive story, although being a BL series, of course the emphasis should be on the gay couples.
This is a fictional drama, not real life, but some of the characters were really unlikeable and their behaviour was not shown with either the consequences or reprisals, they should have faced...
Lemon, Can's sister; what a nosy, bitchy, controlling, unpleasant character. The crap this character made up about those around her, with no thought for the havoc it might cause in their lives, was really irritating. Considering Can is meant to be older, I found it really annoying that she seemed to have so much control over him.
Kengkla was another horrid character; a real sleaze. He basically low-key stalked Techno via the latter's equally shitty brother, who seemed to have no conscience or problem selling out his brother's body (basically) for personal gain. Awful. Kengkla only got the opportunity to bed Techno whilst he was drunk. Admittedly, Techno did kiss him back. However, the next morning, Kengkla made out it was Techno who took advantage of him! So uncomfortable and totally wrong to have left that part of the storyline without any reprisals on Kengkla - a season 2 much needed, if only to rectify that!
Let's not kid ourselves, even with an 18 cert, there will be underage, or older but immature/inexperienced/easily led viewers...as this is not a 'serious' drama, but a lighter hearted series, those kinds of issues need to be clarified as not being acceptable under any circumstances.
The ending in terms of Tin and Can's (very unfortunate names for English speakers ;) ) characters, was really frustrating. I felt so sorry for Tin, whose character developed well through the unfolding of his story. Last we see of him is bawling his eyes out in the shower. Nice.
Can had started to develop so well as a character too and again, we were left with him being so wonderfully open and honest with Tin, yet not seeing that taken any further. He was equally upset, as he knew he'd hurt Tin, even though it was not intentional.
A Season 2 is definitely needed, focussing on the characters that were secondary in Season 1. I don't think Pete and Ae's characters need any further development, as they were solid and very much together at the end of S1.
I would recommend watching this series and did enjoy it, as said at the beginning. These gripes are just my personal and humble opinions! I really hope there will be a follow-up series.
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I am surprised Kim Hye-sung has not gone on to do a lot more.
As for the issue of teenage pregnancy, it could not be made fluffier if they tried.
The idea of a 15-year old, handling such a big secret in this way, is ridiculous.
It was all just too fantastical for me and lacked substance.
The film was a mess really, not funny enough to be classed a comedy, not tense or emotional enough to be a melodrama and not deep enough to be a decent drama either. That was a main problem.
Either write it as a comedy, in which case keep it light, avoid the issue of abortion and make the main characters older by a couple of years.
Or, make it a serious piece of work on a difficult topic and have the characters go through what would be an incredibly traumatic experience for all concerned, in a realistic way. That would need more focus on the families and less on their peers doing strange musical type turns and behaving like their friends had just won a teen idol competition!
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A big emotional story packed into 11 episodes
May 2025Wow. What an emotional ride. A trigger warning has to come early, as there are some quite harrowing scenes involving children.
Some light moments in earlier episodes, but this isn't fluffy; on the contrary, it is very dark, and very bloody.
The most dangerous things in dramas (and often reality), are power, money, love and jealousy. These are the driving forces behind this story, with a bucket load of revenge.
It's a twisting tale, mostly fast paced, with some epic sword fights. No particularly out of the ordinary characters ~ a cross section of classes, some really vile people, and a smattering of lunacy.
LJW and JBA are well cast; I liked both characters a lot, they gave believable performances, which really dragged me into caring about them and their happiness.
Kim Jae-wook has a role in this and is excellent, too. He really can act, seeing as his character didn't figure in all scenes, yet his presence never felt far away.
I wanted justice, and some characters really deserved to suffer far more than they did.
There is a lot of tragedy attached to this story, but it isn't depressing.
Plenty of action, thrills, and a moving love story within the main one. There were moments when I gasped, and shouted "No!!!" Not something I do often. Got angry and loathed several characters; something I do do often 😉🤭
The romance aspect felt quite sudden, kind of going from 0-60, with an aspect of mild incest (which in honesty wasn't believable), was shoved in. I'm not sure that fit, for me, but I understood the justification, as it affected the decisions Jae-yi made.
If you're anything like me, you'll need at least one tissue, at some point. It isn't perfect, but I sat through it in 2 evenings, and was glued.
Together with so many scenes getting a reaction out of me, a great cast and acting... that's a more-or-less perfect watch in my eyes. Highly recommended.
I loved the soundtrack, too; even the 'incidental' music.
화화 (花火 Burning Petals) - 4BOUT (어바웃) [per YouTube] was my favourite.
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