some dramas are just not meant to be
i know this review is going to make a lot of viewers mad, but hear me out before going full keyboard warrior on me. this drama lacks a lot. contrary to popular opinion, i don’t think jisoo is the weak link in the acting. that being said, this genre just doesn't suit her. she would shine more in slice-of-life and melodramas. now, my biggest issue with this drama is the writing. not everyone is meant to write comedy, and this is a perfect example of why. i generally hate when characters are dumbed down just for laughs. i can't stand watching these fish-brained men—it feels like my IQ drops every time.Was this review helpful to you?
stop using female violence as a shock factor tool
this drama uses graphic content to an uncomfortable degree. it makes me wonder about the screenwriter's intentions, as some scenes feel unnecessarily excessive. imo this series could have been far more impactful without these scenes. while the acting delivers, the writing falls short and feels disjointed. If you are easily triggered by violence especially against women, I would advise not to watch this dramaWas this review helpful to you?
Carried by the Female Lead
I'm kind of a sucker for office and slice of life dramas, so I thought this would be at my alley. I loved that the plot focused on Shinoda Hinako's growth in her professional field. Okuyama Aoi portrayed her well. The casting overall was great. My main issue lies how certain industry situations were portrayed. That's something that usually doesn't click with jdramas for me, so this wasn't much of a surprise.Overall, I’d recommend this drama to viewers who enjoy office slice-of-life stories, as long as they don’t mind some genre-specific quirks.
Was this review helpful to you?
Surprisingly comforting...
I’m grateful that Netflix recommended this drama to me. It’s truly a hidden gem, and with the current trend of J-dramas getting second seasons after a 10-year gap, hopefully this one gets picked up as well. The only real issue I had with the series was the dad. I don’t think he had much character development until the very end which explains why his kids are either airheads or brats.Matsushima Nanako absolutely carries this drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Simplicity is the answer
I loved the writing, cinematography and editing in this film. I’m a sucker for the found family trope, and since this movie seemed to include it, I gave it a shot. The storyline is easy to follow. It makes this film a genuinely enjoyable viewing experience.The cinematography and editing are great. The aspect that drags my rating down from an eight to a seven point five is the acting. The actors do have chemistry, but in some scenes they overact. It made me cringe several times during the film. Overall, everything else comes close to perfection.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Bland for a slice of life / romance crossover
This drama started out great but ended up feeling dragged out. The casting was alright, but the storytelling was lacking. It was too slow-paced even for me, and I'm slice of life genre enjoyer. Also, I can't deny my frustration towards unnecessary love triangles (especially in J-dramas), because writers somehow manage to make 90% of the show about a couple that isn’t even endgame. That being said, I have to admit this drama heavily relied on the leads’ chemistry and acting. If it weren’t forHan Hyo Joo and Oguri Shun, I probably would’ve dropped it ASAP.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
surprisingly good watch
Let me start this review by saying how much I missed female characters who are written as complex by nature, not just because it’s a trend. Another thing worth praising about this series is its storytelling. The narrative doesn’t waver. Instead, it moves confidently from point A to point B. Although the plot is quite dark, I can absolutely see myself rewatching it for that reason alone. Kudos to Go Hyun Jung and Jang Dong Yoon for their excellent performances. They carried the drama by portraying one of the most complex relationship between mother and son I’ve seen on screen so far.Was this review helpful to you?
simple, yet emotional
this film has a simple plot that's easy to follow. the main lead or should i say one of the main leads is an ex-prostitute, and the story primarily revolves around her and the people she interacts with in her daily life. the main message of the film is that everyone faces their own struggles, and sharing those issues is an important step toward moving forward.i would recommend this film to anyone who is into slice of life genre. special kudos to the cast, who made the plot feel more authentic.
Was this review helpful to you?
why in the world did i watch this sooner?
i really regret not starting this sooner because this drama is excellent. i love the plot and how everything is connected in the end. i love the main four characters, even though not all of them are great actors by my standards. that being said, the chemistry between them is amazing - not just between the couples, but among all four. for the first time in a long while, the secondary couple actually feels meaningful and not just there to fill time. the cinematography and costumes are also fantastic. if you're hesitant to watch this, just do itWas this review helpful to you?
slice of (traumatic) life
i decided to give it a go and watch it with my limited mandarin. the story centers around surprisingly loving co-worker group who earn money by cleaning death scenes. the cleaner is a slice of life to the core, and has some serious tear jerking moments. the acting was really selling point of the series. hopefully, it gets subbed somedayWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
episode 13 felt like a finale
it started out good but the logic flew out of the window in the middle of the series. there's also a lot of things that bothered me while watching.- antagonists were made stupid as possible to make leads seem smart. it made me think that i'm watching some wattpad live action series. description of a psycho rich girl who tries to take the MC's man belongs right to that app
- the leads' acting was horrendous at times (especially during crying scenes), which made me less sympathetic towards MCs. wipe those teardrops of your face
- phone's plot line would've worked so much better if
a) there was another phone holder (who was trying to save one of the antagonists)
or
b) only yuan xia could accept phone calls
or
c) every time yuan xia survives, someone else d!es
unlike most of the other people, i liked the fact that they didn't threw in random comedy bits and kept leads' relationship romantic and realistic at the same time. second lead' couple didn't make me roll my eyes which was another plus.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
maybe 12 eps would've been enough?
The only issue I had with this drama was that, at some points, the series felt a bit dragged out. I was also a little frustrated with some of the choices made by the female lead. However, I'm glad that all the characters ended up getting the ending they deserved. I am a bit sad that we never got to see a side romance develop between MC and you know who, but it got renewed, so I'm keeping my hopes upWas this review helpful to you?
loved this series to tiny pieces
the simplest way to describe this drama is that it's something between makjang and melodrama. unlike similar dramas, all characters had a purpose. although some of them managed to make my blood boil (cough cough FL's husband), the leads kept me enough hooked until the final moments of the series. the acting was flawless and raw, but what else to expect from such a skillful cast?Was this review helpful to you?
still waiting for renewal news...
this show had everything i grave for...- good acting
even extras were acting like rent was due
- good chemistry between the cast as a whole
- well written from start to finish (origin stories, characters' personalities, dynamics and motives)
honestly, i might downgrade my rating, if we aren't getting renewal news any time soon
Was this review helpful to you?
should've been a film
it would've worked better as 4 episode series or a film. personally speaking, i didn't care about background characters at all. they didn't give anything to the general story. even the dialogues between the main characters were cringe at some moments. despite all that leads managed to pull it off and have a great chemistryWas this review helpful to you?
