A few minutes ago, I was updating my watchlist and realized that I had not completed this drama (primarily due to family emergency but if and when I had time to watch a kdrama, I went elsewhere). I put this one on hold - thinking that I would try to finish at some later date but after reading your review, I see that for all the reasons I didn't bother watching/catching up (no plot, "shallow cardboard" characters, etc.) there is no point in continuing. So, it will now go into my "dropped" folder with a mediocre 5 Star rating - primariliy because I really enjoyed the first handful of episodes. Thank you for taking the time to write this - very helpful to someone like me who has limited time for kdramas. 😊
I'm still patiently waiting for the character development of Na Jeok Bong. Gosh, I had to skip so many times in…
They provided his back-story: country boy, naive/innocent, devoted to his father and willing to sacrifice himself to save others.
And then decided to ignore that rather charming story and reduce him to clown. His web-toon character was far more insufferable (conceited, etc), but webtoon Jeok Bong also showed strength and power in addition to his ability to smell evil.
I also hope that he goes through some sort of ttansformation but w/only 4 episodes left, not very likely.
the drama strayed so far from the webtoon* that i assumed the webtoon was used as a launching pad to deliver a…
I'm only here because of Jeok Bong (Yoo In Soo). I was happy that they provided Jeok Bong a rather charming country-boy personality who is devoted to his father and is self-sacrificing. Unfortunately, for comedic effect, they have erased the character's web-toon strength and power. I was hoping we would see more of the Park Dang-gu charm and scenes with Mo-Tak.
I have no idea how Korean names are structured (first name vs last name) , so maybe you can illuminate …, but…
Two days ago (before Episode 43), I had the exact same thought - that Hee (ex-girlfriend) mentioned her "mother" a few times and that the mother might be Strawberry. 😊 Of course, the rapid-fire DNA test seems to have scotched that idea.
When the drama began, JH was 34 years old. and everything seems to be "20 years ago" in this drama , with or without the time skip. So, I choose to go with age 14. Eka was 22 at the time. 8 years difference in age (unless writer forget how to calculate once more)
Mom died in a car accident in the US.
Dad "also passed away at the same time" (implied that he died in the same accident, but sub translation might be fuzzy?)
What the hell difference does it make If JH is adopted or not???? If he was adopted by Strawberry and raised by Strawberry (Grandmother's daughter, Papa Gong's sister) then he is Grandmother's legal grandson. I don't understand why that makes a difference in the eyes of the JH Haters.
JH considered Strawberry to be his mother. Sister Eka considers him to be her brother. One of THE major messages that THRC has attempted to make - to Koreans - is that adoption is NOT A BAD THING.
Frankly, it would be awful if the story was: Since JH was adopted, we don't have to forgive him for his mis-deeds. It's okay that we don't want him to be part of the Gong family. OR, "see what happens if you adopt someone? they are scarred for life always wondering where they came from. It's better to leave them in an orphanage."
God Almighty!!!
If he WAS adopted, then he will turn out to be TK's brother. Which is my preference, tbh.
It's a "cute" romance with a semi-supernatural element.
Cute characters. Cute romance. If that's your preference, you will enjoy it. (that doesn't mean it is "good" - something that is subjective for everyone).
It's been a few weeks since I watched - I kept thinking I would return and watch the scenes I FF through, but so far, not happening.
I absolutely LOVED the first 1/2 - the choreographed action/stunt scenes - w/little or no CGI. Ji Chang Wook's acting, the back story of his character and his gradual/evolving feelings for Park Min Young's character. I loved Park Min Young as well (she is the reason I watched a drama that was this old).
I think that if I were watching this in original schedule - two episodes every week - I would have been totally immersed with the characters and story. But somewhere along the line - something that happens with almost all dramas that are 16+ episodes - I began to FF quite a bit.
So take that for what it is worth. The story is unique and captivating - but the requirement to stretch it out 20 episodes means that today's current viewers who can binge watch might not feel the sense of urgency/tension that was clearly there when viewers were watching from one week to the next. Even so, I give it a 9⭐ simply because it is an amazing drama with great characters, great actors, unique plot and. . . those wonderful action/stunt scenes.
According to interview with the martial arts director (Park Young-sik), Episodes 8 and 12 have major action scenes (if I am correctly reading the article).
". . . martial arts director Park Young-sik cited the most memorable scene in the first half of the action scene as "the demon action in the opening bus of episode 1", saying, "This is the scene that marks the beginning of Season 2, and it is the most elaborate scene because we had to show the abilities and performance of each counter to viewers who have not seen Season 1. At the same time, it is said that among the action scenes in the second half, "8 hotel actions and 12 last actions" are highly recommended, which already raises expectations. He added, "Both are large-scale action scenes, and they are filled with action and dramatic elements, such as fantasy team play in which the Counters take on the mighty demons, belief in each other, friendship, and sacrifice, so you will be able to see a variety of attractions."
HA! they killed him! They killed Hana's lover boy! Ohhhhh they had to drag him, make her fall in love & then kill…
I think he was always meant to demonstrate that non-counter love interests are a WEAKNESS for a counter. I haven't had time to watch Ep. 7, but I don't think they will kill off a young adult.
Ok so the territory is something that actually comes on it's own but when moon joined them, they found out that…
I didn't watch Season 1 when it first aired - there may be lots of people like me who didn't see it 3 years ago and are just now coming to the drama for whatever reason (Netflix suggestion, new actors, whatever). Plus, it WAS 3 years ago - a 5 minute reintro - explaining to Jeok Bong - would have been helpful.
I finished Ep. 42 last night and was caught off guard when Hee mentioned "her mother". Has she mentioned her before?Anyway,…
Thanks for your answer 0 it helps clarify context.
"I give up with the year-count with these writers!"
But a viewer Should Not Need to Give Up!
It is a Very Big Deal with me that at the end of the drama, the dots are connected. Perhaps some dots are never connected, but a writer should at least prepare a story board w/the important time-lines, facts and character descriptions that show commitment to the story.
Anything less is contempt for the viewer. I don't like to be held in contempt. In fact. . . .I hate it.
I just rated a few episodes today (gave high marks to Episode 8 and YD crashing the wedding from hell). I usually drop a drama and don't bother with a rating before it gets this low. But this far into it? - there's a reason why the algorithm is trending down and it isn't just me.
I finished Ep. 42 last night and was caught off guard when Hee mentioned "her mother". Has she mentioned her before?Anyway,…
Thanks for answer re: mention of Hee's mother.🥰
"Also i am sure there had been og plans to make the creep indeed the grandson of halmeoni for rehabilitation's sake as they planned to have him toned down a lot. But then they sent him off the deep end instead "
I mildly disagree - I believe the original connection (family) was supposed to be TK. "Strawberry" didn't even earn a mention until. . . .when? Episode 28? I know you all hate it - but the hints/clues (birthdates w/in 30 days of each other! visceral hatred from Day One!) were there - intentionally!!!!.
However, I agree with you that writer-nim decided to send him off the deep-end. Joon-ha was a semi-redeemable rogue until about Episode 29 and then. . . .all I can say is that they really did actor Jung Eun Jae dirty by having him promote a promised secret family connection - absolutely unforgiveable.😢😢😢
2 
1 
And then decided to ignore that rather charming story and reduce him to clown. His web-toon character was far more insufferable (conceited, etc), but webtoon Jeok Bong also showed strength and power in addition to his ability to smell evil.
I also hope that he goes through some sort of ttansformation but w/only 4 episodes left, not very likely.
Mom died in a car accident in the US.
Dad "also passed away at the same time" (implied that he died in the same accident, but sub translation might be fuzzy?)
JH considered Strawberry to be his mother. Sister Eka considers him to be her brother. One of THE major messages that THRC has attempted to make - to Koreans - is that adoption is NOT A BAD THING.
Frankly, it would be awful if the story was: Since JH was adopted, we don't have to forgive him for his mis-deeds. It's okay that we don't want him to be part of the Gong family. OR, "see what happens if you adopt someone? they are scarred for life always wondering where they came from. It's better to leave them in an orphanage."
God Almighty!!!
If he WAS adopted, then he will turn out to be TK's brother. Which is my preference, tbh.
Cute characters. Cute romance. If that's your preference, you will enjoy it. (that doesn't mean it is "good" - something that is subjective for everyone).
I absolutely LOVED the first 1/2 - the choreographed action/stunt scenes - w/little or no CGI. Ji Chang Wook's acting, the back story of his character and his gradual/evolving feelings for Park Min Young's character. I loved Park Min Young as well (she is the reason I watched a drama that was this old).
I think that if I were watching this in original schedule - two episodes every week - I would have been totally immersed with the characters and story. But somewhere along the line - something that happens with almost all dramas that are 16+ episodes - I began to FF quite a bit.
So take that for what it is worth. The story is unique and captivating - but the requirement to stretch it out 20 episodes means that today's current viewers who can binge watch might not feel the sense of urgency/tension that was clearly there when viewers were watching from one week to the next. Even so, I give it a 9⭐ simply because it is an amazing drama with great characters, great actors, unique plot and. . . those wonderful action/stunt scenes.
". . . martial arts director Park Young-sik cited the most memorable scene in the first half of the action scene as "the demon action in the opening bus of episode 1", saying, "This is the scene that marks the beginning of Season 2, and it is the most elaborate scene because we had to show the abilities and performance of each counter to viewers who have not seen Season 1. At the same time, it is said that among the action scenes in the second half, "8 hotel actions and 12 last actions" are highly recommended, which already raises expectations. He added, "Both are large-scale action scenes, and they are filled with action and dramatic elements, such as fantasy team play in which the Counters take on the mighty demons, belief in each other, friendship, and sacrifice, so you will be able to see a variety of attractions."
http://www.sportsworldi.com/newsView/20230817509073
This is the perfect role for him to take on and get more acting experience.
He has one more drama to finish and then he's probably off for military service in the next year.
"I give up with the year-count with these writers!"
But a viewer Should Not Need to Give Up!
It is a Very Big Deal with me that at the end of the drama, the dots are connected. Perhaps some dots are never connected, but a writer should at least prepare a story board w/the important time-lines, facts and character descriptions that show commitment to the story.
Anything less is contempt for the viewer. I don't like to be held in contempt. In fact. . . .I hate it.
I just rated a few episodes today (gave high marks to Episode 8 and YD crashing the wedding from hell). I usually drop a drama and don't bother with a rating before it gets this low. But this far into it? - there's a reason why the algorithm is trending down and it isn't just me.
"Also i am sure there had been og plans to make the creep indeed the grandson of halmeoni for rehabilitation's sake as they planned to have him toned down a lot. But then they sent him off the deep end instead "
I mildly disagree - I believe the original connection (family) was supposed to be TK. "Strawberry" didn't even earn a mention until. . . .when? Episode 28?
I know you all hate it - but the hints/clues (birthdates w/in 30 days of each other! visceral hatred from Day One!) were there - intentionally!!!!.
However, I agree with you that writer-nim decided to send him off the deep-end. Joon-ha was a semi-redeemable rogue until about Episode 29 and then. . . .all I can say is that they really did actor Jung Eun Jae dirty by having him promote a promised secret family connection - absolutely unforgiveable.😢😢😢