Pincolino

I have never seen a series that made me so depressed. It hits a bit too close to home. I'm the 3rd generation daughter in this series, my parents were the hardworking kind, I was the one who went to university.
I see my parents in Ae Sun and her husband.
I know about the financial struggle, about the silly and simple-minded attitude of those "boomer" parents. They just breed and stay hopeful, not caring if they even have enough money to feed their children. Their idea of love is also very simple, almost childish. They live for their children and grandchildren. Nothing else in their lives. No time for anything else either, since life is a constant struggle. I once said to my mother, I sometimes spend hours just thinking about how to make more money, how to be more successful - then she started laughing, because she never had the time to think about that. People stay poor, because of the constant struggle day in day out. They are in survival mode. For some f*cked up reason they are proud of making it, of not giving up, they seem to see beauty in the constant suffering. It's something I don't understand.
What did Ae Sun really achieve in life? Sending her daughter to university? She did a lot of things wrong with her son, the other son died, and while accidents happen, it somehow was her fault. So she wasn't even able to bring all of their three children to adulthood.
She published her poem book. Great. Just one book. Some poems.
Her beloved daughter got out of poverty, but I wonder if the next generation will be poor again. We see it today, how the younger people don't have much, can't even buy their own home. So this is just a constant cycle. We can't get richer and richer.
The daughter wasn't very special either. I honestly never understood what's so special about anyone of those daughters. I loved the 1st generation woman, the mother of Ae Sun. That woman had presence and power. Every scene with her made me feel something deep in my soul. She was the real deal. Kudos to the actress.
Ae Sun herself was a character I couldn't understand to the end. She had a strong will, was pretty bold and good with words, but at the same time she was supposed to be the shy literary girl? She obviously was a hopeless romantic, who couldn't keep her legs closed. The exaggerated crying in her young years (her daughter was the same, the crying at the wedding was unbearable) made her look rather silly. At old age she became very traditional, and I would never call her a modern woman with a strong will.
Honestly, there was nothing special about those women, and some may say that was the point.
The husband had no personality until the end. Both actors (the young and the old) didn't, so it was intentional.
I somehow felt at the end of the day this was a love story?
I'm lost, really.
I admit, this series even got me a bit angry, because they sell you this depressing tale as something beautiful and touching.
I can image young people in their 20s, who can't relate to the story, because they haven't experienced something like that, are thinking this was uplifting and beautiful. If you have lived through it, you get bitter. The 2nd generation daughter lashed out to her parents occasionally, the son too. In those moments, I saw myself in them. The daughter was speaking my mind several times.

For me to enjoy a series, I need good characters. I can get over the laziest, most stupid and most boring plot, if the characters are interesting, charming and have a nice dynamic. The dynamic and the tension between them is very important to me.
This series doesn't have interesting characters. Mark comes across very lifeless, maybe that's his role as a vampire, but I'm bored. Tong is over the top, but not in a good way. He seems rather stupid. Everything we learned about them until now, their past, their story is just lame and lacks depths.
I'm dropping this, because there is nothing I look forward to. The humor isn't funny, their interactions aren't exciting - I don't care about them getting closer or kissing, because there is no chemistry. People have different perceptions, some are excited about those two, some are not. But I'm pretty sure both of them being hot, is adding to the charm some see in this series. Imagine those actors would be newbies and wouldn't be so good-looking (especially Joss) - would you really care? The dialogues are dire, the pace is too slow, the plot is wattpad-style, where you have an idea (vampires, golden blood etc.), and then the characters play house, before the plot can even develop, because that's what attracts readers/viewers early. They try so hard to create interesting scenes between them, but they fail miserably. It feels so artificial, deprived of any real emotion. The bad background music isn't helping.
Honestly, even Neo is bad and boring in this series, and we all know Neo is a good actor and knows how to do his job.

I feel like watching filler episodes. Nothing happens.

I tried watching this, and I just can't get into it. But people talk about it like it's the best thing since sliced bread. I guess I will try again. I don't want to miss out.

Let's be real for a moment ...
So, first of all, great series, terrific writing. So what I say now is not criticism. But let's be real for a moment. They try to sell us this touching and beautiful family story. What it really is: It's a story about 3 generations of daughters. The daughters are in the center of the story.
So let's focus on Ae Sun's family. This family is extremely dysfunctional. She had to give up her dreams, and now she wants her daughter to succeed. The daughter was always more important than the boys. The brother knows it, and is suffering because of it. Ae Sun itself admitted she is embarrassed by him. The old ladies gave her the advice, to never show favoritism toward the children. The daughter also feels the pressure. This is not healthy, it's tragic. Ae Sun has some kind of 7th sense when it comes to her daughter, that's why she was able to save her life several times. Why wasn't she able to save the life of her boy? I don't blame her for what happened, but seeing that she had to save her daughter so many times, what am I supposed to think about the connection she had with her other children? Not to mention, that even her daughter told her, she has to live her own life. Ae Sun's happiness and ability to keep going depends on her daughter succeeding.
Then let's look at her husband. He was always that fool, madly in love with her, who worked hard for her and the family. This man is like a mule, just plowing the field until he drops dead. Is this romantic? It was even mentioned, that the love between him and is daughter is one-sided. Both parents are worn out, physically and mentally, and you wonder what they achieved in life? They got two bratty children. Nothing special. The girl isn't some kind of genius, either.
This is life. This is family. I get it.
But would you want it? I lately think a lot about it, how they tell you in TV and everywhere else, life is all about family and love.
Do you want THAT? For real?

You clearly don't understand what I'm saying. I was responding to another comment, btw. Just pick up your brain cells and read the conversation again.

I didn't compare any series to any other. I compared the TRAILERS of a series. Those series have a concept trailer/teaser, then weeks before the series airs the 2nd and final trailer comes out.
In my humble opinion, 1st trailers are often more captivating as the final trailer. The series I mentioned are some examples.

So how do you solve a problem, if you don't understand the cause? Forcing them to have more children?

I said the 1st trailer was weak. I talked about trailers/teasers, not about the quality of any series.

If you want to know why the birth rate in South Korea is the lowest worldwide, around 0.68 children per woman, then watch this series. It answers all your questions.

Ossan's Love - I have seen no promotion for this series. Didn't even know it aired until it showed up on Youtube.

Yeah, seriously. I mostly blame the director. Gawin was never an outstanding actor, but he did well in his previous work. I liked Joss in 3 will be free.
The whole production screams low budget.

Honestly, I think the first trailers are always better. The 1st Only Friends trailer had a more intresting story, and I liked the soundtrack in the second half.
There are many other 1st trailers that are better than the final real product.
KinnPorsche (I know not GMMTV): 1st trailer was badass! Great fight scenes that never made it into the final product, dark theme
The Eclipse: very dark and interesting, final product was much lighter
Thame Po: great soundtrack and great 1st trailer, one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, 2nd trailer was nothing like that
Peaceful Property: great series overall, but 1st trailer was better and more emotional
Just to mention a few ...

Oh Jesus, where is this going?
Selling the house? Now the daughter will feel the pressure and guilt forever, if they did so much for her.

The actors who play the older versions look like they are in their 50s, very tired and worn out.
But they are only 40. Was this intentional?

That's what they got for all their hardships: bratty children.
But they are still happy about it like fools.
I will never understand what's going on in this generation's minds.

Same. It's strangely addicting and the second hand embarrassment it gives me is thrilling

I think it's horrible. Really bad. But somehow it's entertaining? I'm gonna rewatch it now.

His jawline isn't meant for it either. I always thought he looks very mature compared to other BL actors who are much older.

"the childish acting does not suit him"
Exactly.