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Quite Entertaining

When I first began watching this I wondered how this was going to keep my attention for 12 episodes. I'm a fan of Chan Young, but it didn't seem to be a strong story line to keep over a long period of time. I was absolutely wrong. This turned out to be an extremely enjoyable, and at times quite dramatic of a story. The blend of drama with comedy works extremely well in this series.
Chan Young gives a great performance, whether with the drama part of this, the comedy or a few very emotional scenes. Ji Hyeon & Min Seok work well with him throughout this as well.
If you're looking at for a enjoyable series with some cliff hanger episode endings that bring you back to watch the next one, this is definitely a good one to sign on to. There are indeed a few shockers as this story plays out.
Great Series!

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Brilliant in every way

The first episode really lays the foundation for what appears to be a great drama series. During the first couple hours I found a few sub plots that become quite annoying to the main story, but by the time you get to the end of episode 3, everything rights itself and the real entertainment begins to unfold!
Jun Young is absolutely fantastic playing a person in his twenties, but also giving that appearance and attitude of someone in their seventies. He walks a fine line giving us both personalities ... and what a great job he does at it.
The rest of the cast truly jell together to make perfect chemistry, producing some good protagonists and some extremely evil antagonists ... you really come to despise some of these characters and you count the episodes down as you know that retribution is on the horizon for some of them.
As I watched each of the final episodes leading up to the finale, I kept waiting for something to happen to ruin the entire drama, but it never does. The writing is flawless, matching the performances of the actors, giving you everything you want to happen. The last episode wraps everything up in a nice bow, with drama, suspense and even a bit of humor, especially the last few minutes.
A truly great and enjoyable series from start to finish!!!

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It was ALMOST a great series

This was an extremely enjoyable series with so many plot twists & turns throughout, which kept it extremely interesting. Yeon Seok was fantastic, playing a character that showed a completing different size of him as an actor. He was a great mix with Soo Bin, who was also great as Hui Ju. The only thing that really made me rethink how great this series had become, was the final episode. I thought the story in episode 12 became completely foolish, showing us the reasons Sa Eon disappeared, leaving Hui Ju by herself for more than a year, it just didn't make too much sense, and didn't seem to fit with the rest of the series. It caused me to reduce my ratings on what was truly a great suspense series to that point.
Thankfully in the end, everything did turn out the way you were hoping it would, so all was corrected for. It gave a solid ending to a great series.

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Fantastic Sequel ...

It's always difficult to make a great sequel or season 2 when the first season was nothing but perfection. Somehow, though, they made it happen. This new season was everything you could have hoped for, and more!
It's a strong start that pulls you into the story immediately. Besides the fighting, and fighting, and fighting again, there was a great story behind the punches, along with a great cast to match. So many different layers of the story that all come together in the final episode.
Do Hwan & Sang Yi are once again the brilliant bromance fighting duo. The two had great chemistry of friendship, making that one of the strongest points of this continuing series, once again. The one unexpected surprise was Rain. He turns out to be such a great antagonist. I hadn't seen him play a role like this before, but he really was fantastically evil and cold hearted, giving you everything you wanted in the main villain. You really can't wait until that final showdown fight with Geon U & Baek Jeong. It's definitely worth the wait, making for great entertainment.
The rest of the supporting cast matches brilliantly with all the sub story plots happening at the same time. Don't be fooled by who you think is all good or all bad. Some characters have a mix of both, which you find out as you get deeper into the series.
After some of the final credits roll, you get an add on scene that kind of gives a teaser for a possible season three??? I sure hope so, cause both 1 & 2 have been great.

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Brilliant & Fantastic

I never watched a series where I has such a turn around toward the main protagonist. In the beginning I found Dong Man to be so annoying and obnoxious to watch ... from his attitude, right down to the way of his eating, but believe me, you will come to love him as the series continues on. Kyo Hwan & Youn Jung are just magic together. She's always great at anything she does, but this is a character she makes shine. And speaking of shining, Jung Se is brilliant. He's been in so many good shows in the past, but this role of Gyeong Se is his best by far. It's also a cast, whether leading or supporting, is so good. The deeper you get into this series, is goes from good to great. ... just so entertaining!!!
Besides the main story about this elite eight of friends, all writing/directing in the entertainment industry, there are several great sub plots, that eventually all connect in the end. It's a slow motion train wreck that we watching happening, episode 10 being the pinnacle hour of the drama.
It's a series that not only shows us how important other people are in our lives, but how our past is so relevant to our present and future.
There were several players you come to despise early on, but by the end of the series, you're pretty much cheering for everyone. Somehow the writers make all of them likable in the end.
There's a line used mid way through that really applies to the entire series .... "no one comes into your life by mistake"
That is definitely proven in several way by episode 12.
Truly a great story to enjoy, giving you every emotion your brain can come up with.

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Definitely Better Than It's Overall Reviews

After the first few minutes, this series goes into a direction I wasn't expecting, but soon you realize the main idea of the story. It actually doesn't seem possible the two protagonists have any chemistry in becoming "Soul Mates", but somehow that becomes very believable as you get deeper into the drama.
I think the main problem for negative reviews, this is not a BL, at least not in the physical sense. This is a bromance of two people that become unlikely best friends, and they both happen to be closeted gay. If you're tuning in to see a standard BL storyline, with your usual antagonists getting in the way of the two people in love, you definitely will be disappointed. It does take all the way to episode 5 to show the strong bond these two main characters have toward each other. The most powerful scene of the series takes place in this episode. It's several minutes you won't forget, each covered in mud and rain!!
I must say, though, the series loses points starting toward the end of episode 7 and throughout the final 40 minutes.
Without giving it away, it didn't seem to work for me. It's not that it's a sad and depressing outcome, I mean that's life sometimes. What failed for me was the way episode 8 led up to the final few minutes. The acting was great. Hayato Isomura & Taec Yeon were perfectly cast and both gave powerful performances. I just wish there was a better intro of the final few minutes.
Overall, a very good series.

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Lee Dong Wook at his finest

It's really difficult to put into words how brilliant this drama was. The acting, writing, directing & the all out chemistry on screen was just the best in every way. This is definitely my favorite work of Dong Wook. He showed such magic on screen with Bo Ah & Kim Bum. It's the only series I watched twice in its entirety, it's just that good.
Every cast member has a great moment in a certain episode where they shine.
As you get deeper and deeper into this series, you can feel the pain or happiness of each character in the episodes. Episode 15 & 16 are without a doubt the most powerful acted scenes by any actor. The farewells of Yeon to Rang and then the reverse, Rang back to Yeon are just incredible. If you don't become a complete mess watching these two scenes, there is definitely something wrong with you. At the time of completion, you really didn't know if there would be a season two, so you kind of feel like you lost part of your family at the ending of this drama.
As Yeon states at the very end, "Living as a human means life is full of things that are first & last ...... first snow, first step, first picnic, first root canal & first love"
... and also first season of Tale of the Nine Tailed. Amazingly, season two (1938) turned out to be even better, if that's possible. Way to go Wookie!!!

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Trust No One In his BL Drama

There are so many plot twists with characters changing from bad to good & back again, you just need to watch it completely out before you know who you're rooting for in this excellent BL Drama.
Jun Seo is amazing in his role, along side of Sun Hyung. Both are a great fix together.
All the actors in this are great throughout.
I found that once I started watching it, it was really difficult not to binge episode after episode. Each one ended, where you just wanted more. Your heart aches Jung Da On with so much torment in his life. This is really way beyond a normal BL series, but rather a mix of a strong drama along with a few thriller moments as well.
Very enjoyable with lots of excitement.

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Could have been so much better

It wasn't the best, but it did keep me coming back to see the next episode ... I guess that says something.
I found the series trying to mimic "Boys Over Flowers", but a much darker less satisfying story. I think the main difference between Hierarchy & BOF was the likeability of the characters. With the "Flowers" cast, you could root for and see a good transformation from bad to good with each passing episode. All, with the exception of Ha Kang, no one had any likeable qualities, whether you were watching episode one or seven, it just wasn't there.
Chae Min, who I'm definitely a fan of, did a great job with his performance ... but at times it was a bit difficult watching the rest of the cast blend together. It was a rough road.
Toward the end, there were so many antagonists not getting what they deserved, that was a real turn off ... but like I said, it did keep me coming back to see the next episode. I just wish it could have been a bit better of a conclusion in the final episode.

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Absolutely Fantastic

From the very beginning of this series right through the conclusion, there was never a mis-step in any episode. The trio of protagonists in this drama/comedy were so fantastic together. Each one fitting perfectly with the other two, creating such great chemistry. Kyung Ho was brilliant for this role, showing us his dramatic side blended with comedic tones. In Ah was also great being the strong support for him in a lot of the situations that Mu Jin would get himself involved in. She could be tough, but also shows a soft side of Hui Ju when it was needed.
Without a doubt, though, Hak Yeon playing the part of Gyeon U was genius. He delivers so many funny moments throughout the episodes, his timing and actions are just perfect with his character. Several scenes makes you laugh out loud from his performance. When you blend these three actors together, they cover every aspect of great entertainment in this series.
The many stories Mu Jin would get himself involved with, as well as the people seeking his help, were so well written, some being quite emotional to watch. There were a few episode endings that definitely brings you to tears, episode 2 was definitely one of them.
The final episode gives a great conclusion to a great story. We take with us so many good lessons we learned along the way. As Mu Jin is told in the end "Only when you face your wounds .... instead of avoiding them ..... can you understand how to heal them"

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Very Suspenseful

This story shifted in so many directions as the movie played out. It was a great concept, but a bit confusing at times. What you think is going on after the first 30 or so minutes changes to a completely different direction. Once you realize what is happening ... it changes direction again. Over all it was a well written and extremely well acted thriller.
Ha Neul not only gives a fantastic performance, but his appearance dramatically changes with the current situation and time frame. It adds so much to the story.
Don't be too quick to stop watching the movie at the end, there's once scene left with the end credits that really makes you think about what you just witnessed with this group of people. It's a chilling and powerful end to a horrible situation for everyone involved!!

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Fantastically Delicious Drama

I try not to ever give out 10's to a series, because nothing is ever perfect ... However, this drama was about as close to perfection as you can get. By the end of episode one, you get so hooked, you just can't wait for the follow up.
Chae Min gives one of the finest performances I've ever seen. He & Yoon A are absolutely brilliant together, each one complementing the other. Watching these two evolve from start to finish was so enjoyable. Seeing Chae Min in previous roles, it was totally unexpected, watching him transform from such a tyrant King early on, to such a lovable character in later episodes. Applause to him for really giving it his all.
The supporting cast fits perfectly throughout. Gwi Hwa is a great antagonist as the horrible Prince Je San. He, along with Han Na blend a a nice touch of wickedness to the story, adding just the right ingredients of evil to make a perfect dish!!
As we get closer to the end, you kind of begin to wonder how this will play out to a satisfied conclusion. You know Ji Yeong needs to return to her present time, but how to do it without destroying the story?? Someone the writers did it, in excellent fashion no less.
The Finale gave you everything you wanted. A smorgasbord of all good stuff. I found no fault in anything. I kept waiting for something disappointing to happen, but it never did. The last 10 or so minutes I could watch again and again. It really was the best ending you could ask for!!
This drama had such serious moments with just a dash of humor, which made a great dish of entertainment. Standing ovation to a great great series!!!

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What's True & What's Not!!

This series was so intriguing. You can't help but get pulled into it within the first few minutes. I think what makes it such a draw, is the fact you're really not sure the direction this drama is taking, but by the end of 1 it becomes obvious ... so you think. From episode to episode things change with such rapid speed, as you get deeper and deeper into the series, more questions keep forming instead of answers.
Min Sik is brilliant in this role. He shows every kind of emotion possible. We watch a man slowly transform from a quiet mundane life, to what becomes craziness and off the wall thinking 24/7. Hyun Wook gives us what we believe to be a kind person looking for a better life than the one he exists in ... and without giving anything away, you do feel that something is not right with his character, Lee Gang.
Through the first five episodes, the only words I could come up with were brilliant and masterpiece ... BUT then the finale happens. It gives such a shocking story change, and personally I don't think it was for the better. I found it to be such a disappointing lackluster finish. I still give the series high marks, because it really was fantastic acting as well as brilliant writing ... but it definitely ruined it for me with the ending.
They use a line in the series that most definitely spells it out "When the line between kindness and cruelty gets blurred, everything becomes a question mark"

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Sooooo Underrated

This series turned out to be so much better than the reviews lead you to believe!!!
I've never been one for giving praise to "affairs" in a story, where innocent people are hurt ... but this series is the exception. It's such an intriguing drama between two best friends that both fall fall for two older women, both women twice the age of the men ... but it's so much more than that.
Ren Nagase plays his character with such an innocence, his moral standards may be bad, but he really makes you root for him. Genta Matsuda delivers the same way. What starts out to be just a game to win over an older woman, turns out to be the true love in his life. Together, these two deliver both brilliant performances, (and I'm surprised to be saying this), but I wanted both of them to truly be successful in their adulteristic ways. The women opposite these protagonists were clearly unhappy in their lives. Yuka Itaya & Megumi gave us two characters we felt empathy for, making us like them for betraying their husbands.
Like I said, I wouldn't normally give this a high rating, but something about how everything falls together, I think it's a brilliant series!
The bond the two protagonists have toward each other, Toru & Koji, it shows how best friends are there for each other for whatever situation arises. They both need each other, especially since they are both in the same situation.
I kept waiting for the drama to turn bad, but it never did. Right until the credits roll in episode 9 ... excellent. truly excellent!!
There's a line used in the last episode that's so true ... "One man's truth is another man's bias".

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Starts off good and ends great!

When you start a BL, you never can tell the quality of writing or acting you'll get. This one, however, never missed its mark. It definitely had some originality to it. Two long time best friends, both attracted to each other and yet afraid to let the other one know about it. True, that's not original at all, but stretched out over the series, these two protagonists definitely give off great chemistry as a very believable duo, not to mention some very seductive scenes.
The pinnacle episode would without a doubt be episode 5, with the truth about all getting thrown front and center. The fact this happens so early on, you just know a rocky road awaits before the finale.
Yusuke Sato was a familiar actor to me and he does not disappoint with his performance. Kaito Hori gives and equally good performance, making for one of the better BL's in sometime.
It's a really "good feel" drama blended with a very satisfying ending.
All in all, definitely a must watch!

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