it should have ended with Jang Bong Hwan seeing a man looking like Cheoljong on the streets of modern Korea, but…
Why? Let me first say that I have no issues at all with LGBTQ, and I even support them, and their rights. Even in fiction, some of my absolute favourite books, and movies the protagonists have a homosexual relationships both between men and women.
But, Bonghwan is not homosexual, or bi. He loves women. BongHwan during the entire first half was trying to avoid the King, and only when SoYoung started to regain some control of her body, the queen started to be attracted to him romantically. But, whenever bonghwan was in charge of the body, he was mortified with the idea of being inimate with the king. Bonghwan without any doubt came to like the King, but more as buddy, or friend.
Both the webtoon and the drama are adapted from the original web novel which included Yura. Her character was…
Adaptations shouldn't require prior knowledge of the source material. Also, a skilled adaptor knows how to tweak things to fit the new medium.
The last 4 episodes (that is 25% of the series, and its climax) had problems on multiple levels. By the end I can see the usefulness of Yura as a character, but the problem is her late introduction more than anything else. It is an incredibly terrible pacing that you introduce so late such a key character that litreally changed the entire nature of the series and was the instigator to everything. In a way, Yura's action had equal impact, if not more, than the main characters. The writer should have either planted the seed in a visible and very clear way to her arrival much earlier, or just replaced her with another one, and changed the ending. (also, it didn't help at all to choose poor actress to play her) The other major issue is that the last few episodes felt like a different series. We went from the slow, nice, and gradual build up to some crazy plotting and manic pacing. The series was still watchable thanks to the cast, especially Song Ha Yoon. ..
All in all a decent to good drama. I enjoyed watching it, but it is not going to leave any lasting or memorable impression on me. Highlight of the series was Song Ha Yoon for me. The best actor in the drama. 6.5/10
Haneul's so called best friend is such a jerk. At first when Haneul told her about her depression, she took it…
I think it is more like poor writing. I feel the series lacks cohesion. Mental illness is treated like plot device rather than genuine examination of these conditions (I already said this before: compare and contrast with Our Blues. In that series you see consistency) Second leads have very random scenes without genuine follow up. As if the writer suddenly remember that they need to give them some scenes. So that phone call is just a way for our FL to find out more than anything else.
The series is not bad. It has its moments, and there is some fun to be had. That bathroom scene in E8 was very funny. I would have accepted her decision without complain if that came before them opening up to each other. Now, it just seems contrived.
Pretty much everyone who watched the drama shipped the queen with anyone or anything she had chemistry with.
I hate love triangles, but I wish we had more of the Queen and the King fighting over HwaJin lool. That second episode pose by Shin Hye Sun cracks me up every time. ...Or we could have that Pyjama party lool.
7.9? Is this similar quality to alice in borderland or just bad?
It is a different genre. In my opinion Alice in Borderland is WAY better, although this has better actors. In a system with halfs, then it would be 3.5/5 or 7.5/10. Good, but not special. The series has a complete arc, but not the big picture. Since the series is produced by Netflix, it has that American style where they never end things completely, and always set things up for another season. Whether there will be one or not who knows? But, at least the arc is complete.
Well,Before I start: I have no issues whatesover with homosexual, or bisexual love. And I am fully in support…
I don't mean this in a mean, or bad way, but if you criticise something you need to provide some sort of alternative :) I have a fundemental disagreement with the opinion that the king fell in love with Bonghwan. I always make the clear distinction that he fell in love with Bonghwan personality. (The world is a proof that personality alone is not enough)
We can't just ignore the fact that the King was looking at a woman. The majority of people have close friends that they love and chersih, but they don't have romantic feelings for them because they are not the gender they are attracted to. Romantic attraction whether we like it or not include sexual one, and the idea that you will eventually want to sleep with that person (unless the person is asexual). It is not always the driving force, but it is there. The King at no point was hinted that he is bisexual. He just like to be with women. So, he fell in love with Soyoung body and Bonghwan personality. I admit he was shortchanged little bit, but unless you can provide an alternative, even a sad one, you have to accept that this is the best ending. And I mean this in a kind, and gentle way.
I disagree that Soyoung is doing what Hwajin was doing, but I can see your point. Personally, I never hated Hwajin. I hated her actions, but had small sympathy for her, and I was very pleased by her redemption arc. Who knows, maybe the queen one day will confess to the king :)
I enjoyed most of this show up until the last episodes when they introduced that stupid overused breakup trope.…
I didn't like that as well, but it didn't bother me a lot. For me the weakest thing about the end was HoRang and Won Seok. I don't think they should have made them go back together. It would have been very heartbreaking, but more realistic. I still loved this show and consider it one of the best Kdrama I have seen. I have even re-watched it.
What the fuck was that ending?!! Why is everyone saying it's happy ending?! HOW?? Spoiler↓
Well, Before I start: I have no issues whatesover with homosexual, or bisexual love. And I am fully in support of the LGBTQ community and their rights.
This is not a unique situation in movies/series of this type. And, in my opinion, there is no perfect solution. But, let's stick with this series. Bong Hwan is a man interested in women. The romance with the king is So Young exerting control over her body. It is true that Bong Hwan came to like the king, but more as a friend, and buddy. So, don't you think if Bonghwan was stuck in the Quenn body forever that would be cruel to him? In the first part of series, his suffering is played for laugh, and it was fantastic comedy thanks to Shin Hye Sun, but if you think about it seriously, he was in an AWFUL situation. I am not sure why those who din't like the ending ignore this fact. BongHwan wants to get back to his time as a man. The king certainly fell in love with BongHwan personality, there is no denying to that. But, I think it is completely unreasonable to ignore the fact that the king was looking at a woman, and just claim he is bisexual is baseless. If the king was looking at a man, he wouldn't have fell in love with him. They will be just good buddies.
I think the series found a good compromise. SoYoung and Bonghwan influenced each other. He made her bolder, and she made him gentler. They both ended up in their time and their bodies and where they wanted. The King was a bit short changed, but he still has a woman who loves him, and not as timid and conservative as it was before. So, 2.5/3 is not such a bad outcome I would say.
How would you have ended the series? I am asking a genuine and sincere question. How would you conclude the faiths of the three individuals?
What a great selection for a favourite drama, but it's my second favourite, lol. I am watching MLN right now;…
It is hard to list things, because you are not seeing anything new. But, you will start to notice that this character reacted in a certain way, or you pick up on some sentences you missed.
For me, the biggest joy was in deepening my understandingand appreciation. I will give few examples though: *Yura speech about Artifical Inteligence dominating the world: This was a scene/speech I liked first time around, but I was also waiting for the brother's response and what he will do. Second time around, I was completely focused on the speech, and I enjoyed more, and gave it more thoughts. *Walking JiAn home: This is a fans favourite scene, and I am no different, but second time around I picked up more on Jung Hee response, and made me think about when I was young. *The interactions between him and JiAn at the early stages or him and his wife. Other scenes, for some reasons hit harder (the app scene in E15 ? for example)
They are all small things in themselves but when you add them all together, I ended up enjoying it even more second time.
If you haven't watched yet, may I recommend a YouTube video series by Man vs Drama where he picks a scene or two from each episode and analyse them. They are mostly the major moments. I think this could be a good middle ground where you can enjoy a really very good analysis without having to rewatch it again.
I know dramas aren’t 100% realistic but it’s very weird to me that Haneul keeps drinking excessively while…
Making them doctors wasn't the greatest choice. This is not a medical drama, so they should have given them other professions, and not a lot would have changed. I know medicine is vast and there are tons of specialities, but surely every doctor has grasp of the basics. These two don't seem to have it lol.
What a great selection for a favourite drama, but it's my second favourite, lol. I am watching MLN right now;…
I would say My Mister is better on the second viewing. Once the plot and what will happen next is not an issue you start to pick on so many other things. I did like My Liberation Notes but not as much. However, you will still find the amazing dialogues and thought provoking quotes.
Let me first say that I have no issues at all with LGBTQ, and I even support them, and their rights. Even in fiction, some of my absolute favourite books, and movies the protagonists have a homosexual relationships both between men and women.
But, Bonghwan is not homosexual, or bi. He loves women.
BongHwan during the entire first half was trying to avoid the King, and only when SoYoung started to regain some control of her body, the queen started to be attracted to him romantically.
But, whenever bonghwan was in charge of the body, he was mortified with the idea of being inimate with the king.
Bonghwan without any doubt came to like the King, but more as buddy, or friend.
The last 4 episodes (that is 25% of the series, and its climax) had problems on multiple levels. By the end I can see the usefulness of Yura as a character, but the problem is her late introduction more than anything else.
It is an incredibly terrible pacing that you introduce so late such a key character that litreally changed the entire nature of the series and was the instigator to everything.
In a way, Yura's action had equal impact, if not more, than the main characters.
The writer should have either planted the seed in a visible and very clear way to her arrival much earlier, or just replaced her with another one, and changed the ending.
(also, it didn't help at all to choose poor actress to play her)
The other major issue is that the last few episodes felt like a different series.
We went from the slow, nice, and gradual build up to some crazy plotting and manic pacing.
The series was still watchable thanks to the cast, especially Song Ha Yoon.
..
Highlight of the series was Song Ha Yoon for me. The best actor in the drama.
6.5/10
I wanted to watch Pinocchio few months ago, but I just don't like Lee Jong Suk (as an actor. I don't know the person).
I feel the series lacks cohesion. Mental illness is treated like plot device rather than genuine examination of these conditions (I already said this before: compare and contrast with Our Blues. In that series you see consistency)
Second leads have very random scenes without genuine follow up. As if the writer suddenly remember that they need to give them some scenes.
So that phone call is just a way for our FL to find out more than anything else.
The series is not bad. It has its moments, and there is some fun to be had. That bathroom scene in E8 was very funny.
I would have accepted her decision without complain if that came before them opening up to each other. Now, it just seems contrived.
Kudos to you if you come up with it.
That second episode pose by Shin Hye Sun cracks me up every time.
...Or we could have that Pyjama party lool.
In my opinion Alice in Borderland is WAY better, although this has better actors.
In a system with halfs, then it would be 3.5/5 or 7.5/10. Good, but not special.
The series has a complete arc, but not the big picture.
Since the series is produced by Netflix, it has that American style where they never end things completely, and always set things up for another season. Whether there will be one or not who knows? But, at least the arc is complete.
I have a fundemental disagreement with the opinion that the king fell in love with Bonghwan.
I always make the clear distinction that he fell in love with Bonghwan personality. (The world is a proof that personality alone is not enough)
We can't just ignore the fact that the King was looking at a woman. The majority of people have close friends that they love and chersih, but they don't have romantic feelings for them because they are not the gender they are attracted to.
Romantic attraction whether we like it or not include sexual one, and the idea that you will eventually want to sleep with that person (unless the person is asexual). It is not always the driving force, but it is there.
The King at no point was hinted that he is bisexual. He just like to be with women. So, he fell in love with Soyoung body and Bonghwan personality.
I admit he was shortchanged little bit, but unless you can provide an alternative, even a sad one, you have to accept that this is the best ending. And I mean this in a kind, and gentle way.
I disagree that Soyoung is doing what Hwajin was doing, but I can see your point. Personally, I never hated Hwajin. I hated her actions, but had small sympathy for her, and I was very pleased by her redemption arc.
Who knows, maybe the queen one day will confess to the king :)
For me the weakest thing about the end was HoRang and Won Seok.
I don't think they should have made them go back together. It would have been very heartbreaking, but more realistic.
I still loved this show and consider it one of the best Kdrama I have seen.
I have even re-watched it.
Before I start: I have no issues whatesover with homosexual, or bisexual love. And I am fully in support of the LGBTQ community and their rights.
This is not a unique situation in movies/series of this type. And, in my opinion, there is no perfect solution.
But, let's stick with this series.
Bong Hwan is a man interested in women. The romance with the king is So Young exerting control over her body. It is true that Bong Hwan came to like the king, but more as a friend, and buddy.
So, don't you think if Bonghwan was stuck in the Quenn body forever that would be cruel to him? In the first part of series, his suffering is played for laugh, and it was fantastic comedy thanks to Shin Hye Sun, but if you think about it seriously, he was in an AWFUL situation.
I am not sure why those who din't like the ending ignore this fact. BongHwan wants to get back to his time as a man.
The king certainly fell in love with BongHwan personality, there is no denying to that. But, I think it is completely unreasonable to ignore the fact that the king was looking at a woman, and just claim he is bisexual is baseless. If the king was looking at a man, he wouldn't have fell in love with him. They will be just good buddies.
I think the series found a good compromise. SoYoung and Bonghwan influenced each other. He made her bolder, and she made him gentler. They both ended up in their time and their bodies and where they wanted.
The King was a bit short changed, but he still has a woman who loves him, and not as timid and conservative as it was before.
So, 2.5/3 is not such a bad outcome I would say.
How would you have ended the series? I am asking a genuine and sincere question.
How would you conclude the faiths of the three individuals?
Btw..completely off topic. I find it very funny, and random (pun intended) that both our handles have the word random in it :)
But, you will start to notice that this character reacted in a certain way, or you pick up on some sentences you missed.
For me, the biggest joy was in deepening my understandingand appreciation.
I will give few examples though:
*Yura speech about Artifical Inteligence dominating the world: This was a scene/speech I liked first time around, but I was also waiting for the brother's response and what he will do. Second time around, I was completely focused on the speech, and I enjoyed more, and gave it more thoughts.
*Walking JiAn home: This is a fans favourite scene, and I am no different, but second time around I picked up more on Jung Hee response, and made me think about when I was young.
*The interactions between him and JiAn at the early stages or him and his wife.
Other scenes, for some reasons hit harder (the app scene in E15 ? for example)
They are all small things in themselves but when you add them all together, I ended up enjoying it even more second time.
If you haven't watched yet, may I recommend a YouTube video series by Man vs Drama where he picks a scene or two from each episode and analyse them. They are mostly the major moments. I think this could be a good middle ground where you can enjoy a really very good analysis without having to rewatch it again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLqju9oFlX0&list=PLmPLZUR0AZLOJeK9MeaId231rgntyU5NZ
This is not a medical drama, so they should have given them other professions, and not a lot would have changed.
I know medicine is vast and there are tons of specialities, but surely every doctor has grasp of the basics. These two don't seem to have it lol.
But, I am just choosing to ignore it.
The leads will have moments together, but it is NOT romantic.
They are more of soul mates than lovers.
Once the plot and what will happen next is not an issue you start to pick on so many other things.
I did like My Liberation Notes but not as much. However, you will still find the amazing dialogues and thought provoking quotes.