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A story about the redemptive power of love
This drama elicits strong opinions from viewers, whether positive or negative. I fall into the positive opinion camp.I love how well the story is written, it is tightly scripted and out of the few lakorns I've watched, it is the best written so far, it even beats some kdramas and cdramas that I've watched in that the intention of the show is fully realised by the end of the story, the story doesn't meander here and there, it's just straightforward and clean, this is so rare in drama writing.
The story itself, the disconcerting and uncomfortable aspects of it, were written in a way to illustrate the end goal of the story which is that love is an action, it needs to be demonstrated, it's selfless and it has the power to transform a person's life and literally heal their heart. Love is redemptive.
The show did a pretty good job of showing this from start to finish. I don't like to enter into debates about social issues, abuse, evil deeds etc, I take what a drama is trying to communicate to me and if the story is told effectively then good, if not I drop it, simple. Sawan Biang is a story very well told.
Another reason why this drama succeeded in communicating its story so well is the acting. The acting is phenomenal!
Ken Theeradeth as Kawee is so amazingly nuanced, his facial expressions, his body language, the tone of his voice are all communication tools that he uses to great effect, sometimes he didn't even need to say anything and you could see that he was hurting, conflicted, crying out for some affection and attention. Ken's portrayal of Kawee is so good that even though he does such hateful and hurtful things to the people around him and especially to Narin, as a viewer I harboured inordinate amounts of sympathy for him, I got where he was coming from and why he was lashing out, I may not agree with his methods of lashing out but I got him, and that's what the writers are communicating: cause and effect.
Anne Thongprasom's rendition of Narin is so poignant and heartfelt, I felt all her emotions, from innocent carefree confidence to fear, bewilderment, pain, disbelief, hate and love. Her acting had a self assured realism that just grabbed you and wouldn't let go. The combination of Anne and Ken is what made this drama even halfway watchable, in the hands of lesser actors this storyline and premise would have been a complete disaster.
Other notable cast mentions are the actor who played Kid, (Kawee's father) and the actress who played Leela (Narin's sister and Kid's wife)
Kid appeared to be so clueless in the beginning to the extent that I despised him for the way he raised his son, but in the end his character self actualised and came full circle, his steady character was a perfect foil to the more volatile Leela and Kawee.
The role of Leela was expertly portrayed, I found that Leela was suitably complex in that she had an old wound that never healed, a hurt and pain that she never resolved, as a result she seemed all over the place and was vindictive and spiteful. In the end though she also came full circle and realised the unhealthy part she played in the awful events that took place between Kawee and Narin.
The other supporting cast was good and helped the story along, they weren't just annoying nuisances as you will find in many Lakorns.
Overall this drama set out to tell a story about a damaged, childish, spoilt and destructive man who during the course of his destructive behaviour fell in love, dug deep and resolved to humble himself and make penance for his wrongdoing, and this story was well told.
Overall score 9
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Revenge always has unintended consequences
If you enjoy tortured and angsty love/hate stories then this is the drama for you. Before and whilst watching this drama, I read a lot of blog posts, reviews and comments about it and fully expected to hate it because the common consensus was that it was distastefully rapey with an incredibly unsatisfying ending. I actually concede both points with the exception that although the ending is unsatisfying (who doesn't want to see a happily ever after all tied up with a huge cheerful bow?) it was entirely suitable for the story, it was a logical conclusion to the trajectory of the drama.The story of Shao Qian and Tong Xue is very complicated and quite uncomfortable to watch especially in the first half. It's quite easy to find Shao Qian repulsive ( as much as Hawick Lau can appear repulsive) at first, but in my opinion as the story unfolded I understood him better and was able to see his motivation and where he was coming from; this in no way excuses his methods of avenging his father but illustrates how he coped with the grief in his personal capacity. I believe that dramas tell us a story and we should't really try to translate such scenarios into real life situations because clearly there's an element of fantasy, make believe, entertainment and general "acting" in a drama; we should rather learn the lessons or take away any useful nuggets of wisdom that are highlighted. In this regard I took away the following life lessons:
1. Don't hurt another person in order to assuage your own pain, this will inevitably backfire
2. You can't make a person love you merely by willing it so
3. You can't manipulate someone into loving you, if they're not inclined to do so
4. You can't really decide who to fall in love with, it just happens
5. Revenge is ultimately a cold and unappetising dish period.
The acting was very good. Hawick Lau as Mo Shao Qian was sublime, he embodied the role being fierce yet vulnerable, unfeeling yet yearning, ruthless yet compassionate; he was such a complicated paradox, a very well written and very well acted role.
Ying Er as Tong Xue was suitably naive, vulnerable and a bit dim at times; flailing helplessly in the fiery pit which is Shao Qian's world; in the end though she became braver as she realised that she actually loves Shao Qian, it was special to observe the little nuances of her burgeoning love for him, all the more significant because in this drama the main couple never actually openly profess their love for each other, it's all done with subtle gestures and actions, this made it so poignant for me.
Mu Yong Fei was diabolical, the very definition of an obsessed lover, except her love story with Mo Shao Qian was one sided from day one, she is the saddest character as she exhibits no growth throughout the drama.
Her brother Zhen Fei was such a darling, so rational and fair it was mind boggling to see the family he came from. he is the peacemaker the one person who actually saw the situation from everybody's point of view and attributed accurate rationale for everyone's actions.
The music was wonderfully evocative, Hawick Lau's "a thousand mountains" is beautiful and there's some great piano pieces which were employed at just the right moments. Although there aren't a lot of musical pieces in this drama, the ones which are there are used very well; so music is a 10.
Overall rating 8.5. I think the criticism of this drama is in my opinion exaggerated, the scriptwriter achieved a well balanced story, it's definitely not a fairy tale so the ending is appropriate. There's an analogy that Shao Qian' mother tells him about hyacinths, that in order for them to come up with new blooms you have to cut off the old bloom. this explains the relationship between Shao Qian and Tong Xue perfectly; in order for them to have any hope for a future together, they first have to cut off their connection because it was founded on anger and hatred, they have to reboot and hopefully come together in the future to start afresh; this is a very hopeful ending indeed.
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Material success versus true happiness?
This show is definitely worth the hype and record breaking ratings. It's tightly scripted, compelling, multi faceted with an ensemble cast of drama veterans who deliver very convincing performances.The social satire is well portrayed with some excellent acting and dialogue, it may appear high brow on the surface but I found myself watching back to back episodes once I got into the stride of things; this is due to the excellent script which is cleverly written with little to no loose ends.
This show tends to reveal information in an unfolding manner, so every episode peels back a new layer and facet of the story and characters and I think this is what keeps it so entertaining. You don't get the whole story at once, as each event unfolds new tidbits are revealed to keep the viewer fully engaged, so the pacing is tight and consistent. This is where I think the OST was used to maximum positive effect; the song "We All Lie" was so very well applied, every time this song played I knew something was about to go down, this was so exciting to anticipate.
The entire adult cast of this show is amazingly skilled, I enjoyed the fact that they were in the spotlight for a change since these actors usually play supporting roles, they really shine whilst bringing their characters to life and all their skill and experience takes centre stage. Each family was so clearly defined that it didn't take me long to figure out who's who.
The Show's social commentary about the parents' and often children's unhealthy obsession with obtaining top grades in school is delivered in a theatrical and sometimes over the top fashion and this is what gives the show it's special identity and uniqueness, the social satire and dark comedy aspect of it, showcasing the characters' ambition, greed and pretention.
The power plays and stringent adherence to social hierarchies contributes much into how the characters interact with each other.
At the end the Show adequately conveys character growth and plot resolution, I think the last episode went a long way to show us how each character was now living and behaving after mending their ways so to speak.
Overall this Show is bold and I think it achieves what it sets out to do, I thoroughly enjoyed it because it's so polished and very expertly written and acted. Bravo!
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A Fated Love
This is an easy watch, great visual quality and evenly paced. I enjoyed it. The destiny, fate aspect is well thought out with explanatory flashbacks at the beginning of each episode. The story bears a striking resemblance to You Who Came From The Stars and I suppose that's because it's written by the same screenwriter.Jun Ji Hyun is fantastic as always in the lead role, her comedic bent is so natural and never overdone. Lee Min Ho was surprisingly good, although his delivery seemed forced in the emotional scenes. The two of them together have passable chemistry but Lee Min Ho doesn't seem able to take emotional and poignant scenes beyond a certain point, many of them came off as playful and bantery, if that makes sense.
Jun Ji Hyun is far and away a superior actor and there is a definite imbalance, I got too much superficial humour from him and a mature, emotional resonance from her, hence the mismatch.
The supporting cast is good, villains are weak and the secondary loveline is barely perceptible. I did enjoy the backstory and it was well exposed.
This is a good drama with all the elements required to make it a blockbuster, but overall for me it lacked punch and didn't grab me enough to give it a higher rating.
Still worth a watch.
Music is good, although not memorable for me.
Overall score 7.5
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Loyalty and pure intentions will win the day.
Padiwarada is a refreshing change of pace from the usual Lakorn. It's set in the 50's era, and has a charming and relaxing vibe overall.The show tells the story of an arranged marriage of an unlikely pair and showcases their gradual but sure journey towards love and acceptance of each other. Loyalty is a main factor in this story as well as good intentions, duty and responsibility.
The female lead Rin, played by Bella Rannee is a dutiful woman who is obliging but nobody's doormat. Her journey from adopted child to beloved wife is told with a liberal sprinkling of life and relationship advice and truisms from her adoptive parents as well as from her mother in law.
The male lead Saran played by James Jirayu, is a sweet man who is equally dutiful and responsible. He suffers from some inferiority issues but this does not take over his character, it's just a problem that is emphasised later on in the show and is dealt with in the end.
There's good chemistry between the two leads although I find James a bit too baby faced, especially in this role of a Sheriff. Bella is self assured and James comes across as a tad childlike/ish.
The second female lead is the main negative point of this drama; the show has a mostly mellow vibe but Duangsawat is extremely irrational, nasty and destructive and I think the male lead and his mother give her way too much leeway and airplay. It's as though Saran is keeping his options open, even though he is very sweet to his wife, still I didn't enjoy this aspect of the story.
The job of Sheriff is a big part of this story and the male lead spends some time trying to bring down the "White Tiger" and his "cult". this aspect of the story showcases the clash between magical practices and good/faith.
The show juxtaposes different relationships to illustrate the qualities and behaviours that are needed to build a strong and long lasting marriage.
The music is very nice, I especially like the songs "Every molecule of My Heart" performed by James and " A Love Song from Me" by Beau Sunita.
I gave this show a 7.5 out of 10.
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My presumptuous life as Mrs. Chen ended just like that.
This drama is so good! It's not a groundbreaking story by any stretch; It's an all too familiar slice of life that's handled so elegantly and with great sensitivity, I absolutely savoured the world that this show created.The First Half of My Life tells the deeply immersive story of a newly divorced woman and mother of one whose life is plunged into uncertainty from one day to the next; the theoretical rug is pulled out from under her. This woman who has been living the self-satisfied life of a pampered housewife suddenly has to take stock and figure out how she's going to survive both emotionally and financially while raising a young boy and navigating complicated and painful family situations.
Ma Yi Li perfectly captures and encapsulates the role of Luo Zi Jun; she handles this role with amazing nuance and quiet strength. I cheered for her at every turn as she embarked on the journey of her life to regain an independent foothold in a society that had passed her by.
The supporting cast and their stories are equally compelling and relevant to Luo Zi Jun's story and all storylines blend seamlessly together to give a completely beautiful whole.
The relationship between Luo Zi Jun and Tang Jing (played by Yuan Quan) is inspiring. The two women have a lovely selfless friendship characterised by loyalty and fierce protectiveness. This for me is one of the best parts of this drama.
Yuan Quan is stunning in her role of Tang Jing, I was so impressed with the self assurance that literally oozed out of her pores.
Every cast member in this drama deserves a special mention, there are no superfluous characters and the acting overall is top notch from Chen Jun Sheng, to Ling Ling to Old Zhuo, the whole entire cast is brilliant full stop. The characters' opposing ideologies and values greatly enrich this story and provide insight while widening the scope of the subject matter in the narrative.
The main love line is written with immense sensitivity and restrained poignancy, this is one of the very few times where (MILD SPOILER) I wasn't mad at an ambiguous ending (END SPOILER) The relationship between Luo Zi Jun and He Han (played swoonily by Jin Dong) is literally doomed before it even begins, it's not even quite a relationship yet there's a great depth of feeling between these two, it's palpable and they can never openly act on their feelings. It's so good the way this relationship is written and acted.
Characters are tested and true colours are brought to the fore; the characters each walk a full journey with comprehensive growth and progression.
This story makes me look forward to a sequel and I just found out there's going to be one!
Music is evocative smooth jazz and piano solos, perfect for this drama world.
Just watch it, this is a definite 10 out of 10 show.
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So much heart!
This is not a blockbuster by any stretch, in fact when I got to episode 4 I seriously considered dropping it, but I was compelled to keep watching; I think the combination of just the right mix of comedy, melodrama, romance and a generous touch of realistic human stories grabbed my attention, I watched to the end and was touched in the process.The story is not groundbreaking ( birth secrets, corporate intrigues, revenge, impostors) but it's told in such a touching human way; a lot of the success of this drama is due to the actors / cast. The lead actor Yeon Jung Hoon is so good in this, he's consistent throughout and really played his character to perfection. The other cast members do hold their own, I especially enjoyed Chief Ha played by Shim Eun Jin, she is hilarious!
The romance is a slow burn so it feels very realistic, I just found it so sweet and sincere.
This drama is for sure under-rated and in my opinion deserves at least an 8 rating on MDL. Watch it if you want a warm, steady, logical viewing experience, no cliffhangers but a lot of heart.
I liked the song by As One: I'm Still In Love, its's catchy.
Overall 8 out of 10
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Life is worthwhile when you have someone or something to live for
This drama was not bad and also not great, it's just ok. I found the beginning slow and a bit boring but it did pick up around episode 3. The business Mergers and Acquisitions premise was well documented and a constant thread throughout the drama.The overall story though is quite weak, the antagonist didn't make sense, why is he so evil? there is no plausible explanation. The plot device of the company repeatedly coming back from the brink of destruction and bankruptcy also got old pretty fast.
The end of the drama was quite rushed, the time skip was irritating because it was an obvious attempt to bring Min Ho back without a proper explanation as to how he actually survived, super annoying and lazy writing.
Jung Kyung Ho is the standout star of this show hands down, his sometimes dorky, sometimes suave, sometimes deeply contemplative but always cute portrayal of Min Ho is magical and engrossing. That's not to say that his costars didn't pull their weight, I especially enjoyed Woo Sik and Wendy for their hilarious performances and also for their own unique and cute loveline. Woo Sik and Min Ho's scenes together were such a hoot to watch.
Sun Jung portrayed by Kim So Yeon is a great stable character although I wish she had been more casual in the personal moments away from the office, her stiff demeanour just gave the OTP interactions less spontaneity and an unnecessary formality which took away from our male lead's vibrant take on his character.
The two secretaries at the office were very entertaining to watch.
I also loved Senior Ma (Dong Wook's father) he's a great, engaging actor.
The villain of the piece, Joon Hee played by Yoon Hyun Min is inexplicably evil and awful, so much so that I stopped taking him seriously which is such a shame because he's actually a very good actor.
Music is ok, though I didn't notice it much.
This is a pleasant drama to watch but not outstanding. I give it a 7.5 out of 10
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Life has a way of coming full circle.
That's the strongest takeaway I got from this movie. The element of fated lovers is present in this story, I choose to view it as fate's way of giving Chul Min an opportunity to right his wrongs ( creating the chain of events that led to Jung Hwa's blindness) rather than simply a tale of two people fated to love each other. He gets the chance to literally give her back her sight which his actions caused her to loose.The casting was great, So Ji Sub shines in his role of a tortured lonely soul. Han Hyo Joo plays the optimistic blind woman to perfection, she manages to emote and showcase her fear and sadness at the right moments so that her performance is very layered.
Overall I enjoyed this movie.
I would like to point out that there is a Turkish remake of this movie called Sadece Sen, I found out about it after watching this one, Sadece Sen in my opinion has the edge over Always both in casting and acting, the overall pathos in that iteration is absolutely spot on. Check it out on Netflix, I'd be interested to hear what people think about this.
That being said, Always is great and stands solidly on its own two feet.
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This drama manages to earn the name "drama", there's a lot of dramatic tension in this. I enjoyed the way the show mixed elements of a fairytale romance, military war games, political power struggles, arms dealers and the actual threat of an outright war. This expert mingling of plot lines kept the show very entertaining as there was never a shortage of storyline. The love story is well developed as the two leads are a couple for the majority of the drama, their angst and separations always had a political cause not personal, this was a shift from the usual plot devices in romantic dramas. I didn't detect any noble idiocy in this drama, the two leads thought out every problem and made well informed decisions.SPOILER ALERT: What I particularly didn't like about the plot was the killing of Eun shi gyeong, was it necessary to kill him? I found his death particularly annoying because it didn't actually result in the definitive capture of the villain, his death felt pointless and a waste of a good character especially after show developed a love line with shi gyeong and the princess, had this romance been fully realised, it would have nicely rounded off the bromance between the king and shi gyeong; this bromance was so well depicted only to have it cut short with his death. END SPOILER
Overall this drama is about the making of a good king and this story was well told. Lee Jae Ha started off as a bratty, irresponsible, playboy prince, and ended up a strong, resolute and mature king, I liked that he retained his sense of fun to the end.
The casting and acting was spot on (except for the foreign English speaking actors, these were horrendous and had too many lines in my opinion ), there were no weak links in the central cast. I absolutely disliked Ha Ji Won in Secret Garden (to the point that I vowed never to watch her again), but I loved her in this role, she embodied Kim Hang Ah's badass toughness and soft femininity perfectly.
This was my first time watching Lee Seung Gi, he was very good and damn near stole the show, but not quite in my opinion because of Ha Ji Won, Jo Jung Suk, the queen dowager and Hang Ah's dad. The acting is superb in this drama.
The music is ok, I liked the ballad but was not a fan of the dramatic orchestral music as I found it a bit overdramatic; the story was engaging enough to not focus on the music.
The cinematography is fantastic though, this is one beautifully shot drama.
I'm not a great rewatches, but I'll give this an 8 rewatch value, I've rarely seen a drama as polished as this one.
My overall score is 9.5
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The little show that could
This drama shouldn't be called Miss Korea, it should be called simply "Heart", because it is overflowing with pure heart.This is the little drama that could, at the time of its airing it was up against You from Another Star so it's understandable that it may have fallen through the cracks; However, from my research and what I've observed almost everyone who's taken the time to watch this drama has praised it and recommended it to other viewers, and that's how I found it.
The story appears simple at first, a woman enters a beauty pageant as the underdog of all underdogs; therein lies the little gems scattered throughout this drama. For example in episode 4 when Oh Ji Young is on stage at the Seoul preliminaries dancing with a broken heel, this is when I really started to care for our leading lady. Or the moment where it's revealed that even back in high school she picked Hyung Joon out of all the guys who were after her, and she still picks him ten years later, this is so heartwarming and adds an interesting layer to our female lead's character.
I especially love the way the drama unfolds small bittersweet moments without fanfare, no swelling music, no slow motion, just life in action.
The drama is a slice of life, focusing on how people take on life's challenges from day to day, triumphing over adversity.
It also shows the importance of loyalty, in family, romantic and business relationships.
The cast is just perfect for this drama. Each actor was perfectly cast for their role. Lee Yun Jee shines in her role as Oh Ji Young, she embodies the sweet, straightforward resilience of her character effortlessly., she was such a joy to watch, once she makes up her mind about something she is unwavering.
Lee Sun Kyun as Kim Hyung Joon is good , he portrayed the character's quiet pride and affable determination very well.
Director Ma Ae Ri was a standout performance by Lee Mi Sook, she is absolutely brilliant in this role. Director Ma is at once cold, calculating, kind, considerate, generous and morally upright. Lee Mis Sook played this character with amazing nuance.
Director Jang is a hoot! I would say she is the comic relief in the show, she's just earnest but misguided, very entertaining to watch.
Teacher Jung is played with a quiet, steady passion, for a thug he turned out to be very considered and multi-dimensional, I saw great character development with this role.
Oh Ji Young's family of mothering men and the rest of the Vivi team round of this amazing cast.
The music is atypical of a Kdrama, I enjoyed it because it sounded fresh, edgy and modern, which is kinda strange because the story is set in 1997. The music is spot on and I give it a full 10 out of 10.
Rewatch value for me is 8, simply because show had a scattering of beautiful moments which I would love to rewatch, the interactions between the characters are absolute gold.
Overall score is a 9, a wonderful drama, deserving of a whole lot more love and attention.
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The story was executed very well, the love story is exquisite, the way it begins and progresses is all very satisfying, the ending is very well done too. I must point out though that there were certain plot elements such as the mechanism of Do Min Joon's ability to return to earth that were not explained satisfactorily, also the fact that kissing made him ill, that was never explained enough and we're never told whether it was resolved in the end, and for that matter how will they have kids if he can't even kiss her without falling ill? anyway I mean to say that these plot holes were slightly irritating but I was able to suspend logic and enjoyed the show very much.
The casting and acting in this show is excellent, I believe that's it's main advantage even more than the story itself. the main leads are spot on, Kim Soo Hyun was suitably grave and stuffy with flashes of childish pettiness here and there which is absolutely fitting for a 400 year old alien who has had very few human relationships and no romantic ones.
Jun Ji Hyun for me was the star of this show, why isn't she in more dramas? She is absolutely perfect in this role, I'll even venture to say that Cheon Song Yi gives my all time favourite kdrama female lead Kim Sam Soon a very serious run for her money. I enjoyed her acting so much, her vulnerability, her maniacal egotism which reminded me of Dokko Jin was hilarious to watch; I enjoyed all the little monologues she had whether internal or external, I especially loved the way Cheon Song Yi had many moments where she displayed a great depth of feeling, when she expressed how much she loves Do Min Joon either to himself or to other people, she manages to transcend her goofiness and articulates her feelings in the most mature, insightful and heartfelt manner.
The second leads are also very good, I find Yoo In Na almost the same in every role she plays, she's a good actress but I don't see a lot of range in her abilities, maybe that's why she's usually the second lead.
Park Hae Jin on the other hand is a revelation, I've never seen him in anything else so I was very pleased to discover him here. His portrayal of Lee Hui Kyung is very good, for once the second male lead serves to drive the story forward and not to put spanners in the works just because.
His evil older brother was also well acted and was suitably villainish.
The supporting cast was great, Song Yi's family is well portrayed, the detectives are good, and Se Mi's mother also adds a nice touch to the story by providing a contrast to Song Yi's mother.
Overall the casting is a 10 for me.
The music is not prolific, there's just one song that stands out, but that doesn't affect anything for me because my attention was always focused on the story.
Rewatch value is 8, I'm not big on rewatching shows so this is very high coming from me.
Overall is 9, this is a great drama and I only regret that I didn't watch it sooner.
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The family storylines are also highlighted to show how these relationships have affected our OTP and the redemptive quality of both these families journeys is heartwarming and rewarding to observe.
The cast is very well picked. I enjoyed the vibe between Hye Soo, Jae Yeol and their housemates, it was a truly unconditionally supportive environment, and their interactions were great to watch as they also provided some comic relief to a sometimes angsty storyline.
I especially enjoyed Jo In Sung's performance from start to finish, he embodied Jang Jae Yeol and his portrayal of him was at times vulnerable, other times poignant and always courageous and believable. I always understood his struggles, his every action added a rich layer to his character, his brave battle with his life's journey culminated to present us with a fully developed, vulnerable yet strong and hopeful man who is aware of his flaws and is conscious of how hard he has to work to maintain his happiness. Bravo to Jo In Sung
Gong Hyo Jin was competent as usual but I found Hae Soo to be an irritating character on more than one occasion, she has selfish tendencies and even though she is a caring individual, her relationship with her mother was very telling in showing her selfishness, especially when we're presented with the full story. It appears she really had no reason to condemn her mother's affair since at one point she advocated for it for her own selfish reasons. Even in her relationship with Jae Yeol there are times when she should have put his mental well being before anything else, but she shows too much concern about how certain things will affect her; for example when she goes to visit him while he's still recovering, and again when she's unwilling to leave for her sabbatical, not realising that he probably needs time to adjust to his new situation and look after himself by himself for a while.
Despite all this their relationship was beautiful to watch.
Jae Yeol's mother and brother were also very well acted and presented, this family's struggle felt so real and poignant, I was desperately sorry for them and cheered them on as they worked through their problems.
The music was spot on, I loved the soundtrack, every song was present but never in the way, music for me is a 10.
I'm not one for rewatching shows, so usually I give low rewatch values. I give this one a 5
Overall I give this show an 8. A very solid offering, well worth your time.
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I took a break, watched Goblin and Marriage Not Dating ( I watched both within the space of a week!) and then I picked The Wife's Secret up again.
I started off watching on fast forward from episode 20 to episode 30, then gradually without even realising it I stopped fast forwarding and was fully engaged. I do admit that you have to suspend logic sometimes in this drama, the melodrama and illogical decision making of the characters was not realistic and was frustrating in a lot of instances.
However, this drama has a solid story, it explores family relationships juxtaposed with romantic relationships, it explores blood ties juxtaposed with ties that a person chooses themselves, it explores the relationship between parents and their children, mothers in law and daughers in law, it explores the dynamics that play out when a child discovers that they are adopted and most importantly it explores the meaning of true happiness, is it money? business success? or having family and people around you who love, accept and value you for who you are not what you have or can do for them?
This drama explored all these issues and answered them.
The drama has overall, one of if not the best character development I have seen in any drama, the character arc for most of the cast is very satisfying and logical; even those characters I disliked so much in the beginning are fully realised by the end of the drama, there is a strong sense of most characters coming full circle and applying their experience to improve themselves or to come to terms with issues that they struggled with in the beginning of the story.
I've read some reviews where the two leads are criticised for not having much chemistry; I fully agree that the OTP had very little on screen chemistry, but I think that's because it's not that kind of drama, although the love story is at the centre of the drama, the surrounding family circumstances are integral to the progression of this love story and vice versa. So overall I would say that this is a story about family, the family you are born to and the family you choose along your life journey.
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The most complicated love triangle is between a mother and her son, and his girlfriend.
I really enjoyed this drama,The story is nothing new in Dramaland but it's done in a refreshing way, the angst is super minimal and the second leads though quite irritating at some point, soon fade into nothingness.
I love the casting of the main leads, the OTP is perfection, the evolution of their relationship feels real and when we get to the end of the drama I felt their happy ending was so well earned. they portray a mature and realistic relationship and one of the best things about this drama is that nobody had to get a major personality transplant in order to earn their happy ending, instead each character evolved into a better version of themselves.
The best part about this drama is that it's not just a love story between two people but also between their families; family takes centre stage and it is heartwarming to see how two families gradually let go of their preconceived ideas and come together in understanding and togetherness.
The soundtrack is very well selected and the music does a perfect job of enhancing the story as opposed to distracting from it. The music is quirky and fun.
This drama is definitely worth watching, please give it a go.
PS: I've rewatched this drama countless times, and the more I watch it, the more I love it so I've upgraded its rating to 10 out of 10!
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