Too Corny
Likes: Ooooo, the flirty seduction scenes were fun. Derek Chang is cute.Dislikes: Besides the above, everything else was too corny. Tiny fashion malfunction warrants a grandiose rescue ? PUH-lease! A small rip in the clothing is not a trauma, people!
This drama just didn't work for me. I tried to stick with it for the OTP because the tension between the two was great, but the script was just too corny. I just found my self so bored when the OTP weren't flirting with each other which lead to more skipping than watching so then I eventually dropped it at episode 12.
Even though the chemistry was good between the leads, it just wasn't enough to sustain my interest.
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No charm
Likes: NoneDislikes: Boring and drags. ML's acting is not great. Didn't feel the chemi
Since episode 1, I couldn't really get into this drama. The scenes dragged and I didn't feel any chemistry between the leads. The ML is good looking, but that's about it. His acting could use some work. I just don't think he has enough charm to carry the leading role.
The FL's acting wasn't bad, but there just wasn't enough sparks with the ML. Everything was just so boring and blah, I just couldn't force myself to continue anymore.
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Disappointing
Likes: Kim Yoo Jung's tough character. Kim Sun Young as the momDislikes: pretty much everything else
Dropped this at ep10. This drama just didn't gel together. I think the main problem of this drama is that I don't really feel anything for any of the characters. I'm not sure why, but none of them are that likeable to me. I liked that KYJ is a tough character, because we don't have enough tough female characters in kdramaland, but at the same time, I wasn't really rooting for her or anyone for that matter.
Which brings me to Ji Chang Wook...it hurts me to say this because I'm a big fan, but I've been pretty disappointed with his acting after he got back from the army. He keeps acting in the same way, same style...that now, I don't see the character...all I see is JCW's mannerisms. I hope he will pick better projects and challenge himself more to show his versatility.
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Likes: Lee Seung gi. Seung gi as an action hero. Seung gi’s flashback mullet hair. Production Value. Fast paced editing.Dislikes: There is not one instance where I believed Suzy was a NIS agent. Sorry, but no.
You can tell that they shelled out the big bucks on this kdrama because the production value was high. With lots of fast paced action scenes, this kdrama reminded me of a cross between Jason Bourne and Homeland.
There were some definite glaring flaws (secret government missions…pffffft…yeah, not so secret. Apparently you can reveal classified info to regular citizens as long as you are on the “good side”). And some of the acting (ahem, Suzy) will require some overlooking, but overall the suspense and action made this an enjoyable watch. Seung gi really gave his all to the action scenes and to the emotional scenes as well. I can’t remember any other kdrama that has done action scenes to this degree so it was a nice change.
There wasn’t too much romance in this drama and the chemistry wasn’t the sizzling kind, but Suzy and Seung gi worked well together so it wasn’t too much of a bummer. The ending will make you wonder if there will be a season 2?
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Bawled my eyes out
Heartwarming, touching, and also heartbreaking, this movie made me cry like a baby. Sung Dong II and Kim Hee Won play two debt collectors who take a little girl (So Yi) away from their mother as collateral until she pays back her debt. The growing bond that forms between the gruff Sung Dong II and the little girl is what the story is about. The acting was fantastic from the entire cast especially Sung Dong II and Park So Yi. I'm amazed how that little girl could act with that range of emotions. Ha Ji Won plays the older version of the girl and she also acted really well , often bringing me to tears.Definitely check this out if you like sentimental stories.
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SO BORING. Bummed because I was really looking forward to this...
I'm sorry, this drama is so boring. I'm so disappointed because I was really looking forward to it because I love Kim Seon Ho and his deadpan humor and I really like Nam Joo Hyuk as well. I think a big chunk of the problem is because of Suzy. I'm sorry, but they need to stop giving her lead roles. I think she is so pretty and I was a fan of her during her Miss A days, but as an actress, she never makes me feel anything. She's got blank eyes. And because she doesn't emote any feelings, I can't connect or root for her character so I just wind up not caring. She also doesn't generate any chemistry with her co-stars with the exception of Dream High. If there's no chemi, then it gets boring which results with me dropping the drama. I keep hoping she'll improve, but keep getting disappointed. I don't know if this drama could have been saved with a better actress, but I feel like it would have been a lot better if there was chemistry.I know other people feel differently, but this is just my opinion.
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A beautiful generational story that will touch your heart
LIKES:1) THE SCRIPT - I don't know how to put into words how good this script is. I grew up very differently than the characters in this drama, but I related to the feelings and emotions of frustration, regret, worry, and love. I saw snippets of my parents in the feelings unsaid and in the sacrifices they made. And I related to the frustrations of the kids with the heavy weight of their parents dreams, hopes, and sacrifices upon them. The guilt, OH the guilt - I could definitely relate to that. I really don't know how writer Im Sang Choon was able to capture so much of the relatable complex emotions of this family, but somehow make it so universal that so many viewers can relate. It was done with such finesse. This could have easily have become a sappy corny drama, but it wasn't. It was poignant, relatable and reflective and we have both the director and writer to thank for that. Loved it and now love this writer esp since I found out she also wrote Fight My Way which is another drama I loved.
2) IU - She blew me away. She just has this way of drawing you in. And she did such a great job playing 2 characters. There was not one instance where I didn't believe that she was her character which is impressive in itself since she is so famous. She just kind of brings life to a scene. I loved watching her and Bogum. All their scenes were so cute and lovable( except obviously the storm scene with their tragic loss).
3) THE CHARACTER OF GWAN SIK - The amount of love, support, and sacrifice he gives to Ae Sun and his family. How can you not love someone like that. The epitome of unselfish. And in another relatable way, so easy to take for granted,
4) JEJU BACKDROP & COMMUNITY LIFE - the scenery is just stunning and the harsh community life makes the story so much richer
5) JANG HYE JIN - There's something about JHJ that makes me tune in. She's a versatile wonderful actress that always amuses me somehow. I liked how she portrayed the middle aged Yeong Ran as a nonchalant dead pan mother. At times, there was something amusing and funny about it. She's a mother that's given up on her marriage, but there's still this underlying spark in her.
MINOR DISLIKES:
1) THE PORTRAYALS OF THE OLDER AE SUN & GWAN SIK - So I really really wanted to believe that Moon So RI was the older version of Ae Sun and that Park Hae Joon was the older version of Gwan Sik, but it was very hard for me to associate that they were the same character. In Moon So Ri's case, I think it was mainly the voice. IU has this husky low whispery kind of voice, but Moon So Ri kept using a high toned baby voice that really created a disconnect for me. I felt like she should have tried to imitate IU's tone and the way she speaks more. Also her portrayal seemed too different to me. I couldn't really find any similarities to the younger version so it just seemed like two different characters. Just having a pin in the hair to connect the two was not enough for me.
For Gwan Sik, while I loved the older version of the character, it just didn't seem like the same character. Visually, they looked too different and i don't know, the portrayal just didn't connect for me. So while I didn't mind the acting in terms of relaying emotions, I just didn't buy into that these were the same characters. This actually made me appreciate how good Lee Do Hyun's acting in the drama 18 AGAIN was as he was able to make me believe that he was a younger version of the older character by capturing the older actor's mannerisms and way of speaking. I feel like more effort and maybe direction should have been made in regards to this, but again it was a minor dislike. The story and strength of characters and writing was more apparent.
Overall, a highly recommended watch especially for those viewers who need a heartfelt cry.
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Watching Dex and his noonas was healing and fun!
Similar to the show Three Meals a Day, Dex and his actress noonas work to gain cash and local ingredients to cook their meals in the countryside. I just adore Dex so it was really fun to watch the different sides of him come out depending on which noona he was interacting with. Whether it was the sibling like chemistry with Eun Jin, the flirty dynamic with Jun Myun, or the "T" mind similarity with Jung Ah, the great chemistry between everyone created such a warm family environment that was so healing to see. Not to mention the delicious food that will have your mouth watering. I also liked how the show allowed them to explore the area they were in which was relaxing to see.The cast, food, and beautiful scenery all came together well for a healing and fun watch. I really really hope there will be a season 2 with the same cast!
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It's been awhile since I've laughed this hard!
I can't remember the last time I've laughed this hard watching a kdrama. And I have Shin Hye Sun to thank for that!I'm just going to have to gush about her a bit as I just loved her exuberant and hilarious portrayal as Jang Bong-hwan trapped in the body of Queen Cheorin. She nailed this role. Not only was she funny, but she did it in a way that didn't feel like overkill. Every scene that she was in was just so much fun! She had great chemistry with everyone and I think she is one of the reasons why this drama was ranked 7th highest in cable viewership ratings.
Granted the director, writing, and editing also contributed to the success of this comedy. What was shocking to me was that the jokes actually surprised me. The editing was done well to accentuate the comedy, highlight the punchline. I've been stuck in such a kdrama rut because I've just watched too many and now everything is boring because it's too predictable, too much of the same story. This drama was such a nice REFRESHING change. There were so many memorable scenes from the dance scene in the rain to the the hot and heavy make out scene to the elaborate PDA show to squash rumors that still put a stupid grin on my face when I think about it.
The show has it's flaws, but because I viewed this more like a borderline screwball comedy with some drama mixed, I really didn't care about the historical inaccuracies, nonsensical situations, or the fact that we never get an answer as to why Jang Bong Hwan was teleported into the Queen's body (although it would have made the drama better if they could have tied up that loose end). I'm very curious to watch the original Chinese drama, but the fact that it's 35 eps has deterred me a bit.
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Fun family friendly action comedy!
This is a silly family friendly action comedy that was exactly what I was in the mood for. Because this is geared towards families, you'll have to adjust your lens a bit as the characters come off a bit clownish and the tone a bit bouncy. If you don't, you'll most likely feel like this is stupid movie. There are some fun action scenes, but they do feature knives and guns so may not be appropriate for really little kids. I enjoyed the humor that Park Sung Woong brought to the table and found Uhm Jung Hwa likable and bright. Would def recommend if you are in the mood for silly and stupid with some action mixed in.Was this review helpful to you?
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Gorgeous ML + Cute FL + romcom cliches = average but cute youth drama
Likes: I could stare at Aaron Deng all day...broad shoulders, long lashes, tall and handsome...yes, please.Dislikes: But his acting needs major work. He's a rookie so I give some leeway, but man, is he awkward and stiff. Also, is it me, or did the neck herding look a bit rough and unromantic?
This is a light hearted average college drama with a bright tone that was really easy to watch because there were no useless side stories or characters that no one cares about. The side BFFs are actually funny and enjoyable to watch and always revolve around the central leads so I really liked how I didn't have to skip through any scenes to get back to the OTP. The FL is tiny and adorable and I thought she acted pretty well. The ML as I said is gorgeous, but I found his acting so forced and awkward. He would give a stiff smile at the strangest times. It was really puzzling and I kept wondering why the director didn't help coach him in a better direction, but he did manage to pull off the chemistry with the FL which is the only reason why I continued until the end. When they did get together though, I soon found the story got boring and a bit draggy.
Overall I found it a light, bright, easy watch, but if you can't stomach the rookie acting, then it might not be for you.
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Quirky short 6 episode drama
Likes: Original story with quirky characters. The weirdness was refreshing. The acting was on point from the entire cast.Dislikes: It may be a little "too" out there. I honestly don't really know what to make of this.
Strange, weird, quirky - definitely words that will come to mind when you watch this. I can't tell you how many times I'm like "What the...."? And yet I couldn't stop watching. The tone, acting, and editing were all done very well and in a way that captures your interest. I never had to skip anything. It was a nice break from the formulaic romcoms I usually watch.
Jung Yumi is fantastically weird as the high school nurse who can see monsters in the form of jellies and uses her trusty toy sword to go about protecting the students from harm. She really nailed this role. I've seen her previous works and I personally think she is one of the top actresses of Korea. I always believe whatever role she takes on.
Nam Joo Hyuk plays her counterpart, the crippled teacher with a special force field protecting him from the jellies. He also did a really great job acting because I only saw his character and not the celebrity NJH. He keeps getting better with more experience.
The students also did a great job acting. Why only 7 stars then? While the execution was done well, I couldn't help feeling like there was something missing....like maybe a point? I felt like there were too many questions left unanswered which I think is why so many people are like "what did i just watch?"
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Made my heart flutter
Likes: From the playful teasing to hurtful outbursts to the stolen sweet glances to the realization of love, this drama gave me major feels. I couldn't get enough of Mark Prin as the bad boy. Seriously. Not. Enough.Dislikes: Ok, so maybe at times the ML was too much of a bad boy and there were scenes that slightly crossed the line into questionable territory that could potentially make viewers uncomfortable, so those parts, I wished the director handled a bit better.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this drama! I'm not gonna lie though, a lot of that has to do with me crushin hard on the ML. I've never watched a Thai drama before and didn't know who Mark Prin was, but now, believe me, I've taken notice! His boyish good looks and natural ease around women makes him perfect as the bad boy Thien. I loved that they didn't shy away from showing real affection in this drama. I'm so tired of the cliche skinship moments so I was thrilled that the skinship in this drama felt like an after thought. Your body just moves instinctively when you want to be close to someone (manner hands be damned!). The kisses though were a bit too toned down.
The FL was good too. A lot of 2nd hand embarrassment in the beginning, but those moments also made me laugh. I could have used a little less love stricken expressions though. The push/pull dynamic between the OTP was addicting, but there were definite times where I couldn't follow the emotional progression of the characters. I'm not sure if that's because the subs were bad, but there were times where things progressed and then suddenly regressed without a good reason. And it didn't make sense why some misunderstandings weren't cleared up, but I didn't mind too much as it lead to more push/pulling. I would totally watch this again as I just loved the chemistry between the leads.
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Disappointing older woman/younger man romance
Likes: Li Hong Yi's handsome face and sort of carefree acting. Kira Shi's natural acting as the older woman esp when she's annoyed. It's like a real annoyed face and not a forced cutesy annoyed face.Dislikes: I found the second half super boring. Sometimes the FL seemed like a mom compared to the ML. The kisses were too chaste. A lot of the story doesn't add up. Oh and there's Hong Yi's awful hairstyle.
I liked the first half of this as it was light, funny, and centered on the build up of the relationship between the leads. Even though the FL sometimes seemed more like a mom than the love interest, I never felt the age gap on the ML's side. I still felt enough chemistry to ship these two together.
However, the second half dragged and no real satisfying outcome came out of the build up. It was such a let down. I found myself fast forwarding a ton which may explain why I don't really understand why Kira had time traveled back 10 years or why that element was even necessary for the story. I probably skipped that part, but I feel like you could have eliminated the whole time travel aspect and just had flashbacks or something. I dunno...I just wasn't into that part.
Also, the young FL vs the old FL was a bit of a stretch. The FL looks too old to pull off a fresh young 20s and the drastic personality change just seemed so unbelievable, And that whole aspect just lead to more questions that I don't feel the drama really answered (but again, I could have skipped that part).
Anyway, if Hong Yi wasn't in this, I probably would have dropped this.
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Started off fun, but dragged in latter half
Likes: The OTP laughing through their lines in the first half. Jerry's bathtub scene. DANG!Dislikes: The 2nd half dragged. The recycling of the same outfits for Jerry. He's supposed to be this major fashion designer, yet he keeps wearing the same black shirt or same 3 outfits through out this long drama.
This started off fun and sparkling. When the OTP were together and teasing each other, they would constantly laugh through their lines as if this was an outtake which I really enjoyed. It's fun and made me smile and laugh along with them. I don't know why actors don't do this more often. When someone looks like they're laughing for real, it's contagious. I hardly saw the age gap because those scenes had chemistry.
Then somewhere in the middle, I kept being pulled out of the story. I couldn't ignore that Jerry kept wearing the same outfits. Certain locations were tied to the same outfit which is a continuity issue. Or there were times when Shen Yu would be really upset and then the next moment she's smiling brightly as if she hadn't just cried her eyes out. I couldn't adjust to the abrupt change in emotions. Or when there should have been a kiss because everything was leading up to it, but it was avoided for no reason which again, took me out of the story.
I don't know. I just feel like it became a mess the more I watched. I couldn't stick it out anymore and finally dropped at e29.
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