Salatheel

Great review, thanks! I absolutely agree about the last vol. I was right there until those last episodes, which to me had too much crying in them. Especially from Eun Myeong, who I felt had a bit of the raw end of the deal, both from his parents and from the writer and director. I also felt that the major relationships (partners) of the children were a little glossed over. I understand that the drama wanted to focus on the nuclear family, but I think these relationships needed filling out a little more. A lot was packed into those last episodes in terms of time passing and as a result, I felt the impact of some of the events had less attention and it became a bit more superficial than previously.

Having said all that though, I felt overall it definitely merited a 9 from me, which is a rarity.

At last Viki put MLSHR up it and I got to see it.

My opportunity to watch it was a long time coming. I flirted with the reviews at one point whilst wondering if I would ever get the chance, and if I did, would it be worth it. I didn’t want to spoil it for myself, so chickened out about half way through your review in case it had too many spoilers. But the phrase “cluster f@@k” forever rang in my memory and always bought a wry smile.

Now I can definitely confirm—Yep! that pretty much describes it.

With so many opportunities to really score a strike, it still managed to find the gutters again and again. It just flirted with the balls instead of having them. For me it was a roller-coaster of disappointed expectation, as character development opportunities were squandered at every turn in favour of stock reactions. And at the times when the cost of power was begging for recognition and genuine acknowledgement, they decided to play love songs over the top. Did they really hope that some fluffy romcom style photo opps would soften the oh so nasty hard bits?

Ah well, at least I understand the controversy now. I think it’s a heavily flawed 6.5 for me.

I have now read the whole of your review and loved it. Although for me even LJG wasn’t at his best. I think his performance in Flower of Evil is the pinnacle so far (as well as his debut film - The King and the Clown).

Sorry! No longer on my VIki either. The only other platform I have is Netflix and it's not on there. :( Try putting a question up on the kisskh group. there will be a pirate somewhere if you're prepared to go there.

Try" Cruel City" It's more crime than romance, but really good and from the same period (2013). I wrote a review for it, and it's on page 4 of my reviews on my profile, if you want to find out more about it.

An ending is coming for all of us. Isn't the whole of life trying to "pretend it's not coming"? Rather I interpreted it that they fully decided to live in the present moment. Until the moment when we die, we are alive, and the present is the only moment we have. Live it!!

If you can fake your source using a VPN, to Australia, then this is available on SBS on Demand
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/small-slow-but-steady/2379621955565

Yes, I think you're right. Thanks for helping me to see that more deeply. I did recognise that trait in the character but failed to see that maybe that is what he finally accepts in himself. I had literally only just finished the drama (binged) when I wrote the comment. It's definitely something worth savouring and thinking through with more care and insight.

As for Russell, I loved QAF and a lot of his Dr Who work, but have found his stuff, particularly Years and Years somewhat too righteous for my particular taste. As I recall it, there was some good stuff in Years and Years which I enjoyed, but overall didn't warm to it.

Usually I watch a little of BL stuff and give up for exactly the reasons that you stated above about it being het but with boys. The only other BL drama I watched and enjoyed was Old Fashion Cupcake, which is of course, Japanese.

Thanks for that review, it resonated. Watching this K-drama brought me back to watching "Queer as Folk", which was a groundbreaking TV show that aired in the late 90s in the UK, (broadcast in 1999) by Russel T Davies. It has that same refreshing honesty about it and at the time was like a total breath of fresh air. It has probably aged by now, but if you haven't already seen it, and can find a place to watch it, it comes highly recommended. He subsequently wrote (and is probably still writing) a lot of stuff including being in charge of Doctor Who for a while.

I'm not sure that they totally nailed the ending for this one. Just wrapping it up as "being myself" was a little too vague for me. I don't take issue with how it ended, just how it was presented. I don't give out 9s very often, but in the context of the normal k-drama approach, which as you say is straight young-girl oriented, I found it refreshing and beautifully acted by Nam Yoon Su.

I think the genre is just approached so differently in China. More like a cross with a superhero genre so that people can’t fail maybe. I always find Chinese fight scenes so amusing because people fly all over the place but I think it’s a cultural difference. I’m not able to go there and like you, credibility leaves the planet!

Thanks for that, I'll search out some of the ones I haven't seen. Surprised not to find Do You Like Brahms (2020) with Park Eun Bin not on the list. (Edit: Sorry just found it under honourable mentions) Most of the playing here was quite believable too. Being able to play both piano and violin, I find it really difficult to watch when the faking is just clumsy. In fact Kim Min Jae can play the piano and executed the "famous piece" himself. It was Schuman's "Traumeriei".

"Secret Love Affair" is one of my favourite dramas. Directed by Ahn Pan Seok whose work I always watch and enjoy. I always think the poster for it is really misleading. The two characters are very different from how it portrays them. The Jdrama "Quartet" is a quirky piece and worth watching, with viola jokes and Easter Egg squirrels in the final scene (you will understand if you watch).

Tx!

Sorry, didn't hit the reply button, response above...

Thanks for that, much appreciated. I write my reviews for people like you who are reading them to decide whether watching a show is worthwhile, hence no spoilers. So I'm glad you found it encouraging as imo the show is so worthwhile. I love Ahn Pan Seok's work in general as he always manages to find good writers who can step outside the normal run-of-the-mill plot structure and tone whilst creating adult, mature characters. If you enjoy this, then look up his other dramas on MDL. A personal favourite of mine is Heard it Through the Grapevine, which is not so much a romance, although that is there, but a scathing satire on Korean society. I did write a review for it if you are interested at all.

Finding low rated gems is often tricky, because mature, thoughtful dramas can often get a thumbs down from people who are looking for slick, youthful fluff. But this is definitely one of those dramas that should have a much, much higher rating..

I like that idea. The Romantic period in western literature (circa 1798 - 1840) which arose around the time of the French Revolution would perhaps fit the bill. It was a period of time which celebrated the individual and freedom of thought and speech, especially based on emotions, nature and spirituality. It arose from the breaking free from the tyrany of the European Ancien Régimes which had held back societal and political progress. Notable western figures of the period are Beethoven, Keats, Thomas Payne, Mary Wolstonecraft, Wordsworth, Schiller. Sorry to be a bit limited in my scope but not too sure of contributors in other nationalities, but it was a very widespread movement.

I really appreciate this observation as the Korean title really brings out that aspect which I hadn't fully realised before. The English language title really sucks, I think it misleads people into thinking this is all about the romance. For me the message about teaching children to think was so loud and clear. You can't actually graduate in the way that you have outlined unless you are able to both think and then act for yourself. I think the message was underlined by the constant references to behave "properly" in front of those older than you. Which is a very powerful social tool to stop people thinking and acting for themselves. I really liked the direction when Ahn Pan Soek decided to really focus on the after-effect that the confrontation between Jun Ho and Woo Seung Hee had on Jun Ho. It is not easy to confront head on and you have to be totally assured in your grounding of opinion as well as your moral and ethic stance. These things can only be learned once you understand the cost. And to fully understand the cost you have to be prepared to think outside the box.

What? No reviews posted yet? slackers... :-)

Loved the watch-it-and-mock! To my shame, iIdo find myself doing that a bit when I've committed to writing a review and It's not working for me.

Sorry,Purpledinosaurus, managed to hit new comment rather than reply - see above!

Thanks for your positive comment on the the review. It's not a style I enjoy either. Give me a bit more grit any day. Good luck!!

Great analogy! Loved it.