SunsetChill

Good show for trying times

First I'm an average american white male, mostly watch sports but have a wide taste for shows both american & other countries. I value a good story, acting to invest in a show.

I have not watched many Kdramas but with Netflix putting many out they fill a gap when I'm in the mood for something new. Last year I enjoyed Mystic Pop Up Bar. So Hello Me! Had a interesting concept.

I know much of the world has been isolated & dealing with COVID so I tend to look for TV shows to detach from the pandemic.

Without discussing the plot as part of the joy of this show is seeing where it goes, the week between episodes is hard as you are left wanting to see what happens.

Likes:

- funny and many laugh out loud moments, even with major culture difference this show has humor which in a way helps offset the more serious moments

- at its heart outside of the two versions of the same person is a core of how people deal with family, friends, loss and finding happiness. Sometimes its just in a snack and others finding a friend lost.

- enjoy the multi-connected plot & characters, kind of shows the 6 degrees of seperation. Also the aspect of how people make impacts on other peoples lives, which often may seem minor

Dislikes:

- some of the events are the same old ones you see elsewhere, the romance side of this show is pretty weak with the two leads being there to prop up the two main leads (or one)

I look forward to how the show wraps up and update what I thought. I hope they have a season 2 if Kdramas even do that.

Give the show a chance, if anything it will make you smile.

Update 4/11

Well the series wrapped and came back to update. Overall my rating and like for the did not change. I do agree the aunt / anthony subplots did suck time away from the core story but it was nice to have most of the main storylines wrapped up.

I guess this final two episodes were more bittersweet than outright sad. Overall series kept its touching nature and it does make you pause to evaluate your life & relationships.

While I know K Dramas don't do seasons like the US, however there are story lines that could be explored in each time period.

Past - Ba Ha Ni dealing with her life knowing what she does. Maybe the college years.

Present - Obviously seeing current Ba Ha Ni and making the most of her new (restarted) life. I felt there was more meat between her & the HS BFF. The baby, adult friendship etc. I'd also like to see the Aunt return and be given a sub-company to run so she does not live her life with so much hate. She gave up her whole family, future grandchild due to her envy & greed.

If you are unsure, try the show. It was a pleasant watch.

~chill

Read More

Had promise and lost step

First I must comment the soundtrack for OG is better than the series. The songs are catchy and the main two are played many times thus they stick in your head.

This series started with good intentions and then fizzled and then picked back up. It spend way too much time on the ML going 'missing' that I don't know why the FL bothered. Everyone has challeneges in life and the ML seemed to feel he had to suffer on his own to 'protect' those he loved yet wound up hurting them more. I think of all the WASTED years that went by where a simple, 'Hope you are well, thinking about you' would have went a long way.

The start of the series the parents were shown having key roles in their childrens lives and then at High School and beyond faded to the background, which I guess is how life goes. I wish the ML found closure with the parents who are gone in the second half of the series.

This series also wasted the friends relationships and played minor roles. the FL best friends (girl) and (boy) clearly have for each other and never took the step to at least tell each other. Again wasted years loving someone. Maybe they decide to just stay platonic. The other cirlce of friends are never explored other than cameos at times.

Overall it is worth a watch, just know the middle episodes are frustrating as it doesn't connect to the start and the (happy) ending episodes, the wrap up seemed rushed considering the time spent on the 'apart' portions.

I guess the series does show the years of growth as you enter adulthood and have real ife to deal with. ML took responsibility for his family and put his own happiness (and education) on hold. Many people deal with similar situations.

Read More

Had potential but Typhoon broke into a drizzle

First I thought overall the cast were all fine. For most of the main employees you had some side story / subplot.

Overall the story was just not strong. It was like endless setbacks and incidents to make any sane person quit. The ML went from a club kid to running his Father's business with zero business knowledge but has a good heart and wants to do the right thing for the company and his father's employee's.

There is limited romance as the ML / FL are just starting to explore their feelings for each other, while FL sister after a few weeks of dating on & off is planning marriage??! (FL sister is super cute).

I also felt there was going to be more to the FL Grandmother and the ML Mother. They touch on things but it doesn't really shape into much. It's mostly one business fire after another and getting endless bad luck.

All said it's a decent show just was expecting something bigger for the payoff / ending.

Read More

Real life situations make blah K drama

First the cast is good, everyone acted their part, had good emotional range and acted like an everyday person.

The ML (Mr. Kim) while you want to feel bad for him and root for him to achieve the success he strives for the story lines fizzle out. Outside the later episodes where his family helps he only cares about himself, what he does & its impact him being promoted. He doesn't show any feelings for his wife, son, fellow workers. Sure there are bits here & there where he does something 'good' but its not before its the last option.

The bulk of the main story lines and sub plots have little to no resolution. The series could've used another episode or two to wrap up things.

Overall its an enjoyable watch and the key messages are a nice reminder to note & care for those close to you.

Read More

Everyone Has an inner Struggle

Finished watching this show last night and while I felt the last 2 episodes were a bit rushed, everything was wrapped up.

The two young leads were excellent, with Mi-Ji having a more meaty role. All the supporting cast did a great job and added their own parts to the story.

Basically no one is perfect, every person & family have their own struggles. What may appear on the outside as perfect once seen from inside shows the fractures.

I also enjoyed seeing when anyone was too down, a friend or family member would support them. You also re-evaluate what is 'family'. Is it only by blood, time together etc.

Things I didn't like were obvious gaps in the story, like why would the daughter (Mi-Ji) not introduce her mother to the woman she spent multiple episodes helping (Rosa Restaurant). There was also the mother having preference for Mi-Rae as she was 'successful' yet didn't know her struggles and how unhappy she was.

I also was hoping Ho Su's mother would have some re-connection to her family. That was pretty harsh and I admire her will to be a 'mother' to a young boy she barely knew. In a way this relationship showed no matter how broken a relationship is (mother - son) the will of love can overcome.

Overall this was a solid show and I enjoyed it.

Read More