I liked season 1, but I liked season 2 a lot better. Just like Taeju was the best actor in season 1, Kanon was the best in season 2. She has so much natural talent and charisma, and such a radiant smile. However, her youth really showed in how she handled her relationships with Katsu and Masaki and Moka. She was stubbornly persistent, whereas Moka showed her maturity. Kou was the most interesting man, but he was deceptive and manipulative, so he's the villain of the season. The other guys I thought were good people but kind of bland in comparison to the women, who were more interesting - Moka and Saburin were deep and sad, and Kanon and Micha were youthful and enthusiastic.
Unfortunately, this series went out with a whimper. But I'll remember these characters fondly, and I'll enjoy rewatching the original 1981 series for sure. I think all the specials that follow are optional for people who can't get enough of these characters, but it's similar to the Star Wars franchise in that everything after the original series dilutes the quality and impact of the overall brand.
Dang, around the 12 min mark there's a brief scene where they bury a bunch of pigs alive because they're diseased. Ugh.
After finishing the movie, I really enjoyed the first half, where Jeon Do-yeon conducts a masterclass on how to turn on the charm, and the story proceeds at a nice, gentle pace. But the second half piled on the misery and jumped around so much that it left me behind, and didn't resolve things in a satisfactory way.
I just watched it a second time after many years, and it's just as powerful as the first time I watched it. The two lead performances are amazing. This is one of the best Korean movies I've ever seen. The director, Lee Chang Dong, had quite a streak going early in his career with Peppermint Candy, Oasis, and Milyang, which started strong and reached greater and greater heights.
After finishing the movie, I really enjoyed the first half, where Jeon Do-yeon conducts a masterclass on how to turn on the charm, and the story proceeds at a nice, gentle pace. But the second half piled on the misery and jumped around so much that it left me behind, and didn't resolve things in a satisfactory way.