ViolinGal

Something to keep in mind (in regards to the drinking thing) is that it is a pattern for this director. His other work: Marriage, Not Dating was EXACTLY the same with how they approached their lead using alcohol for the plot. I mean, most dramas deal with this trope, but definitely not to the extent that Marriage, Not Dating and Another Miss Oh did. I tend to just think it a quirk of this director and how he portrays his female characters. In his next work, it'll probably be the same.

It's a near-death experience he has where his entire life flashes before him; his love for her is so powerful, that he started seeing her before he even met her. But he has regrets over certain choices he made in not giving her the love she deserved and retreating into his proud nature. The visions are an opportunity for him to change his actions and possibly his fate.

I keep being pleasantly surprised by this drama. Also, Je Su Ho is the most sweet, adorable, and awkward character ever. <33

Is this real life?!

I understand that this is going to be over-hyped regardless of the quality, but still...it's Ji Hyeon, how can I not be excited?!

Even though you're not the hugest fan of romance, I still think this drama is worth your time.

The characters are all extremely well written--they have backstories that give credence to how they act in the present. They seem very realistic and you honestly understand why they do the things they do. Even the secondary characters are relatable and likable in many different ways.

I really like how the drama uses flashbacks to give you more of a backstory on how some of these characters grew up and how the characters reflect on that in the present--how their childhood contributed to the adult they are now in the present.

It has this unique quality to it as well where you just feel like you're watching something really special. It can tug on your heartstrings and then make you laugh the next second.

M'kay, rating a drama a 1 on the same day the first episode comes out.....is just weird to me. I mean, what have you seen in ONE episode that would justify that rating? Why are you even rating after just one episode?

Is it just because you want to jump on the bandwagon early before you believe the drama will be over-hyped? Or something like that?

It's just plain weird.

Just completed it and I super-duper liked it.

Oh my goodness you finished it! (Again :P) <333

Ehh, it's not painful. Just a little cringe-worthy. :P

It's a concept I wish was executed with better actors--acting ALWAYS enhances the story and if it's bad...it can make a drama be quite a bit less pleasant to watch. Whereas if it impresses you, it can shoot up to the top of your favorites list even if the writing isn't all the way there.

So even though this has bad acting, even though it has over-the-top cheesiness...I still recommend other people watch it because the meta moments impressed me quite a bit.

But nothing else impressed me. So clarifying under which conditions someone should watch this (probably all in one-take), and how to approach it (ie like you said, not taking it seriously) are important for me to emphasize.

I understand. Luckily for me the episodes were so short that it made watching it a lot more manageable than if it was an hour-long episode production. I was able to get my dose of what I was watching the episodes for (the meta) a lot quicker...and it was a more satisfying watch because of the length.

But you definitely have to be in the mood for cheesiness. And have 2 free hours of your life available that you want to sacrifice. xD

But the paragraphs are short, just like 2 sentences each! xD

WHAT?! ....Oh my stars, that was beautiful and so heartbreaking at the same time.

I think so, yes.

In the second episode they had the classic: 'I caught you and stared deeply into your eyes' scene.

Plus there have been a lot of flirtatious photoshoots the drama has put out of them in couple-like poses.

LIGHT YEARS OF IMPROVEMENT.

While I'm still not this director's hugest fan, things were MUCH easier to follow and connect with in this second episode. The characters were fleshed out better; I didn't feel like I had whiplash going from scene-to-scene. But most importantly, it was coherent and made SENSE. :D

Such a relief.

Hopefully things continue in THIS direction and the first episode can be thought of as that annoying growing pain you just have to live through. xD

Haha, I think they'll for sure meet in episode 2. I'm hoping everything magically gets better after that point.

I have honestly no idea what the focus is supposed to be? Everything in this drama is just a bit confusing in how its set up and portrayed.

Exactly. Directing is an important part of the drama, if it goes so fast like this...with scenes weirdly cut together in a way that doesn't leave enough time to catch up with what's happening or for a scene to have an emotional impact and for the viewer to connect with the characters.....that will be REALLY disappointing.

I hope the directing style changes. I'm hoping for a better episode 2.

No I do not think this was the worst. I said Kang Koo's Story was the worst (the same director of that special also directed this).

I only thought the directing was bad. Not the story itself. I thought I explained that in my post fairly clearly. I guess you just misunderstood what I was trying to convey. :/

Guys. O_o .....WTF was up with the directing in this first episode?! Everything was weirdly spliced together so quickly that it was TOO HARD to connect to any of the characters. It was also SUPER confusing to follow. So many things happened, but the director didn't leave enough time for emotional impact or connection with these new characters. I barely understood what was happening. It was just super ATROCIOUS.

And guess what, I found out something SUPER DISAPPOINTING: ....The director, Hong Sung Chang also directed Kang Koo's Story. THAT WAS HONESTLY THE WORST THING I HAVE EVER WATCHED. *disgustedface*

Ji Sung is the best thing since sliced bread so OF COURSE I'm going to continue watching. I sincerely hope it gets better and that the directing for this show doesn't ruin it for me.

*fingers crossed* .....*Praying to all my drama-gods out there* .....*please don't disappoint me!!!!*

....I'm honestly crying on the inside. TT_TT My poor, poor Ji Sung!

Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Perhaps.

I think the only time I haven't hated English being used in an Asian drama was in Oh My Venus with Henry. They didn't have him purposefully speak his lines slower or not act the emotions properly either....he was just normal.

I think they subtitled what he said a lot of the time too so non-English speakers could understand. If I was in charge, I think that would be the direction I'd take....I wouldn't purposefully change the way a language is spoken...especially if subtitles can solve that problem.

I just feel like whenever English is used in an Asian drama, the feeling and inflection is completely gone. I don't know if I would characterize it as robotic, but something is definitely off.

With native English speakers, I've always assumed it is just bad acting and their only qualifying factor for getting the job was just that they could speak English.

For other actors where English is a second language, I've just assumed that a lot of concentration is placed on saying the words correctly, so also trying to act in an unfamiliar language, is obviously extremely difficult.

The idea that someone is purposefully leaving important inflections out so it can be understood by others....is weird to me. How would leaving out the correct emotions help someone understand the same word better?....

Maybe it's because my second language is ASL and emotions/emphasis are a huge part of the grammar and being understood. xD

I'm not fluent enough in any other spoken language to be able to attest to this type of speaking style for a foreign language helping others more readily understand what is being said.