This review may contain spoilers
This drama wasn't meant to be female centric, but the female lead stole the show for me. Jun Ji Hyun is at her absolute best playing an arrogant diva who still manages to be likeable and very* charismatic. A lot of the things she says- coming from the mouth of another person, would come across as obnoxious and get a lot of eyes rolling, but when Cheong Seong Yi says it, she's so darn funny that one cannot help but liking, laughing with her or laughing at her. The last time I laughed so much at a lead actress' performance was in Mr. Queen. While Ji Hyun excels at comedy, she also does emotional scenes well. I was surprised at how she could switch in the blink of an eye from being carefree/nonchalant one moment, to vulnerable and teary eyed the next.Kim So Hyeon also did a good job playing the role of a cold and distant male lead, but to be honest, I don't really prefer this type of male character. It's just a preference, but I've always leaned towards strong, but warm (or warm-hearted) male leads. I'm not really into the trope where the FL has to win or thaw the heart of a cold man, but to each their own. That said, Kim So Hyeon's Do Min Jun had a very* good reason to be cold and distant. As an alien, he had plans of returning to his home planet, so it would be too painful for him if he were to develop attachments. It was a little strange for me when he suddenly kissed the FL out of blue, after acting so distant.
The second ML was the complete opposite of the one in Shine on Me. Park Hae Jin's Hui Gyeong embodied an ideal second male lead who was a bit clingy, but very loving...not just as an admirer, but as a friend. He later becomes a good ally to both the FL and ML. I thought it was sweet when he put his life on the line for Cheong Seong Yi and this was made even more touching because he didn't have any powers and was injured for it. There was also more to him than just pining for her. The emotional ups and downs he had as the younger brother of a murdered older brother (who he loved), as the younger brother to another brother (who turned out to be a psychopath) and finally, as the least favorite son to a narrow minded chaebol made me sympathize with him. The scene where he humbled himself and had to tell his disbelieving father the truth about what his older brother Jae Gyeong was really like, was one of my favorites.
Overall, I love the concept of this drama. This is basically the kdrama take on the romance between an alien and a human. I actually wanted to rate this higher, but couldn't for the following reasons:
1) Lack of chemistry: There is actually nothing wrong with both Jun Ji Hyun and Kim So Hyun's performances here and they gave their absolute best with what they had.
They simply, IMHO, had no chemistry.
It's not their fault. It's not the fault of how the characters were written, either. I just felt that the actress and actor themselves didn't have it. What's weird is that Do Min Jun had even better chemistry with Cheong Seong Yi's brother* and the scene where the brother pounced on him on the couch made me think of a BL XD. I think the most touching relationship for the ML here was not the one with the FL but the one with his older friend, Mr. Yeong Mok.
In the last few episodes where Cheong Yi didn't do much but cry over Min Jun's absence...the scenes where they said their goodbyes and professed their love for one another...I hate to say it, but I really didnt' feel anything during these moments that were supposed to be so heartfelt. At the back of my head, I was even comparing them unfavorably to the love confession between the couple in The First Frost, one of the few that actually felt raw, heart wrenching and had me in tears.
2) Conflict with Jae Gyeong, the main antagonist: I know that this drama is first and foremost, a romance, so I didn't expect Game of Thrones level writing when it came to seeing the leads square off with the main villain, but there were parts that were just plain stupid.
Why for instance, would Yura (the character blackmailing Jae Gyeong into marrying her) use a USB that could not be copied? She was calculating enough to get something like that to use against him, but why not make as many copies for security? They made a huge deal out of the USB being supposedly non-copyable, so that they could have many scenes with Jae Gyeong's henchmen trying to physically assault Min Jun and Seong Yi to get the drive...only for it to turn out that there was another* copy of the file anyway.
If Jae Gyeong was also such an evil mastermind, why didn't he just have his ex-wife killed? Why go through the elaborate ruse of having her locked up in a hospital where he could bribe the entire staff to keep her prisoner there. It's like the writers just did that so it could conveniently pop up later and be used against him.
There was also a wasted opportunity to address a major issue in Korea...the vicious cancel culture they have. Cheong Seong Yi was cancelled for something she didn't do. She was blamed for the murder of another woman without any proof and almost lost her career over it. It would have been extremely gratifying to see how the entertainment industry made it up to her when they realized she was innocent. Instead, the writers chose to have Do Min Jun reveal his powers to the public (for absolutely no reason...it's not like he was planning to become a superhero anyway, so what was the point of that?) so naturally, the public's attention was diverted to the alien with powers, not to the comeback of the maligned actress.
In real life, many Korean actors and actresses commit suicide over being cancelled or some baseless scandal or other...it would have been better if the writer didnt' sweep this issue under the rug. It would have been better if the story showed also how Cheong Seong Yi felt about the whole thing.
In the ending, after Min Jun left, they came out with this ridiculous thing where he gets sucked into a wormhole. When he finally returns to earth and to Seong Yi, his body could only be partially physically present for short periods of time. There was absolutely no reason for this. His alien race had the technology to land on earth. Couldn't they just make something up where they allowed him to return?
They should have either had a totally sad ending where the leads were separated forever or a totally happy one where they were reunited forever. Not this half baked scenario.
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***MAJOR SPOILERS***No kdrama has topped Signal yet for me when it comes to thrillers, but this came pretty close. Just like the previous drama I watched, this was also about second chances.
Like Signal, Train (I guess OCN just really likes single title dramas!) did well in balancing the supernatural aspects with the crime solving. I figured out who the main antagonist was early on but I like who they chose, and also the backstory that came with it. I’m not sure how I felt about the killer’s motivation (it’s not exactly realistic compared to real life serial killers) but they made a good story out of it. The length of the drama also works…I’m just really glad it was only 12 episodes because if it weren’t, they would’ve added useless filler and some of the middle episodes would've dragged on. Train also manages to pull off a creepy atmosphere convincingly. I’ve seen other thriller kdramas try to do this, but with plots so ridiculous, I just ended up getting annoyed. Not so here.
This is a male centric story where the male lead, Do Won, is the protagonist and the rest are supporting characters. Do Won is a very strong but vulnerable, brave and yet in over his head type of hero. His parallel self is an addicted junkie who is consumed by bitterness and does nothing but harm himself and others in a downward spiral. The actor portrays both opposites well.
The actress playing the female lead Seo Kyung is also efficient in playing 2 different roles. I like how Seo Kyung was more stubborn and bitter in the parallel world and yet, she knew how to apologize when wrong and acknowledge misconceptions she’s had about one of the other characters. I also like how protective Do Won was over her and how regretful he was of his behavior towards her in the original world.
The chemistry between the main couple was good and the romance was very touching without eclipsing the main plot.
The drama also does well in connecting the parallel worlds in terms of the fate of its characters. There is this question of whether history is doomed to repeat itself and in some cases, yes but in others, the results can be quite different.
One thing I disliked about Train is how, in several instances, characters who would have been dead (getting shot in such close range?) managed to survive. I’m glad they did but it just seemed too unbelievable, given how the scenes were presented. Also, the ending, while happy, was still too open ended.
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**MAJOR SPOILERS***I didn’t expect to like this so much. It’s over the top and makjang in some parts but very entertaining just like - or maybe even better, than the webtoon it's based on.
Park Min Young is very charismatic. Asides from having an amazing smile, she has this likable quality that makes you want to be her friend and root for her character onscreen. Her ability to both laugh and cry at the same time in one of the later scenes is a good showcase of the turmoil her heroine goes through and how it affects her.
All performances here are good and it’s impossible to compare them since we are talking about very different personalities, so what I expected from each of them was different as well. This is a female centric show and the female lead is the main character; the rest are supporting characters, but it works. Kang Jiwon is likeable, displays both strength and vulnerability, and tries to proactively use her knowledge of the future in subtle ways to turn her life around. She does get a lot of help from other characters, but this makes it more believable.
Su Min, the antagonist, also does exceptionally well. She is merely catty in the beginning, but she devolves into one of the most disturbing characters…the type of person who would try to drown you in one minute, then send a love letter to you the next. She does just that. At the end of the series, I still couldn’t figure out if she loved the female lead or hated her. Her obsession with Ji Won was very chilling.
I also liked the male lead, Ji Hyuk, a lot. His character may seem boring but it balances out the rest of the more extreme, personalities. He starts as a passive character who does nothing, is confused by his feelings towards Ji Won and as a whole is very regretful when she dies. But by the end, he becomes one of the most decisive, supportive and devoted male leads…as well as being an extremely kind person who brings out the best in her. I thought they had an adorable chemistry.
I was more confused by Min Hwan, the male antagonist, because the actor had a very comedic manner that it made me wonder if they should have gotten a more serious actor. I got some genuine laughs out of his stupid facial expressions and ridiculous way of talking and thinking that I had to remind myself that he was a killer who was violent towards women!
One of the strongest points of this drama is the lessons it had. Not just about literally having second chances in life, but the importance of valuing yourself and surrounding yourself with the right people…not just in terms of choosing the right partner when it comes to romance, but also in terms of forming genuine friendships. Anyone who has chosen the wrong friend, who has been betrayed by a loved one or worse, whose loved ones betrayed them, might get something out of this. Also, it wasn’t just about choosing the right friends who care about you, but also about being supportive of other women. It was great how Ji Won didn’t just grow into a woman who learned to care for herself but also one who cared for others…her support for her female co-workers (one who was experiencing something similar to what she did in the past) was a great message.
The character of Yura was one of the few things I disliked about this show…she just didn’t fit in and felt like an evil Mary Sue they added last minute to create more drama. They already had enough of that with Su Min and Min Hwan.
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***SPOILERS***Reply 1998 was recommended to me by two people but it took me awhile to watch due to the number of episodes. The episodes are also pretty long, each running at an hour and a half! I’m really glad I took some time for this; it was very heartwarming. This might be my first slice of life drama and nothing major happens here…there’s no main antagonist to get by or big problem to solve. Those expecting something more specific or thrilling to happen might be bored, but those who don’t mind watching day-to-day life may find this really special. This could also be a good drama to watch alongside something more serious, as a breather. The episodes are plotted in such a way that one can even watch right in the middle without missing anything important.
It mostly centers on five teenagers growing up in the 1980s. I like how the show focused not just on the friendship of the main group but also the friendship between their parents, each family and its dynamics. Watching this entire network of relationships was a very pleasant experience and I can see myself rewatching some of the scenes later.
The main female character Deok Sun is a loudmouth and one of the wackiest characters in a drama but I found her pretty funny and likable. She gave off this good energy in every scene. Actually, all the characters here, from the gruff older sister Bora to even the older parents such as Mi Ran and her husband Sung Kyun (even wackier than Deok Sun!), had distinct personalities. I was expecting to fast forward the scenes with the parents but it turns out that their antics were just as entertaining as their kids!
What I didn’t like were the parts with a grown up version of DeokSun (in 2015) talking about her youth in flashback. Her husband was with her during this interview (she gets together with one of the guys and his identity is revealed later) and the problem is that his personality differed so much from when he was younger that it made him seem like a different person. I understand that the writers did this deliberately to keep the audience guessing but it was too much and I agree with those who said that it was as if he got a personality transplant :/
I also felt that one of the gang, Dong Ryul, didn't get as much screen time as the rest of them. He’s just as goofy as Deok Sun, but some scenes revealed that he could be surprisingly wise and deep when needed. His relationship with his father, the dean, was pretty abusive and I wish they addressed this more.
There is a love triangle here which I normally dislike, but this one - while it comes with its share of natural angst, wasn’t toxic or offensive to any of those involved. It’s interesting how they went against stereotypes where the more introverted party happened to be the more expressive and direct when it came to relationships. In the end, every character is happy and at the right place. This drama really manages to capture the nostalgia of growing up and what Korean culture was like at a time when things were much simpler.
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--- Warning: SPOILERS---There’s a genre in Thai lakorn called slap & kiss. Like the name suggests, it is highly problematic and full of slapping, screaming, fighting and all kinds of violent and toxic behavior. I think the reason why people watch it is because it’s like watching a car wreck. It’s not something you see everyday. The characters are so over the top that they make cartoon characters realistic. They can make the viewer angry and yes, in some cases, they can also make the viewer laugh. I do not recommend this genre unless one already likes ‘makjang’ to begin with. In fact, slap & kiss is like a crack genre that is even more extreme than makjang. Only watch this if you can’t take it seriously.
I do not usually watch slap kiss but I was actually introduced to watching asian dramas though it, when someone made recommendations in the romance novel board I used to visit.
When done well (ex: Kluen Cheewit) though, they remind me of the romance novels I used to read. I think Long Ngao Jan 2019 is one of the ‘better ones.' I don’t recommend the older version but this later version is able to do something which I rarely see in this genre.
It’s able to point out that all the characters are dysfunctional and that it is problematic.
This is one of those rare lakorns where I did not hate the antagonist. Khem was horrible but the plot did a good job of explaining why she turned out that way. From the very beginning when she was young, she was already brainwashed by her mother to believe that her older sister would take everything from her. Her upbringing lead her to become a resentful person. I felt that every time she did something bad, she was also hurting. When she finally turned into a total mess I felt sorry for her because she was both an antagonist and a victim.
The FL (the older sister) was the main victim of the drama. She was a doormat who was abused since childhood by her stepmother and stepsister and was used to always giving in. She had a father and grandparents who loved her but they couldn’t protect her enough. This is the type of weak FL that many would despise but I could’t help but admire her love for her sister. Also, the actress playing this role usually plays bitchy, antagonistic roles, so her being able to play this pitiful character was actually impressive for me.
The lead hero is what I call ‘a jerk with a heart of gold.’ Acts like an ass but can actually be nice if he weren’t so deluded about the FL. He straightens out later and I don’t know if it’s a little too late or too much; it depends on one’s personal level of tolerance. I think he’s written to be much nicer here than in the older version (psycho) who I can hardly watch. In here, all the characters in the family were so messed up that the ML just gets swallowed up by them, even if he was the one who started causing trouble in the first place.
I like how, instead of focusing on his revenge scheme, the story focuses on how the dysfunctional family caused mental issues and destroyed the relationship between the sisters. I don’t know if it showed an accurate representation- especially of the antagonist’s condition but at the very least, it points out that yes, this character is problematic and yes, this is what happens if things aren’t sorted out.
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*heavy spoilers below!I really enjoyed this drama. Why did it take me so long to watch this?!! :) It has exactly what I like where half the plot is romance focused, and the other half is focused on the ‘career’ aspect of the leads. It was similar to I Hear Your Voice (made by the same scriptwriter, bless her) where half the story focused on the legal court cases which I found a lot of fun. It not only gave me a good insight into the characters but also helped develop them.
Same thing happened here in Pinocchio. It had similar beats to IHYV but it was also different as it focused on the challenges of journalism...I kind of got some Healer vibes from it but this was a good thing for me. I think Lee Jong Suk does a pretty good job playing this kind of tortured ML. He’s not the most versatile actor as he tends to go for similar roles but what he does, he does well, IMHO. I felt a lot for his character. There was a point where I was angry with him. The issues he had in his past- while I understood why he reacted in certain ways, they made him take it out on the FL which got me pretty angry. However, the story actually calls out his behavior and makes him realize his mistakes, his prejudices and how his suffering made him act exactly like the people he hated.
The FL was pretty awesome...I actually love* Park Shin Hye in this role! She was an adorable heroine who was an interesting mix of both strong and weak. She even made hiccuping look cool. The only issue I had was that her character did not have as much scenes or development as the ML. Whatever scenes she does have, however, are pretty satisfying and she does* grow as a character apart from the ML. For the typical, cheerful and innocent FL one usually sees in dramas, I felt there was something unique about ‘Choi In-Ha.’ She was a breath of fresh air. She was basically living out the ‘break the cutie’ trope (the ML’s arc was more revenge focused) but she managed to do it without being broken and coming out stronger and wiser at the end. While I wishLee Jong Suk would play a different kind of role, I feel the opposite and wish Shin Hye would play more roles like this.
The couple’s chemistry was also pretty good. I would say it was better than in IHYV because they were of a similar age. Really hope these two get paired up again.
The rest of the supporting cast did a pretty good job as well. Jin Kyung’s star reporter Song Cha Ok is another example of a character you love to hate in the beginning..but slowly grow to love much later. The character deconstruction here is pretty well done and she was one of my favorite characters at the end. Loved her scenes with the FL.
One other issue I had though, is that they portrayed the ML’s brother as too much of a hero. I get that he suffered, but the guy killed 3 people. These people, while cowardly and selfish for framing the ML’s father- did not actually kill the father. If the ML’s brother had kidnapped them and tried to force a confession from them to exonerate their father- I would actually understand this action a bit more even if I wouldn’t excuse the kidnapping. But no...the ML’s brother outright kills all three. True, he went to jail for it but it doesn’t make me comfortable how the story continues to frame him as a hero by showing multiple heartwarming scenes of him and the ML bonding as brothers after this. These three victims did NOT kill their father. They deserve to be put to prison for framing him, maybe even smacked around...but they didn’t deserve to die. :/
Overall, Pinocchio is one of the best kdramas I have seen in awhile and it will probably take some time to find something that I can enjoy just as much. It’s a pretty good mix of everything...a romance that (while not as thrilling as Healer’s or Eternal Love’s) is just as amazing in it’s own way, a heartwarming family drama and a career based story involving journalism. A really nice package.
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I made an exception for this though, and I'm glad I did. Its Netflix title is 'Empresses in the Palace' but this is inaccurate. There is only one empress at the start of the story and several concubines of different rankings. It's about the difficult lives of women in the harem. It's about survival, backstabbing and making your way to the top. This was interesting enough to watch (I'm a huge Game of Thrones fan!) as I liked the palace intrigue and maneuverings. The main female character Zhen Huan, starts of as a clever innocent but ends up as a ruthless Empress Dowager - this is not a spoiler since the very first episode already shows her as an old woman. The story is told in flashbacks which may take away a bit of the suspense as you already know she's going to end up fine.
Also, while she does end up ruthless and cynical in the end of the drama, I don't think she ever acted cruelly or unfairly. She never did anyone wrong...unless it was in revenge for a wrong done to her.
The drama is successful in showing how the most manipulative, backstabbing person can actually have a sad backstory...and while you don't justify or make excuses for their actions...when you find out how and why they turned out like that... you actually feel sorry for them O.o It also shows the exact opposite story arc. It shows how characters who appear meek or kindly or honorable are actually cruel or cunning in reality.
Overall, I like it because of the strong female lead (Betty Sun/Sun Li has that Betty Davis thing going on with her eyes) and the good performances given by the entire cast. The costumes looked great, the palace looked grand and the story was fascinating yet depressing at the same time. Looking at these women's lives made me think how horrible it was amidst the grandeur and luxury. They were like pretty animals in cages. This kind of story really isn't my thing (hence the imperfect rating) but it's a really good drama and worth a shot if you want to see a historical based on Chinese dynasties and harems.
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I wanted to give this a higher rating because it is a good drama but I couldn't due to certain flaws.
- I found the heroine too stupid (even for drama land!); normally in these Asian dramas a lot of the female leads are depicted as naive and innocent. Eun Sung IS a likable heroine- she's cheerful, hardworking and resilient. But I have a personal limit as to how ignorant I am willing for my leads to be and unfortunately, Eun Sung went beyond it. Not only did she make the same mistake once or even twice (my limit) she made it around three or four times. It was frustrating for her to make the same mistakes, for these mistakes to blow up in her face, and for her not to learn a thing from the experience and just do it all over again. I wasn't sure what was wrong with her. Even the most naive person would not have made the same error. It made her mentally handicapped brother seem even more intelligent than her at times. I liked her overall, but her characterization was disappointing. If she had at least learned from her first few mistakes and shown some improvement, I would have forgiven her initial stupidity- I have a pretty high tolerance for erring characters who take awhile to grow into better people. I can be patient enough when these characters get better as the show goes on. But in most cases, Eun Sung was saved by plot armor or the characters around her were there to save her from her mistakes. I wasn't even expecting her to be this badass heroine (although I have my favorites for this type as well) just someone who got better after being exposed to harsh realities.
-Her dad was just as dumb as she was. I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree. It's funny how similar these characters are. Well meaning and kind but with no common sense or foresight.
-Her kid brother had only one purpose in the story. To get lost. I guess I can't consider this as a flaw since this is typical makjang. The actor playing the mentally handicapped Eun Woo does a very good job.
- Moon Chae Won is a much better actress than Hyo Joo IMHO, but the way her second female lead was written was a letdown. Since her character was one of the more interesting ones (being the daughter of a wicked witch isn't easy) I had higher expectations for her...I spent most of the drama wishing that Seung Mi would go from merely feeling guilty about what was happening to Eun Sung/Eun Woo, to taking an actual step in doing the right thing. But she never did. In fact, she takes a turn for the worse.. Seung Mi's characterization makes me think of how unfairly female characters are written at times. Often, when a story shows two men fighting for the affections of one woman, the man who loses out is still depicted as noble, good hearted and even willing to help out. But more often than not, a different approach is taken when it comes to two women fighting for one man. Back stabbing, dishonorable behavior (especially on the part of the second female lead/other woman)...while I am aware of the sexism in writing that brings about these differences...the fact that this sexism exists DOES NOT justify any of the resulting actions anyway. Knowing that Seung Mi was depicted unfairly DID NOT make her likeable all of a sudden for me. Nor did I excuse her behavior. True to form- second male lead Jun Se does not get the girl (as expected) but comparatively speaking, he still makes very different decisions at some point in the drama.
- racist comment in the very first episode. I wish they could remove this.
Despite all that, there were a lot of good things I loved about Brilliant Legacy. I normally don't like to watch dramas with more than 20 episodes but this one was enjoyable and fast paced. No boring or dragging moments. No slowing down of the plot midway. It's not everyday I am able to finish a 20 something drama in just a couple of days.
I think what I really loved about this was the relationship of the Grandmother character with the rest of the other characters. I just loved Granny. She was the boss and at the same time, she was what tied everything and everyone together. Brilliant Legacy, Shining Inheritance isn't just about the romance that develops between the leads- it's about how something (in this case, Granny's will/inheritance) brings people together and makes them better. Hwan (the male lead) becomes a much better person -not just because he falls in love with Eun Sung, but because he wants to prove to his grandmother that he is capable of caring for her legacy. He starts out as the most frustrating character at first (I wanted to strangle him) but later on, he goes through one of the most believable character developments I've seen. I wondered at first how on earth Eun Sung could choose him over Jun Se (played very well by Bae Soo Bin, who I know does a fantastic villain in Secret- it was wonderful to see him so good at playing good for once!) but by the end of the show I thought it all made sense. Hwan was probably my second favorite character, after Granny. The growth and realizations he went through were truly inspiring. They were not abrupt in that they did not seem like they came out of nowhere. The way he fell in love with Eun Sung and the good effect she had on his character was a natural progression of that.
The side characters were enjoyable to watch. The butler, Hwan's airheaded mother and sister and even the restaurant staff and manager were all endearing. As for the main villainess...Kim Mi Sook is really good playing the evil stepmother. She is caricature like but this is the norm for a lot of kdramas with villainesses OR villains. No double standards there. They are truly despicable and you love to hate them.
Overall, this was a fun watch with a lot of life lessons. I wouldn't watch it again, but I'm really glad I took the chance to get into something longer than I am used to.
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Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas
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Overall, I'm glad I did but it really wasn't as exciting or suspenseful as some of the reviews made it out to be. The first half of the series dragged and was quite boring. The second half picked up and got better. I wouldn't say it wasn't worth the watch and there were things I liked about it. But I can't give it a much higher score due to the 1) slow, dragging pace of practically half the show and 2) there is a glaring plot hole that stretches my suspension of disbelief a little too much. Let's say that in these type of shows, the police/authorities are usually portrayed as somewhat inept in order for the leads shine in the detective/issue solving. In this case, the error was over the top- I couldn't even imagine a rookie cop making such a mistake. I know they wrote it this way so that the leads could have a needed showdown with the antagonist but I had to take away major points since the flaw is inexcusable.
There are good things about White Christmas. All of the teen leads did a good job with the acting and were able to potray the differences in their characters, as well as represent their character issues well. I also liked how each of them (with the exception of Cho Chi Hoon/Cho Ji Hoon) got some character arc focus at some point in the drama. Park Mo Yul was clearly the MVP, but each of them had their moment to 'shine' or something like that. Their interactions with each other, and with the adult characters, were the highlights of the show for me.
I think White Christmas was trying to achieve something unique with the crime/mystery genre but I'm not sure if it succeeded. I will say that it had significant differences compared to the run of the mill whodunnit murder mystery, police procedural or even Battle Royal/Hunger Games type of show where the leads are pit against each other...but did those differences amount to a cohesive plot where all loose ends are tied up in a way that is credible? I'm not so sure. The drama goes on and on about whether or not 'monsters are made or born?' but it doesn't really resolve it (or even leave an open ended question) in a way that made sense.
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Signal may not be the best murder mystery series but it is certainly one of my favorites. What's more, it manages to add a supernatural element where characters from the past and present communicate to solve crimes, which gives things a unique twist. I undersand this sort of thing has been done before (see Hollywood movie "Frequency") but Signal ups the ante, makes the theme all its own and gives it a Korean flavor that I can't help but applaud the writer for putting it all together.
The experience is like watching a crime drama, with mystery after mystery being solved by veteran detective Cho So Yun (refreshingly strong but vulnerable- can't help but compare her with the inefficient female counterpart from Galileo) and profiler Park Hae Young, with the help of a character from the past - detective Lee Jae Han (who is now one of my favorite kdrama characters); the result is fun, exciting and a bit tragic.
The series does a good job of letting you know when the scenes are from modern time vs. past time and the scenes from the late 80's and early 90's looked genuine and authentic. I wouldn't say that Signal is a scary show, but it certainly had its fair share of atmospheric, eerie moments. All the characters had good chemistry and I liked every member working in the 'unresolved cases' crime unit. The main villain was despicable but I find that kdramas do a good job in making you hate the villains/antagonists. This one was no different in that I wanted to reach out and slap him in the face, repeatedly.
My only complaint was that there were times when both Park Hae Young and (to a lesser extent) Cho So Yun would take too long to react to a shocking piece of news when they'd hear it. It would usually happen at a suspensful moment when it was critical for them to react quickly, so it got on my nerves a bit since I was worried for their characters at those times! This wasn't a deal breaker for me, and I thing Signals advantages far outweigh whatever flaws it has. I think the difference between asian crime drama (using Signal here as the reference point) and the American/English ones I've seen is that the former tends to be overemotional. It works in context though, and I like the fact that I know I'm watching a korean melodrama* as well as a murder mystery.
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*heavy spoilers below!There is no question that the ML’s actions (big reveal in episode 10) were inexcusable. The problem I had with it though, is that it seemed extremely out of character for him to do what he did. Why on earth would someone like him go to such lengths when he could have just introduced himself and maybe asked her out? He was not written as a shy person. He was confident, authoritative go-getter businessman type of person. He was written as a pretty tough player in the business world. The plot didn’t adequately explain why this character, who had pretty much everything (even women throwing themselves at his feet) would suddenly act like the villain of the drama. The only conclusion I can make is that it was a stupid plot point to add unwanted angst.
I have seen this sort of thing before. In one movie whose name I forget and in another drama (Love Now)... only in the latter the stupid trick is done by the FL’s ‘loving family’ and the plot treats it as a joke. A pretty horrible joke.
To be fair, the plot in this one does NOT excuse the MLs actions. Pretty much every character (including his biased best friend) calls him out and even beats him up for it. The FL also does not take it sitting down and outright leaves him. I don’t think it was right or realistic for her to take him back but I also felt that it was unrealistic for him to act the way he did in the first place. He was pretty much in love with her throughout the entire thing. If you remove episodes 10-13, his behavior is pretty consistent throughout. I did like how it took awhile for the FL to forgive him, and that when she decided to, it was her own choice and she was not forced into it.
Other than that, this is pretty much your standard, run of the mill romcom. I think the first half is stronger than the second but they somehow had to extend to 20 episodes to tie up lose ends and characters. This drama also has the ‘brother vs evil brother’ trope that I have seen in another drama.
What did I like here? I actually like the way the ML looks at the FL. Also, some of the skinship moments were good (if only they removed eps 10-13) and they actually had chemistry. They also included the dreaded amnesia trope which I also hate...but surprisingly, I found the FL’s actions (including the SML’s) hilarious during this time.
I also like the FL’s ‘bromance’ with the SML. I am not sure I can use this word because she’s a woman but I find it refreshing when men and women can be depicted as really good friends without anything else added. Bromance doesn’t have to be just for guys lol.
I don’t recommend this for impressionable younger viewers. Older viewers who like a devoted ML will be able to assess this better, I think. They may either like or hate it. For me, it was nothing special but I did like some parts of it. At the end of the day we have to make our own decisions about what to watch and what we think of them.
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---Warning: SPOILERS---I’ve watched a sageuk drama before but this is the first one I’ve seen that effortlessly combines comedy, fantasy and transmigration. The main thing I liked about Mr. Queen was how funny it was. Shin Hye Sun played the FL and she was really good in the role. She was able to act like two different characters, made every one of her scenes a delight to watch and basically carried the whole drama on her shoulders. The other characters were pretty entertaining, too. There were many funny side characters here (the ladies in waiting, the cook, the king’s friends, etc) and their interactions with each other and especially with the FL were adorable! Mr. Queen actually makes crying scenes pretty funny. I also enjoyed watching the scenes where the FL would cook something new or invent something for the kitchen. It reminded a bit of Dae Jang Gum.
I think I would’ve rated this higher if not for the romance and political intrigue.
The ML (King Cheoljong) and the FL (“Mr. Queen”) had some cute scenes together but it was clear from the start that it was Bong Hwan’s (the chef who transmigrated) personality the king fell in love with, not So Yong’s. Would the king have fallen in love with Bong Hwan if he was in his original body? We don’t know. Would the king have fallen in love with So Yong if Bong Hwan didn’t take over her body in the first place? Probably not. So why is it that, at the very end of the drama, he didn’t seem to notice the extreme change in personality when Bong Hwan left? They all acted like it was nothing.
I am not against the idea of Bong Hwan ending up with a modern day Cheoljong, or letting him stay in So Yong’s body but I wanted the writers to make his feelings and the changes he went through more understandable. Was he actually bi and in denial, only to have the experience make him finally accept who he was? The show should’ve indicated it before he body swapped. Was he actually in love with Cheoljong at the end or did he just care about him because of the baby and because he had to, given the circumstances he was forced into? It was not his choice to enter So Yong’s body, after all. In the beginning of the drama, he had a bit of a double standard where he hated the idea of So Yong in his body flirting with guys, but it was perfectly okay for him in her body to flirt with the court ladies. I got the impression that he changed in the end but I wasn’t sure how.
Also, why exactly did So Yong love the king? They had that moment by the well when they were kids but he was mean to her after that. Yes, he had good reasons but the point is, she didn’t know that…so why did she care so much for him before she entered the palace and became queen? Now, I don’t care what trope a story has, whether it’s love at first sight, slow burn or enemies to whatever…I just want it to be believable.
Cheoljong himself was supposedly love with Hwa Jin at first but when another woman with a ‘cooler personality’ came along, it was all over for her. Now, I don’t believe that every character should end up with who they start with, but I wish they didn’t play up his loving Hwa Jin so much to the point he’d sacrifice his life for her, because it makes him seem really flakey.
The political parts were also a let down. The retaking of the palace and throne at the end should have been on a bigger scale ala Nirvana in Fire. I was also disappointed when Cheoljeong just inexplicably left Mr. Queen alone and defenseless. And why did Byeong In (one of the second male leads) suddenly turn evil…only to turn good again? It would’ve made sense if he were an ass like Gaston but he wasn’t. Was he bipolar?
There were just too many why's for me, so I just enjoyed this for the comedy and the performances.
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I would say that pretty much all the cast members did well with their roles and that the chemistry between the main couple was believable, despite their rocky start. I wasn't sure how exactly the ML could ever love the FL, given the context of how they met...but somehow they convinced me once it was over. The last episode had some of the cutest romantic scenes in drama- it was a complete 180 degree change from all the hostility and antagonism they showed each other in the earlier episodes.
But there were several things which prevented me from giving this a higher score, despite the enjoyment I got out of watching it.
When penning a hate-to-love scenario between characters, it's hardly a good idea to rush the situation and I'm glad they did not do it here. My personal opinion is that - with this sort of thing, it works best to have the relationship develop from dislike, to tolerance, to friendship, then finally to love. And the starting point for the change in the relationship should be midway in the drama. Kluen Cheewit does this well -the island scenes in episode 7/8 are the most exciting ones and they showcase the MLs vulnerability, and the FLs empathy towards him in a perfect way. The problem is that after this turning point, something else happens in the end of episode 11 that breaks down the trust between them (all over again! -_-) where the sweet moments built up from 9-11 turns into a type of love/hate in 11-12. Granted, there is good tension between them (a lot of sexy scenes that showcase their good chemistry) in 11-12, the kind of going back and forth did not flow well, IMHO. Why not just have it so that the sweet moments in 9-11 are switched with 11-12? That way, the development from hate to love would progress more naturally.
The way it was written seemed like they were back to square one and having to start over again. Given that the drama only has a short time frame of 15 episodes made it a bit of a mess. It was only in the very LAST episode where all the misunderstandings were cleared and the ML and FL finally got together...because episodes 13-14 were wasted on secondary characters. And while it's okay to develop a romance between the supporting cast, it should never affect the one between the main couple and that's exactly what happened here. Instead of the ML and FL reconciling by episode 13 and giving us viewers (at the very least) the last three episodes to witness them actually be a couple...we are left with only one episode to witness their happiness. Granted, episode 15 is one of my favorites, the thought that we could have had so much more scenes between the main leads and instead, are force-fed with the secondary romance between annoying secondary leads, was a disappointment.
At the end, I am left with a drama that I enjoyed in parts. I loved Kluen Cheewit for its amazing female lead/character, the good acting (from all the cast members) and for the chemistry between the main couple. Would I recommend this to a fan? Sure, if they were into melodrama and didn't mind all the angst. The genre itself is a hit or miss for most people. This one is flawed, but it's one of the better ones of its kind. I just kind of wish we had more of those squee worthy moments to make up for the turmoil in the earlier episodes.
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This is an old drama with an outdated view on gender roles, but if one takes it with a grain of salt and watches it with Mulan in mind, they may be entertained. First, some red flags...the FL kisses the ML out of the blue, the second ML kisses the FL also by surprise and later the ML force kisses the FL in anger.The FL and ML are also both* very childish and bickered a lot, which I didn't care for. The good thing is that once they finally get together, they actually make a pretty sweet couple and become better versions of themselves. The first 11 episodes of their push and pull got on my nerves a bit, but everything after that was good.
Another trope I dislike is when one of the characters has a secret and it stretches out for far too long. I think the FL had a good reason to keep her gender a secret. To some extent, I could also understand why the ML was angry when he found out...but I felt his anger was a bit over the top and hypocritical. He was so mad at being deceived and yet he also paid her to pretend to be his boyfriend so he in turn could deceive his grandmother. That's what I meant when I said that the ML was childish. I finally get Gong Yu's appeal though, he is handsome and charismatic...and for some* reason is good at playing childish heroes. From Coffee Prince to Goblin...I finally understand why he's paired up with younger female leads XD Eun Hye also did a very good job at portraying the very boyish Eun Chan (mannerisms and all)...I'm not sure why all her dramas after this one weren't as good.
I would argue that Han Kyul and Eun Chan, when they finally get together and put their sh*t behind them, had even better chemistry than the couple in My Love from the Star, despite their age gap. The way Han Kyul hated the idea of Eun Chan leaving him to study abroad but accepted it anyway for her sake, so she could grow as a person...the way they both gave each other advice to take care of themselves when apart...they seemed like such an odd couple, but it actually worked for me.
Also, I have no issues with a childlike heroine...I've seen many in these Asian dramas. But it made no sense to me for Eun Chan, a girl who had to grow up fast and be the 'man' in her family to put food on the table, to be so childlike. It's good that she finally seemed grown up when she got together with Han Kyul at the end, especially when she came back from her studies...but in the first 11 or so episodes, she just seemed unbelievably childish and carefree for someone who had such a hard life. The contrast had a good effect, though. I really liked the mature version of Eun Chan at the end of the series who was confident and knew what she wanted. Han Kyul also grew into a better version of himself in that he was an aimless drifter but later on, became a responsible boss who wanted to work hard to make something (the coffee chain) grow.
This is also one of the few Korean dramas to include sensuality. Nothing explicit, but I was surprised that the main leads actually sleep together, not like in My Love from the Star where they're literally just on the same bed with all their clothes on!
The Second Leading Couple were very* toxic. The second female lead Yu Ju was incredibly selfish. She left Han Seong in the beginning for another man. The series starts with her begging him to take her back, which he does (why?) and later when Han Seong starts to (almost) develop feelings for Eun Chan, she gets angry and can't seem to forgive him the way he forgave her. Worse, she tries to leave him all over again for the same man. They seemed very happy at the end, but I could just not warm up to them as much.
There is also a lot* of toilet humor in this series. The character of manager Hong was particularly gross.
So why exactly did I like Coffee Prince? It's hard to explain, but for all the quirks and flaws the characters had, they still (most of them) managed to be likeable. The warm feeling I had when watching family dramas like Reply 1988 was there when I watched this. The camaraderie between the Coffee Shop waiters (the scene where they individually said goodbye to Eun Chan before her trip abroad) the scene where Eun Chan cuddled her younger sister Eun Sae after her failed audition, the scene where manager Hong defended Eun Chan to Han Kyul's grandmother when she wouldn't accept them at first...these are the heartfelt moments that make the best family dramas and Coffee Prince had a lot of that warmth between the characters that gives viewers that good feeling.
Han Kyul and Eun Chan were also well written as a flawed, imperfect (even eccentric) couple who manage to be believable, in spite of everything. I grimaced a lot at their annoying antics, but later I also smiled a lot at how they turned out.
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Another light and fluffy series with an adorable green forest couple. This one has an even slower pacing and smaller scope than Shine on Me, in terms of plot and background/location. It focuses on traditional Chinese medicine and not much else, which can be boring for some. I expected to fast forward a lot through it, but found that I liked learning about it, even if I have no opinion on its effectiveness. I like how the story does not propose that TCM replace scientific methods of curing people, but can be a good supplement instead, to alleviate pain and discomfort. Introducing a different ingredient at the beginning of every episode was also a nice touch.This drama also focuses on healing and has a very good message...that in order to be happy in a relationship, you have to learn to love and value yourself- not just in terms of your physical health, but also in terms of your mental health and who you surround yourself with. The female lead, Shen Xifan, was coming out of an abusive relationship, which was a cause of anxiety and physically affected her. The male lead, He Suye, helps her out of it in the sweetest, most supportive way. Later on, she returns the favor by reuniting him with his father, who he had an unresolved resentment with.
Their interactions were very cute and fun to watch. The chemistry between Xuo Ruohan and Zhang Linghe is also good. I don't have a favorite type of female lead and don't specifically care if they are depicted as girlish, mature, tomboyish, etc for as long as the character fits the story and the main couple has good chemistry. Xuo Ruohan's Shen Xifan is very ladylike. She is gentle but strong, vulnerable but also a survivor. She has dreams and ambitions (ex: studying abroad) that she isn't afraid to explore. Her character reminds me of Zhang Ruonan's character in the First Frost, in a good way and with far less trauma. He Suye is a very caring and soft spoken male lead, but he can also be boyish/playful. He has a naughty streak that can be quite funny, especially when exposed by his grandfather and when his friends tease him. I like how, in spite of being a gentle and soft spoken doctor, he knew when to get angry and stood up to her misogynistic ex without even saying a word.
I also really like the female lead's parents and the male lead's grandfather. They were very supportive of the main couple and there were a lot of heartwarming family interactions because of that. Her parents' reaction when they found out how nasty her ex had been to her was very touching.
Despite being shot in only a few locations, The Best Thing is also (visually) a very beautiful drama to watch. There were many shots of landscapes filled with flowers, blooming plants and trees...the characters looked and felt like they were in a fairy tale, even if filming was done in the heart of the city. I kind of wondered if all the flowers were real in the wedding scene at the end. Everything was so beautifully arranged/decorated that it made me wonder what happened to all that foliage after the event.
One thing I kind of took issue with is that the female lead decided to pursue a private business after she came back from abroad. I don't have a problem with career changes, but a big deal was made of her studying hotel management in terms of the plot, so it was strange how she decided on the career change so abruptly after coming back; it felt like a waste after going through so much effort to get her scholarship.
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