All of this marketing advertising for this ?
If the story plot as advertised seem interesting and the cast with Bae Suzy seem to have a lot of potential, it is not worth it.First of all, scenes are long. Short spoiler, the main character encounter each other very fast, but you wait about more than 15 mns to have them interact. So far it seems ok but when nothing interesting happens in 15 mns it’s long. 15 mns where sequences aren’t that beautiful, song is not engaging or silence not necessary or things characters do have nothing interesting for the overall story… it’s a waste of time. and this happens again and again.
Also the plot is jumping from one thing to another soo rashly… as a viewer you don’t have time to either grasp the situation or have compassion for the character.
About the acting…. it’s far from being Bae Suzy best performance. and for Yang Se Jong I first thought it was bad acting but I thing the overall is just bad directing. When interacting with the female lead he acts like a extremely dumb person. If that was his personality… alright. but it is only when interacting with her. and it’s not about “shy” type or weird type but truly like you would talk to an autistic person.
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We had high expectations
Certainly the drama I less appreciated from our star Kim Soo Hyun. It is not about actors’ performances, I actually was stoned by Kim Ji Won’s acting. It was a very refreshing role for her. But the story itself lacks deepness… Of course if we compare this to recent works labeled as kdrama romances, you can find worst cases scenarios which actually got better reviews than this one but how can I say… maybe high expectations were awaited here. Kim Soo Hyun’s choices used to be better. In this series even main characters reach a point where they stop to evolve. And the intrigue and vilains are not justified at any point. It’s like, let’s put a vilain to get an intrigue… on a short notice, I’d like to see our boy is something very different from what he usually plays. Maybe a vilain ? Idk.Again my review is only subjective tho.
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The hate JHG received/is receiving is disproportionate
I was quite taken aback by the hate the show received as well as JHG and So Hee.About the show: I don’t think S1 was better than S2 nor do I think S2 is better than S1.
Many expressed their disappointment towards S2 while flooding S1 with compliments. But remember, S1 received a lot of bad reviews because of the final outcomes as well as the final challenge which was quite abrupt and too quick compare to the rest. And I remember very well Ha Seok Jin and Lee See Won getting hate comments because of their « selfish » game. and now everyone says S1 was such a banger while S2 is sh**?!
Truth is, there are always going to be people criticizing Devil’s plan but still, most are going to stick to the end of the show and never mention that it was indeed entertaining. Otherwise they wouldn’t have stuck until the end.
I can agree with the fact that it was slower (more boring) than S1 but that is because the challenges were indeed trickier and somehow « better thought » but at the same time, too complex for a reality tv program and for the public.
That is also because of that kind of games I think S2 is better than S1 on this point because it allows interesting turns of event and « more dramas ». It’s still a reality tv program tho.
Also the contestants were somehow on a better similar « intelligence » level than those in S1. So it had less « disparities » and gave the chance to have in-prison contestants a power to shine through strategies. In S1, we had a lot of disparities leaving poor chances to those at the bottom to « fight back » and proof is that most of you don’t remember who they were…
But because S1 was less boring and had that « new stuff » quality, thus the discovery feeling.. it makes me feel S1 was better than S2.
But you see there are good/bad arguments in both sides, making it difficult for me to say that one was better than the other.
I can understand personal feelings ; But the hate towards S2 was unjustified.
Same goes for JHG and low key So Hee. We can agree JHG has a cold attitude but he never appeared to me as narcissist or toxic or disrespectful. He actually takes critics better than some others in the show and is willing to apologize and give some thoughts when told he did something wrong (about his comment toward Hyun Jun) and he always stayed loyal to people he appreciated (he talked about So Hee in 2nd episode, cried for Kyu Hyun in a
10th, cheered for Ha rin, Tino.. stated he couldn’t get along that well with 7high) I guess people take someone toxic as soon as someone is blunt/direct. If he is said toxic, then so was 7high after challenge 1 and his aggressive tone and behavior towards basically people he didn’t know at that point. If people agreed with his attitude then what is criticized about JHG is thus unfair. And about the talk with Hyun Joon, he apologized. Besides, Hyun Joon was very nonchalant and very cruel in words toward him behind the camera, which JHG never did… so again you can dislike a cold/blunt attitude but saying he’s toxic and throw hate is unjustified.
My point is, nobody was toxic or violent or vilain in the show to the point you can throw so much hate at someone’s face.
On last episode JHG seemed aware of his behaviors but he seemed aware before starting the game… He said he was here to play. And the show isn’t about fair play and it was clear he didn’t want to keep around people he didn’t connect with.
I mentioned low key Soo Hee because she didn’t receive « that much » hate but telling her she has no personality, she is a simp etc, I really wonder what makes people feel good about throwing shade like that. People wonder if she was in awe or love of JHG or if she was too pure, either way, is that a problem ?! Kindness is missing on earth and about love, I’d like to see you in the same room with the person you are in love and competing against him. Also most viewers are women and so most commentators are women, that makes me feel even more terrified at what women are ready to throw at one another. Superiority complex or jalousy it must be I guess..
I personally like everyone in the game. I had preferences like Cho Kyu Hyun, 7high, Tino… for different reasons but I never came to the point of hating someone (it takes a lot of energy tho…) and moreover even if I disliked one of them I would never have thought about going on their Ig, sending hate or take over all comments sections (forums, MDL, etc.) and throw hate…
To conclude S2 was very entertaining, and the contestants were all interesting to watch over the episodes.
Not sure if my review will be seen but if so, I’m sure you’d like to come at me. But again it would just prove my point… There is a gap between lashing out at someone and just saying he’s not my cup of tea. And you can of course prefer S1 over S2. I just wrote down the reasons I think none is better than the other.
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Why are the ratings so high ?
Maybe my review is too subjective but I really don’t understand how this drama got so much liked nor do I understand the ratings here.The only 3 really good things are : SIG’s acting - the gorgeous cinematography - interesting topics within the main topic
But then it is lacking in a lot of aspects. The top review on it said the ditector was too narrow minded about their opinion on suicide. To me it is not a problem. In order to convey a message, directors often need to be narrow minded… Then if it meets the public’s opinion it is a win. But what troubles me is the lack of originality in the main topic and that, with all those cases and beautiful scenes, we are waiting somehow for an ending twist which we do not get. Let the end be very open is not what I consider an ending twist as it is not surprising.
It is ok if you don’t want to be original but when you decide to make a series in order to convey a message so simple or seen over and over there is a disappointing feeling in the end. That is where originality is lacking to me.
You get sometimes engaged in one special case but hardly on his own fate.
GYJ is great and some others I didn’t mentioned but I am not convinced one inch by the female lead here… I might get so much hate but it is the first time I want to call out an actress telling her this is quite a bad performance..
Anyway, I apologize if you find this too subjective but this is my honest opinion on it
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It is ok if you don’t like it
Final review (even tho it is not finished).I want to say, as the top review says, it is one of fhe drama that you need to see it for yourself to “rate it”. And still, it is one of the kdrama that will be hard to judge as it will take a lot of subjective thoughts (more than other dramas) to say it is good or not.
So my opinion isn’t necessary. But here is what I can tell you. This is not a revenge drama, this is a healing drama. Weirdly enough, not healing for you but for the characters. And this is where it is hard to understand, because we usually make contents for others (viewers) but it feels like it was made for its creator. Like a self letter.
Romance is not the main arc of the drama.
Characters are not meant to be flawless, on the opposite. And this can be extremely irritating, frustrating, want to throw out your screen off the wall sometimes. They are also meant to be disliked. I believe there is a reason but it is too much out of my own speculation to be taken seriously..
Even after knowing all these and pounder everything it is not the best drama or the year and won’t be. Neither will it be the best performances of the whole cast. BUT we appreciate a lot their acting because it is actually a sort of acting demonstration here from everyone.
Now watch it and make your own judgement. Do not let comments influence you. You might love it and if you drop out it is fine too. It is not made for everyone.
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Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow
5 people found this review helpful
Overrated for people looking for something else in kdrama nowadays
I cannot say anything about cgi, music or performances. Even tho, no music was good enough for me to remember over the time. And some performances could have been way better but the directing allow them to act « not that well ».But what I regret is that drama starts off with a very interesting plot and cool special effect we rarely see in dramas. The cinematography is beautiful too.
And then, little by little, we fall in the trap of a standard k-drama plot, which, nowadays especially, is only for fan services for idols and nice looking actors rather than a real plot, complexity, suspense, or without being complexe, something opposed to what we are used to. I mean if you look at it has nothing surprising to offer. Nor great plot or message to tell.
But I guess we call kdramas for a reason and kdrama fans for a reason too as I see the ratings.
I already said something about the acting. If you remove the cool stuffs and beauty… it looks very much like an amateur series in terms of performances.
People are going to say that of course the performances are not perfect since we have rookies. But this is the point… if you can clearly see it, how can you give 10/10 to performances ? Also I am not giving a bad rating because the director knew what he was doing and what kind of public he was aiming at. In that sense, performances are very okay.
Should you give it a go ? In order to support CGI yes but other than that, you can live very well without seeing it.
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Falls so far behind the webtoon
As I always say… I am more a webtoon fan than a drama fan.I commented on Hero class 1 saying the drama was better than the webtoon. Extremely good indeed.. But..Here it is not…
Idk about those who didn’t read it but as someone who devoured the webtoon and cried with the webtoon the drama falls so far behind. And if I can judge it this way is because they really tried to make it exactly like the webtoon without the sex and without the development of the lead male character and side characters.
I think there is a cast problem in a way with the lead characters… The female lead isn’t that cute she is more of a strong woman. I mean it literally and in terms of personality. Sin Hye Sun doesn’t convey well enough that strong character and will. The lead male is extremely fragile but to a point that you feel his fragility. Ahn Bo Hyun doesn’t convey it right. It is subjective maybe but I really am surprised from people who did read the webtoon and think otherwise. And I can’t agree with you if you say “this is the drama” well.. maybe you shouldn’t make it exactly like the webtoon then and have people not expecting the same thing..
But prolly people who didn’t read it liked this one a lot and I can understand them better.
I gave a really bad grade cause I think the grades are way too high objectively speaking.
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Japan has nothing to envy from the US
Fans of Godzilla franchise never expected they needed this in a godzilla movie. Basically this movie gives viewers satisfaction out of something they didn’t expect.When I watch a Godzilla movie I am here for the entertainment, the fun, the beast… And I never cared much about the people, sometimes do I usually find myself supportinh godzilla..
But here they gave us a story. A story through japan history to the point you wonder if godzilla was indeed real in our lifetime *joke*. They make us care about the characters and they are very much developed. At least enough to care. To the point that sometimes you actually don’t want to see godzilla. Thanks to everyone’s performance that was top notch.
There is a retro vibe here that is well done. The sounds, the raw sounds, the silence… it is so well done too. It triggers emotions in you which is hard. The crossover with history is gorgeous to witness.
It is also beautifully shot, godzilla is threatening (at least at the beginning) and his look.. nobody made a godzilla this way before ! Special effects are geat anf this is only a 15$ millions budget movie ??
I personally have nothing bad to say about it. But I want to point out something that was looked at by some viewers… they made the whole thing a very Japanese style even to the characterization. Mostly the good but also the bad side of japanese people. Like the relationship between the kid and .. you know who (no spoiler). Also it was criticized that is was too japanese to the point it was not real. Like japanese and japan isn’t this way ? I am taking a bad example but gossip girl isn’t the US and emily in paris is not Paris or parisians. So you see what I am saying.. well if it can bother some, I also think it has its charm here.
Anyway go now watch it !
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Currently watching
When there is Choi Hyun Wook in a comedy you are sure to laugh. He is really great in that kind of character. Ryeoun does a good job too as a rookie actor. Even tho it is obvious he is still lacking here and there.The story line isn’t that innovative. We’ve seen it before. The direction it takes as well. And we kind of have a hint of how the ending is going to play. But being aware of it doesn’t make it less enjoyable. The comedy and how it is directed make it easily enjoyable. Hyun Wook makes it very easy too.
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Enjoyable but…
I think it is better view that series on a different vision than a webtoon adaptation. Like an independent series. I believe webtoon fans could be disappointed in that way because there are too many differences to point out. With a fresh approach, it’ll be more enjoyable but not flawless.It’s enjoyable because it’s fun, you get attached to most characters (more than in season 1) and you even get to like some vilains. And I think it’s the main ingredient to a series/movie.
About acting;
In comparison to the first season, the male lead is different. And it is troublesome because, we can hardly relate with his attitude/stance/look and so on. I am not sure if it’s a bad directing or a bad acting. I am tempted to think it is both. If an actor can’t play well, a director doesn’t explain well.
As for the others, they show real skills particularly on the « villain » side even tho there is no true vilain here. I am impressed by the performance of CMY truly.
I believe everyone is gonna praise Ryeo Un but after watching some interviews I realized that it’s a good performance because the character he plays is basically him. Doesn’t mean it’s not great but maybe it nuances the acting performance here. Honestly I didn’t find him convincing before that. However, the series is carried by him and Seo Jun Tae.
I don’t know if you noticed but episodes are shorter. In a sense it is good because I still found a lot of unecessary moments that I didn’t feel in the previous season. And that is the biggest flaw in the series to me. It means the script has nor fully been prepared but then why do we have to wait so long for season 2 to come out ? Of course I am sure Netflix also « purged » the script as always…
I brought up many flaws but I still think it is enjoyable.
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Underrated
It is my own opinion and it seems to be quite a minor opinion if we look at the global critic but I think it is very underrated. It is flat yes but flat doesn’t mean boring. The end might be disappointing but pretty much like a lot of romantic dramas. And the end to me doesn’t matter because that is not the message or the directing approach or storytelling the director wanted to tell (I think). There are beautiful quotes. tenderness, a lot of love sent to the viewers and you can identify yourself to a lot of situations… one sided-love, loving someone the society says you shouldn’t, loving someone for a long time and not saying it and so on, being in a relationship with no spark… and the letter (you know which one I am talking about) is like a big hug, for me and all the people who felt “why don’t you love me while I have so much to offer to you!” “what do they have which I don’t have ?” “how can I stop loving you, you who doesn’t deserve me”Was this review helpful to you?
A piece of art visually a bit empty at core
It is a k-drama to the core and nothing more and nothing less. Does it mean it is bad ? Absolutely not. (I mean don’t seek for originality)The thing I like the most about it is that it is a mature drama. Most kdramas nowadays involves young generation of actors and a childish setting and development. It is not a problem, but a preference.
I haven’t seen kdramas as I described it with mature cast, a bit less childish recently. To name a few, Goblin, Nine tailed, my love from the star.. those are mature kdramas to me which we all enjoyed. Even King the land developed itself to be a very childish kdrama. So it is refreshing to watch this one even tho it is not perfect.
The second strongest asset of the series is how beautiful it is. Maybe one of the most beautiful cinematography we haven’t seen in a long time in a korean series.
I personally liked the series how it was and the directing choices that were made. But I can understand some people who disliked it. Like I said it is beautiful visually and the soundtrack is too. And it was a directing choice to make it looks like a piece of art literally. In that process, the dialogues are sometimes flat and it can seem long sometimes and so boring to many because of this choice. Also you can tell they try to convey a story nevertheless as things speed up oddly and fast at some point. And that can be a drawback to me and to others. I was fine with the poetic boring side because it was pleasant to me.
Should you watch it ? If you like mature kdramas a bit poetic and beautiful yes 🙌
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A little jewel
I am truly in love with this drama. And for people who are used to my comments, I never say this.The thing is, everything about this drama is so poetic and gives you a nostalgic feeling even if you never lived in Korea at that time period or even if you were too young (or not born) to remember how the end of ghe 90’s and beginning of the 20’s were. In that, the drama is very strong.
I won’t say much about the performances, everyone is on point, they don’t over do it and don’t lack in any way. You get attached to all of them. And again this is how strong the drama is.
The cinematography, the music everything is very poetic to me.
What I like the most is how every details matters. Who knew there was an old korean song holding all the meaning of this drama and its ending before you reach it ? And the directing is giving it to you.
If I had to point out one drawback it would not be the end. As I said, if you are ok with the meaning of the song (same name as the drama for thos who don’t know) and the fact that the drama is a time traveling to a forgotten time, the ending is good. So the only drawback I have is the Na Hee do as a mom and the teenager Na hee do are too far apart to me. Of course we all grow up, get wiser blah blah blah but to me there is absolutely nothing similar to old versus young Na Hee do… and it should be important. As we are opening and ending with the old Na hee Do (sorry spoiler), we want the young one to make that bridge that will connect each other and it is missing. I think it was a cast problem.. (maybe).
otherwise, great !
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Didn't deserve all the hate...
A lot of people said over the time how bad the drama was. It is not. The plot isn’t bad and the acting is amazing. It is refreshing to see Lee Min Oh on a different kind of role which until this series, remained mostly the same.The scenery is beautiful. I mean the drama is indeed gorgeous. It took us so many of us to visit the filming locations. Not just because it is a drama but because it’s beautifully filmed.
The only regret might be the ending. Some regret that it ended well (which is a spoiler tho). The problem to me is that they tried to make a complex ending and I understand it. The directing process is complex and also a reason why so many people didn’t approve. But towards the end that complexity wasn’t necessary or at least not necessary once you finished the whole drama. Not necessary to a point that instead of finishing on a good note it gives you a “unfulfilled feeling”.
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This review may contain spoilers
A not so bad plot and a not so bad acting
A series adapted from a novel which I didn’t read so I my review will only focuses on the series.We get a very interesting first 2 episodes with an original concept as well as in the directing and artistic approach, with an intriguing cast, intriguing because it is far from the roles we usually see them in, and if you don’t know it’s from a novel, it is also a very unique plot.
To me I am satisfied with 95% of the storyline and the acting. I especially love the scenery, this darkness around each scene and the dialogues with a lot of depth. The sign language conversation is extremely enjoyable. Vilains have some depth too even if you think the main vilain is psycho.
It is a very short series for which we can expect another season and worth watching especially since it is short.
Now I will talk about a few things that, personally didn’t work and thus, the reason why it is not a 10/10.
First of all the development of Jeong Ji An is not completed. Was it saved for another season ? We have a child version and short development of her as a kid. You must have spotted how strong JJA as a child is very brave and very intelligent. We could think her childhood affected this version of her but they showed us when Jeong Jin Man was raising her. We still see confidence, braveness, curiosity and excitement actually… The young adult version of her is quite far from the picture we got from her in the past. The young adult teenage version of her is very frail, not confident, weak also (in her way to think and physically act)… So it feels we are missing something.
Another plot problem to me is how quick some situations get resolved. I mean, these people are very smart, not easily fooled, they think… How this whole situation gets resolved is not convincing. When JJM dies it is not convincing how easy people think he died. Is it because the novel said so ? Should we blame the writer ?
Another problem is the acting. Don’t get me wrong I am satisfied with everyone and if sometimes Kim Hye Jun is questionable I think it is more a characterization problem. But Park Ji Bin could have done way better especially when he dies…
Lastly why not a 10/10. Well even if it was very entertaining and nice I think it is hardly rewatchable and they are right, the re watchable value is part of the rating. You might think because it is short it is not rewatchable but DP is rewatchable (season 1), on american series Black mirror is rewatchable. Might be very different kind of stuff but to me the rewatchable value here is lower than some other stuffs.
PS : I talked about the cons but I also mentioned the pros and of course I enjoyed it. I think LDW is pretty amazing even tho it is not his best performance.
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