MAI

Omg, you're completely right, I read your comment again and I completely misunderstood what you were saying! I think it was just the PTSD I got from watching the Korean show that as soon as I read 'Liar Game' and 'Korean version' my brain short-circuited lol. Your recommendations are def fire tho!

I thought it quite weird and inappropriate too! But then I saw it was phrased this way on the official film festival website as well and that basically means that this is a description approved by the director. Maybe it will make more sense after watching?

It's gonna be screened at some 2021 film festivals! Keep your eyes peeled and you may be able to join since some of them will only happen online anyway. Otherwise we might need to wait a bit longer for its official release.

To be honest, I am not completely sure why I'm still watching this. The show started off great: the first two episodes were fun and intriguing, and it set up this romance-suspence plot that I was excited to see unfold. But I'm now at ep. 8 and, I am sad to say it, but this story is tiring me out. The acting and the production value are pretty good but the screenwriting itself needs some work. For episodes that are this long (1.5 hours, man!) it's just a tad bit embarrassing how little has happened over the span of this many episodes. I literally can't recall whether there have been any significant changes/character developments since episode 5 or so. Instead of actually progressing the major story line with the mysterious contract killer, the show relies on these minor, insignificant events (like sending someone to the hospital for just 1 night) to bring the plot along and to create tension.
That being said, none of the characters have any depth either. Each of them seems to have just one primary personality trait (whether this is jealousy, lust, or ambition) that drives all that they do. Rather than creating complex and realistic characters we are presented with these flat, almost comic-book-like renditions. Lun's childlish behaviour is maddening and the constant bickering between him and Mook is getting repetitive and boring. It also seems like the writers can't decide whether to depict Mook as an innocent, emphatic, and hardworking daughter or as an independent, stubborn seductress. Does she want to support Lun or does she want to make his life a living hell? She herself does not seem to know. Her character has no personality or consistency whatsoever; her behaviour simply changes depending on what the situation calls for. Considering the fact she is the main character of this show, I would at least have liked to see her being more fleshed out.

hahaha I can't believe our wish has come true (ep 14).

I agree with all that you said but I can't stop laughing at the "Luke has the seductive loo" typo hahahahah

Omg I totally forgot this show exists! The early 2010s were really something else lol. Teenage me was obsessed with these kind of storylines.

To be honest, I'm surprised they still make this type of show in this day and age. I really thought we were moving away from the abusive, controlling male lead and spineless female lead trope. But this show just went from bad to worse. I really wanted to like the story; it had so much potential to be a typical fun, light-hearted, sappy rom-com. Instead the last few episodes have left me feeling frustrated. I am truly disappointed that they thought the audience would be okay with any of this. Just putting a bunch of hot actors together doesn't exactly salvage bad writing.

'What's wrong with secretary Kim' is also an office romance, in case you haven't heard of that one! The romance develops at the workplace itself tho (so it's not like the leads know each other prior to the job).

Dang, you're on a roll huh! I've also been indulging in dramas (maybe a bit too much) now that the end of summer term is approaching so I definitely feel you lol. Lets hope that this one will continue to be good!

Oh man, I was thinking the exact same! As K-drama viewers we are so primed with the 'girl-gets-guy' (and vice versa) ending that the love confessions almost seemed premature. Episode 5 and we have established that the main leads like each other: what kind of blasphemy is this lol? But then I highly doubt that this romance will be smooth sailing, especially with there still not being any clarity about the fox bead (and Woo Yeo withholding some crucial info). Plus we now also got introduced to the additional story line with these mysterious supernatural murders (curious to see what role Sun Woo might play in this). The thriller-junkie in me is secretly hoping that the story is going to take the suspense/crime route but I think that might be a bit of a stretch for now. Fortunately still lot's of things to unravel!

Love me some good ol' communication! Bless the screenwriting gods for this one!

Fair imao! Maybe I should say pining over an ancient, hot mythical creature while being pursued by yet another heart-throb. What a tough life...

Wow, interesting premise! Can't wait to watch this! I'm really hoping this gets subbed soon (or at all) since this does not seem like it's targeted to an international audience per se.

Oh no! I think the whole neighborhood just heard my heart shatter when you recommended the Korean version rather than the Japanese version of Liar Game lol! The Japanese original is such a classic and basically became the archetype of the whole psychological game show craze that followed. Its overtly catchy theme song still haunts me to this day lol. For me, the dramatic humor of Korean adaption fell flat because I don't think the style of acting really suit the story. The main characters of the Japanese version may not necessarily have gone through much character development but the story line and interesting cases made up for it in the end. The Korean version neither developed its characters or its plot well, and it didn't seem to know whether to take itself seriously or not. All the suspense of the Japanese version was nowhere to be found in its Korean rendition. And then I also vividly remember I was so frustrated with the way the Korean adaption ended which makes that I now harbor a personal vendetta against that show.

I watched this movie weeks ago and I still get the occasional flashback to this plot-- which basically means that I am experiencing heartbreak on a regular basis lol. We got an absolutely stellar performance from the actors, which was only made possible by equally subtle, realistic, and tasteful screenwriting. The story has definitely left a lasting impression on me (more so than I initially thought when rating this).

The story couldn't have been told in a better way: the intimate and voyeuristic style of cinematography is what gave the movie its poignancy​ and charm. The acting was great and the story line similarly soul wrenching-- even though the change in colour scheme halfway through the movie was just a tad too cliché for my liking. It's a daring en sensitive story for a film released in 2011, especially as it touches upon real societal pressures experienced by those within the LGBTQ+ community, but its typical tragic story line also squarely places the movie within a larger Korean movie tradition that tends to depict LGBTQ+ relationships as bound to fail. In that sense, I have seen this type of movie countless times before. I would only recommend it if you're a bit of a film snob who appreciates interesting cinematography,

Four episodes in and I'm having a blast! But am I alone in my frustration that no one seems to care about that freaking marble anymore lol? Girl, there's enough time to have your sexual awakening after you've safeguarded your life, okay!

Half of this show is just me trying to telepathically choke JJ tbh.

Edit: and not in the kinky way, if you know what I'm saying.

I'm now halfway through episode 15 and I must say that Yao Meng Gui is actually quite evil indeed! But it seems to me that her jealousy and ambition are byproducts of her being born quite poor (and as an orphan) and the entertainment industry being a gateway for her to obtain social mobility and standing. She got this chance to change her life, and she took it. However, the only way for her to actually make it in the entertainment industry was by becoming selfish (in the flashback of ep 14, a pre-debut Yao Meng Gui borrows that dress from Song Ci, and here she seems quite kind and down to earth still). It seems like the entertainment industry and the cut throat competition have made her into the cold and cruel person she is today. For her, a sister who looks exactly like her, who can act, and is generally liked by her co-stars is simply a threat. It can make her completely irrelevant and thus eliminating her seems safest.
Xiao Mu, on the other hand, grew up under the radar on the countryside with a loving (albeit not that financially well-off) adoptive father. During her life she has been used to sacrificing herself (and her dreams) for those she loves. So I actually quite like that the two sisters had this conflict now: I'm finally seeing Xiao Mu stand up for herself and take steps to pursue her own dreams in life. It bothered me so much that she didn't seem to have much of a back bone until now. Great character development!