hiromi

This series was my return to dramaland after a very long time. I wanted a slow and sweet kdrama, a slice of life to be enjoyed little by little, but instead I binged it in a very short time. It's a caress, a little unexpected gem, and even if it's not perfect it moved me so much and I'm very sad to have to let it go. And to think that I almost didn't like the first episode! I found it very predictable, it reminded me a lot of Top Star Yoo Baek but with less impactful characters. On the contrary, the characters gradually grew on me, and the writing proved to be solid and consistent.
Sadly, the second half of the drama wanes, and the thing that trubled me the most was Hie Jin's character. She's written in a realistic and consistent manner, she has merits and flaws, but in the last few episodes she has let me down on more than one occasion, and even Shin Min Ah's performance has been somewhat... off? In certain scenes where she should have been burning with feelings I found her very cold.
Kim Seon Oh was STELLAR. The true revelation of this drama, he played the hell out of Doo Shik. Really the best thing in the drama. I read something about his scandal, I felt terrible and I don't know what to think, but his performance in this series was really spectacular and what happened to the actor shouldn't affect it in any way.
Maybe it's because I felt Doo Shik's story close to me on a personal level, because I know what it's like to keep it all inside, and maybe that's also why I felt frustrated many times by the constant pushing him to open up when it was obvious he wasn't ready. Somehow the drama suggested the right path for him and for those who love him - to stay close to him and give him time to open up and heal. However, I felt like his story was built up for 14 episodes and then resolved a bit hastily. In any case, it's a character, a theme and an interpretation that I won't forget and that really resonated with me.

so... this show is the existential horror you don't expect.

also, about ju da, the drama is suggesting in the end, after so much suffering, she could prefer the stability nam joo can guarantee her. this... this is so sad but brutally interesting.

the plot became repetitive in these last episodes but a theme I find really interesting is the fact that in the end the writer seems unbeatable. baek kyung found himself to be the same person in scene and shadow, meaning that even if he could develop a personality, he still became what the author wanted him to become. dan oh and haru are basically re-experincing, both in the shadow and the scene, what the author made them live in the past scene and what they felt in the past shadow. so their personality and actions are indeed linked to what the author made them to be, eve if they think they emancipated themselves? it's effin depressing, it's haunting and honestly this shit is horror material... and I don't know if the drama will solve this in a good, satisfying way. but it's something to think over.

this drama is a surprise and is really well written, but there is a plot point that concerns me: the story repeating itself. Doens't this go against all that we were told from the beginning? DanOh and Haru struggle to have free will, they want to be indipendent. but if their story is just a repetition of the old manwha, then what's the point? where are the free will and the indipendecy if they act on the shadow the same way the acted in the past manwha?

that hug, tho <3 them holding more tight onto each other, the intimacy of the focus on their hands around each other while flowers bloomed ;_;

the first thing I didn't liked in this drama: how they handled CS's mother. I mean... that's all? I get he would want to leave her and that pain behind him but why she acted the way she did? what's her past? and why she was still sent to heaven even if she basically dumped her son and didn't want others to know about him lol

it's obvious CM did what he did to spare MW'life but that's a big case of twisted noble idiocy: he not only sacrified himself but also all MW's men lives, not thinking MW heart and mind would be basically f*** up in that scenario, or maybe thinking it would have been the lesser evil if that guaranteed MW's safety.
As for the one million dollar question, is CS the reincarnation of CM? the drama wants us not to be sure at this point, giving us clues so clear that could easily pass as red earrings. For me, I would like if he was not CM reincarnation: they have some things in common (they are outspoken, overly confident and they do similiar things) but the general vibes of the two as characters are really different.

I have the feeling Yeon Woo character will be remembered as Kim So Hyun's princess was in Goblin. He got few scenes but all of them were so impactful.

I undestrand Man Wol, I'm falling for Chan Sung's kindness, too... Usually a k-drama character is kind just because he/she has to be, but good heart is the main character trait of Chang Sung and it's beautifully showed (and not just told) in every episode. Also I like he's kind but not a fool, I loved how everyone continued thinking he was one but he proved them wrong in every scene during ep 6. Being gentle doesn't make you weak.

The more I watch the more I'm convinced by YJG. He's pulling off the "fairy tale princess" really well, after Belle and Cinderella on ep. 4 he transformed into Sleeping Beauty lol I'm falling for his kindness... Also his character is frank, refreshing and really smart, he comes quickly to the right conclusions and he's revealing to be also a real smartass, wich I always like xD

I already love the OTP dynamic! for once the man is the "damsell in distress" (not that much, as he has a strenght of his own in his aura, but he's just enough in danger to let the woman save him). Also I find cute he's depitced as the princess in faity tales: first he's Belle from beauty and the Beast (sold to the beast who lives in her castle/hotel because his father pluked flowers for him), then Cinderella (he lost a shoe... lol).

I think that, too. In fact I hope he's not the guy we see in the teasers and he was not romantically involved with her in the past. I just think a fresh start, and a fresh bloom for her tree, it's cuter.

Oh s***, here we go again. After the hot mess that was Hwayugi, after the disaster of Big and Warm and Cozy, I thought I was over the Hong Sisters writing duo. I wouldn't given two cents to IU/YJG as a pairing, too, but then I remembered the magic of Master's Sun and MGIAG and I decided to give this drama a chance and OMG, the first episode WAS good. Tightly written and with good directing, too.
Surprise! IU and YJG worked pretty good, too! Strong start, good chemistry, IU is really in character and her protagonist could become one of the best unforgettable hong sister's protagonist. I also love the combo badass female/ tender heart male.
I came with no expectations because I followed hong sister's work for years and I know they are full of good ideas + crappy executions, but this start was really really good so... I'm back at it again with this writing duo I think? Please don't disappoint me like you always end to do, hong sis, lol

Up to episode 2 I'm really liking this drama.

PLOT: unique. Gives a new spin on the time-travel trope. The tone of the first 2 episodes shifted too fast from hysterical to melo, but it somehow works because you can definitely feel the potential of the plot development.

WRITING : Interesting writing, with dialogues rich and unusually tight and fast. We already know so much about every character thanks to not only the subtle acting but the on point dialogues, too.
I think the drama intends to use the watch and the "old lady transformation" as plot device and metaphore, so I already sense a lot of question will remain without and answer; how the watch really works? How could she find it two times? somehow I don't even feel the need to have an answer because the writing is already focusing on the consequences for character development more than the logic.

THEMES: I immediatly thought about "Howl's Moving Castle" and Sophie becoming an old lady; there Sophie became the physical embodiment of her mental state, she wrongly felt and behaved like an old lady so she became and old lady. But here the trasformation is not much a punishment; she just wanted to save her dad, so I find interesting this fact and I wonder where this will lead to. I suppose the change will help her save Joon Ha this time, and ultimately save herself, maybe finding what she really likes and wants in her life.
Also I love the focus of the theme of shuttered dreams. We always see young people fight for their dreams, but what if they find they don't really feel those dreams belong to them? What if they feel they are not good enough or they have not
innate qualities to do good in life?

CHARACTER: every character is interesting, I like that the friend trio are all loosers (and let's not even talk about the brother XD). They feel real, the disappointing things you experience in life are just as we see in this drama.
Nobody is good or bad, nodoby is perfect. Everybody can be a little bit nasty and even the really bad ones (Joon Ha's father OMG) can suffer injustice. I love how Joon Ha turned out to be a gray character; I felt for him so much, so bad.
Also the family is a real family, i love that dynamics too.

ACTING: they are all acting the hell out of their characters. Nam Joo Hyuk is nailing it, guys, seems he has find his footing (thank godness!). Han ji min is adorable and turns what could be an irritating mess of a girl in a relatable protagonist.
I can't believe Son Ho Jun really exist lol. Oh, and Kim Ga Eun is so refreshing in this role.

oh my god, I'll come back for a better comment after seeing the second episode but first I want to say this is a YES drama for Han Ji Min and Nam Joo Hyuk! They don't always give their best performance but here in the first episode they were amazing. Who could have said this pairing would work out that well... The way they stare at each other made me blush so many times lol

books! books to read! books to review! how to make books! how to find authors! how to do blurbs! aah, my booklover self is SO pleased with this drama.
as expected, LJS is always the best in noona romances. yes, he tends to play his characters in the same way, but who cares, he always comes out so endearing lol
also dan-i is a BIG YES! she has a lot of growing up to do but comes out as believable, competent and easy to root for. you go girl, find yourself again!

just passing by to say sung joon was amazing in this. he doesn't always give constant performance but in this drama he was DELIGHTFUL.

I've seen the first 3 episodes and let me tell this drama seems a little gem: funny in a "manga way" but somehow not that exaggerated after the first episode, very good writing with themes very clear and well developed (learning to trust for yoo baek, growing up for kang soon), heart warming, feel good narrative... I like even the second lead, he's batshit crazy lol Also the whole cast is gold, they are all so good, funny, moving and it's clear they are having much fun on set. kim ji suk and lee sang yeob are owning their characters!!

my delusional heart can't stop thinking that Krist's performance was so heartfelt also because kong going away is so coincidentally similiar to reality, as singto said he will probabily go to study in America... this ending felt so much as kong/art as krist/singto to me. it doen't help that, from a visual point of view, Arthit basically merged with Krist, as they made the character dress like Krist usually does, having him wear Krist own clothes. I mean, would Arthit ever wear his shirt so much open with a cross pendant in full view? lol those details made my head explode!