I watched this for Jun Ik Ryung, I first saw her give a terrific performance in The immortal Yi soon Shin. I've just finished watching Witch's court. There you might think she is kind of wasted, but still a welcome presence. Here, once again, she proves what a terrific character actress she is. The drama itself was good, but nothing too special for me. 6/10
okay the best thing about this drama for me are (1) the female lead character, and the performance of the actress playing her. The writer can't quiet maintain good situations, characteristion for her all the way through. To put it better perhaps, i found her character less interesting in the latter part of the show. But for maybe 75 to 80 percent, Ma Yi Deum is probably the best female lead character I've seen since Dong Yi. Jung Ryeo Won give's a wonderful performance. Unfortunately when the character sort of fizzles out later, she can't really do much it. Although she does kind of come back at the end. The second thing i liked about the was that it had a number of females in it who I thought could have been capable of carrying a show themselves. I particurly liked Kim Yeo Jin, and Jun Ik Ryung. Actually when i saw the picture of the latter, it looked familiar to me. She is actually in my list of actresss I like on this site. That was after seeing her in The immortal Yi Soon Shin. That show is not mentioned in her credits here. Now some other things about the show, Jun Kwang Ryul could surely play this type of role in his sleep. He's great at it. But basically he's playing the same type of character as he's played in a number of other dramas. Well maybe it's not as many as I think, but still. Actually you might say he's playing the same character, as he has the same mannerisms as I've seen in at least one other show. I thinking specifically of that thing he does with his neck. On the writing. Well for the most part I thought it was good. But here are some things that bothered me. (1) The elevator scene with the female's leads mother and the bad guys in episode 1. just thought it was lazy writing. (2) Why exactly did the male lead characters mother not tell the female lead where her mother was. Did the villain have some sort of hold over her? (3) When the mother is kidnapped by the villain near the end, she is found pretty easily. (4) Did the villains right hand know that the female leads mother was alive. i think there is something else, but can't remember right now and why on this site is the chief villain listed as a support role.
My number one favourite. If you are looking for an original type Korean drama that avoids the usual cliches, then you won't find it here. But orginality doesn't always mean good, and being unoriginal doesn't have to be mean bad. What makes this drama is some wonderful acting, and the fact that the storyline involving the 4 main couples are all as interesting to watch. Of course some are that little bit more interesting than others. So I'll give my rundown on the couples and my thoughts on them. couple number one Hyun Woo and Lee Se Young. At first my thoughts were that she was a bit of a stalker. We the audience were obviously meant to find her "stalking" cute. But I didn't, but as episodes went on, and she accepted him, then i forget about my initial reaction to her. But I guess what makes it work is the performance of Lee Se young. Sometimes acting cute can be annoying. But she overcomes that hurdle. There are also moments when she is not required to act cute. It's then you can see how fine an actress she is. As for Hyun Woo.Hmm. I would have liked to have seen a bit more expression from him. But maybe he had it in earlier episodes. But at a certain point, he just just seemed to have the same kind of smile on his face. Although now and again, he did break out of that. I'd like to see him in something else. NOTE. I was under the impression that she looked older than she was acting. But it turned out that he is 7 years older than her, and looks a hell of a lot younger.
couple number 2. Ra Mi-Ran and Cha In-Pyo. Two very good performances here. But once again, it's the female character that is the more interesting.
couple number 3 .Jo Yoon-Hee and Lee Dong-Gun. The same here, the female character is the more interesting. But there are times when you just want to give her good shake and tell her to stop letting people walk over her, even if the writing wants to try and show you why she is like that. When it comes to the little bit funny, or more serious scenes, they both give good solid performances. But in the early part of the drama. she is given a chance to show, what she is really good at, and that's psyichial comedy. She is a total natural, and reminded me of Lucille Ball and Carole Lombard. Si Jo Hoon-Yee, do more comedy.
couple number 4 Choi Won-Young and Oh Hyun-Kyung.Finally a couple where the guys story is more interesting than the female's. Decent performances from both of them. Note. I was surpised that she was old enough to play Pyo Ye-Jin's mother.
Outside of those couples.The best acting comes from Shin Goo. His performance as an elderly man facing the onset of a major handicap with dignity and fortitude is wonderful, and I hope has been honoured.
Park Jun-Keum. Miss Ko is probably the best character in the whole drama. You'll hate her, you'll love her.
Goo Jae-Yee. An icy beauty. You'll feel sorry for, and you'll want to give her a smack.
other comments. Even though the drama is 54 episodes long, it felt like it could have one or two more. I felt the story regarding the transformation of Park Eun-Seok happened too quickly for me.
You could say this is drama is about letting go. Whether it's letting go of obsessive love, or letting go of something you didn't realise you had, until it's gone, and will never get back, or letting go a of wish for something, that seems out of reach, or letting go of something that you can't hold onto.
kudos also the to writers for creating some wonderful characters, and to the director. I should say, there are some wondeful suits on display.
Excellent drama featuring another superb turn from Kim Sun Ah. A fine performance too from Kim Hee Sun, although for me It wasn't in the same league as the other Kim's. But she (Kim Sun Ah) did have the meatier role. The acting from the rest of the cast ranges from adequate to good. I guess the other performance I enjoyed the most was that of Jung Sang Hoon .But it's the storyline and the tour de force acting of kim sun ah that compel me to give this 10/10
SPOILER.
I should say that in the storyline concerning Kim Hee Sun,Jung Sang-Hoon, and Lee Tae-Im, i was a bit uncomfortable to see that of the two having the affair, only one seemed to get punished.
Was the writer saying something about how society works in regards to women and men, and who suffers most when an affair comes to an end
Although I started this drama to because Kim Sun Ah was in it, it was the performance of
Uhm Ki Joon, that I came away being most impressed b Of course, Kim Sun ah, is just as excellent as ever. I guess to the extent that you take how good she is for granted.
The rest of the cast aquit thmselves well.
As for the drama itself. I enjoyed it. it didn't outstay it's welcome. there weren't too many cliches. The storyline was good if familiar.
8/10
although I could have done with some of the outbursts in the courtroom
scenes,(understandable though they were) Hope is still a suberbly
realised drama. This tale of an 8 year old gilr beaten and raped is
one of the most emotionally shattering dramas I've come across. There were scenes that had me an emotional wreck. At times I couldn't look at the screen. The
movie takes a different road, than you might expect. in that for the
most part, it's not about seeking vengence. but concentrates instead
on the rehabalition emotionally and psychically of this little girl.
Highly recommonded.
The movie is based on a real life incident.
See Backgrounf at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_(2013_film)#Background
10/10
one of those dramas where you get confused af at first, just have to endure it while following the plot development…
Except they can't look for proof, unless she tells him. I still think she should have at least tried to tell him sooner. They still could have played it, that he hangs up on her. Either that, or she should have tried on her own to confirm her suspisions. Excactly how, I don't know. But I won't labor the point, and thanks for replying.
I've just finished watching Witch's court. There you might think she is kind of wasted, but still a welcome presence. Here, once again, she proves what a terrific character actress she is.
The drama itself was good, but nothing too special for me.
6/10
75 to 80 percent, Ma Yi Deum is probably the best female lead character I've seen since Dong Yi. Jung Ryeo Won give's a wonderful performance. Unfortunately when the character sort of fizzles out later, she can't really do much it.
Although she does kind of come back at the end.
The second thing i liked about the was that it had a number of females in it who I thought could have been capable of carrying a show themselves. I particurly liked Kim Yeo Jin, and Jun Ik Ryung.
Actually when i saw the picture of the latter, it looked familiar to me. She is actually in my list of actresss I like on
this site. That was after seeing her in The immortal Yi Soon Shin. That show is not mentioned in her credits here.
Now some other things about the show,
Jun Kwang Ryul could surely play this type of role in his sleep. He's great at it. But basically he's playing the same type of character as he's played in a number of other dramas. Well maybe it's not as many as I think, but still.
Actually you might say he's playing the same character, as he has the same mannerisms as I've seen in at least one other show. I thinking specifically of that thing he does with his neck.
On the writing. Well for the most part I thought it was good. But here are some things that bothered me.
(1) The elevator scene with the female's leads mother and
the bad guys in episode 1. just thought it was lazy writing.
(2) Why exactly did the male lead characters mother not tell the female lead where her mother was. Did the villain have some sort of hold over her?
(3) When the mother is kidnapped by the villain near the end, she is found pretty easily.
(4) Did the villains right hand know that the female leads mother was alive.
i think there is something else, but can't remember right now
and why on this site is the chief villain listed as a support role.
If you are looking for an original type Korean drama that avoids the usual cliches, then you won't find it here. But orginality doesn't always mean good, and being unoriginal doesn't have to be mean bad.
What makes this drama is some wonderful acting, and the fact that the storyline involving the 4 main couples are all as interesting to watch. Of course some are that little bit more interesting than others.
So I'll give my rundown on the couples and my thoughts on them.
couple number one
Hyun Woo and Lee Se Young. At first my thoughts were that she was a bit of a stalker. We the audience were obviously meant to find her "stalking" cute. But I didn't, but as episodes went on, and she accepted him, then i forget about my initial reaction to her. But I guess what makes it work is the performance of Lee Se young. Sometimes
acting cute can be annoying. But she overcomes that hurdle. There are also moments when she is not required to act cute. It's then you can see how fine an actress she is.
As for Hyun Woo.Hmm. I would have liked to have seen a bit more expression from him. But maybe he had it in earlier episodes. But at a certain point, he just just seemed to have the same kind of smile on his face. Although now and again, he did break out of that. I'd like to see him in something else.
NOTE. I was under the impression that she looked older than she was acting. But it turned out that he is 7 years older than her, and looks a hell of a lot younger.
couple number 2.
Ra Mi-Ran and Cha In-Pyo. Two very good performances here. But once again, it's the female character that is the more interesting.
couple number 3
.Jo Yoon-Hee and Lee Dong-Gun. The same here, the female character is the more interesting. But there are times when you just want to give her good shake and tell her to stop letting people walk over her, even if the writing wants to try and show you why she is like that. When it comes to the little bit funny, or more serious scenes, they both give good solid performances. But in the early part of the drama. she is given a chance to show, what she is really good at, and that's psyichial comedy. She is a total natural, and reminded me of Lucille Ball and Carole Lombard. Si Jo Hoon-Yee, do more comedy.
couple number 4
Choi Won-Young and Oh Hyun-Kyung.Finally a couple where the guys story is more interesting
than the female's. Decent performances from both of them.
Note. I was surpised that she was old enough to play Pyo Ye-Jin's mother.
Outside of those couples.The best acting comes from Shin Goo. His performance as an elderly man facing the onset of a major handicap with dignity and fortitude is wonderful, and I hope has been honoured.
Park Jun-Keum. Miss Ko is probably the best character in the whole drama. You'll hate her, you'll love her.
Goo Jae-Yee. An icy beauty. You'll feel sorry for, and you'll want to give her a smack.
other comments.
Even though the drama is 54 episodes long, it felt like it could have one or two more. I felt the story regarding the transformation of Park Eun-Seok happened too quickly for me.
You could say this is drama is about letting go.
Whether it's letting go of obsessive love, or letting go of something you didn't realise you had, until it's gone, and will never get back, or letting go a of wish for something, that seems out of reach, or letting go of something that you can't hold onto.
kudos also the to writers for creating some wonderful characters, and to the director.
I should say, there are some wondeful suits on display.
SPOILER.
I should say that in the storyline concerning Kim Hee Sun,Jung Sang-Hoon, and Lee Tae-Im, i was a bit uncomfortable to see that of the two having the affair, only one seemed to get punished.
Was the writer saying something about how society works in regards to women and men, and who suffers most when an affair comes to an end
nice blend of detective and supernatural thriller.
Excellent cast.
The ending is a bit of a downer.
http://wlext.net/country/china
http://wlext.net/country/china
http://wlext.net/country/china
http://wlext.net/country/china
Uhm Ki Joon, that I came away being most impressed b Of course, Kim Sun ah, is just as excellent as ever. I guess to the extent that you take how good she is for granted.
The rest of the cast aquit thmselves well.
As for the drama itself. I enjoyed it. it didn't outstay it's welcome. there weren't too many cliches. The storyline was good if familiar.
8/10
scenes,(understandable though they were) Hope is still a suberbly
realised drama. This tale of an 8 year old gilr beaten and raped is
one of the most emotionally shattering dramas I've come across. There were scenes that had me an emotional wreck. At times I couldn't look at the screen. The
movie takes a different road, than you might expect. in that for the
most part, it's not about seeking vengence. but concentrates instead
on the rehabalition emotionally and psychically of this little girl.
Highly recommonded.
The movie is based on a real life incident.
See Backgrounf at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_(2013_film)#Background
10/10