one of those dramas where you get confused af at first, just have to endure it while following the plot development…
"no plot holes (at least I think so"
well there is one thing that bothers me. perhaps you might be able to answer it for me. Why didn't Eun-Soo tell Hwang Shi Mok where she had seen the numbers. Okay.maybe she wasn't sure about it. but she should have said something. Okay I know he didn't kill her, but still.
Jo Seung-woo is suberb in the lead role of this gripping series. He might just be the most fascinating male character I've come across in a Korean drama. The series has a lack of korean drama series cliches. There is no love story, so no two guys fighting over the same woman, or nasty mother in law.no piggy back rides. Awwww. Although it does have voice overs. which for me was used too much. I could also have done with a little bit less of the eavesdropping/overheard conversations. As the female lead, Donna Bae was good, but for me, nothing special. i've seen better Korean actressess. But I'm glad to see she is achieving some sucess overseas. at times I was wondering about some of the outfits she was wearing. i'd love to know if they were her own clothes. i was reminded a bit of Diane Keaton in Annie Hall. The storyline reminded me a bit of scandavianian series such as The Killing, and the first season of The Bridge, in that it focuses more or less on one murder case, and also because of the motive of the killer. The acting from the rest of the cast is fine. but except for Jo Seung-woo. (who should win a slew of awards) nobody really stood out for me. Overall, even though for me, it's not quite up there with similar dramas such as Signal or Punch, it is more than worth your time.
9/10
I enjoyed this very much. I found the performances ranged from good to excellent. I thought Park Jae in was terrific in the lead role. He reminded me of Kim Sun Ah, in that he seemed to handle the comedic and more serious scenes with equal aplomb. He came across to me as a very natural actor.
Kim Min Jung. it was difficult at times for me to gauge her performance. When she was acting cute, it was hard to figure out if she was over egging the pudding. Of the rest of the cast, the performance I really liked was that by Kim Yeo Jin.
it gets a 9/10 from me.
Excellent drama. Although for me it could have been cut by an episode or two. I just felt it dragged a little bit around episode 15. but it picked around the time of what I will term The WAKE UP sequence. as for the acting, There are 3 performances which I considered excellent. But It wasn't the the three leads. it was two of the leads. Kim Hye Soo and Jo Jin Woong. Although I would give him the nod over her. The the third excellent performance is a cameo. but an important role. It's Son Hyun Joo who excudes menace. as for the the third lead Lee Je Hoon. Hmm. I'm not sure. He just seems to have the same expression on his face for most of the drama, kind of like sad and dazed. Also why did he not play the younger version of himself, as Kim Hye Soo did. Did the makers feel he hadn't got the range.
I also appreciate the drama doesn't forsake the humour element. Although by an large it's a serious drama, there are some very funny sequences. There are some moments i really enjoyed eg the finding of the picture sequence, the cooking sequence. But my favourite was a sequence where Kim Hye Soo gives a handkerchief to a victim of a Casanova type. But she has a present (can't remember what) for the guy she loves. I think it falls out of her pocket, and the look on her face as she checks to see that nobody has seen it is priceless.
When Kim Bum appeared (no I didn't know who it was) in this drama, I had a bit of an inward groan.I had been enjoying the drama, and happy it was going to be about adults . Okay, obviously 24 is an adult, but you know what I mean. As the drama went on, I warmed to him more. He had a nice easy charm about him, and it will be be interesting to see how his career acting wise develops. I didn't see any real chemistry between him and Park Jin Hee. Oddly enough, I did see a more potent combination between her and Kim Yong-Hee.
The most interesting couple for me was Lee Pil-Mo and Park Ji-Young . I thought they had amazing chemistry together, and their acting seemed to go up a notch when appearing together.
Choi Chul Ho gives a nice comedy performance.
The first episode was excellent. although the rest weren't up to the same standard, it was still an enjoyable show.
Best performance
Noh Tae Yub as Danjong. The more I saw of this young actor, The more impressed I was by him.
I would follow that up by the performances Lee Min Woo as Jung Jong
and Hong Soo Hyun as Princess Kyung Hye
I loved the devoloping relationshop between these two, and it was one of my favourite parts of this drama. Predictible? probably. but still lovely to watch. Regarding Jung jong's character, I could see that he would have more steel, than you were supposed to think.
My other favourite part of the drama was Moon Chae Won as Lee Se Ryung confrontation with Kim Young Chul as her father Prince Suyang (later King Sejo)
This was me was surprising to see in a korean drama.
Another first was the gay guy. I've seen gay characters in Thai Lakoprns. But I can't recall seeing an openly gay character in a K-drama before.
I also liked the fact that Kim Roe-Ha as Jo Suk-Joo was a better fighter than the hero.
I found the performance of the two leads ie the aforementioned Moon Chae Won, and Park Shi Hoo as Kim Seung Yoo to be fine. She was probably better than him.
But I would say that Song Jong Ho as Shin Myun was better than Park Shi Hoo
The ending. At first I had the wrong idea. So the king and his wife are going somewhere. The king spots somebody who looks like supposedly our hero Kim Seung Yoo.
So seeing as the king looks so old, I thought the guy he spotted was Kim Seung Yoo's son. But now, it turns out it's actually him. Okay, that's fine, but he din't look that much older.
Also The king aka the main villain is now portrayed at the end of the drama as a kindly old man. It#s like seeing Hitler turn into Santa Claus. But when watching
the ending. I didn't think it was a bad one. For me it certainly wasn't a predictible ending, but for that ending the villain had his character complely changed. So the ending is good, in basically letting the villain get away with what he did. But bad in that it conviently forgets what kind of character he was.
My other niggle is the last time it decided to use Lee Se-Ryung as bait, Sin Myeon acts as if he hadn't done or thought about it himself earlier.
Nice kissing scenes
Overrall, a really terrific drama.
8/10.
I thought the chemistry between Chae Rim and Lee Jong Hyuk was terrific, and they both excellent performances. I found some of the things that Kang Soo Ho
did in pursuing Cha Yeong Jin, a little on the creepy side eg the bus episode.
The little girl (and I can't find out who the actress' name was) was great too.
I think I could say there were quiet a lot of flaws in this drama. But I still thought it was excellent. If you look at some of the events coldly, you might think "oh, come on"
For instance, Would a relative newcomer to the poilice force really be put under cover.
Why didJung Shi-Hyun-Ho tell Han Soo-Min that he killed her sister.
I have an explanation for this. He was hoping that she would hate him so much, that she wouild leave him alone.
Why didn't Jung Shi-Hyun-Ho at least try to get somebody to help Kim Hyun-Soo's girlfriend. Ok, I know the scene shows how much he cares for him. But he could have made a phone call or spoke to somebody.
Why was Jung Shi-Hyun called The Doctor's son?
When it was revealed that Safari was also an undercovdr cop. That was a real "oh, come on" moment.
But the story is so gripping all those flaws didn't make me downgrade the drama
On the performances. I watched this drama for Jung Kyoung-Ho, and he doesn;t disappoint. Most scenes he dominates. But I have to say, when he appears with
Choi Moo-Sung. then he's kicked into second place. This actor walks away with the movie.
Initially I thought the idea of Nam Gyu-Ri having such a major role in the drama was a mistake. I just didn't think, she had the acting chops. But as the drama went on, I began to appreciate her performance more and more.
The drama in some ways reminded me of a gritty korean movie, particularly in the use of actors like Choi Moo-Sung and Kim Min-sang.
Weak performances? Well maybe Yoon Hyun-Min.
Weird critique. I found it hard to see Lee Jae-Yoon as a leading man. I think it was his haircurt. In a flashback scene, we see him with a different haircut. That looked more normal.
Is there a gay subtext to this. Both Lee Jin-Sook and Busan Gang President Jo both indicate that Jung Shi-Hyun and Kim Hyun-Soo love each other.
I'm also not quiet sure if Lee Jin-Sook didn't have the hots for Nam Gyu-Ri, or maybe I'm forgetting that's the sort of relationshp
women and men can have in Korean dramas without them wanting to sleep with each other
The reason why the older why the older sister was killed. Was it really because the guy who put Doctor's son would be revealed. which is rather a flimsy excuse, or did I miss something.
I have seen the first two or three seasons of skins, and the first two seasons of Hormones.
I have a review here.
I watched the first two or three episodes of the original good wife, but then gave up on it. I forget why. I plan to watch the korean version. i may go back to the US one.
I saw the Hollywood Gone Girl. Unless I hear really great things about it, i won't bother with the remake.
Entourage. I saw a few episodes of the original. The fact that the remake was found boring doesn't make me want to watch the Asian version.
Lost. I watched all of the original. I probably will watch Missing 9, when it's finished.
Cold Case. i watched quiet a few episodes of the original. What stopped me watching it was probably the same reason, I stopped watching a lot of American stuff. I got into Korean Dramas. I probably won't bother with the Japanese version. I tend to prefer stuff with ongoing
stories. I assume this has a different story each week. Although i might get curious about it.
Ugly Betty. I think I watched a bit of one episode of the Hollywood version, and checked out a small bit of the original on youtube. I didn;t find it particurly funny. If I was to watch any more episdes, it would probably be the original The Asian version(s). Who knows.
The OC. Did I see any of the original?. I'm not sure. I have no plans to see the Asian version.
Undressed. I never even heard of the original. I have no plans to see the remake
High Rise. I plan on seeing the original. I'm not sure about the remake.
Other remakes
Unforgiven (1992) (/2013/Japan))
Ghost (1999)/Ghost:I want to hold you in my arms again (Japan)
Saw original. I might watch the remakes.
Dangerous Liasons (1998)/(untold scandal 2003/ korea)/Dangerous Liasons (2012/China)
Same as Ghost
The good the bad and the ugly (1966 /italy)/The good the bad and the weird (2008/korea)
Saw both versions
Sideways 2004/(2009 /japan)
I haven;t seen either version. but have original on dvd. I might watch the remake
What women want 2000/(2011/china)
my fair lady1964/(Lady Maiko (2014/Japan)
Saw original with the lovely Audrey Hepurn. although I think she was miscast. i might watch the remake
Point Blank (2010/French)/The Target (2014/Korean)
Note. I rated both 9/10
Bride wars (2009)/(2015/China)
Saw neither. Maybe I'll watch both or none
Only you (1994)/ (China/2015)
I saw original. I have no plans on remake.
well there is one thing that bothers me. perhaps you might be able to answer it for me. Why didn't Eun-Soo tell Hwang Shi Mok where she had seen the numbers. Okay.maybe she wasn't sure about it. but she should have said something. Okay I know he didn't kill her, but still.
9/10
So my impression of his acting abilities has gone up.
Kim Min Jung. it was difficult at times for me to gauge her performance. When she was acting cute, it was hard to figure out if she was over egging the pudding. Of the rest of the cast, the performance I really liked was that by Kim Yeo Jin.
it gets a 9/10 from me.
I also appreciate the drama doesn't forsake the humour element. Although by an large it's a serious drama, there are some very funny sequences. There are some moments i really enjoyed eg the finding of the picture sequence, the cooking sequence. But my favourite was a sequence where Kim Hye Soo gives a handkerchief to a victim of a Casanova type. But she has a present (can't remember what) for the guy she loves. I think it falls out of her pocket, and the look on her face as she checks to see that nobody has seen it is priceless.
The most interesting couple for me was Lee Pil-Mo and Park Ji-Young . I thought they had amazing chemistry together, and their acting seemed to go up a notch when appearing together.
Choi Chul Ho gives a nice comedy performance.
The first episode was excellent. although the rest weren't up to the same standard, it was still an enjoyable show.
I can only agree.
Noh Tae Yub as Danjong. The more I saw of this young actor, The more impressed I was by him.
I would follow that up by the performances Lee Min Woo as Jung Jong
and Hong Soo Hyun as Princess Kyung Hye
I loved the devoloping relationshop between these two, and it was one of my favourite parts of this drama. Predictible? probably. but still lovely to watch. Regarding Jung jong's character, I could see that he would have more steel, than you were supposed to think.
My other favourite part of the drama was Moon Chae Won as Lee Se Ryung confrontation with Kim Young Chul as her father Prince Suyang (later King Sejo)
This was me was surprising to see in a korean drama.
Another first was the gay guy. I've seen gay characters in Thai Lakoprns. But I can't recall seeing an openly gay character in a K-drama before.
I also liked the fact that Kim Roe-Ha as Jo Suk-Joo was a better fighter than the hero.
I found the performance of the two leads ie the aforementioned Moon Chae Won, and Park Shi Hoo as Kim Seung Yoo to be fine. She was probably better than him.
But I would say that Song Jong Ho as Shin Myun was better than Park Shi Hoo
The ending. At first I had the wrong idea. So the king and his wife are going somewhere. The king spots somebody who looks like supposedly our hero Kim Seung Yoo.
So seeing as the king looks so old, I thought the guy he spotted was Kim Seung Yoo's son. But now, it turns out it's actually him. Okay, that's fine, but he din't look that much older.
Also The king aka the main villain is now portrayed at the end of the drama as a kindly old man. It#s like seeing Hitler turn into Santa Claus. But when watching
the ending. I didn't think it was a bad one. For me it certainly wasn't a predictible ending, but for that ending the villain had his character complely changed. So the ending is good, in basically letting the villain get away with what he did. But bad in that it conviently forgets what kind of character he was.
My other niggle is the last time it decided to use Lee Se-Ryung as bait, Sin Myeon acts as if he hadn't done or thought about it himself earlier.
Nice kissing scenes
Overrall, a really terrific drama.
I thought the chemistry between Chae Rim and Lee Jong Hyuk was terrific, and they both excellent performances. I found some of the things that Kang Soo Ho
did in pursuing Cha Yeong Jin, a little on the creepy side eg the bus episode.
The little girl (and I can't find out who the actress' name was) was great too.
Skylord from Warrior Baek Dong Soo
KingYuri from Kingdom of the winds
I'm sure there are others too.
SPOILERS
I think I could say there were quiet a lot of flaws in this drama. But I still thought it was excellent. If you look at some of the events coldly, you might think "oh, come on"
For instance, Would a relative newcomer to the poilice force really be put under cover.
Why didJung Shi-Hyun-Ho tell Han Soo-Min that he killed her sister.
I have an explanation for this. He was hoping that she would hate him so much, that she wouild leave him alone.
Why didn't Jung Shi-Hyun-Ho at least try to get somebody to help Kim Hyun-Soo's girlfriend. Ok, I know the scene shows how much he cares for him. But he could have made a phone call or spoke to somebody.
Why was Jung Shi-Hyun called The Doctor's son?
When it was revealed that Safari was also an undercovdr cop. That was a real "oh, come on" moment.
But the story is so gripping all those flaws didn't make me downgrade the drama
On the performances. I watched this drama for Jung Kyoung-Ho, and he doesn;t disappoint. Most scenes he dominates. But I have to say, when he appears with
Choi Moo-Sung. then he's kicked into second place. This actor walks away with the movie.
Initially I thought the idea of Nam Gyu-Ri having such a major role in the drama was a mistake. I just didn't think, she had the acting chops. But as the drama went on, I began to appreciate her performance more and more.
The drama in some ways reminded me of a gritty korean movie, particularly in the use of actors like Choi Moo-Sung and Kim Min-sang.
Weak performances? Well maybe Yoon Hyun-Min.
Weird critique. I found it hard to see Lee Jae-Yoon as a leading man. I think it was his haircurt. In a flashback scene, we see him with a different haircut. That looked more normal.
Is there a gay subtext to this. Both Lee Jin-Sook and Busan Gang President Jo both indicate that Jung Shi-Hyun and Kim Hyun-Soo love each other.
I'm also not quiet sure if Lee Jin-Sook didn't have the hots for Nam Gyu-Ri, or maybe I'm forgetting that's the sort of relationshp
women and men can have in Korean dramas without them wanting to sleep with each other
The reason why the older why the older sister was killed. Was it really because the guy who put Doctor's son would be revealed. which is rather a flimsy excuse, or did I miss something.
I have a review here.
I watched the first two or three episodes of the original good wife, but then gave up on it. I forget why. I plan to watch the korean version. i may go back to the US one.
I saw the Hollywood Gone Girl. Unless I hear really great things about it, i won't bother with the remake.
Entourage. I saw a few episodes of the original. The fact that the remake was found boring doesn't make me want to watch the Asian version.
Lost. I watched all of the original. I probably will watch Missing 9, when it's finished.
Cold Case. i watched quiet a few episodes of the original. What stopped me watching it was probably the same reason, I stopped watching a lot of American stuff. I got into Korean Dramas. I probably won't bother with the Japanese version. I tend to prefer stuff with ongoing
stories. I assume this has a different story each week. Although i might get curious about it.
Ugly Betty. I think I watched a bit of one episode of the Hollywood version, and checked out a small bit of the original on youtube. I didn;t find it particurly funny. If I was to watch any more episdes, it would probably be the original The Asian version(s). Who knows.
The OC. Did I see any of the original?. I'm not sure. I have no plans to see the Asian version.
Undressed. I never even heard of the original. I have no plans to see the remake
High Rise. I plan on seeing the original. I'm not sure about the remake.
Other remakes
Unforgiven (1992) (/2013/Japan))
Ghost (1999)/Ghost:I want to hold you in my arms again (Japan)
Saw original. I might watch the remakes.
Dangerous Liasons (1998)/(untold scandal 2003/ korea)/Dangerous Liasons (2012/China)
Same as Ghost
The good the bad and the ugly (1966 /italy)/The good the bad and the weird (2008/korea)
Saw both versions
Sideways 2004/(2009 /japan)
I haven;t seen either version. but have original on dvd. I might watch the remake
What women want 2000/(2011/china)
my fair lady1964/(Lady Maiko (2014/Japan)
Saw original with the lovely Audrey Hepurn. although I think she was miscast. i might watch the remake
Point Blank (2010/French)/The Target (2014/Korean)
Note. I rated both 9/10
Bride wars (2009)/(2015/China)
Saw neither. Maybe I'll watch both or none
Only you (1994)/ (China/2015)
I saw original. I have no plans on remake.