This review may contain spoilers
I'm super torn about W. The first 10 episodes were everything I ever hoped in a drama done well; romance and suspense, perfectly existing side by side. After episode 10, however, the magic died a bit for me because the romance, especially, lost its touch. This is the review I wrote before watching episodes 10 and beyond:
Cracktastic. Heart-wrenching. W is my crack drama of the year. I'm sure there were some plot holes somewhere but I don't see them right now. I just see the beauty that is W. W a little bit of everything: action, mystery, heart stopping romance, suspense, intrigue, magic, etc. The last drama that got me like this was Healer.
The manhwa-reality two worlds trans-universe was done brilliantly. The unpredictability of W had me in knots each week but it was completely worth it. Now, if you want rigid 'magical' rules you won't get them here. The unpredictability IS the rules here.You want romance? W has it in spades and it's one of the best 'fated to be, star crossed lovers' I have ever seen. I laughed, cried, and repeat for this couple. LJS and HHJ had amazing, sparkling chemistry. Passionate when needed, and caring at other times. I was on a bumpy rollercoaster right with them throughout W. Mystery and action? Of course! So many unexpected twists along the way. I came up with so many theories that were destroyed by the writer each week.
Supporting cast first place goes to Soo Bong. He's hilarious and a great friend. He's also the voice of all us drama watchers. In short, he's one of my favorite side drama characters ever.
I'll address some of the reasons viewers didn't like W. Admittedly, W, in a way, is a fantastical fairytale story. So yes, it does satisfy us romance buffs in that respect. But I find it unfair to just call W that because it's so much more. Sure, Kang Chul is supposed to be a character in a manga so does that make him a mere one-dimensional caricature? No- W, while formatted to be inside a manhwa, deals with genuine issues like existential crises and the creator vs creation argument. Does creator have the power, the right to decide what to do with his creation? LJS made Kang Chul feel very real to me; he is a human being, he has literally been fighting throughout his whole life, to break through his Pinocchio mold and become a real boy. At the core of it though, W is a fantasy drama so the writer has liberty to create her own world.
I wanted to keep this review short because W doesn't need it. Flat out, W is just amazing and so uniquely different from other dramas I have seen. Just watch it.
Now, my edited review continued after watching episode 10:
I still agree with what I wrote previously above but I wanted to add some reservations now that I watched the whole series. Take it with a grain of salt as I know many disagree with me.
I still think that since W is a fantasy drama, the rules can be dictated by the writer. Nevertheless, I think we had one too many twists that it became a bit convoluted. It's not that we viewers can't follow the plot, it's that it lost some of its consistency from the previous episodes. Those who watched it, without giving away spoilers, will know what I mean. I'm also quite disappointed in the latter part of the romance. With the length of the drama and so much plot development needed, something had to be give and the romance was what was sacrificed in the last third of the drama. Not to say that's a bad thing because this IS a thriller drama as well at its core but it was rather disappointing since the romance was focused on and developed beautifully in the first part of the drama.
The side characters aren't really prominent in W... besides from the villains, Kang Chul, and Yeon Joo- none played a crucial role. Like Queen In Hyun's Man, the heart and soul of W is the OTP. The OTP is what carried both dramas. The fundamental difference, however, is that the OTP here doesn't sell W enough because W is trying to be too many things at once: romance, suspense, mystery, action, etc. QIHM is also by W's writer, Song Jae Jung so I saw some integral similarities.
I think W is a better watch marathoned because everything will add up easier, when watched in a row instead of waiting week after week. In the end, I think W was wrapped up as reasonably and logically as it could be. I still recommend W but please don't go in with all the high expectations from the hype.
The OST is really, really good though. I loved the variety of songs that were included in the drama and they all heightened the emotions of each scene.
I'm not saying that I didn't love W. Trust me, I really did. I just had super high expectations that kept growing week after week, episode after episode, so I'm a little deflated right now. Ultimately, W is still an unique drama that deserves a watch (or two! I might re-watch again to see if it does work better as a marathon watch) Give W a go and decide for yourself!
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WFKBJ doesn't have a spectacular, thrilling plot. Instead, I felt like I was on the sidelines, watching Bok Joo's real life story, following along the her journey. Watching the characters mature and go through relatable hardships really hit me because it's just too identifiable to my own life! If the sporty theme turns you off (and it did to me initially), it's not the focus of the drama in the sense that the sports are a part of their life in college but it could've been anything else: film, arts, leaderships, etc, and the drama would've still been good because ultimately the drama is about the growth of these young people in college (and sports just happened to be their specific focus/love/hobby in college)
I laughed and cried along with the Bok Joo, with Joon Hyeong, with everyone honestly. I've always liked Sung Kyung after watching her in Doctors and It's Okay, That's Love. I think she's a very versatile actress and seeing her portrayal of Bok Joo just blew me away, from her mannerisms to the warmth she brought to Bok Joo. The romance is low key and well developed because it's built up from friendship and support to finally a relationship, and when the romance finally happened, it was just the cutest thing ever and really made me yearn to have a romance like Bok Joo's and Joon Hyeong's.
I loved how Bok Joo never sacrificed her friends for her boyfriend because besties over boyfriends always. The three musketeers are the cutest and they always have each others' backs.
With all that said, I do think the drama started out a tad slow and I didn't really become invested until around a quarter in. However, WFKBJ is one of the rarer dramas that end extremely well versus starting well but slowly going down the drain near the end. I love the ending of this drama; it just makes me feel complete and left me with a smile at what's to come in Bok Joo's future, and also made me look forward to my future in college as well! I definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a fulfilling and relatable youth drama. After all, as Bok Joo would say, WFKBJ is SWAG!
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Now, the problem isn't with the actors- everyone acted extremely well with what they were given- it's with the directing and the plot execution. UF had everything it needed to become an unforgettable melodrama but alas, for the bulk of the episodes- it wasn't. Lets start with the choppy execution of scenes. Each episode ended on a cliffhanger that was just confusing. Though they explain it in the next episode, it did deter from the overall fluidity of the episodes. Besides from the cliffhangers, many scenes were choppy and kind of jumped from one to another without adequate explanation.
Nevertheless, the chemistry between Kim Woo Bin and Suzy had a down to earth feel to it that worked really well at times but it wasn't maximized to its full potential. Visually, along with the gorgeous winter landscape, they are a beautiful couple. However, the backstory that was given falteringly detracted from their present day romance. The backstory should've made us, as viewers, care a lot for the couple, to root for their romance. Instead, the drama gave us a glimpse of their backstory that just honestly didn't justify why they are a fated couple. And along the way, the backstory was dropped and we no longer got flashbacks. Suddenly, it was all about the family drama and the revenge.
Speaking of the revenge plot line, it was completely dragged on and I began to dislike almost every character for making stupid decisions. In other words, it became pretty makjang, in that respect. Now, I have to say that the plot is chock full of classic melo cliches, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the execution. That's why I said that UF reminded me of the early 2000's melos but it didn't have the emotional impact of those reminiscent to the earlier melos. Personally, I think it's due to the fact we never had the chance to fall in love with the romance before we went straight into sadness.
OST wasn't my favorite of all time but it made some emotional scenes more emotional so it worked.
The saving grace for this drama was the last two episodes. I didn't cry throughout the whole drama for the romance at all because it just didn't get me emotionally. However, the last two episodes made me glad that I didn't drop UF. I can even say that it made the previous episodes worth it, well, worth more it anyways! The last two episodes finally gave me the pathos feelings that I wanted to see throughout UF. I'm disappointed that I had to wait for episode 19 to finally feel it though.
With everything that I said, though, I recommend this drama with reservations depending on your taste. Personally, I kept watching because I wanted to see it until the end, to see what happened to the characters. If I had a second chance, though, I don't think I would've started it because it's not a drama to binge as it is a slow drama. It's not a drama for everyone but it's definitely a drama for some. I won't re-watch this though.
If you are in the mood to watch some complicated family feud revenge drama, then UF is up your alley. Don't expect lots of cute romantic scenes because there are minimal. Do expect some frustration if you don't like slow moving plots and crazy family issues. Do expect a lot of tears, especially at the end.
UF is a substance drama that relies on strong individual performances, a fitting OST, and a lovely winter backdrop.
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The first half of the drama or so was wonderfully built up. Though the premise of this drama seemed cliche and simple, the execution was smooth and not boring-mostly because of the leads. This drama seemed to be a Cinderella story-poor girl falls in love with the rich prince and vice versa but this drama was a journey of growth for both the leads, and how they became stronger together than apart. They became better because of each other. Although there were many obstacles in their journey, they were able to overcome it and come out stronger than ever. Their romance didn't feel deliberate at all. From strangers, to co-workers, to friends, and finally to lovers- the progression seemed realistic and it was just warming to watch.
I have to say I got a little bit annoyed the second half with the antagonist, Kai Er (Tia Li). Tia actually acted really well here-more emotions than in Fall in Love With Me anyways. I agree with many viewers that this drama stumbled a bit in the second half but I still enjoyed it immensely. (I did fast forward some Kai Er scenes though...) Patrick Li was amazing here-over the top hilarious. This drama demonstrated Taiwanese humor at its best although it was a little much sometimes. Shi Te Long (Patrick Li) added a lot of needed laughs to this drama though; he was like a comic character come to life! His bromance with Zi Qi was amusing; the sarcasm they throw to each other is entertaining to watch.
Some people weren't satisfied with the plot because Office Girls didn't feel like it was really about Office Girls in the second half. It became more about the relationship issues. I think if you can look past that and go into this drama knowing the focus is more on the relationship and the office is just a surrounding issue/environment, you'll find it easier to watch. The office dynamics were really funny and eventually you see that the co-workers really care about one another, proving that there really can be real friends in a work environment. Of course, there's always someone that will backstab you for every good person there is. I think this drama showed the nuances of the competitiveness of office life pretty well. Now, differences in social class does eventually come into play which is why I said this drama dragged in the second half. The overwhelmingly entertaining first half definitely overrode the slight disappointment I had with the second half, and the ending kind of made up for it as well.
Music was lovely-I downloaded the OST. The music complemented all the scenes very well, especially the emotionally heart-wrenching ones.
I think I'll re-watch some of the scenes, and maybe all of it again later because at 25 episodes it's pretty long for a SETTV drama. Now I'm off to watching Marry me or Not-hopefully Alice and Roy will have explosive chemistry there as well! Again, I recommend this drama a lot; it's full of laughter, romance, and heart. Don't miss it. (10/9)
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I have mixed feelings about the cast. This is the first time I'm seeing Godfrey Gao act. Although he's very good looking, his acting skills are sub-par in comparison to Joe Chen in their scenes together. I cringe for him because it's so awkward. Coco Jiang's scenes with Godfrey are worse. I couldn't deal with her incessant whining so I fast-forwarded their scenes. Now, the annoying antagonist with a crazy family? Yes, that exists here as well. I definitely fast forwarded all those scenes as well.
Now, it does seem like I'm naming many negatives but Joe Chen and Han Zhang make up for a huge portion of the negativity. Their scenes are like a breath of fresh air, and many scenes created in this drama are full of ingenuity. The premise of this drama was also promising. I enjoyed being in different settings: Taipei, Shanghai, and London. The Peter Rabbit motif throughout the drama was also cute and fitting to the characters. I loved the actress that played Han Zhang's character's older sister. She's super pretty and great at acting.Her character was enormously supportive of Tan Jin (Han Zhang)-I loved that! I have never seen her act in other dramas though. I also like how they support Tan Jun (Han Zhang). So glad there's no cliche plot in this drama about not being able to be together because of class differences. Tan Jun supports Xiao Jie (Joe Chen) the whole way through and in that respect this drama reminds me a little of In Time With You.
Music was mediocre, unfortunately. They didn't have a strong OST but some songs were cute.
Re-watch value.. no I don't think I would re-watch this at all. Once is good enough since it was kind of long. That being said, I would maybe re-watch some of the OTP scenes. All in all, I guess I can recommend this drama. So watch this if you're a fan of Joe or Han, if you can deal with some mediocre acting, if you can deal with crazy family plots, and if you're okay with the leads not being together until more than halfway through the drama. Yeah, they move very slowly, but hey they're cute together so I'm still glad I picked this drama back up after I got bored and put it on hold halfway through it. (7.25/8)
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Now, I like Sonia but she was so stiff and irritating in maybe the first half. Her chemistry with Tony Yang got much better in the second half but for the most part, I personally just didn't see it. Maybe it was because the story didn't pull me in? The second couple, aka the respective ex's, was alright. I mean, nothing special about them either. The supporting cast was pretty cute- I liked An Lei's (Sonia) tight friendship with her two friends and An Lei's family was convincing in wanting to marry their daughter off.
The directing and the retrospective musing was creative but sometimes the inner monologues became too long and rather detracted from the overall plot.
Some of the music was lovely but didn't really stand out to me for the most part.
No re-watch for me although I would recommend it to those people looking for a slow romance that develops from strangers, to co-inhabitants, to friends, to finally lovers, and also to those who like dramas revolving around ex's, and getting over them, then finding new love. (6/7.25)
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The story was unrealistic even for drama standards because family vendettas are hard to overcome and a 10 pm curfew for an adult is ridiculous.The synopsis given for this drama is mostly the first half of the drama. Towards the end, it got draggy but the main couples' love never flagged for one another. Even though it was unrealistic, I still enjoyed the ride because George Hu and Annie Chen really have great chemistry; they're super comfortable around each other and this shines in the BTS as well.
One thing that really stood out to me about this drama was the fact that there were virtually no love triangles. There were second male and female leads but they were no threat to the main couple at all. There were basically no antagonists. The main conflict in this drama was the family vendetta and disapproving parents. The supporting cast was cute; we have the funny guy, the best friend, etc. The second main couple, Ying Ying and Zhe Xuan had a hilarious first meeting and their romantic development was cute. I started to really looking forward to their scenes together.
This is alright for an one time watch but I wouldn't re-watch this. I watched this purely for George and Annie because I loved them in Love Now. Do I recommend this? Yes, if you like George and Annie. Yes, if you hate love triangles. No, if you want skinship and no, if you hate huge family issues that take up almost half the drama. I don't regret watching this but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone either because not everyone would like this drama. (8/7)
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The drama consistently messed with my brain and I had to go read detailed recaps after each episode because I always missed a detail here and there (because details are so important to notice in this drama). It's not an easy watch and you really have to pay attention in order to enjoy this drama. I also recommend widening your drama scope (I had to!) so you can brush aside all the preconceived notions you might have had about dramas. This drama borders on two parallel worlds within the characters so it might be a little hard to digest in the beginning. After 3 episodes, I got more into the drama.
Many of the characters weren't likable but I guess that's what this drama aimed at: to show the flaws of human nature, and to allow the audience to understand a bit more about mental illnesses, which is a taboo topic in many Asian countries. I have never watched any of the actors/actresses before but I have no complaints. They were all seasoned actors and the leads, Jo In Sung (Jae Yeol) and Gong Hyo Jin (Hae Soo) were both amazing in their portrayal of their emotions.
I don't think I would re-watch this because a lot of it was discovery and wouldn't be as surprising in second watch. I appreciated that this drama tried to tackle mental illnesses. Even though it may not always be medically accurate, it was still a drama that shined a positive light on mental illnesses that is very encouraging. Most importantly, this drama contained a lot of heart. I wholeheartedly recommend this drama but only if you're in the mood for a quirky romance that is about embracing one another no matter the flaws. 9/9.25
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The story was fantastic the first 10 episodes, but the second half of the drama got draggy. It could had been condensed. But don't worry, the leads' chemistry is worth the watch. Aaron Yan and Puff Kuo are adorable in this drama. Their interactions were so cute. The supporting cast was also worth watching/caring. Their office romances were also cute.
If you like watching lots of cute romance like me, you must watch this drama! The plot wasn't great because the evil female lead was just plain annoying with soso acting, but watching it for Aaron and Puff's chemistry is worth it since their scenes are emotional and romantic.
I liked the music, especially the one sang by Aaron.
I would rewatch some of the scenes by the leads, or supporting cast, but I wouldn't rewatch episodes 10-18, mainly because they focused on the evil female lead, which I thought was irrelevant to the main leads, and definitely could had been condensed.
Overall, do watch it if you like cutie romances and non pressure dramas or if you're an Aaron Yan fan like me! To me, watching this drama was like sipping a smoothie, refreshing and cute. Don't watch it if you are looking for an amazing drama plot story with great acting from everyone. (9/8.25)
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I watched this drama after watching Just You, also with Puff Kuo, but with Aaron Yan. Therefore, I was a little skeptical of Puff's chemistry with Jasper Liu in this drama. I was completely blown away! Puff's chemistry with Jasper is amazing. Their interactions are so adorable, and after watching this drama I am Jasper's fan- his dimples! The supporting kitchen cast made the drama even better. I cared about their side stories, and rooted for their relationships. The supporting cast added to the drama.
Okay, so story wise, the first 5 episodes set the foundation very well, we see Puff (Du Kai Qi) slowly falling for Jasper (Fu Zi Jie). Who said nice guys can't get the girl? ;) The second half, without spoiling it, got a bit draggy, but that's normal for tdramas. I do wish the ending was longer, but oh well.
The songs played were a bit repetitive but I personally really liked the songs because they were played appropriately and added the the scenes.
I would rewatch it again because of the chemistry between the leads and also the food aspect of this drama. All the food looked delicious!! A must watch.
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The ghost story per episode didn't feel too filler to me personally. I enjoyed most of them since they were ways for the romance to develop. Some even had an emotional impact, others left a bit to be desired. There were quite a few flaws regarding the 'rules' about ghosts and their abilities, and the drama did confuse me at times because they weren't consistent. Let me ignore those flaws though! I purposely ignored those flaws and just accepted all the supernatural aspects of the drama as they were shown, which made my drama experience much better. I guess I also have to mention the rich boy, poor girl thing. Yes, you can say that the plot- on the shallowest level- is about that cliche but I think the drama builds off it with many layers.
Though I enjoyed the skinship from the very beginning, they didn't have an effect on me until a few episodes in since there wasn't enough emotional attachment. But when it finally hit me, bam! Wow, I became seriously invested. I love their relationship development so much. Whoops, did I say that already? I enjoyed seeing Joong Won's change as a person and how his sun, Gong Shil, continued to change him, bit by bit. His trust in her just kept growing and that was a pleasure to watch. Their relationship is the anchor of this drama. Without the strength and brightness of it, the drama would've fell apart.
I think if the main leads weren't Gong Hyo Jin and So Ji Sub, I wouldn't love this drama that much. They brought their characters to life and made them seem so realistic. Gong Hyo Jin, as usual, was amazingly touching. Her emotional depth through her character, Tae Gong Shil, sparked in each and every scene.
I liked the second leads. No vindictive second leads! It's always great when the second leads add fun scenes to the drama, and not detract from the drama. I really liked Secretary Kim; he was like the cupid representative of the viewers.
Lets talk about one of the main plot points: Joong Won's tragic past. Was that done well? I'm not sure to be honest. It was amped up for most of the drama, only to be hastily resolved in one episode. From the halfway point, though, I already began to disregard the plot lines and just try to go along with the story. After all, just focusing on their chemistry was must more enjoyable than trying to analyze patchy plot points.
The extension? Personally, I hated it at first because I thought Gong Shil's actions were off par with her character based on previous episodes. In retrospect, I guess I could understand why she did why she did so I can't call it noble idiocy. Nevertheless, I could've done without it, so episodes 13-16 felt like some unnecessary angst. The finale episode was done well though since it was extended, it wasn't rushed. I did like the metaphors integrated throughout the drama. In a way, they helped justify some of the Hong Sister's writing decisions, in my opinion. The metaphors also gave depth to the plot and also the the relationships. Overall, the drama came full circle at the end, so it wrapped up nicely.
The OST is amazing. Every song is perfect. Some songs are hauntingly chilling, others are emotionally touching. I even love the instrumental music, which isn't that often! Every song seamlessly fit in with the scenes.
I already started re-watching some scenes. I will definitely re-watch this. I recommend this for those who love romance like I do, and also isn't a stickler for supernatural 'rules' and how the supernatural world should and should not be. In the end, take don't Master's Sun's plot too seriously and you'll come to love what this drama offers.
(9.5,8.5)
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I loved the first half of the drama the most. The dichotomy between the North and the South is extremely evident, and the show does a good job at portraying the differences, but also demonstrating how similar they are in actuality as people. I actually loved the 'side-plots' and the secondary OTP as well. This drama has one of my favorite supporting casts; the 'ducklings', as everyone affectionately calls them, really brings the drama to life and balances out the more melodramatic moments of the OTP. But seriously, so melodramatic but I loved it!
The chemistry between the leads was a bit reminiscent of DOTS, but I think I like this one more just because of the 'cliche' tropes they used throughout the show that were tied in very well. Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin have incredible chemistry and they are very natural with each other. Everyone loves Hyun Bin and his longing, warm gaze (I do too!) but I think Son Ye Jin carried them as a couple, she has some acting chops!
I appreciate how the show demonstrates all the different kinds of 'love', whether that be familial, romantic, platonic, patriotic, etc; they do a great job at just resonating love throughout the show. The OST is incredible and they do a good job at really hammering those emotions home during those pivotal moments.
Admittedly, like many shows, I think the plot got a bit draggy in the latter half, but I think the ending is realistic enough for what they could do, and I'll miss watching the adventures of the ducklings with Se Ri and Jung Hyuk. With any show, I definitely think the villain part was extremely dragged out, and honestly quite unrealistic, but hey, you need him there to create that tension and drama so I can't complain.
Anyways, grab some tissues and get ready for some happy and sad tears! No, but seriously, give this a watch even if you have to fast forward through some of the more boring political parts-- the other parts are worth it.
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