I agree with you so much. The drama itself isn't bad, I liked a lot, finished in 2 days. But people need to understand…
Logging back in after many many months and seeing this lovely comment under my review was lovely! Ty I’m glad you liked it! And yes you’re so right! I’m very much the sort of person who can’t help but notice flaws but unless they’re constant I can enjoy shows despite them!
Love this article! I think there’s a fine line that can be drawn when it comes to objectification for guys & gals. And that fine line is all about the actor and how comfortable they are - aka something we might not always be privy to.
Some actors train hard to get these bodies and are happy to show them off. Others train hard because they have to and I bet if given the choice they’d keep their shirt on. I just wish we knew which was which bc I’m happy to gawk over hot guys if they want me to but I am soo uncomfortable by the second.
Personally, shirtless scenes make me uncomfortable nearly all the time - pointless shower shots etc. Just put the man in a suit I’ll find it much hotter lol. Sometimes they make sense - the character is a playboy or he’s a fighter or something where whilst not plot important his shirtless scene might follow character logic. Those I don’t mind.
I think in the end, until the industry becomes more open about the opinions of actors behind the scene - awareness of this topic is all that can be done. We can’t condemn someone who might want to show off. We can’t celebrate someone who might have been forced into it. But we don’t know which is which. So we can only be aware.
In Hollywood actresses have begun to speak up more often about being forced to show off their body and the pressures of doing it so it’s a lot more apparent which women like it and which do not - I hope that happens in sk too one day.
I'm like you in that I never get SLS. There are plenty of times where I LIKE the second male lead more as a character, but just because I like them doesn't mean I ship them with the FL - because like you said, if she has no interest in him, then I too have no interest in them together or can't see any sparks between them. I'm not a fan of love triangles anyway but my biggest SML gripe is the entitled/selfish types being framed via the dramas as "romantic" or their actions understandable. It's not flattering to be pursued by someone you've told no to. It's gross. Loved your article! She Was Pretty gave me my most memorable SLS case which is funny bc the drama itself was pretty forgettable!
I love this guide!! I first watched her in Stranger, only knowing she'd previously starred in Sense8 (only watched s1 so far) and the way I fell in love immediately. She's an *amazing* actress - everything she does is so natural and lived in it doesn't feel like acting at all despite how different the characters she plays are. Her love for her art is so obvious. We stan one talented queen.
I am watching till 12 episode just to realise this drama made for teen girl who always dream how she can meet…
They only recently wrapped filming so I wonder if kes took on the criticism and improved things towards the end? I won't be watching to find out but I'll be interested to see the spoiler reviews come in.
R
OnReview unavailable•May 27, 2020
ReviewReview unavailable
I've already seen this movie but your review made me want to watch it again! It really is badass but has heart beneath all the action which makes it better.
The only reason why I keep watching it is called: Woo Do-Hwan, his acting is amazing, unfortunately the way the…
I totally get it, I only got all the way to episode 10 bc of him (and also other actors in the cast I really love). But they all barely appear and my frustrations with things like how badly handled JEC has been and how much I really hate the WDH ships turned me off so much I can't bare anymore. It's moved past entertaining hate-watch to straight up annoying so, time to drop! I'll be interested to see how it wraps up! But... from afar. Maybe standing on that warship from the most boring battle scene put to screen as it all comes to a messy end on land lol.
Thank you I feel like I'm the only person who can't watch this drama, after checking the screen writer I realised…
Ah I know what you mean, though I see people who also don't enjoy it, this is one of those case where I'm genuinely puzzled by people who do! (hate-watching I understand but people really love it which, kudos to them I suppose). Yeah I'm also not a huge fan of her. I love Secret Garden but that's bc it was my first drama and I've not rewatched it since - so who knows my opinion might change. And Goblin I just found painfully average. The OST was amazing though.
LMH definitely has charisma when directed well but I couldn't even find that here which was such a letdown. And yes, I've also seen plenty of "but just watch this episode it gets so good here" and... that has failed to happen. Plus I dislike that idea of, why must I wait all the way until the final third of the season for it to get good? I understand a few stumbling blocks but this has been too much. Eh, I see the only positive here being maybe KES will finally try to improve herself as a writer.
I must say it is a brilliantly written review. Some of the phrases I will definitely cherish till my dying days.…
Haha thankyou! Bad reviews are quite entertaining to write, I'm glad my word choices got my feelings across well.
You know I'm curious about that too. To be fair, I've always thought her overrated - I dislike more of her dramas than I like, so maybe this was just a case of her average writing catching up with her? Changing times and things means nothing good comes from being stuck in your ways - Lee Minho has the same problem - they don't escape where they are comfortable. But she's been particularly bad this time round. Personally I think she wrote something with the intention of making it a "Hit Drama" as opposed to just writing a good story. Everything in the drama gives me the vibes of "Look at me, aren't I great? Aren't I wowing you? Aren't you surprised?" Like it's begging me to like it instead of me naturally liking it because it's good.
(thanks for the question it really made me think more deeply about it ^^)
They do have similar features for sure, but I think because of writing choices these two actors have had the most time to shine. Thankyou for your comment!
I agree, this drama is not good. The only reason we are still watching it is because of WDH(skip through a lot…
Pretty much summed it up! And yes she’s a terrible lead, both of them are. LMH I don’t expect much anyway but when will KGE stop picking bad drama projects. Her film choices are always great!
Hearing wdh only had 1 ep 11 scene is what made me officially decide to drop it tbh! Not even meeting JEC’s doppelgänger is enough to motivate me anymore.
Great article!! This is definitely one of my favourites so far this year, the dark & twisty theme was so enjoyable but what really made it for me were the main teen characters (& Mr Lee). All of them were layered and interesting and had serious problems to deal with yet still showed some moments of light & humanity. (Except maybe Gitae lol he’s just a true bastard). It really showed that even amongst the worst of situations at the end people are still just people.
siwon's the whole reason I got into kdramas~ and ikr! most fans don't like the beard, every once in a blue moon…
Same! He was my first ever second-lead-syndrome experience ^^ Actually both second leads were, that cute friend who had the mistaken identity I just wanted her to be happy too.
First: I'm glad I read this article now I'm not fasting because my heart is very happy right now. Second: People DIDN'T LIKE SIWON'S FACIAL HAIR? Whaaaat! I was first introduced to him thanks to She Was Pretty and when I found out he was a SJ member I was shook at how much more attractive he was with a scruff. I'm shook I can't believe that's a minority opinion!
I disagree so much, I love fantasy, ghosts, IU's acting chops and this drama! Still, I respect your opinion and it's quite interesting to see why someone would dislike it so much. Though I will say that part of enjoying fiction is that the impossible happens. But I'm a big fantasy/scifi fan in general so that will always be important to me.
Some actors train hard to get these bodies and are happy to show them off. Others train hard because they have to and I bet if given the choice they’d keep their shirt on. I just wish we knew which was which bc I’m happy to gawk over hot guys if they want me to but I am soo uncomfortable by the second.
Personally, shirtless scenes make me uncomfortable nearly all the time - pointless shower shots etc. Just put the man in a suit I’ll find it much hotter lol. Sometimes they make sense - the character is a playboy or he’s a fighter or something where whilst not plot important his shirtless scene might follow character logic. Those I don’t mind.
I think in the end, until the industry becomes more open about the opinions of actors behind the scene - awareness of this topic is all that can be done. We can’t condemn someone who might want to show off. We can’t celebrate someone who might have been forced into it. But we don’t know which is which. So we can only be aware.
In Hollywood actresses have begun to speak up more often about being forced to show off their body and the pressures of doing it so it’s a lot more apparent which women like it and which do not - I hope that happens in sk too one day.
I'll be interested to see how it wraps up! But... from afar. Maybe standing on that warship from the most boring battle scene put to screen as it all comes to a messy end on land lol.
Yeah I'm also not a huge fan of her. I love Secret Garden but that's bc it was my first drama and I've not rewatched it since - so who knows my opinion might change. And Goblin I just found painfully average. The OST was amazing though.
LMH definitely has charisma when directed well but I couldn't even find that here which was such a letdown. And yes, I've also seen plenty of "but just watch this episode it gets so good here" and... that has failed to happen. Plus I dislike that idea of, why must I wait all the way until the final third of the season for it to get good? I understand a few stumbling blocks but this has been too much. Eh, I see the only positive here being maybe KES will finally try to improve herself as a writer.
You know I'm curious about that too. To be fair, I've always thought her overrated - I dislike more of her dramas than I like, so maybe this was just a case of her average writing catching up with her? Changing times and things means nothing good comes from being stuck in your ways - Lee Minho has the same problem - they don't escape where they are comfortable. But she's been particularly bad this time round. Personally I think she wrote something with the intention of making it a "Hit Drama" as opposed to just writing a good story. Everything in the drama gives me the vibes of "Look at me, aren't I great? Aren't I wowing you? Aren't you surprised?" Like it's begging me to like it instead of me naturally liking it because it's good.
(thanks for the question it really made me think more deeply about it ^^)
They do have similar features for sure, but I think because of writing choices these two actors have had the most time to shine. Thankyou for your comment!
Hearing wdh only had 1 ep 11 scene is what made me officially decide to drop it tbh! Not even meeting JEC’s doppelgänger is enough to motivate me anymore.
Second: People DIDN'T LIKE SIWON'S FACIAL HAIR? Whaaaat! I was first introduced to him thanks to She Was Pretty and when I found out he was a SJ member I was shook at how much more attractive he was with a scruff. I'm shook I can't believe that's a minority opinion!