kestonis

Well that part is unclear. What are actual slave contract's conditions, did Bro and company had seperate contract, f.e. he is Shan Shan's manager/helper etc. Though clarification is not needed. Facts aside Shan Shan will work only with Bro wathever conditions will be. Bro clearly stated, that he will get all money and recognition. This was conclusion of their conflict. Shan Shan did not fight this during drama timefrime and we can only assume he will continue to do so - the same conclusion will be to all other future scripts or their conflicts. This is how drama ended, there are no what ifs.

He literally called his bro during last scene and by conversation they are still working together.

Rating too low. Most greatest thing about this drama it was fast paced, no filler episodes or skippable moments. Story was great. Only lacking thing for me it was lack of chemistry between leads, Still rating should be above 8.

For me Shan Shan's choice is he gave up on his "brother" as he has no energy to deal with him. He is no longer priority. He starts treating him like outsider. In my book family is who you care. In other words tries to right their wrongs, tell them what they are doing wrongly etc. As we see scene Jai Zhen wonders what ending Shan Shan wrote, he has not heard from him.

ML only family is FL. He cares only for her. For Jai Zhen he has some weird psychological debt, if he asks he must oblige. Like adoptive children for their parents, who did not had no loving relationship. Just debt. He puts him in the drawer "later". And last scene is suppose he resolved their situation many years later.

I expected it to resolve within drama timeline. There were many signs in previous episodes. But we got no resolution, we did not see how he resolved. And how he resolved we can just interpret.

It is just dumb cheap way to end this drama. As writers tried to be too smart even to understand what they are doing. If you want to see this drama in positive light you can various ways to interpret it as ending left for imagination.

"Brother" gets a car, a house and all future earnings from ML scripts as he has copyright. Plus his name will be on all ML's future works. ML loses his job and is under slave contract for next 30 years.

Though he loses his backup girlfriend he never loved. She leaves him in last 5 minutes.

At first I was angry as it is not fair but on second thought you can interpret this actually a happy ending. It resolves their issues. "Brother" will get all the money and ML will get all the work. "Brother" will never be jealous again and ML really does not care about anything. His girlfriend (FL) too. They have no ideals, dreams on living actual life or having children in future. It is only work, work, work in their lives. So why not?

As I understood writer's moral, message of the story is that relantionship are more important than money, even if it is abuse. ML decision to give all the money to "Brother" is applauded by few characters.

It is a disaster. Zero positive characters. And NONE of them had any growth.

As main topic is psychology I thought characters eventually will improve their lives using psychology techniques. Both leads tend to self abuse. ML has "brother". His "brother" stepped over him every opportunity he got without repercussions. So you think this will change towards end as it will be revealed. No. ML continued to kiss his ass till very last second. It is not a "family" if you let him abuse you. FL too. She even got suicidal. And I could not understand why.. Some wtf technique how villain hypnotised her patient. This was utter nonsense. And when it is revealed, two educated professional psychologists discuss as FL will heal herself by healing patient. What?? Professionals? Well that is new nonsense.

So we have two shitty characters as leads. At least supportive characters will be positive? Right? Big fat NO. FL brother and his girlfriend/her bestfriend were so annoying in almost every scene scream each other. Well that was not funny. I was super annoyed. And their dynamic was super confusing. Both did not know what they want from their lives and what they want from each other. As viewer I was confused too. And annoyed.

And we have villains pair - ML "brother" and his devil girlfriend. "Brother" was most annoying character on TV since Game of thrones king kid (forgot his name). At least actor played it super well. He should get Oscar or some awards, because I hated his character with all my guts. His girlfriend was bad too. Most useless character in drama. Waste of screen time. One scene she shouts how could you do this to Shan Shan (ML)? And very next scene she goes to ML - "please accept this abuse, please". And during next conflict between brothers she behaves exactly the same. And the next. And the next. Rinse repeat. She had no other screen presence. She had to act just two scenes repeated many times using different dialogue sentences.

So we will have positive time from ML scripts? Well they had no relation to the "real" world. It felt that the scenes whole purpose it is just fill 40 episodes. I imagine how producing team pitched this drama project to the actors. You will have scenes at school with idol romance, also fighting bad guys as all leather cop, then you will drive cool cars, and all this will encapsulate with deep psychological creative romance. I image it was fun to film this drama. As a viewer not so much. I skipped all these scenes and I do not regret it.

I could describe this drama in two words - failed novelty.

Terrible. Irony that drama about aspiring actor but ML did poor job acting in many scenes. F.e. in scene saving old woman. They should casted better actor. Though I saw dramas where both ML and FL acted much better in other dramas. These roles suited them better or they did not gave effort to this drama. Plus chemistry between them was non-existent.

Saving grace should be veteran actors. And they did amazing job in highlight scenes. But all came to null because of bad script. They screen age is about 50s but their dialogues, actions, choices, life philosophy rather represent people age of 70s closer to 80s. Their problems, issues took most of screen time so everything felt a little bit out of place. Felt like drama is written by several screenwriters who did not talk between themselves. One group wrote about old people and another about main leads.

Overall script is bad. Basically zeroed main problem that bad acting vs. good acting is who remembers script lines better and that is just effort thing. You can make this main message for a 1st grader, but for adult oriented drama, where most screen time about 70-year-old people issues, this is unacceptable.

The only positive thing that this drama is lightweighted. Here and there are some motivational speeches about acting, amazing scenes by veterans, where you could cry with them. So if you can skip or fast forward 60% of scenes, this drama is ok. Mydramalist rating is way too high.

What a terrible ending for a such great series. This classic romcom went beyond expectectations only because acting. It had epic drunk scenes, scenes with just body humour and so on. Seasoned actors made their roles to perfection with smallest details. Furthermore it had great storyline for romance with philosophy behind it. Overall gave warm happy feeling.

What cringe acting was in last 15 min is hard to describe with words. Are they for real? It is a shame to end this like that.

Anyways first 12 episodes were great, last 2 ones skipable.

EP 30 everyone single. No romance in horizon. Probably left to last mins of last ep.

Why they made Zuo Na's character so pitiful? She was betrayed by both parents - mother and father, best friend, first teaching instructor and now by second one. And I guess, her love line is with clueless arrogant boy, who has so much growth to do. And as if it is not too much writers added selfish rude uncle as only close family.

The last one firm's betrayal it was painful to watch. But as it is Chinese drama, there is unwritten rule - company always wins in the end. In next episodes I expect gaslighting by various characters what company did it is actually good for her. Bruh..

He is murdered next year. At the age 35. In one scene he explicitly said that.

When he travels to 2037 must mean he learned that he was already dead for 15 years.

I would say more hints about killer not the future limit year but car model. I can just guess that such car was made in 1987 and probably was best seller that year therefore production team chose that specific car.

ML is murdered year after. FL is born year after. I think it will be grand connection to that in the end a.k.a. both will try sacrifice for love.

I can understand and emphatise. But as viewer do I need to see FL calling her mom like five times? There was three scenes of her calling mom, that gives confused look and basically it was all the content of dialogue/scene.

It is not related but it shows that writing and production sloppyness or intentions.

Did any scene with ML and FL alone felt that they are exact same age? And how she confronted Mi Sook after school? Does it felt like dialogue between 34 year old and 18 year old? She could be daughters age. But it felt like equal people speaking. For me even felt that Mi Sook is older. FL already used dumb card by getting provoked by her and sitting in car a.k.a. outsmarted.

You can say do you understand FL is unusual situation, do not understand dangers etc.

But compare drama "MR. Queen". In similar way main character was sloppy in first few episodes. In "MR Queen" producers used comedic angle for these situations. Here producers used "dumb" angle.

After first two episodes I had high hopes. Four episodes is enough to understand level of production and writing team and its limitations. It is not bad. Watchable. But it will not be one of best of the year dramas.

I'm disappointed with episode 4 and where drama is going. There are already so many red flags of bad writing and cheap production.
-Dialogues. It irks me every time ML and FL talk with others as if they already done something and are future versions of themselves. It is so annoying. Why these stupid dialogues even needed. They talk like all characters are NPC not human beings like they are in some game and these NPCs do not listen what they are talking. And these dialogues are more like inner monologues of main characters. So writers could not come up better ways to show inner thoughts? Just why?
-Overusing same lame jokes. FL calling mom, grandma etc. in every possible opportunity. Should we laugh at this 10 times? Is it so funny??
-Forced romance. There is no chemistry. Suppose "romantic" scenes come very randomly. In other words forced. F.e. FL escaped rape and soon ML romantically makes breakfast. What? Why? It was so out of place emotionally. These scenes are forced and not in line with story, like they are added later just justify romance tag. Producers chose traditional setup = angry encounter/enemies -> common goal/friends -> separation/lovers. And it is just not working. They overcommitted to angry phase. It was forced. There was no shown reasons why should treat each other with animosity after first episode.
-Empty talks. FL says I will do this and that for her mother but all it comes empty.
-ML backstory is too soft. We did not see scene of his death or how he is related to that timeline and place. It is hard to connect with just facts.

Initially I thought it would be one of the best series in the year. It had everything, time travel, murder mystery, mother-daughter, father-daughter, romantic encounter, adult in school, north korean spies etc. It had so many potentials from every angle. It could overflow with entertainment, fun, intrigue. But producers chose worst possible angle - angle of stupidity. Few good scenes are sparsed by bunch stupid dialogues and Pikachu faces of main characters. In episode 3 & 4 ML and FL run around like headless chickens. It was fun in first episode but now it irritates. Two thirty four year olds getting outsmarted by two teenagers it is not fun. It is disrespectful. Furthermore they are from future = do not start on equal footing.

It should have shifted focus on 80s culture, how main characters try to adapt in this environment. You could get many bunch funny scenes and romance could come naturally. Research was done, we see clothes, songs, language etc. But it is not the focus. There are too few such scenes

Ech. This drama will go into drawer of unrealised potential.

I can not disagree more. Han Hye Jin acted her given role perfectly.
95% if not more of Korean dramas leads get together romantically. It is so common that you every time expect it.

Her emotional response to other characters gave awkwardness vibe, that there is discontinuity between how outer world sees her and how her inner world perceives it, no normal human should react like she did. Some scenes were so awkward that I wanted to skip too. And it was needed for the drama. It set the tone for whole series. She acted so perfectly that from first scenes you could not ship leads together anymore. It was not romantic series. Furthermore you can straight away tell that her character is traumatised and such traumas needs time to heal. It gave realism for the drama. As there are no winners in divorce cases and they are sad with no fanfare. As we see later in result of attorneys cases.

As in music different peaces fit together, here sad and awkward parts makes shine warm conversations between friends.

She hit the emotional strings perfectly. If in drama there was anything more romantically, it would lean to sexual harassment. If in drama would be more anger/rage due injustice it would not feel right. It is all due to her acting. And it fitted well with Cho Seung Woo role.

Strongest emotion is anger and it overflows other emotions. And in kdramas usually divorce scenes is full of anger. Here anger is diminished, not memorable and most favourable emotions were calmness, warmness, sadness. It is very hard to achieve and it sets apart from other Korean dramas. It was achieved mostly due Han Hye Jin acting.

What is wrong with people's values and comments here? Do writer stole your brains to make you inapt of thinking?

Here are my questions for you:

1. Two wrongs do not cancel each other and make it right. It is called whitewashing. One does harm to other and later it is explained that victim was no angel too, so kinda it makes ok for first one's crime, especially if it is main lead of the drama. Did you not see this is a writer's technique?

2. Are you really happy with this ending? Like, really?? So you are saying, you would be happy that your children would have a "teacher" with such moral values? Or are you saying it is only ok, because it is for rural children? Moral of the story: Hey, rural children, your teachers are only here because of "self-punishment". :DD It is so absurd and so many comments mentioned a self-punishment.

Overall, everyone here tells me that this drama is an art like some Dorian Grey shit. It is all about inner growth. Like BD needed betrayal so she could understand how poor people live, therefore betrayal made her a better person. Are you serious?? If EK felt bad how her friends treats her, she just say: Hey, friend, do not treat me like this. Or she could stop being friends with bad person as BD was. But no. Because having normal adult communication is not an option. You cannot achieve inner growth by communicating with people. Really?

And for EK she needed to destroy other persons life so that in the end she would appreciate herself, start love herself and do not depend on other people. That explains mysterious meaning of red balloon. BD is EK's red balloon and vice versa. Wow. Like EK could not go out in the society and try to meet people who really carried for her and relearn to love herself. No it is not an option, because it would not be an art. Everyone praise writernim.

3. Is this drama story worthy? There was a character you rooted for?

4. Is forgiveness=accepting people again in your life? Does forgiveness only counts if you forgive your friend by retaining your friendship? I do not know much, but in my book politely telling such friend "go f*** yourself" and deleting number and never caring for that person again it is quite good example of forgiveness. I mean, obviously EK should say this to BD too. Before first episode. But hey, this drama is about friendship and forgiveness. It is about real life. Everyone makes mistakes. Can not you see beauty of friendship within this toxicity?

Maybe, just maybe, I am not "woke" enough to understand this drama and your comments.

I do not know how this will go. But under classic setup they are both at fault. FL is usually nagging, insulting and constantly in "change your husband into better" mode and never listens what he has to tell. ML is fed up and looks for creative solution. Though in the first place FL would not be like this is he was not childish careless, not focused, made some mistakes etc.
"Get back together" arc is setup that after divorce they became aware how their flaws affect other people and their life mostly lacks others strengths, f.e. FL lacks childness and ML lacks seriousness.

So basically the stunt or trick to them to break up fades away from bigger picture as it was the least problem in their relationship, Because it was zero communication in their marriage.

There is third option . ML intentionally faked affair and gave FL all evidence on the plate. This is his ingenious solution so that he could get easy divorce.

It is classic setup of win win situation.

For conspiracy theorists this is a classic setup. She is too controlling, he is too irresponsible, which led many conflicts in their marriage. She meets conflicts face on, he tends to runaway from conflicts. His solution to "runway" is to make fake evidence of affair so he could get freedom with least discussion. His freedom led to bankruptcy, her stubbornness led to loneliness. They both start appreciate their differences instead of looking as just character flaws.
It is very classic. Hundreds dramas are like this. And I like it. Both are seasoned actors and it is not first role like this. They will definitely make a good product.

Propaganda is the easiest explanation, but it is the last one after you debunk other explanations. Therefore I am asking people more familiar with asian laws that I could have reasonable explanation. Myself I could not find in this drama nor in few articles, why Liu was found guilty. There is article that her reason for appeal that verdict was not based on law. As I understand the case still continues in Real life, as appeal was not dismissed.

I did not say that. I am saying that you cannot prove under the law that Liu knew that ex-boyfriend could kill Jiang Ge before he actually did it. It was beyond reasonable expectation.

Unless there are missing details that were not shown in this drama nor in articles I read.