I know next to nothing about the IMF crisis so I feel like a lot of context is flying right over my head. I get the sense that this will feel very nostalgic for Korean viewers, however. The production values are great and the period setting is evoked very well. Although I have to say, I don't remember the 90s fashion being as crazy where I live LOL.
This is definitely one for cinema nerds because there's not much plot or character development, and the enjoyment comes from the displays of directorial ingenuity. Music and camera work are used to good effect in combination with the continuous take, but those don't fully compensate for the inevitable lulls where characters just walk around or have inane conversations. Bursts of action and violence are quite thrilling and well-done but the show does lose momentum throughout the run. Don't expect common sense, logic or explanation for what's happening, everyone is pretty unhinged which I found fun but your mileage may vary. What helps the show is the undertone of satire and black comedy about class, money and moral bankruptcy.
Very pleasantly surprised by how honest and unflinching this show turned out to be. This is definitely not for those looking for a BL romance. It gives the audience a frank, realistic look into urban youth culture in Seoul (specifically gay culture) that you don't get to see in sanitised mainstream kdramas. Big, weighty issues like abortion, HIV, internalised homophobia and living in the closet are given fair treatment without being depressing or overly angsty. The MC is complex, interesting and unsure about his own wants and needs, making him very believable for his age. I enjoyed it a lot and applaud the cast and crew for their uncompromising approach. More like this, please!
How is it possible that an actor/idiol as famous as Ok Taec Yeon agreed to made a gay tv show? I'm amazed! Wouldn't…
Jo Insung, Joo Jinmo, Park Sungwoong, Kim Namgil and countless other huge Korean stars have done gay-themed movies. SK isn't as closed-minded as you think.
I would've liked an epilogue of some sort. Some of the important characters (Okgyeong, Juran) just kind of disappeared towards the end without any sense of resolution. There's also the elephant in the room which is the rather unfortunate queerbaiting. And my feeling throughout the drama was that it could've spent more time developing the secondary characters. I thought Kim Yoonhye as Hyerang was a bit extra but the other actors all did a great job given the dual tasks of singing pansori and acting at the same time.
Having said that, the show was very good at other things, particularly conveying the spirit of the theatre, how it's unglamorous, non-lucrative and very much reliant on the passion of those involved. I really appreciated this look into an aspect of Korean culture I knew little about. The staging of the gukgeuk plays was really well done so big props to the makeup and production design teams! Overall, lots to like about this drama, especially if you're looking for something a bit different and female-centric.
Very nearly perfect. If you're an immigrant or a child of immigrants in the West this will resonate deeply. Nostalgic, bittersweet, poignant. A meditation on the lives we lead and the roads not taken. Beautifully shot. Stunning performances by the cast too. Celine Song, what a talent đź‘Ź
I only just realised that Lee Eunsaem who plays Mijin is the same actor who played Younghee in The Red Sleeve. What a transformation of a character, totally didn't recognise her at all. Applause!
Having said that, the show was very good at other things, particularly conveying the spirit of the theatre, how it's unglamorous, non-lucrative and very much reliant on the passion of those involved. I really appreciated this look into an aspect of Korean culture I knew little about. The staging of the gukgeuk plays was really well done so big props to the makeup and production design teams! Overall, lots to like about this drama, especially if you're looking for something a bit different and female-centric.