Well, well, well. We finally reached the end of this crazy saga. This is probably the earliest I've watched an episode since the drama started lol, I just had to see the ending! Honestly speaking, I didn't hate it... for the most part. Not every drama needs a happy ending, and this is one of them. It was bittersweet, just like I predicted.
That being said, I am LIVID that YC got a happy ending with SH and their daughter! WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT??? AND JW ENDING UP ALONE?! I feel like she got punished far more than YC did- just for stealing her identity and being ambitious & greedy for a little while? I mean, I don't mind that HN and JW didn't end up together- it's what I wanted- but writing it like that just makes me feel so bad for him! 😭 Also, NS taking the fall for nearly everything... did she deserve to be in prison? Yes. But taking the fall for everything with no explanation on her sentence? NO! That was insane! Also, there were so many questions unanswered? So those politician guys were introduced for nothing? The model ex & his fate? JW's ex? The drone video of YC killing the model ex? SH's bio dad? HELLO?!
However, the strongest parts of the drama were some of the character arcs and the acting. Everyone did a great job, and even Lee Shi-Ah's acting stabilized later on (it wasn't too great at first.) The best character development has to go to Nan-Suk, who turned around in the end. Then Ha-Neul, who finally stepped up in the second half of the drama and became the MVP, and then Hye-Ra. While her character arc & storyline was confusing sometimes, her redemption (and Lee Il-Hwa's portrayal) saved it. Jung-Won fell somewhere in the middle, I honestly would've rather seen her become a villain than stay as an anti-heroine or become semi-good. The writers put her character through too much for her to not go completely dark. But I liked that she was introduced as someone who wasn't a good person and didn't take any bullshit. That aspect of her character was consistent, I loved it.
Worst characters/character arcs go to Se-Hun and Young-Chae. Young-Chae ESPECIALLY. She was a flat, BORING ass character from beginning to end. There was nothing likable about her. I hope the few YC fans are happy here, because she got pretty much everything she wanted. 🙄 I wish she died instead, but I guess some people never change. When you have me liking the final boss more than YOU, that says A LOT! Se-Hun was slightly better, if pathetic at times. But he was a sympathetic guy from the beginning, deceived by everyone. I actually wanted him and JW to work out. I hated how he went dark and it just... went nowhere? Nothing to say about Tae-Seok, I hated him, his actor did amazing, and I'm glad his character is dead. Thank goodness! YIPPEE!
The cinematography was amazing though. This felt less like a daily drama and more like a weekend drama. Things were more intricate and real, there were outside/real location shots and the drama was aesthetically pleasing to watch. KBS2 daily drama budgets have clearly gone up! I love that! The music was also incredible! Especially the BGM, I hope it's released someday. The plot... okay, so the first half was amazing. The second half, not so much. Some parts dragged on. Didn't really mind the birth secrets, but JW being TS's bio daughter genuinely shocked me. It was a very good, well-executed twist. As for the themes, well, I think... they were examined well? Greed gets you nowhere, family can be chosen, and sometimes revenge can hurt you (the avenger) more than the person you want revenge on. Also, lies can destroy a family, your relationships, and people who love each other. Sometimes it's not worth to get power. Basically none of the characters are running Gun-Hyang Group anymore. There was no point in fighting over the company, all they did was destroy themselves in the process.
Would I rewatch this? Not really. Maybe some parts, but not everything. My overall rating? I'd say 8/10, honestly. If the ending was a bit better, if some questions were answered, and if some character arcs were changed, then it could've gotten an 8+ rating from me. I'll be watching Pearl In Red. Ciao!
WORST character in the drama. She had no development.
He apologized to Ha-Neul, I'd say he grew some balls at least 😂 also he only started being pathetic AFTER losing JW! Mans was miserable after that and I don't completely blame him!
EDIT: I take that Gun-Hyang part back. NEVER MIND. FUCK SH!!!
The worst daily drama I've seen was The Two Sisters. That was AWFUL!
It's my lowest rated drama on here. Also, Phoenix 2020 was horrible too, I never finished. I cannot believe they did a remake of the original 2004 drama THAT BAD.
They hinted the model ex was alive …. Oh ya nansuk said I think she sent him to another place to model . She’s…
She said that she sent him to Milan? That could've been a lie too, they NEVER clarified it. 💀
I'm disappointed. They left so many questions unanswered. Again I don't mind Nan-Suk's redemption, but having her take the fall for damn near everything... that seems kinda unfair? But then again, this is a daily drama lol
I stopped watching at ep 94 and decided to watch the last ep. And wow… YC got the best ending… I guess the…
HR said that she was entrusting the company to a CEO, the chairman doesn't run it. Just the board, I think. JW also said that she was leaving Gunhyang.
I think everyone hated the FL, including the writers. Cha Jeong Won had no chance from the start. Sigh
I agree that Jung-Won could've written much better in the second half, they revealed that she was Su-Ah far too early! This is not the worst I've seen, but not the best either. Also... Young-Chae deserved to be in a mental hospital, wtf?!
I think everyone hated the FL, including the writers. Cha Jeong Won had no chance from the start. Sigh
I liked her as an anti-heroine (especially in the beginning when she was ambitious as the fake YC & during the fake Tae-Seok ally arc/post-rooftop fall), but her development could've been so much better... like, imagine a villain arc/heel-turn instead. It would've been much more enjoyable. Rarely see that in dramas.
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That being said, I am LIVID that YC got a happy ending with SH and their daughter! WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT??? AND JW ENDING UP ALONE?! I feel like she got punished far more than YC did- just for stealing her identity and being ambitious & greedy for a little while? I mean, I don't mind that HN and JW didn't end up together- it's what I wanted- but writing it like that just makes me feel so bad for him! 😭 Also, NS taking the fall for nearly everything... did she deserve to be in prison? Yes. But taking the fall for everything with no explanation on her sentence? NO! That was insane! Also, there were so many questions unanswered? So those politician guys were introduced for nothing? The model ex & his fate? JW's ex? The drone video of YC killing the model ex? SH's bio dad? HELLO?!
However, the strongest parts of the drama were some of the character arcs and the acting. Everyone did a great job, and even Lee Shi-Ah's acting stabilized later on (it wasn't too great at first.) The best character development has to go to Nan-Suk, who turned around in the end. Then Ha-Neul, who finally stepped up in the second half of the drama and became the MVP, and then Hye-Ra. While her character arc & storyline was confusing sometimes, her redemption (and Lee Il-Hwa's portrayal) saved it. Jung-Won fell somewhere in the middle, I honestly would've rather seen her become a villain than stay as an anti-heroine or become semi-good. The writers put her character through too much for her to not go completely dark. But I liked that she was introduced as someone who wasn't a good person and didn't take any bullshit. That aspect of her character was consistent, I loved it.
Worst characters/character arcs go to Se-Hun and Young-Chae. Young-Chae ESPECIALLY. She was a flat, BORING ass character from beginning to end. There was nothing likable about her. I hope the few YC fans are happy here, because she got pretty much everything she wanted. 🙄 I wish she died instead, but I guess some people never change. When you have me liking the final boss more than YOU, that says A LOT! Se-Hun was slightly better, if pathetic at times. But he was a sympathetic guy from the beginning, deceived by everyone. I actually wanted him and JW to work out. I hated how he went dark and it just... went nowhere? Nothing to say about Tae-Seok, I hated him, his actor did amazing, and I'm glad his character is dead. Thank goodness! YIPPEE!
The cinematography was amazing though. This felt less like a daily drama and more like a weekend drama. Things were more intricate and real, there were outside/real location shots and the drama was aesthetically pleasing to watch. KBS2 daily drama budgets have clearly gone up! I love that! The music was also incredible! Especially the BGM, I hope it's released someday. The plot... okay, so the first half was amazing. The second half, not so much. Some parts dragged on. Didn't really mind the birth secrets, but JW being TS's bio daughter genuinely shocked me. It was a very good, well-executed twist. As for the themes, well, I think... they were examined well? Greed gets you nowhere, family can be chosen, and sometimes revenge can hurt you (the avenger) more than the person you want revenge on. Also, lies can destroy a family, your relationships, and people who love each other. Sometimes it's not worth to get power. Basically none of the characters are running Gun-Hyang Group anymore. There was no point in fighting over the company, all they did was destroy themselves in the process.
Would I rewatch this? Not really. Maybe some parts, but not everything. My overall rating? I'd say 8/10, honestly. If the ending was a bit better, if some questions were answered, and if some character arcs were changed, then it could've gotten an 8+ rating from me. I'll be watching Pearl In Red. Ciao!
EDIT: I take that Gun-Hyang part back. NEVER MIND. FUCK SH!!!
I'm disappointed. They left so many questions unanswered. Again I don't mind Nan-Suk's redemption, but having her take the fall for damn near everything... that seems kinda unfair? But then again, this is a daily drama lol