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The best part of the show, by far, is Jung Ryeo Won as Ma Yi Deum. She is perfectly cast as the shows anti-hero prosecutor, and who the title refers too. Never has the implied "B" when the term "Witch" is used felt more appropriate. She is ruthless, and clever, and messy, and self serving, and stubborn, and amazing! I fell in love with her arrogant smirk and red lipstick. Even when she was at her worst, I was compelled to cheer her on. If there is any reason to recommend this drama, it is her. She is the best female lead character I've seen in a long time. I just wish the rest of the drama was as solid as she was.
She is matched with Yoo Hyun Min, as prosecutor Jin Wook. Honestly, I found him adorkable. He is the antithesis of her... an extremely empathetic and considerate character, and certainly much more passive and bland. I liked their chemistry too, even if their relationship seemed forced at times. He's definitely more like a sidekick than an equally strong lead. The romance isn't a major focus in this drama anyway, and I think that was a missed opportunity, especially considering the way the plot unfolds for both of them. I think it should have been played up much more, or not added at all, but instead it feels more like it's forgotten until it becomes convenient. Still, I was happy for the lighter comedic moments since the other parts of the plot are more melodramatic
Much of the story focuses on one evil duplicitous character, Gab Soo, which is another wasted opportunity. He is meant to be an utterly ruthless character, but his storyline started to bore me after a while, and unfortunately later episodes revolve mostly around him. I think Jun Kwan Ryul played his character pretty well, making him a more subdued kind of evil, but he just wasn't memorable enough. His story line also went from intriguing to predictable really quickly. I kept waiting for an interesting plot twist, or an unexpected moment, but it never came. He just wasn't a worthy enough rival for such a strong lead.
The rest of the plot revolves around the CAGU prosecutors office and their focus on these seemingly impossible to win sex crime cases. I was impressed to see such taboo subjects explored in these cases, and I did love watching to see what Ma Yi Deum would do to solve them, but even those stories started to follow too much of a predictable formula. Unlike other dramas with similar themes, some airing at the same time, this one often took the safest and most convenient routes in resolving each case. This could be a good thing for viewers who don't want to watch something that's too dark, but for me it made many of these stories, even the worst of them, pretty forgettable. The ensemble CAGU cast of characters are pretty forgettable too.
By the last few episodes I was barely holding on to what little interest I had left, so the ending felt oddly like it came too quickly and not soon enough. I'd say the ending was adequate, but they spent time showing me what happened with characters I long forgot about, and glossed over some pretty unbelievable plot points.
So, would I watch this again? Probably not. The story isn't good enough for a second viewing, but because Jung Ryeo Won is so good, it may be worth it just to watch her in action. As for the OST, it's mostly what I would consider her "theme song" being played to cue when she's in full "witch mode". I'd be much more intrigued by a better written second season, than watching this again.
Overall, this felt like a mediocre introduction to an awesome character, almost like an origin story. If they decided on a season 2, I would definitely watch, because that's how much I liked the lead. They would need a whole new writers team, and cast (except for her Jin Wook sidekick). On it's own, this is an entertaining, but pretty mediocre law show. Even so, I'm kinda sad to see it end.
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Yoon Doo Joon is the only returning cast member, which I had mixed emotions about at first, but since Dae Yeong's food appreciation is still what drives the show, I didn't miss the old cast for long. He's just as weird and quirky as he was in the original, with his signature food rants, and charming knowing smile. This time he is matched with Seo Hyun Jin, who immediately made me forget about the previous leading lady (sorry Soo Kyung but it was time to move on lol). My bias may come from how much I loved her in Another Miss Oh, but with her own stand out quirkiness, her portrayal of Soo Ji is the ideal match for Dae Yeong. So with these two leads, I felt like the romance in this version was much stronger. Of course they also share a true love of food... duh, but their chemistry, even away from a plate of food, was super strong. I was a fan of their food banter, and their friendship.
Like the first one, there is also a new strong ensemble cast, including a new dog. The major difference is that the theme of loneliness and depression in this town is much darker, so the characters aren't as fun. There are still a lot of funny moments, and this is still mainly a comedy, it just has less of a feeling of optimism and discovery than the first one did. These ensemble characters are also much messier. They are petty, they curse, they're self destructive, they're manipulative, they drink too much, they lash out... this also makes them a little more realistic. Watching them bond and create friendship is also similar to the original, but don't expect the same light heartedness.
The only character that I didn't like very much was Kwon Yool as Lee Sang Woo. It's not that he's bad in the role, just... well... kinda boring. I know kdrama romance usually thrives on a love triangle, and in theory this one brings up some interesting dilemmas and dynamics, but he's such a bland choice that it was too easy to not care about or root for him. Even his friendship with Dae Yeong seemed a bit forced, but his social awkwardness also added to the character so I'm torn. I did like that the love triangle seemed less about who would get the girl, and more about each character's self discovery. There's a lot of self reflection in this drama that I appreciated.
Another formula that the show sticks to is an unnecessary thriller element. The mystery in this version worked better than in the first version, but that's not saying much. It still felt very contrived, and like just an excuse to add drama to the characters' lives. Don't even get me started on the older woman neighbor... who had me yelling "mind your own damn business" at the screen multiple times. I don't want to mention any of the details at all, to avoid any spoilers, but it's definitely a weak point for the drama, with a lazy resolution.
Let's eat 2 still absolutely lives up to the title, with gluttonous food scenes, expanding beyond Korean food more often, and inspiring food appreciation.
I think I started to get used to the extreme eating close ups, because they started to feel normal, and it felt like there were less food scenes, but those waiting for these moments won't be disappointed.
Overall, the formula may not be perfect, but it kept me interested enough to binge watch 2 seasons back to back. That says a lot! Would I watch this again? Maybe. In some ways I enjoyed this one more, but I don't feel compelled to watch it again. I would probably only watch this again as part of a set with Season 1, to get my Dae Yeong fix.
While I still can't claim to be a fan of food-centered shows, I would recommend this one, and will definitely be one of the first people at the table to check out Let's Eat season 3.
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I liked the idea of the main character being a good natured con-woman, but I often found Joo Yoo Rin's actions to be really annoying. Lee Da Hae did a great job, even though sometimes she was a bit over the top. She was a good match for calm, and by the book, Lee Dong Wook. I already loved him in 'Scent of a Woman', so I was glad to see him in something else. What I loved most about this drama was their chemistry, and how they began to rub off on each other. I can't say the same about the two supporting leads.
Fans may disagree, but I didn't like Park Si Yeon's performance at all. Not only did her character's actions piss me off, but she just kept making the same expressions over & over again. It wasn't even fun to hate her. She's the main reason my acting score is so low.
Lee Jun Ki's acting was decent, but his character made no sense. He goes from being a mischievous womanizer (though he was a little too girly to make me believe that), to being pathetically obsessed with one girl. It was as if liking Yoo Rin was the equivalent of a lobotomy. I initially liked his character, but by the end his character was no fun at all.
I did like many of the minor characters, and it's always fun to see Ahn Suk Hwan in yet another drama. He & Choi Ran are also in the Hong Sister's latest drama "Big", which I was watching at the same time as this. I liked their romantic storyline, it was cheesy, but cute.
I would call myself a Hong Sisters fan, but I am not a real fan of their first two dramas. This drama relied on so many rom-com clichés, and contrived plot devices. There were some cute funny moments (the accidental kiss), but I didn't find it hilarious, and I think they sometimes relied on too many parodies. Watching all the character "near misses" was starting to drive me crazy, and not in an exciting way. Eventually, almost every character annoyed me, or pissed me off, towards the end. I don't mind a predictable story, but the conflicts became too repetitive, and the characters were too frustratingly stubborn for my taste. I also didn't cry once, I just scowled at the screen. I did like the end scene though. It was a cute surprise.
Perhaps if this were my first drama, my experience would have been different. I think there are so many better rom-com dramas out now, plus this one feels a little too dated (The clothes, the music, the obvious product placements...). The Hong sisters have also gotten much better since then. Overall It was an acceptable rom-com, but I wouldn't recommend it, or rewatch it.
* Sorry fans, I'm just being honest : ) *
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RomCom turned Melodrama bait and switch.
I started this drama hoping for a quick but cute romcom but it quickly turned into mediocre historical melodrama. I wouldn't even mind if the melodramatic plot was over the top and fun but instead, it took itself too seriously and dragged on, and by the last episode I was super bored. I think "The Forbidden Marriage" is a trope fest that doesn't always work. Sometimes it was funny and cute and sometimes it was cringy and forced. It wasn't silly enough to keep me entertained like "Rooftop Prince", and the lead couple wasn't compelling enough for me to root for like "The Red Sleeve". It seems like they borrowed things that worked in other dramas that just didn't work for me here, and just added the occasional immature sexual innuendo for giggles. I would have preferred if they chose to stick with comedy but instead, it's a weird messy melodramatic love triangle mystery.This drama depends a lot on Kim Young Dae's charm to make this love story work but bad writing and stale chemistry made me disappointed with the main couple. Park Ju Hyun was initially funny, and I liked her mischievous spunk, but I just didn't love her as a romantic lead. I can't even totally blame the writing, because there are lots of dramas where the stubborn tyrannical male lead has his heart changed by the unconventional female lead, which I love. In this case, besides the initial teasing that was fun to watch, I felt no spark between the leads. Instead, it was the promise of a love triangle that kept me watching, and Kim Woo Seok as Lee Shin Won is the only character whose feelings felt genuine. I can't even quite call it 2nd lead syndrome because I liked him more than both leads. The lovelorn hero storyline was what kept me watching when the show started to drag and if they got rid of his character I would have dropped this drama for sure. I won't spoil things too much, but things get so predictable after a while it's hard to spoil.
The supporting cast is a mixed bag. Some characters didn't get enough screen time, like the flamboyant psychic played by Choi Deok Moon, and the erotic/romantic writer (which was a cute plot of its own), while the villainous characters got too much screen time, especially in the final episodes. It would be different if they truly took time to establish backstories like So Rang's family dynamic or Lee Heon's first marriage if they were going to go on such a detailed thriller detour. They also did a poor job of establishing the love between the two leads in my opinion. I knew in detail why Shin Won was in love with the female lead but why did So Rang love the king? Just attraction? He was an irrational jerk most of the time. Why did the king really fall for So Rang? Because she catered to him? Because she was "different"? And why did his relationship with the first queen seem so one-sided and even creepy? I can even believe that going through trials is what ultimately brought them together but their confessions and love declarations just felt so cringy. You would think with all the flirtation and sexual references that there would be more chemistry but I could not take them seriously enough to feel anything but awkwardness.
Would I watch this again? No. I was on the fence about dropping it but kept hoping that some of the comedic sparks from the beginning of the drama would come back. Once the drama deviated to melodrama it never quite found consistent humor again. I don't regret watching it, but I wouldn't ask this drama out on a second date.
Overall, I cannot really recommend this drama unless you love anything and everything Kim Young Dae does. If his cuteness is your reason, you will have plenty of it to tide you over. I'll also add a trigger warning for haters of love triangles and unrequited love. If you are hoping for a funny romcom about repressed people starving for love during a 7-year ban on marriage, like I was, be warned that melodrama is on the horizon and it will soon take over completely and turn into a cliché battle over who should be the next Queen. The 12th episode is the most dragged out of all. Instead of closure, it felt like they just kept adding things to fill up the time. Yes, every character gets some kind of closure or a hint at closure, and some of the final moments are cute, but it was too late for me to care. "The Forbidden Marriage" seems like a drama that wasn't a strong enough silly comedy so they kept throwing in sageuk tropes which backfired. Maybe I had too many expectations, wasn't in the right mood, or was too team Shin Won to enjoy this drama as much as others. Consider this a friendly reminder that not every highly-rated drama is for everyone.
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First, I have to say that I was so impressed by UI in this role. There is no sign of a pop persona or cuteness. As Lee Ji An she is equal parts tragic, and bad@ss! Her poker face kept me guessing. Her tears broke my heart. Whether she was the villain or the hero in this story didn't matter to me. She really was a great and intriguing character. She's a survivor, with a huge and understandable chip on her shoulder, and UI did an amazing job.
Ui is matched with Lee Sun Kyun as Park Dong Hoon, who I've been a fan of since Coffee Prince. He is the "Ahjussi" obviously, and perfectly cast as an underdog character who you can't help but root for and crush on. In this role I am reminded of his charm while playing totally realistic and down to earth characters. I will admit he was my main reason for being curious about this drama in the first place, and he didn't disappoint.
The story mainly revolves around the relationship between Park Dong Hoon and Lee Ji An, but do not expect a traditional romance. I was actually afraid that the drama would take that turn, but instead it was truly a story about connecting with someone in a much deeper way. There are suspenseful actions that bring them together initially, and there is great, although often awkward, chemistry between them. By the end it's more about the ways they were able to affect each other's lives, a theme with all of the characters actually, and the quest for personal happiness.
Speaking of the rest of the characters, the entire cast is amazing. As much as I loved Dong Hoon's brothers, and loved to hate the loan shark, and the CEO, I really can't think of one weak character in the entire drama! Even the smallest roles were great! It would be easy to just see these characters as depressing, but it actually became comforting watching how they came together for each other. I also like that the characters were all imperfect, which made them all very relatable, including some of the most villainous characters. Each individual supporting character's story was interesting on it's own, which is a nice bonus to the story overall.
Eventually all the initial suspense in the story does give way to a more melodramatic feel, but the story stays strong until the end. It also feels like the story changes along with the characters, and since this is a character driven drama, it works well!
Would I watch this again? Definitely. Some of the initial intrigue would be gone, but there's enough substance to make the story worth rewatching. I also really enjoyed the soundtrack, and thought it matched the mood of the drama well.
Overall, despite it's often generally somber mood, I really enjoyed this drama a lot. This was a different kind of escapism for me. The kind that made me a little more grateful for the good, and the bad, the grief, the disappointments, the achievements, and the relationships we make in life along the way. I felt very empowered by the grandmother's words in the last episode, and that alone would make me recommend this drama. I also really loved the ending scene. I cried a lot during the last episode, which is a warning for those who don't want to be in their feelings watching a drama, but the tears actually felt healing. If you are looking for a drama with substance, I highly recommend this one. It may not be the genre I normally seek out, but it was exactly the drama I needed to see.
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Gong Hyo Jin and Jo In Sung are romcom MVPs. Hyo Jin is one of my favorites, and has had the good fortune of starring with some truly amazing male leads (including my kdrama baes So Ji Sub & Gong Yoo), but this match manages to rank high even on that list. In the beginning their banter went over my head, but I instantly loved watching them together. The way Jo In Sung would look and smile at her, to their tit for tat moments, made me swoon and cheer them on! Their chemistry was palpable, and their love story felt so real. Their flirting, their irrational fights, their struggle with their personal demons, their struggle to figure out how they fit in each other's lives... This drama manages to take a situation that would probably be a true mess in real life, and turn it into one of my favorite KDrama couples. It's also a mature adult relationship, which gave it an intimacy that many other KDrama romances lack. Yes, this story is primarily a love story, but there's also some suspense, a little melodrama, and a hilarious supporting cast.
Sung Dong Il and Lee Kwang Soo, at least to me, should be considered main characters. That's how important they are to the story. Watching the four of them in that house was awesome. I love the idea of friends who are like family, and who choose to live supporting each other. It's probably not ethical, but you have to throw all ethics away to enjoy this kind of drama... Hey, "It's ok, it's kdrama".
All of the minor characters are also multidimensional, no one is completely good or bad, which makes them feel more realistic and interesting.
I also have to mention Do Kyung Soo, who was so good that he broke my heart a few times as Kang Woo. He had his own great chemistry with Jo In Sung, which really made the character work well.
Even though I thought the main story was excellent, there were a few things that I didn't love, which stopped me from giving it a perfect score.
First, I understood the purpose of the patient stories, and introducing different disorders, but I didn't find them all that interesting. I think some of that is cultural. Some of what triggers the minor (and main) characters just didn't seem like a big deal to me. I could empathize, because the acting was good, but the story line itself still wasn't interesting to me. I did like the overall idea of introducing the disorders specifically, normalizing them like any sickness, and removing the stigma associated with them. It was also not done heavy handedly, which makes it more effective.
The other weak spot for me was Soo Kwang and Oh So Nyeo's relationship. They were great in their roles, but I just didn't like their relationship at all. Even though he was adorkable, he kept giving me dirty older dude vibes. Eventually they grew on me enough for me not to not be annoyed by their scenes, but I still never quite rooted for them. Part of the beauty of the show is that all the love relationships are messy, so it still worked, and that is a large part of the shows appeal.
The direction, I think, was perfect. There are certain scenes that are so well done visually that they were haunting. It's the same writer director team as "Padam Padam..." , and the "That Winter, the Wind Blows", so I am definitely a fan.
The music was great, and not your normal kdrama ost, but worked really well to enhance the story telling.
So would I watch this again? Duh! I knew what would happen, but I was still just as excited watching. Watching this again, like it was the first time, was like knowing a joke's punchline and still finding it completely hilarious. There are psychological elements, and a some twists, but knowing them doesn't ruin the show. I also totally missed the characters at the end, so that's enough of a reason alone to rewatch.
Overall, I think this is a must see drama. It's about how beautiful love can be in spite of major complications, and I loved it from the intriguing first episode to the awesome last episode. If you are in a difficult relationship, it may trigger some feelings, which may trigger some Dramnesia... (which I now suspect was what caused mine lol), but in the end, it's a really inspiring and entertaining story about trying to make relationships with each other work (whether romantic or platonic). If you normally find KDrama romance too cheesy, I think this drama is perfect for you. If you love to squeel at cutesy KDrama romcom moments, I think this drama is perfect for you. If you don't like romance at all, I think this may not be the perfect drama for you, but you should totally watch it anyway. There's a reason why the reviews are so high.
I will be adding it to my favorites list now, so I won't be able to forget it again.
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A comedy-thriller with Seo In Guk? Count me in!
"Café Minamdang" is a kdrama that does double duty. It's a super silly comedy and a revenge thriller centered around the extremely versatile and talented Seo In Guk. He plays an ex-criminal profiler turned conman shaman on a quest to solve his best friend's murder. I am a huge Seo In Guk fan and I love how easily he can go from dark and serious to over-the-top humor. He is perfectly cast as Nam Han Joon and his antics got me hooked from the very beginning. I think the concept is pretty clever too, since most "psychics" are master profilers, but just know that this drama never takes itself too seriously and takes the humor to ridiculous levels.The cast is full of fun characters, but I was biased towards the main trio. Kwak Shi Yang & Kang Mi Na are great as Han Joon's Café Minamdang ride-or-die team and they match his craziness well. Baek Seo Hoo is pretty funny too, or at least cute. I really liked all of the main characters except for one, and sadly that was the FL Oh Yeon Seo as Han Jae Hee. It's not that I disliked her completely. I loved that she was strong and determined, but I hated how frustratingly stubborn she was. It just started to feel one-note for too long. I also didn't feel like she was an even match for Seo In Guk when it came to romance or comedy. There was no chemistry, so even in scenes played up for laughs their romance felt forced. They were decent rivals but any attempt at butterflies fell flat to me. I also couldn't take their character's supposed age difference seriously. She looked older than him to be honest.
Seo In Guk had better chemistry with Kwon Soo Hyun who was great as straight laced and awkward Cha Do Won. I enjoyed their rivalry more than the romance. One thing that everyone did well was balancing the funny moments and the genuine crime-solving moments. The jokes didn't distract from the intrigue, it just kept the story from ever getting too heavy, even during sad moments.
Would I watch this again? I'm not sure. I did enjoy watching it week to week but didn't have the same kind of excitement I had for other on-air dramas I was watching. The story was pretty predictable, but the twists were well written and didn't feel thrown together. If the main romance was stronger I would probably feel differently about rewatching this drama but knowing how each mystery gets solved would take away most of the fun I had watching. I could also watch other dramas to get my Seo In Guk fix, but I admit just watching him outsmart everyone may be entertaining enough if I'm in a certain mood. Knowing certain twists ahead of time may make earlier scenes more interesting duringa second viewing too.
Overall, this is good but not great drama. The crimeand corruption stories get a little convoluted and hard to follow at times but it all makes sense and comes together by the end. The revenge story is less "old boy" vibes and more "scooby doo", but know the subjects touched on are not childish at all... including murder, abuse, & rape. Still, I found this drama to be lite and equally corny and hilarious, so if you're not laughing at the cast's hijinx it will be hard to enjoy this drama. As for me, this drama wouldn't make my favorites list but if there is a season 2 (which is totally possible based on the last episode) I would definitely watch.
I will miss Han Joon's knowing smirk, fan waving, and thinking man pose, at the very least.
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The cast is outstanding, and the reason why the complicated story works so well. Park Bo Young is the most impressive in a lot of ways. She switches from timid to bold believably, which is what makes the love triangle work. She has great chemistry with Jo Jung Suk, which is a huge plus, although I was often annoyed by Seon Woo. The scenes when she aggressively propositions him are hilarious, and a nice change from how these romances usually develop. Those scenes are what convinced me to keep watching.
Many of the supporting cast members are as engaging as the main characters. The bromantical team of Chefs, Bing Go the ghost hunter, Sun Ae's father, Seon Woo's mom, Im Joo Hwan's smile... Still, Kim Seul Gi is my favorite of the main cast. I was rooting for her from the beginning, and she is the show's star in my opinion. She made me laugh out loud, and cry buckets, and I looked forward to her scenes the most.
I had to give this show a high rewatch score, because I am already watching it again. Since I know the story now, there are moments in the beginning that I see differently, and it's making me like the drama even more (Especially the first episode). I became so invested in the characters that I enjoy watching the story again from that perspective.
Overall this drama was a happy surprise. It had elements of two dramas I love ("Pasta" and "Master's Sun") while still being original enough to stand on it's own. There are definitely predictable moments, and filler comedy moments, lots of coincidences, and some over used K Drama standards towards the end, but I was still never bored. The thriller element wasn't the strongest storyline, but it was still good, and certainly entertaining. I was happy with how it all ended too, which is important when you have so many characters that you suddenly care about. I definitely recommend watching this one with an open mind. You may not be into it in the beginning, but if you're like me, you soon won't be able to stop watching it, as if you're... wait for it... possessed.
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The drama within the royal family was entertaining, but many of the palace scenes seemed to drag on way too long. Some of the conversations almost seemed as if they were being spoken in slow-motion. Seeing royal tradition juxtaposed to modern life was interesting, but I would have rather seen more romance, or scheming. I guess I expected more romance, and less time spent on a depressing Cinderella story. It wasn't until episode 13 (my favorite episode) that anything really romantic happened. After a while, watching constant fighting was starting to bore me.
I think I would have liked Goong more if it were shorter, and had a little more romance. I also thought the ending could have been much better, especially yul's ending. I now see how much influence Goong has probably had on other kdrama's that I like, since I kept being reminded of them. Though i'm glad I finally got a chance to watch Goong, I am not sure I will watch this one again.
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Yoo Ah In leads the cast as Han Se Joo, an arrogant, eccentric, and celebrated young writer, and he nails it. He's unrecognizable from who I saw in "Sungkyunkwan Scandal", but that just shows how much hair can make a difference in appearance... but more about hair later. Im Soo Jung plays obsessed Jeon Seol, who is another unique character in her own right. It took a while before I realized who she was, because I don't watch as many Korean movies, so I basically missed her whole career since "A Tale of Two Sisters" (one of my favorite movies), and "I'm Sorry, I Love You". It's nice to see her mature version, and I'm so glad to see her return to dramas for this one. The main trio is then completed by Go Kyung Pyo, who I don't really want to say too much about, so I will just say he continues to never disappoint. The chemistry between these 3 will stay with me for a long time. For romance fans, yes there is romantic chemistry, but it's their friendship that drives the show, and got me in the feels.
The supporting cast is also excellent. Many of the supporting characters help to lighten moments, or serve as comic relief, which they did well. Quite a few of the supporting cast members, like the main trio, also have to essentially play 2 characters, one in the past and one in present. I loved how well the cast played the roles in the past, and how they were similar to the present but distinctly different, making the past scenes as interesting as if I were watching a completely different show without it ever feeling disconnected. I also loved that all of the characters had some depth, even if it isn't always as obvious at first. The only characters I had any issue with, and the only reason I didn't give the cast a perfect 10, is because of Tae Min and his mom. I was underwhelmed by the mom as such a bitter villainess yet forgettable character. She wasn't necessarily bad, I just didn't find her very interesting. I also thought Kwak Shi Yang started to over act a little towards the end of the drama, which started to feel a little comical. He was excellent in his complicated dual roles, for the most part, but in some of the final moments his acting really bothered me.
A lot of what made this drama so haunting to me is it's connection to the past, which is set specifically during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930's. There's a nostalgic feel, as well as a definite patriotic feeling, but without it being too sentimental or corny. It pays homage to the artists and revolutionaries of that time, and you don't have to have any historical knowledge to be touched by it. Also don't be worried that the scenes in the past will be too heady or heavy. Many of my favorite romantic, comedic, and action driven moments happened in the past. The past and present scenes work seamlessly together, and don't feel as forced as it can sometimes feel in other dramas.
You will notice that I don't really have anything really bad to say about this drama, so my criticism will be pretty petty, but I guess worth mentioning (at least for my own amusement). Like wanting to know who was the horrible barber in charge of Yoo Ah In's terrible uneven hair cut. The present day cut was awkward and just kept getting worse with each episode, but meanwhile his past hair was sexy as hell. See? Petty! lol. I also had a problem with Im Soo Jung trying to play so much younger than she is. Don't get me wrong, she looks great, but there's no way she looks younger than the two male leads, and her mom looked like she could be her noona. Petty? Perhaps, but I cant be the only person who thought that, right? lol.
Ok, back to the writing, which I can't praise enough. I just loved how well thought out it all was. It's also the kind of story that with a second viewing would reveal even more connected moments, so of course my rewatch score is a 10. If you start watching and don't get what's happening and why, just trust that it will all be explained, and that some of the most random moments are actually happening for a reason. I was admittedly confused, but instantly hooked, from beginning to end. The ending is also one of the most beautiful ones I've seen in a drama, and made me appreciate the whole story even more. It's also a serious tearjerker, making me cry for a full hour, without being completely sad, but definitely feeling emotional. Even the preview of the last episode made me tear up. That's the power of good storytelling. I'm sure one can find flaws if they wanted to, but there is really too much done right to focus on any of that. The episodes are also very long, but always felt like they went by quickly to me, which is dangerous when binge watching! You could lose a whole day with no problem.
The soundtrack is also perfect. I immediately wanted to listen to it after watching the last episode. The song "Writing our stories" in particular stands out, and will probably make me tear up every time I hear it.
Overall this drama often feels more like a film than a typical drama, and hits the bullseye on so many of the things that make us fall in love with dramas in the first place without losing it's originality, no matter what genre you prefer. I would definitely recommend it highly, especially for those who rarely leave their drama-genre comfort zones. This one has a little something for everyone. Do you love characters falling in love in spite of themselves? Check. Rom-com chemistry? Check. Or do you prefer Bromance? Check. Do you love rivalries and revenge? Check. Do you love mystery thrillers? Supernatural tales that blur reality? Emotional melodramas? LOL moments? Historical references that make you curious about the events and people that inspire them? Butt-kicking Action? Girls who defy the damsel in distress routine? Crime stories? Or just good story telling from start to finish? Well, "Chicago Typewriter" has checks straight down the list!
I'm so glad that people's posts about this show made me curious enough to check it out for myself. It's only fitting that I shout out the writer Jin Soo Wan, who wrote "Kill me, Heal me", a drama that I also rated a 10. I will definitely look forward to anything she writes in the future. If there was ever a drama that made me appreciate writers, down to the hilarious "Misery" references, the hilarious naming of Go Kyung Pyo's character "Yoo Jin Oh", or even the perfect title choice, it's definitely this one! And if you've ever thought about writing this will either inspire you to do just that, or scare you away from the profession completely!
Ok, enough praise! I guess I'm still on a high from watching this! Who knows, I may even start rewatching it again immediately. Yes, it's really is that good.
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I didn't think I would have a problem with the subject matter. I had recently watched the documentary Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, which is a very similar story involving an American Catholic school for the deaf, so I felt prepared. What this film does differently than the documentary, is that it dares to actually show some of that abuse. The images are disturbing, and haunting, and at times it feels almost like it's too much. Still, these scenes made me so angry that the conclusion had a really strong impact on me. Apparently this is a sentiment that was shared by enough Koreans to have the investigation reopened as a result of this film.
Not only does this film deal with the stigma, and cover ups, involved in sexual abuse cases, it also shows how people with disabilities can be completely disregarded, and devalued. This is not a hero story with a happy ending, but rather a story of how everyday heros can choose to positively effect lives, even in the face of an adverse community.
The entire cast is outstanding, particularly the abused kids. Gong Yoo still has his charm, but it's nice to see him in a different kind of role. The film is well paced. It's a tearjerker, without being overly melodramatic or sentimental. The conclusion may not have been what I wanted to see, but it was still oddly inspiring.
I would definitely recommend this as a film that will leave you with something to think about. This may not be something that many people would want to watch again, because of the subject matter, but I can see myself rewatching it in time. This movie does a great job of giving a voice to an often silenced and ignored group. I think the least that can be done, even if it's a little difficult, is that we listen to those voices.
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The title already warns the viewer about what kind of relationship to expect, but it was even worse than I thought. This is sibling rivalry, and jealousy, at it's most toxic. There are some sweet, & amusing, moments, but it's mainly a revenge drama. Those in the mood for comedy should know that Lee Cho in's story is a depressing one.
The reason to watch this is So Ji Sub. He's intense, heartbreaking, charming, and he thankfully likes to linger in the shower ; ) I had no interest in watching an extreme hospital drama, which this show basically is, but he grabbed my interest from the start. As Cho In, he goes through an intense emotional transformation, and the beauty of his performance is the complexity in it. When parts of this drama became a little too over the top for me, So Ji Sub would bring just as much excitement while keeping it grounded in his honest portrayal. From episode 1- 20 he reminded me why he is one of my favorites. But seriously, did they really have to shoot him in the head AGAIN? And that's just the beginning...
I would definitely rate So Ji Sub's acting as a 10, but I had mixed feelings about the rest of the cast.
Shin Hyun Joon as Lee Seon-Woo, plays a worthy evil rival. I blame writers for giving his character barely any room for sympathy, but his performance was strong. I think he occasionally relied too much on wild eyed-stares, which sometimes came across as overacting. Overall I'd still give his performance a 9. He has one scene in particular, with So Ji Sub, towards the end of the series, that was absolutely heartbreaking. Their relationship is the core of this show, so his ability to match So Ji Sub's intensity is a huge plus.
In general, the evil characters are written to be cartoonishly evil, so over acting can' t be blamed on the actors. The biggest victim of this is Kim Hae Sook, who's character only makes sense if she is a violent sociopath. The same goes for Baek Seung Hyun as Choi Chi Soo. Their performances do add to the suspense, but I found their actions too unbelievable, even for K-Drama. They definitely portray characters that you can hate completely, but they were also let off the hook too easily, and way too many times, for my taste.
Out of the supporting cast I loved Lee Cho In's bromance with Oh Kang Chul. They share a lot of great action moments together, and touching bonding scenes. I also love the cute relationship between Drs Kim Hyun Joo & Kim Jin Geun, which added some much needed light moments. The most underrated performance is definitely Jang Yong, who had some great acting moments using just his eyes & finger.
I had mixed emotions about Han Ji Min as Oh Young Ji. I liked her chemistry with So Ji Sub from the start, and that it walked a fine line between flirty, and almost platonic playfulness. Eventually I grew bored with her being wide-eyed, and naive. For a character who was supposed to be so street smart, defected from the North, and survived on her own, she seemed way too dumb. At the same time, her innocence was sometimes cute when she was the victim of Cho In's spontaneous charm, and a few of their romantic moments are worth rewatching. This is also the first time I've seen her have a first kiss scene that didn't completely suck. That must be the power of So Ji Sub! lol.
The most disappointing character to me was Chae Jung Ahn as Kim Seo Yeon. She hit all the emotional notes, and cried very well, but she bored me. This is surprising since, unlike many of the other character's, Kim Seo Yeon was actually written with some depth. Her opening "love" scenes with Cho In felt flat, and lacked any chemistry. Her moments with Seon-Woo were written to move me, but they didn't. He seemed more like her stalker than someone she actually cared about. The fact that I didn't like her character, made the whole love triangle/square storyline a lot less effective for me.
I'm still not sure about recommending this drama or not. As much as I have complained about the writing, I must say that both the direction, and the soundtrack, are great! Fans of suspense may want to check this out, because the excitement over the uncertainty of what will happen next is consistent from beginning to end. Fans of So Ji Sub should definitely watch this because it's imperfections are worth sitting through in order to watch him be awesome for 20 episodes. I admit that I was never bored, but If another actor was in So Ji Sub's place I probably would have dropped it early on. I also can't see myself watching this again, unless I'm in desperate need of a So Ji Sub fix.
Wait, have I mentioned that I really like So Ji Sub? ; p
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Some of the scenarios in the beginning are a little far fetched, but it's kdrama so what do you expect. I laughed out loud & cried as the story progressed. I rewatched certain moments over & over. There is a drastic shift, which is pretty common in KDrama, where the romantic comedy suddenly turns into a tear jerking drama. I definitely had more fun watching the first 11 episodes, but I think there was a pretty seamless transition to the sadder later episodes. I admit, after a rewatch, that some of the moments that broke my heart the first time seemed a little overdone this time, but the acting was never bad. I think overall that learning more about Park Kae In's sad past made the story feel more complete. Some of the final romantic scenes are also a little cheesy, and Jeon Jin Ho becomes super frustrating, but I honestly still loved watching every moment.
I think the whole cast was great! I loved Jo Eun Ji as the bff, and her hilarious relationship with Jung Sung Hwa. I loved how Ryu Seung Ryong's character developed as well. He could have come off as creepy, but instead he was super sweet (err... no pun intended). Kim Ji Suk & Wang Ji Hye were incredibly annoying, but they were supposed to be. I could have skipped through their early storyline though. As for the leads, I really started to relate to quirky Park Kae In, and Son Ye Jin did an excellent job of not overplaying her gullibility and sweetness. As for Lee Min Ho, I haven't been disappointed by a drama with him in it yet. Lee Min Ho fans should definitely see this one, in spite of his high water pants.
I also have to mention the soundtrack, which remains one of my favorites. I still don't get tired of hearing the songs over & over again during episodes "Babo cheoreom..." ; )
I may be biased since this was only the 2nd drama I ever watched, but this is hands down one of my favorites. I decided to rewatch/re-review Personal Preference almost 30 dramas later, to see how it still holds up. It's still one of my top favorites, and still has one of my favorite k-drama first kiss scenes.
I definitely will rewatch this more than once, and I admit that I listen to the soundtrack sometimes because I miss it, lol.
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Flower Boy Next Door is all about unrequited love triangles, and stalkers. Almost every character harbors a one-sided crush for another character. At the center is Go Dok Mi. She is a super emo recluse, who I had a very hard time rooting for, or liking. Eventually we learn about the event that traumatized her, and made her so distrusting of people, but it never quite excused her selfish behavior for me.
For some reason, in spite of her personality, she has two men fighting to win her affection. One is the equally emo Oh Jin Rak, who has been obsessed with her for years. The other is the extremely hyper, über cute, and sometimes annoying Enrique played by Yoon Shi Yoon. Yoon Shi Yoon is the main reason I watched this drama, and he was the highlight for me. He is the glue that holds this KDrama together.
The supporting cast was also pretty entertaining, particularly the the web-toon director and Dong Hoon (my favorite couple), though I am not sure what purpose Chef Watanabe actually served. The character Cha Do Hwi was extremely annoying, so she did a great job. I gave the cast a 7, because I could not find any fault with the acting. They did their best with what they had, which was not much.
The main downfall of this drama is the story, or lack thereof. The love triangles initially were interesting but became predictable, and boring, quickly. Even the big reveal about Dok Mi's past started to annoy me after a while. I wanted to yell "get over it" at the screen so many times. I get that it was a really bad thing for her, but they relied on flashing back to that story a bit too much. Then they tried to throw in a pitiful storyline about video game obsessed fans, but it was too ridiculous to be believed.
Although this is mainly a romance, the main couple was less interesting as time went on. It seemed like such a one-sided relationship. Watching Enrique try to cheer up Dok Mi every episode was really frustrating, and they didn't have an exciting chemistry either. It was a struggle to watch the final episodes. They just seemed to stretch out what was already going to be the obvious conclusion. The cheesy expressions of love didn't help either. At the end they tried to tie up the love lives of each character, and even that was super cheesy and predictable. Again, what was the point of Watanabe?
Overall, I did not like this drama enough to recommend it to anyone. I guess huge fans of the actors will be entertained enough to justify the bad plot. It really was a great start in my opinion, but once the couples became clear, the writer apparently had no clue what to do next. If you think you'll like seeing Park Shin Hye and Kim Ji Hoon play two emotionally detached characters who wax poetic about love, then maybe you'll like this more than I did. If Yoon Shi Yoon's smile is all the entertainment you need, then by all means watch this. I barely made it through the first time, so rewatching this is not an option. Maybe I'd youtube a cute Enrique moment, but that's about it.
For everyone else, don't believe the hype. I'll just pass the advice that I should have heeded myself "don't waste 16 hours of your life".
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Short and Sweet! I'm developing a taste for snack-sized dramas.
"Tastefully Yours" is part of the current trend of short and sweet, heartwarming RomComs about the food industry. Yes, it's full of the basic plot beats you'll expect, but the cast is entertaining and even surprised me with some emotional moments. If you're a fan of romance dramas where enemies turn into lovers, this is a 10-episode version in a classic KDrama style. I appreciated that this drama didn't try too hard to be original, didn't stretch out the story too long, and didn't take itself too seriously. Yes, some of the jokes are corny and some of the tears are melodramatic, but by the end, I was fully invested in the fate of "Jungae".Kang Ha Neul and Go Min Si are definitely an attractive duo, with both actors playing to their strengths. Kang Ha Neul as Han Beom U may play the classic spoiled, arrogant, and ruthless male lead, but he does it with a smiley charm that makes it hard not to find him endearing. Go Min Si as Mo Yeon Ju is cold and stubborn, with an admirable and cool edge, which balances out Beom U's goofy antics. I think they are very cute together, with a sweet chemistry, but don't expect anything intense between them. This drama keeps things very PG. There is way more banter than sparks.
The rest of the cast plays characters that are either quirky, unscrupulous, or a little of both, but the performances made them all feel pretty real and less two-dimensional than the way they were written. One standout example of that to me is Oh Min Ae as Han Yeo Ul. It wasn't until the very end, during a surprisingly tearjerking scene, that I realized how well she played her character all along. What this cast does very well is make this simple, silly story work. That's harder than they make it look.
Would I watch this again? Surprisingly, yes. It's far from perfect, and there are parts of the story that I liked a lot less than others, like the sudden second lead storyline, but the pace of the drama is quick enough that I wouldn't be tempted to skip anything. If I were in the mood for a quick romcom fix, I could easily binge this in a day or 2. There aren't any memorable rewatchable scenes, but there is a lot of food porn, and being a Kang Ha Neul fan is enough to keep me engaged. I guess watching him on screen is like comfort food to me. If it's so bad, why does it taste so good?!
Overall, this drama may be made from stolen recipes of KDramas past, but it was tastefully done. If you're looking for a more filling drama, I get why this may be disappointing to watch, but I'm starting to like snack-sized dramas more and more.
I would compare this to fast food take-out more than gourmet fine dining, so deciding to watch should depend on what you have an appetite for. The overall message is that food is about more than ingredients and acclaim, and is instead about the thought and heart behind making it. That is certainly not a new concept, and the message is pretty heavy-handed, but by the end, it totally got me straight in the feels.
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