1
2
1
Moving. Beautiful. Perfect.
I started watching this one skeptical about seeing such great reviews, and I'm so happy I did, even though my tears have barely dried as I type this. This is one of the most emotionally moving dramas I have ever watched. I didn't trust the high ratings and reviews, and never saw or heard of the original Japanese version, so I had no real expectations. "Mother" is listed as a suspenseful melodrama about an abused child and her unlikely substitute mother/kidnapper, but don't consider that a spoiler because this drama is so much more than that. This drama deeply explores motherhood through so many brilliant characters and their interconnected stories. The title may be simple, but it's perfect. This drama goes in on what it means to be a mother.One of my favorite things about this drama was watching such a deep connection develop between the two leads. Heo Yool is absolutely amazing and it's hard to believe that someone so young could give such a strong performance. Aside from her terrible wig in the early episodes, her performance is flawless. She's definitely a young actress to watch! Even her stares were perfect. She's smart, brave, wise beyond her years and so endearing that Kang Soo Jin's actions seem completely justified. Lee Bo Young's portrayal of Soo Jin was equally powerful as I watched her transform from extremely guarded and cold to a woman filled with so much compassion I couldn't help but root for! They worked so well together, and even when their actions were frustrating or heartbreaking I fell in love with their relationship.
The rest of the cast is also amazing, and there are so many great characters. The beauty of them all, I think, is that so many of them are flawed/imperfect. There are definitely some clear villains and heroes, but the villains were at times sympathetic and the heroes challenged what is considered moral/right. There were also characters who blurred the lines between good and bad by doing what was morally right but still seeming to be on the wrong side. These nuances made the story feel more real. The writing and performances in this drama keep this story engaging from the start. Yes, there's some traditional suspense, but the true suspense is in seeing how all of these character's lives will be changed by this non-traditional mother and daughter relationship. Yes, every single person in the cast is that good, but I still have some favorites worth mentioning. Lee Hye Young as Yeong Shin was a character I didn't get at first but became one of the characters I was moved by the most! It was great to see her as not just the bad mom stereotypical role I'm used to seeing her in (because she's so good at it). Next, there's "Dr. Sexy" aka Lee Jae Yoon as Jin Hong. One of my only complaints about this whole drama is that again he is the ultimate second lead even when there is no romantic lead to compete with. He was a great addition regardless. I also have to applaud Son Seok Koo as Lee Seol Ahk. He truly made me frightened and disgusted yet still managed to give his character depth and I even empathized with him a little. Even without the content ever being too graphic be gave me chills.
It feels bad to exclude some of the other great performances, but there really are just so many.
Besides the performances, the storytelling is also top-notch. The writing is so good, although I have no idea how much is similar to the original. The cinematography is breathtaking whether an intimate scene, a suspenseful moment, or gorgeous scenery, every image seemed perfectly crafted. I was drawn in completely by the first episode, but it just kept getting better and better. There was also never a moment that felt like filler, you can tell careful attention was paid in telling this story. Each episode built on the last and kept me engaged whether with it's crime drama style cliffhangers or engrossing conflicts between the characters. There were still some obligatory product placement moments but even those were handled without being distracting. I was very satisfied with the ending too. The writing, the directing, the acting are all easily at 10.
Even the music is great, just not memorable enough to justify an all 10s review... but so close!
Would I watch this again? Without a doubt. With such attention to detail, it's the perfect drama to rewatch. Yes, the suspense over what happens next will be gone, but not the emotions the story provokes. Let me warn you this drama definitely had me deep in my feelings. I cried so much during the final episodes that I should have been dehydrated. I also loved that the ending was simple yet poignant. Watching the journey of Yoon Bok and Soo Jin wasn't just sad, it was also extremely inspiring which is another good reason to rewatch.
"Mother" is certainly not a lighthearted drama, but in so many ways it was heartwarming. I will never think of motherhood the same way again. This is far from the Kdrama romances and comedies I'm usually drawn to, but with a story this good I'd recommend it to anyone no matter what genre they usually watch. The themes in this drama are definitely heavy and dark, exploring extreme abuse and neglect, but without being gratuitously graphic or too melodramatic. Prepare for it to rain from your eyeballs throughout this drama, so have plenty of tissues nearby. I hope this doesn't deter people from watching. The ratings aren't just hype, there is not one bad review for a reason.
Now I definitely feel compelled to watch the original as well, but on its own, this stands as one of my favorite dramas of all time. It also made me extremely grateful for my mother and all of the mother figures in my life.
Was this review helpful to you?
This show is not your standard romcom formula... the kind where most of the focus is placed on 2 characters, and the rest of the cast revolves around them. The center of the show is Soo Kyung, a bitter divorced woman living alone in an apartment complex, but it's also about all of the characters in her life... her coworkers, her bff, and most importantly her neighbors and her adorable dog. The story has a true ensemble feeling, where I actually cared about what was going on with all of the characters. The more I got to know them, the more I loved the show. There are no weak links, including the kids, and yes, even the dog (one of the show's best characters imo). So, why no perfect acting score? Well, because there are a couple of incidental characters that were too bad to ignore, and some really corny moments where the actors have to play up the comedy a bit too much for my liking.
This drama may be Soo Kyung's world, but she is certainly not my favorite of the bunch. She was even sometimes a bit annoying. Yoon Doo Joon as Dae Yeong is what drives the show. He's such an interesting character, and his weirdness, charm, and food rants made it easy for him to steal any scene he is in. Another scene stealer worth mentioning is Lee Do Yeon as Attorney Oh. It really bothers me that her looks are the constant punchline, but I think she took a role that could have been really superficial, and painful to watch, and made her truly funny. She's the quintessential character actress, and although I've seen her in bit parts before, in this show she shines. There's also super cute Yoon So Hee, who I think is worth mentioning. Even her sickeningly cute character has enough depth to make her much more than the stereotype suggests. Unfortunately all of the depth went into the characters, and none went into the plot.
The general story is... cute... and was engaging enough to hold my interest. 3 single neighbors becoming good friends is the basic premise, while loneliness and isolation being major themes. There's a little bit of romantic drama, and the obligatory love triangle, but don't expect too much focus on romantic moments. There is also a random murder mystery inserted, which I don't think worked. It gave the characters something to do, but it's hard to take a scary murder plot seriously in a show this silly. All that to say, if you're looking for an intriguing plot, this show doesn't have much to offer.
Then of course, as the title suggests, in each episode the characters have to find a reason to eat an obnoxious meal. I felt gluttonous just watching. I'm talking extreme close ups, and at least 5 whole minutes of lip-smacking, slo-mo chewing, and watching them eat food like they might actually reach an orgasm mid bite. This is the part that made me avoid this show for so long, but it ended up being one of the parts I anticipated the most in each episode. There was just something fascinating about watching food being enjoyed this much. I also felt a little like a food tourist, since not every dish was familiar. I even liked watching them eat foods that I hate, and I wasn't disgusted. Yes, sometimes I had to press pause to raid my fridge while watching, but it was less about making me hungry, and more about being inspired to appreciate food this much. I think it also makes you appreciate the company you keep when eating food.
Would I watch this show again? Maybe. I can see the appeal of revisiting these characters, but I should also confess that I've already started watching Let's Eat 2. You can say that I was hungry for more *groan* Sorry, I could not resist.
Overall, This show was easy to binge watch, and what it lacked in plot, it made up for in unique characters, laughs, and foodie moments. I'd say it's definitely worth giving it a chance, and I say that as a person who generally hates food centered shows. There's also some hidden depth underneath all of the silliness, which I appreciated, with a nice resolution at the end that got me a little bit in the feels.
I may be late to the table, but I'm glad I finally decided to watch. Sometimes it's good to try something new, that you may not think will suit your taste. It may not be joining my list of favorites, but it turns out that this show was exactly what I was craving.
Was this review helpful to you?
This is the third drama that I've loved Park YooChun in, and I finally had to give him a spot on my favorites list for it. He is super adorable in this role - awkward yet charming, and he got me addicted to the show pretty much instantly. Some call it bad acting, but I say it was adorkable. It helped that he had great flirty chemistry with Shin Se Kyung. The scenes between these two are super corny, and extra cheesy, but in a way that I like. I also liked the idea that they were two freaks of nature fated to find each other, which added another cute element to their relationship. I've never seen Shin Se Kyung in a drama before, and initially found Oh Cho Rim to be a little annoying, but she grew on me quickly, and suddenly I couldn't help but root for her. She also made her unusual gift seem perfectly plausible, which made the whole thing more believable.... even when the script was definitely unbelievable.
The real stand out performance of this drama is Nam Gung Min. I really loved his character, and loved all the subtle nuances he brought out while playing Chef Kwon Jae Hee. I remember him playing such a great complicated character in "Can you hear my heart", and his performance in this was even better. I would also like to applaud his shirtlessness, and the tightness of his pants... who knew he was so well rounded?!! (pun definitely intended - that booty tho) I would love to see him in more dramas (shirt not required).
The investigative team, Cho Rim's BFF, and the rest of the supporting cast were great, and memorable. Some of the acting gets a little cheesy at times (the acting troupe - ugh), but that's mostly because of the writing style. The cops also come across as idiots most of the time, even more than in other dramas, but I liked their characters enough that it didn't matter too much.
The writer basically wrote a comedic romance between two misfits, that gets intercepted by a serial killer case. The story is unique, and although it's semi-predictable, and relies on some overused kdrama tropes, it kept me intrigued. I liked how all the main characters has an unusual connection to the 5 senses. The mystery element made me super eager to watch every episode, especially with cliff hanger endings making me always wanna watch "just one more" episode. All the episodes flew by for me. I easily finished this drama in 3 days, without any real boredom. There were a few moments of flashback overload, and cutesy dream sequences, but It was incorporated well.
The graphics/efx, the scent graphic animations in particular, were cool, but very literal, so it added some extra cheesiness.
Also, are Korean's really that shallow? How does a green eye make you a monster? I know more than one person with one blue eye, and they were always considered cool. I guess it adds to the drama, but geez!
I though the soundtrack was great, a little literal, but had a lot of catchy songs.
The product placement was a bit OD, particularly the Samsung moments. It was so hilariously obvious that it kinda added to the comedy of the show.
My last, and biggest complaint, would be about the outfits. Who ever was in charge of wardrobe needs to find a new career. Some of the outfits were distractingly bad, but I digress...
Now that I know the story, I'm not sure this would be as exciting if I decided to rewatch, but there were definitely some cute scenes that I would watch again.
Overall this is a consistently entertaining drama from beginning to end. I don't think it had enough of a wow factor to become a favorite, but I liked it much more than I expected. If you are willing to embrace KDrama logic, you will like it more. If you like chemistry that gives you the butterflies feeling, I think this drama delivers. I would recommend this drama to anyone looking for some escapism, and who can handle the cheese.
Watching this drama just makes sense... (sorry, I couldn't resist)
Was this review helpful to you?
First, I seriously heart Shin Min Ah. She's beautiful, and confident, and my ideal anti-damsel in distress. This makes her perfect to play Arang, a ghost who knows how to fend for herself, and is determined to solve the mystery of her death. I loved her after watching My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, and this character has similar qualities. She is matched with Lee Joon Gi, who I've never seen (Yes, I've never seen Iljimae), but they are pretty much a match made in heaven (pun intended). I was really impressed by him, and his throat clearing became my weakness. Their chemistry is amazing, their banter is super cute, and they look great together. Their relationship is definitely my favorite part of the drama, but the drama offers so much more.
The rest of the cast is filled with interesting characters. Kwon Oh Jung as Dol Soe is the best side kick ever, and perfectly matched with Hwang Bo Ra as the partially phony shaman Bang Wool - they were too cute, and their flirting was perfect comic relief. The supernatural characters were interesting. The villains had depth, although Kim Yong Gun was perfect at being absolutely evil. I was especially impressed with Kang Moon Young, who's bad plastic surgery (possibly mean, but true) boosted her creepiness, but she also played the role extremely well. There were no weak links in the cast, which helped make everything believable.
The story is pretty epic. It was mostly interesting, and filled with mystery, and twists, and just enough tragedy to tug at my emotions, but there is a point in the plot where things start to drag. The first time I stopped watching around episode 12, and now I know why. I was absolutely hooked and eager to watch the next episode until about then. Then the plot started to stall/lag a little. It's not that it was boring, not exactly, but I just became less eager to watch the next episode. There's also a point where characters, Arang in particular, started to frustrate the hell out of me. The story eventually ends, resolving every complicated plot point in a coherent way, which is worthy of praise, but I still never regained the excitement I had in the beginning. At least I think it was all resolved. I still may be confused about some parts honestly, but it felt resolved to me.
As much as I admired the cast, directing, and writing, I also have to applaud the soundtrack, and the costumes! I loved that the soundtrack. The soundtrack not only mixed genres well, but also incorporated the stars well... Lee Jun Ki's "One Day" is definitely swoon-worthy. I also don't normally pay attention to the costumes too much, even in sageuks, but I thought these were particularly good. I loved the ghost tattoo/mark, loved that each character had a signature look, and was particularly in love with Sato's hat!
Overall, I would definitely recommend this one. It may not make my favorites list, but it really has so many great elements that make it a kdrama classic. I even felt myself grateful that it was 20 episodes long, because around episode 16 I still wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to the characters. I could totally see myself watching this again too, the same way I would reread a good fairytale. It's certainly a memorable, and unique drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
I loved the premise, a reality game show about greed with a psychological twist, which was definitely intriguing. Plus the opening scene is filled with suspense, and made me like Lee Sang Yoon from the start. If you like clever scenarios, and brain teasers, this is the perfect drama for you. In fact, most of the episodes focus on the game, various "what would you do" scenarios, and examines how the contestants play it, but there is also a general plot for those less into the game itself.
The story really revolves around Nam Da Jung, a super gullible girl with a selfless heart. Kim So Eun does a great job of playing her without making her too frustrating to watch (which was hard because I hate doormat characters). She's wide eyed, and trusting to a fault, which is the perfect opposite to Lee Sang Yoon as Ha Woo Jin. Woo jin is more my style, incredibly clever, and not easily fooled. They had a great chemistry as partners, but don't get too excited about any real romance, because it's not that kind of drama.
The supporting cast is filled with memorable characters who you may love one episode and hate the next (then love again lol). All the characters are meant to be archetypal, but some minor characters came across a little too stereotypical, which is why I gave the cast a 9 out of 10.
The star of this show, to me, is definitely Shin Sung Rok. He is a perfect villain, the kind I secretly root for. His expressions creeped me out without being campy. He was realistically diabolical, which made him even scarier. He was my absolute favorite character, and I think he had the best story. Anyone who liked "You Who Came from the Stars" should know that he knows how to play duplicitous bad guys VERY well.
Aside from watching the game progress, which is exciting, there is the story of the characters chosen to participate, and this is where the show lost some points with me. This drama really knew how to build up my interest, but by the end I knew the supposed reason behind the contestants being there, and why the game existed, yet I wasn't too impressed with the answer (all of THAT because of THAT? Really??!). This made me start to lose interest as the show went on, and underwhelming secrets were revealed. If it was the usual 18 episodes I may have even dropped it. Still I liked the characters and the game dynamics enough to keep watching. The length also makes me more likely to rewatch, to see if I'd feel differently the 2nd time, or if I missed something in the first viewing.
Overall, I would recommend "Liar Game" to people like me who may need a break from the heart tugging "feels" type of drama for something a little more "left-brain" friendly. I know I picked apart the plot, but there are more than enough things that worked well to make this show worth watching. The end also seemed to hint at a possible second season, and if I told you I'm not interested at all in watching it (even with Lee Sang Yoon's terrible hair choice), I'd be lying.
Was this review helpful to you?
I loved the entire main cast of this drama, but IU's character is so amazing that I became a fan from the moment she appeared on the screen. Yes, I've liked her in other dramas (especially in My Mister), but in this role, she is not only a bad@ss, and funny (I loved her sarcasm), but she had an elegance that was epic and even regal! I also love a good villain and Man Wol was the perfect balance of heroine and villainess which made me never quite sure what she would do. She is matched with the super talented Yeo Jin Goo as way too empathic hotelier Goo Chan Sung, who I thought was a good match, but I admit that there were moments when he seemed a little out of his league with her, but that also worked for their dynamic in the story. He mostly plays the straight man, which I'm sure isn't easy to do in such an over the top drama, but he has the right kind of likable innocence to make him perfect for his role too. As far as romance, it definitely plays a large part in the main story, but it's pretty platonic. Their chemistry is basically some cute flirting, funny banter, and eating so don't get your hopes up beyond that.
I also have to mention the rest of the hotel staff Bae Hae Seon, Shin Jung Keun, P.O, and Mina. Instead of just being comedy relief, these characters each have strong stories of their own, and by the end, I became attached to each of them. Then there are the flashback sequences, the stories of the hotel guests, poor rich Sanchez, The Grim Reaper, and of course Seo Yi Sook as the many faces of Ma Go Shin... and every single person in the cast is great! With a story this over the top it can be hard to make certain moments not feel too silly to be believed but they really pulled it off. The fun visuals also helped. Many of the stories are light horror stories, or are mysteries that need to be solved, but mostly centering around revenge or longing. I unexpectedly connected emotionally to a few of the stories. Maybe it's because death is a touchy subject for me, but I also think it's because the writing in each episode was good, and made me think about how precious, and sometimes cruel life can be. So keep this in mind if you have recently experienced a loss. This show may be comforting in some ways, but it may also be too much to handle.
The only reason I gave the overall story a 9 instead of a 10 is because some of the explanations and resolutions seemed convoluted. The overall story is so ambitious that I think they sometimes missed the mark in tying loose ends in the story. The last episode is a perfect example of that. I loved most of the last episode, which resolved things so beautifully in so many ways and had me in tears throughout, but in the final moments, I was just left scratching my head. It didn't make me like the drama any less. I'd rather watch an imperfect but original drama like this than a predictable and boring drama.
Would I watch this again? Yes. I know a lot of people seemed to want a second season (Oh, make sure you keep watching past the credits), but I'd rather just watch this again. It may seem less mysterious with a second viewing, but maybe I'll catch some things that I missed the first time.
Overall I liked this drama a lot. It's not going to make my favorites list, but it's certainly one of the most memorable dramas I've seen in a while. I usually don't like dramas that focus on random side stories too much, but I guess these stories are my taste (I admit Halloween is also my favorite holiday), and I loved the repeated theme of making peace with the past at the end of life. It's also surprisingly lighthearted considering there are so many dark aspects to this drama. Think of it more like an old school fairytale and you will have a better idea of what to expect. It really is a beautiful world, full of amazing imagery (That bridge!) and a gorgeous hotel (I really wish it was real!), so the director definitely deserves praise for that. I also love that it all centers around such a strong female character, and her amazing wardrobe! Seriously, every single outfit deserves applause! This is not your average ghost story, and even if I loved The Hong Sisters Master's Sun more (So Ji Sub has A LOT to do with that though), I understand why this drama has so many fans! I recommend adjusting expectations and giving this drama a chance. Who knew that a drama about death and deep resentment could be so cute?
Was this review helpful to you?
Forgive me, it's been a while since I finished it, but it left such a strong impression that I think I can review it fairly.
First, I loooooved the two leads. Lee Sung Kyung as Kim Bok Joo is perfect! She's charming, easy to relate to, and root for, and seemed so authentic. She's matched with Nam Joo Hyuk who is nothing like I expected him to be. Instead of being the normal arrogant athlete, he is just extremely playful, and was super easy to sympathize with. It was awesome to watch their story together unfold as they become good friends, then much more.
There are lots of great supporting characters too. At the top of that list is Kim Bok Joo's crew of BFFs. They were hilarious, and fun, even at their silliest. I also love a crew that is so not cool that they are extremely cool... SWAG! Joon Hyeong's bestie was pretty funny too, and I liked that the bffs had a cute storyline of their own.
Of course the supporting character MVP in my book is the king of second leads Lee Jae Yoon! He is so good at being crush worthy, and making a viewer really reconsider what's so great about the male lead anyway. He never disappoints, and he's no different here. He also always manages to play an interesting character, and never just rests on being eye candy... delicious eye candy! *swoon*
I can go on and on about the supporting cast being great... her dad, her uncle, his parents, the coaches, the woman with the futile crush... but the only character which just didn't work for me was Kyung Soo Jin as the ex with issues. Not only did she seem out of place playing a student (looking much older than the others), her character was also uselessly emo, and clingy, which made her uninteresting. It seemed like she was only there to cause conflict and then she faded into the background. I honestly don't think her character was even necessary.
I spent a lot of time talking about characters and not the plot because there isn't much to the overall plot. This is one of those dramas where you like the characters so you are satisfied just watching what goes on in their lives without needing a strong plot. That also makes the rewatch value high for me, because I was watching for the performances, not really to see what would happen next. Joon Hyeong does have a pretty emotional story, but there is still no major plot that drives each episode, just the awesomeness of the world of Kim Bok Joo and friends.
Music... Hmm... I can't remember the soundtrack at all.
I really recommend this one for viewers who like strong (literally) and interesting female leads. It's a great coming of age story, with a romance that is solid, and kinda innocent, but not too juvenile to take seriously. If you're not a huge fan of school dramas, like me, this may be the one that changes your mind. I will file this under super cute dramas that exceeded my expectations. I'm glad I gave it a chance! Swwwwaaaaag!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
I gave the story a 4 because the premise is completely ridiculous (even for KDrama). The fact that an obsessed fan girl can transfer to a school in a foreign country, and change her gender, without her family being aware, is already hard to believe. What makes it worse is that at no point does she ever look, or act, like a boy. She basically gets a hair cut, and that's it. No one ever seriously questions her, even though at some points it looked like she was wearing lipstick. Then, to top it off, everyone who finds out helps this obsessed stalker, so she doesn't deal with much consequence for any of her actions. The story plays things extremely safe, which ends up being very predictable, and sometimes boring.
I had no problem accepting the girl convincing people she is a guy premise in You're Beautiful, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, or Coffee Prince. I loved all 3. Perhaps Sulli is not a strong enough actress to play a convincing guy, but it's like she didn't even bother to try. I know korean flower boys can appear feminine, but not THAT feminine, Geez!
I thought the overall acting in this was ok, but not great. The characters were cute, but there was no real depth in any of the performances. Sulli & Minho looked cute together as a couple, but didn't necessarily have great chemistry. Lee Hyun-woo was by far my favorite. I cared more about him than the two main leads combined. His smile made up for some of the dull moments.
I can't see myself rewatching this because there weren't any memorable, or stand out moments. As far as romance goes, it was sweet, but a little too juvenile for my taste. The mood of the drama is lighthearted throughout, even during the sadder moments, so I had no real emotional reaction to anything. I was never really excited for the next episode, because I pretty much knew what was going to happen next (even without knowing the Manga/previous versions). The end felt rushed, but it was all so obvious that it almost didn't matter.
This is definitely catered to a young, KPop fangirl audience, and so is the soundtrack. I would also recommend it to any fan of romance who just wants to watch something light, and cute. This show definitely recycles what has worked in other shows, in a way that does work. I was not particularly impressed with To The Beautiful You, but I admit I was still entertained.
Was this review helpful to you?
There are plenty of moments, specifically Yun Yu Seon & Sung Dong Il's romance, that offer some ridiculous comic relief. Sometimes I had a hard time following how the mythology of the gumiho's story linked to Park Dong Joo character, but that didn't stop me from being entertained by his manipulation. I'm sure there were flaws in the Gumiho story, but it really didn't matter to me. I also absolutely hated Park Soo Jin's character, which means she played her well.
This is one of my favorite dramas so far, so I definitely recommend it, and will rewatch it. The song "Fox Rain" is now one of my absolute favorite kdrama ost songs, and whenever I see a sunshower I can't help but sing it in my head.
Don't watch on an empty stomach, or you will probably start to crave beef.
Was this review helpful to you?
This is definitely not a Rom-Com.
I'll start this by saying that Jeon Yeo Bin is definitely the reason I decided to watch this movie. I was going through withdrawals waiting for the next episode of "Vincenzo" to come out when Netflix's suggestion that I may like this finally got to me. Extremely violent crime/action films aren't usually my go-to genre but the trailer was intriguing. I was also excited to see Yeo Bin in a different role and this confirmed her status as a new favorite of mine for sure. She and the rest of the cast are amazing in this, they made this wild ride of a story super compelling and more than extreme stylized violence, and revenge clichés.The most important point that needs to be made upfront, without spoilers, is that this is in no way a romcom or a romantic movie... at all. I say this only because the title and promotional photos seem to give off that impression. I think the purpose is to give the impression of dark things under the surface in a beautiful relaxing setting but this story is pretty brutal from beginning to end. Trigger Warning... literally... because I know Korea isn't known for epic gunfights but this has a lot, A WHOLE LOT, of gun violence in it. The violence is also not subtle, so be aware of this if you are squeamish at the sight of blood.
As a story, I think this is extremely well done. It centers around Uhm Tae Goo as Park Tae Goo (guess he was made for the role lol), a high-level gangster who gets caught in between a power grab with an opposing boss wanting him to change sides. As expected with a gang-themed story there is revenge, betrayal, and ruthless bad guys. What Tae Goo does so well is he brings such humanity and hurt to the character that I was immediately sucked into his struggle. Then he forms an odd connection with Jeon Yeo Bin as Jae Yun, and although I definitely did say this is not a romance, there is still a kind of chemistry between them that works so well. Jae Yun is such a great character, and I was shocked at how different and equally impressive Yeo Bin was as a completely different female lead. Once Jae Yun is introduced she shares the lead status and becomes just as intriguing as the main male lead, not just the girl sidekick (which I appreciate). In fact, she steals many scenes and stands strong among a predominantly male cast without having to play up being sexy, or super fragile.
The rest of the cast is filled with familiar faces in ways I haven't really seen before. Like Cha Seung Won, who although his charm is pretty much the same as it always is, there is an extra sinister edge to Director Ma. I liked the idea that none of the gangsters seemed like caricatures to me. Even characters with no real redeeming qualities had some depth. I also liked that there really are no true good guys in this story which gives this film license to reach such a disturbing climax... and yes, I did found the end disturbing, but I felt like it also ended perfectly.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. More than once. I already did. For me, the violent scenes can be hard to watch, but the dynamics between the characters and the performances make my rewatch score high. The story isn't very complicated either, or plot twist-ridden, but the pace of the story is so great, and so much of the suspense in this is waiting for the inevitable to finally happen. About halfway into the movie both leads make choices that seal their fate and the suspense is built on that. It's hard to speak about specific scenes without spoilers, but watching certain scenes again after knowing how the story ends, made me like this film even more.
Overall, the amount of violence may understandably keep some viewers away, but if you're open to a compelling story and can appreciate a movie that's dark without breaks for comedy (beyond a few random jokes) or romance, there is a lot to like about this movie. There are also a lot of great action sequences for those afraid that this movie is slow paced and moody all the way through. The movie is also beautifully shot in spite of the ugliness it portrays. I do think Jeon Yeo Bin is a true star in this role, and I can't wait for whatever she is in next, including the next episode of Vincenzo. This movie was a not so pleasant pleasant surprise. Thanks Netflix, you were actually right. :)
Was this review helpful to you?
The one thing this drama definitely has going for it is that it is a memorable story full of shocking elements that aren't afraid to get very dark and twisted. The problem I had is that the melodrama is super sensationalized and completely unrealistic, so I had no emotional connection to any of it. It also ambitiously packs a lot of plot into 11 episodes, so the story felt rushed to me. I guess that's good if you want a quick binge-able story, but I felt like I was impatiently waiting for the next plot twist instead of caring about what was happening, or about any of the characters. So even though this drama felt rushed there were also a lot of moments where the story seemed to drag and felt slow paced. I felt myself getting easily distracted during some episodes too... especially when Yuko was rambling on about love and birds.
Usually, interesting characters are enough for me to forgive a rushed story, but I thought the characters were even more disappointing than the story. The 2 male lead are the only actors who I thought were good. Kimura Takuya is great as Ryo, who I would call an apathetic gigolo. I expected his character to be much more intense, but I found him to be mostly cool and indifferent. I also find it hilarious that both he and Seo In Geuk are Scorpio men... of course, they'd have to be to play a role this mysteriously charming. Akashiya Sanma is also good as Dojima Kanzo, who's character I didn't really like or sympathize much with (he was just too smarmy for my taste), but he played him really well. I like his take on the classic sarcastic and taunting detective role, and he and Takuya played well off of each other.
Unfortunately, I thought all of the female characters were pretty awful. Every significant female role seemed irrationally emotional, super immature, extremely needy, jealous and possessive, and one insult away from a situation worthy of the TV show "Snapped". Not even the older officer came across as mature or rational. This is disappointing since women are such a big part of this story, and I would have liked it much more if they were written better, especially by a female writer (c'mon Kitagawa Eriko, are all women this man crazy in your world?!!). Many of the characters, in general, were not very likable, or relatable, which is interesting in some ways but made it harder for me to empathize with any of them. Fukatsu Eri as Yuko was the biggest disappointment because of how annoying I found her to be, and how little sense her actions made to me. I also didn't feel much chemistry between Yuko & Ryo, contrary to what other reviewers have said, so the ending had much less of an impact on me.
Would I watch this again? Probably not, but it's so short, and the story is so out there, that it may be worth a second viewing at some point. It was mostly my curiosity after watching the remake that made me want to watch this version in the first place. Now that I know the differences and similarities I'm not sure if I would be interested enough to want to watch all 11 episodes again. I also didn't feel hooked on the story the way I expected to be, so watching Ryo's random hookups, the even more random violence, and the detective chain smoking through every scene probably wouldn't be much of an incentive.
Although the music in this drama is pretty sparse, I did like the use of the song "Smile", especially at the very end. However, The ending did feel much longer than it needed to be, and wanting an already short drama to end sooner is not a good thing.
Overall, I know that as much as I loved the remake, this version is the foundation for a lot of what made that drama great, yet I still wasn't as impressed as I wanted to be. Maybe I would have felt differently about it if I saw this version first, but I have no doubt that I still would have preferred the remake. So if you're like me, and just finished wiping your tears over watching Moo Young & Jin Kang, and ended up here for the original story of Ryo & Yuko, my advice is to adjust your expectations for a retro melodrama that is heavy on the shock value vs a thriller with a more romantic focus. I didn't walk away feeling any deep emotions or having a life-altering perspective on life and love, but I'm glad I got to see for myself what inspired this classic drama to be chosen for a remake in the first place.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I'm not even sure where to start with this drama! This is my first time watching a K-Drama that is strictly a mystery/thriller, a genre I am generally a fan of (no comedy, no romance, no box of tissues necessary). I had no idea what to expect, but it definitely turned out to be a weird one. The town of Achiara is chock full of crazy, and dysfunction, which was entertaining to watch, but also completely ridiculous, and kinda confusing. It's very hard not to reveal any spoilers but highlights include family secrets, crazy town folk, sickness, perverts, murder, corruption, betrayal, messages from beyond the grave, the worst moms ever, lots of plot twists, and lots of slapping.The story's main character, Han So Yoon, is equal parts clever hero, and gullible idiot. We learn about the town through her "canadian" outsider eyes, and her inability to mind her business where her sister is concerned. Moon Geun Young does a good job, but her character also often made me want to reach through the screen and shake her. The rest of the actors were fun to watch, but the acting was very over the top, and hard to take seriously at all, so I have to give the acting a 7. Shin Eun Gyeong's hysterics as Yoon Ji Sook were more funny than heartbreaking. Yook Sung Jae is super adorbs as the rookie officer. Jang Hee Jin gives a lot of great attitude faces as Kim Hye Jin. Choi Jae Woong's role was... interesting. I can go on and on for way too long about all the characters in Achiara, but my two favorites were the rebellious Seo Yoo Na, and the duplicitous Kang Jo Hee.
I also gave the story a 7, because even though I was hooked by the first episode, the crazy story line was hard to follow, and even harder to believe. In the beginning the revelations seemed redundant, but towards the end the twists just kept coming. I will also admit that, due to cultural differences, many things that the townsfolk were scandalized by didn't seem like such a big deal, so the reactions always seemed super melodramatic. As for the ending, it does a good enough job of pulling all the chaos together, and I was not disappointed. I was still confused about a lot of things though, so that would be my only reason to re-watch any part of this drama. There are also quite a few plot holes, so maybe re-watching it won't help.
Overall, I can't recommend this drama unless you are really in the mood for a story crazy enough to make you keep watching. Not knowing what's going to happen next is it's greatest appeal, which makes it easily marathon-able. However, if you think the first episode is way too overdramatic, don't bother continuing, because the show is just getting warmed up.
Was this review helpful to you?
I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch an action based drama when I started this one, but each episode ended with such great cliff hangers that I couldn't help but become a fan. The story had so many great twists that I wasn't bored once while watching. The cast was great! Kim Sang Joong is amazing as the father who raises him for revenge. Kim Mi Sook broke my heart as his mom. Lee Joon Hyuk was good because he was so annoying, and frustrating to watch as the prosecutor. Park Min Young was cute as City Hunters love interest, but she started to become less interesting during the last episodes. As an ensemble the cast was top notch.
I would recommend City Hunter to anyone looking for a highly addictive drama. I don't know that it would be as exciting when rewatched since suspense is such a big part of the story. For those who are worried about too much action, there are also many cute (though typical) romantic moments, and some humor. The one horrible thing about City Hunter is, in spite of an epic ending to all of the action, the way they resolve everything at the end is extremely disappointing. It almost seemed like they were setting things up for a 2nd season, and surprisingly, 20 episodes later, I was hoping for one.
Was this review helpful to you?
Perfect Score because it's Perfect for me.
"Vincenzo" is my ideal drama. It is suspenseful and ridiculous. It is a revenge thriller, a comedy, a romance, filled with action and touching moments, and some of the most literally mouth-open-shocking moments I've ever seen in a drama. It's actual LOLing and cheering moments. It's plot twists I could have never guessed. It's a cast full of characters I can never forget. I didn't even hesitate to give this all 10s. From beginning to the end Vincenzo did not disappoint and even exceeded all of my expectations. I was hooked from the start.The cast is amazing, but Song Joong Ki as Vincezo is pretty iconic. He's so cool and nonchalant with his signature gold lighter that I totally bought into the Mafia consigliere plot from the very first scene... even with what is probably not the greatest Italian ever spoken (lol) I was sold. I love villains with depth and this drama is filled to the brim with them. Vincenzo, even with his mostly unbothered attitude, was such a nuanced character. Joong Ki with just a subtle facial expression would reveal so much. I loved this about him since "Sungkyunkwan Scandal". He is matched with Jeon Yeo Bin as Hong Cha Young, a lawyer of questionable morals, who I also instantly loved. She is strong and smart and completely goofy and can keep up with Vincenzo without crossing the moral line. Their chemistry is incredible, you can feel it through the way they just looked at each other, and although romance is never exactly the center of this drama the way their connection grows from beginning to the end makes it one of the things that made me love watching so much. They are a dream team - an ideal partnership. Think of any romance in this drama as growing love and respect more than cute moments, although there are a few replay-worthy classic romance scenes. Rounding out the leads is Ok Taec Yeon who is also brilliant and I was surprised I loved him so much in this. Is this a love triangle situation? In many ways yes, but definitely not in the way you probably expect. This is definitely a breakout role for him. Just the way he would call Ms. Hong "Sunbae" is an example of the subtle things that he did so well. All three of these characters have moments that are over the top ridiculous, super intense, as well as more intimate and emotional, and they each showed so much range. I was extremely impressed with all 3.
The rest of the cast is equally amazing. Again, many of these characters are super over the top but they still manage to add layers to make them feel care-worthy and relatable and not just characters to REALLY hate or comic filler. The villains are satisfyingly and even frighteningly evil. The heroes are unexpected and hilarious (think Kung Fu Hustle). I wish I could give every single character specific praise but that would lead to spoilers and the less you know when watching the better. This cast has absolutely no weak links. Not one.
That brings me to the writing and directing which I applaud for keeping me excited for every single episode. 20 episodes later, with each episode over an hour-long, I still wasn't ready for it to end. Normally I'm not that interested in business corruption plots but because it was so character-driven I couldn't help but care. There was a perfect balance of scenes that made me cry and laugh and gasp. The ending was also well done and so satisfying without making things too happy or too depressing. If you're looking for a realistic story just remember this is campy as much as it's suspenseful so some scenes are unbelievable in the most entertaining way. There are tropes but they are done so well it reminds me why those tropes work. The pace made every episode fly by. The cliffhangers at the end of each episode made the time until the next episode drag. I was anticipating how certain characters would get what they deserved and I loved how creative the revenge was. Those who get to just binge it all now are super lucky. Speaking of binging...
Would I watch this again? I already did. lol. Once I got super hooked I decided to rewatch older episodes during the week while waiting for the new ones. Yes, I was that obsessed. Yes, It was still good the second time, and some moments were even better when already knowing what was to come. I can see myself easily watching this multiple times.
I thought the soundtrack complemented this drama perfectly too. Whether pumping up the action sequences or the sweet and sentimental "Is this love" song or the music to end each cliffhanger or the monks' wedding song... I thought the music always worked so well with the story and was enjoyable but never too distracting.
My only complaint, and it's a minor one, are the ridiculous product placements. The show is so campy that it almost felt like a wink to the audience, but there really are so many obvious product spotlight moments. I say this even as I purposely made myself a cup of maxim coffee (yes the yellow packet) to watch the finale. Lol. I also had Makgeolli several times while watching. Con-grat-u-laaaaa-tions, they totally got me!
Overall, this is the most fun drama I've watched in a loooooong time. Please note that when I say fun I don't necessarily mean cute or light but rather exciting and thrilling. At its core, this is still very much a revenge thriller with lots of violence, action, and brutal deaths. If you're squeamish the violence is never too gratuitous but it isn't tame either. Also, If you like action and fight scenes there are lots. Even what looked like a nod to Bruce Lee that I appreciated.
Three strong themes that impacted me...
1. It takes a devil to take on a devil.
2. Things are rarely what they seem to be on the surface.
3. The importance of family.
The last part really got to me. I caught on pretty early that a show focused on a Mafia anti-hero would probably be about family but this theme, even in its silliest moments, really touched me. If you can handle rooting for a not-so-good guy, and the violence (which isn't too excessive but definitely the kind you should expect from a Mafia revenge story) this is a must-see drama. Without a doubt, "Vincenzo" is one of my new drama favorite dramas of all time. I think I even love corn salad after watching this! "Vicenzo" definitely lives up to the hype. I would be extra hyped if there were plans for a 2nd season, but even though I already miss it, and the ending certainly leaves room for one, that's probably overkill and I would also hate to ruin such a good thing. As it stands now this is a drama that ends on a high entertainment note and gets a standing ovation and multiple "Bravos" from me!
Was this review helpful to you?
Brilliantly Brutal
"Squid Game" is a tough watch. Really tough. If you don't like extreme violence, or seeing blood, this drama is not for you. What I loved about "Squid Game" is that it isn't just mindless violence. In this case, the violence is important to the story, and the story is much more than the brutality of all of the games. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I will avoid talking about the games specifically, but the childish and cutesy presentation of each game juxtaposed to how anxiety-filled and traumatizing they were is definitely a highlight of this season, and probably the main reason for its popularity. It is definitely what initially sucked me in, but it was the characters that kept me watching.The main lead is Lee Jung Jae as Seong Gi Hoon (or #456). We get to know him as a likable screwup with a gambling problem and a divorced father of a young daughter. He is easy to root for from the start even when his choices are frustrating. I love that through him we can see how good people can make bad, damaging, and even selfish decisions, and it helps that he is extremely relatable. He is approached by Gong Yoo in a brilliant cameo that leads to him joining these mysterious games.
The games are where we meet the majority of the rest of the cast. They are a random group of people desperate for money that we soon learn to love and hate. Yes, many of the players are the equivalent of the "red shirts" on Star Trek, but there are also many memorable players. Besides the obvious leads like Park Hae Soo as Cho Sang Woo (#218), Gi Hoon's childhood friend now turned desperate failed small-town success, or Jung Ho Yeon as Kang Sae Byeok (#67), North Korean refugee turned master thief, there are quite a few characters that stand out and kept me invested while watching. I absolutely loved Anupam Tripathi as Ali Abdul (#199) and Oh Young Soo as older and wiser Oh Il Nam (#1). I think of them as the main squid-squad.
I do think the thug characters were a bit stereotypical but also well played. especially the dynamic between #101 & #212. Of course, I can't forget Wi Ha Joon as Officer Hwang Joon, who I also liked and I appreciated that on his obligatory quest for the truth he didn't make many silly decisions, and was clever instead of going for the too emotionally invested to be smart trope. Then there is Lee Yoo Mi as #240 who is another amazing standout player. The only characters that were bad... really bad... were the spectators. Their scenes were so long for the acting was so terrible. Distractingly terrible. I know English-speaking characters in KDramas are usually pretty bad but I wish for such significant roles that they could have been better.
Would I watch this again? Definitely, and that's saying a lot considering the extreme violence. It's insanely popular for a reason, and I'm sure I will pick up things I missed when watching it again. I am also curious about watching the dubbed version (Which I never do normally). There are a few times when the script's pace slows, but being such a short series it's easy to just binge watch in a day or two. I was intrigued and engaged the whole time and only took a break from watching when the episodes became more emotional (episode 6 had me ugly crying), but was also my favorite episode. There are also countless theories to explore to keep you viewing some things very differently.
The suspense is consistent throughout this drama, even if some parts of the story felt stronger than other parts. There was one major plot twist that I expected from the beginning, and another that took me by surprise until the moment it was revealed, but either way, it was entertaining watching how it would all be revealed. I do wish they gave it a more definitive ending than just leaving it open-ended, possibly for a season 2, or maybe just to keep us thinking. The lack of a neat ending made it a more haunting story which works too. You can definitely say that the plot isn't perfectly neat, or even completely original... (you know the comparisons already "Hunger Games"..."Battle Royale"..."As God Wills"...), but the execution of the plot (No pun intended lol) is where it excels. Just the idea of us watching the games just like the VIP observers in the show is very meta and disturbing. This drama is disturbing.
Overall, "Squid Game" is a great dystopian spin on capitalism and greed, and human nature/survival instincts. I love stories that explore the good and bad of humanity, and this takes those questions to the extreme. I also love stories that make the viewer question what they would do if the stakes were extremely high, and that's where this drama more than succeeds. Plus it's visually iconic. The sweatsuits, the guards, the giant girl at the tree, those stairs... so many images are now permanently a part of pop culture because of the brilliant direction. I'll never look at shapes the same way again!
I still don't quite understand how you play the Squid Game... it looked kinda like full contact hopscotch gone sumo on a mini baseball field lol! Now that I think about it, children's games can get pretty rough! But I do know that as far as dramas that live up to the #1 on Netflix hype goes, this one definitely wins a spot on my KDrama favorites list!
Was this review helpful to you?
