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What made me watch this was Yoon Shi Yoon, who I recently watched play Kim Tak Goo, and loved. He is a completely different kind of character in this, but just as endearing. I look forward too seeing more of Yoon Shi Yoon in the future, and I don't just mean in the shower : ) !His charm alone could've carried the show, but he had great chemistry with Lee Ji Ah. They worked so well together that I had no idea there was a major age difference between them. They also shared one of the hottest kdrama kisses ever! The 1st 7 or 8 episodes are totally addictive because of their dysfunctional romance, but then there's a major shift. I actually liked the jealousy sub plot, and Han Go Eun, but that's when the plot started to follow a more predictable route.
Overall, I thought the cast, story and music were very good, but the first half was much stronger than the last half. I can see myself watching the first half multiple times, and then skipping a lot of scenes to get to the end. I was really disappointed in the last 2 episodes, and thought the ending felt rushed/thrown together. Still, all the characters/plots did get proper endings. Though disappointed, I was never bored. I was just hoping to get that extremely excited to watch feeling back, which I never did.
I do recommend this for lovers of romantic drama. This may seem a little like a bad review, but I was really pleasantly surprised.
*random thought... What kind of name is Pink Chicken?!That's a pop icon name FAIL, lol!*
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I'm glad my search lead me to "WWW"... Strong Woman Lead x3
I'm so glad I decided to finally watch this. I was struggling to find something to fit my current drama mood, but when I saw so many not-so-great reviews and the tags "business" and "political" I guessed that I wouldn't like this drama. Turns out this drama exceeded my expectations. It's fun, it's thought-provoking, it's easy to binge, and it's empowering. The title "Search: WWW" made me think this would be about a fake "Google" so I thought I would get easily bored but it's really as if the Ws represent 3 strong women. They are bosses but imperfect and messy and hilarious and frustrating and intelligent and it was refreshing to see women being the center of this drama in all ways and not because they were fighting over a man, or overcoming a melodramatic trauma. I thought in the first episode that this would be a corporate catfight drama but these characters are much deeper and less predictable than that, which was this drama's main appeal for me.The true lead in this story is Im Soo Jung as Bae Ta Mi (Tammy), who I loved first in "A Tale of Two Sisters" and later in "Chicago Typewriter" (2 favorites on mine). Tammy is clever and ambitious and often brutally honest and I think Soo Jung does so well being strong and vulnerable and bad@ss and a hot mess. I loved her character, even when her choices annoyed me, because to me her thinking was so relatable. Then there is Jeon Hye Jin as Song Ga Kyung, who I liked the least of the leads, but her character is complex and isn't really set up to be liked. Rounding out the leads is Lee Da Hee as Cha Hyun (Scarlett), who is definitely a favorite character for many people, myself included. Scarlett is super tough and easily violent but the ultimate empathetic caregiver and I loved all of her crazy moments. Usually, I start reviews for Romance themed dramas with the main couple but in this drama, the relationship between these ladies deserves the first mention. Not quite BFFs or Frienemies, I love that their relationships were nuanced which made them feel less superficial. Their chemistry with each other was so strong at some points that I wondered if the story would lead to a romance between at least 2 of the characters but this is more about real bonding, how relationships between people can change or evolve, and how we can be different with/to/for different people, which is again super relatable.
There is a major romance plot in this drama as well which brings us to Jang Ki Yong as
Park Morgan. He is so good at being charming and his flirt game is at 100! From the moment they met, I was hooked on their story. Yes, there is a big noticeable age gap between Morgan and Tammy, which becomes their main obstacle, but unlike people who felt annoyed by this conflict I thought it was refreshing to see a genuine issue with being together instead of a crazy materialistic parent or incurable disease or an inconvenient ex (at least not as the main issue). I really loved how he loved Tammy (he made me swoon with just how he would look at her), and I liked his character's story (which explained many of his feelings), and yes it was hard to watch so much conflict but I understood their overall dilemma way too well. I actually started this while watching "Born Again", without realizing he was in both. I like him much more in this drama (less over the top melodrama) and I look forward to his future roles.
Then we have Lee Jae Wook as Sul Ji Hwan. Like Scarlett, he is another standout role and I love how well the drama within a drama aspect was done. For being so young he really holds his own in this drama full of strong older women. I don't want to say too much about his character to avoid spoilers but I was shocked by how much I loved his character.
As for the rest of the cast, I appreciate it when there are too many wonderful characters to name, which makes a work ensemble-based drama even better. More than for the company I found myself rooting for the Barro team full of quirky characters and of course for one of my personal favorite characters in this entire drama Kwon Hae Hyo as "Brian" the boss that dreams are made of! On the flip side, my other personal favorite was Ye Soo Jung who was so deliciously ruthless that I was kinda rooting for her over the leads in some scenes. This drama doesn't have weak characters, although I do wish some had more screen time, which brings me to the story.
Even though I gave the story less than a 10 I have to say I think the writing and directing in this drama is so good. Even the product placement was masterclass level (still obvious but well played lol). My only issue is that I wish some minor characters had more screen time with less focus on things like board meetings or arguments on loop. A major question the drama presents is, "how far are you willing to go into a relationship that is likely to fail?", and I think that made the story more complex. Still, certain arguments became irritatingly repetitive, and I wish that could have been balanced out with more romantic chemistry-charged moments (like one scene in this that is one of the best drama kiss scenes ever), or more from Ji Seung Hyun's character who has the least screen time as a lead, but the pace is still good and kept me engaged the whole time. I wasn't even bored with the business or political aspect because so much of it was about the dynamic between different characters that I actually cared about and many of the dilemmas they faced brought up interesting points about how we use the web and how to determine what is "right". My favorite quote from the show: "3 things that don't exist... free things, the right answer, and secrets". Also visually, with montages, and sunsets, and lighting they really knew how to tell this story well.
Would I watch this again? For sure. I may be tempted to skip scenes, but I am also curious how knowing the whole story might change how I feel while watching. Just rewatching the intro sequence felt different once I knew all of the characters. I think many of the themes, like living in the now, may resonate differently depending on my mood too. The creators really took care in certain details, and there are quite a few scenes I could definitely watch again and again.
I also really liked this soundtrack a lot, even though I didn't necessarily love any song in particular. I give soundtracks high ratings if the music matches the show well, gets me in the mood to watch, and makes me feel nostalgic when the show is over. This soundtrack does all 3. Music is also a part of the plot in a few ways. I even stopped to really read lyrics a few times, although the "Search" song is basically catchy gibberish. The OST is so well incorporated that my favorite song on it is an instrumental "Heart Shape on Ankle" (cute title) which is clearly a bootleg SWV melody but it's used so well. Then there's one song that breaks into A' Cappella right at the perfect moment, which made the feels even deeper. Also, shout out to Brian's songs which I am disappointed are not on the soundtrack. Again, I know this is about strong women but Brian is the exception MVP.
Overall this drama had the exact mix of what I wanted (laughs, tears, butterflies) and kept me excited to binge until the end. Some traditional romance fans may be disappointed by this drama but all the great flirt scenes between the characters were enough for me. Even with some familiar but lovable drama tropes in play, this felt different and even innovative for just centering around strong women (even a minor foreign CEO part was played by a Black Woman). By the end, it was clear that this drama is a mood if you want a show how women are strong on their own (with or without a partner), and how strong isn't perfect or one obvious path. I honestly knew from the opening sequence I would love this drama and I'm glad my "what to watch" search lead me to this.
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From the very beginning it is clear that this drama is not afraid to take on tragedy, so it's not exactly lighthearted (have tissues on hand just in case for the early episodes). Still there are definitely laughs, and romance as well.
I know many reviewers will understandably compare this to I Hear your Voice. The comparison makes obvious sense, and fans of that drama's cast and story will most likely enjoy this drama too (since the writer and some of the actors are the same). As for me, between the two, I liked Pinocchio more. It took a while for me to get into I Hear your Voice, but with this drama I was hooked from the beginning till the very end.
Park Hye-ryun really knows how to blend genres well. Lots of the standard k-drama elements are included - a love triangle, parental issues, rivalries, secrets, deception, revenge - but it all still feels completely original. I had no idea what would happen next, and didn't want it all to end. The writing has something for every drama lover, and gets a 10 from me. The characters were also all well written. The entire cast did a great job, and gets a deserving 10 from me as well.
Park Shin Hye & Lee Jong Suk are great together. They have great chemistry so the fact that their romance isn't always the main focus shouldn't be a huge disappointment to romance fans. I love that In Ha isn't always likable, nor is she timid, which is always nice to see for a female lead. Any Lee Jong Suk fan should definitely watch, and he does a great job taking on a complicated character while still showcasing his charm. Their triangle is completed by Kim Young Kwang who actually plays a likable chaebol. It's also nice that their friendship dynamic is as important as the romantic storyline.
Then there is one of my all time favorite k-drama actresses Kim Hae Sook. I knew I'd love her character, since she never disappoints. I particularly like her when she plays more of a villain, but she was still completely different than I've seen her before (which is what makes her so awesome). Jin Kyung is also excellent as the cold hearted mother of In Ha. She was one of my favorites in the cast overall. I also really liked the family dynamic, which included some of the funniest parts.
The music was great, but there weren't any memorable epic songs which is why I only gave it an 8.
Rewatch value is high for me since I am already rewatching it. I was so sad when it was over, and there's so many interesting turns in the story that a second watch is still entertaining. Plus the cast is so likable, which is another good reason to want to watch it all again.
Overall all I cared a lot about the characters, was engrossed in the story, and liked the themes regarding truth, integrity, and family. I also liked how it ended, and though part of me wished there were more episodes, I think it ended perfectly, and right when it should have.
This is a definite, rare, 10 worthy drama for me, and one I highly recommend to all drama fans. I'd even recommend it to those who are curious to know how these dramas can become so damn addictive. I think this is definitely the kind of drama that could get a newbie hooked, and that's the truth!
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Obviously the chemistry between Son Ye Jin as Se Ri and Hyun Bin as Ri Jung Hyuk is one thing that this drama gets absolutely right. This is the kind of couple that makes you laugh and cry, and whether they are having cute banter or dodging bullets I was always rooting for them. Yes, their relationship is way over the top and even sappy at times, but it works so well. Captain Ri's straightfaced swag and Se Ri's extreme confidence played well off of each other, and I loved that Se Ri was a strong character and not just a victim passively waiting for a savior. They make a lot of corny moments work because they are just so good. Se Ri is also in the classic "chaebol" role while Jung Hyuk gets the makeover (a definite switch from the Hyun Bin I'm used to seeing in dramas), so even with a strong military theme, the women characters are just as strong.
Then we have the rest of the cast that is filled with great performances. Two surprising favorites were Seo Ji Hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung Hyun as Goo Seung Jun. Seo Dan's bitter arrogance and Seung Jun's playboy charm were great, and I loved watching their characters' growth and their unexpected bond. At first, they just seemed like two annoying villainous characters but they soon became two of my favorites in the show. Then there are Captain Ri's fellow soldiers (#squadgoals) and neighbor wives (frenemies turned bffs) who are not only hilarious but were all characters I genuinely cared about. I also liked Seo Dan's aunt and uncle (who are so different from their roles in Parasite) and Se Ri and Jung Hyuk's moms. These characters had a lot of funny moments but also some touching moments that actually made me tear up quite a few times. The North Korean characters were definitely way more interesting than the South Korean characters, mainly Se Ri's family, who I thought were pretty cliché. Greedy siblings fighting over who will take over the family business is probably the most overused KDrama trope, and they weren't very interesting aside from helping to push that part of the story along. I also wasn't too fond of the main villain, who although he was effective he was very one-note.
The story did have a great pace and that's impressive since each episode is well over an hour. Most of the episodes balanced all the different genres well. The only two episodes that dragged for me were the first one, and the last one. I was honestly disappointed in the ending, even though it did do a good job of not leaving things unresolved. I felt like it took an unnecessary extra melodramatic turn then dragged out the endings with flashbacks and slow scenes that lost the show's momentum. Still, even with the slow ending, I still enjoyed the drama as a whole.
There's also a small musical element in this drama but it wasn't very strong. I honestly can't even remember the melody of Captain Ri's song. The rest of the music was over the top or just ok.
Would I watch this again? Maybe. As entertaining as it was anticipating new episodes each weekend, I'm not sure if the story is the kind I want to binge-watch again any time soon. I also think the plot loses all suspense which would make some parts of the story seem slower, especially with such long episodes. I would rather just rewatch parts that I like, but there aren't even specific scenes that I can think of wanting to see again. The characters would be my main reason for ever watching again.
Overall, this is a great classic-style drama. I was all in for the fish out of water/opposites-attract love story, and I liked the idea of being away from the comforts of the south and ending up finding real support and friendship in the north. If you are willing to embrace the tropes, the melodrama, the abundance of coincidences, obnoxious product placements, the cheap special fx, and silliness you will get to see an epic love story, beautiful scenery, some cool action scenes and cliffhangers, and more than a few moments likely to get you in the feels. This drama won't make my personal favorites list but I understand all of the high ratings. For Hyun Bin fans this is a must-watch. I am also rewatching King 2 Hearts now... don't worry that there's anything similar, there isn't, but I do like how both marry humor, action, and suspense with a great love story. Watching this drama made me want to watch that drama again (one of my old school favorites).
There really is a lot that makes Crash Landing on You worth watching. I related to the drama obsessed soldier big time while watching this. Don't let my lack of perfect 10s or 9s dissuade you, I was bored with a lot of the current on-air dramas I've been watching and this finally took me out of that slump. I'm glad I embraced the expected tropes and enjoyed the unpredictable ride.
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This drama revolved around the quintessential jerk of a chaebol Cheon Soo Ho, played by Kim Jung Hyun, and the optimistic but always struggling Seol Ji Hyun played by Seo Hyun. I thought Kim Jung Hyun was great and initially liked Seo Hyun, but eventually, their chemistry got traded in for a convoluted revenge story that I just didn't like. I felt like the story wasted the development of a great character, Cheon Soo Ho, and instead focused on turning Seol Ji Hyun into an unconvincing mastermind who kept giving everyone the side eye so much that I forgot I initially liked her character. Maybe a better actress could have pulled off Seol Ji Hyun's transformation but as the star of this story she was pretty boring, and unimpressive.
The side characters were fine. Hwang Seung Eon and her super purse and Kim Joon Han as the worst ex ever were really good, with a relationship that became even more interesting than the main couple, but because of the overload of melodrama, many of the characters became too two dimensional. By the end, I had no real interest in any of them.
I suspect that the last few episodes were not what was originally intended because they seemed so thrown together and tried to overcompensate with the drama. Soo Ho made me sympathize and even boo hoo cry the more I learned about him, but once Soo Ho was no longer the focus I lost any lingering interest in this show. I just finished it to see how it would finally end, and to see if the ending would justify the depressing tone. Maybe some people found the end inspiring, but I did not. I felt like all the suspense lead to a pretty boring conclusion. There were a few themes about classism and trust that could have been interesting, but the story was just too cliché for me to invest any real feelings into it.
Overall if evil CEOs, terminal illness, rich people behaving badly, betrayal & revenge sound like the makings of a great drama, I'd say there are other dramas that do those things much better than this. But if you feel like brooding over how unfair the world is then maybe this is the perfect drama for you. As for me, I'd recommend just waiting for whatever drama Kim Jung Hyun has coming up next.
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One issue is that I think there are too many main characters to focus on, making the story initially confusing, and it took way too long to set up all the relationships. It didn't help that I didn't find the characters lives very interesting until much later, and I think the cast is partially to blame.
I had a lot of problems with the overacting, and almost every cast member is guilty of it. Kim In Kwon and Kim Soo Ro are both charming in their roles, and I love their bromance, but they barely have screen time compared to the rest of the cast even though it's their story. Instead we have to rely on Rain and Oh Yeon Seo, who also have good chemistry, and are super cute eye candy, but their overacting multiplies by a million when they are together.
The only person I recognized in the main cast (and that was barely) is Rain. Rain looks so physically different that I didn't realize it was him, and I can't forgive his hairstylist for it. I loved Rain's cuteness in Full House, so I thought that would be a good sign. He has a lot of charming and adorable moments, but his dramatic moments were pretty bad. On the other hand, I did not remember Lee Min Jung being in Big, because I tried to block that show from my brain forever. She is equally unimpressive in this. She does share a few cute moments with Rain (very tame romance), and the cast playing her family (which I loved), but her dramatic moments were mostly a bore. Little Lee Re was the opposite, and made me cry several times. She was a much stronger actress than most of the adults. She should probably give her drama mom some lessons.
Oh Yeon Seo was hands down my favorite cast member, and I think she stood out as the only one able to handle the comedic and emotional scenes. Lee Ha Nui on the other hand was my least favorite. She is gorgeous, but her acting is comedically bad. I often laughed while she cried, making it hard to sympathize with her. Her character was also annoyingly arrogant, which doesn't help. Together they had a little bit of chemistry, but since it was so obvious that the show would stay far away from anything that came close to resembling a lesbian relationship, they never seemed like two people who actually loved each other. Then there's Choi Won Young as the one note bad guy, and the perfect bad acting match for Lee Ha Nui. I think I mentally skipped all of their scenes together. I would rather watch Lee Tae Hwan stand there... that would've been much more captivating
The other problem is that the story is super ambitious... unfinished business and revenge, 2 love triangles, gangster rivalries, family drama, family secrets, celebrity scandal, a chaebol war, oh and the whole afterlife thing... and it takes a long time to get it all straight. The writers do a good job of making all the pieces fit together eventually, but It wasn't until the halfway point that the story started getting interesting to me. There were a few moments when the writers managed to get me in the feels too, in spite of my not being that into the story, and I did tear up more than once. The fact that this drama did get more interesting as it progressed, instead of getting worse, is impressive though, and having a pretty good ending made me not regret watching it till the end. I also think it might even be better to watch it again after knowing all the characters, and the plot twists.
My favorite part of the show may actually be the soundtrack, which had a lot of tracks that I really liked on it. The Moonlight track in particular, which grew on me like the show did.
Overall, "Please Come Back, Mister" was not bad, but it's not good enough for me to recommend either. I don't think those who dropped it like I did are missing anything. I also understand why those who like the beginning episodes, and kept watching, gave it such high ratings. If you do decide to watch it, and you love the first 4 episodes, you will probably really love it by the end. Otherwise, I recommend lowering any expectations of greatness. I'd say don't take the story too seriously, trust that everything will eventually make sense, ignore minor plot holes, and give in to the bad acting moments.
For me it was the perfect filler drama to watch while waiting on episodes from more intense on air dramas - Oh, and Rain is often shirtless, so that's a definite BONUS. At the heart of this drama is a lighthearted look at how we live our lives, and how we effect those we leave behind when we go. Sometimes we may need to yell at the screen about what a stupid way to die that was, then relax and watch a drama like this, in order to remind ourselves what is truly important.
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I will start with Shin Hye Sun, who I loved as such an innocent character in Thirty But Seventeen, but in this drama, she is completely different in the best way! As Lee Yeon Seo she is smart, no-nonsense, and always one step ahead of what's expected of her, and even though she is extremely temperamental it was hard not to like and root for her. In a lot of ways, she plays the role the male lead usually plays in this kind of romcom (rich, mean, but misunderstood), while L plays the role usually given to women (cute and thoughtful enough to win her over). L really is perfectly cast as a charming angel, and although I understand people critiquing some of his more dramatic scenes, I think that what he did right outshined his weaker acting moments... also his dimples... who can deny the power of that dimple whenever he smiled?!! Together I think they had great chemistry, and I especially loved their banter in the beginning. Their melodramatic scenes were less interesting, but I still loved seeing them together, no matter what.
The rest of the cast was filled with great performances and mediocre performances. I think Lee Dong Gun is a master at playing a sinister 2nd lead, but I feel like he was a better actor than what was written for his character. Woo Hee Jin was great too as the maid/surrogate family. A lot of the villainous characters were made to be super campy and were hard to take seriously because of that. I think the sisters Ni Na and Ru Na were good at playing extreme opposites, but because both characters were so one-note I didn't feel much for them, and they are both major parts of the plot so I should have cared a lot more than I did.
Besides Yeon Seo, the best character and the real MVP of this drama is Kim In Kwon as Archangel Hoo! Not only was he hilarious, but he also had one of the few moments in the drama that actually made me tear up. His chemistry with L was just as entertaining as the main couple in my opinion, and he kept this drama entertaining when the plot and couple drama started to get repetitive and boring. He was definitely a scene stealer and a major highlight in this drama.
I think the plot is where this drama lost its way, which is very disappointing because the early episodes were so strong. Without giving too much away, I will say that I was intrigued by the angel on a mission plot. The set up for this drama did have its fair share of clichés, but I thought the story, in the beginning, was well told. I thought certain elements were very creative (the feather handkerchief especially), and I liked the angel mythology in general. Unfortunately, I don't think the conclusion of this drama was well thought out and so the last half of this drama started to drag and became super redundant and boring by the end. It was also annoying to have so many "rehearsal" scenes when it was clear that Shin Hye Sun is not a great dancer in real life. The earlier dance scenes with Kim Bo Mi, who obviously has ballet experience, made more sense but watching long scenes where Shin Hye Sun would "emote" when she should have been dancing was annoying, and felt like filler to drag out the story more. If this drama was shorter I would have liked it much more, even with a vague ending, but watching the same crying scenes over and over again and the same arguments on repeat made it very hard for me to want to keep watching. I also wonder if the writer got talked out of the original ending because the last episodes definitely seemed thrown together.
Would I watch this again? Maybe. I can see myself watching the beginning and then skipping most scenes until getting to the end. There were many scenes and moments that I liked enough to want to see them again. I also thought the soundtrack was perfect but I still didn't love it enough to want to hear the songs again now that the show is over.
With a couple this cute, I thought this drama would be added to my favorites list for sure. I love a good cheesy fairytale that tugs at the heartstrings! The problem with this drama is that it didn't tug at my heart. I wish I cared more, but by the end, I was just waiting for it to be over. I do think that there is enough good in Angel's Last Mission: Love to justify a recommendation for romance fans. It's not the best this year, but it's far from the worst. It's "tragic romance-lite" for those who like melodrama but don't want to watch something too heavy. Also, did I mention the dimples? I can overlook a lot of plotholes just to see those dimples. They deserve their own drama. If you're looking to find deep meaning at the end of this drama then set your expectations much lower. If you're a ballet fan maybe you will appreciate how the "Giselle" performance parallels with the romance between Angel Dan and Yeon Seo, but to me, the connection felt forced and overdone. The crime plot is also very weak, the explanation for Angel's mission is messy, too many things were left unresolved (seriously, what was up with the crazy dance teacher?), but the love story, even with its flaws, still delivers. At the very least, I hope this sparks a trend for more female lead roles like this! I think their dynamic was a refreshing twist on the same ole thing I love.
So, in the end, I'm glad I completed the mission of watching this till the end, but I won't declare my love! I'd say this drama is more like a summer crush than real love, and I'm satisfied with that.
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Dystopian must mean American in Korean lol
I heard so many good things about this drama before I started watching but I was still hesitant because I have mixed feelings about law and corruption dramas. Sometimes I am bored by political corruption tropes, but it was clear from the beginning that this drama is much more stylized. It's dystopian, but also super realistic. It has some very entertaining characters and an antihero who's exciting to root for. "The Devil Judge" is a mysterious character with questionable methods, similar to a Vincenzo-type, and I loved "Vicenzo". Yes, it is about politics, corruption, and revenge... what you would normally expect from a drama like this... but it's also about morality and human nature which is way more interesting to me, with characters that blur those lines in the best way.Ji Sung is perfectly cast as Kang Yo Han, a popular celebrity judge who shows no mercy when it comes to exacting justice. This is an iconic role, and he really gets to showcase his charm and the nuances in his acting. Obviously, he is no stranger to playing complicated characters, "Kill Me, Heal Me" is my favorite performance of his, but this is definitely a close second. I love characters that don't neatly fall under the category of bad or good, and he straddles that line in the most attractive ways. He's also the type of character who is usually 3 steps ahead of everyone else, which is fun, but also tortured by his past which is heartbreaking. He is matched with Park Jin Young as Kim Ga On, an ambitious new lawyer whose idealistic and often self-righteous ideas clash with Yo Han. It's the unlikely bond between them that drives most of this story. I loved their bromantic chemistry, and unconventional mentor dynamic. Ga On is frustrating at times, many MANY times, but his charm always shines through. I think he was perfectly cast in his role as well. They worked so well together.
The entire cast in this drama is great, and it almost feels unfair not to mention them all, but some of the performances were just exceptional... think broad comic book characters more than melodrama. I loved Jeon Chae Eun as Elijah. Her relationship with Yo Han was a strong highlight in this drama for me. Park Gyu Young as Soo Hyun, on the other hand, was a character I loved to complain about. Most of the time she was on the screen I was rolling my eyes, but I actually did appreciate her relationship with Ga On, even if it seemed obsessive and the friendzoning became one-note, I did think they were cute together. Don't expect a full-blown romance arc for these two. It's more about her influence on Ga On than about watching them falling in love. Other standout performances worth mentioning are Jang Young Nam as the Minister of Justice. I loved her unapologetic ruthlessness and powerful pantsuit vibes. Also Baek Hyun Jin as The President who I just call K-Trump based on his over the top antics and narcissism that seemed way too similar to the former clown in the American White House (I don't think the similarities were accidental either lol). There are a lot of characters to know but as the story evolves it's more about The Goal of the Devil Judge than remembering exactly who's who. It's also about the general publics reaction to easy access justice, so I consider the app voting masses important characters as well.
Surpisingly, my favorite character, whose performance I loved even more than Ji Sung's is Kim Min Jung as Jung Sun Ah. Every scene she had with Ji Sung was my favorite. I wasn't sure if I wanted them to fight or date but just a look or light touch between them was electrifying. I don't want to say too much about her character but it's one of the best performances I've seen is a while. Her soft-spoken bad@ssery is legendary.
Would I watch this again? Possibly, but there are some flaws in the drama that would make me a little hesitant to. One is that the story is pretty predictable. Anticipating what would happen was still fun, but I'm not sure if it would be as entertaining the second time. The performances are fun but were a little repetitive. I was excited to watch each week but it may drag if I were to binge watch it again. I do think that knowing the characters better may make me appreciate the earlier episodes more. I would definitely be tempted to skip to certain scenes. Many of the scenes are beautifully shot however, so maybe I can appreciate some just for the look of it all.
Overall, this drama is well done, but imperfect. I could easily nitpick the things that made no sense or were ridiculous, like why didn't Ga On ever go home??!! Or why was Soo Hyun always investigating alone??! I also didn't love the ending. It was pretty much what I expected, and was entertaining to watch, but I guess I was hoping to be more surprised or wowed. I loved that this drama challenged the idea that morality or justice are clearly defined. Self righteous characters aren't necessarily heroes and brutal villainous-types can also be empathetic. If you like watching manipulation and revenge that's played out like a game of chess, then this drama delivers. If you don't need romance, but might love a complicated bromance, then this drama is a must watch. It was funny to see that some things that are normal in America are dystopian in KDramaland... all we need is the app. Maybe being to jaded has kept this from being a new favorite of mine, but it definitely gets a thumbs up vote from me.
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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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In a lot of ways this is a conventional rom-com, but the love stories themselves are definitely unconventional. Sure there is a love triangle, that turns into a rectangle, but it's a refreshing approach that got me more invested with each episode. There's also one main character, who doesn't say a word, who was the true star of this love story, at least to me.
The cast is really awesome, though I will admit that my least favorite was Uee. She did a good job, but I just didn't like her as much as the other main characters. I admit that her "revised" look was distracting. I can't really say anything bad about her performance, but I was only interested in seeing her on screen with Choi Woo Shik, who she did have great chemistry with.
Choi Woo Shik, on the other hand, totally won me over. I thought he would be too silly to take seriously, at first, but he was the perfect balance of sweetness, and seriousness, to make me fall for Hoo Goo's charm. Im Seul Ong won me over too, when I swore I would hate him. Kang Cheol flips conventional arrogance on it's head, which makes him an awesome character. My favorite cast member turned out to be Lee Soo Kyung, who I was surprised to see was so much younger than the rest of the cast. She was so good as Ho Gyeong, also the only character that I liked from the very beginning, and I am looking forward to seeing much more from her.
I should also give an honorable mention to Ho Goo's parents, who I thought were really great too! The cast, as a whole, really had great chemistry too!
Even though I loved the cast, and the love stories, I could not give the story a super high score. To me, even with all it's originality, there were a few too many clichés, and preachy moments. Though I would consider this a light drama, it does touch on some very serious topics, though only lightly. I'm sure certain topics are more serious when considering Korean culture. I wonder if any controversial moments went over my head because of cultural differences. I am sure being American is what made some of the moments feel so preachy to me.
The music? Well, it didn't really stand out to me, which makes it neither good, nor bad.
Would I watch it again? Sure! Some of the charm will be lost, now that I know what's happening, but there are so many moments that I could watch again. Immediately after the last episode, I had the urge to flash back to my favorite scenes (I'm still laughing about one kiss reaction in particular).
Overall, I would recommend this drama, especially to those looking for a good love story. It's also a much funnier, and lighter drama than the subject matter suggests. They don't take certain topics as far as they could have gone, but I applaud them for going there at all. I also liked the ending, and what it had to say about relationships in general.
I say, give it a chance, and wait until at least episode 5, if you're not convinced that you will like it. It took me about that long to really get into it, and now that it's over, I really miss it. Add me among those who consider this an underrated drama. I'm so glad I found out about it.
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What makes this drama so great, from the very beginning, is the four lead characters. As much as i loved the romance in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (including what's now one of my favorite k-drama kiss scenes), I still loved the bromance between all four main characters more. Yoo Ah In as the impetuous rebel Moon Jae Shin, Micky Yoochun as the logic driven bookworm Lee Sun Joon, Park Min Young as the inspiringly ambitious "Kim Yoon Shik", and (my favorite) Song Jung Ki as the playfully manipulative Goo Yong Ha, are each outstanding in their role, and have amazing chemistry with each other. There were even times when the chemistry between Moon Jae Shin & Goo Yong Ha rivaled the main couple.
I also have to give a special mention to Kim Min Seo as Cho Sun, who was my favorite supporting character, and played her part expertly. It was really refreshing to see two strong female characters, especially since the story revolves around an all boys school. This is now among my favorite all time dramas, mainly because of the cast. I loved them so much, I was tempted to rewatch the entire drama right after I finished it.
One small criticism I have is that the political part of the plot was sometimes hard for me to follow, since korean history is completely (and literally) foreign to me. This is not really a fault of the drama, but it did stop me from personally seeing this as a perfect 10. It became much easier for me to follow the noron/soron conflicts after a while, but I could still enjoy the drama without being 100% clear. There's a good amount of action, and mystery, which keeps the political plot entertaining.
Another criticism is, as much as I liked the endings for the 4 main characters, there were still unanswered questions, and some supporting characters that deserved better endings.
Overall, there was much more to praise than criticize. I can definitely see myself rewatching this multiple times, even if it's just to see Goo Yong Ha spin. I know there are many dramas with similar plots, but a drama that's entertaining from the 1st to the last episode is rare. I recommend Sungkyunkwan Scandal as one of those rare dramas.
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Weather forecast metaphors can't make shallow relationships deep.
"Forecasting Love and Weather" tries to use weather predictions as a metaphor for messy and complicated love relationships, but that concept quickly became boring to me and the relationships were pretty shallow and not very compelling. In the beginning, I did find the pressure to get weather predictions right interesting, and the office dating drama was fun, even sexy, but as time went on too much focus was placed on the same arguments and petty fights. The relationships in this drama are meant to be mature, and not your typical idealistic love story, but so many of the characters seemed immature, even childish. There is also a ridiculous love triangle/square element to the plot that resolves way too easily and that's partly when I started losing interest. This drama played it way too safe which is what stopped me from caring enough about any of the couples, even the pretty well-matched leads.This drama stars a favorite, Park Min Young as stubborn and guarded Jin Ha Kyung, with super cute Song Kang
as impressive weather expert newcomer Lee Shi Woo. I expected their big age gap to be an issue, but I honestly believed them as a couple. I knew Song Kang could handle a mature plot from watching "Nevertheless", but now I wonder if maybe his ability to flirt so well hides his lack of character depth. Their chemistry was much stronger when they were falling for each other but all the other scenes lacked any spark.
Yoon Park and Yura round out the leads and all I will say about them is that I disliked both of their characters so much! Yura as Chae Yoo Jin eventually became almost sympathetic but Yoon Park's Han Ki Joon annoyed me from the beginning until the end. Any time they were on the screen I could feel myself checking out.
The supporting cast was mostly great. It included another favorite of mine Kim Mi Kyung as a meddling mom, but in her style. There were great coworker characters with their own life dramas and one unexpected favorite in the cast Moon Tae Yu, who was hilarious to me. I admit I liked the weird comic relief relationship subplot way more than the jaded marriage subplots, and at times even the leads, but I still think all of the actors did a good job. Without a strong actual story, they all did the best they could with what they were assigned. The work atmosphere at least felt authentic, although they did seem to overreact in order to force drama into less interesting scenes.
Would I watch this again? No. The parts that I liked, in the beginning, aren't exciting enough to rewatch. The weather room arguments began to feel the same no matter the season or the forecast. I also didn't care enough about any of the relationships to want to watch their struggles again. I appreciate that the end gave me sufficient closure but I was honestly over this drama long before the last episode.
Overall, this drama is a miss. I will definitely never think about weather forecasting the same again, but I will probably forget all of these characters quickly. I think it fails to be romantic enough for romance fans or deep enough for a good slice of life drama. There are certainly far worse dramas, and I was never bored enough to drop it completely, so perhaps it can be a decent filler drama. I just wish it had a stronger story since the first episode seemed like a setup for something great, especially with episodes so long. I expected a mature romance plot, so maybe that's my fault. I know Kdramas more often play stories safe and nice in this genre so maybe that's my fault. In spite of the overuse of weather metaphors, this drama mostly sticks to a mild and predictable temperature. However, enjoying whatever the weather actually is outside right now is probably a better use of your time.
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This review may contain spoilers
I'm kinda in shock over how good this drama turned out to be considering how long I've been avoiding watching it. I knew the ratings were high, but because there were 51 episodes (which is enough to scare me away) it lived forever on my planning to watch cue. My advice is to not let episode-count-a-phobia stop you from watching this AMAZING drama. The impressive cast and the intriguing story make every episode worth watching, and before I knew it I was finished. By the end I even found myself oddly craving more, because I'd grown so attached to the world of "Empress Ki".First, this is definitely one of the best cast ensembles I have ever seen in drama. I admit that I didn't check the cast list at all before watching, so there were so many pleasant surprises as far as actors I've loved in other dramas. Ha Ji Won is one of my favorites ("Secret Garden" being my actual favorite drama of all time). She's the ultimate sweet but bad@ss leading lady, and this character is perfect for even her. The story follows her journey from gender-bending youth to Empress (not a spoiler, so don't worry). She goes through such a range in this story that I was impressed with her from beginning to end. She is matched with Joo Jin Mo, who charmed me in the mediocre drama "Woman with a Suitcase", and super impressive Ji Chang Wook from "Healer" (another favorite of mine). I think each of their performances, and the chemistry between these three characters, were flawless. Jin Mo is perfectly cast as charming and heroic. Chang Wook's character is so emotionally complicated that his performance was one of my favorites of all, and so different than his acting in "Healer". This is the kind of dramatic love story that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster... Flirtation, Mistrust, Passion, Betrayal, Obsession, Loyalty... and they made me believe every moment of it. What I love about all of the characters is that they were so developed, with flaws and vulnerabilities, that it all felt real, even when the plot got outrageous.
I get overwhelmed when I think of everyone in the cast who deserves to be mentioned for giving such excellent performances, but I will only mention a few. Jung Woong is so good at playing complicated villains, like the one I loved so much in "I Hear Your Voice". Sometimes he gave me chills he's so good in this. Jun Gook Hwan is also an impressive villain, the kind you sometimes secretly root for just so you can keep watching them be evil. His sons were hotties, but Kim Jung Hyun deserves a special shout out for being the Duracell Bunny of evil... (he kept going and going and going). Baek Jin Hee was so slapable she was perfect. The Empress Dowager frustrated me the most because she was so good at being duplicitous. Kim Ji Han, with his sexy Alan Richman-esque voice, was also a standout for me. But honestly, I could just run down the entire cast list and praise everyone, from the servants, to the soldiers, to the royals. I love the bromances between the heroes, the catty smirks between the ladies, the nail biting fight scenes between almost everyone, even the kids... This is a cast with not only no weak links, but so many memorable performances.
As far as the story, it is really hard to keep a drama with so many long episodes interesting, but this drama absolutely does. This is a shakespearean level saeguk, with so many twists it's impossible to see them all coming. I also loved that the the drama starts near the end point, so you see where everything will lead first and then are glued to the screen watching how everything will finally get to that point. It also covers a lot of genres. There's romance, and action, and of course revenge, with even a few supernatural moments. There are also comedic moments, but know that this drama is definitely more tragedy than comedy, and often times frustrating and depressing (in an entertaining way) the further along the story gets. I also like that after being less enthusiastic about some of the middle episodes, the pace starts to pick up again near the end so much that I literally could not stop watching.
My critiques of this drama are very few. One is that the circumstances are so unbelievable at times that I almost wanted to laugh inappropriately, but the actors always made the story work no matter how crazy the plot got. Another issue for me was that I was bored by certain parts of the story, towards the middle, although they added to the character development, and made sense to the story as a whole, I was just personally less interested in some of the political rivalries and wars (especially in Wang Yoo's storyline). There are also tropes you find in a lot of dramas, but the storytelling is so engaging that it never feels cliché.
As for the ending, I thought it was simple and perfect. The last 2 episodes pack so much in that it was a little overwhelming, but I felt like there were no loose ends at all, and the very last moment kinda ends with a haunting question... at least that's how I interpreted it, which made the whole story complete.
Would I watch this again? DEFINITELY! It's now tied for my favorite Saeguk with "The Princess' Man". I'd probably take my time with a rewatch, and enjoy the performances, instead of rushing to finish in order to know what happens.
Overall, The characters will haunt me for a while. Every villain was sympathetic, and every hero/heroine pissed me off, which made the power struggles so much more compelling. I love stories like these that make me actually curious about the real people that inspired them. I know very little about the actual history, so I can't reference what is real vs what was made up. I can only assume that there's only a small amount of this story that's based actual events. However, like every good makjang drama, the more unrealistic the better.
I definitely recommend this one as a must watch! I was addicted by episode one. It's certainly not a lighthearted drama, so arm yourself with enough tissues, and be ready to curse at the screen, and clutch at your broken heart. Trust the ratings and reviews on this one, it really is THAT good. If you're a big fan of anyone in the cast, you don't want to miss them in this. 51+ hours later I don't think you will regret it.
Wow, This drama may have finally cured my episode-count-a-phobia!
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I'll start with the romance, which is really the heart of the story, but was my least favorite part. Although the romance was written well, I just never really connected with the main couple the way I usually do when sucked into a K-drama. Jo Yoon Hee is super perky, and Lee Jin Wook knows how to look aloof & hot, but the chemistry between the two of them was lacking in my opinion. Jo Yoon Hee's cuteness was not enough to carry her through emotional scenes, and Lee Jin Wook (although a stronger actor than his co-star) too often seemed emotionless, even with all that his character goes through in the story. I wanted to fall in love with the love story much more than I did. Towards the end I cared a little more, but that's due to the great writing, not their performances.
In general, I think the acting in the entire show was ok, but not stellar. Some of the supporting cast had more personality than the main characters. Still, I can't say that anyone in the cast was really bad... well, except for Jeong Dong Hwan. The stupid faces he made as Choi Jin Cheol were so cartoonishly bad that it was starting to piss me off. He started to remind me of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone.
I think the true star of this drama is the story. Once I got through the set up episodes, the story was non stop surprise revelations & plot twists, which I love. This is the kind of story that will leave you sleepless, as you marathon it, just so you can see what happens next. The story doesn't lose steam towards the end like most dramas do either, which is impressive. It also had the kind of ending that made me want to immediately re-watch the whole story from the beginning, although there weren't any real 'stand out' moments that I wanted to necessarily watch again. I'd re-watch just to see if knowing the ending would change how I see the rest of the drama.
If you're not a fan of open endings, consider this a warning. Still I loved the ending, which made me think, and I don't think was that ambiguous. I believe it was way better than if everything was spelled out clearly or tied up with a corny happily ever after bow. There also weren't any glaring loose ends, which considering how complicated the story gets, was enough closure for me.
I had no idea, based on the premise, that this would be one of the best written, and surprisingly believable, time travel k-dramas that I've seen. (and there are A LOT of time travel K-dramas!) With a different cast my score would have been much higher, which is the only reason why Nine: Nine Times Time Travel didn't quite make an "9" overall score from me.
My review may not be as high as everyone else's, but I understand why there are so many fans, and would definitely recommend it, because who needs sleep? lol!
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What really drives the story is the romance between Seo Yoo Kyung and the new chef. From the moment they first meet, I knew I would love this drama. Their flirty mentor-apprentice relationship was fun to watch for the entire 20 episodes, especially because of Lee Sun Gyun. I knew he was good after watching him in Coffee Prince, but now he is officially one of my favorites. I was glad to see him as the romantic lead this time, and swooned over his flirt-spertise. This is also the 3rd drama I've seen staring Gong Hyo Jin, who gives another great performance as a determined aspiring chef. If played by lesser actors, their characters could have easily come across as unbearably mean, or annoyingly stupid. Instead, their characters had depth, which helped the often predictable plot feel realistic, and their "do it again"/"yes chef" relationship became endearing. Another thing I loved about the romance plot is the other members of the "love square", played by Lee Honey and Chu Alex, were actually likable, and sympathetic. As far as Kdrama romances go, this one felt different, and was refreshing.
On the other hand, the restaurant drama was mostly fun to watch, but it was always pretty obvious what would happen next. Rivalries & schemes describe the atmosphere at La Sfera, and there are plenty of scenes showing the cooks working and feuding in the kitchen. I was never bored, but I would have preferred less kitchen bickering, and more of the main couple. I also would not suggest watching any episode on an empty stomach, since the food they make has such a major role in the show.
I really enjoyed Pasta, and I definitely recommend it. It may not be one of my absolute favorites, but it definitely suits my taste.
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