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The most impressive part of this show is Jang Hyuk as Dr. Lee Yeong Oh. I've only seen him in Fated to Love You (which I LOVED), but he is completely unrecognizable compared to that role. His portrayal of a doctor who lacks empathy surprisingly tugged at my emotions. He was so good that it was impossible not to sympathize with his character. His approach to each case sometimes was reminiscent of the show "House", but I did find his character to be very unique. His performance alone would make me recommend this drama.
He is matched with Park So Dam as Gye Jin Sung. She was very cute, and played her role well, but I wasn't that impressed to be honest. In the beginning her character is written to be annoying, but that eventually turns into an awkwardness that is endearing. She also has pretty good chemistry with Jang Hyuk, and some really cute scenes, but there's no strong spark between them. Part of me wonders if a more mature actress would have made a better match for a strong character like Dr. Lee. It also may be too hard for some romance fans to root for the way the male lead uses Jin Sung. It didn't bother me, but I can see how some viewers may not like how gullible, and easy she is.
The supporting cast is also strong, especially the main hospital staff. Some of the "bad guys" are a little too cliché for me, or not interesting enough to mention. Still, I think the cast is the strongest part of this show, they just didn't have a good enough story to support them.
The story was interesting at first, but I think it honestly became too complicated. The amount of betrayal, and corruption kept increasing, and I stopped being able to completely follow who was bad, and why. There was also a major personality change for one of the main characters which made that character less interesting to me. Then there was the complicated father son relationship, which was one of the most interesting parts of the show for me, but that story, and the romance story, were too often overshadowed by the hospital corruption plot which bored me. In spite my feelings about hospital dramas, I liked how the patient stories served to reveal new things about Dr. Lee, and I thought those stories were done well. I wish the overall drama focused more on that, and Dr. Lee, then maybe I would have liked it more.
The writers did do a good job of ending the show early without it feeling too rushed. I don't even think that having 2 extra episodes would have necessarily been any better. I prefer that a show be cut short rather than dragged out with nothing new to add.
Overall I liked this show, but the start was much stronger than the finish. I don't really see myself watching it again, but I certainly don't regret watching. Like I said before, the main character is interesting enough that I would recommend watching this, but don't expect an epic romance, or an amazing thriller. In spite of my moderate review, I do agree that this show is underrated. I've seen much worse shows have much more popularity, so don't let the fact that it's unpopular fool you!
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Fun, Nothing Serious...
This is a super fun rom com! It's the kind of drama that you watch again, and again, or quickly marathon straight through (which I just did), because you just have to watch what happens next. This drama is not deep, or very intellectual, but it isn't completely shallow either. It showcases how unpredictable relationships can be. It even explores some heavy situations, and mature topics, without losing the light feel of the drama. While watching I laughed, cried, and felt genuine butterflies. The cast got me totally invested in their shenanigans from beginning to end.This is an ensemble cast comedy in lot of ways, but it does primarily focus on Gong Ki Tae and Jang Mi, and what their fake relationship becomes. Faking a relationship is nothing new in kdramaland, but these two felt like a different kind of couple. Han Groo as Jang Mi is so unpredictable, an charmingly imperfect, that she was an awesome character to root for, and I was excited to see how she would react to certain situations. Yeon Woo Jin as cool Gong Ki Tae was her total opposite, yet made a perfect match. They have palpable chemistry, and I became instantly addicted to seeing what would happen between them.
Add to that a truly great supporting cast, who were just as interesting as the leads (even if I hated some of the characters). In real life, this crew of 6 friends would be the worst friends EVER, but in kdramaland I loved their relationships, and the love hexagon it created. Most of the characters are flawed but likable. Jung Jin Woon as Han Yeo Reum is great eye candy, but also was an interesting character. Han Sun Hwa
as Se Ah is an über beyotch, but also oddly likable, and won my sympathy. Heo Jeong Min as Lee Hoon Dong is a cross between a jerk and a lovable clown (similar to his role in Another Miss Oh ) - his is another character that grew on me. Then there is Yoon So Hee who was really good as Nam Hyun Hee, even though she was an almost impossible character to like. I prefer these kinds of characters in dramas to one dimensional forgettable ones. I never felt the urge to skip through their scenes, which is also a good sign.
The cast of family members are great too. I won't name them all, but the VIP of this whole drama to me is Kim Hae Sook as the mom. She is officially my favorite KDrama actress. I loooooove watching her in dramas, because she may not be the leading lady, but she always manages to steal the show. I almost thought that that wouldn't be the case with this show, because she first appears to be so passive, but the scenes where she simply and sweetly says "Jang Mi" were some of the most memorable moments of the show. Still, I took .5 points away because the acting is super over the top at times. I know that's the style of the show, but in some moments it was almost too much - like I'm laughing when I should be crying bad.
Speaking of style, I love the way this drama took some pretty overdone clichés and showed them in a new way. Each episode starts with a teaser of what's to come, one that's ambiguous yet intriguing enough that you become eager to see what actually happens during the show. It's often not at all what was implied, like an anti-spoiler, but it works well, and kept me hooked. The plot is never boring, cheesy at times, possibly too predictable in a few moments, but still never boring. Some heavy situations are taken too lightly, and some light situations become epic problems, but this is not the kind of drama that one should analyze deeply. The storytelling also definitely doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it puts some custom chromed rims on that wheel so it feels like new.
The soundtrack was also a perfect fit, and I had to download it. Even the over the top comedy effects and extra EXTRA cheesy songs grew on me. I found myself involuntarily humming "love lane"... OMG it's still stuck in my head... that and "barago barago baraedo neol..." make it stop... lol
So would I watch this again? Definitely! I couldn't allow myself to give this a perfect score, or add it to my favorites list, only because is does rely so much on doing what has already been done a million times before, BUT it does it better than most. Even the ending held my interest till the very last moments, and ended up being perfect! As far as rom-coms go, I'd say that this one is a MVP must watch. As far as life changing dramas go... hmm... It's not without some valuable perspectives on love, dating and marriage... but don't take things too seriously and you will enjoy it much more.
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This is how I would describe this drama and it's over the top appeal. This is not a drama with substance. It's listed as a melodrama, but it is a cartoon version of a melodrama. All of the characters are comedic and over the top, yes even the bad guys. I admit that this was a plus and a minus for me, because sometimes playing certain things up for the comedy made it frustrating to watch, and hard to take seriously. Once I let go of any type of expectations of seriousness, I liked this drama a lot more, but I should be honest... there is only one reason I kept watching in the beginning, and that reason is Seo In Guk.
Seo In Guk as Louis is the main reason to watch this show. I've seen him, and liked him a lot, in other dramas, but I had no idea he could be so hilarious and silly. Louis is a character that could easily become annoying if played by the wrong actor, but instead I totally fell for him and his antics. He also managed to make him feel real in each completely unrealistic scenario this drama put him in, which sucked me even further into the story. Even when the plot let me down, Louis never did.
He's matched with Nam Ji Hyun as Go Bok Shil, another super sweet and likable character who avoids being annoying. She is naive, yet brave, so her innocence wasn't a turn off for me. I also loved that although she is obviously the Cinderella of this story, this never changed the essence of who her character was. Bok Shil and Louis are so incredibly adorkable as a couple, and have such great chemistry, that it felt like watching a real love story in spite of the cheesy plot. Their love story is what the show is all about, so liking them made me automatically like the show, and look forward to each episode.
There is also Yoon Sang Hyun as Cha Joong Won, another actor who I've loved in many other dramas, and he pulls off another memorable character. Playing totally against their sweetness, with each clearing of his throat, he became the hilarious third wheel to complete their love triangle. Although he is a classic "forever alone" character, watching his rivalry/bromance with Louis was fun. Honestly, the entire supporting cast is fun to watch. I can't really think of one bad cast member, and considering the cheesy dialogue and scenarios (a certain car ride comes to mind), the fact that they could pull off such over the top comedy so well shows how talented they all are.
What I didn't love is the plot. There were way too many tropes/clichés, and certain scenarios were dragged out way too long. I got so frustrated waiting for Louis' memory to return, or for someone to reveal who he was. Then there was some extreme violence that felt out of place in this extreme comedy, and seemed to be more for shock value. I did love the side stories of some of the characters (their neighbors, the servants, the mom clique...), but the main story of what happened to Louis, and why, seemed really messy. The romance portion does have some sweet closure at the end, though unbelievable, but at that point I liked them so much I just smiled and accepted it. That's how I felt about most of the plot... smile, or laugh, and accept it, even if its completely ridiculous.
Would I watch this again? Probably not, but maybe. Again, the cast is really cute, so maybe that's enough to justify a second viewing. Maybe Louis' goofy smile is enough. At least the OST is good.
Overall this is a great excuse to watch Seo In Guk be as cute as possible, and a fun drama for those looking for more laughs than tears. It has too many flaws in the plot to make my favorites list, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it on someone else's. Who knew that amnesia, homelessness, robbery, assault, going missing, and family greed could be such hilarious fun? This was a great break from heavier dramas, and I highly recommend it for exactly that reason.
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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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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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Meh.
First, I will start by saying this drama is not good. It's pretty terrible honestly, but it was somehow still amusing enough for me to want to keep watching. This is a romance with an unconvincing love story. It's a good concept with a weak plot. What kept me watching? The characters and the promise of a funny love story kept me wanting to watch each new episode, and I really hoped that the romance would eventually get better. It doesn't. It's like they threw a bunch of my favorite ingredients into a pot but the final dish was at best... just edible.The first issue I had is with the leads. I love Kim Ji Suk & Jung So Min individually. Both are in kdramas that I consider my all-time favorites, and both are a part of couples that are among my favorite kdrama couples of all time. The problem I have is that they just didn't seem to pair well with each other. Kim Ji Suk is comedic and ridiculous, which is what I loved about him in "Oh Hae Young Again", and Jung So Min is great when it comes to emotion, which is why I loved her in "The Smile has Left Your Eyes". The problem here is that "Monthly Magazine Home" is a pretty silly comedy, not a serious drama, and it really seemed like they were acting in 2 different kinds of dramas at times. I think Kim Ji Suk was well cast as Yoo Ja Sung because of his over-the-top personality, but I could not take him seriously in any of the more dramatic, romantic, or emotional moments. Jung So Min is great and relatable as determined Editor Na and does have some funny moments, but she just doesn’t match the complete silliness of the rest of the cast and spends too much of this drama looking upset, apologetic, and out of place. They did have some good banter in the early episodes, and I liked their initial awkward scenes together, and Ja Sung's random motivational moments, so I thought they would have better chemistry but their dynamic becomes more cringy than cute over time. Ja Sung's weird “in love” smile and Editor Na looking like a confused hostage in their most romantic moments was a huge disappointment. I liked their characters individually but not together. I wasn't even convinced they really liked each other.
The rest of the cast was amusing, but definitely playing more for laughs than depth. The feel was a little (ok a lot-tle lol) like “The Office”, finding humor in the dynamics between these quirky work characters, lead by an egotistical boss who never quite gets it. These are the pettiest coworkers on earth, and how they support and then quickly turn on each other is the main joke. That gets pretty repetitive, and sometimes annoying, but I did grow to like them enough that I still found it mostly funny. What didn't work as well for me were the more serious moments between these characters, which included some pretty bad acting moments, especially Chae Jung An. I adore "Coffee Prince" but her acting here is really not on everyone else's level. Meanwhile, Kim Won Hae is always funny in any drama he's in, including this one, and Ahn Chang Hwan was a comedy standout as well. Sometimes his antics went overboard, but he was consistently good in his role.
I also feel the need to shout out Jung Gun Joo as Shin Gyeom, the obligatory 2nd lead. He's everything you could want in a 2nd lead... cute, understanding, rich, dimples... but boring. It's not his fault, his acting is fine, but it's like they gave up on his character midway and just had him react to the two leads instead of having a strong character of his own. He's a metaphor for the rest of this drama, It's like they gave up on everything midway.
Would I watch this again? No. It was fine for one viewing, but the story just kept getting worse. By the last episode, I kept pausing out of frustration and the better scenes did not involve the leads. There weren’t enough good moments in this drama to make me want to sit through this ever again, although I did appreciate the episode that paid homage to “Parasite”. Plus the ending was a complete letdown and included one of THE MOST frustrating final episode tropes. They definitely tried to rush to tie loose ends, but the story still felt unfinished. I didn’t care enough to want it to continue. In fact, it took me longer to finish this drama because I forgot I was watching it.
The soundtrack is kinda cute. Also forgettable, but cute.
Overall, this is not a horrible drama but it’s definitely a skippable one. I liked hearing the realistic savings and real estate tips, and getting a tour of some amazing Korean homes, and I appreciated Na Young Won’s determination to own a home of her own, but as a romance this just isn’t up to par. I don’t even mind the date your boss cliché, but at least do the cliché justice. As an office comedy it’s decent, but not LOL funny. The theme about what makes a home and the frustrations that come with securing a home was a good concept, but these stories didn’t get me to invest emotionally into it. This was definitely a dish that looked good on the menu but was unimpressive once I took a bite. I wouldn’t order it again or recommend anyone else eat it, unless you’re just hungry for anything, then his may assuage your hunger in the meantime. I guess I should have use a "home" analogy... umm... This drama is a home in a nice neighborhood that seems perfect for you initially but once you move in you realize how in desperate need of repairs it is, but you will make the best out of it for now until you can find a better place to live and can finally move on.
I’m ready to move to a better drama home.
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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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The cast is this movie's saving grace, although the supporting cast is pretty forgettable. Jo Jung Suk
as Jung Jae Chul is unexpected but as arrogantly charming as always. Gong Hyo Jin as Eun Shi Yeon is a good strong female lead, although not as interesting as the male leads overall even though she is the center of the story in some ways. Ryu Joon Yeol as Seo Min Jae to me is the best part of this whole film. I am a fan of his weird quirky charm, which made me love him in the first place, but I liked seeing the action star sides of him too. I can't imagine any other actor playing that role as well.
I watched knowing nothing about the plot, which was a good thing, so I won't give much of it away. I liked not knowing who was good or bad, which was one good thing about the story overall but as a police action thriller it was pretty tame with some cool car chases but not much excitement overall. I honestly didn't care about the story at all until maybe halfway through, and even then it was more about loving Ryu Joon Yeol than it was about the plot.
Overall this movie didn't live up to my expectations, but it didn't quite disappoint either. It was pretty light as far as thrillers go, but not funny or romantic, so it was too tame for my taste. Maybe I'm just not as big of a fan of this type of genre in Korean Cinema, but there were hints at a sequel did leave me a little bit curious about the possibilities. Maybe if I lower my expectations for the next one I will like it more.
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