K-Drama 
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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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Yoo Ah In plays Lee Sun Jae, a music prodigy that accidentally catches the attention of a professor at a prestigious music school, and is thrust into a world where his raw talent is in demand, although he comes from a very different world. Sun Jae's story is the only thing I cared about in this drama, and he comes across as so genuine, impulsive, and passionate, that it makes total sense that Kim Hee Ae as Oh Hye Won would fall for him. The problem is that their chemistry is what is supposed to carry this whole drama and it got old for me very quickly. Yoo Ah In is just an amazing actor, so he handles the range of emotions required for the role, even the most melodramatic moments, in a way that still felt real. I cannot say the same about Kim Hee Ae. At times I couldn't tell if I didn't like her performance, or how the character was written, but I think it's both. Oh Hye Won is meant to be cold and business-minded until she awakens her passion with Sun Jae. I think they did that well in the beginning but eventually, she just becomes so wish-washy and whiney and honestly hard to sympathize with. They also didn't seem to have much chemistry beyond physically and musically, which makes such a controversial relationship hard for me to root for. I got more surrogate mom vibes which got very Oedipusy and weird. Eventually, they relied too heavily on flashbacks too, so the romance in the drama felt stale.
As for the supporting cast, the performances were fine but the corrupt school storyline bored me completely. This takes up a lot of the drama, and I guess was meant to show off the strength of the female lead, but she was so overly melodramatic, and they were so stereotypical, that I zoned out during all of those scenes. Many of the corruption scenes felt repetitive anyway, full of frustrating character choices, so I probably could have skipped most of them and I wouldn't have missed much.
The only supporting character that I really liked a lot was Kyung Soo Jin as Park Da Mi. I loved her being the aggressive voice of reason, which is funny since she initially annoyed me. She was also one of the only characters that showed any growth.
Would I watch this again? Definitely not. The only reason I didn't drop it was because I wanted to see how things would turn out for Sun Jae. Even during the lead actress's big speech in the last episode I was ready to finally give up because I felt nothing. It was her moment and I cared more Ah In's reaction shots. His longing puppy eyes kept me watching, but they couldn't make up for scenes that dragged, musical interludes that felt way too long, and way too many flashbacks. To me, it felt like 4 episodes worth of story stretched out to be 16.
Overall I was ready to like this drama way more than I did. I know many people were more into the music and forbidden romance than I was, so I would say that if you aren't excited about this couple in the beginning, don't expect it to get any better. It wasn't even the extreme age difference that bothered me or their physical chemistry, but they seemed to focus more on mood than developing their relationship. They actually listened to a whole Billy Joel song which took up more time than any real character or story development. That's what this drama felt like to me... a mood that you have to be into more than a story with anything to offer beyond the synopsis. I think that maybe you have to be in a sip wine and listen to classical music mood to watch this drama and enjoy it, otherwise, there are better things to watch than this not even very secret love affair.
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The acting was pretty standard for a bad horror movie. They did a good enough job being catty, and looking scared when they needed to. The music was average k-pop, but the main song was not as catchy as I think it needed to be. I was expecting something more disturbing, like suicide club. Instead, this was a sub par teen horror flick. Fans of gore will get a few moments that are somewhat gross, but most of the scares rely on eerie sounds, creepy images, and of course a long haired ghost. And the ending felt like a blatant rip-off of carrie, which was laughably bad.
I've seen so many good reviews for this that I can't believe I watched the same movie as everyone else. I would not recommend this movie to my worst enemy. My guess is that you really have to love melodrama about k-pop groups in order to tolerate this. There are much better movies out there for real horror fans.
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Most reviews compare the story to Romeo & Juliet, but I think that is an understatement. Though the story does revolve around two "star-crossed lovers" from opposing families, it's also about ruthless political ambition, best friends becoming archenemies, family betrayal, unlikely heroes, and revenge. Like many Shakespearean plays, the story embellishes some historical events, & figures, which helps to make it feel authentic. Every character is expertly played, and written. The end of every episode had me anxious to watch the next one. I was sometimes frustrated by characters, and situations, but never bored. I was a little disappointed, and frustrated, by the ending, but I was also impressed that it didn't take the expected route. I was tempted to give this drama a 9 because of the ending, but I decided it was just too good for that.
The cast was definitely outstanding. The characters really had great depth, and real character arcs. The heroes were flawed, and the villains showed vulnerability. You can actually see the characters change (for better or worse) as the show progresses. Kim Yeong Cheol made me actually empathize with his merciless, and unbearably stubborn, portrayal of Prince Suyang/King Sejo. There are too many great characters to name them all individually, but I have to mention Lee Min Woo who had such an unexpected effect on me as Jung Jong, with his goofy smile. He was the first character to bring me to boo-hoo tears. The friendship between Seung Yoo, Jong, and Officer Shin was just as heartbreakingly tragic as the main romance.
The multiple stories were balanced perfectly, and never made the plot drag, or feel like mere filler. The romance is, however, the heart of the story, and Park Shi Hoo's awesome performance is what ultimately holds the show together - I mean, he is the Princess' Man after all.
I can't say enough good things about Park Shi Hoo. Whether a scene called for romance, action, comedy, or tender emotion, he handled it all flawlessly. As for Moon Chae Won, I didn't even realize that she was the obsessed girl in Shining Inheritance/Brilliant Legacy, which I think says a lot about her ability to lose herself in a distinct role. I also appreciated that she was a just as strong as the male lead, in her own way. I think they had great chemistry, and worked very well together, especially when considering the grand scope of their romance in this drama, and the range of their feelings for each other.
The direction, the cinematography, and the music made every episode feel like a movie to me. I did initially think the opening theme sounded a bit too much like a korean "carol of the bells", but it soon added to my excitement for the coming episode.
I highly recommend this drama as having something for everyone, but this is definitely a tragic one. If you're looking for a cute/feel good drama, look elsewhere. For fans of historical drama, this is a must. For non fans of historical drama, this one is worth giving a try. I would love to watch this again, even knowing the kinda frustrating conclusion. It's such a good story, that knowing what will happen doesn't ruin it, and in some ways may make it better.
The Princess' Man is one of my new favorites for sure. The 24+ hours spent watching it were so worth it!
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Will this finally be my gateway drug to CDrama?
I love dark comedies, and stories that present difficult subjects in unique and intriguing ways. Suicide and depression are topics that are difficult to appropriately address without going heavy on the melodrama but this drama succeeds in a refreshing way. This is also a super easy drama to binge since the 8 episodes are under 30 mins and that is exactly what I did one Sunday evening, ironically when a famous suicide in my area was just making the headlines. This drama made me laugh and empathize and reflect without being preachy or corny. It isn't perfect, but after watching so many disappointing dramas recently it was the best I have seen in quite a while. If this is what CDrama's are like, count me in!It stars baby-faced Connor Leong as Mi Chong, a depressed almost 30 yr old who has plans for the perfect suicide that keep getting ruined by Vivienne Tien as the bold and unpredictable Zhi Liao. I won't say too much more about how they meet and what happens next, but the suicide attempts are worth mentioning just in case that's too much for some viewers. They have great chemistry from the very beginning, less in a cheesy romcom way (which I do love too) but more as just two quirky characters who influence each other. One of my favorite movies is "Fight Club", and they definitely gave me similar vibes to the narrator and Marla. "Definitely Not Today" also relies on narration much like "Fight Club", with some super creative visuals and animation that add to the uniqueness of the storytelling. Their relationship carries the whole drama, with only a few side characters of any importance, and I never grew tired of watching them together on screen. The story only slowed down for me when too many other characters, like the officer and brother, were introduced. The two main leads were all I cared about and a good example of being strong characters individually but even stronger together. Both balanced being hilarious and heartbreaking masterfully.
The rest of the cast is pretty forgetable or too generic... even the funny ones. Figaro Tseng was convincingly cast as her brother, but still forgettable because it's a relatively short appearance.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. In fact I definitely started watching it again... (wait for it)... today lol. It's so short and well-paced that it's easy to watch in one sitting. Where this story goes and how it ends is less impressive than how it starts. The ending does feel rushed and the villains just weren't as interesting as the leads, but just watching them face all the random (VERY random) things that came their way, and each other, was enough to keep me entertained throughout, along with the clever visuals. I can see myself wanting to watch this if I'm in a 'woe is me' mood. There's something oddly comforting and heartfelt about watching these messy characters and all the hijinx that ensues.
I have to thank AnQuat for this brilliant suggestion! I feel like I have a favorite CDrama now, even if it's only my first. (too soon? lol) Dark comedies may not be for everyone, but I love how that style of storytelling allows more freedom to not take even serious matters too seriously. I'm impressed by how much storytelling they packed into these short episodes too. There are some poetic reflections, maybe a tad too much diary entry style narration, and a few possibly triggering scenes, so it isn't only about laughs but it always stays true to its unique style even when somber, which makes me definitely recommend "Definitely Not Today". I wasn't moved enough to tear up but the writing, directing, and acting all impressed me. It was the perfect cure for my recent drama slump. I hope for more dramas like this!
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Yumi is frustrating and flawed and so relatable thanks to some truly adorable cells!
I really loved this drama. I didn't know what to expect when I started it but it was fun and smart and frustrating and so relatable. On the surface, it's a pretty mundane love story with the usual romance tropes and misunderstandings, but it's the cells and their antics that reveal all the inner turmoil that was so easy to identify with. Even when Yumi drove me super crazy seeing her cells made me understand her and reflect on times when I was just as sensitive and irrational. Plus the cells are so super cute!!! I was almost tempted to give this drama perfect scores because of my cell bias, but the main thing that stopped me from doing that was Yumi herself.Kim Go Eun plays Yumi. I actually found her performance overall to be a little dull, but that worked pretty perfectly with the premise. Her lowkey performance is a great juxtaposition to the chaos of the cells in her head. This is my third attempt at a drama with Go Eun as the female lead, and she's always bland to me. I didn't like her in Cheese in a Trap, and I still haven't been able to watch Goblin (Yes, THAT Goblin... the one that everyone loves so much). This time, with the help of the talented voice actors who play her "cells", I finally could enjoy her in a lead role. I was still annoyed by Yumi for most of the drama, but I was also empathetic. Yumi is an insecure romantic, in love with the idea of love, but still scarred from a traumatic breakup. She is matched in this drama with Ahn Bo Hyun as Ku Woong. Woong doesn't make the greatest impression on her at first but soon I was sucked into all the ups and downs of their unexpected relationship. Would they have been an exciting couple to watch without the cells, probably not, but with the cells input, commentary, and actions I was hyped to watch every single episode. Don't get me wrong. I loved Woong, and Bo Hyun's performance, I just think two laid back leads only work well in this kind of scenario. I was also more #teamWoong than I was rooting for Yumi, and I appreciated getting insight into his character too.
The supporting live action cast were all great, although many of them are pretty one note (like the hilariously annoying Ruby, and infuriating Sae Yi), but the real MVPs of the cast are the voice actors. I have my favorites... (Shout out to "Naughty"!!! I loved "Hunger" too!) but they are all the true stars of this drama, with some even taking on multiple cell roles. I don't know the webtoon at all, or how true to that the original cells this drama is, but getting to see and hear them made them seem all so real and made me imagine my own internal cell village. Yes, they are adorable but they show how messy, and contradictory, and imperfect people are, even with the best intentions. I know it's not exactly the most original concept, but the execution is unique, and it really is brilliantly done.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. Just to see the cells? Absolutely. Of course I am happier that there will be a season 2 with new episodes. Still, the concept is clever enough to keep me entertained watching the same episodes again, even if the overall plot is basic, and the lead wasn't always likeable. Being able to comiserate with her is much more important than liking her.
The soundtrack is great too. It's been a while since I wanted to download a song from a drama and "If I could read your mind" was as addictive as this drama. I loved how the soundtrack complimented the cuteness of the cell world without being too cheesy or childish. I love when constantly repeated songs make me excited and not annoyed while watching.
Overall, don't let the cartoon characters fool you. This isn't a Korean "Inside Out". This is a grown up drama about how crazy love can feel on the inside. It's cute, it's sad, it's infuriating, It's hilarious. I would definitely still consider this a light hearted drama, with nothing in the story that's too heavy, although some of the most entertaining parts may have you reflecting deeply. I never cried, but I laughed and cringed a lot. It's not a typical RomCom, so some people may be disappointed by the milder chemistry between the leads, but with the cells taking the lead I didn't miss any chemistry, and they definitely felt like a very realistic couple. I was more rooting for Yumi's growth than chemistry. I also prefer the awkward and realistic relationship plot vs the idealistic love story plot that's the romcom norm. I'm curious about the webtoon but I'm also too afraid to spoil season 2 to check it out just yet. I highly recommend Yumi's Cells as perfect to binge, especially since these are really bite sized episodes within episodes that keep the drama moving at a great pace. I'm really looking forward to seeing this same cast again (yes, even Go Eun, and especially Woong.) a rare k drama treat... while hopefully dodging spoilers from the webtoon and it's fans. I can just imagine my inner cells grabbing popcorn and planning a watch huge party in anticipation of season 2!
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I think I should start with the lead Ok Taec Yeon as Tae Pyung. I do think he did a good job in his role but since his character carries the entire drama, I wanted to love him more. He plays Tae Pyung as cool, and clever well but when things became more melodramatic and intense I felt less connected to him. I also wished I knew much more about his backstory which was treated more like an afterthought. He is matched with the equally cool, confident, and clever Lee Yun Hee as Seo Joon Young... the only person who's death he can't foresee. I think they make a great team in the beginning, especially when they are initially feeling each other out. I do think they lacked strong romantic chemistry though, which doesn't help when romance drives the story. It's not that I didn't like them together, I did. They had many moments together that I liked. It's that they lacked excitement, and even in the most heightened and emotional moments they were just too casual and cool with each other. It seemed like the plot had more passion than they did, although it also rushed something that didn't have enough time to develop.
I thought the rest of the cast was pretty good too. The officers, reporters, Tae Pyung's support team, and assorted bad guys all played their part well, but Im Joo Hwan definitely stands out as the best of the cast. His character was so complicated, and I think he did a great job of playing out the range of emotions required without being too overdramatic or unrealistic. I also love seeing him in duplicitous roles, which I think he excels at. More than the female lead, he felt like Tae Pyung's true match. I think they worked well off of each other. I also felt the same way about Jung Dong Hwan as Teacher Baek in his more supportive role. Still, I didn't love anyone in the cast enough to give the acting a higher rating.
As I already mentioned, it's the story that drew me in. Tae Pyung's dilemma about whether to stay a loner, the murder mystery, ruthless reporters, and revenge aspects of the story are super exciting for most of this drama. As the story progressed towards the ending I felt like there was a shift and that's when things started to drag and unfold as expected. There were also a lot of flashbacks, or rather flashforwards that started to feel overdone. I almost wish this drama had fewer episodes, and then maybe they would have trimmed more of the fat. I felt like I was just waiting for things to end like I knew it would which was completely different from the unpredictable feeling I had when I first started watching. The end also felt cheesy and way more melodramatic than the beginning, which added to my disappointment. Stronger character development and performances definitely would have helped.
Would I watch this again? Probably not, but I am curious if I would catch things that I missed the first time if I did. Maybe if I loved the main couple more I would, but I can't see myself watching every episode again unless I completely forget the plot over time.
Overall, this drama is pretty good but not as amazing as I thought it would be. The ending was decent, so I didn't feel like I wasted my time watching, and I like the theme about making the most out of your life in the moment instead of fixating on the end, but the writing seemed to sometimes defy all logic just to get to the ending they wanted. If you like crime thrillers I think the originality of the story makes it worth watching. If you're looking for a great romance I would probably skip this one, or at least put this lower down in your watchlist queue. If I had a power like Tae Pyung to see how this drama ended ahead of time I still would have watched it, but I really wanted it to be so much better.
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Obviously, the person in this cast deserving of the most praise is Yoon Hyun Min in the dual role of the lone tech genius Nan Do and the ultimate supportive ai hologram Holo. He really made them feel like two completely different characters and I completely sympathized with both of them. Sometimes scenes with actors talking to themselves can feel cheesy but Nan Do and Holo's scenes always felt very realistic. He is matched with Go Sung Hee as the socially awkward Han So Yun who was also so good and easy to sympathize with. They definitely have great chemistry, and this drama certainly centers around romance, but I like that there are also themes about self-acceptance and supportive friendships that are just as strong. This certainly isn't the first drama about a robot/ai/hologram that directly or indirectly teaches humans how to connect with each other but that doesn't stop this from being a memorable story with great characters.
The supporting cast is great, and I loved that some of the bad guys were sympathetic and some of the good guys weren't always likable. The duality of some of the main supporting characters made them way more interesting and realistic and helped to make the story less predictable. However, there is one character who stayed pretty much one-note, Nam Myung Ryul as the ruthless and moralless Baek Nam Gyu, but he was just so good at being evil that it worked well. The story is definitely over the top in some ways and melodramatic at some points but I still think that it all comes across as completely plausible because the cast is so good.
Would I watch this again? Yup. I'm glad all of the episodes were released at once because it was fun just watching them without interruption. It's also the kind of story that I would enjoy watching again even if I already know how the story ends, especially because of So Yun, Holo, and Nan Do. It also is well told, and concise without much filler, so the episodes feel like they breeze by, while still providing the right amount of action, butterflies, and feels, and a very satisfying ending.
Overall, It kinda reminded me of a long Korean "Black Mirror" episode, but I felt much more emotionally invested. In many ways it's a look at how disconnected we have become due to the convenience of technology and the value of true human connections. I laughed, I cried, I got frustrated, I felt inspired. If you ever felt shy, insecure, emotionally guarded, or distrusting of humans in general, I think these characters will resonate at least a little. From the beginning to the very end (and I really loved the ending) this story is well told and had me hooked, which made me forgive any flaws in the logic, possible plot holes, or extra cheesy moments. This is a great sci-fi romance, and although it doesn't quite match some of my current favorites, it comes very close because it's so much fun to watch. It's certainly worth watching just to see Yoon Hyun Min be a second lead ina triangle with himself (impressive), and the pretty imaginative special effects. If you're looking for a drama that's binge-tastic you found one! I think if you give it a chance you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was. This drama has a more than meets the eye quality that I appreciated, and that's not necessarily a Holo glasses nod, but if the glasses fit... watch it ; )
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One of the best things about this drama is the cast. Every lead and supporting character is exceptional, and makes this a great ensemble. Ji Sung plays the sensistive and passive male lead Cha Joo Hyuk and is matched with Han Ji Min as the extremely aggressive and tempermental Seo Woo Jin. They actually have amazing chemistry, but what they also do well is portray one of the most frustrating to watch couples in all of dramaland. You can probably find reasons to hate both of them, and definitely hate them together, but that's what makes this drama work so well. It really makes you think about what it can take to make a relationship work, and what makes it worth it... or not.
This drama doesn't just focus on the main couple's drama but there is also the entertaining characters working at the bank (I loved all of them), as well as Joo Hyuk's bffs and sister, Woo Jin's mom, and Joo Hyuk's crush. Part of the fun of this drama is how they all interact with each other even when things change. There's also a lot of comedy to keep the story from feeling too depressing, or heavy handed with nostalgia and regret. The whole cast really worked well together. There are also some pretty awesome cameos and references to other dramas that were maybe unecessary, but a nice touch.
I gave the story a slightly lower score, even though I was very entertained from beginning to end, because a lot of it is pretty implausible. It's best if you turn off your logical brain and enjoy the ride. I also had an issue with the mysterious homeless man character, who I really liked as well, but I wish his backstory was a bigger part of the story. However, the writer did do a good job of giving every character some time by the end so there didn't feel like there were any loose ends or unresolved stories.
Would I watch this again. Definitely. I admit that I was so annoyed by the main couple in the first episodes that I would love to rewatch it all with a different perspective. The cast alone is entertaining enough to make me enjoy watching it all again, plus I'm a sucker for stories about learning to appreciate your life even if it's imperfect. I also love "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind", and the mood of this drama reminds me of that movie.
Overall this drama may not have made me cry like other turn back time dramas, but it's not exactly lighthearted either, and I loved how it presented a more realistic relationship with imperfect characters that I wasn't even sure I would want to see end up together in the end. I think thats what makes this familiar scenario stand out from the rest. Instead of the expected grass is not always greener storyline I felt like this was more about actively working to create the life you want while embracing the fact that it won't ever be perfect. I highly recommend this TwilightZoney drama. If I could go back in time I'd assure myself that this one is definitely worth watching. Also, it's a good reminder that happily ever after is in the eye of the beholder.
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This review may contain spoilers
I think "Circle: Two Connected Worlds" is the perfect sci-fi binge drama I was hoping it would be. With only 12 episodes, and such a compelling story, I easily finished this in two days. The most interesting thing about this drama is how it's literally split into two different stories, so it almost feel like you are watching the original and the sequel at the same time, and you're basically waiting for the stories to eventually connect. The first part is set in 2017 (which is actually the past and called “Beta Project"), and it has more of a sci-fi thriller feel. This story centers around a disturbing trend of suicides at a school that are more than they seem to be. The second half is set in 2037 and has more of a sci-fi fantasy feel with a detective edge (called "Brave New World") which took a little more time to grow on me. I do think the fantasy world was imaginative, yet realistic, for just 20 years into the future (I want those phones), but I still was more into the the story set in 2017 involving the 2 brothers, the suicides, and this mysterious "being". The Brave New World part of the story has more of a dystopian society feel, that is equal parts "ideal" and creepy. I guess which you prefer may depend on what genre you prefer. Those looking for a romantic drama should know that this falls more in the category of bromance. The story centers around the relationship between twin brothers played by Yeo Jin Goo and Ahn Woo Yeon in the Beta Project episodes, and Gong Seung Yeon rounds out the trio as the mysterious Han Jung Yeon. There are so many twists in the story that I am hesitant to talk about any of the characters too much, but it's fun to figure out who's crazy, who can be trusted, and who the heroes will be. Yeo Jin Goo as Kim Woo Jin definitely has star quality that I remember from "The Moon that Embraces the Sun", and "Missing You", where I think he was better than his "older" counterparts. He is the deserving star of this drama and I think he did a great job. I was initially less impressed by Gong Seung Yeon and her blank face stare, but I really started to like her as well, and I'm impressed by how beautifully she cries.
In the 2037 cast the stand out is Kim Kang Woo as Kim Joon Hyuk. It's initially very hard to figure him out which I think is a good thing for this kind of story. This is the first drama I have seen him in, so I had no expectations for him, and by the end he made me tear up. I also really loved Lee Ki Kwang as Lee Ho Soo, his reluctant side kick. This was another character that really grew on me as the show progressed.
The rest of the cast, in both worlds, were really good, even when some were, almost comically, acting in an over the top manor. The villains in particular were definitely extra wide eyed crazy. But all the characters were played well, and those who had a matching future counterpart were matched pretty well. Even the kids were super cute, so I have no cast complaints.
Now, the story is definitely full of complicated and confusing twists, and some of the logic may not work if you pay too much attention, but in general I thought they did a good job of keeping the story constantly interesting, especially when the two stories started to merge more. There may be some holes in the science that I'm sure you could find, but what I liked about the story was that it was more about the moral questions that the science brought up, than the scientific details. I think they hit on some really thought provoking questions like "What makes us who we are?", or "What creates inner peace?", or "Can science go to far?", or even "Should happiness trump all else?". Those are just a few of the things this drama touched on in this story that I thought were very interesting. There are some other thoughts and themes that would fall too close to the spoiler zone to mention here, so I will just sayI enjoyed the philosophical aspects of this drama as much as the story.
I will say that I have mixed feelings about the end. I think the goal was to leave it open for possibilities of a sequel, or just to keep people thinking. Not every question is answered either, but I think everything that needed to be resolved was resolved, and the rest is just open for interpretation, or a season 2. I could see myself watching this again, because it's not drawn out, and it would be interesting to watch the story knowing how all the pieces fit. I admit that the fact that it's not very predictable is what kept me watching initially, but the story and characters are entertaining, and the surprise element isn't it's only appeal.
Overall this is not the kind of KDrama I would usually watch, but I'm glad I expanded my horizons a bit. I do like sci-fi in general, and love Thrillers, and both of those elements were done well here. This may not be full of rom com antics, but it is not totally without some romantic elements. If you like endearing cops cracking the case, there's some of that too. It's also the perfect length, so there is absolutely no dragging storylines, or rushed endings. I know this personally opened me up to watching more dramas like this one. "Circle" didn't give me the obsessive feels that my favorite dramas give me, but sometimes a really good story told well is all you need!
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The story itself has a lot of familiar thriller elements. There's a murder mystery, a kidnapping, a race against time, and a cunning criminal behind it all. Ryoo Seung Bum is great as the subtle, and unsuspecting, mastermind Lee Seong Hyo. I liked that he wasn't a crazy over the top villain. It made him seem more sinister. He is matched against forensic expert Kang played by Sol Kyung Gu, and tenacious rookie detective Min Seo-yeong played by Han Hye Jin. Sol Kyung Gu was great, but I was a little less impressed with Min Seo-yeong. There was nothing wrong with how she played the character, but she just seemed a little timid and forgettable for my taste. There was also an obnoxious cop, who seemed too much like comic relief to me. Still, the entire cast was pretty solid, although the real star of this movie is the script.
In the beginning the plot is pretty slow, but trust me when I say that you'll want to pay attention to all that's going on. I was reminded of other thrillers that I love (Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, Primal Fear) but I think No Mercy is still an original. I had no idea how it would all end until the very end. Now that I know the whole story, I am curious to watch it again from that perspective, but I admit that some of the suspense will be gone. I also want to warn viewers that there are some very graphic moments, but nothing explicit without a reason.
I know it gets compared to Old Boy a lot, even by the friend who recommended it to me, but unlike Old Boy's over the top revenge ending, this ending was just brutally haunting.
I think this is a must see for any fan of revenge thrillers, or if you just want to be told a great story (even if it's not a happy one).
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Way too much time is spent on characters whining about money. They whine about not having enough, who's getting it, and how to get more of it. I was tempted to fast forward through some scenes with particular characters, but I was afraid I'd miss too many key plot points. I would have preferred it if Lee Seung Ki, and Han Hyo Joo had more screen time together instead.
Though I loved watching Lee Seung Ki's character's transformation the most, the entire cast impressed me. Of course Kim Mi Sook stands out as the epitome of a wicked stepmother, but she could have had less screen time in my opinion. Quite a few of the characters have really good epic crying scenes, though I personally was never moved to tears by the story. Still, the actor that impressed me the most overall was actually Yun Joon Suk, who was so believable that I initially thought he was autistic.
I am glad that I decided to stick with it, and watched the whole thing. There are definitely a few moments that I already want to watch again, but I don't know if I could ever watch all 28 episodes again.
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Since Nokdu is the title character it's important that he is at least likable but Jang Dong Yoon more than succeeds in playing a charming character that I loved rooting for. It's his quest to find out the truth about who he is that takes him on this epic journey where he ends up pretending he is a widow on the run "Lady Kim". Sure the idea that he is such a convincing woman is pretty ridiculous but he really makes it work without playing too much into feminine stereotypes. This is the first drama that I've seen Jang Dong Yoon in, and I was definitely impressed. He is perfectly matched with Kim So Hyun as Dong Joo, who may be much younger but being an experienced actress, she definitely holds her own. They have great chemistry from the moment they meet, going from sibling-like squabbling, then eventually growing closer. I also loved that Dong Joo had more of a fighter's spirit and had more traditionally male energy in some ways and Nokdu was the more sensitive and romantic one which added to how he could be easily seen as feminine. Sure they both have literal genderbending moments, but this drama doesn't play up that misunderstanding for too long, and crossdressing is eventually used more like a tool. Instead, we get to see all the things that bring them closer together and fuels their connection and eventually their trust and support for each other. That brings me to Kang Tae Oh who plays the quintessential handsome second lead role and gives a performance that is absolutely brilliant. As much as I loved Nokdu and Dong Joo, it is Yool Mu who is the true breakout star of this drama!
I don't want to go into much detail about each amazing cast member since I don't want to accidentally give away too much of the plot, but just know that the entire cast is great. Some characters are more for comic relief, while others are much more sinister, serious and complicated, but they made me care about what happened to each one of them (Shout out to Hwang In Yeob who may be a man of few words but his eyes and smirk said volumes). Some characters are more frustrating to watch, like the impetuously hot-tempered king and the annoyingly food-obsessed and unable to just shut up little girl, but that's because of the role they play in the story. The Island of exiles, The Widow Village, The Gisaeng House, The Palace... The world of Tale of Nokdu is filled with great and performances and a cast that knows how to go from comedy to action to drama without making it feel disjointed. Earlier scenes were a bit confusing to me, especially the politically based ones, but with every revelation, the full story becomes clearer and clearer. This is a drama that gets better and better with each episode, constantly building momentum. Even seemingly mundane moments have an importance that isn't realized at first. This is a drama that pays attention to details, without ever taking itself too seriously for too long. Every episode of this drama is meant to entertain and it does. I'm sure it's even better if you binge-watch it instead of having to wait. It also has a very satisfying ending in my opinion which gives the serious moments the attention they deserve while still leaving room for the playfulness that makes this drama so much fun.
That leads me to the question of whether or not I would rewatch this drama and my answer is definitely. It would be great to see this drama again now that I know what's really going on, and am able to catch all the things I missed the first time. I'm sure it will be just as entertaining, even if the suspense is gone. The performances, storytelling, and cinematography are compelling enough to keep me entertained, and I can already think of a few scenes that I would love to see again.
I also liked the OST. I won't say that any of the songs are favorites of mine but they fit the different moods of the drama well.
Overall this is definitely a drama I would recommend and already have. It's one of my new favorite sageuks, and although this didn't make me as emotional as my favorite historical dramas usually do I really felt connected to characters in a way that I never would have expected when I started. I also loved seeing a romance that isn't just about chemistry, flirting, or fate but is about choosing to be each other's support and "home". I even empathized with many of the villainous characters. And I especially loved the theme of the value of trust and the importance of having support from people who care vs a lonely existence where you may have wealth and power but can trust no one. The sillier moments may be too over the top for some viewers but I thought they were really cute, especially the earlier bonding episodes between Nokdu and Dong Joo. The heavier moments also aren't too heavy for long, so while I wouldn't call this drama lighthearted it is a feel-good drama in many ways in spite of some very dark turns in the plot. I also loved the theme of so many strong and self-sufficient women in a traditionally male-dominated Joseon Dynasty Era. If you give this drama a chance I think you will be pleasantly surprised like I was. I can't compare it to the webtoon since I never even heard of it, and I suspect there are zero historical accuracies beyond a few names, so my review's only based on this drama's own merit. Like Nokdu disguised, this drama is clever and endearing, and one that I couldn't help but grow to love.
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Cha Hong Do and Ko Yi Seok’s chemistry was so unexpected that my jaw literally dropped. I started watching assuming I knew how the story would go… Awkward “unattractive” girl with issues and obnoxious rich guy with family drama… so many KDramas follow this storyline, but this one deviates from what’s expected. I hated their dynamic in the beginning, but by episode 4 everything completely changed! Chun Jung Myung and Choi Kang Hee were so good together that their relationship felt real, and I couldn’t stop myself from watching them. I remember liking Choi Kang Hee in “Protect the Boss”, and some of that no nonsense attitude showed up sometimes in this drama too. I remember Chun Jung Myung from “What’s up Fox”, and even though that was made almost 10 years ago, he had the same unexpected sexiness mixed with cuteness which makes him a perfect KDrama romantic lead. They may not look the part of an epic kdramaland couple, but his babyface adorableness, and her uniqueness, completely won me over, and was seriously steamy. If you’re still looking for eye candy, Lee Jae Yoon fills that role very well, even with the dumb hair. I’m still missing his character from “I Have a Lover”, so I was happy to see him in something else, with a much more significant role (I will be stalking… I mean watching his other dramas for sure). He’s equally charming too, which makes for an awesomely complicated love triangle… which turns into an odd love pentagon at one point, but that speaks to the uniqueness of this drama.
I give a definite 10 rating for the main actors, and for all of the supporting actors, except one. Yi Seok’s father is bad, like really bad. So bad I have to write it in the review, even though he is barely in any scenes. So bad I had to take half a point away. I really liked Detective Yang, and thought Chairman Grandpa was great. The person who I literally thought was useless until the later episodes was So Hee. I know she’s an idol, and I think she did a good job, but she was still annoying. She kept behaving in a way that I guess was supposed to be cute, and I didn’t find her, or it, cute at all. She also seemed extremely childish, so it was hard for me to take her in a relationship seriously, especially not a real relationship with Detective Eye Candy. The show is written so well that even she started to grow on me, and I eventually stopped thinking of her character as useless. That’s another thing I loved about this drama. There were really no throwaway/filler moments or characters.
I really do have to applaud the writer and director. I loved that each episode starts with what will happen later in the episode, which instantly won my automatic interest from the very beginning. I loved sometimes seeing things from the character’s point of view. They were able to incorporate a lot of cool storytelling styles without being too gimmicky. I also loved how they approached the theme of Love, what it is, what it can endure, and with characters really being honest about how they feel (which isn’t always good). I can’t really say anything bad about the story, only that it switches genres, almost completely, about halfway through. Suddenly it goes from RomCom to Family Melodrama, and although it makes sense to the story, it is still a different tone than the beginning, which some viewers may not like. The family drama was not my favorite part, but it did bring depth to the characters that I liked a lot.
About the music, the soundtrack is as quirky as the show. I liked some songs, and hated others, but every song matched the story well, even the ringtones!
Is “Heart to Heart” rewatchable? Definitely! I finished the last episode and immediately started to rewatch episodes 4 & 5. I know I will watch this all again at some point, and I can even endure the less interesting parts, because they still add to the overall story.
This drama definitely won my heart over completely. Whenever I thought I could predict which drama cliché would be used next, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s also refreshing to see unconditional love stories, where flaws aren’t deal breakers (I’ll give just one spoiler - There is no amazing make over, which also made me happy). I definitely recommend this drama, and I recommend watching it with an open mind. You have to ignore things like therapist ethics violations, police brutality, identity fraud, and of course stalking, and just embrace the knowledge that some things are ok in Kdramaland. I also recommend waiting until episode 4 before deciding to drop it, because the first few episodes are not a good gauge for how the rest of the show will be. It’s also binge-watch friendly (It took me 3 days to complete). By the end of the last episode I was completely satisfied, and inspired by love and all it’s possibilities.
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