michelleoc

WAY too many episodes!!

Just my own personal opinion, but this show was hard for me to finish. The writer should get some kind of award for making a show with the most unlikeable characters in it. I understand that there need to be some people that we don't like in order to provide some tension and move the story along - but when that includes the lead characters, it's a problem. I couldn't root for the leads. I couldn't care about what happened to anyone. There was too much backstabbing, too much hate, too many antagonists.

The story line itself was a meandering mess. It moved one way, then it went in another direction, then decided to go into a yet another direction. Was it a mystery? A revenge story? A comedy? The body swap was messily done, and much too often. I didn't feel that the actors were able to differentiate enough when they were inhabited by the other person. To me, there is a difference between a strong FL and a B****. She definitely fell in the latter category. Once she changed a little, it was too little too late.

As for the romantic relationship, I will say that the kisses were technically well done, but I didn't feel chemistry between them. They were too cold to each other for entirely too long. Bring in the revenge factor and that makes it even worse.

One more thing, since the writing didn't work for me, I found myself inordinately focused on the wardrobe. So many short, short skirts, which seemed odd since they were always on that giant stairway. People were always looking up at the people on the stairs or the people standing on the second floor - short skirts don't work in this instance. They put the FL in a number of strange outfits. I hated the boxy, oversized, mannish suits they had her wear, as well as the patterned sweaters, belts, multilayers she wore when she was inhabited by the ML. Lomon in a suit, however, can never be a bad thing. Then, the final thing we see is him walking toward her in the most ridiculous shirt/jacket I think I've ever seen.

Not that it was ALL bad -
1) Again, technically good kisses.
2) Shirtless Lomon in episode 8.
3) The team that worked in the basement was somewhat entertaining.
4) Lomon in a well-tailored suit.

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It's great to watch if you like not much happening

I found this show to be amazingly slow. Do the games have anything to do with the mysteries? The teams switch up each episode, which I couldn't decide was a good thing or bad thing. I think the thing that bothered me the most was the constant replay of scenes so you could see each person's reaction. It really messed with the flow. Lots of running around, which used up a lot of time.

I did like how they filled the apartments with things from the time period that they were investigating...a blast from the past.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed Jennie. She was pretty charismatic and quite a good spy.

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Bottom line...WATCH IT!

Oh my! What a beautiful story! This is one of those rare dramas that made me forego life in order to watch the whole thing in one day. I cared about each person, wanted to know more about them, and join them on their journey. The struggles, the accomplishments, etc. At the outset, I was worried that this was going to be full of family members that I hate, but we got to see why they were the way they were, as well as their growth. It was heartwarming and heart breaking, and I was sorry when it ended.

The acting was spot on, as far as I was concerned. Park In Hwan as Deok Chul - the 70-year-old that wants to learn ballet was an absolute joy to watch. First, I want him to be my grandpa. Warm, caring, supportive of his family. What a beautiful smile! I don't want to give too much away, but his facial expressions were perfect as you get further into the drama. The changes that come over him. We often tend to ignore and denigrate our elders. Deok Chul changed everyone he encountered for the better, he had such an impact on everyone he came into contact with.

Song Kang as Chae Rok - tall, slim, yet muscular, befitting of a ballerino. He did a great job of portraying an individual that was selfish and driven. I really sensed that he was going through the motions with dance until he met Deok Chul. There was a stillness about him, this may sound strange, but it made me think of a flower just before it begins to bloom. The interactions between Chae Rok and Deok Chul were wonderful. I loved watching the maturation of Chae Rok, becoming less selfish and caring so much about someone else.

Kim Kwon as Yang Hoe Beom - I don't like bullies, so, as intended, I hated this character at the beginning. I don't know if it was just the blond hair, but I couldn't look away when he was on screen. I loved that they developed this character, that he was changed by Deok Chul as well. This actor was able to convey so much emotion with just his eyes. I'm going to go and see what else he's been in.

Then there was the surprise cameo of Seo In Guk. We also got to see Cha Sung Je in episode 11. He was the cute North Korean thief/beggar child from Crash Landing on You, a couple of years older here. Still so cute.

I also loved that they didn't turn the granddaughter and Chae Rok into a romance. I'm a romance junkie, so for me to say that is saying a lot. This drama didn't need it.

I have so many thoughts running around in my head, vying for attention, to explain how I felt about this drama. At the end of the day, what I say doesn't matter. I may never fully understand all the reasons I loved this show, I'll just have to say, it is definitely more than worth your time.

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He's hoping for a season 2, and so am I!

Where do I even begin. When I first read that they were going to do this show, I wasn't too sure. But Suga is a natural. He's playful with his BTS mates, yet still manages to bring out new things that we didn't know. They are goofy together, dancing, cutting up, and laughing about silly things they've experienced. He also gave an opportunity to spotlight some other bands that we may not know and then moved to actors.

I love the idea of every guest bringing their favorite beverage, and it was funny to me that Suga didn't quite know what to do with the ones that didn't bring alcohol. Then, when you add that each episode basically turns into a mukbang, what's not to love?

Each episode had something special about it, but the last episode with his best friend Jang Yi Jeong was especially touching. When Jang Yi Jeong touched on his problems with his voice and difficulties mentally because of it, there were moments of silence that Suga didn't feel the need to fill, because it's well-known that Suga has had his own struggles in the past. Their support of each other was obvious.

Suga is respectful of every guest that comes on Suchwita, and manages to draw things out of them that fans, or people that will become fans, want to know.

This is another good show to watch if you are at all interested in BTS, not just their talent, but their personalities and their camaraderie.

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Why what his drama split in two?

I reviewed the first half of the drama, and it was for the entirety of the drama. So, here, I'll give the Cliff's Notes version of my thoughts.

My recommendation would be watch it and decide for yourself, since everyone seems to have loved this drama. My rating is based on my feelings and does not reflect the actual quality of the drama.

Excellent cast. If you've been watching Korean dramas for any period of time, these faces will be familiar to you. I would have liked for some of the stories to have been more in depth, to develop the characters a little better. This drama was a Who's Who in drama land.

The concept was interesting. Some people had a problem that it seemed to be an anti-suicide PSA, but to me it was more about how choices we make affect others.

My biggest problem with this drama was the overabundance of violence. Many of the characters were not well developed, because of the number of bodies that he inhabited in eight short episodes.

But again, I will say, this is all just my personal opinion. Watch it, you'll probably like it.

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So much filler

What I liked:
-Both actors in the lead. I've liked them in other projects.
-You gave us a wedding at the end!!! Thank you so much, it almost makes all the time I spent watching this worth it.
-Cute, low angst, supportive mom, no triangles
-The lead couple were cute together, but I didn't feel a romance vibe from them. More like best friends.
-Happy ending.

Not so much:
-multiple really bad kisses.
-Lack of "couple" chemistry.
-I didn't care for the secondary storyline.
-2ML. Either it was written poorly or acted poorly, I don't know which.
-This could have been condensed down by quite a few episodes, in my opinion.

I will just acknowledge that I seem to be in the minority on this. Please don't come at me with hate, it's my own personal opinion. Maybe I'm jaded, maybe I'm impatient, maybe it's ADD, but I fast forwarded through most of this and STILL felt it went on too long.

But don't listen to my opinion, if you like low angst, fluffy romances, you will probably like this, it just didn't have enough to hold my interest.

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FINALLY, a strong female lead!

I would have to say that my favorite part of this drama was that the writers took a different direction than they normally take and made the FL smart and strong, without making her a total witch. Sadly, the preponderance of FLs seem to be doormats and/or not very smart. The ML was very supportive, but you didn't feel like the FL needed to be "saved", because she could take care of herself.

I watched this on YouTube and there was only one episode where the sound was wonky.

The ML and FL were cute. I always like when a man has liked a woman for a long time, and this was sweet.

I do have to say that the 2FL's acting was pretty bad.

As usual, the voice dubbing, especially for the 2FL was awful. Why do they always have to use the high, shrill voices?

This was good to watch while trying to pick my next drama.

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Could have been much better at only 12 episodes

I'll start this review by saying this is only my personal opinion, so I would appreciate if people would refrain from being ugly. This review is also full of spoilers, so if you don't want to know them, don't read past the portion about what I liked about the show.

What I liked:
1) Rowoon - visually and professionally. I felt that his portrayal of Shin Yu was very understated, yet he put his emotions out there when it mattered. The episode where they FINALLY explain the back story fully (maybe episode 12?) was wonderful. You could feel his love and despair. When he was uptight and self-centered, he was funny in a non-over the top way. Once he and the FL got together, I loved their chemistry and the cuteness factor. And the costumers did an awesome job with his wardrobe.
2) Bromance between ML and 2ML - they were antagonistic, but their encounters with one another were always amusing.
3) Chemistry between ML and FL - yup.
4) The CONCEPT of the script. The idea felt original and interesting when reading the synopsis and watching the trailers.
5) I like how they resolved the "curse".
6) The fireworks scenes, just beautiful. The costuming in the historical part of the drama. The cinematography in the snow (the spreading of the blood) in the historical part was beautiful.

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

What I didn't like:
1) The EXECUTION of the script. The whole thing felt very repetitive. The storylines ran on too long. Especially the stalker storyline. How many different scenarios did they come up with for him to get away, be on the loose, and terrorize her? I mean, how many times did she really need to break up with him "for his own good"? This would have been more compelling if the script had been tightened up.
2) FL's character. I love Bo Ah as an actress. This character was working my last nerve. So many drunk scenes, and that was the only time she spoke up. She was just a pitiful doormat of a person, letting everyone walk all over her. Her trying to be cute when she was around someone she liked, changing her voice and her mannerisms. Then she moved WAY into stupid territory - which ended up making me angry, like yelling at the tv angry. There is a stalker out to kill her, yet she's alone in the park, alone at the hospital, alone in the neighborhood. He's tried numerous times to kill her, but by all means, open the door when he rings the doorbell! Then, when she finds Shin Yu bleeding in the stairway, she just spends an inordinate amount of time saying his name. Maybe you should call EMS? There was another time that she managed to drag his dead weight to the car (when she's half his size) to drive him to the hospital - wow, that's strong. Then the bleeding in the stairwell scene - not a character problem, but he'd have been dead if he'd lost that much blood.
Her constantly saying that she wasn't going to see him anymore for "his own good". Then, who drags someone all the way to the snow to break up with them??!?! That would have been an amazingly uncomfortable ride back to town.
3) Crazy gf, and I mean crazy!! I know that, for him, it was an arranged relationship, but she apparently didn't get the memo. That her behaviors were allowed to continue on through all 16 episodes was painful to watch.
4) Her coworkers. Oh my gosh!! They were awful! They were mean, loud, and entirely too over the top. Eventually I skipped their scenes, they were so intolerable. Also, there was no need to use up as much time as they did with the office romance of the bosses - no one cares.
5) His family - his mom was portrayed as an airhead, and his dad was just downright verbally abusive. In fact, there were an inordinate number of unlikeable characters in this show.
6) Costuming for the women - what is with the short shorts as work outfits? Then, add boots. Just not a good look.
7) The character of Shin Yu at times. I really didn't like how he kept breaking up with the GF but then kept meeting with her. He didn't say anything when a wedding date was sent. He knows that the gf is pretty much terrorizing Hong Jo, but doesn't really address it. Also, the way he allowed everyone, including his family, treat Hong Jo. I know that respect is valued in Asian cultures, but, to me, respect needs to go both ways. There were so many times that I was waiting for him to "man up", but he never did.
8) The relationship between the leads was very messy, I thought. Was he affected by the potion, was he not? Her becoming attracted to him - that didn't totally make sense either. Then they went from push and pull to not being able to be without one another and crazy in love. It didn't really flow well, I didn't think. That said, I loved their chemistry was lovely.

Should you watch it? Again, it's personal taste, but I found a lot to be lacking. But if you are all about Rowoon and can put up with a frustrating script, go for it!

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Soothing but somewhat lacking

I watched this movie on a long-haul flight last night. It was a slow and peaceful watch, but it didn't wring any emotions from me.

They liked each other in high school but have been apart for 10 years. This was problematic for me from the standpoint that he could get training in cello pretty much anywhere, and she had the type of job that could be done anywhere, so the distance for that long period of time didn't make sense. There were a couple of phone calls, but that's it.

I did like the flashbacks, though neither one of them looked much different, just in hairstyle.

Since the whole of the movie was of them apart, trying to realize their own dreams, I couldn't feel their love. I honestly thought it would end differently than it did. It was a cute ending, but again, nothing tugging at my emotions.

The ML did say something to one of his orchestra friends about the FL that was very swoony, but again, didn't he think he should share this information with the FL?

The filming was kind of sepia toned, which I thought was interesting. Basically, for me, it was something to pass the time.

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It grew on me

At the beginning I was getting the "how many times have I seen this before" vibes. I didn't find it too interesting, but then about halfway in, I think I just decided to enjoy the ride.

It's a story about first loves, fractured relationships, budding friendships, with the obligatory corruption thrown in for good measure. It was enjoyable to get to know the people, some more than others. I thought the 3rd couple was irritating and unnecessary - lots of pouting, whining, and other very juvenile behavior.

The main couple was cute, though I saw them more as friends than anything else, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I did like how they didn't have any misunderstandings and were there for one another at all times.

BIGGEST DRAW FOR ME - Choo Young Woo as Jung Young Joo. I've not seen this actor in anything else and he was captivating. The ultimate bad boy, but with a strong sense of family and decency. I loved the way this character was written, and Young Woo embodied the part totally. He was very serious, but when he broke into a smile, watch out. And I have to say, surprisingly, that my favorite parts were the development of the relationship between Jung Young Joo and Kang Seo Young. Trying not to be in a relationship, but falling into a relationship, their scenes in the last couple of episodes were just darling.

Disliked - the head of the school (though I was supposed to, so she did a good job). Even more than my dislike of that character was the song Dream On. I swear, they must have played the one line of that song about 250 times. Fingernails on a chalkboard!

I don't feel the need to watch it again, because I didn't love it, but it was certainly worth watching for Choo Young Woo. It's a sweet, low-angst watch.

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Oh the humanity!!

This will be a complete spoiler rant, so if you don't want to know what happens in this show, stop reading. It's been a long time since I have been so frustrated and angry while watching a drama.
1) First and foremost, I hated the FL character. This woman was actually stupid. I mean, how many times are you gonna stand in the street and wait to be hit by a car?! Why would you meet up with your cheating, scumbag of an immature ex-boyfriend? Why would you let the girl that slept with your boyfriend boss you around? You're interested in a guy, and he tells you that he's approached you because he thinks you killed his brother, and you don't get mad? Not only that, you tell him over and over again that you like him, knowing that he just thinks you're a killer? You find out who one of the killers is, and you continue to hang around him? AND, you accuse him to his face?!?! You go wandering around at night, by yourself, to find information on the killing, you run into one of the killers, yet you continue to wander by yourself? Then, there is the total lack of work ethic and the fact that she seems unable to do the simplest jobs correctly.
2) I didn't particularly care for anyone in this drama. The ML, the looks he was always giving made me think that he was not the best guy in the world, either. Were we supposed to think that? Why?
3) Too many episodes. The red herrings were flying fast and furiously and there were almost complete episodes that I fast forwarded through because the flashbacks were completely repetitive, and they kept trying to make us think things that weren't true. This can work well, but in this case, I felt like the writers were writing the script on the fly and had no idea where they were going to take the characters.
4) Lack of chemistry between lead characters. They actually seemed to be uncomfortable with each other. It was painful to watch.
5) Once I finally found out what actually happened, it was such a letdown. Again, I felt like the writers boxed themselves into a corner and wrote and ending that no one would care about after all this time.
6) Time Jump - I know, it's obligatory in K-drama world. He left without speaking to her, leaving her a note. Comes back a year later like nothing had happened and she just forgave him?!?! I'm not one for playing games in relationships, but I don't think anyone in their right mind would forgive and forget that easily. Plus the fact that the chemistry was still lacking. This was the first time I've watched a drama where I would have been perfectly happy if he never came back.

The music was the highlight of this drama.

I would not watch this drama again, even if someone offered to pay me to do so.

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Short and sweet

This was a fun, and funny show and I was so pleasantly surprised! This show managed to handle a few of my dislikes in a positive way:
1) I don't like historical dramas, but since this was set in modern times and the historical aspect was well-handled, I really enjoyed it.
2) I also don't care for slapstick comedy. This was found in abundance in this show, and it was well-done as well. All of the sound effects added to the fun of the production. There were many times that I laughed out loud. With all of the over-the-top special effects, sound effects and overall silliness, the show was a perfect length for it to not get tiring. *In the last episode, when they did the slow-motion nod to Goblin, I choked on my soda...so funny!!
3) Chinese dramas tend to be long and drawn out. With 18 short episodes, there was no filler.
4) The dubbing in Chinese is problematic for me. Women's voices tend to be screechy and irritating. I understand that they have to dub because of all of the dialects, but better voices would not go amiss. That said, the woman's voice worked in this one. The woman's voice is the same voice that is normally the 2FL voice - high pitched, breathy, childlike. It worked perfectly for the character of Fu Bao - she was a tiny little thing!
5) Sometimes you find a lot of overacting and yelling in Chinese dramas. Again, those things worked perfectly in this show, it added to the slapstick feel (I'm speaking mainly of the villains).
6) Fake kisses/fish kisses. Nowhere to be found here. There was abundant chemistry and good skinship in this one!

This is the perfect show to watch if you don't want to have to think too much and just want something light to watch between heavier dramas.

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Excellent acting

Acting: Kim Jung Hyun as Hyun Tae Woon was really, really good. He's got an interesting look about him. He's kind of rough around the edges and isn't the typical Asian "pretty" actor. He does serious, he does funny, and I totally believed him in this role. I also enjoyed Kim Se Jeong as Ra Eun Ho, but what I enjoyed most was their chemistry. The hate to love didn't go on too terribly long, and they had an actual healthy relationship, based on mutual respect and support, with both of them having a good sense of humor, which, let's face it, is important in a relationship!

Story: The plot started out okay, but got bogged down. There were the obligatory evil teachers, administrators and parents (did we really need so many?!?!). There was the one teacher that stood up for the kids - I enjoyed his character. However, ultimately it was less about good and evil, but more about how much the school sucked. I did enjoy the friendships in this drama.

I would have to say that my favorite parts of this show were watching the main couple together.

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Nothing new here

**If you tend to always adore Chinese dramas, especially those about kids in school, pass by this review. Upon looking back at my other reviews, apparently, I don't care much for Chinese high school dramas. None of them has been a stand-out for me. I don't think I'm terribly picky, but they've all seemed pretty immature to me, and I didn't feel that this one was any different. I tend to really like the friendships that develop, but the romance never works for me.

This show had a somewhat good premise with the idea of the "brains vs. brawn", but I didn't really feel that the way that they portrayed either group was very realistic. The cast was very large and quite a few people weren't used to their full potential. There were MANY places that the acting it was so bad it was cringe-worthy, and don't get me started on the voices that they use to dub the dialogue. I didn't feel the chemistry between the leads, and the development of their relationship didn't capture my interest. There was quite a bit that I fast forwarded through, because I just wanted to finish it.

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