michelleoc

Not enough meat to the story

I'm usually a fan of movies, rather than a series, if it is well-done. Chinese series, in particular, tend to be very drawn out with a lot of filler that I can do without. Unfortunately, this movie seemed to be all about the filler and no meat. We never got to really delve into the personalities and the motivations of the characters. The acting was okay, given what they had to work with, but there wasn't enough good writing to let us care about them and what happened to them. I have enjoyed the actors in other shows, but the lack of chemistry here was very disappointing. Add to that a very unsatisfactory ending and I just got the feeling that I had wasted my time in watching this.

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So much to love, but...

I'll start by saying that if you want a slow-paced drama, this is one that has a lot going for it. My overall impressions -
OST - exquisite. The music is perfect, blending the beauty of classical piano with the sadness of a cello, and some beautiful songs that flow effortlessly throughout the show. The music was excellent at pulling emotion out when the script itself wasn't able to accomplish it.
Cinematography - I think this is the most beautifully filmed K-drama that I've seen. The camera filters that give so many scenes the filmy/artsy look. The play of light and shadow was brilliant. Some very good slow motion work, and I loved how most of the show was dressed up in pastels, nothing bright and jarring, save an occasional pop from a red sweater. Him walking through the woods near his childhood home was gorgeous, and the snow scenes were amazing. So, actually, I'd have to say that most of my love for this show vacillated between the OST and the cinematography. In my mind, while I was watching, I kept saying, "pretty!"
Costuming - nothing too attention-getting here, but I had to mention the trench coat that Jung Hae In wore in ep 11 with the leather collar and accents. It was just beautiful and it conveyed power and anger in the scene that he was doing at that time.
Acting - excellent. Jung Hae In as Ha Won was very understated and had wounds from his past, though I didn't really feel sorry for him because of the reasoning (to be discussed in storyline). Chae Soo Bin as Seo Woo - she is really lovely. She has those sad eyes but a perkiness about her that is so endearing. She ran a lot in this show, and it was so cute, her running down the alleyways from place to place. The rest of the cast was very good - I loved Lee Jung Eun as Min-Jung, the grieving mother.
Chemistry - the main couple was cute together, but no off the chart chemistry. This was a "comfortable" relationship (kind of like an old pair of shoes), they spent time together, supporting one another and learning more about one another, but I didn't feel any progression of their relationship. There was one kiss.
Storyline - Overall, this was a story of healing. Healing from loss, healing from loneliness, healing from aspirations unachieved, and healing from secrets coming out too late. Each person in the story dealt with their losses in a different way, and I really liked how the writers delved into ways of healing - opening up to friendships, being brave to put yourself out there to someone you like, turning loose of old hurts. I especially loved the scenes in the boarding house, where the boarders would sit on the floor in the kitchen and drink and talk and laugh. They were each getting something special from this bonding. Again, Lee Jung Eun was wonderful as a mom that feels guilt and despair and has closed herself off from emotional contacts. Watching her open up was a treat.
SPOILERS BELOW:
Writing - here's where my problem came in. First, I'm sure others have mentioned it, but the fact that this show was shortened from 16 to 12 episodes because of low ratings is telling. There was a subtle shift in the pacing of the last couple of episodes as they tried to tie up all loose ends. Ha Won and his 10-year unrequited love for someone that went and married someone else was just pathetic (and why did she, anyway?). A lot of the scenes between Ha won and Seo Woo didn't ring true, because he'd been in love with an ideal for a decade, and then after a few conversations with Seo Woo he's moved on? Plus, I felt that Seo Woo was kind of a doormat. I know she was supposed to be understanding of his dilemma, but really, anyone in real life would say "snap out of it!" And the AI aspect was not believable and just kind of creepy. The ending was very abrupt and unsatisfying.

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What a letdown!

This show was well-acted, and there was really a lot going on, but I didn't find the relationships believable. You've been with a guy for years, but suddenly have an interest in someone else, but then you're kind of "meh" about him as well. Maybe I was most disappointed in this show because it was more of a "discovery of who I am as a person" compared with a romance. The last episode had a tastefully and beautifully filmed scene with the main leads, but the ending was so bland I really didn't feel that they would have a future together. Or maybe they would, but by this time I just didn't care.

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Not earthshattering, but very enjoyable

The Veronica Park character, very annoying - but she really redeemed herself and was so amusing. The storyline, initially not too interesting. Once the storyline really got started, lots of twists! The main characters? Great chemistry and they were both lovely to watch. I found myself smiling, a lot, they were just so cute together. He did a wonderful job of portraying loneliness in his life. He also had the cutest pout. And yes, I did some crying, oh, and laughing too! I don’t like when there aren’t consequences for evil (uncle). Mistaken identity went on longer than I would have liked, but overall this show gave me all the feels. Lovely happy ending.

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What endearing characters!

This show reminded me of a rich, sweet dessert. It was so delicious, but I wanted to take small bites in order to savor it and enjoy every bit of it. This is a show about the families we are born into, and the families we create for ourselves. There were so many sweet moments when I found myself smiling like a lunatic, as well as the heartbreaking moments where I kept reaching for tissues. All of the actors did a terrific job with a wonderful script. I didn't feel that there was anything extraneous in this show, nothing that felt like filler just to have more episodes. Each character had strengths on their own merit. Woo Seo Ri has been in a coma for 13 years. There are so many ways the writers could have gone wrong with this - by turning it slapstick/silly, by making her behave in an immature way throughout - thankfully they didn't do that. She suffered, sure, but she had a strength of character that allowed her to keep forging forward. She had a lovely, positive attitude. Gong Woo Gin had a tragedy in his past that changed him - he cut himself off from human contact. Yang Se Jong, who played him, was exceptional. Watching him unfold like a flower, opening up to those around him was such a special thing to watch. And when something happened and he started to close up around himself again, my heart broke. I also loved Mr. Gong's nephew and his friends, and Jennifer? She was astounding! How someone can convey so much emotion while being emotionless is amazing. I thought they were going to use one of the standard (overused) ideas for the ending, and I was so happy when they didn't! The chemistry between all the cast was just wonderful. I feel like I don't want to move on to something else yet, and start this whole thing over again tomorrow. I put off watching this for a long time because I thought it was going to be filled with cliches, but the writers took the high road and turned this into something unique and wonderful.

I also have to say that I LOVED that there wasn't the evil love rival in this. Jung Eugene as win Joo's boss was terrific, and it was a joy to see a strong woman in her own right, being friends with a man for years. They, too, had sort of a familial relationship. I felt that each relationship was so special, and because of this, I have enjoyed watching this drama numerous times.

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Serious melodrama

This review is based upon my reaction ONLY to the show. I'm a romance/happy ending kind of girl, and this was WAAAYYY on the other end of the spectrum. This is a serious melodrama.

If you want to see some awesome acting by Seo In Guk, watch this. He was amazing. Here he plays completely opposite to anything we've seen him in to date. I had a hard time seeing him as anything other than the hero of a show, but he was chillingly believable.

I felt that the female lead's character was severely lacking in self esteem and came across as needy. This was a woman that should not be let to make her own choices, because she chooses wrong every time.

The music was perfect and carried the mood well.

I have to say that I was depressed after watching this show. Too much angst, too much deception, too much melodrama.

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Oh my

Food and romance? I'm in! And if you were to take everything else, other than the main couple out of this drama, I would have rated it much higher. I loved them together.
Song Seung Hoon in the ML role was wonderful. I've never seen any of his other works, but he was charming and very likeable. There was something very charismatic about him.
Seo Ji Hye in the FL - loved her! I like that she's got this killer beauty about her, but she can be playful and vulnerable. They were lovely together. We got a lot of scenes of wonderful food, and quiet times of them getting to know one another.

However:
So much wasted time! Too many story lines.
The story line with her boss and the homeless doctor was silly.
A love rectangle - no thank you.
I despise the trope of the ex coming back into the picture and doing whatever to break up the main couple, just because they've decided they now want the person and they deserve to have them. The ex-girlfriend was such a character, and the ML was entirely too patient with her, letting her fawn on him, linking arms with him, etc.
Then there was the FL ex - he was LITERALLY a stalker, but she didn't call the police?!?!
I didn't like the social media story line - I'm so over this in real life, people making a living of "likes" and clicks.
We got a wedding at the end, but it was her boss and the doctor. I was robbed! Plus, what was with the vine hanging in her face?!?!

This would have made a wonderful, healing movie if it was just about the main couple.

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Cute, easy watch

Okay, so it's not going to change the world, but hear me out. Lately, I've not had much luck with dramas. I happened upon this one completely by accident and decided to give it a try. I stayed up into the wee hours of the night to finish it.

I enjoyed the relationship of the leads, going into a business relationship and then discovering that their feelings were overriding their business arrangement. It was a natural progression, with actual conversations between the leads, as opposed to so many dramas making them "suddenly" in love.

I liked how we were able to hear their inner dialog when they weren't willing to verbalize their feelings to each other.

I'm pleasantly surprised that I was pleasantly surprised!

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Perhaps I've become jaded

Have I seen one too many body swap dramas? Have I watched too many family/corporate power struggle dramas? Perhaps, but this one did not hit right on any level for me.

First, I was hoping for some comedy. I didn't find anything in this funny.
Too many characters to keep up with, each more evil than the last. Who was I supposed to root for? I didn't care for anyone.
For me, the ML was overacting and his scenes felt completely unnatural to me. Was it because he was supposed to be the chairman?
The chairman's daughter developing feelings for the ML when he was the chairman - just no.
When the chairman woke up in the ML's body, he was excited that his leg was healed. Magically, so was the ML's injury as well.
What was with the chairman's hair?! It was so distracting! Did the hair/makeup person not know how to make someone's hair gray without making it look like a stiff powdered wig?

I'll admit, that based on everyone else rating this so high, I was just in a bad head space to be watching this at this time, but I was greatly disappointed.

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Healthy relationship

This was a lovely little show. At the beginning, I was afraid it was going to be over acted, as some J-dramas are, but they reined that in very quickly.

The relationship between the leads was very healthy and supportive. The main takeaway for me, though, was the way the FL was portrayed. On the surface, she was disabled, but she was able to teach others so much. The people around her seemed to become better by being friends with her. I liked the whole friend group as well.

Minor problems for me - even toward the end of the drama, there were those that were still calling the ML Black Panther rather than his name, and they kept calling him a delinquent. Also, the gay friend and the Fl's sister getting together - did she think she was going to be able to change him? Oh, and when the old friend kissed ML - why didn't he stop her?

All in all, it was a sweet watch with very little angst.

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I had such high hopes...

The leads were everything. Gorgeous, funny, great chemistry whether sparring with words or kissing. I was feeling such a sense of happiness that I was FINALLY getting a decent rom com. Then, about halfway through, the tone changed 180 degrees and left me with more questions than answers.

Why was the original king so scared? Was his death an accident or murder? Why, exactly, was the queen mother so determined to hang on to the monarchy? How did BWS just "happen" to find IU when her brakes failed and save her? IU's character was so anxious to get a title, yet she kept flouting the rules, which certainly didn't score any points for her. Why did IU's assistant, after spending an entire show demonstrating strength and ability, suddenly become a sniveling "girl" when she knew that the prince was in the fire? So out of character. Oh, and IU going in to save him in that heavy coat and without anything to protect her breathing. That coat would have caught fire in a second.

But my biggest complaint was the story arc of the Prime Minister. They turned him evil at the end, and I couldn't help but feel they were trying to write themselves out of a corner because they couldn't think of anything else to do. So, ultimately, what happened to him?

This could have been so much more, if they'd kept the romantic comedy and decreased the palace intrigues - especially since they just brought questions.

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I was surprised I liked it as much as I did

The most pleasant surprise for me was Heo Nam Jun. He has such a completely different look from other Korean actors. He's got the face suited to a villain, and I didn't know what I'd think of him in the role. Oh, my goodness! He's harsh and hateful at times, yet vulnerable and loving at other times. I watched this on the heels of a drama where every time the ML yelled, he was seriously overacting. Not so here. There were a couple of times that he yelled, and I could feel his hurt and anger. This actor has yearning down to a fine art. The economy of movements, the blank stare, the tears in the eyes - it was excellent.

I didn't LOVE the main couple, to me, she seemed older than him. Maybe that was because she was supposed to be from the Joseon era. I do have to say that her continuing to talk like she was in the Joseon period was irritating, and I feel that there were many opportunities lost for her to be a fish out of water and trying to learn technology, etc.

Episode 13 - when her grandmother was dying (which I felt was completely unnecessary), the bus they were on stopped at the bus stop made famous by BTS in Spring Day. It was like the perfect product placement. Though they didn't use the song, if you know the words, it conveys loss and sadness so well. That got me in the feels.

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