roddib

Finally I got the see the finale. Everything in this drama just screams high quality. The writing is magnificent. The acting, especially Zhang Yi Shan as Joseph Lee, unforgettable. There were many many moments when this drama pulled at my heartstrings and brought me near tears. It's suspense filled and not necessarily an easy watch. To have basic knowledge about the historical background and context before watching is a must, imo. 9.5/10

watching at kisskh (has eng subs)

Am at ep 3. I guess it's fair to warn that this is not for the fainthearted. But I'm impressed and invested. Fantastic drama. Raw and realistic.

kisskh

Hae doesn't hold a grudge against his father? In the version of the drama I saw he angrily orders his father to get the hell out of his shop every time he shows up. Hae's character growth means he makes peace with all of his past. We'll likely see that in the last episode.

I agree with everything you said. (Except I do hate the hair lol but I always hate this particular hairstyle). The drama isn't perfect but way better than more popular recent dramas (BAYM, Genie). SJK's dual roles in Arthdal Chronicles I will remember forever, that was really the masterclass of acting. Reborn Rich, Vincenzo, also great roles. SJK is one of the finest actors.

Private lives are private lives and none of our business.

I'm not feeling the main couple's romance. I like the 2nd couple more. Seok Ju is caring and unselfish. In the final episode, Hae needs to let go of his grudges.

she's simply awesome in this drama. (I didn't like her in Our Movie but that was (too) heavy handedly directed)

I'm anticipating Baek Hye Ji to be the murderer of the daughter. I'd like that as she would not be the normie psycho antagonist. She proved her quit wit and acting skills in the police station.

the brother. just a very boring standard psycho. Sister is slightly less standard boring psycho.

I guess I check out new k-dramas just out of habit but I'm getting increasingly irritated by the bad and lazy writing. But these kinds of light romcoms will always be popular so they don't even need to make the effort.

Many of us shifted to c-dramas (high quality ones like The Guardians, Mobius, This Thriving Land, Northward)... I guess I check out new k-dramas just out of habit but I'm getting increasingly irritated by the bad and lazy writing. But these kinds of light romcoms will always be popular so they even don't need to make the effort. C-drama scene is more competitive and domestic TV audience looks for prestige and quality.

Met as kids trope coming up. In addition to the ones already there. Chaebol family power struggle, parents killed in a car accident (possibly murdered). A battle between the main actors loveliness versus the immensely worn out k-dramas tropes handbook. Propable drop for me.

I'm just glad it's over. Skipped 90 % of eps 11-13. I wanted to finish bc I've been dropping most k-dramas lately. But it was difficult and felt like work. This is just a complete mess and a big waste of money. King the Eternal Monarch from the same writer is ridiculously messy but in hindsight brilliant compared to this.

This could have been meaningful if the writer had stayed with the theme of selfishness/unselfishness. But the writer didn't have any clear vision of what she wanted to say. Or her ethics are too different from mine for me to understand her message. In the end I found the drama distasteful.

I did enjoy the colours in Kim Woo Bin's jackets. But the last ep was shamelessly built around PPL like King the Land's last episode. This year has shown that no matter how bad the writing, ppl will be satisfied, as long as there is romance & humour. Just like with BAYM. When these are the successes, the future of k-drama doesn't look bright. 4/10.

Noooooooo! Is this the 4th time Kim Sung Oh is killed off in the middle of a drama? This is too unfair!...(Alice the Final Weapon, Unlock My Boss, Low Life... and I don't even remember whether he got killed off also in Lies Hidden In My Garden....)

Well said Tabong. Nobody reads the synopsis. Every time I express disappointment with the drama starting the downward slide someone says "it's in the description" or "it's in the tags".

Very true. Completely agree.

looks great!

Currently at ep 8, wondering why everything about this drama is so half-hearted. Except fashion, loving Kim Woo Bin's colourful jackets. His acting is top notch.

But the drama is somehow failing at building a credible and grabbing fictional universe. In this context metanarrative jokes about the writer and Netflix just bring a further disconnect and land badly.

I think I'd have enjoyed this more if they kept exploring the wishes (selfishness / unselfishness). The immortal boy is a particularly dismal choice for a villain, because the actor is just a kid. A good drama also needs antagonists who are not just generic evil psychos with all the usual psycho villain facial expressions.

I feel this is just another big waste of money. Don't come at me. It should be needless to say that my opinion is just my opinion. But at the current state of k-dramas and MDL you just can't make a drama mediocre enough that kids do not go on full fan warfare mode to defend it from "haters" (see BAYM page). Everyone has opinions and the right to express them. Should be self-evident.