silent_whispers

This was actually kind of bordering on painful.

Maybe Ji Chang Wook doesn't want to do another action drama because he put all that work in for this script. Ugh. It's odd, but some of my hope and what little interest I had in this drama kind of got shot in the head. (See what I did there.)



It's just that I truly feel at this point that the drama is trying to live off of it's star power. It's odd how boring I found the action scenes. At the very least the writer is trying to give us some character building.



An Na has apparently lived believing that she had killed her mother up until this latest escape attempt. Flashing lights is her activation/brainwash code!! So now she knows she didn't, and it's not too much of a mystery to know what happened. *sighs* Let's hope they don't keep flashbacking to it as a tease plot arc.



Je Ha apparently made a bad call in the line of work and lots of people died. He's haunted and from what we've seen a naïve nice guy. Hmmmm. Okay. It's a bit heavy handed.



The glaring plot holes are killing me. A fashion designer leaks her picture so An Na will soon be exposed. Really. Not to mention how they couldn't keep her imprisoned and yet successfully managed to transport her to Korea from Spain. *palms face* The shows killer phrase for their first meet up between An Na and her wicked step mom is "You should have just become a nun." -_- Not to mention . . . the whole conversation.



Gosh. Awful. Music. It would be cool in certain scenes, but they're just over doing it. I mean did the music department/team come up with one real song for the show and think it was so bad@$$ that they'd just use if for any scene they wanted to amp up the tension? No don't answer that, because it made it past sound, the director, and editing to this point.



It's a good thing that I have a four episode rule and that the ploy to use Ji Chang Wook to make me watch this is working. Overall the writer is simply cutting plot ideas from other things and hoping it works. I still find the action scenes dull, too long, and not that great.



However, I do like what the previews are showing me that maybe Je Ha gets a second chance to "rescue" An Na. I like that plot turn. A lot.



(He wants to kill her, someone is saying shoot her as well. What is he truly waiting for a written invitation?)

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Visually this is so stunning!

The cinematography is stunning. This is hands down the most beautiful drama yet this year! Which is quite a feat as some of the most beautiful dramas have been coming out this year. Sure some unique camera shots are barrowed, such as Kim Shin being seen through the eyes of the man he had just beheaded. (Sleepy Hollow anyone?)



Some how it escaped my attention that Kim Go Eun would be a main character! What a follow up to Cheese in the Trap. So far I really like her in this role! She's so cute and I love her energy.



Of course the boys, Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook, are amazing. Just the small time they have together really sparks their chemistry. All the sneak peaks at them together from the trailers have been promising and hinting. It's gonna be amazing. >_<



That said this episode was basically an information dump. There's a lot of ground to cover and the writer just wanted to get it out of the way. Which makes me sad. This year shows have been masterfully giving us the background info. For all it's problems Doctors did it well and currently Legend of the Blue Sea is really showing us how it's done. So I found this episode a bit all over the place as it quickly tries to establish the core story in one episode while moving the present story forward. It's not the worst I've seen, but it doesn't quite move smoothly enough. Some of the emotional impact is lost due to the speed.



Overall I'm super excited for this drama! The wardrobe/make up is awesome! The Angel of Death's wardrobe is so awesome. On anyone else I think it would be tacky, but Lee Dong Wook is so freaking hot a garbage bag would look amazing. Kim So Hyun's guest role was awesome and I loved her in it! (I had a freak out moment when I thought she would be in it for more than a guest role.) Gong Yoo looks so amazing and he's already adding so much depth to his character.



I look forward to how the story will go moving forward because it has so much promise in this rough episode. I like the mix that's going on. This balance of fantasy and a modern day Cinderella story. With all kinds of extra bits tossed in.

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One more episode before I give this show the axe.

At this point I'd drop this show. However, for my dear Ahn Jae Hyeon I will try episode 5. Maybe 6. That's how much i adore him. Though I would be lying if I didn't say I'm kind of watching it for Park So Dam. It's my first drama with her, and she's so adorable and I love her character Ha Won.



To be honest I really don't care for Hyun Min and Ji Woon. Hye Ji also really disinterests me.



I find Seo Woo and Yoon Sun to be better characters. Unless this show lets these to be real contenders and get the girl I don't really care for the story.



Even though I love Jae Hyeon and Il Woo I don't care for either character. What can I say I may love or have favorite actors, but I won't watch it just for the sake of them most of the time. (Though the begining part of the episode was hilarous!)



Cinderella and the Four Knights is just using too many classic "high school" drama formulas that I don't care for. Not to mention the amount of lame flashbacks I have to endure every episode. Gosh! The need to make this seem more dramatic and "dreamy" is boring me to tears.

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Oooooo, two pairs of almost kisses for the cliffhanger.

You know I do like that they're are two girls and the prospects that the first and second male leads have with them. It's refreshing.



Sadly the rest of this episode was rather slow and boring. Not to mention the over the top music to go with over the top drawn out scenes. Every time one of the guys gets close to Ha Won the slow mow drag out is horrible. Then there's this heavenly type music that plays--all that is missing is a harp. +_+ Way too much for me.



To be quite honest I think Seo Woo and Yoon Sun make way better love interests for Ha Won. However, I know that ain't gonna happen.



As much as I love having the second female tossed into the love mix Hye Ji's character, so far, is rather pathetic. And honestly useless. She's just there as the long time friend that complicates and adds drama. I'm curious as to what happened 10 years ago and what Hyun Min was like.



Hyun Min is still a rather obnoxious character. Though his railing jumping was rather cute. Poor Ji Woon is the hot head who's actions are seen as rude even though he's being a hero. (Such as he pulls her in and she doesn't realize that he saved her from a saw blade.)



Seo Woo and Yoon Sun feel more developed and they're nice guys. When Ha Won snapped at Seo Woo to leave her alone I thought she just lumped them all together.



Overall I'm having feelings I should dump this. It's just too over the top and to be honest a little boring. Classic style romances for K-dramas and I don't usually mix well. If only my love for Ahn Jae Hyeon wasn't so strong. (I honestly don't know when or how that happened.) I really do like Ha Won a lot, and that's some of my conflict as well.

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Another time jump . . .

Well it's a 5 year time jump this time! Oh, and a flashback of what already happened in THIS episode.



It's official I'm nervous. The actors can't afford these time jumps! Kim Sae Ron looks her 15 years. 17 was stretching it. But new hairstyles clearly means they've aged. This is a drama trope that gets annoying. But what's more annoying then ageless characters?



Time jumps and flashbacks of things that happened within that episode. That, to me, normally means the writers are losing mojo. Their ideas are failing fast. This is episode 5 for crying out loud! Not only did this episode lose ground with its current characters, but failed to successfully introduce the new characters.



There was a brief moment when I thought the plot regarding the king was going there . . . red robes. Come one guys! But know, it's more curses. One a side note I do enjoy that Poong Yeon's apprentice/henchman is a woman. Mirror of the Witch has some awesome (tough) females.



So for all those wondering why I was using the name Seo Ri instead of Yeon Hee, that's why. That and it was on one of the posters for the series. Overall I'm really disappointed with this. Are the dark fantasy elements still awesome? Yes. Am I happy that they swiftly revealed that Heo Jun is planning revenge? Hecks yes! (Though that preview looks like Heo Jun is on the losing end of things.) Am I still interested in what will happen between the Shamaness and Hyun Seo? Duh, of course.



But the writing better bridge the frigid chill of character distancing that is here. And I'm not just talking about Seo Ri's frozen heart. The writing this episode failed to connect me to the characters and now they're previewing that same falling scene again! Will it actually happen this time? Maybe. It seems to fit, but this episode made me nervous. (Yeah, I can't stop saying it.)

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7.0/10 - Very good.

Honestly I just randomly started watching. Not knowing anything about it or viewing one trailer. It's so over the top that it would have put me off. Cause it IS super over the top. However, it's so charming that I was laughing and totally enjoying myself immediately. The only annoyance that I have is that the rival gang is cats . . . . ML should be the cat gang!!! Cats for life! I think the huge factor here is that both the FL and ML are amazing! The actors do such a wonderful job. AAAAAAnnnnd. Can we talk about the ML voice. I melt!!!!This was a solid first episode. No confusion it introduces the characters, plot, and everything so well. I love a drama that knows how to setup the characters and story/plot. Even the misunderstanding wasn't painful cause it's so well done.

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6.0/10 - Promising!

Dramas and I have sadly been on a break. Life just got real and left no room for dramas. So diving back in I started up The Wolf (2020) Which I had been for since before 2018. I needed a side drama. Normally I like a balance of something deep/dark and then light! So I was searching for something light. I was browsing the top ranking dramas. Non of them catching my eyes until Falling Into Your Smile. The trailer had me. It looked FUN! This first episode left me a bit spinning with the gaming talk and the playing of games in general. I did kind of gray out of it and just go hmmmmmm. I've watched gaming dramas. Love O2O being my fave, and they understand the viewers are probably not gamers. Just drama watchers. So the gaming is usually a bit differently portrayed. So I am gonna have to pick up some stuff. Like the players titles and follow the in the game stuff better. Or . . . enjoy the other parts more. The most promising part is right off Tong Yao is introduced through her best friend Chen Jin Yang. Which is perfect! Perfect that there's a female friendship foremost and that through their friendship is an immediate connection to who Tong Yao is! The back story feels less like backstory because we the viewers see it through the girl's friendship. The second, and important thing, is addressed. Sexism. Let's be real no matter what you love sexism against women is an issue. From being a booknerd (despite 80% of readers being female), anime, comics, cars, and so on we face it. And it's a huge problem within the esports industry and gaming in general. Right away Tong Yao's bestie addresses it, but in a loving way. Tong Yao's mom immediately lets Tong Yao and the viewers no what she things when told her daughter might have been offered a job gaming. That's a no. As Tong Yao travels to an Esports event to meet the manager we get a taste of what she has to deal with. Male fans being rude to female fans, scoffing when she states her level, and even upon meeting her Ex his rudeness. It's always been that male gamers what to date a female gamer and love them. However, if you're better than them . . . No. The constant patronizing comments about being a woman who games. It's not stated, but I think the deciding factor for Tong Yao is that she wants to prove them wrong and she wants to do something she loves. I honestly haven't come across a progressive C-drama, though I've been sticking to fantasy and historical. "Me to" is present and tasteful here. This is a great start. I'm really looking forward to the female friendship and how Tong Yao is going to face these naysayers. She'll have to deal with female fans who want to be represented, but are jealous of other girls . . . we know. Male fans who support and denounce. I'm really surprised that the writers would actually address it right away and introduce it. We'll see in episode 2 if the writers have the guts to see it through.

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6.0/10 - The 5th Company explores South Korea!! Woot!

Phew! The Lieutenant got a job in record time. If I can get over my totally awe at him getting a job as a security job there, I might be shaking in my boots at that killer instinct. Lieutenant ain’t stopping at nothing. The whole cat and mouse thing. Look at my girl Se Ri! She ain’t just rolling over and becoming a damsel. She even turned the lights off, so she could ruin the Lieutenant's aim and save her man. So I’m so annoyed that there is yet another way to get to South Korea. The whole time I kept thinking “there has to be tunnels”. I mean it’s just a wire fence. AND THEN there was only this little dinky wire thing where Se Ri crossed. Yes, yes. Jung Hyuk said it wasn’t easy going through the tunnel. Sure the writer tried to make a joke of Se Ri saying “you came to South Korea that fast, but it took X months”. (Was it 2 or 3, less? I can’t remember!) Also, there is no way that Jung Hyuk would have left his lapel pin behind to be discovered. I know he was tired, but still. That bright red pin. The pacing is really screwing up my enjoyment. Thankfully the 5th Company and Wiretapper give me so many laughs!! Ha-ha. They’re great. Especially that sauna. I know it’s like a fantasy/satisfaction to dress up the leads. Se Ri takes Jung Hyuk shopping and man is he a killer in a suit! Though of course that attracts attention and it was a bit too long a sequence for my tastes. There is a lot of development on the love front. Se Ri is not trying to hide her feelings. Jung Hyuk is confronted with the fact that Se Ri was originally right that her family would kill her. She even lies to make him feel good. Sadly the lie didn’t even last a scene change! Then we find out that Jung Hyuk is kind of vain. Him totally getting into the comments about how yummy he is when a video of him holding a door for everyone goes viral. Holy dramas did he get into it. Ah, I was really hoping that Dan and Seung Jun would get a real chance at love. I really loved the whole scene where Dan meets her “friends” and with one look she makes that dog pee on his mistress!! Haha! Seung Jun is on the run with out proper protection and needs to get out of North Korea fast. Luckily Dan calls so he can crash at her place, while he also saves her face in front of her “friends”. It irks me that suddenly after Seung Jun gets Dan to eat noodles she smile/laughs at him and Seung Jun suddenly becomes this lame puppy. He wines and pines and needs his Dan! I want them to be equals. Dan is cool. I wanted Seung Jun to be cool, but realize his feelings maturely and to romance Dan. Sighs I hope things go better next episode. Dan’s mother’s reaction to Dan hopefully ending the engagement are great. If only Seung Jun wasn’t a thief and cheat.I really liked the ending. It’s shown that Se Ri met Jung Hyuk in Switzerland first and she even greeted Dan! She tells Dan that chocolate will help with stress and so on. Guess what kind of chocolate? Kit Kats! Ha-ha, which is the last kind of chocolate I’d buy in Switzerland, they have way better chocolate available. The whole scene was still totally awesome.

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That preview was click bait!

That preview was click bait! Right as I clicked for the next episode "I thought she's writing a letter and they just overlaid it with him smiling to his family". Yep. Click bait. I hate it. However, the ending made up for my disappointment. (The preview for the next episode is pretty hilarious!)



Wow I love Chen Baron's facial expressions. I can't imagine what Bromance would be like without him playing Du Zi Feng. Especially when he's all cocky! Oh, and the scene when they're in the matching suits and Du Zi Feng is holding Pi Ya Nuo's hand to cross the street! (Okay, the matching suits are such a big sign and making Pi Ya Nuo wear the wedding dress. Come on! I hate it when playing dumb is a thing.) I loved seeing their inner thoughts, but loved it more when they had a whole discussion with their facial expressions in that crosswalk.



Na Na! My poor Na Na. At first I was upset because awesome female leads are rare and when they're there either they're not utilized enough, get killed off/rid of, and so on. However, the idea that she had cancer and was in remission is balanced by the idea that it was a possibility that it could come back. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I really want her to have a happy ending with Qing Yang. I love them together and at this point are my favorite things about Bromance!



Bromance is really snail slow. It has so many tropes that I don't care for. +_+ Even the things that I love are starting to . . . not be good enough. Pi Ya Nuo and Du Zi Feng have such smexy heat together! I'll probably being taking a break so I can come back. (Yes, even after the epic ending.) I need some good writing to lift me up for the next episodes. I feel like things are gonna be really slow and more pacing boredom.



I'm over the checklist of tropes.

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"He's really good to me when he's being nice."

"He's really good to me when he's being nice."



My dear Ye Eun, those are not the right words. He should be good to you period, not just when he's being nice. Poor girl



I enjoyed this episode emphasizing the lies we tell ourselves and others. Comparing them to makeup was an interesting take. Hopefully Ye Eun will realizing she's wearing it for herself and that she shouldn't be so afraid in a relationship. I wonder how long it will be before they break up? I have a feeling he will dump her or get caught cheating.



It was really interesting seeing into all the girls lives. Especially romantically! Ha-ha! It also emphasizes how jealous and petty Ye Eun is. I really actually like all the girls. Though I find Ji Won's auros and dead people stuff a bit off. I want this to be a realistic drama, though it does add a certain dramatic flare. After all there can only be a certain amount of realistic and all the girls need to have skeletons in their closets.



This episode didn't really tightly focus on Eun Jae. I am wondering if they'll keep letting all the girls tell their stories together. I like that a lot especially as the other girls react to one another. Yi Na's multiple sugar daddy thing is interesting and I'm wondering how the writer will handle it. Not to mention that it's so adorable that the guy who borrowed Eun Jae's pen has a little kids crush on her. (You know pestering and annoying someone to share affection.) While Jin Myeong is oblivious, or willfully oblivious.



I'm really liking the focus of themes each episode and now apparently there are after credits extras. The first episode didn't have those!

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I was totally destroyed.

Holy cow this episode destroyed me. Sure I feared the deaths of these two characters was coming, but one can hope. And wish.



Either way this was beautifully written and executed. Not to mention so well done that I didn't mind the two year time jump. Yes, I am exasperated by this shows timeline! It's cray-cray.



However, this time it was well done. I'm afraid that if anyone takes the thrown they are doomed to be mad. Guess even the 3rd Prince had a softer side, big talk and full of regrets.



Overall this episode was wonderful. Some of the best acting I've seen in a drama. The performances of grief given by the cast as truly moving. The whole episode was beautiful.



At this point to avoid spoilers, and further rambling, I'll stop.

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Turning into a really solid show. It makes me smile a lot! >_<

Wow, it's crazy how badly her parents want her to marry Do Kyeong! That whole morning lunch box making scene was perfect! Just the whole effort that Hae Yeong's parents are going through.



I've been super impressed by the cinematography, music, and quality of this drama. However, there was a whole scene that was cut from the last episode. I think maybe it was supposed to be a flashback . . . but it basically was done really badly. Maybe the director should have cut it from the last episode and just introduced it here. It just felt really out of place.



However, it did fit well with the recording finally being revealed! Though it was quite shocking, and I wonder if there isn't even more to it.



While I find Hae Yeong #1's constant choice to hit the bottle when anything shocking or hard happens, you have to admire her determination to put her all into love this time. That love knows no embarrassment.



Okay, I really love Soo Kyeong! I just can't help myself. Plus, there wasn't nearly enough of Ahn Na (AKA Anna)! Just like Hoon I can't help but smile and glow when thinking about her! She's just that darn cute.

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I have got it bad guys.

Oh, boy guys! I've got it baaaaaaaad for this drama. Oh, so bad. Even thought there are now three viable love interests for Hye Jung. Ji Hong knows he wants her and is not shy about letting her know. Oh, and they still have serious chemistry. Yoon Do is starting to fall for her, bit by bit. It's so cute. Oh, and guess how just walked back in? Soo Chul!!! (Hot motorcycle man anyone? Yes, yes please.) It's clear who's most likely going to get the woman, but I like the tension. Or who knows, they might actually pull a twist!



(Oh, and no body slam or punching. But I'm satisfied he cheated and they both now she'd cream him!)



Man this cast and the chemistry that they have is amazing. Not to mention how much I love Soon Hee. She's too adorable. Gosh I wanted more Soon Hee and Hye Jung. However, I loved the entire episode. Watching as all the character's make their connections was too good.



Was I the only one who missed Kang Soo's hair? (I think I've got the right name.) He's such an adorable character. I hope he and Hye Jung can be friends.



Overall that was one heck of a way to end the episode. Doctors really knows how to end on a cliffhanger. Though I doubt between what I think happened and the previews it is serious. Dramas like to do that. Overall I really like the writing for this drama. It's reached the perfect balance of humor, fun, character development, surgery, and a little bit of hospital politics. If it can keep this balance I'll be grateful.

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It's always the poor puppies . . . or kittens.

It's always the poor puppies or kitties. But I guess serial killer 101 is that they usually start out on animals. Doesn't help that the dogs in this are so cute. Now it hit me why no one thought to look for the "pick up" dog that he used to lure women in. The poor thing was probably sacrificed to his murderous ways. (I need to go snuggle my cute cats now.)



Great episode I really liked that both Hae Yeong and Soo Hyun found the killers using their own methods. It's also nice to see Hae Yeong getting some recognition, and he's learning to be humble to get cooperation. I loved the overlays of the past and the present and Hae Yeong and Jae Han discuss the case.



While I feel like the side cast could be more, they are present enough that they do feel less like tropes and stereotypes. Signal has achieved the perfect balance and pacing from the first episode and I've been thrilled to see it so consistent. While the endless flashbacks of Soo Hyun's abduction made things feel a little more dragging than previous episodes, each time there's a clue to pick up on. It was fun guessing whether you picked up on what Soo Hyun missed and what she repressed.



It also needs to be said how flawless the cinematography and the two eras are represented. I know when we've gone into the past and present. Know year stamp needed.

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