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It didn't need 20 episodes
This show had a great premise and great actors. I even liked the OST even though it was a repetitive 1 or 2 songs played at the correct time. However, as other reviewers have stated, it really didn't require 20 episodes. 16 would have been more than enough enough. I only once felt sad for the 'king' in recognising that they couldn't be together. And they only had maybe 1 episode of being together as themselves. The rest of the time was dreary politics which wasn't even really useful. We didn't see her as someone who cleverly schemed to thwart the baddies or to help those around her.Concurrently airing was Red Sleeve Cuff which as a sageuk is superior in every way. The plot moves faster, and even though there isn't much court politics and intrigues, the love story was very real and well done. I much enjoyed that instead. If this wasn't on Netflix, I would have given up at episode 6. I only finished it because I was subscribed to Netflix.
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Slow but stirring
I have to admit that I started watching this show solely because of Lee Min Ho. I was disappointed on that account because this certainly is not idealised romantic drama that elevates him to idol status. Instead, it s a slow and plodding show but full of meaning. It is set against the Korean colonial past and how that plays out in the lives of those who lived through it and how it subsequently impacted their descendents.The story unfolds very slowly and the co-mingling of the two timelines - young and old Sunja make for confusing watching. While some directors in similar shows have used cues such as different background colours or filters to demarcate the two timelines, here, the audience here is expected to know whether we are watching young Sunja in the past or her grandson in the 'future'. I use their clothing as a cue.
Up till now (end of episode 5), I still see little relevance between her grandson's exploits and her past. In her past, Sunja is the main character but in 1989, her grandson is. That's where it gets discombobulating in trying to reconcile the two parts of the story. I'm hoping we get to the 'point' of the story but I'm losing hope as we're more than halfway in.
This show is certainly no Oshin. The only upside is watching the acting which cannot be faulted.
EDIT: I have now finished the season. Note that the show has an incomplete ending. The series creator followed the book quite closely. He envisaged that the show should unfurl over 4 seasons. Unconvinced that Apple will allow him to complete all 4 seasons, he put in a special documentary at the end of season 1. In my opinion, that's probably the best part of the entire season 1.
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This review may contain spoilers
Idol drama. Nothing more, nothing less.
I was so disappointed by this. I really love period dramas (sageuk), but perhaps I had the wrong expectation. I really shouldn't expect too much of 12 episodes. I really wanted to love it - I love both the leads. The plot elements could have been fantastic together: there was a underhanded scheme going on with a mystery. There was a super clever maid. There was a sad king. There was cutesy chemistry between the two leads. There was a second lead romance. There was a brave sidekick. There were hilarious sidekicks. The first few episodes were funny.Don't get me wrong, I can and do appreciate well crafted sageuk not based on history e.g. Red Sleeve Cuff, Rooftop Prince, and most recently, Bloody Heart.
However, this was an idol drama; nothing more, nothing less. This was a fantastical (ie I'm being sacarstic and rolling my eyes) drama.
The story suddenly introduces new characters and new plot points in the final few episodes.
SPOILERS
She survives attempts to kill her, jail her, etc etc so easily.
She SUDDENLY became eligible to be queen due to her newfound eligible heritage. (not previously mentioned)
The sidekick who was poisoned and his hand whitered away yet SUDDENLY and MIRACULOUSLY he survived and his hand heals.
She was SUDDENLY saved by someone who would become a key ally, in the last 4 episodes. We hadn't seen this person previously.
END SPOILER
I'm going to attribute this to the fact that there were only 12 episodes. No self-respecting sageuk can unfold over just 12 episodes. The writers didn't weave in a backstory (probably not enough episodes to). They simply threw assumed facts in your face to solve key plot points.
My only plus point: precisely because it was only 12 episodes, my pain wasn't prolonged.
In short, have the correct expectations when starting to watch this. Watch it because it's entertaining if viewed from a modern lens, like a fantasy drama. Do not expect an intelligent, authentic, sageuk experience.
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Very very dense
This will be a quick review as I'm struggling. I want really to like this show because it has a stellar cast. However, it is very very dense and needs your full attention. Even though my grasp of modern Korean history is so-so, it still didn't help me in this show.The first episode just drops you in and you don't really know what's happening and who everyone is. However, I can see the bones of a good story unfolding. One does need patience. I will update the review again at the end.
Update: It was still very dense at the end. Too many side characters and trying to keep track of each character's dynamic agenda and ever-changing allegiances was tiring.. It felt like the show's writers tried to keep it true to history (interspersed with historical segments), yet it was not meant to be historical (as the beginning caveat clearly states).
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This review may contain spoilers
Disappointing frontline responder drama
After watching First Responders, I missed it so much that i thought this would alleviate my longing. Boy was I sorely wrong.The dramatic started off well enough as it was amusing and action packed but then quickly descended into the usual tropes: three way love stories, corrupt politicians, mafia, rouge hero law enforcers with tragic pasts…
For a drama called the Han River Police, they spend less than 25% of the drama ON said river.
Also for a 6 episoder, it really dragged along. Why is it First Responders can go on for 2 seasons with 12 episodes each yet this is so draggy at a quarter of the episodes? It had better NOT have a season 2!
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Why the ratings?
I don't understand the hype. Was there nothing else better broadcasting in this slot? This show has a great cast and the story and acting are ok. But it's certainly not better than or even near Crash Landing (which it is almost matching in terms of broadcast ratings). The 90 minute episodes definitely don't help - it just makes things draggy.The only three things refreshing for me are that 1) we have a strong chaebol character who is female, rather than the trope chaebol son who meets a poor girl and loves her against all odds. 2) The story revolves around the value of life (without giving too much away). 3) The couple are married rather than most romcoms depicting courtship.
My top peeve is the relative ages of the cast and the roles they've been cast in. In particular, the actor who acts as the grandfather is in reality less than 10 years older than the actors who play his son and daughters. What is with this ageist casting?
The show is high budget enough for me to want to finish (they film in Europe - lucky Kim Ji Won gets to film in all the most exotic locations!) It also has its entertaining and hilarious moments but certainly not worth the hype.
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Waaay too dark
I don't mean that the show is emotionally dark, I do mean that there is hardly any lighting! That's my pet peeve about this show - probably 40% of it happens in the dark and the sets are underlit. It's hard to make out what's happening unless you watch in a dark room. If you're someone who has a home theatre, good for you! I had to put my laptop in a box to make out what was happening.The plot twists and turns so quickly that you really have to pay attention. However it's really hard to do so when the sets are so dark and difficult to make out what's happening. The director must like using 'natural' lighting like moonlight to illuminate the faces. Frankly, everyone looks the same when you can only see their silhouette or side profile. In the end, I had to catch up by relying on recaps to 'illuminate' the plot twists and turns.
Aside from that, everything else about the show was great - the pacing and particularly the acting by all the main and supporting actors was phenomenal . Hence I had downgraded my original rating of 8.5 to 9 that I rated when I started the show because of this. I know the director is trying to create a certain dark, dreary and 'doubtful' mood but it's frustrating.
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Fresh angle to a school bully drama
This drama is so refreshing! Going into it, I expected the usual bullying-revenge drama or bully-turned-good drama. I was wrong on both counts.I am not a fan of high school dramas, in fact, I often avoid them. However, after watching Twinkling Watermelon and Lovely Runner recently, I decided to give this a try because I enjoyed them so much. I wasn't disappointed.
Give this a try! It's only 8 episodes and absolutely worth it! There's not a dull moment or a wasted episode or plot hole. It's too short for that! The main actors are top notch too, even the supporting baddies are a hoot.
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Good wuxia drama
I'm not sure why this drama rates so highly. I like that it's a wuxia rather than xianxia as I prefer the former genre. The story was very fast moving and interesting initially. There was mystery and a whodunnit (or rather who's the real assassin) in the first 10 episodes However, it became really slow moving and draggy in the middle when they were expounding the love stories and back stories of each character.Since I was already halfway through, I gritted my teeth to finish it. The fact that the show only has 24 episodes in total is the reason that I gave it a better rating - at least I didn't feel that I was (overly) wasting my life watching this! All the main characters were also eye candy - that certainly helped.
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Was a great healing drama ... until it wasn't
This was a great drama. It was a healing drama about how broken souls met up in the countryside and found renewed purpose and a new family.All up to near the end when they suddenly had to make it a murder mystery and rushed through the final episodes to complete everything in 12 episodes. Why is there a need to ruin a perfectly beautiful human drama? Not everything has to be a murder mystery.
The drama couldn't seem to decide what it wanted to be. In the midst of tragedy, suddenly it turned light hearted. It's as if there are two writers and they couldn't agree with each other.
Nonetheless, I'd still recommend watching up till episode 9 where it's a beautiful drama. Drop it right after that. However the only reason I'm watched it to the end is because I had fallen in love with the characters by then. Not a great reason to continue on but curiosity got the better of me.
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Unlikely blend of romance and mystery
I'll admit I gave up on this show twice when it first aired. That's because I didn't even get through the first episode. I only returned to it 3 years later when it was on Netflix and I had run out of things to watch.First off, the synopses found online for the show really don't do it justice. The drama is an unlikely mix of romance, underdog, and murder mystery. The real hook (for me) is the serial murder angle, which only appears right at the end of episode 1. Just based on the dongseng-noona romance alone, it's not my type of show even though I really like both Gong Hyo Jin and Kang Ha Neul. They're both excellent actors. However, the unlikely pairing of the romance with the undercurrent of a serial murder hooked me because the killer isn't revealed right until very nearly the end. I hate similar cop-serial murder mysteries of late where you know exactly who the serial killer is and part of the appeal of those dramas involves seeing it through their eyes.
All the characters in the village are loveable even though they don't start off that way. I like the folksy vibe and country-side setting of this and similar shows such as Hometown Cha Cha Cha and Our Blues . If you enjoy serial killer shows, suspend your skepticism and give this a try because it's not a straight cat-and-mouse show but also has romance and underdog drama, with a small slice of comedy thrown in. This show has something for everyone!
I deducted 1.5 stars because I felt the last 4 episodes were unnecessary. They dragged the show out beyond 16 episodes and went in a ridiculous direction.
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A live manga or 1990s Kdrama?
I've watched a lot of J-drama in my life but haven't for many years now. I now watch far more K-drama which is plentiful and accessible in terms of speed of subtitling. Thank goodness for Netflix. To be honest, I only watched this because it was on Netflix but I'm glad I did.Watching this show however you first have to suspend belief. The acting is over the top and the characters are very one-dimensional, and the plot is so stereotypically straight out of a 1990s Kdrama. The antagonists are evil and scheming without any redemption, the supporting characters are around to provide comic relief, and the tortured Tsubaki and Nao who have to grow and learn, are so tortured by their past that they can't function as normal human beings. You have to suspend belief and treat it like a manga with all its cliques. The relationship between Tsubaki and Nao is farcical and almost borders on abuse. In true manga style, Tsubaki has a one sided smile and hair covering one eye. The show has also taken Kdrama cliques and one-upped them. For instance, the signature guy slams fist into wall next to girl to make a point was borrowed straight out of the K-drama clique playbook, and similarly, the K-drama back hug clique. I have not seen these cliques in other Jdramas.
However, something about the show is strangely enticing and watchable precisely because it's so retro. It is very fast moving as there are only 8 episodes so easily bingeable in a weekend. If you have a spare weekend, it's worth a watch!
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Good premise but too long
This drama was unnecessarily long. It could have ended after a maximum of 25 episodes. The premise was great but unlike other second chance shows where the protagonist has a second chance in life and goes back in time to change life and make it better for himself or his loved ones, this one didn't really achieve that. Halfway through, it suddenly introduced new characters as if just to prolong the drama. The overarching mystery was interesting but too drawn out. The high school friends had a good thing going and their chemistry was great, but they were very single dimensional. Far more could have been achieved with them given that it was a 40 episode drama. In short, watch it only if you are out of dramas to watch, otherwise other second chance dramas such as Still 17, Go Back Couple, and 18 Again, are far better.Was this review helpful to you?
Is this a teen drama?
I tried so hard to watch this. However, it’s a teen drama and I don’t do HS dramas. If I wanted to watch a HS drama, I would watch a HS drama. Friends told me I have to wait until epi 9 before it gets good. It’s already epi 5 and no Zo In Sung.Contrast this with the other superhero show broadcasting now, Uncanny Counter 2, which as been action from the get go. (That show suffers from other problems but action wasn’t one of them) No need for patience till almost midway through the season. And 20 episodes? Come on, do better with the editing seriously.
This is also a rip off Fantastic 4 and other broody teenage superhero movies trying to tame their super powers. Heroes, the American TV show, especially comes to mind. This is such a rip-off.
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King Taejong - again!
By now, this story is really familiar. In my mind, it's a better version of King of Tears. That series focused on the fight between the brothers and his conflict with his father. There was some mention of his conflict with his wife but the entire drama set was dodged in real life by scandal after scandal. It's sad because that was a great drama that suffered from poor ratings as a result of incidents outside its sphere.This series, in my opinion, takes off from King of Tears which first highlighted that perhaps the king wasn't totally in control but was mostly manipulated and helped by his wife and her powerful family. This drama focuses on the conflict between husband and wife. There's also fantastic acting by Reborn Rich grandfather, Lee Sung Min and I'm a great fan of his. There's a prequel which focuses on the love story between husband and wife - I wonder why they had it as two separate series. 12 episodes for one drama, especially a sageuk, is really too short. I think it would have been better for the flow of the story to have included those 2 episodes into this one instead.
Anyway, one final thought - this drama highlights the control and subjugation of a powerful and strong woman. Sadly, she wasn't allowed to leave an unhappy and toxic marriage but had to stand by watch as she was repeated subjugated, humiliated and demeaned. In today's terms, she would have been within her rights to seek a divorce. I wish women had the right to do so in those days without suffering the consequences such as being financially cut off and facing social derision..
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