6
Not so good first half, dogshit second half...
Awful writing. The writer had absolutely zero idea how to balance the bad guys and the good guys. There were barely any story other than the cheating, the rest were barely random snippets. Which resulted in an unreasonable drag, especially after the first half the drama was pretty much over but the writer went full random throwing anything at the viewers to get to the 128 mark. That illness at the end was pure rage bait for the viewers. You can feel the painful stretch. Each turning point took forever for this reason. Anyway, this is the writer's first project and it's not looking good at all.Was this review helpful to you?
Idiots
The only possible way to be able to produce 140 episodes is through extremely improbable coincidences, absolute negative IQ characters and intense cartoonish overdramatization. Feels like a robbery in broad daylight to have this kind of ending/wrap-up after 140 episodes of numbness. I hope the cast got paid enough because even for them it must have been difficult to endure. I can't stress enough how dunce the writing was. Anyway, it's designed to be this way so whatever.Was this review helpful to you?
Okay....
Keep in mind this is a sitcom not a drama, well, kinda. Just like any other sitcom, the comedy is what makes it or breaks and it's the main focus or so I thought. The first half was a proper sitcom with lots of jokes but the 2nd half kinda turned into a regular family drama focusing on the characters and keeping the jokes to absolute minimum. A handful of episodes would pass without a single joke, I completely forgot it was a sitcom in the 2nd half. Also, the 2nd half shifted the focus to the younger couples mainly, you barely got to see any of the elders. I'm not sure why they took it that direction, the writer was probably changed if I had to take a guess.I enjoyed the first half for what it had to offer but the second half failed to hold my interest. The characters and their stories weren't mature enough to compensate the change of genre and direction. Whenever they had some bloopers at the end of an episode it was always funnier than the episode. FYI, the drama had no canned laughter.
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What a joke...
This drama is without any doubt the worst 'TV Novel' drama from KBS ever. Awful from start to end.Was this review helpful to you?
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Blue-Eyes White Witch
Right from the first 8 minutes introduction they failed to.... no, just failed. The entire story's setup involving the kids was absurd even for a silly makjang. It quickly became apparent that the drama was attempting to do something different from other daily makjang but the execution was nothing but comical, even while adding hints of unintentional parody. I couldn't stand how the drama was structured with its storytelling, it was really tiring how every single key information had 3 layers of truths that kept throwing the blame onto 3 parties. It was really exhausting repeating the same pattern 30-40 times. There's a lot to be said while breaking down everything but I would be repeating myself so here are some random bits. I found it particularly cringe when characters called themselves and each others witches with nicknames, for example 'The White-Haired Witch'. Despite being the face of the drama, Yoo Kyung's lifelong revenge wasn't finalized due to some events which is disappointing. It felt like the male lead suddenly confessed his love with no proper build up or showing prior interest beyond some sympathy, it happened too early in the story even though he was a womanizer a couple of episodes ago. Moreover, the male lead was mostly useless and didn't play as big of a part as most of the other characters. Midway through he was just there wasting time while occasionally being an unfunny clown. I guess he was just there to give the female lead a hug every now and then. On the flip side, the other male lead, Ji Ho, was in every other scene more than any character in the drama. One last thing, the overall vibe and tone later on was very detached and different from the few first episodes (after the kids story setup). If I had to mention something positive other than the cinematography being up to the modern standard with the majority of projects, that would be how secrets don't linger for too long which is because of the aforementioned repeated pattern.Was this review helpful to you?
The Aries Maidens
The drama turned out to be very different from its initial premise, setup and introduction. Things were changing too frequently and taking a different direction at every turn, this can be both a good and a bad thing. The Aries maiden, horseback riding, school dynamics, and the 'dark family secret', all became irrelevant after a few episodes. The main focus was on the love triangle with the pseudo delinquent guy. While the transition wasn't necessarily bad but I wish they kept exploring the initial elements, especially the Aries maiden dynamic and horseback riding. That Aries theme song definitely stuck in my head. One thing that stood out was how everything was interconnected which allowed the drama to draw all kinds of parallels between what was going on. The writing was surprisingly good and multilayered which saved the drama with the change of directions, however, it still has its flaws with handling many of the side characters. The biggest misstep was the inclusion of that one male teacher, it was very unnecessary, it didn't fit any part of the story and done more harm than not. Despite some problems here and there it was a decent drama from the 80s.Was this review helpful to you?
Surprisingly Good
At the surface, the drama explored the abuse cases as expected from reading the synopsis, however, the rabbit hole was much deeper than initially thought. Each episode peeled one layer after another with more haunting revelations up until the last episode. I was worried we would be presented with a superficial showcase of some traumas but the drama actually took its time with each of leads' struggles and constructed a solid story. Although it went off the rails a little bit at the end but nothing too outrageous. I would've hoped if the ending was more grounded but one can look at it serving a theatrical over-exaggeration for the final act. Moreover, the constant jumping back and forth between different periods could've been done better. The side abuse cases didn't hold up compared to what the leads were going through nor did they blend well with the story. Aside from the intense cruelty, that one menacing soundtrack caught my attention. It's the same soundtrack that was used in Silent Hill 2 (White Noiz) which is strange because it's not the same composer. It definitely gave the drama a unique signature that was absolutely chilling whenever it played, though they almost didn't use it in the last couple of episodes.Was this review helpful to you?
Love? Never
The drama’s main plot revolves around a woman whose one defining characteristic is being perpetually sad. Why is she sad? Who knows! The writers certainly didn’t seem to. Maybe because the men in her life are about as reliable as a dial-up internet connection, or maybe it’s because the script was clearly written by someone going through a mid-life crisis and decided, “You know what’s relatable? Pain. Just… constant, nonsensical pain.” Nothing really makes sense, it was unbelievably dull as everything kept going in empty circles through the same events. Every man and woman were interested in the leads for some reason. Breakup was an expected element in such a plot but it was seriously poorly executed. It's the type of breakup you might see in an anime at the first slight misunderstanding, justified by a cheap trope rather than proper character writing. Why would their love be so great? The leads romantic chemistry has all the fire and passion of a wet sponge, it just couldn't sell the viewers on the long distance relationship and love. The drama was just a bloated, meandering, self-indulgent slog that mistakes misery for profundity.Was this review helpful to you?
Lost in Translation
Unfortunately, the drama wasn't as it appears on the surface. Presumably, it was set in China with most of the cast being Chinese, meanwhile the Korean main lead was more of a sidekick and a clown in the story. Although there was a little bit of change but the writer didn't put in the effort to work on his character. Aside from the initial premise of the plot, up to being scammed, the drama got stale and they began to introduce love interests at every down time. That was why they forced the Korean ML to get a love interest so he doesn't fall behind, even then, it fell short and uneventful. I would much prefer if they worked on his character contrary to how he was presented earlier in the story. The story progressed and ended in a very old fashioned Chinese way in delivering lessons and such. On another note, I liked some of the unexpected scuffness like the boom mic peeking on top of the frame.Was this review helpful to you?
Ride or Die!
Another agonizing project reminding me how much I miss Choi Jin Shil. May she rest in peace. This drama was a real wild ride for all kinds of reasons. Right from the beginning you will notice the gigantic production value, one of the main reasons was their official sponsor Hyundai who funded it for more than 1.6 billion won (3.5 billion won today) in production costs, not to mention the provided cars, factories and locations in the US. It didn't come as a surprise since this was during the economical boom in the 90s, they were swimming in gold. They were even throwing some shade at Honda for sending industrial spies. In reality, they wanted to beef with another company but they didn't want to generate bigger controversy. I don't remember any other drama doing such a move! More on the production, copyright laws didn't matter back then so it was no surprise they had tracks by Michael Jackson for example. Speaking of which, the soundtrack was so damn good especially with the jazz pieces, it's also the same composer who worked on Sandglass (1995). The scenes that were attached to these jazz pieces were interesting, dramatic and theatrical.The drama stood out as a compelling piece that combined powerful storytelling with deeply resonant themes, making it a memorable experience. It traced their journey with authenticity that felt raw while exploring the conflict of ambition, resilience, and the human spirit. There were a handful of diverse characters each one brought something unique to the table, their intertwined relationships were equally interesting as well. Visually, the drama captured the essence of the mid-90s, with its gritty urban settings and evocative cinematography enhancing the storytelling. It also had some wild scenes on some views and depictions, including violence and two sided racism in the US, extreme misogyny and other socio-political spectacles. It would've been absolutely wild to see this coming out today.
Nonetheless, not everything was sunshine and rainbows, the drama had a few hiccups that held it back from achieving true cinematic greatness. The drama had a cruel side to it with how it killed some of the characters, merciless and unexpected. The narrative had an interesting blend of drama and introspection, highlighting the challenges faced by those striving to achieve their dreams against all odds. However, there were major gaps in the narrative with some of the characters and events. Some decisions and directions in the story didn't fit the overall view of the drama. Additionally, although there were a handful of repeated flashbacks but these weren't too offensive due to the accompanied soundtrack and the general 90s vibes. One last thing, I really wish the drama had more dialogue in the last episode with a better wrap up to other key characters (especially and specifically Choi Jin Shil character), it deserved a better refined and fine-tuned send off. Despite its imperfections, the drama was a great watching experience.
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Run, detective! Run!
The drama shouldn't have been split up into 2 seasons since it was a one big continuous story. This split created a few more problems along the way. Some of the baddies cast members had a clearer split between both seasons, focusing on a few of them each season despite having one grand story. This created some coherency problems and made it feel disjointed. Personal stories, relationships and side characters had an unequal amount of focus between both seasons. A case in point, the ML's daughter/family had only some focus in season 1 while being completely absent from season 2 (aside from 1 flashback) which took away from the ML's character and drive. Especially when his entire character was built on the ghosts haunting him from his past. The focus shift was exactly the opposite with Lee Sung Ah between both seasons. Anyway, enough about jumping between seasons. The cast members brought a good performance especially our leading shadow detective. I really appreciate the production not turning on the beauty mode on for Sung Ah & Joo Hyeon. You can see the pressure and exhaustion their carrier put on them over the years. The cinematography was good for the most parts, especially with scenes involving the detective alone, but there were some dodgy shots here and there. The story was well written with a decent pace to match the suspense. The thriller and intrigue were blended nicely with some nice action scenes. However, the last stretch of the story got a bit weak and disorganized after building up the story for a grand finale. Also, some overdramatized deliveries ended up backfiring, making important scenes less impactful. The introduction of the last episode was good, as well as that dream sequence. His speech about him wanting to stop running while reciting his past was the most memorable moment in the drama. If that wasn't enough, the very last scene was the cherry on top to tie it all up.Was this review helpful to you?
Theft At Dawn
While I appreciate its shorter runtime of 10 episodes but I wish it was even shorter for a tighter package. Some side plots didn't fit the narrative and were a mere distraction, such as the female lead's friends personal affairs, not even a good filler. The middle parts were filled with padded sequences. It took a long time before actually getting into what the synopsis describes. From this kind of plot around embezzlement, I would expect somewhat a smarter play and a deeper plot but the drama kept things mostly at a surface-level and borderline making stupid mistakes intentionally to create some tension and invoke a reaction from the viewers. I really like what Kim Seo Hyung has been doing in the past few years, leading projects of characters that fit her are infinitely better than older supporting roles. Anyway, the drama may not rank high but still offers a decent viewing experience for those willing to explore something different.Was this review helpful to you?
Aged Like Milk
There's an obvious case to be made around the exploration of the ups and downs of being a young adult, but this drama was an excruciating exercise in superficiality, offering nothing but a hollow shell of what could have been a worthy experience. From its cardboard characters to its cringe-worthy dialogue and moments, the drama failed to maintain an attractive hook, opting instead for a glossy, saccharine portrayal that felt more like a caricature than a digestible imitation. The stories were equally pretty shallow as well, its attempts at drama fell flat, overshadowed by its overwhelming lack of substance, conviction and commitment between most of the characters, relationships and dynamics. Its surface-level approach with everything left no room for any proper investment to be had. By every metric possible, the 2nd season was a significant downgrade to what was an already struggling piece. Yoo Eun Jae was undeniably the weakest link in season 1, recasting her actress to someone who's struggling to play it, made things 10 folds worse. The replacement was trying really hard to mimic the original while the actress facial expressions, fluency and intonations were the polar opposite. It doesn't take a blind man to be appalled by the comparison, not like the original was any better. Unfortunately, things got even worse, her continuous story, background, conflicts, motives, and character writing were a nauseating concoction of utter literary incompetence and creative bankruptcy, a slap in the face to anyone with even a modicum of taste. To be fair, both Ye Ri & Eun Bin brought a much needed improved performances into the 2nd season, their characters as well had a better fit. Overall, the drama was a disappointingly bland and forgettable entry that failed to leave any lasting positive impact. If you care, streaming services like Netflix cut off any inner songs/tunes/humming/reading-lyrics-out-loud, the first episode is +3 minutes shorter than TV.Was this review helpful to you?
Raw Proposal
I can assure you, it wasn't a delicious proposal. The romance in general was really not good here. The drama was a bit of a mixed bag. At a first glance, the cast was undeniably stacked, Son Ye Jin, So Ji Sub, Ji Sung, and Kwon Sang Woo, however, everyone except the male lead Jung Joon was a side character, he was the main focus throughout. Even Son Ye Jin didn't do much in this drama despite being the female lead. The story could use some spice and maybe other ingredients as well, something was always missing, it didn't feel complete. The male lead character was kinda bland and didn't fit a lead's mold for a drama. There were some nice moments that remind you of the good old raw kdrama days, but they weren't enough to make up for the overall lack of taste.Was this review helpful to you?
