usagisaiko

I know this is wayyy later, but I just happened to remember your post, and that I left out one obvious recommendation to fit your request! For a short (20 eps) historical romance drama, you might like The Moon that Embraces the Sun. It's about 10x better than this drama in terms of writing, plot, characters, acting, and cinematography, not to mention much more meaningful. The romance is far better, too. Hope you'll enjoy it if you've not already seen it.

Do you mean the remake of Queen In Hyun's Man? I think it's called Love Weaves Through a Millennium

Thanks for your insightful take on it. That makes sense...it sounded like the writing was just getting weaker, but if it's believable character/story development instead of gimmick, that interests me. I'd be very interested to hear your take on it next week when it finishes...maybe write a review if you feel like it?

So sorry, I will take the word out of my original comment. I didn't think it was a spoiler as the amnesia is the main trope that happens not too far in the story and then becomes the driver of the main story. But I can see what you mean, if I realized that was going to be the main story earlier, like if the synopsis mentioned it, I wouldn't have gotten invested in the characters relationships early on or felt as cheated when it turns around. I probably would have dropped it rather than sticking with it to see what happens, but I can at least say that if you don't mind the change of tone when that happens, the story isn't completely predictable. I just didn't like where it went, but clearly there are many people who loved it!

If you're interested in the story/characters but feel this is too slow-paced, try the Japanese version Hope ~ Kitai Zero... it's 11 eps instead of 20, so the story moves along faster.

I've heard Ji Sub was great in the original, but I personally can't handle Kdrama melo so I never saw it... but I'm definitely looking forward to this drama. Tomoya! In a drama role! (And that ancient pic is awesome!!)

I keep hearing people say it's continuously going downhill, with smart characters getting dumber just to drag out the story. But as I also heard so many good things about it when it began, I'm also going to wait till it's finished to decide whether or not to invest the time!

Yeah, I felt that way too, up till the very end. I guess we're supposed to believe they closed the loop by him rescuing his brother in Nepal and neither of them using the incense. However, it doesn't explain what will happen to the original 'future' selves of everyone who didn't die in 2012. Do their futures get wiped out as their past selves do different things? Making him die in the past did help keep the loops from getting out of control, but they still didn't quite work out their time travel thing.

I didn't mind him, but oh my goodness was JYH as Min Young annoying. I couldn't also help but be creeped out by the fact that she looked and acted like she was 12 which makes zero sense as her character is supposed to be 30. Plus, that hair helmet helped not at all and somehow made me want to punch it every time it came on screen. I mean, THAT HAIR.

But even aside from her, I just didn't think they had any believable chemistry and the plot had time travel plot hole problems, as interesting as the idea was. Disappointing overall! Can't believe the rave reviews, but glad some people enjoyed it

Gosh I *wish* Park Min Young had played that role instead of Jo Yoon Hee! Would've been 10x better! I mean 9x better! ^_^

If you watched these online, where did you find these?

Could someone familiar with Thai movies/TV explain to me what the obsession seems to be with casting so many clearly part-European actors as characters who are not part-European? I could understand if the actor was mixed-race but didn't look European or the character fit the casting choice, but I can't imagine there being any shortage of talented actors who would fit the role just as well. In Hollywood there is the problem of white actors being cast in Asian roles, so I'm curious to understand how it is in Thailand.

stop spammers

I'd never seen anything with her before, but I dropped this after the first episode of her hysterics drove me crazy. But I've also heard people say that this role was just pretty terrible, and should've been written for a young girl instead. So I guess she didn't have much to work with.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
are they crazy, they didn't even offer the guys anything? seriously?

There is a hint of romance but it's not the main story at all. I felt it was actually more about friendship, family love, and belonging, even in that relationship between those characters. If you're looking for a comedy with some mystery and drama, you might enjoy this. It is definitely not in the romance or romantic comedy genre.

Plenty of Korean actors speak enough Chinese to learn lines, and since China isn't averse to dubbing, there's no huge problem if someone's accent isn't native-sounding during filming. I assume LJS at least speaks enough Chinese to get by if he's not fluent enough to record his own voice.

But maybe you're right, maybe they just film with two languages. B/c think of how many Chinese and Korean dramas have [terrible] non-actor English speakers speaking English to the main actors who keep speaking their own language, both pretending to understand each other? Another reason dubbing isn't such a bad thing!

I remember hearing something about this change being decided on by TV land...I can't recall all the reasons, but there were quite a few. So we will probably start seeing this format more in the near future.

I recall Drama Fever having it, and I'd think theirs would be at least 480. But a bunch of older dramas don't come in HD I believe... I watched this on Dramacool which I prefer for anything with even a hint of melodrama in it b/c I can watch at a more tolerable 2x speed. I would never make it through this otherwise!

The kids' arc is maybe the first 1/5? Very makjang. The rest has loads of plot holes and such but is quite addictive, and there are some really great characters, particularly Lee Bum Soo's, and as one reviewer said, who knew construction could be so compelling. I don't regret watching it, but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece as others have.

She's still a terrible actress, but not as shrieky. Just chipper and perky. I felt her saving grace was that her child self is played by an awesome little actress who makes you love her, so if you can see HJE as the grown-up version of cool little Miju, it makes a huge difference.