usagisaiko

Guys, I could be wrong, but I don't think we can say this story is a rip-off of Boys Over Flowers. The story comes from the novel Bu Bu Jing Xin which was published in 2005, and BoF is a remake of Hana Yori Dango which was aired in 2005 too. So it doesn't seem logical that that script was ripped off. Isn't this kind of love polygon plot kind of a standard one anyway?

Okay wait, I just remembered Hana Yori Dango was from a super popular girls' manga a couple yrs before so maybe I'm wrong. Haven't seen this yet so maybe I'll have to agree w/ you all when I do. But then again I still feel like it's pretty common for romance writers to use of standard plot devices...

I agree, I was confused too for the reasonings you state...and also because I thought Min Jae was a researcher/professor who could accurately read a CT scan well enough to see damage to the frontal lobe (not sure what that looks like, but one would assume it would be obvious). If she couldn't, why wouldn't he go to someone who could as his supposed condition wasn't a secret by then?

Jang Hyuk is awesome in his role, and the great supporting cast brought a ton to so many of the great secondary characters. I may be in the minority here, but did anyone else wish they'd cast someone else in Park So Dam's role? Not only did she look like his 15 yr-old daughter, but she played the role exactly like the rom-com roles I've seen her in. I'm sure she brought all she could to the role; I just felt the casting choice was incredibly weird. She made it hard to believe what could've been a much more compelling relationship.

I found myself wondering if this drama, which was well-written and fresh for this genre, would've had the ratings it deserved, had an actress with more comparable acting chops/depth (and who doesn't look like a teenager) had been cast opposite JH.

T_T Wahhh. Thanks for the heads up. All the glowing reviews had me thinking this would be amazing, like some Jumong-esque classic or badass fusion like Iljimae or something...I was gonna stick it out but your comment and then one buried review (wonhwa, who expertly described how I was feeling about the story halfway through) made me wonder if I might just waste another 15 hrs being disappointed/pissed. So sad, because the story could've been great, and Jang Hyuk was carrying his role with his usual chops. Sad that half his dramas have bad scripts and terrible romances/female characters.

I'm halfway through and at least by this point, I'd say your review is perfectly put. But seeing that I've been hearing people rave about this drama for years, I keep hoping the writing will get better, keep waiting for subplots and links to be filled in--surely they're there...?! Am I out of luck?

Dangit. Please tell me she doesn't end up with Song Tae Ha. Their scenes are so intensely boring I want to bang my head on the wall. STH is only barely saved by his nice martial arts moves and eye-pleasing profile, but instead of even appearing noble he just seems like a boring idiot who would've achieved his goal straightaway if he hadn't selfishly lied and dragged his crush into his own journey. So far by ep 9 I don't care much about the characters except for Dae Gil and his bros...the writers seem to not care about giving anyone much of an arc when the story has so many possibilities...am I going to continue to be disappointed?? Can't believe ppl are saying this is the best sageuk to date...really?!!! Please tell me the characters become more three-dimensional than they are right now...

Woohoo! Reviews that really care about storytelling just rule. Thanks for taking the time to write this--you've saved me from hours of Drama Anger. I go nuttynuts when a story with a great premise gets wasted on poor writing or lazy storytelling, and cussing at the TV puts me in a terrible mood.

So much great understated comedy and characters...the chemistry was amazing. Even scenes where people just give each other meaningful looks and say vague things to each other were a delight to see--even between minor characters. What a refreshing combo--a fabulous cast plus creative, open-minded directing/writing that seemed to revel in letting actors work with the story and do their thing. You go OCN. Refreshing music, too.

Btw, if anyone wants to see a making-of special ep with interviews and a bunch of the more memorable scenes (my favorite: the playground fight), it's really fun: http://dramacool.to/38-task-force-episode-17.html

I realize I'm probably in the minority, but I thought Signal was way overrated although it started out great and had a great premise. Also, said premise wasn't exactly unique one (cold cases+change-the-future timeslip stories), as this story's existence over the past few years shows (I mean, there was a Korean film that came out this year too with the same premise but a different story). I hope there will be more so long as they're well done, because it's always a fascinating thing to explore. But if we're comparing the storylines/storytelling itself, Signal didn't even come close to being as well crafted as this story, in any version. For those who saw it weekly, I guess the suspense made it exciting? I found it eventually became predictable and never really explored the characters or their relationships beyond the superficial. While I guess this story has a predictable aspect or two, as a whole I think it was more surprising and the storytelling itself was more creative and fully thought out. But at the end of the day, I don't know they're really comparable so why am I chiming in? (｀_´)ゞ

The last sentence of the synopsis is awesome.

Best K-drama comedy I've seen in awhile...it was truly hilarious as well as a great story (based on an Asada Jiroh novel), and the cast had way above-average chemistry. Rain and Oh Yeon Seo were perfectly cast in roles that could have been far less funny or meaningful if played differently...they get my genius comedic duo vote for the year! I'd love to see them in another comedy together although I don't see that happening. Can't believe this got such low ratings! The public missed out, I guess. Please somebody tell me Descendants of the Sun was really so good to have slayed it so totally like it did...

Your review was spot on...the chemistry really was fantastic, particularly between the leads. Who knew Rain could be so hilarious?!

I just don't know. Has some great elements, and Nanao and MT were indeed excellent. But as others have noted, there were some real problems. Also...I hated hated hated how they made Yuki such an idiotic cop and increasingly dislikeable. Had she been more interesting/likeable or at least believably competent, it would've been a compelling story. Had she been more complex, it could've been a fascinating story. Instead...it made the relationship totally not compelling (or their conflict believable) and many characters' motivations weak. I started having to watch this on double speed. If not for drama of Kara v. Satomi, I wouldn't have made it through to the clever but not-too-credible/not satisfying ending that fizzles the more you think about it.

My recommendation: if you really must see this, know as little about it going in, and don't binge-watch it (annoyance/disappointment awaits) nor drag it out too long (you'll figure stuff out/stuff will break down). Break it up into a few days and it might be more enjoyable.

Ahhhh Dragon Zakura is the best!! Another great one, from just a few years ago, is 35-sai no Koukousei with the great Konekura Ryoko as an adult who goes back to finish high school for a mysterious reason. Very engaging and moving. And of course the classic from a decade ago Nobuta wo Produce, which may be focused on the 3 main characters' relationships, but really involves the whole class too.

dad is Kanbe Hiroshi but not sure who played lil Wakaba... anyone know who she is?