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A must-watch well written mystery thriller
This is a mystery-thriller where the central romantic element is between two girls. It's written well and fast paced. It explores sensitivity themes, especially regarding sexuality in teenagers.I've noticed some people call this gl bait due to there being not as much skinship/romance as they wanted. That's because romance is not the main focus. It's something that adds to the main focus and imo, is dealt with as much respect as straight romances get in dramas where romance is not the main theme. This is actually a step forward as they've treated the gl romance as any other romance, not adding skinship where it's not needed. I've also noticed that many people were really angry at the straight make-out dream scene between Jae-i and some dude in ep 5. It servers the element of showing the resentment and conflicting emotions of Choi Gyeong towards Jae-i. People saying straight scenes don't belong in gl dramas are no different from people repulsed by gl scenes. It's a drama that explores complex psychological and sexual themes, and all kinds of relationships coexisting in the same universe is a good thing, not a bad thing. There's no need for segregation.
The cinematography is good and the background score is exceptional, never overshadowing the dialogues and serves to elevate the scenes and emotions. Sometimes, it goes away from logic a bit but not in a way that's not expected from such manhwa based series. It doesn't put you off.
The acting, by everyone, is exemplary. Hyeri has given the performance of a lifetime here. Actually, while she's been criticised for doing the same characters a lot, I've noticed that she's never shied away from looking less than pretty or doing raw facial expressions unlike so many actors/actresses who don't make much expressions to maintain their pretty image. Chung Subin and Oh Woo-ri have also performed very well, it was especially refreshing to see the different look Oh Woo-ri adopted to play her character. All actors involved did their part very well.
Overall, I wasn't bored for a bit while watching this drama. I don't want a season 2, it was wrapped up well. Shorter episodes meant that it wasn't dragged even a bit. Good drama. Might rewatch some time later but not now.
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A gumiho-themed fantasy romcom done right
The story is pretty straightforward and lighthearted. It's also very funny. The story doesn't take itself too seriously and totally owns up to its genre. Some cliches are played up a notch and it shows that the show knows exactly what it's doing. The casting is done right and the cast has done their job very well. The cinematography, costume design and styling are done beautifully and suits each character. No unnecessary drama. The leads are actually likeable.What I liked :
1. The ML is great. He's decent, charming and respectful but can also be funny.
2. FL is the equivalent of a no-nonsense modern college student. She's realistic, funny and not cringey.
3. SML is nice too. It was satisfying when he actually retreated after realising that the FL wasn't interested in him.
4. The FL doesn't drag the SML along. The love triangle doesn't get dragged beyond necessity.
5. Secondary characters are great and well-written.
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A highly entertaining movie with action, suspense, politics and comedy
The story is clever and well written. The cinematography is beautiful. The cast is great in their respective roles. CGI is pretty decent. It draws its premise from the annals of the Joseon Dynasty. The movie takes inspiration from the legendary creature called "haetae" from Chinese and Korean mythology. If you look a bit deeper into the plot you will find that the movie is also a commentary on politics, powerplay and manipulation. The story keeps you engaged and guessing. I found myself genuinely rooting for the leads and the people on their side. Would be a loss to miss, especially if you like this genre. The chemistry between the cast is enjoyable and doesn't feel forced. The father-daughter relationship between Yun Kyum and Myung is portrayed beautifully. Overall the movie is a highly entertaining watch.Was this review helpful to you?
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A Bland Adaptation of Nodame Cantabile
Nodame Cantabile is a very well-crafted manga/anime. It's very interesting to go into the details behind its features, be it the real life inspirations or the choice or music.This drama adaptation is, to put it bluntly, very bland. It's neither funny nor serious. The comedic elements fall just short of being funny, and the serious elements barely scratch the surface of the issue being dealt with.
FL's acting is very bad here, almost like she's following instructions as to what expression to make. The way her character is written is also very weak. There's no personality here - such a shame considering how original, wacky and full of spirit the original anime character is. Steven Zhang, as always, is a delight to watch but this series was way beneath his capabilities.
One might expect a climatic element regarding the FL's musical career, and her being overlooked and in the background all the time, but when it happens, it feels very anti-climatic. It's all very lukewarm.
They adapted one of the wackiest anime ever and made it into this bland, lukewarm drama. If they were gonna just keep the story and tone down the comedy, they could've done that in a better way. This is neither funny nor serious, nor is it like those healing dramas that don't have any extreme emotions. This is just - there.
The ending is a happy one, so there's that. However, despite all its shortcomings, it can be a comfort watch. So I've re-watched it a couple of times when I was too bored. The biggest frustration was the lack of satisfaction regarding the FL's character arc and growth. I wish she'd at least laid out her feelings of frustration and rejection before the ML, regarding her personal and professional life. I wish she'd achieved something, but we're given just one performance and a conversation that addresses nothing, and then it's all water under the bridge.
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