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There are a lot of details I appreciated as well, for example the medical things like that stethoscope, but also how they measured the pulse. I don't know if it's a rule in only some countries or everywhere (then again medicine is its own international language), but the leads did it the same as it's done over here.
I was totally in awe with the leads. Kim Nam Gil has his own charm when playing a character, and damn, he was overwhelming in every aspect. His traits, his love for medicine and his acupuncture skills created this really interesting character who grew with every new experience.
I didn't like the female lead at first, even though some of her decisions and opinions were actually right. But she, too, grew on me. Especially her playful dance after a successful surgery.
As said before, the second half was even better than the start, most of all because of the growing of both leads and there chemistry. Whether it was their professional performance or a natural comfortable feeling with each other, it played out very well.
What I also liked was that the romance part only started to take place after most of the story was already told - and it still fit and didn't feel awkward. It was more like all the previous episodes and happenings finally paid off. That's also why their love felt more real than in those other dramas where the leads get together at episode 6.
This also applies for other things that were only so-so in the beginning but suddenly gained a stronger impression later on.
The supporting cast was okay. Not boring or annoying, but likeable with the grandfather and the old lady with the pig as my favorites. Though my one and only gem will be Kim Nam Gil. His performance will last for a long time - especially his overly rigid laugh and the way he made my cry. Damn... when you see the tears welling up in his eyes and his painful attempt to suppress the crying? Devastating.
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I'm always up for a good movie that is based on historical facts. Operation Chromite is not only based on true events but dedicated to the families and descendants of those heroes who are portrayed here. I am not a historian, so I can't assess to its historical closeness. But I do want to believe that the producers were very accurate with the details. And honestly, I don't think there could have gone much wrong either.
The story takes up pace very fast, you don't get bored over long conversations. Instead you have to concentrate alot because scenes change very fast. You blink once and half of the movie has already passed. You blink twice and the movie is already over. Every now and then it has some nice, calm and either heartwarming or heartbreaking moments as well, which is an important asset to make this movie work out the way it wants to be and to deliver the right feels.
Because this film's strength is not the action - although there's alot of that - but the people and their desperate fight for their country. Their determination and desire were infectious and moved me every single time, even though those moments were rare. The cast was delivering such a good job. There are so many really good actors and actresses in this movie that of course not everyone could get a main role. But that doesn't mean that their performances were less important than others. Even though their screentime was limited, they got the best out of themselves and brought forth some nice, raw emotions.
Despite its brutal reality, cinematography was at its best. Beautiful shots and colors that supported the storytelling and its emotions in a caring way. I'm also sounding a note of caution here for all those who are sensible to gore. Although the film is keeping it at a short leash, there are still some scenes that might upset one or two stomachs.
One thing I was bothered by (next to some other things) was first of all Liam Neeson. I know that he's a really good actor and I don't blame him here. But his scenes always seemed kinda choppy and cut off. There was no smoothness in his dialogues either. Only in close-ups his acting could truly shine which made me appreciate his appearances a little more.
Another thing that irritated me was the background score. I'm a sucker for good background music and Operation Chromite does have a great score actually. But it was so badly placed and overused in Liam Neeson's scenes that it almost lost all its impact and disrupted the in other places always well balanced story-flow. All the scenes with the Korean soldiers for example were stunningly coordinated and fluent which makes it such a shame that it didn't work out with his parts.
Overall still a nice and lasting watch that I would definitely recommend.
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For those who don't have any idea of what they might get themselves into, here's a short comparison:
Imagine your favorite horror folklore movie paired with your favorite horror folklore game (i.e. "Project Zero" - if you remember that game, you definitely belong to the older generation :p), then get a 16 hour extension of that, and you'll get "Guest". That's how I felt about the story.
(And I was also reminded of The Wailing and The Priests, if that makes it a bit clearer for you)
What makes this drama different from other ones is also its major input of Christianity. I don't recall many shows that use this in such a way. It has always been mentioned here and there, of course. But The Guest is one of the few which utilizes its traits more intensely and combines it successfully with Korea's folklore. The result displays a well balanced mix of Western and Eastern culture.
If you look at the overall tale, the story might be nothing new. Humans' weaknesses lure the devil. It's been a believe since the year one. But the production team still manages to make you involved in the story, be moved by its characters and let the legend get to you (or because we just can't resist watching others fall for their weaknesses). It's hard to not exaggerate, but the visual effects, the setting, the atmosphere, the music... Everything works so well together and lets you enter a totally different yet somewhat familiar world (since we always seek to overcome our own faults/the darkness - or get tricked by evil spirits and fall into despair/snap). In the end it all circles back to us, the human.
Besides its message, the drama tells the story of three individuals who each experienced great tragedy in their past. While trying to deal with and overcome their miseries, they eventually clash years later, not knowing the connection they bear to each other. While pursuing their own goals and always trying to push the other parties out, circumstances force them to work together nonetheless, which in the end results in an unexpected friendship. Due to their pasts, they had chosen to be alone all their lives. But having experienced the same calamity and chasing a mutual enemy ultimately binds them together. A precious, unbreakable bond emerges which is not defined by words but through actions and expressions. You can see and feel how much they cherish each other and how much they would sacrifice.
I actually don't want to write about acting performances and such things, because it's kind of too technical for this review. Let me just say that every one of them did a brilliant job with their character (every supporting role included, even the period ones).
The story telling is neat and follows a wide path without any detours. Of course, you have single cases as well, but all of them are part of the bigger picture. Unexpected twists and turns confuse you all the time and the major mystery stays hidden until the very last moment. But if you keep a close eye, all your questions will be answered when the credits show up. I've heard people say that there are major plot holes. Well, I didn't see them. I noticed some minor things, but those were circumstantial and didn't lessen my excitement.
I'm glad I started this drama. I would have missed a true gem otherwise. If you're scared to watch this, well... I was as well. The first two episodes are the most powerful ones because you don't know what's awaiting you. But the rest is slightly less frightening and you get used to the horror style. Having experienced other OCN dramas, you'll know that they don't hold back with gore elements. There's quite a noticeable amount of it. And despite the crucial parts being blurred out, it actually stimulates your fantasy even more.
Thus, the overall composition with perfectly timed horror elements presents you a lasting adventure whose core doesn't depict a scary legend but what great sadness, despair, willpower and self-sacrifice can unleash.
That being said: Switch off the light, get yourselves some candles and have a great time!
(if you're daring enough - horror gurus might even find this one a relaxing watch)
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I won’t tell you how it ends but this drama is not only about the ending but about everything. It will put you through a lot and you will face an emotional rollercoaster (sad, sincere, exciting, lovely and even funny at some times), but it’s so worth the watch and in the end you’ll be glad to not have missed this out.
I haven’t had the feeling of a perfect drama for some time now. But here it comes, starting slowly and making me fall in love step by step. Am I biased now, writing this review since I’ve fallen for it completely? I wonder, but honestly I don’t think so. In my (hopefully) rational judging this drama is pure perfection. Why? Let me explain.
First of all the story. There is actually a story. One big one. And it goes its way and never wavers. Attention! Since this is the first step to conquer you.
There are wholly formed characters with minds of their own. All of them from lead to support. They have depth, are understandable and are carved quite well – whether it’s the good guys or the bad ones. You can see their growth and their change (of hearts). You can root for them – or the opposite. There are special bonds and friendship between the leads and their close friends who never stray but stay by their sides and it just feels so real you actually want to jump in and support them, too.
An already very good story can’t function properly without a really good cast. So, let me shake hands in gratitude with the people who decided on those incredibly talented actors and actresses. Without those it wouldn’t have been as great as it was. At this point I have to mention Lee Seo Jin and UEE. Until now I’ve rarely watched any dramas where the characters got me so good. UEE was brilliant in her role, portraying a young widow and single mother who has to put up with a lot in her life and somehow still manages to bring up her daughter the right way, even if she has to fight hell and coming up with the most difficult decisions because she can only weigh between bad and worse.
And then Lee Seo Jin. He was a new face to me but he convinced me right from the start. Playing the good second son (of a mistress), always trying to please his rich father… and still care for his mother who can’t let go of that affair of hers after all those years (and in vain). Taking on one unholy task to save her by all available means. His change throughout the drama, from being selfish to someone who would sacrifice everything for the other person (or overcome the hurdle of being a spoiled brat that thinks money can buy everything, and slowly bonding with a 7-year-old girl that’s afraid of losing her mother to someone else) was one of the best displayed characters I’ve seen so far. This man was able to show so many different emotions that it still leaves me in awe every time I think about it.
And most of all those two together. You can see their chemistry and even more important you can feel it.
The summary says it all – it’s sounds plain and obvious and the course of story may lead the way everyone possibly imagines – whatever that may be. But reading it and watching it are two completely different things. So, you should jump on the ride and enjoy it wholeheartedly – even if it’s just to see that special relationship between a contract husband and his (contract adopted) daughter. I’ve never seen something more adorable than those two.
All this and that really beautiful OST that emphasizes so well with all those important moments enchants you and makes you want to stay for a very long time. This drama has a really natural feel to it and stands out in the drama jungle.
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The King's Case Note is not a movie with deep meaning but purely for your enjoyment. It's about a king and his scribe who together investigate strange occurrences which turn out to be part of a conspiracy (again). I know, it's nothing new, I thought the same. The beginning was a bit slow and unspectacular, and the plot was very predicable.
But I still enjoyed the movie because of its cast. The further I watched the more the characters and their bonds (even though only shallow) grew on me. Lee Sun Gyun just has this special charm and his voice is like a clever bait or something. Silky as honey. Then there's his acting which always gives his characters something unique. He played his majesty and was striking. He was fun to watch and by no means stuck up or something but rather flexible in his actions - and still preserved his royal demeanor.
Even though the story itself was not new or deeply impressive, the dialogues and comedy were still amusing. And together with some other colorful elements, it felt like a historical steampunk movie that doesn't take itself too serious.
Whether you watch this to pass some time or to enjoy the hidden gems in this (aka Jung Hae In or Jang Young Nam), it's definitely not a complete waste.
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I actually didn't want to write a review about this because there are already so many of them out there which capture the magic of this drama quite well. But there are so many things I liked and loved in this drama that I somehow needed to write all these things down myself.
There is quite a large amount of crime and suspense dramas out there lately, that it's hard to find some distraction with a good rom-com, and I was hesitant with this because of Yoo Seung Ho. He has already proven that he can act with other dramas but he's also the master of crying - and that not always to his advantage. Whether directors demand him to cry to his heart's content or not, sometimes it's just too much for the drama. But with his latest project it seems as if I discovered him all anew and he did won me over with this big time.
The story evolves around Kim Min Kyu who is allergic to humans. One slight touch results in life-threatening consequences, and because there doesn't seem to be a cure yet, he has to be very careful to never touch another person. Therefore he lives in isolation and loneliness and has developed some kind of friendship with his cleaning robots over the years. Just then he finds out about this new human robot with an AI and decides to test it out.
There is nothing like a unique and new idea in this world and people might be reminded of "AI", "I Robot" or "Bicentennial Man" with this show. But when it comes to K-dramas, "I'm Not a Robot" is still a fresh concept. It won't focus too much on the AI topic, but more on the romance part, and therefore doesn't dive too deep into "conscientious invention for the next generation", even though it might graze those things in a very superficial way as well. For example, there are the geeks who invent for the sake of creating new things that can be helpful for humanity in a peaceful way, or the evil guys who only see money and war toys.
Whether Kim Min Kyu's illness might be too far fetched or not is hard to judge. Maybe it sounds unbelievable the first time you hear it but... ever since I started working in the medical field, I developed this thought that we will never be able to know of all the diseases in the world. There are so many which are not yet discovered or very rare illnesses the majority of people don't know of. And who knows, maybe there really is someone like Kim Min Kyu, too. For me, the drama was able to deliver that subject well enough to buy its story.
Of course, it's not free of clichés and it's very predictable. But in a good way. You know what will happen, you anticipate it and you're happy when it's indeed happening in the end. This drama doesn't always follow reality, it's still a fantasy (and Korean!) drama. Sometimes it might also have some logistic miracles, but seriously, who cares. It's too much fun watching Kim Min Kyu and his experiences with this very human "robot". When I say, you will laugh your ass off, you definitely will. It's been a while since I myself laughed that hard, that often.
What makes this drama so great are its characters and the cast who did an incredibly smashing job. You will find yourself attached to most of them in no time, and you will have this constant grin on your face whenever you see the leads, the research team (and it was so much fun seeing Uhm Ki Joon play a good guy for a change, too) or that little robot that reminded me so much of Little Groot! Too sad it didn't have much screen-time. The female lead's friend and also her family added a lot to the fluff and comedy, and even though I didn't like the brother in the beginning, his timid behavior grew on me quite fast, too.
As I mentioned before, Yoo Seung Ho literally blew me away in this. His looks/styling were dashing and his acting was cuteness overload without getting too cheesy. He managed to show a plausible transformation from a lonesome boy who fears the contact with other people to a guy who slowly learns to build a relationship with another person. His reactions to new experiences was heartwarming and once in love he became endlessly cute. His crying which I always fear in dramas, were kept in line. It was well balanced most of the time and only one or two times where it was a tiny bit too much, but I don't want to nitpick. I'm more than happy with what everything else he gave me here. And wow, he had such an amazing chemistry with Chae Soo Bin. I loved her in Rebel and was excited to see her in this drama. Both of them delivered beyond my expectations. Especially Chae Soo Bin must be praised for her performance of her human character Jo Ji Ah and the robot Aji 3. I was able to tell them apart very easily and create a bond with both of them individually. I'm even a little sad that the robot didn't have that much screen-time. I would have loved to see more of her.
I usually don't mention kisses but I was quite fixated on them here. I don't even know why, maybe because I can't remember Yoo Seung Ho's previous drama kisses or because I'm always nervous about them in general because they can either be a hit or miss. But don't worry! They were a pleasure to the eyes and to the heart. Lively and cute at the same time.
The only ones I was a little disappoint in, were the bad guys. Kang Ki Young for example. I liked his acting whenever I saw him in a drama. But here he was... how shall I put it... too bland? It didn't reach me, it felt subdued. As if he wanted to show that he can also take on other more serious roles but failed to express the necessary emotions. His character was kind of "flabby". Maybe he is better off playing funny guys. Same goes for the whole conspiracy plot in this drama. I wasn't convinced even one second. The major problem was probably that it didn't get enough screen-time to build a proper ground. On the other hand I won't complain much about it either because I was way more happy to see the leads all the time. I know, it's a contradiction but I can't help it. And since this drama is just another rom-com, I didn't expect much depth in its evil side anyway.
Phew, I wanted to keep myself short on this but ended up going too much into detail. If you were able to read through all of this, let me thank you for enduring this long text. I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts and maybe will start this drama yourself~
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That was such a sweet little drama to watch. Even though there are some things that doesn't add up or weren't enough explained, I will forgive the story its flaws since it only had 3 hours to build up the whole thing, including the fast romance part.
Everything else was fluffy and funny. The female characters might have been stereotype, exaggerated and a little too childish but some of them still grew on me. Most of all the lead and the ghost. I was especially impressed with the leads acting and I'm excited to watch more with her. She has some real potential to pull of some awesome roles. Her transformation (also the visual one) throughout the drama, from someone who looks like a witch in training from Wicked, to a fangirl that almost faints at the sight of her idol to a girl who experiences her first love, was fun to watch, even though it might not be realistic.
Suho who plays the male lead... Well, he might not be the biggest actor of his generation (yet?) but he did well enough to make the story work and make me care for his love story. That he can sing is a given considering that he's EXO's leader (=frontman?). I'm wondering if he would be able to manage more difficult roles, too. So far his acting is not sticking out from the crowd.
I really liked the visual aspects, colors and cinematography, and the directing style which totally added to the fluff but also to the heartbreaking scenes. They even had some unexpected side twists at the end, I wouldn't have guessed at the beginning.
I totally liked the music. Not only the Korean song that were sang by the lead himself but the whole contributing part of songs that carried the mood. Instead of underlining the story with instrumental pieces or other Korean songs, they used well known English hits. I loved that. It was kinda different, and even though I usually don't like that in dramas, here it kind of gave me a nostalgic feeling due to the fact that I recognized them and my own fangirl period.
Of course, quite a generous rating from me again but I don't regret watching this. A short piece of fluff and lighthearted melo, but worth it if you don't mind minor flaws and remind yourself that this is nothing too deep.
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Since the synopsis is what made everyone curious about the drama first, it's not like you were thrown into cold water. So, of course I knew what was coming. After showing the key incident, the drama starts quietly to show how everything began. After that, most times it just evolves in a way you maybe already foresee - but in a good way, it's not getting boring or someting. It's more like you're anticipating every new development as you want to know whether your judgement was right or not. It's also not without surprises. There are plenty of surprises as well.
What makes the story and the drama so valuable is the cast. Seriously, this awesome cast! Except for Ji Sung and Bae Su Bin I didn't know anyone of the actors here (ok, some of the supporting roles I've seen already somewhere else, but that's not the point here). I only knew Ji Sung from Protect The Boss where he was really good but didn't make me follow his work further. And as for Bae Su Bin... only saw him in 49 Days but can't recall his acting there since it's been too long. So, at the end I was very surprised by all those astonishing actors esp. him. He totally nailed his role here and kinda changed my view of him. So, overall all of them never failed to impress me. Whether it was the bad guys or the good guys or the good ones who turned bad or vice versa. At no point I was ever annoyed by their actions or behaviour whether they acted just like jerks or hypocrites or threw stones in the good guys' ways. I could always comprehend their actions and even loved those moments.
In the end that's the most charming point of this drama, the acting, plus a good script. There are some scenes where you think: 'If that didn't happen, things would have turned out different. She would have ended up with someone else.' It's rare, that I have those thoughts about a drama.
Furthermore, you can actually see the character development here. Not from one person or two but everyone. That's quite enjoyable because you don't have to worry that one of them might fail your expectations. I have to admit, some side characters remained a bit shallow and at some point it bothered me. But in the end I think I can forgive that. (I'm even a little surprised at how the company thing turned out in the end.)
If I had watched this drama when it aired, I don't think I would have had the same feelings towards it. Don't get me wrong, it would still not have effected the rating. Just the feeling would have been somewhat different although I don't know how to explain it.
At some point I thought I wouldn't want to rewatch the drama because the same anxiousness wouldn't be there or at least be the same as the first time. But now I think different. The first half of the drama was very intriguing, watching that vengeful person slowly turning and not being able to resist any longer in the end.
So, to cut it short: I enjoyed this drama very much!
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Perfection
This was... I dare say perfection. Even though Xiania might be able to please me too easily. Or I just pick the right ones :>The plot was exciting from beginning to end.
--> But it often seems (not just with this one but in general) that like 3/4 of it tells one big story (one big enemy everything revovles around and who is then defeated) and the remaining 1/4 feels just like the aftermath with another big finale.
Well, I won't complain, I still loved everything about it.
The acting was superb. I actually have a direct comparison regarding the ML since I just finished "Back From The Brink". Though I had to get warm with the actor in the last one, I loved him in this drama right from the beginning. I don't know if it was the directing or his acting just improved a hundred times over the last 2 years, I don't know. But man, he was perfection. Every move, every expression, every tear, every shiver, every touch. I bought it. I bought it a hundred times.
The FL was great as well. Though I haven't seen her before, I can't complain about her performance at all. She was a perfect match for the ML, they complemented each other. Both of them had such a touching chemistry. I mean, sometimes I started crying without a reason - the scene wasn't even that sad! And I had so much to laugh in the first half of the story with all their bickering and acting within acting and deception game. And then those sensitive moments. And hot scenes - literally and metaphorically! And skinship! And kisses! I think it's enough mentioning it to make my point clear on those ones ;)
Scenery: Beautiful.
CGI: Awesome. I mean, of course you still see that it's computer based. But it was still so well done and implanted into the scenes, that it created a smooth flow of the scenes. Even the green screen scenes were well composed.
The intro: Completely different from the ones I watched so far but even more stunning than previous ones from other Xianxia.
The only mistake I actually made was to start this one right after finishing another drama with the same actor. I forgot that Chinese dramas often dub their shows and the actors rarely stick with the same dubbers. The first moment the ML spoke I realized right away - I had to get used to his new voice the first 2 or 3 episodes actually.
While writing this review, I'm listening to the soundtrack. Warm and touching compositions, that throw me right back into its world.
- Did you notice how often I was forced to use the word "perfect"? :p
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At this point I may be already biased in judging this drama objectively. I won't tell you guys to go watch this if you haven't done it yet. It's not possible for everyone to like or love it (what kind of drama can actually do that). It's also not perfect, I admit that. But despite all that I was highly entertained and mesmerized by this one and have a hard time containing my fangirling over this.
Is it truly this awesome? Yes, for me it was. It's like Healer in sageuk style. Not much similarity but the same charm that will capture your heart. The same way Ji Chang Wook convinced and bewitched me, the same way did Lee Joon Gi. Before starting their dramas I had either never heard of them before or didn't complete a drama with them yet. So, I was walking into this drama without a fangirling heart for the leads but ended up getting one.
Not much to tell about the story since the summary is already saying everything, although it's not quite accurate and a little misleading (as summaries always are, imo). But see for yourself if you start this drama.
What I liked about The Night Scholar was in fact the story-telling. The impressive and shocking beginning, the introduction of the characters, the way new events were unfolding and leading to new plot twists... and most of all it seemed like the drama always knew what I wanted to see next. The writer(s) should be complimented for giving me that kind of feeling (of a fangirl that doesn't care for logic but only wants to have her way with the characters) and still make the story work properly and logically.
As I mentioned before Lee Joon Gi was impressive and found his way into my heart. His display of the vampire Kim Sung Yeol was great. His turmoil, his growing love, his overcoming over his past love...
The other characters grew on me, too. Kim So Eun was great in portraying two different characters, esp. the conflict of her second role here. Shim Chang Min and Lee Soo Hyuk did a solid job of their roles as the Crown Prince and the evil vampire Gwi, and the supporting actors also did their parts well. Not outstanding but a solid, (most times) convincing performance.
The reason I didn't give this a 10 is simply because there were times when I wasn't fully convinced with the fights. For a mystery drama the special effects were really good. But as for some battles and confrontations... sometimes they looked a little too staged and/or forced. No matter how much I enjoyed this drama I couldn't overlook those parts as they were continuously knocking against my head. But on the other hand big compliment to the make-up artists. They did a great job with all the blood, the look of the vampires and everything else (esp. the ugly duck turning into a swan scene).
Putting that aside... Let's talk about the music. Great plus as most times in sageuks! Harmonizing with the story and making the scenes look even more emotional. I'm already in love with the OST.
Phew... looks like I still got to say all the things I wanted to tell, haha~ Hope, you enjoyed this review (although it got quite long...), despite the fact that it might sound biased.
Ohhh, wait! Before we go on with our lives... Can someone please admire the scholar's garbs?
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The story had a slow start and I admit that I had thoughts of dropping it right away. The cast was unfamiliar to me and esp. in the beginning they didn't do much to persuade me. I don't know why I kept watching. Maybe it was the first serious encounter of the male lead with tragedy and his following performance which was rich of emotions. I think that was the key moment when I realized that the story could actually be worth a try. Now, reminiscing about it, I couldn't even fathom what cruel turn of events it actually had up its sleeve. I'm not into K-Pop, so I had no idea about the idol actors in this. Therefore I also didn't have any prejudices. But as you can see, Park Jin Young convinced me.
The slow unfolding of the main story kept reigning over the first half of the drama. Most of the time I wasn't bothered though. I enjoyed Park Jin Young's and Kim Kwon's interacting. They delivered a great performance of a really complicated relationship and I looked forward to every scene with them in it together.
I think the speciality of this drama is that you have a hero and a superpower which doesn't consequently mean that he's above everyone else and therefore a superior being. Quite the opposite. He can't control his power and therefore creates more problems rather than solving them. He has to learn how to do that, he wants to help but he's not the most ambitious guy out there and even tries to get to the final line by cheating. He's short-tempered and forgets to view things from all sides. Therefore he's not able to see the whole picture. The process of him learning step by step is wrought very smoothly. He's very human in his reactions to certain events.
Which leads me to the Shin Ye Eun and thus to the weak link. While I kept watching I started to wonder why I can't enjoy the drama as much as I wanted to, even though the story, the twists, the characters were interesting. Until I figured out that it was the female lead who bothered me. I know that others praise her but I don't think that she was the right choice for this kind of drama. Her performance was too weak and the actress is too inexperienced to actually convey the feelings and difficulties her character had to go through. I don't want to bash her acting, she definitely tried. I'm just saying that it wasn't enough and led to boring scenes with Park Jin Young which also includes the romance. A hundred per cent unnecessary feature in the story.
As much as I was disenchanted by the female lead, I reveled in the display of detective Eun Ji Soo. Kim Da Som did everything I missed in Shin Ye Eun's acting. And in the beginning I was even skeptical of her. She really grew on me throughout the story and I wouldn't want to miss her now. Next to the relationship of the two brothers, Eun Ji Soo had another very interesting connection to Kang Seung Mo. Instead of the main romance the writers should have focused more on that part because I think it's a bigger deal to have her influencing Seung Mo than Yoo Jae In and Lee An chasing each other in out-of-context-scenes.
Sometimes I started to compare the drama to "I remember You". Well, it's not quite the same. But if you look for a special and complicated bromance, then you're definitely right with this one. Does the plot have holes? Hard to tell, smalls flaws in my opinion. I also could have done without the corruption part since it was just a tool to make the investigation and the grounding for an already sturdy concept more complicated. But the main focus of the drama is worth a shot despite all that.
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It actually starts quite interesting. A bunch of rebels plan to free their leader from prison and kill the king who doesn't have the right to be on the throne in their eyes. And only one prison guard is strong enough to oppose them.
The biggest problem of the movie is its lack of explanation. Even though there's some information given in the beginning, it still fails to bond with the audience because the characters are not introduced enough. Some pretty stereotype figures who all seem to come from an action adventure game. And the build-up is not that far away either. You have your superhero who has to fight his way through a bunch of enemies who get stronger by the person. He gets tired pretty early on and suffers one wound after another but he still manages to beat the strongest opponents. What I missed here was an excuse for his identity that would explain at least a bit of his outstanding strength.
Martial arts are really good, and I can't complain about them one bit. But the story was lacking and almost every character was not introduced enough to either sympathize with or despise them. The most disappointed character for me was the king who had a short appearance where he looked rather crazy than goodhearted.
It's also such a shame that the lack in the character writing didn't give the cast an opportunity to make their figures shine. There was so much potential. And in the end, the only one who remained likable in my eyes was our superhero.
Recommended with reservation. Only if you're very deep into the cast and a fan of martial arts.
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I was very hesitant about this drama in the beginning. The colors were so bright, the title cheesy. I was afraid I would suffer through a soupy and exaggerated melodrama with lots of shortsighted intrigues and superficial characters (what I experienced with My Sassy Girl). The only thing that pushed me into this was Im Shi Wan's dashing historical look in the promotionals. And even though I was still unsure while watching the first episode... when a young man's voice began to tell the story of a frightened little boy, born into a world where he had to face fears and prejudices, hopeful expectations flared up.
It is hard to put my feelings for this show into words. If I were to describe what kind of drama this is, I would say that it depicts the story of the Crown Prince and his struggle to become a man worthy to reign over his country. Im Shi Wan is an incredible actor. I have seen many historical dramas, but his interpretation of a Crown Prince and his performance were a pleasure to watch and a gem among so many others. I was absorbed in his acting, his happiness, fears and his inner and outer battles. Constantly between trying to protect the ones close to him whilst falling short on accomplishing his own desires and dreams over and over again... To see him never giving up and always trying to get the best out of every situation, he became the only character I deeply cared about. And I had the urge to give him a hug more than once. Behind that imposing royal demeanor he upheld at all times, only tiny facial expressions revealed the stinging pain he was feeling inside during constant encounters that tried to marginalize him and drive him to his knees. I was overwhelmed by his endurance and felt his hurt every time he did.
The rest of the cast did a relatively good job as well, even though most of them never reached Im Shi Wan's level. But every single one had at least one thread I could connect to. The script gave them more than just one layer and when it mattered I was able to either hate or like the king, the queen, the second male and female leads or the side characters. Maybe the only one I was never too fond of till the end was the big bad wolf. But half the fault lies within the writers who tried to give him more depth during the last episodes but instead went a little over the top.
I enjoyed the love triangle, which I usually don't do in dramas. I think what I liked the most about it was that the female lead was never solely responsible for the two male leads' actions. It just either pushed or slowed down the inevitable development all of them had to confront at some point anyway. And even though bromance was endearing, it was always meant to meet a poignant fate, with or without the additional love interest.
While the first half of the drama started slow, lighthearted and sometimes even funny, it built up its climax with subtle steps, and it never failed to gradually increase the ultimate danger. It led its characters to life-changing decisions while it forced them to grow up too fast while facing the consequences of their actions. Somewhere during the second half I was worried the writers might chicken out of the path they created for their characters. But they did not - for the most part. The final aftermath might have felt a little less sever than what it could have been, but it was still satisfying. I have no idea how others felt about the ending, but I really liked it. Somewhere along the way I realized that it would be one of the most reasonable finishes and my hunch eventually proved to be true.
The King Loves is definitely one of the better sageuks out there, so don't hesitate to start this. It is a pleasant, moving but also tear-jerking drama that will stay in your memory for a very long time.
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I had to compare it to Boss & Me and... Love O2O is in no way inferior to B&M. Both of them have their flaws and slow pace, so I think 7.5 is a good rating for them. This is based on a webtoon/novel as far as I've heard. And after watching this, I can imagine the webtoon being the exact same way.
The drama follows that basic romance concept many shoujo-mangas have. From beginning to end. So, it was quite easy to guess how the story would unfold and also end. It only varies in their executed subtleties.
As for the pace... Like I already mentioned in earlier posts, it's very slow. Though the beginning was more interesting and thrilling in a certain way, the second half becomes very weak. It was an up and down as repetitive trouble for our leads kept appearing, and not all of them could hold my excitement.
The romance part is clear and straightforward. Regarding its execution... It has its sweet times, that even make you blush sometimes but it also had some problems with showing passion in... certain moments. I enjoyed some of the characters alot although they were quite stereotype. The one I grew fond of the most was the male lead. He will linger in my memory a very long time.
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First of all, this is definitely one of the better crime investigation dramas out there and evidence that OCN can indeed produce great shows. I lost faith after Neighborhood Hero, but Missing Noir M was able to mend my shattered heart.
The acting was thoroughly awesome. Not only the leads who had great chemistry in a non-romantic way but also every single guest actor/actress who played important roles in each case. They were able to make me excited to a point where I couldn't stop watching while at the same time I was worried that I'd finish this drama too fast. It's unfortunately only 10 episodes but I could have watched 10 more of it. The cast delivered their emotions and messages so well, that I'm still stunned when I think about it. Though I didn't really cry, they still moved me to tears so many times. This was about interpersonal relationships which were put to proof under extreme circumstances. It's about justice and injustice, and about trust and suspicion.
What I loved so much here was how every case was built. Disclosing one secret always meant to find ~10 other secrets within that had to be solved in order to see the whole magnitude. Layer by layer and in the end the picture always looked completely different from what you had expected in the beginning.
Though I must say that I didn't enjoy the last case as much as the earlier ones. Maybe it's because I prefer psychological mind games over corruption cases. I know what they wanted to tell their viewers with that last one, but I still think that it didn't really fit well between those other mind-blowing puzzles. It seemed rather short and rushed and failed to properly explain its own story. It felt plain compared to the other cases.
There were also some loose ends, especially the reason why they even formed that special missing persons investigation team when they were so worried about opening Pandora's Box. It was quite well explained for the first case but for all the other ones, it remains a mystery to me.
Background music was, as I already mentioned some days ago, exceptional. So damn well composed, balanced and in sync that it managed to liven up every important moment to its full potential.
Rating 9/10 - Great ride and exciting watch ?
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