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So, what can I say about this drama? Even though Push and the plot were my driving forces, right from the start the one who stole the spotlight was the female lead. It's not easy to enter a new turf (Thai drama) with unknown actors, unknown language and unknown humor. But Gypso (let's cut her name a little here) did everything right from the first moment on and therefore convinced me right away. Even though I can't yet compare her with other Thai actors, I dare say that she's got a unique way of acting. She's charming, her humor is brilliant and she masters this thin line between silly and serious perfectly. And she has this beautiful, beautiful smile.
Don't chop off my head, dear Push-fans. Yes, he only got second place. I'm not saying he was bad, he was great and did everything right as well, was charming, mesmerizing and everything you can think of. He just lost to his female counterpart. But, and that's even more important, Push and Gypso worked damn well together. There was harmony and sparkle and balance. Without these things I wouldn't have been able to root for them. But I did, ohh, how I did, indeed. Who wouldn't?
One might get restless, because it took a while until that dissimilar couple got along alright. It's what I actually liked so much, because during that time all the small things made Win (Push) and WanNeung (Gypso) slowly growing closer. And with that it also made my affection for them growing as well.
As for the second leads. Yes, they were annoying in the beginning and even more in the middle. Most of all because of their possessive behavior over their friend/ex-lover and their "I know what's best for him/her"-way of thinking. In the end though - and I didn't think my opinion about them would change like that - I saw actual character development. The way the female second lead, May, realized that she was living in the past and still didn't see the fault in her actions. Her counterpart, the male second lead, MeeDee, was a weaker character but in the end the key she needed.
And not only them, of course also the leads experienced that noticeable change. The leads did mistakes as well, especially Win. Trying to solve a bigger problem with good intentions, but then hurting other people along the way. WanNeung made her own mistakes, yes she was naive sometimes, but I couldn't really be angry with her. She's young and wanted to achieve her dream, and I would never say that she acted dumb in her situations. The only thing I could hold her up to would be that she was a bit slow in reading her surroundings. So, all known tropes aside, this drama had many moments that went deeper than I'd expected.
When I think about the skinship in this drama, I get all the feels. It's everything for me. Some touching, hugging, caressing, all of those things here and there while the couple is not yet a couple, but their little gestures already show how much they care for each other.
And let me say something about the kisses. Yes, they got frozen ones as well. But funny thing, these ones still look more passionate than Korean paralyzed pecks, because there is still some small but notable movement AND they actually press their lips onto each other instead of just innocently brushing that sensible skin.
I also have to mention what a large group of gay people there was. It was like one big gathering where everyone could have had feelings for everyone, no matter the gender. Some could argue about whether it was too much or just right. I for myself enjoyed it because it was refreshing and opened up new constellations. The whole "innocent girl lives together with a gay male"- thing got new turns thanks to that. And can I say how much I loved WanNeung's gay best friend? For real. I mean, yes, it's not unusual to put the female lead together with such a friend. But you can also overdo it and make it look silly. LukPit though felt real and pure and authentic, that I really wish I would have a friend like that.
The only person that didn't fit in was the character named "Guy". Seriously, where did they got him? He had zero acting skill and only one or two facial expressions which never expressed anything at all. I've never seen such a fail in casting. It's the first time I would indeed think that some very rich connection got the dude that role.
This was my 3rd Thai drama. I shied away from them in the past because of certain violent acts that Lakorns are famous for. But I got lucky with this, like I was with Ugly Duckling: Perfect Match just before, which put me on the Push-train... Damn, that boy got a body and they certainly know how to shape it even more in their dramas. He makes me feel ashamed for drooling over him.
With that said, happy watching!
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Several years ago I didn't know about the korean market, dramas, movies etc. I wasn't into that stuff yet. I just randomly bought some japanese horror movies (at least that's what I thought, lol). I didn't even notice that this one was korean. Well, I liked the story (watched it twice) and then forgot about it.
Now, after almost 15 years and to complete my drama list I digged it up again, and while reading the contents I had to laugh out loud after recognizing so many actors I didn't know of back then. (Like: 'She's from Angry Mom and Faith!' and 'He's from The Greatest Love and You're all Surrounded!' and 'That one's from The King's Face!'...)
The Story itself is really nice and interesting but since this movie is from 1999 the special effects are (of course) not as good as today. Low budget and all included. Doesn't mean it's bad though. The atmosphere is just like those old Godzilla movies. The acting itself is average. It fits the movie but nothing special. The only strange thing was how the scenes were assembled and edited. Hard to explain.
I have to admit after being spoiled by all those great dramas these days this movie could get a bit strange and maybe a little bit boring. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it because of the romance part, although it's like: 'Oh, and now they like each other!' It's not the best but hell, I liked it anyway.
Back then I watched the movie with German dubbing. Maybe some of you know what I'm talking about when I say western dubbing on asian movies doesn't fit most times (It's the same with animes, btw). This time I watched it in Korean and Aigoo!, it made a huge difference (although the German subtitles sucked alot - listening to the Korean language for several years now makes you notice).
Music... not much to judge here but I really like the ending song.
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It sounds cliché but when I worked at a restaurant I met so many bosses who had married their secretaries that it felt actually quite strange. But it's a matter of fact and the funniest things happen in real life, right? So, it was even more enjoyable to watch. Also, it's been a while since I last watched a pure romance drama, so it was even more relaxing to marathon this one.
Park Min Young's and Park Seo Joon's scenes were well balanced and had really good dynamics. There was perfect timing in their facial expressions and small gestures/reactions were well tuned. It's hard to describe, but I hope you'll know what I'm talking about when you watch it yourselves.
What I especially liked in the beginning was that perfect teamwork between the both of them. It showed so well, how important it is to have a competent, supportive co-worker next to you when it comes to managing such scales. It's a bit sad that they showed less of that team-play as the drama went on. What I also liked was the transition from the newbie to that perfect secretary.
PSJ's acting performance was satisfying, as expected. The narcissistic treats of his character were well shown, even though they surfaced less often in the later episodes, which is a bit sad, imo.
I'm not a fan of kitsch, so... let's just say that the drama could have done perfectly fine without it. I don't even know how SK came up with this kind of image of a relationship in the first place, when they started to produce rom-coms in the past.
I adored all the side-characters. Lee Young Joon's parents were great. Hilariously great. Also, Kim Mi So's sisters (fresh faces who make me want to see them more often in dramas) and of course her dad, lol. And in that sense the surprise cameo. Won't say more though!
Special shout-out to the child actors. So, so cute but also so impressively well done when you think about those scenes they had to play.
And then there's Kang Ki Young. You can't help but enjoy all his roles. He has this comedic talent to make a scene look serious, yet funny without overdoing it.
Overall a well done rom-com with a few points of criticism. The acting is really good, the office life relatively close to reality (sometimes). Only the last few episodes became a bit dragging about two issues and some things were just "too much". It doesn't diminish the overall enjoyment, and with the adding of someone's hidden past you even get some suspense on the side-lines. Enjoyment level alone: 8.5.
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Rollercoaster of Quality
Finally finished this one and I have so many different feelings about it that the rating was quite hard.The first 20-what episodes were a real suffering. The acting was bad, the settings were lame, camera, editing and direction were a shame and don't get me started with the dialogues.
Moreover, the FL who's supposed to be from the modern world had no trouble living in a totally different world, not missing anyone or anything, got used to her new surroundings, never felt like trying to go back and just went with the flow. Despite that, she was always a fun character to be around.
The ML's actor... Man, he lacked so much of what was needed for that role he played. Never had that murderous, crazy vibe about him... He always looked like a grumpy kid with constipation. And the weirdest thing of all was his smile. It always felt like the actor forgot, that his character needs to do so and suddenly the corners of his mouth jumped up. And it was always the same, no difference whatever the situation. The whole performance seemed to be one of amateur actors.
And then there was the side cast's acting. I don't even want to lose words over it... Exaggerated, lame and noob-ish.
What kept me watching was the story itself actually. Even though until that certain point I would have never guessed that I could be touched by the main couple's romance.
And then, the second life time started, and the third. And I got absorbed. The setting got better, the acting was, well not perfect but acceptable, better. The change in the characters' demeanor was refreshing. And what the ML lacked in the beginning... Oh, he can't smile in different ways, but certainly got a knack for painful longing (within his capacities). There was definitely a change in his facial expressions. As if he tried harder and actually got a bit better.
Thanks to that I enjoyed the second half way more and even cared for the main couple's destiny. Though acting of the side cast was still mediocre. And the plot itself felt totally rushed by then. I missed explanations, I missed the feeling of "alot of time has passed". One scene right after the other and they wanted to sell me a "many months have passed". There was no time to get used to the emotional and situational changes in the story.
And the weird camera direction and captures also remained, even though CGI was somewhat satisfying.
Overall a rollercoaster of quality. It could have been so much better with certain changes in everything. But do I regret watching it though? No.
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Picturesque, Breathtaking, Devilishly Good~
So, here I am, after finishing Till The End of The Moon, flabbergasted by that abrupt ending. I'm not saying that it was rushed. The finale was indeed well paced and worth being called "finale". I was just so into the story, that I actually expected some more "after effects" after the finale. But it suddenly ended and left me with some unfinished emotions as well as some unanswered questions, i.e. was the last big misunderstanding clarified to the world? That will probably be my only drop of bitterness when I reminisce about this drama.The story itself was a great journey, full of sadness, hatred, jealousy, bitterness but also love (but I guess you can apply that to every Xianxia). It feels like ages since I watched the first episodes (even though it has only been 2 weeks), so it's kinda hard to recollect every moment (guess I have to watch again, lol).
I was able to connect quite well with the characters very early on, even though Luo Yun Xi's character Tantei Jin was hard to grasp at the beginning because his image from Ashes of Love was still dominant in my mind. But he convinced me in no time and before I could even think about it, I was already convinced by his new character. And now, remembering the very first episode with him, I have to say that he introduced a phenomenal, cruel Devil God to the world.
I was always worried that the slow changes in his attitude and mindset caused by Ye Xiwu (FL) would be destroyed again, everytime someone betrayed him. It was completely understandable that he remained so insecure for 2/3 of the story when you think about the way he grew up, although I'm a bit sad that he didn't investigate enough and didn't give the benefit of the doubt at the end of the human realm arc. Same goes for Ye Xiwu. It took her a very long time to actually believe in him. Even the slightest "seemingly" evil deed done by Tantei Jin would throw her back into believing he would never change and always be the Devil God she feared so much.
What the story was also good at was showing how fast people and immortals were to prejudge and find a first obvious culprit without much investigation, instead of believing the truth they should know deep down. At least the immortals should have been a better judge of character. I was also most frustrated with the accused ones to never explain the whole thing or at least enough, always pausing in their sentences, and the accusers to just assume their own truth with only fractions of the circumstantials. So many things could have been prevented.
Regarding the love triangles, I'm glad they didn't give much weight to that part. They were there, yes. They caused some trouble, yes. But they vanished quite fast, too. Much to my liking, since I hate that trope the most.
It's been a day after finishing the drama and the music is still lingering in my head as well as those stunning costumes and breathtaking scenes. You just never want to look away but absorb every single image. Don't know how to get it out, don't want to either. I want to restart it, yet I don't want to. Xianxia always leave me with a weird feeling.
If you look for something similar to Ashes of Love or Love Between Fairy and Devil, then feel free to watch this as well. It won't disappoint, I promise.
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And in that way the drama tells a phenomenal story. Although I wasn't hooked by its first episodes right away, I grew to love it to bits even though the basic summary doesn't differ much from other revenge dramas.
What makes this so special are its characters and the construction of their stories - and the bond between them. Like the plot is built up in layers, so are its partakers. Every detail is played out so well that you're stunned when you reminisce about it. It makes you excited to watch each twist unfold, to guess and to see whether your predictions come true or not. And it never lets you rest. Each turn of events is shocking, moves you to tears or riles up your emotions to an unknown degree.
What I loved so much in the acting of the characters were those subtle, tiny expressions, almost too small to notice but you DO notice them. There is no one who is truly good or bad. Everyone has their flaws and inner fights and struggles, and sometimes the selfish desire wins over. It shows how good this drama is, that it makes you focus automatically, so you won't miss anything. One big strength of this drama is that it makes you try to imagine to be in their shoes. You might think that you will never extort to their lengths and methods but deep down you have to admit that you can't be hundred percent clear about that either. Human instincts are one big mystery and only if you face such situations yourself, you'll learn some new truths about yourself.
Thinking of the cast makes me seriously happy because everyone, and I mean everyone, did such a good job with each and every role they were given. It made you enjoy all their interactions, either good or bad. A big shout-out at the young teenage actors, too, because they were utterly amazing! Also one of the best villains I've seen in a drama. I always prefer the calm, smart ones over the impulsive stereotypes they use so often. And Lookout has one intriguing badass whose gaze gives you the chills because he's just so incalculable. He's like fog where you can't see far enough.
Though all of them were amazing, the one who gets the biggest bouquet of flowers is Kim Young Kwang. He is simply surpassing every role he's done so far. His character was so well written and his performance was mind-blowing. And I'm not even exaggerating. He played Jang Do Han with such perfection and perception that I can't wait to see more of his acting in future roles with likewise impressive characters. I don't even want to talk about this too much, just watch it yourself and let yourself be mesmerized.
Also, Lee Shi Young. I was five minutes into the drama, and she already knocked me off my socks. She's such a badass female lead who makes you root for her almost all the way through. She is strong and no matter what happens stays to her beliefs. And although it might become a lonely fight, she never willingly depends on others but takes matters in her own hand.
I did have some issues with the last episodes which is why I can't give this drama a full 10. But I was still very satisfied with its wrap up, and to know that it's over now, makes me shed a tear or two.
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In the beginning I wasn't really interested in this and then people started to compare it to Signal, calling it a cheap copy of it. That made me curious though and I wanted to see it for myself. Now I thank everyone for indirectly making me watch it - because it's nothing like Signal except the time slip theme.
At first glance the synopsis doesn't appeal very interesting, especially since there are so many time traveling dramas out there recently. But once you give it some time and don't reject it right away, the story will definitely trigger something inside you. That's at least how I felt about this. I started with low to average expectations and ended up with fulfilling satisfaction.
The acting in this started really ordinary. It wasn't bad, but it didn't make me drop my jaw either. It solidly carried the story, as you might say. Choi Jin Hyuk started off quite indifferent, for example. But as episodes went by, he slowly managed to grow on me and make me sympathize with his character alot, especially in the second half. The same goes for Yoon Hyun Min and Lee Yoo Young. Both of them are actors I haven't seen before. I think it's alot more difficult to convince viewers who don't know about a respective cast of a drama and therefore don't crazily fangirl over them. In this case I didn't know about the leads and they were still able to convince me and make me enjoy this drama more than I had hoped for. The more I went into the story, the more I got entangled with its figures - in a good way.
Without telling too much, this drama also has an interesting villain who might not be someone new, but surely piques your interest and makes you excited about his character.
Objectively speaking, I would actually give Tunnel a rating of 8.5. But due to my surprise and personal entertainment I added 0.5 points to it. Hell, this drama is not free from flaws, I admit that. There were some things in the script and about some behaviors, I got angry about because it was flat-out unrealistic or stupid (excluding the time traveling thing, of course :P).
Then again, despite those minor matters, there were other things I happily accepted and which made me overlook the deficits. For example satisfying police work. Hard working officers, most times logical procedures and well done investigations. And the most important thing: No corruption! (a trope I got so tired of). It was also great at connecting and balancing crime and drama, the reason why I got so emotional many, many times while watching.
Other things I really loved were the side love stories that captured my emotions and the background music which was used so well and adjusted so perfectly that you even notice the improvement of the scenes through music while watching and listening.
There are of course also surprises up its sleeves. Some people might be able to foresee them but I also think that the drama did a good job at revealing certain already known or predicted things to its characters. And it did a good job at confusing (at least) me quite well, too. Or let's say it managed to make me think too much about possible turn of events. And no matter the outcome, that feature added completely to my enjoyment.
Cinematography did a really good job many times as well as scene flow and editing/cut. There were moments where I thought "Oh, nice! Well done!".
Conclusion of this one: Tunnel is definitely worth the watch if you are able to overlook some minor flaws. There are still many things to enjoy and be excited about. And one thing: This has one of the best final episodes I've seen so far.
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Don't Look Back: The Legend of Orpheus
5 people found this review helpful
The story is a common plot among all those revenge dramas out there. Han Yi Soo takes on a new identity after his father was murdered. After years he comes back to Korea with a fully prepared plan in his mind. In order to get the one responsible for his past misery he is determined to use that one's granddaughter Jo Hae Woo, his past first love from his teenage days.
What makes this drama so perfect in my eyes is that every detail harmonizes with the other entirely. The story, the twists, the actors, the music, the cinematography.
Although the basic plot is not an unusual one, it still keeps you chained to your seat. The way the scenes are merging and continuing so smoothly makes you more curious with each passing minute.
But the story itself wouldn't work without those remarkable actors who put so much life in their characters. At this point the first ones who are to be mentioned are Yun Joon Suk and Kyung Soo Jin who portrayed the young versions of both leads. Without them it would have only been half a joy watching this drama. Their chemistry was overwhelming and laid a great foundation for their adult co-actors (Kim Nam Gil & Son Ye Jin) who did an equally amazing job in showing that deep special bond their characters shared from the first minute they'd met. All those moments/scenes where they were together was in a striking contrast to the rest of the story and kinda felt like floating in the air. Their encounters always left a deep impression on me.
What strikes me most is Kim Nam Gil. I've never seen anything with him before, therefore I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But after watching this drama I'm completely convinced by his talent. Not many actors are capable of showing sparse facial expressions and still manage to deliver everything the viewer needs to feel the character's pain, suffering, inner turmoil and determination, or whatever he's feeling.
The most beautiful part of Shark (next to those wonderful tragically romantic moments of the leads) is its unique, outstanding OST. All those well placed songs just complemented this already brilliant drama.
Believe me if you've ever contemplated to watch this, don't hesitate any longer. Just start it.
Like I mentioned at the beginning many people were not satisfied or disappointed with the end. In my opinion it was the most fitting finish I've ever seen in a k-drama. If you pay enough attention right from the first moment, you would see it coming. Throughout the whole story are so many small details that point towards it - like a red thread. You'll see that any other ending wouldn't cope with the rest of the story as well as the actual one did. Not at all.
I for one have fallen in love with this gem. I hope you guys will enjoy this ride as well.
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The beginning was a bit unpolished and jolty. What kept me going was the refreshingly modern closeness between the leads despite not being a couple yet. The way they outsmarted the palace people every time to keep each other company even at night, was a satisfactory watch. There was this immediate trust foundation from the very first meeting between them - probably because they were "of the same kind". And even though some things changed later on, they kept supporting each other. All their interactions were one of the driving forces of the story.
At first the plot seemed chaotic and with no purpose, the common thread only became apparent later on when the story progressed. Only then the real excitement started. At some point the drama's atmosphere changed alot when certain secrets came to light (at least for the viewer). It added more depth and darkness to the story and also made the characters more palpable and reasonable. That was the moment I started to be fully invested in the story, was shocked and moved by the ML's past and even created a soft spot for him in my heart. The outstanding performance of the male lead which defined an interesting and complex character, played a big part in that.
Although the lead actor was incredible in what he was doing, the rest of the cast should be mentioned as well. No matter how small the role or how little they had to say, each and every actor/actress played their part exceptionally well. None of them felt like amateurs. I cried as much for the side cast as I did for the main couple.
Another personal thing I enjoyed a lot were some smaller details that included some medical knowledge. Without telling too much, it was interesting to see how people treated certain things in the past and how they counterattacked while I was connecting the parts and compared them to modern times.
The final episodes had something of a roundabout closure. Things that appeared in the beginning and which were almost forgotten, fullfilled their actual purpose at the end. That created a moment of cognition and felt nice for a change.
Emotional and moving songs, emphasizing the moment, beautiful costumes of the leads and well done kisses were other things to support the overall mood.
Conclusion:
You'll definitely get more than what the poster and summary give away. Highly recommended to those who enjoy well written complex characters, magnificent acting and a well thought out story that rather lives by its people's stories than by some "over the top" plot twists. The story - except for the supernatural transmigration part - felt pleasantly normal.
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Overflow in everything - and in a good way
If there was one word to describe many, many things of this gem, it would be: Excessive overflow. Okay, it's two words :P And I definitely don't mean that in a bad way but the opposite.There's an excessive use of beauty:
- Make up, costumes/clothing and cast. Just looking at that alone makes you want to shed a tear.
I haven't seen so many beautiful people (main, side, supportive and guest cast) in one place with such delicate and accurate make up, being put in such well-designed high quality costumes that are not only rich in detail and diversity but also show each characters uniqueness.
- Scenery, Settings. Every scene, every landscape, every close up. Every single image has its own tempting beauty. Each one prettier than the next. You can't point your finger on one or two because there are just too many to choose.
- CGI. No idea about the budget, but every penny was worth it.
There's an excessive use of slow-mo.
- Like almost every scene - except during dialogues (I guess? I forgot). Ironically it doesn't diminish the drama's quality. It's the other way around actually. The slow-mo is an important part that blends in with every scene it's used and supports each character's extraordinary abilities. And every time it creates a feast for the eyes.
There's an excessive use of talent.
There are so many talented people in this. The main cast is one thing, but also the supportive and even the guest roles deliver like gunshots. Every single side story tackled my heart.
- Hou MingHao aka Zhao Yuan Zhou / Zhu Yan (ML). Well, we know that he's outstanding. And he showed a variety of emotions here, so in the end I hope other directors will let him act out everything he wants in the way he wants in future dramas and won't cut him short and waste his talent. The way he portrayed a 30,000 years old demon was one of the best performances I've seen in a while. The character's background, his experience and knowledge, thinking 5 steps ahead, the weight of emotions he's been carrying for all those years and the verdict he imposed upon himself... I felt every emotion with every fiber of my heart.
- Tian JiaRui aka Zhuo Yi Chen (2nd ML). Haven't watched anything with him yet but he definitely convinced me of his acting and earned my respect. The development of his character was a journey if its own. With unshakable sincerity his motivation shifted from hatred and denial to friendship and devotion.
- Chen Du Ling aka Wen Xiao (FL). First time seeing her as well. And man. I really liked the character. A goddess without power, yet still always trying to help the ones who are in need, never giving up. Her progress was at some point predictable, yet it was not. It's hard to explain.
As for the ML's personal antagonist... Well matched and well played, I dare say.
- The rest of the main cast whether friend or foe portrayed their respective roles similarly to equally well, so there's no need to explain in detail. Let's just say there are no unnecessary positions. Everyone owned his place and reason of existence.
The story itself can be separated into two parts. The first half concentrates on single cases, the atmosphere is dark, chilly and exciting which is a welcoming change. The second part resolves around the main villains, loose hints from the beginning start to finally connect and the main group's primary bonds get rearranged while your own bond with the characters unnoticeably grows stronger, too. I loved the humor in the first half as well as the way they cheered up right after dead serious or sad moments.
While other Xianxia concentrate on the main romance, this story's main core lies in many different kinds of love and other feelings. Friendship, romance, bromance, family bond (blood related or not). Guilt and atonement, prejudice, hatred, condemnation, redemption, grief, forgiveness, sacrifice, self-respect, relying on others, trust.
I loved that with every move, every expression, every tear you could feel how deep their bond grew. An impressive thing was that you could somehow sense what would happen moments before it really happened - just by watching their eyes. (And you already start crying though nothing had happened yet...).
There is still so much to say about this drama, yet I don't really know what else to write about without expanding to a 10-page journal. Everyone should experience this ride for themselves, judging by themselves. For me, this was a true gem that luckily found its way to my screen and my heart.
~ Btw, this includes the special episode as well ~
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I love Jo Jung Suk's acting ever since King2Hearts. There's no denying that he can pull off a far fetching diversity of characters and he will always be one big reason for me to pick a drama. That's why I watched Two Cops, although opinions were definitely not in favor. But as you can see with my rating, the drama still managed to disappoint me big time.
First though, let me tell you what I liked about it (since the list won't be long):
The bromance between Soo Chang (KSH) and Dong Tak (JJS) was blooming slowly, but once they accepted each other, they had some really nice moments together. Chemistry was there and at some point I was even sad that they didn't have more scenes together. There was still a lot of possibilities that could have been used to deepen their bond more.
The criminal sidekicks who were supporting our leads. I loved their scenes and their antics, because it was funny but not exaggerating. Especially the thug leader (Lee Shi Eon) grew on me, as well as the female pickpocket. I enjoyed her story (including her love line) and her attitude towards certain police officers.
One of the bigger villains (played by Lee Jae Won) had an equally interesting part in the drama. His character and the actor's performance made me care for his story, what was all I needed. The main villains were not outstanding, they remained somewhat stereotype-y, but they were still good and their evilness was convincing.
But what I didn't like:
First of all the romance. Seriously, they could have done without it. Zero chemistry between the leads, instead their scenes took away important time that could have been used on the case. Furthermore Hyeri. I haven't seen much with her yet, but this drama definitely didn't make me want to watch something else with her either. Not only was her character annoying, but also the acting didn't reach me even once. Her kisses with the main lead were actually good, but since I didn't care for the romance at all, their "passion" was a waste of time altogether. And another point that made me wince even more was that JJS's character felt all grown up while the female lead acted like a nosy, clueless brat.
Then there was this confusing point about the Korean law here. Most of the crime dramas I watched until now, were always telling me that relatives are not allowed to investigate or prosecute family members. This drama kind of threw that rule over? It's not the only drama with that kind of law display but it made me wonder again...
I was not able to build a bond with the good guys aka the police squad the lead was part of. The characters were average at best. Nobody stood out, it was your usual bunch of lousy officers, one of them rather a model than a law enforcer who did his bit to make the team look like a joke even more. Especially regarding the main case. This one could have been solved so much faster but since the drama wanted to extent the hunt and because their way of investigation had a lot of nonsensical turns, it took them quite a while to assemble the puzzle. And only at the very end they seemed to have gotten some intelligence input, so they were able to create a plan to catch the bad buys. (I do admit that I was a bit surprised about the actual truth that was revealed at the far end)
One of the major flaws in my eyes was how they used their possibilities regarding the core point of the drama. Soo Chang was a ghost and not bound to anything. He was free to go anywhere without being held back by some kind of ghost rule. Therefore he could have listened in to so many suspicious people. He was rather clueless in the beginning (he annoyed the hell out of me) and he was more interested in chasing his useless love interest instead of finding a way to go back to his normal self. Only later on when he got closer to Dong Tak and after he had fixated his mind on catching the culprits, he became a little smarter and grew on me.
The overall construction of story telling was very slow and draggy. Even the finale didn't speed up but was acted out rather calmly. It's such a shame for the drama, it could have been so much better. Miscast, a script with lacking suspense, superficial characters and wasted opportunities put this drama in the lower ranks of crime shows.
Recommending? Well, rather not. Only if you're a hardcore Jo Jung Suk and bromance fan.
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If there's one word that describes this drama the best, it would be "family", closely followed by "bromance". Right from the beginning but even clearer the more you trail the story.
I always prefer those shows that don't seem like something special and later on start to emerge from their cocoon. Even tough I wouldn't say that Mad Dog is a stroke of genius regarding the plot, I'd still claim that the writers were genius enough to make a common plot with clichés into an enjoyable evening pastime.
The summary doesn't reveal much of the actual story and some of you might be slightly disturbed by the starting event later on because of its obviousness to a certain real-time happening some years ago - I certainly was because the drama did link with my country. And I didn't really know how to feel about it. I still don't know how to feel about it after watching the drama and the way it dealt with that issue. But I can say for sure that they handled it the Korean drama way which actually soothed my uneasiness a little, even though it was such a trope.
If I discard that one point, everything else looks like the usual crime drama - and then again it's not really an only crime show. There is more to its charm, more humor, more romance, more shrewdness than necessary. Maybe even a little too much cleverness. It's your common plot of push and pull between the good and the bad. Nothing you haven't seen before already.
But still.
What makes this drama so much fun are the actors and their characters. Conspicuous individuals who look unique (even though they are not). More closely viewed they are actually very predictable and stereotype. But I didn't really pay attention to that because I enjoyed them so much. What's so special about those guys are their team dynamics. I don't even know how to describe it best. They had great chemistry from start to end, and yes, sometimes their actions seemed a little overboard. I still couldn't care less.
If I had to tell who my favorite was out of them all, I'd say Jo Jae Yun. Seriously, that guy is a genius. He can pull so many different characters, making them his own, give them his unique touch, and bait his audience. And I'm so glad that he got the opportunity to show some rarer sides of his skills in this drama. Not always only the joking guy, but also someone who gets really serious about things and people. I want to see him in a romance drama - a serious one, not a comedy.
Of course I liked the other ones as well. Woo Do Wan is definitely next in line (not only because of his sweet attempts at talking German~). I haven't seen anything with him yet, but I'll definitely catch up on that gap. He delivered his role with impressive finesse.
Yoo Ji Tae... The only other drama I watched him in was Healer, and even though I'm not the right one to judge him yet, I think I can still say that I got what I expected of him. As one of the (younger) veterans he knows how to capture the viewers with confidence.
Same applies for the rest of the cast - though I must also say that you either love or hate certain kinds of people. I for myself was entertained quite well by the bad guys as well. It even turned out that the one I disliked the most in the beginning, became my favorite in the end. Hell yeah, he was an annoying guy and that never changed. But he also knew how to counter-attack when it was needed. There was a nice dissonance within that group of evil guys and I found it enjoyable how they always tried to turn on each other.
If I had to name a disappointment, it would be Hong Soo Hyun. I don't know why but her character stayed the same throughout the whole show. Very bland and unmoving. Always the same expression, always the same repetitive acting.
I think what surprised me the most was the romance that suddenly bloomed out of nowhere. Okay, not totally out of the blue. It appeared in small steps early on but never seemed real, so I certainly didn't expect it to become more serious. Maybe I'm the only dumb one on this though, I don't know. Even though I did notice it, I thought the writers were only teasing me. Thank god they didn't... I really liked the development in the end. It fitted the moments, was never too prominent and took its sweet time.
I know this show has some faults and clichés and whatnot. But sometimes you just need something flawed that makes you fall in love with it to remember that there's no such thing as perfect on this earth.
Definitely recommended~
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And that should say something since I didn't get bored until the end.
The summary says it's about two sisters and two men. Well, two men, yes. Two sisters, not really. Well, yes, they are different in looks and success but that's just part of the basic setting, necessary for Gong Shim's story. So, the main story is about Gong Shim, her struggling in the world of work because of her unique appearance, and two totally different men entering her world. Suk Joon Soo, charming and rich, and Ahn Dan Tae, a childish, strange coot who also appears to be a lawyer.
Would you reduce the story to its basic structure there would be nothing new. All characteristics that are needed for your average Korean drama rom-com.
The story still managed to entertain me to the end. Its characters were charming and lovely. It was fun watching them grow fond of each other, following the romance development and even more the bromance in this drama.
But your average k-drama wouldn't be perfect without a family secret that has its roots in the past. And I think next to those charming characters it was that dark family story and the way is was unraveling that made the drama exciting and kept me watching.
Of course, you have your intrigues, your silly dialogues and your stupid behaviors (no matter how much you rejoice, as a grown woman you would still watch out for cars before you run across the street, seriously). But all the characters made up for it. Not only the leads but also the supporting ones. The parents, the grandmother etc.
The acting was really good, esp. both male leads. The female lead was a bit behind but not so bad either.
I wouldn't watch it twice, but it was still an enjoyable ride and I don't regret watching it.
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Park Shi Ho is one of my favorite actors, so watching this movie was a must. And although I didn't really know what I was getting myself into back then, in the end I was convinced to the the fullest. Story, actors and cinematography. I wasn't worried about Park Shi Ho. He's a great actor. But all the other cast members also did an awesome job. They went very well together. And that was one of the most important parts in this movie because at the end it drops a midsize bombshell, putting everything in a new light. There was not one moment where I suspected such an ending. I knew something wasn't right but my suspicions didn't even get close to that solving. The movie definitely surprises with some nice ideas.
Cinematography and scene editing: Thumbs up! No rushing, no stalling.
There's nothing to criticize on my part. The overall package is self-consistent. Lots of action and many thrilling moments, surprising turns and even some humorous parts that doesn't seem out of place. Stunt choreography was brilliant and never looked posed.
I for myself was wholeheartedly satisfied with this one.
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Some things a bit overboard, some things a bit too convenient, some things/characters too predictable, and it's definitely not some profound dystopian drama. But it definitely scratched the surface and had quite some nice starting points worth thinking about IF something like that would ever happen. How would women rule the world, what about birth rate and birth control, how to secure mankind's survival, etc.
It's probably just me taking attention to that, but even though it was maybe just randomly put into the story, it's actually quite logical that waaaaay more female relationships would exist in that environment and feel soooo normal. I hope, you know, what I mean. Another normal than what we have in our sociaty right now (where's still fighting for acceptance in many parts of the world).
Though I'm almost sure they wouldn't "sell" men like that if they are that valuable to the world.
The setting kind of resembled Squid Game, only without the death threat. I quite enjoyed the games, they really put some thoughts into those. Also, nice music and such beautiful shots here and there <3
And I was totally surprised by the good acting of the whole cast. I was esp. fond of the supposed evil SFL. I liked her performance, her facial expressions and gestures quite a lot.
I also liked the main couple, but I hated the hairspray hairstyle of the ML and his overly careful way of running his hand "through" his hair, lol.
Overall, a somewhat basic stereotype kind of character setting, but they still put together a really enjoyable story with only 8 episodes and even left room for a 2nd maybe deeper season. I would totally go for that since there's a lot more to tell about just everything. Potential's there. Hope, they use it wisely if they decide to it.
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