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At 60 (or 63, depending on which version you're watching) episodes, this is quite a lengthy ride but I wasn't bored one single second. It had never happened to me before, especially when watching longer dramas. C-dramas tend to lose steam in the middle, have a couple of uninteresting side-plots and rush to the finish line, leaving you somewhat dissatisfied. Not so here.
The middle portion of the drama which took place in the mortal realm was just as interesting as the main plot, something the very popular Eternal Love, 10 Miles of Peach Blossoms didn't manage to do. The side plots and side quests also kept me interested because the drama made me care about every single character. Everything ended up enhancing the main plot.
I've read a lot of complaints regarding the huge amount of screen time given to secondary characters in the second part of the story. I think that some scenes could certainly have been shorter but on the whole, these additions made the drama a much better piece of work than the book it is based on. It's much more epic and ambitious, with layers upon layers.
The characters are intelligent and whether we agree with their actions or not, we always understand the motives behind what they choose to do. They're all very consistently written and there is no true villain in this piece. No one is just black or white. This is truly an achievement.
STORY:
Don't be fooled by the somewhat fluffy beginning. This is one angsty ride that will have your emotions all over the place. This is primarily a romance drama which depicts a love so strong that it can defy fate and overcome everything but only after a heavy price has been paid by all the parties involved. The romance is nicely balanced with friendship, family bonds, loyalty, power struggles, slices of life and epic battles. It has everything you could wish for. I loved that every single plot line was thoroughly thought-out and contributed to the overall story. The writing was top-notch and it showed at the end of the drama which did not feel rushed at all. Quite a feat for a C-Drama.
9.5/10 (Took 0.5 point away because they could have slightly shortened certain storylines).
CAST:
Ashes of Love has a stellar cast. All the actors shone in their roles whether they played a main character or a minor part. Every role was lovingly crafted and acted and every single character has depth. To focus on the main trio though, Deng Lun, Yang Zi and Luo Yunxi acted their heart out and made me want to watch every single drama they've appeared in. Deng Lun brought a rawness and touching sincerity to the character of Xu Feng. Yang Zi was able to use her broad acting range to successfully portray Jin Mi's journey from a sheltered and naive fairy to a young deity wounded by mistakes and betrayals. Luo Yunxi was able to masterfully convey all the shades of grey of Run Yu's character.
10/10
MUSIC:
The music is gorgeous. No other word for it. It's one of the only dramas where I always watched the opening and end credits. Epic. The only problem is that although what music we do have is superb, we don't have a lot of it. So the same songs and background music are played over and over again. Luckily for us, they're so good that you don't really mind.
9.5/10 (Took 0.5 away because I would have loved a few more songs)
REWATCH VALUE:
Through the roof. This is a timeless story. Love, betrayal, revenge, redemption, acceptance, regrets. It has everything a classic should have.
10/10
OVERALL:
Watch it. You won't be disappointed. It has everything: a great story, great acting, great music, splendid cinematography and great CGI. You will be totally immersed in the world of Ashes of Love.
9.5/10 Perfection.
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Don't miss it
The reason i created an MDL account is to tell everyone not to miss this gem. This is one of those dramas that you think you'll just overlook since you think you already watch far too many school dramas. And you thought you can start it because theres no other thing to do on your spare time.But then you'll realize what a big mistake you've done because you havent start it sooner. The story of how you overcome challenges and see the world in a new light is what makes this drama so close to realty. The romance is not overbearing, its fluffy highschool love. Theres a strong sense of camaraderie and there are no unrealistic villains or unbelievable evil arc.
The OST is the best, i have not been impressed with cdrama OST since Go go squid until this one. And I know i will rewatch this again...
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Honestly beside Huo Wallace I did not know any of these actors and I have to admit that they were all doing a great job and their portrayals were so convincing and natural.
I'm not going to dwell on the synopsis cause it already says the most important but we surely all know the damages Wars cause(d) and I think it's interesting to see how Chinese people were living during those terrible times and what they had to go through. The drama focuses on the Hu Family and their son in-law Xue Jun Shan, how they coped with the constant Japanese attacks in their Changsha town. And even if my knowledge about the Sino-Japanese wars is weak I think this drama was really well done even the music here fitted perfectly with the general atmosphere.
Many things crossed my mind when I was watching the drama, first I said it earlier but I have to repeat myself everything was realistic and that was my very first thought, I loved to see that even if the Hu family was living a pretty good life (without being super rich either) but they did not wear extravagant and exquisite clothes they simply lived in harmony , enjoying their life in their house all together, eating, working, taking care of each other etc.
Frankly speaking the character that surprised me the most was Xue JunShan, he seemed to be very harsh with his in-laws but actually that was the opposite he cared for them he protected them, he loved them to the point to sacrifice his life for them, he considered them as the most precious things in his life and that is the reason why I loved him so much and why he is my favorite character + I have to say it, I have a thing for older men I found something very appealing about them and that is the case for him too <3
Now it's time to say a few words about the Hu family, Xiang Xiang was my favorite especially the way she evolves throughout the drama and I think that war would change everyone and according to me she's the one who changed the most, she became an outstanding and respectable woman, I have nothing bad to say about her, definitely lovely, bright, cute and very strong but she has a weakness and that is her twin brother I mean their sibling bond is so deep and unwavering, at least that's how I perceived them and I guess that is probably the same with almost all twins of the world.
I loved rhe other characters too especially Gu QingMing( I seriously fell in love with Huo Wallace in this drama, I liked him before but this time he blew me away <3), the grandma, XiangJun, Liu Minghan Xiu Xiu and the rest( I will stop here so if you want to find out why they are fabulous people just watch the drama you'll surely like it as much as I did ). I can't even count the tears I shed for all of these characters, I felt like I was part of their family, that's why Battle of Changsha broke my heart even more than other dramas.
As for the theme song ''I'll remember you'' it is a pure delight, Yang Zi's voice blends so well with Huo Wallace's that we can't stop listening to it and we want more and more. Too bad I can't seem to find it anywhere ! Please If you know where I can download it, tell me :D
I would recommend this drama to everyone even if you're not into this genre because that is not my case and still I enjoyed every minute of this wonderful show. Furthermore this is definitely one of the best Family drama I've ever watched. Just only one thing you must know if you plan to watch it: the last four eps are not subbed and so you would have no choice but to watch it raw or wait but for how long?!
PS: the big plus is that the actors's voices were not DUBBED, what a pleasure !
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This review may contain spoilers
NON-SPOILER OVERVIEW: I stand by my huge love for the first 3/4s of this drama. Though I was disappointed by the end, a large part of that disappointment came from the start being so good. Because despite the cliches, it's not a bad ending or anything like that. Against other romcoms I think it's above average, it just feels worse because of what came before. I still recommend it too! For the friendships, for the fluttering romance, for the unconventional story, for the way it feels like I'm watching real people. It's heartfelt and sweet but do be warned that the show you begin watching will not be the show you finish watching. Prepare yourself for averageness creeping in at around ep 12? 13? and you'll be fine! SPOILERS BELOW!
This review was so hard to write so to solve this confusion I'll just go by the trusted method: LISTS!
Things Done Well:
- JI HO (mostly). I related really heavily with Jiho at the beginning of the drama making me immediately attached. Plus her refreshing habit of speaking her mind so bluntly but not unkindly was literally the most innovative thing this drama did in regards to typical female kdrama leads so, props to them. I faltered a little when her big dream turned out to be love not writing but I realise that's just a personal thing so I won't judge much for that. I faltered MORE when her personality as established seemed to up & disappear 3/4 into the season? Why? Where did my Jiho go and who left this generic imposter in her place? Disappointing doesn't begin to cover it.
- SOO JI. Flawless. Perfect. Loving. Sexy AF but also cute AF. The duality of woman. We love to see it. Enjoyed her growth so so much from being v closed off & afraid of commitment to fully falling into it. From being afraid to catch her dreams because of her mum to daring to *because* of her mum. Unlike Jiho, she loses none of her personality and characteristics once she's in a relationship. Thank god.
- SE HEE. I'll just say it. Sehee's idea of a relationship/marriage - boundaries, respect, open communication and support & minus the guilt, expectations & empty promises that could lead to bitterness later - is exactly my idea of a relationship. I loved him from the moment he told Jiho's mum he wouldn't promise to protect her and it did not diminish the entire show. He's a little odd but I found that hugely endearing. Here's a personal ty from me to Sehee for now having someone to refer to when anyone asks me about my ideal man. Just throw in some of Sang Goo's dorkiness and I'll be hook, line & sinker.
- FEMALE FRIENDSHIP. These are women who unfailingly love, support and trust one another. No pointless drama. No high tension. No boring bitchiness. When I think of my friends I think of the kind of easy companionship and in-jokes that these three have and any scenes involving the trio were my absolute favourites.
- AN "ADULT" STORY. No I don’t mean x-rated lol. For once I watched these adults and felt like I was watching real adults and not (as many romcoms usually have) hormonal teenagers in adult bodies.
- HO RANG X WON SEOK. (mostly). Because they love each other they refused to see or talk about their incompatibility until it literally grew too big and awful to ignore. I really liked it because I believed their relationship and how it progressed. I say mostly because I'm unsure about their conclusion... I'm not against them getting back together, I just wish if that was their endgame they had broken up earlier in the drama so we had more time to watch them grow. As it stands, their break up this time was literally no different to any other break up except now Ho Rang has a chart. Wow. Growth.
Things Done Bad:
- Jiho & her characterisation falling off the face of the planet. Literally this was the worst thing the drama did because it made the finale boring. It also made me realise how much of the drama is built around how refreshing Jiho & her friends & Sehee are and with her gone it left the puzzle incomplete and me unsatisfied.
- Reduced Trio appearances. Like I said above, the trio and their scenes together were the best parts of the drama and towards the end the trio's screentime together pretty much disappeared. I HATED IT.
- The whole stalker storyline. I'll just link to my post about my thoughts on that mess: https://kisskh.at/profile/kdramafeminist/feeds/WAN22I3
- Jiho's inner monologue going from through-provoking & interesting to nonsensical and pretentious.
- A story that began as something unique and avoiding cliches eventually devolving into the exact cliches it was avoiding. LETS NUMBER THEM!
1. FL speaks her mind? Nope, lets just have her being ~vague~ bc cliche!
2. Open communication between the couple? Nope, let's just have them not have a normal conversation outta nowhere and for no reason bc cliche!
3. Couple breaks up because their life goals don't match and realise love doesn't always mean marriage? Nope, lets have them back together after like a month with literally nothing changing regarding their individual life goals bc cliche!
4. ML is an introverted, dorky type and that's fine? Nope, let's give him a pointless, macho, hero scene to prove he's worthy as the lead! Bc cliche!
5. Current FL and ML's ex get along because the ex has completely moved on in life so working together is reasonable? Nope, let's have Jiho turn down the job offer because she chose "love" even those there was no tension on-screen between any of them, bc cliche!
Overall, I'm glad I watched it! I enjoyed more than I didn't but sadly its missteps means it won't be going into my favourites or mentions lists. The drama as a whole might not have stolen my heart, but individually it gave me amazing characters that 100% did & that's a compromise I'm fine with!
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This review may contain spoilers
About "good" partners in various senses. A pleasantly vivid and complex, well-rounded story.
“Good Partner” is about lawyer and divorce cases, while radiating quite some ´work life in Seoul´ feeling. The main focus obviously is on divorce and everything that comes with it. In South Korea so far, divorce has been an issue ´non grata´ sort of. But it has become quite hot recently. Being able to deliberately elaborating this topic in a KDrama is due to exploding divorce rates. Even the older generation is increasingly daring to take measures by leaving the unhappy marriage behind and finally daring to make a new start. Of course, separation is never easy and becomes even more complicated as children are involved. “Good Partner” tackles the hot topic fearlessly. Additionally, some still questionable legal issues surrounding divorce are mercilessly brought to light, as are the notorious cheaters and the tragic, far too frequent cases of misogynistic, domestic violence.“Good Partner” also deals with the rigid chains of command, often enough turning lawyers in large law firms into mere underlings. On the other hand, the KDrama also confronts the question of the right dose of sense of morality, distance or even abstinence one should/must/may/want to emotionally attach to the cases. Furthermore, "Good Partner" also confronts the closed-meshed career culture in everyday office life, where employees can quickly lose themselves while living up to expectations. Work-Life-Balance ist still a fairly new concept. And last but not least, a critical swipe at the unfairly privileged “elite” (= “we have special status and are allowed to do everything”) should not be missing, too.
Embedded in the office world of the two protagonists, quite a lot of contemporary burning issues that currently concern and shape the lives of many people i.e. in South Korea, especially in Seoul, are carefully considered and illuminated from different sides. In doing so, the KDrama is opening up new space for contemporary approaches towards dealing with well-known life issues. A pleasantly vivid and complex, well-rounded story.
“Good Partner” feels like it gets better with each episode. This is also due to the development of the protagonists as they sincerely face their personal concepts and convictions again and again in the context of their cases (not least thanks to Han Yu Ri's untiring sense of morality)... Thus, in the long run, the KDrama is about "good" partners in various senses, not only when it comes to the female leads. However, together those two are creating a pleasant breeze of sisterhood, one that feels particularly good in the midst of a predominantly patriarchal world.
All of this makes “Good Partner” a deserved success. TV audience in the country more than doubled over the course of the 16 episodes. Understandably so. I can definitely recommend this series.
PS:
PLEASE do yourself a favor and give episode “0” a wide berth!!
It's a complete aberration and has nothing to do with the actual KDrama, except that someone apparently got bored during the temporary broadcast break during the 2024 Summer Olympics... You can definitely ignore that one, believe me.
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I WANT MORE!
What others think as its weakness, i think is its strength - for me the short length of the series is whats makes me yearn for more.Lets cut to the chase - lets discuss the good things. First is the story, yes its nothing out of the ordinary but the non-school/university is refreshing for a BL. I also like shows which dont try to explain everything as if viewers are kids. I also liked the pacing.
Second, the cute charismatic leads - have you seen Kang in Soo's body? Third, the soundtrack. Fourth, the production and the photography.
The only bad part i can think of is that they left me wanting more.
The last few Korean BLs were all short and sweet and all deserve to be expanded into full blown series. For now, im just glad that they are producing more and more of these and hopefully the day for normal Korean series featuring LGBTQ characters will come sooner.
Overall, an 8! Easy to watch, easy to rewatch.
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Local country gays breaking free from Brokeback Mountain story trope
This rare gem reminded me of a queer British film "God's Own Country" directed by Francis Lee in 2017. However Restart is so much milder than G.O.C, as this film mainly explores on Mitsuomi's character development and his interaction with local people in his hometown.The resemblances of both films: The chilly picturesque countryside scenic. The use of warm lighting in some titular scenes and soft instrumental music. The gradual transition from cold to warm atmosphere as the story goes. The relationship of main country gay with his parents. The main country gay struggling with life and unwillingly getting involved with another country gay. The gentle coaxing and nurture of one country gay towards the main country gay into submission. The cosy nesting of one country gay's head onto the other country gay's shoulder in a bus/train ride home.
Yuuki Furukawa and Ryo Ryusei's acting as Mitsuomi and Yamato felt rather natural and viewers could easily relate or empathise with their characters. Yuuki's version of Mitsuomi is a resemblance of the manga version (in both mannerism and the voice). Ryo's version of Yamato is more of a goofy sunshine-boy country bumpkin that enlightens every scene possible. The acting from other actors are great as well and their interaction with both mains blend in easily.
All in all, the soundtracks suit accordingly to most scenes and the story plot is well-timed. Although with some minor plot changes and introduction of new characters, the film allows Yamato's backstory with more depth and Mitsuomi's conversation with his father more heart-warming - it is a faithful adaptation of the manga and a realistic representation of how younger generations nowadays feel towards themselves, their family responsibility and the societal expectation.
This film deserves a sequel as it should be.
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When a remake does what the original couldn’t
The Korean remake was much better than the Thai original, at least in my opinion. While there are many differences between the plots, I found this one much more interesting and enjoyable to watch. The original dragged on forever, there were too many couples and no logical continuous story. Korean remake of the series had a much better structure and story development, it also only focused on the main two couples which gave the two relationships time to develop. I also found the two couples in this drama much more interesting.I think the visuals and the aesthetics are very nice. I really enjoyed the locations as well. I liked the change from engineering students to something a bit more artistic, I think it fit the whole overall vibe of the drama better. I do believe it has a lot to do with the cultural differences between the two countries, but I don’t know enough about that to actually say anything. I still think it was a smart move.
I think the pacing was not the best in certain parts, and scene cuts and changes were not the best at times. But I didn’t find that too bothersome.
Kim Ji Oh & Jung Lee Won: I absolutely loved them! I might be in the minority, but I actually really liked their bickering. I find it cute and funny, it’s not obnoxious or feeling awkward. Kim Ji Oh was obviously the first to realize he is enamored with the other boy. Jung Lee Won was just as in love but was living in denial. I mean, who would want to admit that their sibling was right about something? No one. Jung Lee Won’s reactions whenever something happened that was similar to what his sister wrote were everything! I think the two actors had great chemistry. I loved seeing the two on screen together, either being cute and adorable or bickering and annoying each other.
Ko Yoo Kyeom & Woo Sun Woo: I found the two cute. It was very obvious that Ko Yoo Kyeom was struggling with his feelings. He wasn’t sure how to act around Woo Sun Woo, but he knew he wanted him close. Ko Yoo Kyeom remembered a lot of little details about him. And don’t get me started on him wanting him for his project. Woo Sun Woo didn’t seem to struggle that much, but he still felt very guilty about possibly taking his friend’s boyfriend. I liked the slow progress between the two of them. The chemistry between the two actors was really good too. The longing glances and soft looks. How sweet!
I liked the side characters too. We didn’t really see that much of them, but what we did, fit well within the whole plot. Woo Sun Woo’s relationship with his sister was so adorable! I was really enjoying their interactions. Very typical siblings stuff, I assure you. The friend group was fun too, even the acting teacher!
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This review may contain spoilers
how am i supposed to live, laugh, love in these conditions?
I went into this show knowing of the intense controversy surrounding it, but my rule of thumb is that the more controversial a show is, the more I want to watch it. All press is good press, as they say. It is not for me to say whether the show should have used the ’87 elections as a backdrop to the show, so instead I will speak on everything else in the show, what I liked, what I hated, what I loved and what I rolled my eyes at.Overviewing opinion of the show:
I LOVE good star-crossed enemies to lovers and this show certainly delivered and they did not water it down. Love borne from ignorance and innocence that becomes corrupted by beliefs and ideology but eventually overcomes these difficulties, the show really tugged at my heartstrings with how beautiful and poignant it is.
There were points that lagged and lacked, points I rolled my eyes and skipped forward (looking at you, three wives of those three idiots) and the show did suffer from bad pacing when you spend like, what? 5/6 whole episodes trapped in the one place with the same thing happening time and time again? But even then, it’s a ticking time bomb – this pace is like a frog in water that is being brought to a boil. You don’t even notice what’s happening until it’s too late and everything has come down around you and the show explodes into action. Everything is falling into place and you can’t even breathe as you feel the helplessness and frustration of the people trapped inside of the University – who to trust? Who to turn to? Who is an ally and who is an enemy? These frustrations peak and the deteriorating situation literally leaves you having to watch the next episode after the last left you with bated breath because you don’t know what’s going to happen, who’s going to turn and who is going to betray.
The love story of the show is its backbone, its main star and attraction.
Yeong-ro is young and innocent and you watch her fall in love, just as helpless as the viewer. And then when the truth explodes, you can feel her anger and hurt and how betrayed she feels: betrayal for being lied to, betrayed by her own feelings that make it impossible to truly hate Soo-ho. She pulls back as Soo-ho reaches for her because she’s not some hapless teen in love: she’s smart, intuitive, she’s allowed to feel all those feelings of hurt and anger towards him before they lull and teeter off into forgiveness. You can even feel her being partly disgusted for having had those feelings, and partly disgusted for still having them.
Soo-ho, on the other hand, is less than innocent and he looks at Yeong-ro like she’s the only source of warmth in the cold light of his life that has been cast since he was a child. He knows he cannot love her, he knows he should not love her but he DOES. Even when he tries not to, it’s so painfully obvious he does and he’s caught between the rock and hard place of his love for her and his loyalty to his sister and country. He’s pulled in every single direction and spread too thin because no matter what he does, he knows someone is going to get hurt. Perhaps it was fate, perhaps it was destiny, perhaps it was life’s cruel joke to have him find a love and to be loved but cannot be, but he does and while the world is deadset on killing him and Yeong-ro, the two fall into this peaceful inbetween of taking the little time that they have together and seizing it with their hands.
ACTORS AND THEIR CHARACTERS:
I had no idea that it was BLACKPINK’s Jisoo as the main female lead as I’m not a BLACKPINK fan but I remember scratching my head for the first episode because I KNEW I had seen her somewhere and imagine my surprise! I’ve seen a lot of hate towards Jisoo’s acting, and I think a LOT of it is unfounded. For a first major lead as a rookie actress, Jisoo really holds her own against more seasoned actors and puts so much heart and emotion into Yeong-ro. Yeong-ro is young, she’s innocent without being naïve, unknowing without being ignorant – she’s truly a kind soul and a young woman on the cusp of being an adult in the real world and she still has this innocence about her that makes you want to protect her. And you can tell there’s something wanting in her – with a dead mother, a brother on the front lines and an apathetic, absent father, there’s a void inside of her that seems like it can never be filled in. Jisoo’s acting, my God, the girl can ACT and I know for a fact she can get even better with time. I loved seeing her onscreen and she really held her own against Jung Hae-in, especially when the truth comes out and you can feel how she is reeling with betrayal, hurt and how she wants to hate him but CAN’T. I did feel like the chemistry did dissipate slightly towards the end of the series before it was reignited again, but I suppose that is partially due to the fact that Soo-ho really becomes the main character from episode 10 onwards and the storyline shifts almost entirely away from the romance before dragging it back to the love story. Her characterisation flipflops a bit and there are times she does feel like only a plot device for Soo-ho's own character growth because Yeong-ro does not change as a person; suffering through tragedy and trauma is not character growth, not when she's left in the ruins alone after the fact. I liked Jisoo's acting and I know she has great potential for the future and I very much look forward to any future projects Jisoo has in store!
Hae-in, oh boy, lord hath mercy – the man is a powerhouse of talent. I haven’t seen anything that he has been in before, though I do know the titles and have seen clips but this is the first show that I have sat down and watched all the way through and I need to remedy my earlier mistake of not seeing anything he’s been in. Hae-in creates a Soo-ho that is the epitome of a victim of his circumstances. He could not choose where he was born, he could not choose his parents, he could not choose his life, he could not choose his path, his job, his future. He’s like a leaf atop of a streaming river, carried by its current until the end. And prior to Yeong-ro, he lets himself be carried without fighting against the tide, then she manages to take a hold of his soul and heart and pull him back from drowning. You can feel the conflict alongside Soo-ho, the conflict of what he wants and what he needs to do, duty and love tearing him apart. He tries so desperately to reclaim the person he was but it’s too late – the love that he has for Yeong-ro has fundamentally changed him as a human being. You can see him trying to disconnect from his feelings for her during the hostage situation but he’s tied to his emotions and to her whether he likes it or not. He’s desperate and lost because this is the first time he’s ever made a choice for himself and Hae-in is amazing at portraying this, at Soo-ho’s constant internal battle. Just like Yeong-ro, there’s a void inside of him that is shaped like her and only together do they really make each other whole.
The rest of the cast are sublime, Jang Seung-jo as Kang-moo is amazing. He’s desperate and calculating, passionate, pragmatic, and vengeful. You look at him and you know he’s a ticking time bomb, but you never know when he’s going to go off. Jung Yoo-jin was less than stellar, but she does portray Han-na as being exactly the opposite to Kang-moo: she’s a bomb whose fuse goes off time and time again. I did get annoyed with her multiple times throughout the show but I can’t say I hate her. Yoon In-na, unfortunately, did not stand out to me but I suppose it’s just because of how her character is written: cold and detached, pragmatic beyond belief and cold. There is one instance that I did love was her seeing the broken minded Ms. Oh and you can see it in her eyes that she finally realises the future that awaits her: abandoned by the country she served and left to suffer the memories of all the atrocities she committed until it breaks her.
Kim Hye-yoon, woooo boy she did a great job of making me both hate Gye Bun-ok and pitying her. Because on one hand, Gye Bun-ok has every right to be the way she is and you can understand why she doesn’t want to join in on the scheme that is brewing in the university. She has first hand experience of what happens to those who turn against the government and to communism, and the consequences they face as she still suffers the consequences that her old sister made because of that. She’s a pitiful character that I don’t think I can say I even hate her, even though she really annoyed me. She is constantly bullied and looked down upon by the college girls and has been abused by her parents all her life, even while acting as the sole breadwinner. She has every right to not feel loyal to the people who mocked and bullied her constantly, who saw her as nothing more than an infection to the rest of the student body. But, man, you see her act out time and time again even knowing why she’s doing what she’s doing but you just want to wring her neck out. Also, what the hell was that weird thing that was implied going on between her and Gyeok-chan? It really grabbed my attention and was quite disappointed it didn't really go anywhere.
There aren’t many other characters that stood out to me but I will say this: I HAAATTTEEEDDD the storyline of the three wives, like I mean HATED. I did not watch a single scene of them without skipping forward because of how boring they were. I only enjoyed it when they were getting their comeuppance but other than that, nothing positive can be said about these characters whose names I didn’t even bother to remember.
Other comments:
- The music and cinematography of the show were [chefs kiss]. Honestly outstanding and out of this world, a treat to the eyes and a feast that kept on giving. The show was honestly just so beautiful to watch, if I didn’t even like the show I would have kept on watching because it was such a beautiful show to watch.
- Once again, the pacing really hindered the show from reaching full potential as the same things kept happening more than once as well as the fact they stretched out the hostage situation a bit longer than I would have liked. I also would have liked if they kept up the storyline of the girls hiding Soo-ho in the dorm a bit longer.
- Even knowing the politics of the 1987 elections, I do think the show didn’t really go into the nitty gritty of it too much. I partially agree with some of the backlash being towards the show’s narrative of having ANSP agents being the ones trying to end the corruption within the election, but at the same time, I don’t think the show tries to say, “this is the truth and only the truth of what happened”.
- Not enough weird 80s fashion, disappointing.
- Now I know that I said I didn’t like how the hostage situation dragged on longer than it needed, but I liked the fact it made the show feel claustrophobic, as if you’re trapped in the university alongside the bulk of the cast. I felt as trapped as the students and staff did, only able to watch what was happening and not being able to go anywhere or do anything. It really added to the whole atmosphere and made everything feel much more tense.
- I’m going to admit it: there were times that I did wish Soo-ho followed through with his threats during the hostage situation simply because I wanted something to happen. But perhaps, on the flipside, it added more tension for me because I was there, waiting with bated breath wondering if he’ll actually follow through and kill a student as he threatened he would.
- I honestly feel disappointed at people who are hating on Jisoo’s acting because I thought she was sublime, especially considering the fact this is her first major role, I believe. Though I admit there are times I did feel like she was lacking a bit and Hae-in had to carry the bulk of the chemistry between the two – her interactions with Soo-ho towards the last few episodes felt lacklustre especially with the lack of reciprocation towards Soo-ho’s displays of affection, but I’m also empathetic towards the fact romance probably isn’t on the forefront of her mind what with everything going on in her personal life and the situation at hand. I see people getting annoyed over the fact that Yeong-ro felt betrayed and hurt towards Soo-ho as if he didn’t just take all her friends captive and use her as a human shield? As if he didn’t lie to her and put her in this situation? Like, Yeong-ro’s reaction and behaviour is extremely believable and human. Why should she trust Soo-ho after he lied and did what he did, acted how he acted and said what he said? And Jisoo was amazing at portraying this hurt and anger beautifully because you can see the innocence in Yeong-ro leave her, that she’s forced to face the consequences of being young and being in love and realising that all really isn’t fair in love and war.
Conclusion:
This show is not for people who like action packed, constant romance, fast paced, good guys v bad guys and characters who are more than three dimensional. You will feel fatigue watching it, but then it’s the end of an episode and you NEED to know what happens next. It’s a slow burn, an ember burning before it explodes into a fire. I will definitely be adding this to my very small list of shows I rewatch.
Final thoughts:
I wrote the bulk of this review when I was still waiting for episodes 15 and 16 to drop and much of it remains the same, but I am going to retract my last sentence in the conclusion. I do not think I will be able to mentally handle watching this show more than once. The tragedy and even the unfairness of this show remains consistent. I opened the review by saying this show was beautiful and poignant, but I forgot to say how tragic it is. I probably spent an entire hour sobbing hysterically after the finale to the point I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head.
To say I wanted everyone to live happily ever after would be a lie, but I wanted them to simply live a life they can be content with. No spoilers, but I think the tragedy of this show lies in the fact that some people will always be victims – victims to the government, victim to their regrets, their mistakes, to the corrupt people in power, and even to their own feelings. There is no spoonful of sugar to wash down the bitterness in this show. It is raw and burns you and I cannot remember the last time a show has managed to pull this depth of emotions from me before. The ending is unsatisfactory, it leaves you empty and numb and you wonder: "What was it all for? What's the point if this is what the end is?". There are so many unanswered questions, so many loose ends left to dangle untied and even when those who deserved their comeuppance, it's superficial, like sand in your stomach because it fills you up but you're still empty otherwise.
You feel a sense of helplessness and hopelessness and it hurts, by God does it hurt watching that finale. And part of me hates the show for it, and I was adamant that if I didn’t get a bittersweet ending this show was going to get a bad score from me but I can’t, I can’t not when this show has caused such deep, emotional reactions within me.
And you accept what Yeong-ro has come to learn: all is not fair in love and war, not in this life.
And the real tragedy of it all is that you were hoping for much more than what this show was able to deliver, perhaps it's naivety or foolishness, but I wanted, I hoped, I despaired. You watch that final scene and you know in that moment, you are Yeong-ro and you know the life that awaits her, more tragedy paving the path. It leads me to ask: is a life alone, having lost everyone you know and love, any better than dying?
I have a feeling it will be a question haunting Yeong-ro for the rest of her life, forced to carry on when everyone else has been left behind.
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1STORY
I Have A Lover felt more than just one drama, it felt like several dramas put together in the best way possible. The main concept of the show, even if it isn't very apparent at first, is Forgiveness! People will go around hurting you, is life worth spending trying to pay them back, or is it better to just let go? As someone who doesn't believe in forgiveness you can imagine how i felt when i realised what this show is about, but they managed to pull it off beautifully.
At the same time I Have A Lover, gave me the best, most intense and fucked up/twisted true love story i have ever watched in my life. The chemistry here is simply effortless and emotional beyond words, you can see the sparks around them while they look at each other, simply magical. The drama is worth watching because on screen chemistries like this one are hard to come by, almost impossible!
As i said IHAL brought several things to the table, the main premise is forgiveness but, separating the drama into parts, each part its own thing to present:
Part 1: Infidelity. The beginning of the show, the first 10 episodes, how can a marriage come apart at the seams, and at the same time the notion of how people react and get through tragedies, and how they expect the people around them to react. Get ready for some frustrating events the writting is realistic and brutal.
Part 2: Romance. Episodes 11-20. You will begin to grasp what the show is about here, whatever happened in the first 10 episodes, character-wise, will completely change, depicting how unpredictable human feelings are in the best and most natural way.
Part 3: Episodes 20-31. The story here stops being character driven ans becomes story driven. The focus shifts to the classic family-company drama that we all know. However it is dead-interesting even though it was the slowest part of the drama imo. The show tends to tell you things while the characters are unaware of them. Here the characters get to know them, and you just watch as they are shocked and try to cope with everything.
Part 4: Revenge and Forgiveness. Episodes 32-50. The pace gets accelerated from this point, especially the last 10 episodes were absolutely fabulous, and possibly the best of the show along with the first 10.
50 episodes and this drama never got dragged. It had a complex story, there are several backstories here, that help the story proceed. We have our everyone-wants-the-big-company classic sub story, evil characters, multiple love stories and love triangles and amazing well-rounded characters. It has illness, twin siblings, backstabbing friendships, constant turning tables between the leads, frenemies who scheme, revenge. I seriously have nothing bad to say, it was a wonderful ride, and i would have watched another 50 episodes seriously.
One thing that might set people off is the way the main love story gets told. We have a lot of set backs and back and forths. Yes, it is true, but the chemistry was so mesmerizing, so effortless, so real, that i didn't have any problem with it. I felt every moment of pain, every moment of backstepping, every moment of love and hatred. Best and most fucked up love story (possibly) ever!
ACTING
Standing Ovation for Ji Jin Hee and ESPECIALLY KIM HYUN JOO!
Kim Hyun Joo. The female Ji Sung of Kdramaland. She didn't pull off 2 characters, no. Her role felt like 4 characters if not more. I won't even mention that she has the BEST resting bitch face in kdramaland, i won't even mention that she ACED all her comedy scenes (her 2nd character is the main comedic character). But i will stand by the point that after episode 30 she is seriously giving the performance of her career, the way she manages to be BOTH a total raging bitch and a kind hearted girl at the same time was beyond me, she was leaving one personality and entering the other like it was nothing, in the same scene! She was amazing and flawless in every way and the show couldn't have worked without her. She WAS the show! I haven't seen any of her previous works, but i admired her a lot, and i doubt that she was ever better than here. I am looking forward to her next work!
Ji Jin Hee. His character was the easiest to hate BUT, his was so effortlessly expressing all his feelings through his eyes and facial expressions, that it was impossible for me to hate him. I kept rooting for him to be happy like my life was depending on it. Second best facial expressions in kdramaland after Kwon Sang Woo! He was luscious and sensuous, i loved his emotional scenes, he was indeed in love with her, i am not sure i have seen such *in love* eyes even in real life. Standing ovation for both of them. THEY MADE THE SHOW!
Lee Jyu Han. Obviously overshadowed by JJH, but it's ok, he standed on his feet completely, he was great i had no problems with his perforance, it was totally on point.
Park Han Byul. And we get to her. Her character was fundemental for the drama to continue. She wasn't bad, but we can only imagine what would have happened had a stronger actress given the role. During the midst of the show, she needed to express some hatred and her role needed her to be a bitch, but she couldn't, her acting felt mediocre like the least she needed to give to be acceptable. I think she would perfectly fit fluffy rom coms, this was too serious for her. If i wanted to be strict, the acting should have been a 9.5 as she just couldn't live up to her character's and role's expectations, but a 9.5 is a disgrace to JJH and KHJ's flawless performance as well as literally everyone's in the supporting cast. Thankfully in the last 15/20 episodes her role gets smaller almost insignificant and the rest of the actors do their thing.
At this point, the only thing i can do to praise the incredible and superb supporting cast is just write their names. Awards deserved!
Firstly, Baek Ji Won, why doesn't she get more roles? She was an amazing evil character and at the same time one of the funniest actors, she would fit comedy PERFECTLY, i am keeping an eye on her.
Gong Hyung Jin. He was the main evil character, and he pulled of his twisted role perfectly without becoming a stupid evil character with no soul. He was scary but funny when he was supposed to be. Overall, great!
Child actress, Kim Ha Yu. OMG how can a child actress be this good? Cuteness overload, amazing acting, effortless! My favourite kid actress!
Also, Na Young Hee, Dok Go Young Jae, everyone did a splendid job! Congratulations!
RECOMMEND/REWATCH
If the 50 episodes make you think and rethink before starting this, just start it already! I was afraid of the 50 episodes too, i ended up watching 40 in 1 week and then waiting anxiously for the rest of the show to be aired! You won't even realise as the episodes fly by, you will be sucked in instantly!
IHAL has something pretty much for everyone. If you like romance, this is totally for you. It has infidelity, it has revenge, it has constant backstabbing, scheming, blackmailing, plot twists, backstories, twin siblings, illnesses, identity swap. It has everything, literally it has everything, it is more than a drama, and it deserves to be watched!
50 episodes, and yes, i'd rewatch it, especially the first 10 episodes which were so shocking to me, completely filled with reality, shivering, chilling. And then the effortless heart-warming and simultaneously heart-breaking romance, and then the backstory, omg yes. This is an overall 10 show!
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Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
69 people found this review helpful
by AigooMyLengthyParagraphs 
1 
1
1 1 THE HYPE FOR THIS DRAMA IS ALL TRUE!
AWESOME IN ALL CATEGORIES!The HYPE for this drama is all TRUE!
No doubt, Now, this is One of My All Time Favs!! :)
The Plot is Good and the Characters are Well Written. Every Character is Lovable.
Direction, Production, Cinematography, Visual effects, Acting, OST/BGM, Pacing, EVERYTHING IS DONE VERY WELL AND RIGHT TO THE POINT!
OST is the BEST.
Both the Couples are Lovely.
The Bromance of Kim Shin & Grim reaper is Cool .
These two along with Deok Hwa, the Trio is Funny 😂
But at times, it's just Repetitive or a Content filler, prolonging the number of episodes mindlessly.
(It's like an unnecessary REVISION to the Viewer, haha).
Without those repetitions, Could have wrapped up very well in 16 hours instead of 20+ hours.
***
Overall, THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE! 👌🏻
My RATING is 9.5/10.
Without those so called revisions, it's 10/10 ! :)
P.S.1: That content filler repetitions KILLED ME but this OST HEALED ME! 😂
P.S.2: I can still hear the OST song , ringing in my head and hum, while writing this review, even after many years of watching this drama (BTW, it's my phone ringtone now :) )
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The rom-com is not the point of this drama
The main theme of this drama is not the love story between the main leads, which is why you won't get to see that many heart fluttering moments.I was pretty bored for the 2 first episodes, I wasn't sure where the drama was going, there was no character development.
If you're looking for a good romcom drama, I found this blend on the romance and comedy aspects, and I felt like the romcom was almost a cover-up for the important part.
In my opinion, the interesting aspect is the second plot hidden behind the mainstream romance.
It's about the impact of new technologies and personal data collection from a woman's point of view and how sexism and girl-shaming can be spread though those technologies even though they're supposed to embody progress within our society. And more generally how new technology can impact negatively our daily life.
The ML is the "good guy" because he's out of this overly connected world, which allows him to question things from an outside point of view.
It also depicts all the subtle injustices women can face in daily-life, like not being recognized properly for their work etc...
And above all, this is a BRILLIANT representation of how some people are not inherently bad people with bad intentions but are still unable to see how scary and invasive their actions are in a relationship, and when confronted with it, they throw back the emotional burden on the other and victimize themselves instead (daily gaslightning at its finest).
It's a form of emotional abuse but a very faint one and above all, a socially accepted one, which leaves victims often unheard.
This drama does an amazing job at depicting how gut-wrenching it can feel and how wrong it actually is. The real victim ends up feeling guilt and shame.
Because the seriousness of this show is at first hidden behind a pretty common kdrama storyline, i would not recommand it to people who just want to enjoy a fun drama since the romcom part is actually almost boring.
However, its a very subtle and well-made story if you digg a little deeper.
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When Elvis Met Elvira
Can anything good come out of MangoTV? Occasionally perhaps and this gem seems to be one of them. I don’t think it is hyperbolic to say that this is perhaps the best rom com I've seen in a long time... in the vein of When Harry Met Sally but more grounded in real world issues. Both leads are upwardly mobile hardworking outstanding professionals in their respective workplaces but circumstances are such that they are stretched to their limits. They live precariously on the precipice as they maneuver the snake pits of corporate culture as "slaves" to their masters' bidding due to the necessity of holding on to their jobs where nothing is ever a guarantee. It's highly realistic in the way it depicts the dog-eat-dog work environment that's all too familiar to struggling wage earners in the East Asian context. In reaction to this global phenomenon there’s been plenty of talk about the Great Resignation or quiet quitting in the past few years. Gone are the days where a person remains in the same job, profession, industry for their entire working life. This drama reflects that harsh reality of a competitive labour market in the everchanging contemporary economic landscape and the need for adaptability. While it satirizes the milieu that it explores, it is at its core a sympathetic exploration of the men and women who live in the coalface of workplace grind.Elvis Han and Elvira Cai headline this office drama where romance is assumed to play an integral part of the work-life realities that afflict many overworked employees today. So how do people find time for courting and wooing in this day and age where men and women work long hours, barely have time for meals, are exploited by the employers competing with other employers for contracts and clients? It's a battleground out there and many are not past dirty tricks to gain the upperhand. A fact that inevitably spills into relationships with significant others.
Elvis Han's Xu Ziquan is an investment banker and for him, a rising star in the industry, it's the neverending chase for that next big deal that's giving him sleepless nights. He looks genuinely exhausted. (I suspect Elvis Han was nursing a cold for most of the shoot) If he can't clinch it, it's reallocations and retrenchments for his team. He meets Tang Ying (Elvira Cai) onboard a plane for the first time and the sparks are ignited. She's a corporate lawyer at the bottom of the food chain barely keeping her head above the water with a demanding supervisor on her back 24/7. She piques his curiosity during their brief exchange and apparently the feeling is mutual but neither expects to see the other again. Of course they do first through her sister then later they work together on a crucial M & A project. The two first decide that they are best suited to be friends and drinking partners in part because she has heard of his (overblown) reputation with women and in part because he is a bit of a commitment phobe. As they start to spend more time together, they begin to rethink their "friendship". Indeed can their "friendship" transition into a "dating relationship"? Not without a few bumps and wake-up calls along the way.
The push and pull is rather well done here and never goes overboard to the point of frustration. Work does get in the way. The leads are busy putting out fires on the one hand while rubbing shoulders with a whole host of potential obstacles to true love — acquaintances, colleagues, and clients. There are plenty of opportunities for them to look elsewhere and keep their options open till kingdom come but in the end they keep finding their way to each other regardless of admirers and ridiculous schedules. There are troublemakers strewn along the path of true love but once the main pairing make their minds up, they are a team in the making. Nonetheless what the series does even better is the way it deals with accommodation. With all the different kinds of relationships on display the narrative acknowledges that seeking companionship and making families is not only a human impulse but clearly constant negotiation is necessary to solidifying long-term relationships. The leads may tease and make jibes at one another but their conversation also have depth and thoughtfulness that show their commitment to each other.
There’s an important side story with Tang Ying’s sister Xinzi who is in search of the perfect mate that will check all the right boxes. It’s a long hard road for the spoilt princess type but through her experiences with a few men she comes to conclude a few home truths on her own.
The best thing about this is the script although it’s undeniable that the chemistry between the leads is fabulous and the direction is classy. The tension, the UST, the build-up is great. The dialogue more than anything else just sparkles especially during the banter between the leads. I find myself grinning from ear to ear as I watch their antics. Of course it’s even better in the Chinese. In a romantic comedy the repartee is almost everything. More than that however is the way the leads and their arcs are written. Tang Ying and Xu Ziquan are relatable people dealing with all the same kinds of issues that the rest of us know only too well. He’s no prince and she’s no Cinderella. They just want in on their piece of the pie. To make their mark in a complex world where they’ve been fed lies about their real priorities. They have their strengths and their flaws. Because they are decent people they try their best to get on with everyone even their bitterest rivals and sometimes it means they can’t say no. Sometimes it means that people who can’t take no for an answer take advantage of their good will.
All in all, it’s a wonderful 14-episode drama that isn’t driven (or hampered) by the usual incoherent adherence to romance tropes that plague a lot of rom coms in recent times. Moreover the length of the drama speaks volumes as to why this one is a cut above the rest.
And the OST... is outstanding. Just like When Harry Met Sally.
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Story: This is by the best story line I have ever seen. All the actors are perfect. I felt their pain, their happiness, their frustrations, everything. This drama made me smile, laugh, and cry. Nothing can explain the feelings I had while waiting every week for new episodes.
The writer did such a good job at keeping the suspense always there. The fact that the story has many questions left to answer and is kept for the audience to decipher on what they want to happen is so breathtakingly beautiful. Its just so amazing that the writer and director was able to mesh all that and bring this wonderful work. This drama is definitely by far one of the best detective dramas, or drama overall.
Actors: I love the actors. Every one of them meshed into their character so well, I couldn't even tell they were acting. The child actors just hit my heart so so bad, especially the famous omelet scene. Gotta give it to the boy, I cried so much watching that scene. After this drama, I am definitely having an ahjussi-crush on Jo Jin Woong. The mains of this drama was just the best ones the directors could have gotten. I can't even imagine any one else playing their characters. Kim Hye-soo was also superb. Her acting during the shock scene was just...no words possible. Last but not least, Le Je Hoon was not just eye candy. The emotions he showed touched my heart soo much. I fell for him even more after this drama. Overall, the actors and actresses were TERRIFIC. I wished this drama never ends.
Music: Love the OST. Been jamming with it every day. It's definitely going to be on repeat to relinquish my withdrawals from this drama.
So many questions are left after I finished this drama... Despite that fact, this is still a must watch drama!
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STOP !!!!!
Don't say it's unhelpful just because I gave 9 and 10 to pretty much everything. I can explain, I swear !
I gave an Overall 10 because in my heart it deserves it.
I gave a 10 to Rewatch Value because it's really not the kind of movie you need to not know the ending to enjoy. The story is moving whether or not you know who end up with who in the end. Proof of that : I've seen it 4 times and I'm not regretting it. AT ALL !
I gave a 9 to music because it holds its place in the movie and because the two songs are stuck in my head forever. And I'm enjoying it.
I gave a 8 to acting because let's be honest here, it was awesome. But it's not a movie that magnifies actors, it's more about the story, so not 10. And not 9 either because the main actress could have done a better job, to my point of view. She did great, but I'm a picky watcher, if I may say...
Finally, I gave 9 to the story. Let's talk about this for ma moment.
For those, like me, who hesitate before watching adult movies like this one, let's be clear : THIS IS NOT PORN.
Really, you need to get past the first few minutes and see that this is really an incredibly realistic and thus touching, heart-warming, beautiful love story that will certainly make you laugh and maybe - if you're like me - maybe even make you cry. You will love it, you will love the characters, you will want this story to be yours and you will watch this movie over and over again, with ice cream on your laps, or with your boyfriend in your arms, or even with a bunch of girlfriends you want to get infected with K-drama addiction.
(after this movie, you make them watch Protect the Boss, or Secret Love, and you got yourself a K-drama Gang ! )
I just loved this movie, to have fun watching it !
^^
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