Entourage isn't your average kdrama, it has none of the usual tropes, love triangles, crazy 2nd leads, misunderstandings, absurd coinsidences, scheming, melodrama ect. It actually feels a lot like a western tv show -which shouldn't come as a surprise since it is a remake of an american tv show, and i am happy they didn't try to korean-ize it too much. For all these reasons entourage is a breath of fresh air in the dramaland for me, but it is not a drama for everyone for the exact same reasons.
Story
Welcome to the entertainment industry. The main lead of the drama is an up and coming fictional actor who just had his first movie breakthrough, got mixed reviews but also got immensely popular and we watch him as he tries to find his next project, balancing his personal life and work life in the best (or worst) way he can. At the same time we see his 3 best friends as well as his agency's CEO. All of his friends have something to do with the entertainment industry; the drama's exploring different sides of it through them.
The show focuses on the hardships of the industry, putting it in the spotlight in a rather realistic and even negative -if i may say- way. It targets issues about the entertainment industry like: how difficult it is to find a potential hit movie/drama project, how actors are placed in the public eye and have little to no privacy, the way the agencies try to control them work-wise and personal life-wise, how difficult it is to actually get casted and breakthrough in this industry, the severe importance of appearance ect. Simultaneously, the relationships between actors, actor-manager, actor-agency, actor-significant other ect. Moreover, it puts the actors and agencies on the spot as well, showing both negative and positive aspects of their life and the way they act, as well as very realistic repercussions of their actions (this was probably the most interesting thing this drama had to offer for me).
All that being said, i think it is very obvious that this drama is not the average rom-com one would expect. There is no romance here. There is a love-line plot, but there is no actual romance, this plot line serves a purpose to explain how difficult it is to maintain a relationship being a celebrity and nothing else. The comedy is present, but i would safely dub it as elitist. It's not your usual slapstip kdrama comedy, it is heavily based on sexual comments, and a lot of the jokes involve other idols or actors and i am not sure if they can get across to an average kdrama watcher. What's more, there is no melodrama at all, or overdramatic situations evolving emotional conversations, stares ect.
Lastly, i would like to stress how i totally understand why someone would find this boring. If you're looking for a sweet romance story with comedy, you won't like this. If you're into heavy melodramatic situations this isn't your cup of it either. The drama is a light comedy about the entertainment industry, everything revolves around that. Concluding, the drama is told completely from a male perspective, so there will be a lot of pants dropping, creepy sex jokes, men desperate to have sex, clubs, silly, immature situations ect. If the drama lacked something was a proper female touch, but then again, this is why this drama was fresh and different.
Acting
The acting left a lot to be desired, but it wasn't a problem.
Seo Kang Joon was great, but not really memorable; Lee Dong Hwi, the same. Lee Kwang Soo was adorable and hilarious and performed impeccably as expected, however none of those 3 characters were well-enough written to leave a strong impression.
On the contrary, the most memorable actors were Jo Jin Woong, who portrayed a caring ceo -almost a father figure- with anger management and attitude issues immaculately and also my personal favourite Park Jung Min who might not have been the best acting wise, but the role was a perfect fit and was completely relateable and absolutely delightful!
I would like to emphasise how i wouldn't -not in any way- stick with this drama because of the good cast or because of the countless guests.
As for the supporting cast, amber had the most promiment role of the females, and i loved her. The role was a perfect fit. Ahn So hee needs to work on her acting more and i would like to see Kim Hye In more in the future. However, none of the supporting actresses had the time to build up as characters or show something of substance.
The guests were there for a split second, said a line, waved and that was it. Don't expect much.
Rewatch/Recommend
This drama is an elitist drama, but it's not bad; it's just different. If you are into classic kdramas, ignore this one, you aren't missing out. If you want to watch something different, and have an interest in the korean acting industry, then do try it. I also believe this drama is adressed to male viewers because of the nature of the comments and issues it depicts. I wouldn't rewatch this though.
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What a disappointment....
Can a good actor save a bad script? NO.But can a good actor make the drama bearable to watch? YES.
But does this drama have good actors? HELL NO.
Before starting the review, I just wanna say it’s more like a rant than a review.
Let’s start with the title first. It’s “Now, We Are Breaking Up,” but more like “Fate”? I’ve been watching K-dramas for a long time now—literally, every drama has the fate/destiny aspect in it, which is not exactly my problem. But for this drama, the plot is built on fate/destiny/coincidences. Everything is so connected, which feels like nothing but forced.
This is supposedly a “Melodrama” (Melodrama: A genre that focuses on a dramatic plot, which is typically sensational and designed to appeal strongly to emotions). Is the plot dramatic? YES. But can I feel the emotions of the main characters (HYE & JK)? Freaking NO. They have no expressions throughout the whole drama. They just had cold, wooden faces and robotic dialogue deliveries. It felt so boring to even look at them that I genuinely fell asleep.
They are the main characters, so they have the largest screen time, but imagine their story being the most boring of all? Can you possibly sit through it? At least I couldn’t. I’m gonna be really honest—I watched this at 2x speed because the pace of the show is as slow as a snail. As I said, the plot was dramatic but also somewhat problematic. The writer screwed up the main leads’ story, and their bland expressions made it even worse.
Since this was Song Hye Kyo’s comeback and Jang Ki Yong’s last drama before his military enlistment, I gave it a shot. But I’m utterly disappointed with both of them. There was literally no heart-fluttering chemistry between them; they just endlessly kept staring at each other.
I mainly watched this for the SL couple, and yeah, they could act, so they had more chemistry than the lead couple. Some supporting characters are unreasonably crazy and wicked. My only favorite supporting character was Jeon Mi Seok.
As a fashion-based drama, neither the FL’s clothes nor the ones she designed impressed me. Hotel Del Luna or It’s Okay to Not Be Okay had way better-styled clothes, and those dramas aren’t even about fashion. :/
The OST doesn’t suit the vibe of the drama. It’s something sophisticated, which the drama is definitely not.
Re-watch: Never in my whole life am I gonna re-watch this show. I had to give a rating of 1 because there’s no option for 0.
The drama is basically a dud—no chemistry, bad acting, and problematic af main leads. I personally recommend skipping this one. The premise of the story was interesting, but the execution and main characters failed to portray emotions badly, which made this show really shallow.
END
Thank you for reading my review ^^
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1
1The Return of the King.
After closing Season 1 on a high note, the much anticipated Season 2 of Lost You Forever opens with an air of looming inevitability. The focus shifts from Xiaoyao to Cangxuan as the main plot is built around the return of the king who is meant to unite Dahuang. This also portends the end of the long stalemate between Xiyan and the Chenrong remnants. This kind of endgame puts all of the main characters at crossroads with difficult, heart wrenching choices to make.Season 2 has not been as well received as Season 1 and the bulk of the disappointment is around how unlike Season 1, Season 2 deviates from the novel on a few fronts. I didn't read the novel so I can only evaluate the drama on its own merits. From my perspective, the season's biggest weakness is that the plot arcs leave a rushed, condensed impression. This shouldn't be a surprise as topics involving conquering harmless neighbouring states and glorifying rebels don't fare well with Chinese censors. I also had to scoff at the idea of a war with no civilian casualties; if this were a plot driven story I would be quite disappointed.
But Lost You Forever is predominantly a character story and on that front, the character arcs deliver in spades. Even though many characters make choices that are not relatable, they are not meant to be. Novelist Tong Hua designed the characters for both the prequel novel Once Promised and Lost You Forever based of mythical creatures from Shānhǎijīng/山海经, The Classic of Mountains and Seas. This is an ancient Chinese geographic compilation of mythical monsters and magical creatures; kind of like Hogwart's Monster Book of Monsters. This story is set at the beginning of time, after Pangu and Nuwa created the world. Xiangliu is a mythical beast, a venomous nine-headed snake monster loyal to water deity Gonggong. Cangxuan and Xiaoyao's grandfather the Xiyan King is none other than Huangdi/黃帝, the legendary Yellow Emperor. They are early immortals, directly descended from primordial gods whose footprints can still be found in the shape of the mountains and seas. They live for an unfathomably long time; until their obsessions eventually get the better of them. This explains Cangxuan's darkening and Xiaoyao's overpowering fear of loneliness and abandonment.
Even though this story broke my heart, all of the important characters are true to themselves and fulfil their destiny. I did not always agree with or like their decisions but the storytelling is elevated by phenomenal acting that compelled me to understand their choices and accept that their decisions made sense for them. My only disappointment with the season is that plot-wise it sagged and is not strong enough for me to raise my rating for the drama overall to a 9.5/10.0. It is nonetheless an immersive, heart-rending and dark enchanted fairytale about flawed but unforgettable characters who are trapped by destiny. I rate both the second season and the adaptation in its entirety 9.0/10.0. Watch it but guard your heart and do not grieve too hard for them because their fates are to a large extent predestined.
SPOILER WARNING
The rest of this review does not avoid spoilers and is best read after you have finished watching this drama in its entirety.
I may be in the minority but even though I almost drowned myself in wine, I think the ending is perfect and fitting. Xiaoyao is a flawed and broken character that regresses as the narrative advances. Her strongest, happiest, moments were in Qingshui Town, when she lived among mortals as Wen Xiaoliu. The only thing she lacked was a companion. When Ye Shiqi, another lost immortal came along, her life was complete. Even though Tushan Jing is a weak character that let Xiaoyao down repeatedly, he is kind and when it mattered, he was willing to be Ye Shiqi again so that she could be Wen Xiaoliu again. He was the safe choice and the only choice Xiaoyao was capable of making. Even though I will never like it, I understand it and I can live with it. The best, most magical arc was always the Qingshui Town arc so the drama closes there, in a full circle.
Cangxuan is also a damaged and abandoned character whose his mother chose to die with his father over living for him. Thus Xiaoyao and Cangxuan share a deep and complex bond that goes beyond their childhood oath. From the get go, the way they deal with their shared trauma put them on forever opposite paths; he chose to be invincible while she chose to be invisible. Xiaoyao only reclaims her identity and returns to the perilous world that cost her everything because of her promise to Cangxuan. She faces her demons, relives the worst days of her life and puts herself in harm's way to be his pawn; the princess bride that paves his way to the throne. She never looks happy or carefree again after she becomes Xiaoyao.
The great irony in their story is that Cangxuan seeks power to protect Xiaoyao but once he attains power, he becomes the greatest threat to her. He is Xiaoyao's hero that lived long enough to see himself become a villain. Had Cangxuan given in to his worst instincts, it would have been unforgivable and it would have destroyed them both. I am relieved the drama only showed us what would have happened and then walked him back from the brink. Cangxuan did many regrettable things along the way, which he describes as 遗憾/yíhàn and not 后悔/hòuhuǐ. This means he did what he had to do; that he did not really have free will. The turning point in his character is when he admits there was one pivotal moment he regrets (后悔/hòuhuǐ); when he should have chosen Xiaoyao but he chose the throne instead. But even after he owns his choices, I feel a frisson of fear at his disarming smile that is belied by the dark longing expression in his eyes. Xiaoyao will never be truly safe from him so Xiling Jiuyao disappears among those who die collecting and documenting rare herbs throughout Dahuang.
A'Nian is the best character in this story. She is the spoiled but brave and true Haoling princess who grew up with the security of a loving family and her beloved Cangxuan gege. She is who Xiaoyao should have been and she is living Xiaoyao's best life. She dares to put herself out there, to take risk in love without needing to be loved in return. I hope one day Cangxuan understands that Xiaoyao did choose him; that her name is A'Nian.
As for Xiangliu, he understood Xiaoyao best and loved her most selflessly. But by the time they met, he had long ago pledged all nine lives to his lost cause. After leading so many men to fight to the death, it is not clear Xiangliu could have just walked away even if Xiaoyao asked him to. It would have been a risky, reckless and consequential path for both of them; the story of Chi Chen and Xiling Heng could repeat itself. Xiangliu and Xiaoyao waited for each other to cross the line for a very long time; far longer than Xiaoyao waited for Tushan Jing. But the inescapable truth is after everything she went through, Xiaoyao is too broken. As the consequence of two people who loved recklessly; she could only choose to be loved. Xiangliu is himself not free either so he accepts this. For him their brief entanglement had to be enough. If Xiaoyao had been A'Nian, she would have dared to choose him except his path would have never crossed with that A'Nian, only Xiaoyao. They were just never meant to be. And so Xiangliu frees her from missing him forever and leaves her with someone to rely on and go home to. Even though she will never be burdened by knowing the full extent of everything he did for her, Xiaoyao grieved deeply for Xiangliu. To me, her silent, helpless adult tears were far worse than the way she child ugly cried for her parents. I do wish he had left her the real Chubby but I guess it was not possible since Chubby would have gobbled up Tushan Jiing and spat out his entrails.
Even though both Zhang Wanyi and Yang Zi deliver outstanding and compelling performances, Tan Jianci's portrayal of Xiang Liu is simply iconic. I can't remember when I was last so mesmerized by a character. Even though it shattered me, Xiangliu fulfils his destiny in an epic, climatic ending that is what legends are made of. According to Shānhǎijīng, Xiangliu left behind a patch of earth so toxic that nothing grew or lived there again. I know book readers are not satisfied with the ending but for me it is an incredibly sad but beautiful and fitting way to end a story about love that is not a love story. My only regret is I didn't get to see Xiaoyao shoot Xinyue in the heart. I mean to make time to read both the prequel and the novel so I won't spoil myself the book ending. But if it is at least this good, then I love it already.
X
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Story
The K2 is ambitious, it wants to be intriguing and captivating but too much pressure has underwhelming results. The drama is a weird combo of action, political drama and romance that doesn't really work. There are 4 main characters, all of them perfectly demonstrated and completely 3-D, each of them has a story of revenge or ambition about the future and all their stories get entangled to set the plot. The characterization is the best part of the drama.
The base story is there and it's quite well-thought-out once you get to grasp it (takes a few episodes - or more than a few), however the K2 was one of those dramas that even though you enjoy it, only drawbacks come to mind when you think of it, sadly.
The drama felt 50% superman, 30% boring political talk and no act and 20% forced romance.
Most surprising thing about this drama is that the biggest and most critical asset of it, the action scenes, ended up working against the whole thing. Ji Chang Wook was immaculate in them, it's not his fault that after 2-3 episodes my initial enthusiasm turned into yawning. It was certainly not his fault. The directing and editing is to blame here. They overplayed the scenes so much, they quickly lose their spark and interest; unnecessary slow-motion, gratuitous weird angles and more made them look overly cheesy. What's more, it quickly felt that the drama pays too much attention in CJW doing his thing than to the plot itself which made the drama feel increasingly superficial and shallow.
Furthermore, what is the korean obsession with making their male leads look like superman? As the episodes continue CJW's character felt more and more unreal. Humans have their limits, that's their charm. Striping them of that feature makes them look fake. I didn't sign up for a hero film, sorry.
Another really awkward thing is that each episode is packed with action, or scheming, plotting, romance, so many things going on, but when i stopped to think what had actually happened after the end of every episode, how the episode contributed to the overall story, i came up always with nothing. In retrospect, nothing actually had happened. Amazing isn't it? The story is there but there is no real development until the end. Dissapointing, what a letdown.
Continuing, the drama is defined by its political aspect. I'm not into political dramas, so once this part kicked in i was inevitably bored. However, I'm usually very much into scheming evil characters and backstabbing and this drama has plenty of it, but the build up to all this was lenghty and quite tiresome to watch.
Additionally, i'd like to talk about the dissapointing romance. CJW is paired with Yoona here, and while they do look good together, their romance felt thorougly forced and wasn't given adequate time to grow and develop. On the contrary CJW and Choi Yoo Na's chemistry was effortless and off the charts. I think i can safely speak on behalf of almost every viewer when i express my dissapointment in the writer's persistence to shove the former couple down our throats when the latter was there and was spotless since the very first moment.
Drawing my rant to a conclusion i'd want to talk about the misuse of Yoona (Anna) as a character. She was either running, crying screaming or taken hostage throughout the whole thing, while she barely appeared in the first half. She basically made CJW's character look like super mario trying to save his girlfriend, unrealistic and cringy.
At this point i feel inclined to mention and stress the significance of Song Yoon Ah's character who probably makes the drama worth watching on her own. Finding characters that are 3D and not carricature versions of real life people is difficult in kdramas. Here, all the character were well-created but Choi Yoo Jin was the perfect villain or more like the anti-hero. There are several layers of her character that go deep and are visible little by little. She was the perfect villain who everyone grew fond of quickly and she deserved better from start to finish. You'll love her believe me.
Acting
The acting was dazzling.
Yoona who is seemigly the weakest link of the main cast was way better than expected. She suited the character perfectly and was completely satisfying in her every scene even though severely misused.
Ji Chang Wook executed his action scenes spotlessly, and to be honest that was his character's main goal. I have nothing else to add, he was manly and a worthy main lead, but he deserves better as an actor.
Jo Sung Ha was also spectacular in his twisted role, but the real queen of the drama was Song Yoon Ah, hands down. Her character was disturbed, easy to misunderstand, but she made us all care for her and see beyond her evil mask. Loved her completely. Star quality actor.
Recommend/Rewatch
Overall, the drama wasn't bad, it is one of those dramas that blow up in the beginning but never come up with the goods. It was enjoyable for the most part (let's exclude the boring political talk), and entertaining. If you are into hot guys playing superman in fight scenes, like evil characters scheming and double-crossing as well as some kind of romance in the sidetracks, do give this a chance. Having low expectations will surely result in higher pleasure. My 8 is kind of a stretch, consider this a 7.5 + 0.5 for the perfect poetic ending! I will never rewatch this.
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The chemistry between the leads is really there though and the story didn't get unnecessarily draggy at different parts
Like some side characters make me angry but they don't cause 5-episode-long misunderstandings if that makes sense?
so I would highly recommend anyone who is looking to consume some high-sugar drama XD
The two side couples' stories weren't as interested in my opinion but, you know, the main couple is enough to keep you watching.
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The characters, at first may seem a bit tiresome, but they have this uncanny knack of growing on you, until you genuinely care for them and wish to see them happy, successful or in some cases burn in hell. It will make you laugh and cry, which is what all good dramas should invoke. Throw into the mix a nice, non annoying soundtrack and some pretty good cinematography and you get a seriously a good watch. Strong recommended, not just for viewing but repeated viewings as well.
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It's like a car crash...
... painful to watch but hard to look away.You should watch this show if you like:
- Plot holes
- Questions that get answered by even more questions.
- Dialogue that doesn't make sense.
- A supposedly steamy couple without any chemistry.
- A mafia boss whose entire self is an insult to every mafia person ever.
Sadly enough, there is a lot wrong with this show.
From actors who don't seem very into their role to questionable directing and simply strange editing/use of music. "Unforgotten night" seems to have it all.
They could have done so much more with KamolKim yet every episode is packed with stuff that you might get a whiplash from the quick changing between scenes. Events that should have been cleared up, explained or maybe just talked about get forgotten and in my opinion this doesn't do the plot any justice.
Still I find myself looking forward to the next episode every week. Be it because of interest in the story or just hope that the next episode will be better. And of course it isn't all bad. Don't get me wrong, there are some good things to see as well. I just expected a lot more from this show. If you are going to watch it, I suggest not to take it very seriously. Sit back, relax and enjoy yourself.
EDIT: The last episode was by far the best and made a lot better.
My Wednesday evening will surely be a little more empty after the last episode but I fear that, despite it's title, "Unforgotten Night" will be quickly forgotten.
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To be honest I only started watching it because I read that the story would revolve a lot around the eldest son, who is in a gay relationship. I found this fascinating, seeing as it's a korean drama. The writers did a great job on that part, depicting the family's perspective and the couples perspective and how they each deal with this issue.
It was also interesting to see the interactions between the different generations of this huge family who all live together in one house.
What kept me watching was the great acting (especially song chang ui who plays the eldest son and kim hae sook who plays his stepmom)the amazing story, and also the amazing surroundings (jeju island).
Because it's quite a long drama you get to know each of the family members very well and you really feel the amazing bond that's between them.
I cried a lot, but I laughed too and watching it was an overall heartwarming experience!
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Just to be clear about something, I'm not a fan of love affairs, actually I don't like them at all and usually do not watch dramas with concept like that but this one I chose because of the music theme and the main actor. And I'm glad I did that 'cause I fell in love with this drama so deeply with no cure for healing. For the record this drama and story aren't affair at all as all of us think what affair actually is and you could see that from the very start and the relationship between the married couple, they were more like business partners. Yoo Ah In and Kim Hee Ae have done the job brilliant in portraying the two people who met and simply, slowly fell in love through the piano playing, music sheets, Mozart, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, and many other classical geniuses. I was hypnotized and mesmerized with their conversations, with their playing, with their passionate chemistry, I can't remember when I've reacted like this to some couple and chemistry in drama, since MARS I haven't felt like this.
This is not some average bubbly romance drama; it's dark, complex, passionate, bittersweet, and sometimes even torturous. It's a true emotional, mature and adult romance drama where we'll cheer as hard as we can for love to win against all odds. It’s a story to show how love can change one for the best or the worst. I loved very much how they concentrate simply on development of the main characters, their constant battle inside them, their pain, their hope and most of all their passion. It had been a very long time that I had felt such complex emotions with such intensity. It was almost like I was one of them. Of course there are boring parts, for example the part about business and all those irritating female characters who were so evil, bad and gossiping around, I really hate that. But except that everything else was a masterpiece for real. Yoo Ah In as a young piano prodigy was magnificent, he once again proved to me why he's one of my favourite actors in the whole world. When he’s onscreen with Kim, they make beautiful music together, both literally and figuratively. The love story generates plenty of heat, and feels genuine and quite moving. As long as the two leads are playing duets together or sharing bowls of noodles, everything else was in the shadow, only them and their fantastic chemistry.
Unlike in the most of average dramas, the music actually added meaning and depth to the drama. They played so many beautiful pieces from so many great composers and anyone who has any appreciation for classical music is going to enjoy this drama enormously. This drama is a bit slow, but it didn't bother me at all. I loved that I could see and feel their every gaze, touch, and emotion. I was able to synchronize my emotions with them, to understand and feel how they fell for one another.
For me this drama has a deep meaning and definitely left me with so many great and honest emotions. If you're like me a person who loves a true pure romance dramas with adult and mature thinking with endless love for music in your daily life, then this drama is for you.
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A SECRET GEM!!! A COMEDIC MASTERPIECE!!! 11/10 ✨???
This is the first review I write after having watched almost 300 K-Dramas and 100+ movies. And I'm doing it because "Seoul Busters" is worth every type of PRAISE!!! 👏👌🤌🏆This rightfully took a place in my top 20 BEST KOREAN DRAMAS ever!!! 🔝And here's why:1) THE CAST. 🔥Every single member of this cast did a stellar job.✨They delivered amazing performances, in both comedic and dramatic moments. They had such wonderful chemistry with each other, they clicked perfectly. 💯I couldn't see any other actor/actress in their places. They're literally the PERFECT combination. 🤌
2) Sometimes you need a good laugh, not complicated things, just something to brighten up your day. 🌞And boy, does this drama provide you with endless laughs. 😝I haven't laughed this much with a piece of cinema or TV before and I'm not referring to just Asian content. "Seoul Busters" made me CRY tears of laughter, so much, my belly hurt from laughing.🤣 I watched all episodes with my mom and we made sure to watch them in a time during the day where we could laugh loudly without waking up any neighbors!!!😜I looked forward to the new episodes each week because they lifted my spirit and even during bad days they never failed to put a smile on my face. ☺️It's not easy to make that happen but these characters, these super talented actors made it happen.❤️
3) You think it's only humor?? You're WRONG. Despite its obvious comedic tone, the drama has plenty of touching, even tragic moments that will break your heart. 🥺Especially the second half of the drama will definitely make you shed some tears. 💔But it's all perfectly executed and ties in with the plot well.
4) And what about the cases of the week?? 🚓So many cases, so many suspects, so many plot twists. 🧐Each case intriguing and different than the other. And also, very good guest stars making things even more interesting. 👍
5) The action??💥 PLS!!! They were all so badass, I loved the fight scenes and their planning, and going undercover.🔥 Each member of our Violent Crimes Team at had something unique to offer and put their skills to good use.👌
6) Rewatch value??? Trust me, I'll be having all 20 episodes on repeat for a long time. 💯It just makes me feel so good watching and hearing these guys, they won such a special place in my heart, I'm so grateful for the good times they gave me!!!😊✨
7) SEASON 2, PLEASE, I'M BEGGING!!! 😭This drama wrapped things up very well but it left the window open with a perfect opportunity to continue for a second season. 😁I have never had such a passionate desire for a K-drama to be renewed for a second season before!!! ✌️Where do I sign the petition for S2 to be announced ASAP???? I don't want to say a final goodbye to my favorite characters just yet!!!🥺
To sum up, "Seoul Busters" is a K-Drama I would recommend to EVERYONE, it would be such a shame to lose such a gem!!!✨ It's perfectly balanced in every aspect and has a wonderful group of actors who bring unique, unforgettable characters to life.✌️ I'm so glad I decided to watch it, it didn't disappoint or bore me for one second!!! I'll treasure it forever ❤️😊
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Did some things better than any other series.
Great cast, great plot, great acting, great pace, great wrap-up. A very complete package of everything. Nothing really missed for me. The action sequences were class. The relationships and network were inspiring.Among the things that this series did better I would like to mention my personal favourite -
1. Car chase : Honestly I have watched many kdramas that have these gangs and gangsters, but it's always hand on hand combat and/or weapons. But a car chase is very rare and the one in this series has been done greatly compared to the korean average.
2. Action sequences : Nobody pulled there punches. It sure looks like it. The different weapons and techniques are amazing to watch.
3. Backstory : This wasn't overdone with MSG that somebody killed somebody's someone so the son or daughter of that person plots revenge. The background of the story is very tangible in this drama.
A very few misses that won't be annoying -
1. Some characters you'd like to know about what happened to them or so was not really explored. But it's fine as long as you're not much invested and how can you be considering it's just 8 episodes.
2. More brawns than brain. Could be a turn off for some or could be just the thing for others.
All in all as i already said, it is very complete.
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THE CASTING & ORIGINAL STORY SET -UP
In a recent interview, PD Ahn said he wanted to work with SYJ. He felt that she was the best actress to play a mid-30s woman at the centerpiece of this realistic drama. “That’s why, from the very beginning, I thought that there was no one else for the leading role of ‘Pretty Noona’ but Son Ye Jin. I only contacted one person [for the role], and it worked out. She decided to take the role even after seeing all the negative sides to it.” He added with a laugh, “I was really surprised.”
SYJ said she also wanted to work with the director. Her fellow actresses gave him high marks. And when she was recruited for the series, PD Ahn promised he would do things so she could meet her goals. As a result, the series was shot more like an independent art film. There were little wasted scenes. And the mood on the set was fun but professional.
SYJ is a professional. Her reputation is to immerse herself in her characters. She was aware of the negatives of JA (her life, her decisions, her mistakes, etc.) He claims the scripts were all read in full in October, 2017 (but does not say if the scripts were changed in the end).
In initial filming before the premiere, JA’s character was described as a hard working person with a lonely personal life where she stares at empty bottles of liquor. She is a typical South Korean woman in her 30s who feels emptiness in her heart because she doesn't feel accomplished in either career or love which every woman around her age can empathize with. Son Ye Jin is showing so much motivation and effort as she is always holding onto her script and having numerous discussions with the director on expressing her character more fully. She is doing a great job in portraying Jin-ah's change of emotion with her detailed acting and really becoming the character. Everyone should be expecting great things to come out of this drama,” a staff member said.
At the beginning, JA’s situation can be summed up as follows:
1. She is 35 still living at home with her parents.
2. She is going out with a terrible BF who has cheated on her after she slept with him (meaning she was serious about the relationship but he was not).
3. Her mother is pushing her to marry the terrible BF because of his status and JA’s age.
4. She is stuck in a dead end job subject to work place harassment and takes blame for others’ mistakes.
JA character is a meek, introverted, weak, hard working but repressed follower of society norms. She really does not talk about goals or a future. It appears she has resigned herself to an unhappy life because she is trapped in a culturally oppressive and socially conservative paternalistic world.
The show was always set up to be JA’s journey to self-awareness and independence. It was meant to be a realistic sad story.
What hooked viewers in the initial episodes was the chemistry between JA and JH. It was an unintended consequence because it masked the original story line and theme. PD Ahn stated in that recent interview that the theme of the show was the simple question:
“Are we really in love?”
THE INITIAL CHEMISTRY
If you look objectively at the beginning of JA and JH’s romantic relationship, it was a quick and burning passion. The reason for JA was simple: she was coming off a dead cat bounce relationship with her cheating ex-BF. Since her mid 20s, JA had been groomed by her mother to go out with a certain kind of man (one of status, means and upward mobility). JA’s only hope with these blind dates was that the man would “like” her. JA went out on those dates not out of a search for love but obligation to her mother. JA must have seemed that this current ex-BF was her best shot since she was serious enough to slept with him but his betrayal left her bitter, angry and alone.
JH returns to Korea after 3 years in USA. He is friends with JA’s brother, SH. He knows JH dates many women (because of his looks and charm). He knows he has a stubborn temper. JH is young and carefree in YOLO life style. JH grew up without parents so it appears that he is still harboring abandonment issues. He had dated many women in the past, but apparently could not get beyond 3 months (which is interesting since the 100 day mark in Korea is a milestone of a “serious” relationship.) He is charming, attentive, but also selfish, temperamental and paternalistic.
In a chance timing of motive and opportunity, JH returned to Korea after three years, and the first cute woman he saw he went after (surprising himself that it was his noona.) The surprise flirtation and familiarity was the spark to set them on a quick path to become lovers.
JA and JH get caught up in the mystery, excitement and secrecy of their romance. So did the audience. It was clear that JA and JH loved being together. It was an infatuation.
Attraction? Yes, they both complimented each other about their appearance.
Escapism? Yes, they both were coming back from negative experiences to find comfort in each others’ arms, away from their daily grind and problems.
Infatuation? Yes, the hot and secret aspect of their intense and short lived passion for each other.
True love? No. Even though viewers were caught up with the initial passion, the couple’s relationship was foreshadowed to be doomed. As reality encroached on their secret life, real serious issues arose between their family members and friends which the couple did not or could not discuss and work out together.
How each character viewed their relationship was telling:
JA did like the fact that a younger man found her attractive and desirable. It may have been a long time since a man approached her (instead of through blind dates). She wanted to keep it a secret because she knew it was all merely fun: companionship with benefits, not a serious relationship. Also, JA wanted to keep it secret because she knew the negative ramifications to her family and friendship with KS.
However, JH did not want to keep it secret. This showed his naivety. His character always lived in the moment, not thinking long term consequences of his actions.
Their relationship turned into a cliche teenage crush. And as the episodes went on, there was no intellectual, emotional or spiritual growth in their relationship. They never discussed a shared future together.
THE MIDDLE CONFLICTS
The greatest problem with the story was JA’s interaction with the people around her. It was an intentional portrayal. She was an apologetic follower. She rarely stood up for herself. Her decision making was mired in self-conflict, self-doubt. She thought the world viewed her as a commodity and not as a person or a woman.
And this was embedded in how she dealt with her personal life, including her affair with JH. The series lacked deep discussions between the characters that is the foundation for serious relationships.
JA was conditioned to be subservient and accept what others told her.
What were the major issues in JA’s life?
1. Her mother’s desire that she marry the “right” man. But after a serious of loser boyfriends, JA had basically given up on a chance to meet Mr. Right, someone she could passionately love while be acceptable to her family.
2. Her job was becoming more unbearable. The demands and blame she took for other workers mistakes were mounting. The harassment of her by superiors was intolerable. She was in a dead end job with no real chance of promotion.
3. She had few friends. KS was her best friend who she could confide in. It seemed that JA had a hard time making new friends. When she does make a close friend, she tries hard not to break that bond, even it means hurting herself in the process.
4. She has a maniac ex-BF who wants to get back together or ruin her life.
How did the couple “work” to resolve these issues? They did not. JA and JH were merely apologetic to JA’s mother about their relationship, but did nothing to convince their families that they had a future together. JH did nothing to help JA resolve her work place issues, or support her if she wanted to change career path. JH brought JA to meet some of his friends (on the overnight trip) but JA did not do the same. (this shows JH was more into the relationship than JA). JH got jealous and violent about JA’s ex-BF which contributed to conflict between them because he did not discuss beforehand with JA his actions.
The breaking point was JH demanding that JA come to him to the US. Of course, JA said no. She felt insulted that JH’s solution was to run away from problems. (Not to mention that it would be impossible for JA to suddenly move to the US with no job, no spouse, and no money with the country’s current immigration policies). JH solution was that JA would be there for him. He was angry that she rejected his solution. He never understood her position, her feelings or her long term goals.
The couple’s initial passion glossed over several important aspects missing from consideration on whether this was heading toward a serious relationship or “true love.”
1. Communication. Their communication was superficial. They did not discuss important issues or ideas which represents mutual immaturity. They never opened up to each other on what their personal goals were (job, career, changes, etc.) or how they wanted to achieve them. They never really understood the other person's emotional state, and they never deeply discussed how the other person felt in a given situation. I recently read a psychological study that concluded that many people told “white lies” early in their relationships as a means of making themselves more “attractive” to their partner. Usually, those minor lies were used to build up a person’s self-esteem or enhance their traits (prospects) to the other person. But in JA and JH case, those lies were meant to hide the truth and real feelings (under the fabrication that they did not want to “hurt” the other person.) Instead of talking things through, they glossed matters over and then began to mistrust each other. The each called the other “childish.” They could not talk to each other about serious matters because they were caught up in the teenage aspects of a romance fairy tale.
2. Compatibility. Sympathy, friendship and like-mindedness are critical foundation blocks to any serious relationship. JH knew about JA’s situation at home and at work, but his support for her situation was tempered and distant. He wanted to control the situation. Likewise, JA did not seek out his advice on how to find a solution to any of her problems. Also, JH did not ask JA for advice on his work, his options or his troubles. JA and JH knew each other before dating, but there is no evidence that they were “friends.” Friends have mutual interests, concerns, ambitions, support, trust, varied experiences to share. JA and KS had serious discussions as friends. JH and SH had serious talks as friends. But JA and JH never had such a connection because such “real life” discussions would have interfered with them hanging out together and having fun as a new, care free couple.
3. Commitment. JA and JH never discussed the big things like their expectations, marriage and family life together. JH’s solution was unilaterally demanding JA move with him to the US. He never asked her hand in marriage. Some women would call this behavior selfish, inappropriate or “clingy.” JA’s solution to move out of her house so she could continue to date JH but not live with him showed that she was not ready to fully commit to him (she would later say she had things she wanted to be independent to become strong.) They never had the heart-to-heart discussion of “making plans” together as a couple. Even though both are adults, they both had serious maturity issues.. (Continuation at the comment section)
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Next I cannot express enough how much I loved the music for this drama as I felt it matched perfectly with it and find myself tearing up everytime I hear the song pray whenever a dramatic moment happens.
As for the acting of the two main roles I would say that Shin Hye Sun did an exceptional job at portraying her character and everytime in her dances whenever she would want to express her emotions. As for L I know some mentioned that they disliked his acting but as for me I though he was perfect for the role of a fun-loving and kindhearted angel and together they made a perfect couple with an unbreakable bond.
I’m not sure how others thought the ending was for them but as for me I am definitely not dissatisfied with the way that it ended as I liked them a lot together but I would of liked to see them be a classic tragic love story that makes you feel emotionally sad but warms your heart when you think of how tough their love was.
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Filmmaker Bong Joon Ho once again surprised us with another masterpiece named Parasite. Where powerful social satire meets tragedy. The director did a great job portraying South Korea's current views on society exposing the underprivileged slums of most modern cities and it's citizens living in completely different worlds despite staying in close proximity. You are likely to find it relatable as the themes of this story are not just localized to Korea, but all over the world. Having its fair share of global capitalism and universal materialism, Meritocracy being the biggest trope of this movie.
Now, the best way to enjoy this film is to cluelessly get into it, its charm is to watch it progress and unfold in many satisfying, unexpected ways.
You can definitely see a unique directorial vision as Parasite welcomes the audience into multi-genres and tonal shifts that mix and take its turn after every act. Pure comedy, dark comedy to heavy drama, horror, thriller, mystery, you name it. It is one of the hardest things to pull off but the director converts them smoothly without letting the audience feel indifferent to the transformation. It manages to elicit the full range of responses, making the viewer react with uneasy laughter to unexpected situations that eventually lead to disturbing events full of horror.
Now, who are the real parasites? The poor who attach themselves to the rich or the rich who suck the marrow of the poor?
Satirically, it managed to portray how we may live under the same skies, but have different views regarding life.
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"You know what kind of plan never fails? No plan. No plan at all. You know why? Because life cannot be planned."
Success and fortune are reserved for those who deserve it, those who develop solid plans according to their talents and abilities and who execute those plans through hard work and determination. Anyone can rise to the top, but for those who cannot escape their sad reality will ultimately turn for the worse and thus start to justify their immoral backstabbing, deceit, and callousness for reasoning that can be only explained by growing up poor without support from others.
The characters all have different aspects to them that will be received and viewed differently due to the viewers own biases and world views. This isn't a bad thing as the movies main point is to deliver a provocative social commentary in various metaphors. And the best way to do so is to create morally questionable characters that will resemble at least one familiar person known to you.
,,Greed is inside each one of us, but the question is, how much are you willing to sacrifice for an idea of life in comfort?''
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All in all, Parasite is a fantastic case of hard-hitting yet entertaining cinema.
And one of the best movies recently made in Korea.
Thus I will rate it 9.5/10
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