I loved Lee Min Jung here. And Joo Sang Wook, who I've only watched in Good Doctor and his role there was too different. L had a small supporting role but it was pretty cute too. In fact, this drama was overflowing with cute guys. And I'm nowhere near complaining. lol. The second leads here were extremely bearable. I mean, yeah, there was a point towards the end where I wanted to punch both of them for a moment. But it was flickering. And relatively they pretty good second leads. Not good enough to have second syndromes but good enough to develop a slight liking for them. The second lead girl especially was not a cold hearted bitch. I mean, she was shy and a bit gloomy because of her disability and her past. But she was nevertheless likeable.
The ending episode was super-sweet, with every character a bit of their own happy ending. Overall I would say while this drama is not something that would make you go, "wow best drama eveer" but at the same time you won't regret watching it and definitely won't throw popcorn at your screen. lol.
Was this review helpful to you?
I first heard about it because it was officially competing at the Cannes's Movie Festival.
And then I saw that the great Park Chan Wook was the director behind it so I quickly decided to watch it.
BUT, neither did I read the summary first nor watched the trailer ... and maybe I should have had.
Don't get me wrong ! This movie is a masterpiece. But, I wasn't expecting that plotline AT ALL.
You should be aware that it gots some serious mature contents like SEX, BDSM and violence. You can feel really uneasy watching it. But that is the reason why this movie is so beautiful : the darkness and somehow weird feels matches so well with the love story. Some scenes are magical.
But just keep in mind that it is 18+ rated (basically 5 minutes of intense, non-stoping and not-really censured sex)
There is three major arks in the movie: the first two ones where you get to discover and even rediscover the characters and story from different point of views, and the third one where all of your answers are answered & the story ends.
This combination might seems odd to some viewers, as we sometimes get to rewatch the same scenes. But I personally find it really interesting.
The two main actresses are absolutely perfect. They convey all the feels of their characters in an emotional way. As it is stayed in the summary, they will both 'discover some unexpected emotions'. Lesbian relationship in Korean movies are quite unusual and I must say that this one is breaking down HUGE taboos. The geniuses of Park Chan Wook was to gamble on this idea, in a country where he perfectly knows that the critics will get fierce.
Thanks to a good casting choice, I personally think that he won his bet.
I was surprisingly amazed by Kim Tae Ri (Sook Hee)'s acting. She's new, It's her first movie. The idea of new fits perfectly her character. The way she acted was stunning. I want to see her in more things from now on.
Anyway if you're 18+, interested in some good suspenseful stories and open-minded regarding this movie love plot line, you will definitely enjoy it.
It's not Old Boy sure ...but it is The Handmaiden. They both have their qualities and universe.
Special mention to the ending song which was absolutely gorgeous ... kinda combines all of the feels that this movie gives you.
Was this review helpful to you?
Contrary to naysayers, the story is intact. Brave and noble, too.
If you're looking for a fluffy, bubble-gum drama that would not require you to think, or if you just want to see Dylan Wang's kissing scenes and are not in the least bit curious about the title of the drama, take note - only by firing up some brain cells would you fully appreciate this.Unchained Love tells the love story of Xiao Duo, a mysterious eunuch who is the second most powerful man in the empire next only to the emperor, and Bu Yinlou, a young concubine-born noblewoman who is swindled by her father's legal wife to become one of the aged emperor's concubines. Before Yinlou meets the emperor, he dies, leaving her to become one of his childless widows who are to be sacrificed as tribute ladies to accompany him in the afterlife. Xiao Duo saves Yinlou from this cruel fate, starting a collusion between two intelligent, cunning and passionate characters that develops into friendship and eventually love.
Dylan Wang is perfectly cast as Xiao Duo, the head of an imperial bureau that enforces peace and order in the empire. Six years ago, he entered the Imperial City then used his martial arts skills and charms to gain a powerful position that would enable him to investigate the murder of his younger brother. Yuqi Chen shows exceptional acting skills as Bu Yinlou, the illegitimate daughter of a noble family who pretends to be stupid and lazy to hide her intelligence and wit, refusing to participate in palace power games.
The rest of the cast is as remarkable and three-dimensional, notably Peter Ho as the new emperor who is obsessed with Yinlou, and Zeng Li as the previous emperor's empress who is obsessed with Xiao Duo. The emperor's and ex-empress's oppressive desires to possess the objects of their obsession contrast with the unchained love between Xiao Duo and Yinlou that seeks the beloved's survival, freedom and happiness.
The title of the novel on which the drama is based, Fu Tu Ta, refers to the tower where tribute ladies are sacrificed to join newly-deceased emperors. It is thus a symbol of oppression that brought about such inhumane practices as requiring newly widowed imperial concubines to either become tribute ladies or attend to their dead husbands' remains in the Imperial Mausoleum for the rest of their lives. Another oppressive law forces male palace workers to give up their manhood, that is, become eunuchs. Oppression is also manifested in the new emperor's obsession with Yinlou and the ex-empress's obsession with Xiao Duo.
Much ado has been made about scenes that were cut due to censorship. In my opinion, only about six cut scenes had some significance but none affected the story. The absence of those steamy scenes doesn't matter as the intensity of Xiao Duo and Yinlou's passion still shines through and the remaining romantic scenes are more meaningful than the cut ones. In fact, I think the removal of some scenes served the story better. I would have been immediately turned off Yinlou had the scene of her tastelessly jumping on and kissing Xiao Duo at the start of their acquaintance not been cut.
It's rather amusing how the censored scenes provide a metaphor for Xiao Duo's manhood. Despite the cut scenes, the story is intact.
In a genre that glorifies revenge-killing, I applaud the bravery of this drama in showing how true love can rid the heart of the oppressive power of hatred that fuels the obsession for revenge. In a master stroke of storytelling, justice for his brother is served without Xiao Duo resorting to such a cowardly act as killing an unarmed man cold-bloodedly. Thus, I consider any alleged flaw, such as choppy editing due to a few censored-out scenes, more than offset by the uncharacteristic noble values espoused by this drama - love, peace, patience and forgiveness, among others.
Another thing I love about this drama is how humor that is mostly subtle and witty is injected every now and then. The ridiculous knock-on-the-wall communication, Yinlou outwitting kidnapping attempts and other hilarious situations and witticisms had me in stitches.
And yet another thing I love is the ending that is so loaded with symbolism it could occupy hours of discussions about oppression. About hope rising from its ashes. About love prevailing over its chains. That scene startled me that a Chinese drama could be that poetic, daring to disappoint fans hoping for a more explicit ending. It also gave me respect for low-budget cdramas that could dare to choose art over a crowd-pleasing happily-ever-after scene.
Was this review helpful to you?
Interesting storyline
Omg this has all the bells and whistels from a good fable or story. Has my favorite actor as well. Great hook at the beginning of the story to make you want to watch more. Sets are colorful to the eye and costumes are not over the top but are brautiful none the less. This director keeps it at a fast pace so it doesnt bog down in the middle. Well worth your time to watch and rewatch. Sets on this piece give it that xtra pazazz. Female lead is well matched to the actor and intimate scenes are believable could he have found his soulmate in real life?Was this review helpful to you?
1Full-Time Jobs? Nah, Just Full-Time Lust ?
Wow š³ first time Iāve seen a BL with NC in every single episode, even the special didnāt hold back! The creativity was next level. That phone face-time sex scene? Pure heat, dripping with lust and chemistry š„. And the best part? Jun magically teleported straight into Japan and ended up in bed with Sorn. Talk about fantasy turning into reality šš¦But seriouslyā¦ what plot? After 12 episodes and 2 specials, I still have no clue what these office workers actually do. Are they employed, or is the company just running on hormones? š Itās basically a workplace full of horny employees navigating their āfeelings,ā and honestly, Iām living for it. Who needs a deep storyline when you can laugh, cringe, and enjoy every ridiculous, steamy moment?
Letās be honest, weāre all here for the NC scenes and weāll be coming back to rewatch them again and again for years to come.
Was this review helpful to you?
Mnet at its finest, delivering some manipulative editing.
Iām not gonna lie, this was a fascinating watch. Trying to see all the shady business and tactics Mnet delivered, seeing viewers' different reactions depending on their knowledge of the industry and how Mnet works. What a ride it was. And behind all that mess was a bunch of talented trainees who could not breathe in the wrong direction, or they will be evil edited till their elimination.This is probably the worst survival show I have seen from the production standpoint. The editing was atrocious - they gave us 10 takes of the same 2 moments from different angles and different speeds, while completely cutting out most of the performances. How can we judge the stages and trainees skills when we see the same smile or wink just repeated countless times?
Then there is the issue of evil editing. Iām not saying just exaggerating existing issues, Iām saying complete lies, like using footage from two different interviews and making it seem like they were both filmed about the same situation. Translating what foreign trainees say in a vague and misleading way to frame it as them being disrespectful. Making it seem as if teams had massive disagreements in the episode, when we could see them work just fine during the practice lives.
And I donāt even want to talk about the G versus K trainees concept - that was dumb, since the plan was to debut a mixed group. Mnet framed it as rivalry so hard, Iām not surprised Koreans went so strongly voting for Korean trainees - it seemed like a matter of pride for them with how it was presented in the initial episodes. Showing G trainees in a bad light, only āpromotingā G trainees that are either Koreans just living in different countries, or been in Korea for yearsā¦
Whatās more? The legal rigging votes. they knew exactly what info should be released when to make people mass vote for specific trainees out of fear of them not debuting. Just naming the 2 or 3 k-traineesā ranks that went down - panic voting from the audience. Only showing the 3 trainees ranks based on ONLY G votes - panic voting.
All that said, I loved the kids so much. While I am sad we did not get many strong rappers, and literally barely any in the finale, Iām still more than happy with overall skills presented. Yes, some got into the show as a joke to make the public laugh, but in their case, I could see they truly put in the effort and tried to grow from this experience. The level of talent was high and honestly, one could randomly pick 9 trainees from top 18 to make a team, and every variation of it would make a strong debut.
The trainees had amazing friendships and I loved to see them support and encourage each other. We could see the most honest versions of them in the additional behind the clips mnet uploaded on youtube, and for these I am grateful.
Was this review helpful to you?
The best level of pining one can imagine.
Iām willing to call it a perfect binge watch material. Itās easy to digest, has amazing chemistry and loveable characters. There is not much unnecessary drama and over the top events. Itās not a groundbreaking story, but itās a nice and believable youth romance.Not gonna like Cake was the main reason I loved it so much - both with how the character was written and how Santa portrayed him. Funny, charming, entertaining, loyal, but at the same time caring and mature. I am surprised how understanding he was, when his initial introduction was a chaos impersonation. Santaās acting too, I could see the hearts in his eyes even before he was aware of them. Damn, this boy makes your heart flutter like crazy.
Then we have Seeiw - THE cinnamon roll. Even though more proper and organized, I would say he was acting more his teenage age compared to Cake - especially with more challenging and emotional moments. Which was nice to see - teens acting their age. I do believe his crying got a bit frustrating a few times, but I blame the writer. Sadly Earthās delivery in that aspect was also not that good, at least in some scenes. Sometimes I watched his scenes and was not sure if he was crying or laughingā¦
For everyone who enjoys mutual pining - this is THE show for you. The feels were amazing. Itās so obvious to everyone they like each other, but these two teens were painfully blind to it. And I loved every second of it.
Production value was high, especially for the BL. I did not have many issues with directing. The pacing got a bit fast by the end. Not to mention, in my opinion the last two episodes should not even exist - the whole last minute plot addition was unnecessary and did not fit the show.
One of the side couples also made me question reality. I donāt have issues with age gaps, but there are some lines that should not be crossed, and I have a weird feeling that if the genders were swapped, more people would complain.
Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. I appreciated a lot how it was more grounded in reality and not the typical āeveryone is gay and the only homophobic people are jealous exesā and no one is afraid of coming out, or even worse - no one is really gay, they just love this one specific person of the same gender.
Was this review helpful to you?
The Queen Who Crowns
52 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
A grand historical, passionate and emotionally complex high quality drama
IĀ“d say, āThe Queen who Crownsā is an excellent, impressive historical drama that gets under your skin. An emotionally stirring KDrama of the finest quality against a historically real backdrop. The KDrama year 2025 could continue like this..."The Queen who Crowns" brings the first decades of Joseon onto the screens. It is not the first series to take on the historically dazzling personalities of that time. Those early hours of the dynasty are simply captivating. And so, with this KDrama, too, it is not boring at all. On the contrary. And with an increased age rating, "The Queen who Crowns" additionally gains necessary freedom for an not only aesthetically impressive and emotionally impactful, but at times even unrestrained narrative.
However, it doesn't hurt to be somewhat familiar with the historical background. This makes it easier to understand the connections and relationship dynamics. Yet, enjoyment of the series is also possible without prior knowledge. Explanations in the subtitles fortunately provide the corresponding context here and there.
"The Queen who Crowns" offers a grand historical and emotionally complex drama. A special nuance is peeled out of the actual historical context, closely inspected, and dramatically excellently embellished: The complex and dramatic relationship dynamics of King Taejong with his father, the abdicated King Taejo, and his wife, the later Queen Wongyeong.
------ More thoughts about the relationships between former King Taejo, Prince Bang-won and his wife -------
"The Queen who Crowns" offers, among other things, a fantastic interpretation and performance of Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Lee Sung-min ensures we are learning to understand that the self-proclaimed first king of the new dynasty was not only a rather dominant father but a man who truly had great things in mind for his people. The path to achieve his new dynasty was indeed bloody, the power struggle at the turn of the 14th century not yet over, and life at the royal court dangerous. The now abdicated King Taejo, however, is convincingly shown to be torn between his archetypal ideals of a strong Joseon king and the very human feelings as an emotionally entangled father. Through his son Yi Bang-won as King Taejong of this newly founded Joseon nation, he painfully reflects how low human emotions can sink. Noble ambitious monarch and defiant despot, that can be so close together.
Actor Lee Hyun-wook acting historical Yi Bang-won gives the defiant king's son his very personal touch. As a son who desperately hungers for his father's recognition. As a man who would like to wear the pants in the relationship and cannot really handle to see that his straightforward, dominant wife is superior to him in terms of political calculation, overview, and foresight. As a spoiled prince whose frustration tolerance was never really trained, who ultimately confuses defiance with power, he is trying to enforce with ferocity what thus only slips away from him even further: the respect of the two most important people in his life ā his father and his actually beloved wife. Bang-won as King Taejong proves to be no counterpart to whom they can trustworthy surrender. One can feel sorry for the king. And that says it all...
Before I get to the queen, who is actually given the stage here, I would like to address one thing that is also in the focus of this KDrama along the way: The crux of the archetypal relationship between king and queen in contrast to the relationship between king and concubines. For the king, he may have both, āsaintā and āwhoreā. The queen however, is doomed to just being the āsaintā. Hardly any other historical drama IĀ“ve seen so far had processed the dilemma and explosive dynamics of such an archetypal, almost dehumanized relationship between king and queen so emphatically. While the king gets/takes his space for being a man with needs, too, the queen, as the mother of the nation, is per definition pure and saintly. ItĀ“s bad news, if king and queen should actually love each other. There is no room for intimacy and passion in the life of a king and queen. They live an ideal of relationship that stands solely in the service of the nation. Dehumanized, so to speak. Pure archetypes. Pairing between king and queen serves only the reproduction of royal genes. Furthermore the queenĀ“s job is about raising this offspring properly. It is a public relationship and for the nation only. It has (should have!) nothing to do with personal lust and passion. In theory at least...
Nevertheless, the king and his concubines may share their private intimacy in their bedchamber ā as long as it pleases the king. And in the case of our defiant, discontented, and somewhat emotionally lost King Taejong, he rather escapes to his concubines, who are willingly serving at his whim, with a warming embrace, a tender word. There he supposedly finds the most submissive subservience, the encouragement, and all that his father and wife deny him for different reasons. In the best case, it may truly nourish him and bring him into his power. In the worst case, he may be manipulated, and thus losing even more ground.
Now to Queen Wongyeong. Chapeau to Cha Joo-young! She gives that imposing historical personality such a strong, beautiful, clever, and quick-witted aura, portraying her as a dominant yet simultaneously sensitive woman, too. It's about time that this queen, who was only historically appreciated late, now also gets the deserved attention in the KDrama orbit!
King Taejong truly had a competent, intelligent, valuable partner at his side. At eye level. In the truest sense also above what concerns convention and customs. Thus, at the same time, courageous enough to take new paths, to think innovatively, and to act fearlessly.
But woe if the king thinks he has the power by virtue of his throne only. No, he must also be able to fill this position with respected personal authority. Most of the time, Taejong is trying to enforce power and respect with force. He truly lacks the necessary personal maturity for the nationĀ“s highest office in many places... and for this great wive. What a shame.
Queen Wongyeong, in turn, pays a high price for her ambitious demeanor and constructive political influence at the royal court: her passionate love for the king, for which there is no more place at the court. But, at least, the queen does not let this stop her from making wise decisions and prudent politics. No matter how adverse the circumstances. Without her, Taejong's reign would ultimately not have been at all, let alone being so valuable for the coming Joseon. Without her, the country would not have experienced one of its greatest kings of the Joseon Dynasty ā the following King Sejong, who created, among many other things, an alphabet for his people.
Those two, they paid with their personal relationship over the years of their reign. The KDrama does a great job in recognizing and dignifying their sacrifices, efforts and accomplishments.
Ps:
Episodes 13 and 14 "The Queen who Crowns - Before Sunrise" are a kind of prequel. They begin with the end of Goryeo. It is about our two protagonists meeting and falling in love, starting to dreaming their common dream of a 'better world'... and ultimately materializing it.
This may be well-intentioned, but the dramatic quality unfortunately drops somewhat compared to episodes 1-12. It almost seems as if this was a spontaneous decision in the course of events. Somehow it was done half-heartedly only (possibly under time pressure?). Nevertheless, some striking key scenes, referred to in 1-12, are delivered here, which is nice, though.
Was this review helpful to you?
Witch's Romance was the light and fluffy romcom I hoped for!
At first, I read the synopsis of this drama and was unsure about it. It seemed like a plain story line, but the show was a clear example of why some shows do not need to have a over-the-top plot to be outstanding! The first episode automatically drew me in.
In regards to characters: To be honest, I did not mind the age difference between the characters because I have seen some noona dramas/movies in the past, but I wondered if the characters would have good chemistry. Thankfully, the leads had fantastic chemistry which had me coming back for a new episode each time! Not only did the leads get me hooked on the series, but the other characters got me hooked as well. There were so many likable characters in this show and many of them were well developed; it was definitely hard to hate them! The acting was also great, I am surprised many of these actors have not done many major roles yet! The humor was another great component of this show as well. Literally, I would laugh out loud every episode (sorry to my family for this reason! haha!)!
The music in this show was pretty great. The main male lead (Yoon Dong Ha or Park Seo Joon in real life) actually sang a song for the Ost and I was honestly amazed when I realized it. Great actor and singer? Jackpot. As well, the other songs were also catchy and suited the show. The music is something I would actually listen outside of the show. As for rewatch value: I would for sure rewatch it, although I dont usually rewatch shows. I will definitely be recommending this to anyone who asks for drama suggestions.
10/10, Give it a try!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Half-Cooked, Dont Eat
A hard pass, unless someone buys you dinner to watch it. The plot synopsis here in MDL is a little bit different from the actual story, in the series Yu Dam has lived for 300 years and Dong Baek was in fact a man in his first iteration. And no, they dont die, only Dong Baek is bound to die.The format for Korean BLs are just too short to be properly appreciated. I just dont understand why they cant just increase the episode runtime to better tell the story.
There is an ambitious premise hidden somewhere. It is a fantasy romance and yes, they were trying to do something different from other BL by telling a unique love story that spans hundred of years. It reminded me of another Korean BL "First Love Again". However, just like that series, this story looks good on paper but has failed in execution. What we got are 10 16-minute episodes that spends the first 2 and a half minute recapping and showing the opening credits and another minute and a half end credits. The problem is there is just not enough story in the 12 minute remaining time for me to chew upon. There wasnt enough to savour the characters, it wasnt even enough to taste their chemistry.
The title says The Director Who Buys Me Dinner, but after the first 2 episodes the dinner between Director Min Yu Dam and Soel Dong Baek stopped. I would have loved to see it every episode like some sort of closing credit.
The fantasy side also wasnt fully explained, there wasnt any proper explanation about how the curse happened, or how the director lived for hundreds of years? Do we even really consider living a long life a curse? Did he meet any previous Dong Baek aside from the first and the current one? Who was that who possessed Dong Baek? Was the curse lifted by the end of the story or if he is still aware that he is or was immortal? Did he just suddenly also forget about his long life? What happens to Dong Baek at the end?
Also, whats the point of the Denis character?
What's sad is you can actually see the making of a good series under all the ingredients they were trying to shove in your mouth. If they just spent a little more time baking the story, and maybe just adding a little more sugary sweetness it would have been great.
I used to like short series but after a few duds i am starting to hate the format. It is very evident that in this series , the short runtime worked against their favor. Open ended stories are good way to end stories but here it just felt lazy.
Was this review helpful to you?
I will start with the leads, who are of course major, and a great match. Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun are awesome to watch together. They look great, they play off of each other well, their chemistry was great at first, then just ok, but they still did not disappoint me. The supporting cast was also great! Heo Joon Jae's partners in crime were a great non traditional bromance. I loved Shim Chung's random friends as well, especially cute but wise Seo Yoon Ah (played by the impressive young actress Shin Rin Ah from "Marriage Contract"). It even had some good villains (which I won't spoil), and an awesome cameo (that was a really nice surprise). So, why didn't i love this show as much as I should have? The plot is very VERY mediocre.
The concept is great, especially in the beginning. It's The Little Mermaid, mixed with Splash, with some thriller elements thrown in. Legend is mainly a romance, but there are some action thriller moments, and there is definitely comedy too. The story, I think, tried to do too much and became more convoluted, and less interesting. There are flashes into the past that are meant to make me care more about the plot, but I just became annoyed because to me it was all so predictable, and repetitive. I wasn't exactly bored by the plot however. I still enjoyed watching because the cast made it entertaining, but the story just felt like it was dragging along at times. Eventually the mystery thriller story resolved, and what aimed to be an emotional love story didn't make me tear up once. Suddenly all that great chemistry turned into two stars doing what's expected, and was more flirting than substance, and tears without emotion.It did have a decent final episode to tie up the loose ends, which i appreciated, but didn't love.
What about the soundtrack? It was too cheesy and literal for me. I'd rather have the music be good, or forgetful, but this OST was a little distracting.
Overall this is a decent romance, with a cool mermaid twist. It reminded me of "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho", and if really you like that drama you may see some parallels too, and at least be entertained. I did love the mermaid look, and its definitely worth mentioning that the mermaid scenes look really cool. So if you are in the mood for a fairytale style romance, I think this is worth watching, but it's probably not one you will stay up all night marathoning through. Honestly, I will probably forget this drama after a while (the only way I would rewatch this), and 20 episodes were too long, but I am still glad I watched.
Was this review helpful to you?
The story is just a big WTF! to me, really... and it doesn't always make sense. But incredibly it is still a catchy story lol, this is what BOF is, it somehow hooks you up, but deep inside of you, you know that what you're watching is not good at all.
The acting is just BLEH! although I love Lee Min Ho and now is one of my favorite actors, in BOF he wasn't as good as he is now... it wasn't a terrible acting but it wasn't a good one either... Same for Koo Hye Sun, she's good at dramatic scenes and crying and suffering but she lacks emotion in other scenes like kisses or funny moments and etc...
F4: oh boy! the eyecandy in this story has a 10/10 these four Asian boys doing whatever they want with your feelings and looking hot while they're destroying your heart haha it's just asdfghjk...
And probably what makes this drama a "must see" and a famous one is Yoon Ji Hoo (Kim Hyun Joong) BOF probably has the worst and saddest second lead syndrome ever! REALLY... even if you don't ship JanDi with JiHoo the drama still makes you feel terribly sad about JiHoo's life (a terrible and lonely one) omg! my heart still aches when I remember...
Despite of all that BOF is a very rewatchable story... if you want to cheer up, or cry like crazy or just remember or see hot Asian boys gathered in one drama, just go to BOF. :)
Was this review helpful to you?
1A modern re-interpretaion of Snow White, this show could have been so amazing with some tight editing and a female lead chosen for her acting rather than her fan base. Yoona was terrible, the action was too emphasised, the real female lead was sidelined in lieu of an awful romance cliche and in the end it was a giant mess.
The biggest positive was the acting of some of the cast, especially Ji Chang Wook (the Huntsmen) and Song Yun Ah (the Evil Queen). Their performances were exceptional and their chemistry was off the charts. If the show had concentrated on that dynamic rather than shoehorning in the world's most boring romance with Snow White, this show would have been significantly better. The action scenes were brilliantly choreographed but in the end too pervasive.
Basically, when this show was channelling its fairy tale source material it was borderline genius. The rest of the time it was just terrible - nothing borderline about it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
"You owe me emotionally"
It has been a rollercoaster ride to follow up these broken characters from young adults with painful scars of their past, to the adults that bear secrets to uphold the way they chose to live their own lives.The highlight of this drama it has to be the bond and bickering between Soo Hyun and Yeo Jun. How these two helped So Bin, making the three of them become an inspiration to many others who crossed their paths in character development.
"Can't you love me?"
Ji Hoon has really engaged into his character Yeo Jun to the point that we can really see the pain and neglect from his sorrowful stares and feel the agony he has tried to hide for most of his life behind fake smiles yearning to be loved to fill the void of loneliness. I don't know how to explain it but he seems so soft looking and yet can depict such a tragic character.
"I lived many years in darkness due to my father's physical abuse.
I'm all better now. I'm in the light."
Although mostly all the characters have their troubles and painful stories, the trio we have come to love and support through this Journey have more similarities than all the others. Yeo Jun, Soo Hyun and So Bin all share family problems. Although different and the same, they all have been through childhood suffering in their own way by those predicaments.
Yeo Jun being a victim of an abusive father, Soo Hyun having to step up as the older son and provider to help his mother and younger brother after his father passing, and So Bin with her parents divorce and knowing her mother left her behind cutting ties. It all leaves scars running deeper in their souls and slowly defined their personalities all through the course of their lives.
"If someone ever says awful things to you, it means that person is hurting inside."
It is not easy to rely on others and much less to share personal pain. Having a traumatic experience can also mess up our memories as a way to cope with the pain, we create walls as a mechanism of defense, only those who come close enough to knock them down and sustain the fall are reliable. I am glad that these three complete strangers from the first episode have come closer and learned in some hard but valuable way how to manage that, and be there for one another.
Developing a close friendship, a loving relationship and strong brotherhood.
Jun Wan always seemed more than met the eye, emotionally closed he had more secrets to hold than anyone. I only hope that he too breaks free from that habit, from their abusive father by saving the ones he loves and cares about, his mother and brother and finds valor in himself. For such a young kid to be willing to sacrifice his life and happiness so that his brother has it own was commendable, although it did not work as he thought it would. By pushing Jun away he only created a wall between them isolating the other, it has also caused him pain when Jun should have a strong pillar for support he found himself alone.
They all were lonely living in the shadow of their father.
Mi Joo and Young Ran are two characters that I really like in terms of development and that are fresh in dramas. Their bonding is pure and amicable and not as usually rivals tend to be that at some point in the story it turns sour and petty. Not, these two, they are both strong female characters that despite their differences and being total opposites still manage to become supportive friends and rivals when it comes to love. Kudos for that, it's a rare sight be it in real life and drama land.
Mi Joo seemed like a spoiled brat in the first episode but revealed to be a misunderstood and naĆÆve character with a pure heart, still I must say, the courage she mustered for a confession, facing a rejection and accepting and still wrapping it all up by letting go it was honorable and this should be an example of a healthy way of moving on.
The character that I still have trouble warming up too has got be Chang Ki, now he is not bad and I for sure love his interactions with Jun when it comes to jealousy. But overall as a best friend, there was always something about him that lacked. I haven't read the webtoon yet, so I have no idea how it goes there. If he had any clue that So Bin had a crush on him like in here he seemed to have and yet he still engaged in pointless relationships or should we say nightstands that were hurting her.
Although claiming to be her best friend and always there, that is just an excuse. Because in the end their friendship shouldn't be measured by the years they've known each other, but by how they were there for each other. In the end So Bin knew more about him than he knew about her, that he even neglected that she appeased him in his own tastes because she liked him when he truly believed that she liked the same things as well.
Only when she become unavailable on his radar did he deemed her to be the missing piece in his life and that important? Only then did he brought the topic that her mother asked him when he was a child to look after her. Was he living with that in his conscience and not being able to confess any feelings he had, being afraid of losing their friendship in case things went sour?
If it's like that then he and Young Ran are on the same boat by having crushes on their friends.
Nevertheless, that's the reason these two bond as well in their rough times they learn to rely on each other and show an unlikely and inspirational bond to overcome their own troubles. I enjoyed their scenes and advices, it's relatable.
I really am fond of the main characters, and the moments that move me more definitely are the scenes with both Yeo Jun and Soo Hyun. I have been rooting for these two to get to know each other and pass the strangers mark to having a close bond and friendship and I am really content with the development so far. No one can measure who bears the most pain there, both are still suffering, but the best thing now is that they are no longer alone. They have each other. The fact that Jun calls him hyung is proof enough of how they matured and surpassed the barriers they had ever since the first meeting.
"I've become an adult who can share his true feelings, thanks to the people who love me for who I am."
The acting of the cast is good. I like most of the cast in their roles.
Bae In Hyuk and Park Ji Hoon are enjoyable to watch, the first being playing two polar opposites roles in two different dramas. Here being a poor and broke student, quiet and reserved, while on My Roommate is a Gumiho being the rich playboy who redeems his ways when falling in an unrequited love. Quite the promising young actor of this new generation.
The same goes with Park Ji Hoon, from idol to actor, he has talent in both. What I love most about him is how he conveys the emotions in his characters, they couldn't have chosen a better for this role of Yeo Jun other than him, he has the cute and soft look, while conveying the hidden emotional scars in his lonely tears. I am looking forward for more roles with him, he seems to get better and better and he truly dedicated himself to embody Yeo Jun in many lenghts.
The OST is pleasant to hear. The main theme, Talk to Me by Ji Hoon is so catchy that I find myself going with the flow. Rothy and Han Seung Yun song Pum is also nice to hear. And of course it wouldn't be a youthful OST without having Punch here.
I recommend, either you have read the webtoon or came to see this blind as I did. Its okay.
There will always be main differences and preferences on both sides, but the journey is always the same.
And remember,
"You can write your own ending to your story."
Therefore don't despair in your own struggles, where there is darkness there is also light, create your path at your own pace :)
Was this review helpful to you?
Kim Hee Sun rocked as a high-schooler believe it or not, I was surprised how good she looked in a high-school uniform. She was great at portraying a mother determined to protect her daughter, although a little naĆÆve in the beginning her character grew throughout the drama. Even though she was a mother she matched so well with one high-schooler I couldn't help but ship them whenever they were together. and watching her fight with people was a plus.
Kim Yoo Jung as Oh Ah Ran was great a playing a teenager scared of the people that threatened her and her moms safety. I loved her moments with Hong Sang Tae played by B1A4's Baro - she melted his heart of ice.
Ji Soo as Go Bok Dong - this guy literally stole the show, not to mention my heart too <3 Every scene he was in was beautiful, dark, emotional, heartbreaking and brilliant! His damaged heart at the start of the drama was beautifully mended throughout the drama, with the warm touch of people who cared for him and those he cared for - his tears were wiped away <3 He was my favorite out of all the characters on this drama and the main reason for my checking in diligently every week! You'll fall in love with him too as you watch this drama.
Ji Hyun Woo as Park No Ah (whenever I say/hear his name I can't help but laugh a little inside "No Ah = Noah - the ark) anyways lol - I honestly can't think of any other actor who would pull off a naĆÆve, sincere, honest, and "greatest fool" (quoting the drama words) "in the world." than he himself. I honestly got annoyed by his naivety in the beginning of the drama but it eventually ended up being his charm "after his eyes were opened". His fight to protect "his kids" was precious. & I enjoyed watching it.
Baro played a character who was caught in the prison of his dad's rules - Kim Yoo Jung tries to pull him out.
All the villains, supporting cast, guest stars were great.
The OST might not be up everyone's alley but it sure was right up mine! Most of the songs have a jazzy feel to them and are in half English/Korean - I loved each and every song! "Angry Mom" by Lee Juhan, "Sunny Side Up" by Ashbun, "Happy Magic" by Lee Hyun Woo, "Crying, Crying, Crying/I Love You, I'm Sorry" by ALi, & "Teleport Me" by Aberdeen Orange.
I would definitely re-watch this sometime in the near future and I highly recommend it^^
Was this review helpful to you?
