An overrated drama that's worth a watch
I was eagerly waiting for this drama's subs ever since it came out. I saw some clips posted on Instagram which looked cute and the people couldn't stop raving about it. However I am coming out with a disappointment - maybe my expectations out of this were too high. It was also a struggle watching this drama with very subpar subtitles but I'd like to thank the subber who gave us the subs out of their goodwill.STORY + CHARACTERS:
It's a run of the mill contract marriage story. However the professor and student twist was something new and for once the girl isn't treated badly by the male lead. The leads have decent chemistry and are quite natural with each other, which is hands down the highlight of this drama. The supporting characters were all nice and cute but the spark was missing for me. I cannot pinpoint to what was missing but this drama didn't leave me satisfied by the end. The slow burn between the leads was nice but Yun Shu was a very average character. Her sister was annoying at first and I couldn't care less about her romance with the actor dude. I think I rather preferred the storyline of her best friends. Sadly I am not the biggest fan of the male character either - he was a typical tsundere but albeit a little less likable. For example- he reminded me of the male lead from Intense Love who was far more lovable and cute. Zhang Shinan's character and childhood were cliches. I did appreciate the relationship he (and Yunshu; later) shared with the grandfather.
ACTING:
The biggest issue for me with this drama was the main actress. I understand this is her debut drama and she is very, very pretty but she just fell absolutely flat for me. Miles was alright- he had some cute moments but sadly his character was very cliche. The supporting cast was also just ok- nothing that great as is the case with most C-dramas. Maybe if the casting was better this drama would have been upped in quality as the writer at least tried to make it a bit different.
REWATCH VALUE:
Won't be rewatching this. No parts were that memorable for me. The kisses were sweet and became better towards the end.
OVERALL:
Meh. Like I said - it's cute but terribly missing out on a lot. I think good thing is that there aren't overbearingly annoying second leads. They back off rather quickly. There was also nothing too sad in this drama so it retains its airy atmosphere till the end. Even the ending is full of hope and positivity with the grandfather which I liked.
I can recommend to the people who are looking for something where they wish to turn off their brains and enjoy the romance. Romance is quite alright and the male lead is getting quite popular from what I understand. I'd tell people to give it a try although I'm in the minority who didn't really enjoy this one much. Time to move to the next drama.
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Honestly, we're all just Anna sometimes.
This drama takes us through the life of Anna wherein we discover how little lies along the way can cause irreparable damage and steal your real identity away.The best thing I loved about this is how it started during the early part of Anna's life and continued through the years as she grew up. The highlights and important events in her life gave me a sense of the nature and development of her character and her personality and in turn, made me understand why she made the decisions she made and why she did the things she did. I'm not justifying her actions, but I do understand.
This started out really strong but I felt like it fell flat in the middle. Anna used to be this unstoppable force in the beginning and in the middle, she was just...there. It was actually something that I can make sense of. She was trying so hard and of course, there will always be that point when you get too exhausted and just don't want to try anymore. However, I don't think this circumstance was carried out in a way that the essence of the message will reach the general audience. It felt close to boring.
Everything kind of fell into place but the ending was unremarkable given the potential. There was this big incident in the ending and I just thought they didn't take the tension and suspense to their advantage because after that, the next events were just "meh". They actually could've ended it with that incident and it would have been exceptional, to be honest.
I know there had been a dispute over this between the director and the streaming platform that aired it but the version I've watched is the director's cut, which is the extended version, so I can't compare.
Suzy is one of my favorite Korean actresses and I do admit that she's not that phenomenal in acting but she delivered such an astounding performance in this! The shift and range in her emotions through her eyes alone, literally breathtaking! She has brought Anna to life and she did a damn good job that's why I really connected with the character. I felt her hope, her sadness, her anger, I felt Anna. The music also added colors to the story and fit the mood.
Honestly, we're all just Anna sometimes. When things don't work out no matter how hard we try, we lie a little sometimes, not only to others, but especially to ourselves. It's easier than admitting that you failed, because we are not only failing ourselves, but those who believe in us. We kept justifying the failures with lies and we kept justifying the lies brought by the failures. This drama has made me realize that if you resist and refuse to admit failure, you will never experience success. Humbling yourself and accepting that you failed is the first step to find your way to success again.
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Humorous, bold, educational, raw and empowering
This is a show full of flawed but ultimately lovable characters and their struggles in fields of love, sex, health and friendships. It's unlike any other Thai production I've seen and it feels fresh in themes and execution, each episode introducing something new and unexpected. Praise goes to the actors too as this series doesn't lack daring and difficult scenes. The plot is well-constructed and all storylines intertwine nicely without feeling forced and unnatural, each of them carrying a different important message. Even when it's as subtle as a brick, show's heart is in the right place and its straightforward manner is a part of the charm. I highly recommend this series to everyone!Was this review helpful to you?
It was so dramatic the storyline the events were all perfectly done .
- But in case you've read the novel , I heard that they changed the storyline & the ending .
The lead actress Ren Min " Yi Yao" was AMAZING ! everything about her facial expression her gaze really i was so impressed .
Gu Sen Xi was an amazing supporter for Yi Yao , I liked his character .
The whole production the story the acting the cinematography is well done , but if only they made the movie a bit longer like to show the bullying scenes not just flashes of what happened to her and also so we know what happened at the end after all these events .. but still it has a decent ending .
I am really excited for the drama version am not sure if they will follow the novel or not .
Anyway , I highly recommend watching the movie , for me it is the best movie of this year .
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Amazing story! Inspiring Characters! Incredible Acting!
This is a story with a setting in a closely knitted community in South China in the 80s at the onset of the country reopening its door to the outside world. The drama depicts vividly the life experienced by common folks where street gangsters roamed and interwove into the fabric of the society. Life was tough as the country rebuilt its economy, healed from the devastation of the revolution, and stepped onto the world stage.The Story
The story is narrated from the POV of Yi Dongdong (Niu Junfeng), one of the main characters in the story. He recounts how he has come to meet Ma Xiaoxiao (Tan Songyun aka Seven Tan) and Ou Xiaojian (Xu Weizhou aka Timmy Xu) and how the two have inspired him. Though secretly in love with Ma Xiaoxiao and his love is never being reciprocated, Yi Dongdong is happy with this status quo for years from high school till adulthood.
Ou Xiaojian and Ma Xiaoxiao have grown up together on Mayang Street, a very tightly woven community where everyone knows and helps each other in times of trouble. Both Ou Xiaojian and Ma Xiaoxiao are soulmates and later become lovers to each other. They are role models in their neighborhood and in school with highest ranking in their academic studies. Tragedies strike repeatedly in Ou Xiaojian’s life and he grows up fast. While all the kids around him still in school, wondering what life is all about, he drops out of school, enters the police academy and is thrusted into a world that even most adults cannot handle. Unbeknownst to all, he becomes a mole for the police. To gather information, he hangs out with gang members, rendering everyone thinking he has turned rogue. Daily he’s involved in gang fights and getting hurt bloodily. His mission is to collect evidence to flush out the kingpin of the organization that has a seemingly clean façade, but deeply involved in money laundering, black market, smuggling, human trafficking, frauds, cheating schemes, street gangsters, and it has a giant network that spans to multiple cities and countries.
It is both happy and sad how the story ends. It makes me cry and my heart aches for my hero. I know deep down inside somewhere, Ma Xiaoxiao still remembers Ou Xiaojian dearly and cries for him.
The Characters and The Acting
The Ou Xiaojian character is a very difficult role to portray as he is multi-dimensional. On one hand, he’s a normal kid just like everyone on the same street. He goes through the same growing pains like others. But on the other hand, he has to act tough and fearless to protect those he loves. When he becomes a mole for the police, he has to act like a bad kid to blend in with the gangsters, talking rough and mean. Son of a dead police officer, he has a heavy burden on his shoulder that he cannot let anyone see. Misunderstandings are left unexplained because he can’t; he’s always in a predicament because he doesn’t want to purposely hurt the people he cares for. He is altruistic and magnanimous, and takes care of the kids in the neighborhood and helps them grow like a big brother, he's their guardian angel and everyone looks up to him. He's inspiring and very filial pious. And yet, life is cruel to him. Like his grandmother, I’m constantly fearful for Ou Xiaojian, fearing for him getting hurt again or even getting killed. Though I smile every time he comes on screen, as he gives viewers the security that Ou Xiaojian would take care of everything and everything would be fine, I’m fearful for him. The writer has successfully captured our sympathy for the character and brought out the motherly instinct of the viewers.
Actor Xu Weizhou has a baby face that plays well as the character of a 17-18 year old teenager as Ou Xiaojian. His ‘bad-boy’ aura makes him a very convincing gangster, albeit the best looking one, with a perfect physique even among the many Chinese actors. At 185 cm height, his long legs and strong chest make his every action move extremely good to watch; he’s really an eye candy for many viewers. Either riding his motorbike, running, kicking in fights, wearing his black biker outfits, he exudes a charisma no others can match. By the end of the drama, Ou Xiaojian has become my hero and Xu Weizhou gets enlisted on my favorite actor list.
Ma Xiaoxiao lives just across the street from Ou Xiaojian’s shop/home. They love and care for each other, watching out for each other’s back constantly. Ma Xiaoxiao is mature and commanding. A role model for her street and school, she is their big sister. She pulls the kids up when they lag behind in their studies. She’s their voice in school. Her friends love her and would fight tooth and nail to help her. Just like Ou Xiaojian who sacrifices for others, she sacrifices herself to make dream come true for her sister.
Tan Songyun has done it again, this time as Ma Xiaoxiao, an 18 year-old high school girl. At her actual age of 30, she continues to amaze me for transforming herself into a teenager playing the roles so effortlessly and convincingly.
I really enjoy watching the moments when Ma Xiaoxiao and Ou Xiaojian are together, not doing much, just holding hands, heads leaning on each other or gazing into each other wordlessly. Those moments really create ripples in my heart; their chemistry is exploding.
There are numerous veterans here, and multiple young actors, all giving their tip top performances, bringing alive the characters, making us empathize and love them.
The Official Sound Tracks
This drama produces numerous wonderful sound tracks, in particular the OST We Suddenly Grow Up, reminiscing the bygone childhood from the voice of a youth, and the OST Remembering You accompanied by a harmonica intensifying the melancholy, conjuring memories of a lost love.
My Verdict
This drama is one of those that once you start watching you cannot stop because the characters just pull you in.
This is a story with a lot of complexity. Its characters are multi-layered. Its attention to details is commendable. Many norms of the era are captured and depicted vividly here, such as how precious soda was for a child, how a big deal a pair of blue jeans was, televisions and phones were considered as luxuries. Private facilities were rare and common bathrooms for the whole community were the norm. Or the cooking of spicy or fermented foods that stunk the whole street. People living together like a big family, laughing and crying on each other's shoulder. The family dynamics and interpersonal relationships are being written so well that, these are all the small details that make this drama so relatable and endearing. It does make me ponder what does it mean by “a meaningful life”. Would one be happier living in a community like they do on Mayang Street, or like we do individually away from loved ones? No doubt there is a lot of conflicts living in a community like that – parents and neighbors fighting all the time, and secrets become public knowledge in no time.
This drama brings out the resignation and humor of life. At the beginning of each episode, the writer provides a lesson learned in the ensuing scenes with a fine statement for the viewers to ponder, successfully capturing the experiences all of us may have encountered in life. Sad as it is for a short young life of Ou Xiaojian, we should also celebrate him for living a life that he finds meaning in. The writer has successfully given us a very inspirational character.
A wonderful story that makes you keep thinking about the characters. TWO THUMBS UP!
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a road trip of character development
Perseverance is what is needed for this drama. Just know that everything works out in the end. This is a drama that you will feel pain through angst and toxicity in the moment; but when you reflect back, you realize that it was just realistic. It takes a lot of work from others and self to turn a toxic bottomless pit into a productive/contributing/positive member of society.I would have rated "story" higher (maybe a 9 or 9.5) because of its well constructed character development (also the FL and ML are mature but cute...nothing dumb about their love story), but I had to penalize for the internal pain the toxic characters caused me.
And while the story does live up to the "drama" genre, I don't think anything is exaggerated. If anything, maybe just the concentration of toxicity of several characters seems too coincidental.
As a warning, I wouldn't attempt to binge this drama in one go. You might accidentally punch your computer. But if you have patience and appreciate a realistic drama with believable character development, sit back and enjoy in small doses.
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Just as titled 'Love Is Like a Cat,' but with no cat, only a dog; so, love was missing.
Disappointed, no hate, just my honest review. Watch if: 1. you are a die-hard fan of any of the actors, 2. you are an animal lover, 3. you don't care. Don't watch it for BL content; the entire series is 3 hours long, with BL content comprising hardly 10 minutes, and only in the 7th, 11th, and 12th episodes. There's no chemistry; it felt like they kissed each other just because there were no girls around. One main lead was Thai, and they used a translator for a single reason. Acting was average; Dog Cafe had only one dog, and the entire series revolved around the dog more than the human main leads. Extra characters for unnecessary drama; I didn't feel anything. It's way too slow until the 10th episode, and the other two episodes were rushed just to ensure the male leads ended up together.Was this review helpful to you?
Did I feel I need to wash my eyes? No
Did it jade my view of future performances of the actors in shows designed for the mainstream audience? No
Do I now think less of any of the actors in it? Absolutely not. All actors start somewhere. It's their current works that I define my current rating for their talent.
If you are here to watch more than what you're used to seeing of Woo Do Hwan, you will surely do so. It's worthy of noting this August 2017 disclaimer from Woo Do Hwan's agency, Key East Entertainment, 'Woo Do Hwan filmed the movie during a time when he wasn't known and didn't know how to receive acting opportunities. He only filmed the movie because he was passionate about acting and happened to receive the casting offer.' My thoughts simply are if you want to see a really good work by Woo Do Hwan, spend your time watching works from 2017: 'Save Me' or 'Mad Dog.' He's a rising star and deservedly so.
_________Articles related to this review for MDL admin purposes_____________
http://www.insight.co.kr/news/116638
https://www.koreaboo.com/buzz/fans-discover-rising-rookie-actor-19-film/
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I really enjoyed it! It was very well-done, I thought, & decently-paced, in a way that really drew me in, if perhaps while implementing plotlines & characters that one could perhaps say have been done before. However, personally, I have to disagree with the people who are saying there is absolutely no BL(Boys' Love) present at all; I think you just have to go into it without certain expectations & aware of the ban on any [so-called ]"abnormal" sexuality from being depicted on TV & such that is current in Mainland China at the time of this series' release. Sure, the more explicit/physical side of the relationship is almost completely sterilized...at very least from what is actually seen or even too directly-implied, but the more I learn about the novel the more I see that it lines up almost exactly with everything that I was able to pick up from the tv series. And I had NO knowledge of the novel's storyline prior to watching the tv series to give me any clues that were not actually present within the tv series itself. I think people sometimes forget that there is much more to BL & to relationships in general than just outright declarations or the explicit/physical sides of things; and I think at times people also tend to forget that SUBTEXT can also be a very real & canon thing that's used within a story deliberately, not just something which is solely dependant upon people's own personal interpretations or imaginings regardless of the actual canon intention or lack-thereof.
I loved the note that it ended everything on. I thought it tied all of its introduced story-points up pretty well, and the cameo appearance of a certain actor in an episode as the character he played from another BL movie was I thought a nice little easter-egg to include.
- The Acting -
I thought the acting, at very least of the two lead males especially, was very powerful and welldone & very compelling; I thought they also had excellent chemistry and played very very well off of each other. From their facial-expressions, to their vocal-tones, & their overall body-language & everything...it was all so excellently conveyed by these actors that, in my opinion, it crossed into that silver/golden line where really great acting actually becomes completely surreal & even almost UNreal to watch for me in how perfectly & how POWERFULLY portrayed it is..when in reality it is actually a pretty rare person who actually conveys their emotions so well or so flawlessly that it is nearly impossible to so-easily mistake except perhaps if you aren't really particularly attentive or learn'd to such specifics or detail. (But, it wasn't just the leads, many - if not even all - of the rest of the cast also acted very capably well.) I thought the whole cast embodied their characters well, although - I suppose - I can not truly compare the characters from the tv series to those in the novel...nothing I have heard of the novels so far has really deviated from what I had personally seen in the tv series. Of course, every reader of any novel will have their own ideas regarding that anyhow, I'm sure.
I need to give a special shout-out to the actor who played Da Li though as well, the friend with the headphones worn almost all the time, for really standing out to me by conveying so much in what few scenes he did have even without having much dialogue: he was a total scene-stealer. He has really expressive eyes, too.
- The Music -
I only rated the music a little lower because, even though I don't recall outright disliking it or anything at any point & in fact I actually quite liked it generally, I don't recall particularly thinking it really stood out as "Wow! this music is ESPECIALLY amazing &/or perfect" at any point either. So, for me, I guess the music was good & not bad....but, personally, not particularly outstanding or exceptionally memorable either?.
- The Rewatch Value -
Truthfully, I have already seen the entire series twice -- The first time I watched it without subtitles(& I can barely speak or understand even one word of Chinese myself), and the second time I watched it with subtitles just to doublecheck if I had really been following it properly without the subtitles(which I pretty much had - & I definitely attribute that fact to the skill and prowess of the acting & everything itself). And I would definitely rewatch it yet again, & I most likely will very soon, and probably more than once. I could definitely see myself still revisiting it again, sometimes, even in future years to come.
- Overall -
I'm not saying that it's perfect, but personally I really really liked it!...
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I binged the whole series and didn't regret it. The acting is great, lots of laughs all the way through, the romance is swoon-worthy (ugh the main guy's devotion to her is unreal ~jealous~), and even the more emotional parts of the drama are well done. No, this is not a masterpiece but definitely worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
When a sociopath falls in love...
I normally don't like Kdramas, I'll just throw that out there. Most are too melodramatic and Disney level cheesy for my taste. So, there are very few that I can finish, but I couldn't stop watching this one. Maybe I was a cheese in a trap, because I found the male lead, Yoo Jung, one of the most interesting characters I've seen in a Kdrama. He wasn't there as just some good-looking hood ornament that has blinders on for no one else but the fl. No, this male lead had depth and was sinister. There was clearly something wrong with him from the beginning, an inner anger bubbling just beneath the surface, and only the fl, Hong Seol, could see it. How intriguing...If you're like me and usually root for the villian in a movie and find them far more entertaining than the vanilla hero, than "Cheese in the trap" might be for you. It had a psychological aspect that I loved, where the show could have easily been a thriller. It's dark in various places and really explores why we as humans act/react to certain situations and the people around us. I got a kick at the mind games Yoo Jung would play on various characters and the ultimate chaos that would ensue. This dude fought with his cunning mind and not his fists. (Actually, he did get in a physical fight once lol). Now I know you're probably saying, but there are several male leads in dramas that are cold, insufferable douches, so what makes Yoo Jung's character any different? Well, in short, Yoo Jung I strongly believe is a sociopath and it's more or less implied several times in the show. He isn't a misogynist jerk like we've seen time and again in other romance dramas, he's actually quite a gentleman to Hong Seol and treats her well. But lord help you if you try to get between these two love birds. I believe Jung's flawed character worked in Cheese in the trap because he never intentionally tried to hurt Seol while they were dating, and the characters he did try to harm let's be honest had it coming.
I also really liked the female lead in this drama. Hong Seol is not the typical wimpy, weak, dumb fl that is so often found in romance shows. She's smart and hard working. She doesn't need saving, hallelujah for that! How many dramas have I seen now that had cringy soapy situations happen for the sole reason to have a fl need saving by a man. I've even seen several shows where the fl can't seem to walk upright without tripping every 5 seconds. It's tiring! So seeing a capable lead like Seol is refreshing. She commutes for hours on train, she works, she studies, and she can walk in a straight line without crashing into the ml like some kind of cartoon character. Aaahhh..and best of all she's likable and real! Her character did seem to dissapear a bit though toward the middle of this show, but no biggie. I also, had little issue with 2nd ml. He was a good guy but not boring and was given enough screen time for viewers to care about him. He seemed to be a real contender to win over the fl. I also loved his off the rails gold digging sister. She provided a lot of comedic moments and was a pretty good villain in her own right. Even with all the crap she pulled, I still wanted her to have a good ending and I'm glad she did.
Now I love lists, so here I will list the things I normally hate in Kdramas and how "Cheese in the Trap" measures up:
1.) Horrific sound effects used way too often. Usually barn yard animal sounds like a goat etc. Very distracting..
(Cheese in the trap): None. Happily there are no annoying sound effects.
2.)Toilet humor
(Cheese in trap): None
3.)Repeated too often songs from OST that are below average and by the end of 16 episodes make you want to pull your hair out.
(Cheese in the Trap): Great diverse OST. Each song fits scenes well and wasn't repeated too much.
4.) Too much yelling. Most Kdramas I've watched had every character barking/shouting out their lines.
(Cheese in the trap): Some yelling by side characters including elders but not too much to give you a headache.
5.) Love triangle
(Cheese In the trap): Yes, however it didn't bother me for some reason maybe this is due to good writing..
6.) Hiding/over hearing convos a character wasn't supppose to know about.
(Cheese in the Trap): This happens a lot and no one ever notices the person eavesdropping.
7.) Annoying side characters.
(Cheese in the Trap): Most of the characters are likable.
8.)Great start..draggy middle..wtf ending!
(Cheese In the trap): Great start, a bit draggy middle, pretty realistic ending. Many romantics would probably hate the kinda open ended ending this show had, but I didn't. Jung really hurt a lot of people. The man destroyed lives, he couldn't simply walk hand in hand into the sunset with Seol lol. There relationship was far more complicated than that.
Overall 9.5/10.
It cracks me up that this show's been labeled "the worst drama in history" and it's the one Kdrama I really loved. Haha go figure.
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Seonam Girls High School Investigators
28 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
First, I'm really excited to write this review because I think this is a drama that many underestimated, including me.I swear on my life that at the end of the second episode I had no doubt that the drama was a mess, too extravagant and I didn't understand any character. However, my younger sister encouraged me to keep watching because, I don't know why, the drama had fascinated her.
Now that I've finished the last chapter I must honestly say I swallowed my words and curses. This drama was absolutely great, lovely and especially smart, while still being funny and eccentric.
There will come a time (approximately in Chapter 5) where you will not be able to stop and it will become the best remedy for a bad day, it will be the last thing you want to watch before going to sleep.
The performances of the young detectives make love the weirdness of each character. The misunderstood Ahn Chae Yool and her adorable brother (seriously, I've become a stalker of this actor) were the characters I loved most. Hye Ri was so sweet that no doubt will soon give much to talk with her next drama.
In fact, there are two characters who, although they influenced the history, I think they were superfluous: The teacher Ha and his unbearable mother, I totally hated their characters because their existence didn't make sense to me.
However, it's gratifying to see that a Korean drama begin to confront sensitive issues such as abortion or homosexuality.
One point that I found unique about this drama is that there was no representative song, just the sweet whistled melody of the intro.
In short, this is a drama that yes or yes you'd want to see again. I hope you give it a chance and do not miss it because you'll beg for a sequel ... like me XD
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The story line is very unique, both in subject matter and tone. We follow a group of normal people following the dream of orchestral performance together, under the direction of a conductor who is as rude and arrogant as he is famous and talented. The experience and accompanying tribulations change their lives, as you might expect, but the difference can be genuinely felt. There may be unbelievable circumstances that bring these people together, but the way they progress and transform is realistic and subtle. Some may complain the final episodes are bittersweet and somewhat open-ended, but I feel they composed the perfect ending for a story such as this. Any other result would have felt too saccharine, especially with the heavy emotions this drama evoked. We pursued a dream with these characters, but it's really not the result that matters...it's the path we took and what we choose to do after.
This is also the first drama where I've felt I would actually miss the characters after completion--in particular, abrasive conductor Kang Mae as played by Kim Myung Min. His acting really is as outstanding as everyone says it is. It's a rare gift to see a character spring to life as vibrantly as this; he felt like a real person separate from the actor, no doubt thanks to his extensive preparation. I mean, Myung Min was actually even able to conduct an actual orchestra at a press conference for this drama...something he'd learned how to do in five months. Another favorable mention must go to Jang Geun Suk, who was still in the early stages of rising fame (and looked nothing like he does now). I'm not sure he's played a part like this since, but I'm hoping he will soon. His Gun Woo was an earnest, hardworking, genuinely good kid...but with very human failings and no sob story to excuse them. Geun Suk was a joy to watch too, and stood competently alongside the great Myung Min as his foil.
As to music, as one might expect, there's a ton of classical used in Beethoven Virus. The performance sequences utilize elegant and meaningful pieces, looking as good as they sound. Other works serve to fit scenes as background tracks, and add a delicious feeling of high drama without also becoming cheesy. Fans of instrumental music and classic in general will love it, while others might find a spark of interest growing in them after watching! Vocal tracks are also great, with Insooni's inspirational number "A Goose's Dream" basically summing up everything Beethoven Virus stands for.
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1
1Washed up and empty!
I hate to be this person, but what did I just watch and why did I continue watching ?!I binged all 10 episodes and it simply doesn't work. When I read the synopsis I was expecting tension, push and pull between the two contrasting personalities and all the basics that usually come with a contract relationship trope. But I got NONE. I repeat none.
Calling this a story might be generous. The nature of their relationship demands and justify NC scenes but at the cost of the whole story? If I remove those from each episode, we will barely have a minute or two left. And honestly, I didn't find them appealing too.
Both the characters were less “written” and more “present". They spent most of their screen time staring into the void, as if hoping a personality or a line of decent dialogue might eventually appear. It didn’t.
I fail to understand this choice because if you are working with such a painfully short runtime, wasting it on hollow pauses and meaningless moments is just weak writing. Instead it could have used those minutes to build tension, give some depth to the characters, or just something more.
Coming to the chemistry between them, somehow it didn't work for me but it wasn't the worst part about the drama.
I have seen both the actors in Sweetheart service, and I didn't dislike it to this extent. I hope they choose and get better projects in future.
Again, I wasn't expecting this to be a masterpiece and I understand low budget restrictions so I won't nitpick on the visuals and sound effects but honestly, this isn't worth your time even though it's barely an hour.
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