Every scene was made in a artistic way with a unique camera and music which suited the scene and was creating the atmosphere so you could feel the actual emotions. I would like to point out how logical was the plot. It happens a lot in dramas that some things don't fit together and it seems a bit weird. Here, every scene had a logical reason why to be put there. It was amazing to see that some scenes from the beggining were actually much more important at the end and had much more meaning behind it.
Also the acting was so beautiful. I can't find any other word how to describe the acting. See it for yourself.
After a lot of dramas which weren't good I've finally experienced the feeling when you finish drama and you feel empty the next day and the day after,....
If you're looking for an intelligent drama and has a hidden meaning which can be also interpreted to a real life - I wish you a pleasant and deep experience.
Was this review helpful to you?
Just as good as the series!!
The movie/series: Both had a great storyline and script. The cast was great and did a great job with their characters. The cinematograph and graphics were awesome.The movie: Overall, they did a great job editing the series into a cohesive movie version. There are a few scenes that were edited differently (same footage put in a different order) and some scene placements were changed. There were also a few scenes deleted or cut short, I’m assuming due to timing purposes. There was one scene that was cut short that I wished they kept completely in. However, all of the changes did not impact the quality of the series in anyway. I enjoyed the added bloopers and behind the scenes footage at the end of the movie.
Before I continue, it’s important to know an individual’s definition of added scenes. My definition is when the director adds scenes that were deleted due to timing restraints or when additional scenes was film after the original production has ended to add more meaning. A good example of this is “Life-Love on the Line”. Because of this, I do not count the bloopers and behind the scenes footage seen after the movie. I did not notice any added scenes the first time watching the movie. However, I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything and watched the series and movie at the same time (split screen). What can I say, I wanted to be thorough. I only saw two added scenes almost 2 hours into the movie. The truth is it really does not matter if you notice the additional scenes or not because they don’t really add anything to the movie. Don’t worry about it and just enjoy the movie. Yes, it's almost 3 hours long but it's worth it.
Random Notes:
I personally preferred the English subtitles for the series over the ones in the movie.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
People who are saying, she's following her magic not her own feelings, i think your concept is a bit wrong,even though its shown in a practical form, but the magic is supposed to be her metaphor. she takes time to accept what she really wants,and her magic reflects her desires. she did love chalarn and her love for peng was slowly fading away.
its not her magic's wish. it is indeed her wish. her magic is acting on her desires before her.
WILD EXPLANATION BELOW :
" i bore what i could, i accepted what i can, that's why we lasted 15 years" tantawan said to chalarn about peng
Girl, a clap doesn't make sound well with just one hand's force. that one hand will eventually get tired.
Actually even though i kinda shipped pengXtantawan more than tantawanXchalarn at the beginning, im glad she ended up with chalarn.
BUT from episode 9 i was all tantawanXchalarn.
yes i read the comments in mydramalist, a lot of ppl were saying that the ending is unclear. the ending looked pretty fucking clear to me.
Yes tantawan loves peng more than chalarn, even during the ending of the last episode, but her love for peng is slowly fading away as well. i mentioned above that her magic is her metaphor portraying her desires before herself.
when she closed her eyes beside her brother at the starry sky, she of course thought of peng and it was peng who indeed came.
most ppl thought that to be the important moment. but the most important moment was after that, when they were sweet conversing in the bed.
when she asked peng for the next night to hang out with her or dine , his reply was " i have shifts".
And her expression said the very thing," ah shit here we go again"
she was sick of this,
" love and compatibility are not the same thing,"
even though very supernatural based, if the super power is considered her metaphor, the ending was very realistic.
she clearly loved chalarn,. and peng too. peng more.
but with peng she was suffocating slowly. and chalarn? he was everything tantawan wanted peng to be. no one knows if chalarn isn't gonna turn out just as peng later on, but for now, we live this very minute, and in this very minute, she felt extremely happy with chalarn
even though they say opposite attracts, complete opposites dont attract each other. complementary opposites attract .
north pole is opposite to south pole, but together they make a magnet. chalarn and tanta are different or opposites but they are complementary.
but even though peng and tanta were opposites, they were not complementary .
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
<< Plot : 7.5/10 >>From the first few episodes, it appeared to be the typical clumsy damsel in distress who falls into misfortune and a smart, stoic yet charming prince charming waltzes into her life and coolly fixes all her issues. While the male lead, Han Che, does do a lot for the female lead, Nuan Nuan, Nuan Nuan actually grows a lot independently and a lot of credit to her growth should be given to her and pleasantly not the male lead.
It's quite refreshing to see the klutzy female lead have a storyline that allows her to grow and mature (because quite often, these cliche dramas leave it to the charming male lead to fix everything). Plot wise other than Nuan Nuan's growth in the fashion industry is pretty typical. Nuan Nuan loses her final chance at debuting as an idol due to Han Che misinterpreting his savior as Nuan Nuan's groupmate, Lin Jia Yi. He soon finds out that he repaid the favor to the wrong person and is determined to pay it back to Nuan Nuan by assisting her when she decides to pursue her fashion passion. As expected, Nuan Nuan and Han Che become close as they spend more and more time together and they eventually fall for each other, but the truth about Han Che causing Nuan Nuan to not debut comes out and it puts a roadblock to their relationship. Like the stereotypical romance line goes, Nuan Nuan forgives Han Che and they get back together.
** On the side note, biggest thing that I'm not a fan of the two are probably the kissing scenes. Reminds me of a truck ramming into a wall during some scenes.
Aside from Nuan Nuan and Han Che, there is some plot focus on some side characters including Nuan Nuan's best friend (who is also Han Che's older sister), Han Xue and Gu Li, who happens to be Han Che's subordinate and a long time "di-di" friend of Han Che's. Drama "villain" Lin Jia Yi gets some attention as well, and also Han Chen who has long harbored romantic feelings for Nuan Nuan.
Overall, the plot is cheesy and predictable, but that's what I signed up to watch. Brownie points awarded to the development story of Nuan Nuan.
<< Acting: 8/10 >>
I haven't watched much of Eleanor Lee, but she's quite natural and adorable. I wish she had a better hairstyle and makeup throughout this series because the hot pink lipstick definitely was not a good pick. But style wise aside, she executed Nuan Nuan quite flawlessly -- the clumsiness, quirkiness, happiness, and cuteness were all done so in a non-cringey way. When she was upset, it felt realistic as well.
I watched the Meteor Garden remake and got used to Leon Leong as the smiley sunshine boy, so the stoic genius role of Han Che took some time to adjust to. Regrettably, I must say that LL is probably the weakest of the acting bunch and it's quite lucky his character is stiff...to match with his acting. Still, he isn't a seasoned actor and his portrayal of Han Che wasn't terrible, so I still look forward to seeing him grow in the future.
From the secondary cast, Li Min Jun's portrayal of the adorable Gu Li was my favorite. He's actually my favorite character in the drama and I thought he conveyed his puppy-like character quite well. His chemistry with the actress who played Han Xue was quite believable as well. Xiong Yu Ting reminds me of another idol/actress who I can't remember right now, but I definitely liked her spunky and bold character. Her friendship and loyalty to Nuan Nuan was sweet and I love the BFFs together -- especially in the beginning when they crashed Lin Jia Yu's birthday party.
Lin Jia Yi and Han Cheng served their roles as the "villains" or "obstacles" to the main leads quite well, though I have to argue that LJY was a lot more annoying than Han Cheng. For a while I actually quite pitied her losing her friends for the chance to pursue her dreams, but after her learning that Han Che and Nuan Nuan were an item and still trying to interfere made me realize that her selfish character hasn't grown at all. As for Han Cheng, I feel like he's more of an obstacle as a villain; I feel bad for him and his feelings for Nuan Nuan that aren't reciprocated. The respective actor and actress played their role decently well, a bit stiff at times, but not bad.
TLDR: If you're looking for a cliche romance drama that has a relatively strong female lead then this is the drama for you. Nuan Nuan's storyline has you rooting for her from the get go and I don't remember a time when I stopped rooting for her. Second lead's Han Xue and Gu Li's romance is also quite cute and you'll most likely also be rooting for Gu Li to get the girl. Overall, probably will not rewatch but this drama put Eleanor Lee and Li Min Jun on my to-look-out-for actor/actress list.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Healing happens quietly, almost imperceptibly, in daily life and in togetherness
Love, Take Two is different. No grand gestures, no dramatic twists. Instead: women holding one another because no one else will. Mothers, daughters, friends—bound by necessity and by choice.What makes the series remarkable is its healing quality—not only for the characters, but also for the viewers. The relationships in Love, Take Two grow slowly, leaving space for vulnerability and allowing old wounds to be touched gently, without being torn open. Healing happens quietly, almost imperceptibly, in daily life and in togetherness.
Ji‑an, the mother, is no heroine. She is tired, wounded, and yet present. Hyo‑ri, the daughter, runs—not away, but toward herself. And in between: a village that heals and helps without prescribing therapy. Among surfboards, tomatoes, and empty houses.
The men in this story also deserve attention. They do not compete with the women, but meet them as equals. Their roles are finely attuned to the women’s lives, complementing and supporting without pushing themselves to the forefront. Often it is small gestures, understanding, and mutual respect that shape the dynamics between characters. A coexistence emerges in which differences do not divide, but enrich.
The series does not tell us how to live. It shows how to survive—and how, in the process, one slowly learns to breathe again. Grounded. Beyond clichés. It conveys that healing need not be spectacular or final—sometimes it is simply the quiet act of moving forward, of enduring together, of sharing moments that bring comfort.
This KDrama stands out for its calm narrative rhythm. It has its own pace. It forgoes excessive drama and instead leaves room for genuine emotion—for grief, tenderness, and the subtle tones that often lie between the lines of dialogue.
In the end, it is not a conventional love story. It is a story about loving—despite everything. Carried by women who, against all odds, chart the path forward, and by men who, in their own unique way, become part of that journey. It is precisely this quiet harmony and the careful, almost invisible healing that make the series so special.
Worthwhile and valuable.
Was this review helpful to you?
I don't think the actual concept of the story is anything original but I'm really suprised at how unpredictable they were able to make it. The time flew by and I didn't feel that there were any dull moments in the plot. Very well written overall.
Acting was great and the cinematography was amazing. I've watched some works with Park Shin Hye and I really liked Jeon Jong Seo in Burning, so I expected good acting and I wasn't disappointed.
*This might be a spoiler, maybe not.*
Even though I didn't really like the ending, that won't affect my rating because I don't think a happy or satisfying ending has to always be the goal in movies. This whole movie made me feel pretty unsettled and anxious but in a good way if that makes sense? (my english vocab isn't the best but I'm trying to think of words to describe my feelings, please understand hehe)
If you like open endings and psychological stuff, this will suit you really well.
I finished watching it maybe 15 minutes ago and I think I need a moment to do some thinking.
In short: Not for people who don't bother to think after or aren't capable of understanding "deep" stories in the first place.
Was this review helpful to you?
Really cool Gender swap Romantic thriller!
I heard Kim Jieun (FL) saying that this show is a Romantic thriller in a radio interview and that's what it is exactly! A really interesting one at that! It has short 24 episodes of almost 22-25 mins each. Easy to watch, mostly light-hearted and quite well acted. Picks up pace after Ep 4.HIGHLIGHTS :
1) ACTING: Actually I have become a fan of both FL and ML (Lomon) and went back and watched most of their old shows because of how good they are here! When they gender swap the change is so smooth it's like they actually swapped! They both have done a really great coordinated job here! 👏👏
2) CHEMISTRY : It's simply Fire! Both the leads look so hot together! 🤩 And I am sure many of you are here because of those kiss scenes YT shorts! 😁 But mind you, the actual romance part is really subtle, don't expect fireworks romance and sweeping declarations, you just have to imagine those things yourself! 😭 LOL (EDIT: Now that I have completed it, I can say that romance gets more visible towards the end and for that I am infinitely happy :D)
3) STYLISH SHOW: When you watch it you will realise they have added all elements to both aesthetics and the plot to make it modern and stylish. All the Marketing ideas they come up with in each episode is so new and cool and overall very interesting and I really enjoyed those scenes in each episode!
4) I personally like a no nonsense strong headed FL and here she is perfect as one! she's no saint and don't go expecting her to be one either you will be disappointed! She's superbly grey! (EDIT: For people looking for character growth, let's just say they all become better versions of themselves in the end.)
Mild spoiler :
5) It's a thriller so be ready for huge plot twists! Things may not be as they seem in the first 3/4th half of the show! 😉 But they are totally worth it! Accept things as they come, it gets better and better! (EDIT : It's certainly all worth it in the end! *HEA* <3 )
Was this review helpful to you?
It might have been better if they made it into a 12-episode (at least) drama as it was obvious that they rushed the story in this movie (a lot isn't covered and it just doesn't seem complete nor as fulfilling).
However, I think the actors portrayed their roles amazingly well, especially Yamazaki Kento. He is such a good actor and so good-looking too!! >< The female lead was also really good. The only biggest problem I find with this is that it is way too rushed due to the short time available in a movie. I hope they decide to make a drama version of this movie soon!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is bigger than us
Who always expects a typical BL will probably be disappointed because this series is so much more. Instead of just giving us a series with a good plot, Not Me manages to combine sophistication and entertainment to create unique art.This series breaks conventions on so many levels, be it visual, auditory (one of the best soundtracks!), or narrative, and ultimately sweeps you away with a storm of emotion.
It has a lot of epic scenes to offer when the sun shines through the palm of a hand and the words "Freedom is the oxygen of life" can be heard, it touches you just as much when a deaf-mute mother tells of her unemployment or when main character Gun dances under a rainbow flag and shouts loudly for equality and justice.
But Not Me is not a clean, beautiful series. It is a bloody and dirty ballad, told with rage, but also a vulnerability, as only the affected themselves can do.
To sum it up, Not Me is an exceptional show that breaks up multiple genres and takes you on a trip, that leaves you breathless and exhausted. But it’s also an important series, who dares to say true things in a world that is getting more and more out of joint.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good show, bad ending. TW: Violence & Gore
Dark Hole is a zombie apocalypse Kdrama with a slight touch of supernaturalism and fantasy with ths likes of Sweet Home but unlike Train to Busan which is a typically pure zombie drama.T W: As the name suggests, the drama is dark, gore and scary. If your over-sensitive and fragile, watch it with precautions.
The drama is set up in a semi-urban South Korean city, Muji in the Jeolla province and involves a number of characters that includes major, supporting, minor to very minor ones just like a survival series should have. The drama focuses on a city mass-survival efforts of different groups of people. The main plotline mentioned above also includes few other major plots for the lead characters and numerous subplots to fit in the concept of compelling individual's interred angst for someone who has done injustice to them.
Dark Hole is about an extra-terrestrial being with unlimited power of rapid mutation. The method of changing people into mutants is the transmission of spore like black substances via a foggy smoke which turns people into monsters with immense power. The purpose is to gain control over human beings.
The most prominent character is a detective who comes to Muji to catch a serial killer, an ex-policeman who works as a towman, chief of a sub- police station, a failed shaman always seeking authority over people, a highschool girl, victim of tragic incidents and a 10yo girl who lost her mother in that incident; everyone commonly sharing a cataclysmic past. Unlike Sweet Home where everyone was stuck in the same building, Dark Hole has different group of people stuck at different places trying to run away from the mutants as well as the black smoke and escape from one place to another. And in that courses, they're separated and unified multiple times.
Most important part about this drama is that the plot development and twists at any instances will make you doubt about the genre of the drama. At a point you'll think it's zombie horror, but next you'll assume it to be sci-fi and after a while it will feel it's supernatural and so on. The fact that the writer kept us intrigued till the end proves how great he's as a screenwriter. FYI, the Jung Yi Do jakka-nim is the writer of dramas like "Save Me" and "Strangers from Hell". And for the matter of fact, Kim Bong Joo pdnim has done a very great job as the director even though it's his first, so a big round of applause for him.
The major cast has done their roles pretty well, specifically Lee Joon Hyuk, for whom a majority of people took interest in this drama has undoubtedly played his charismatic and daring character throughout the drama giving a satisfying result. Also, Kim Ok Bin noona's fierce character is such a treat; her acting, the stunt scenes and the moments she had to deal with the monster in the void, everything was accurate. Oh Yu Jin, the one playing the highschool girl had a difficult task to do but she has done a remarkable job too. Im Won Hae as a police officer is bit namby-pamby yet manages to handle things by risking his life for the honor of his job.
Screen editing, connecting plots, proper organisation of subplot are very good in the drama but some things are making me complain which I am pointing out. Even though the drama is a mixture of so many subplots to keep it intense and eventful, the cause of the drama seemed lost when the drama was heading towards the end; few of the plots perished into nothingness.
Around the midway of the 10th episode, the plot gradually started fastening that gave the feelings that they're trying to rush things but still manageable till the end of 11th episode. But what happenes in the 12th episode which is the finale was totally disappointing. They rushed the entire thing; given that so many things happened in just that episode, they could have extended it to one more episode giving it a smooth goodbye but Idk where did it go wrong. This very good drama just turned into an average thing just because of that episode. This indeed is an missed opportunity and could have been a lotttt better. They simply could have otherwise pur less content which would have not made it look rushed.
I am actually sad that it turned out be this after showing us it's potential during the entire thing but overally, it's not a bad show. I would rate 8.5 to it if I don't consider the last episode.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Hmmm........This is a super thrilling detective drama, with episodes leaving you thirsty for more action.
It's filled with twisted plots and the cinematography is just wonderful. Each episode has a different and unique plot, and the characters were wonderfully developed, each character development has a different background colour.
The music is the type that just keeps on replaying at the back of your mind, even after it has finished playing. I did really like to post the title of the track and all, but that would be a huge spoiler so.........
TEN is really a wonderful K-drama. Plus, it only has 10 episodes hehehe.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The abundance of (epic) tragedy is KDrama at its finest - meanwhile the Joseon empire is born
"My Country - The New Age" is set in the historical transition period between the Goryeo era and the Joseon era. The context is General Yi Song-gye, who for the next approximately 5 centuries tied the throne to his bloodline with a coup d'etat. However, this KDrama isn´t a history lesson as such, though historical figures get involved. Also romance is not the predominant matter. ... First and foremost it's about loyalty, unconditional male friendship and love as its basis. Secondly, it is about relationships between fathers and sons. Thirdly it is about romantic love, too. Besides and as a backbone for the storyline´s dramatic dynamics it its about political attitudes, visionary leaders and the throne. Overall, "My Country - The New Age" is definitely worth seeing, yet you should be prepared for makjang-like emotional roller coasters.The actors significantly contribute to the intensity of the story. Above all, the charisma of Jang Hyuk as Lee Bang-won (the 5th son of General Yi and later 1st Joseon King), as well as Ahn Nae-sang as the fictional Nam Jeon, whose political stances are reminiscent of the historical Jong Do-jeon (the historical Jong Do-jeon and chief chancellor, who set the political, administrative and legal course for the newly blossoming Joseon Empire.)
----------------- SIDE NOTE: --- Lee Bang-won (later King Taejong) and Jong Do-jeon (first chief chancellor of the Joseon aera) ---
These two crucial historical personalities (Lee Bang-won and Jong Do-jeon) were both driving forces in those early years of the new empire with quite lasting impact, and at their time fundamental adversaries.
Jong Do-jeon as the first Joseon King´s chief chancellor decided all matters relating to military affairs, diplomatic procedures, questions of education, new legislation and constitution (the once feudal state was now organized in a bureaucratic manner), new tax laws as well as new state religion (Buddhism became Confucianism). He ultimately moved the capital to Hanyang (now Seoul). He also named the districts of Hanyang and the 8 provinces in the country and caused many slaves to be freed. He was a man with strong visions for an innovative political system in the new kingdom - and consequently implemented those (quite unscrupulously).
His opponent was Yi Bang-won, who did not want an empire with ministers being more important than the king. Rather, he prefered a powerful monarch, a solidly grounded monarchy. He was also one of those who had contributed most to his father's successful coup d´etat. However, the latter had finally disappointed him by not choosing him as his successor. After the Queen's death, Bang-won took advantage of his father's period of mourning and invaded the palace. In doing so, he killed the state chancellor, all ministers loyal to him and the children of the deceased queen as well as the crown prince, too. So he (also) took the throne by force - his father could only abdicate and reluctantly hand over the crown. However, as King Taejong, Bang-won effectively contributed to a stable system of government in his own way. Among other things, he enacted a law allowing all citizens to register and established new Ministries: of Human Resources, Finance, Protocol, Defence, Justice and Public Affairs.
----------------------------------------------------------
With Jang Hyuk as Lee Bang-won and Ahn Nae-sang as the fictional Nam Jeon, who to a certain extent represents the ideas of Jong Do-jeon, the KDrama paints a strong picture of the crucial conflict between those political visions from the very beginning. The actors live their roles with high intensity. We get to know more about their character in their respective relationships with the two protagonists Seo Hwi, son of a once-legendary soldier of the Goryeo Empire, and Nam Sun-ho, the illegitimate son by Minister Nam Joen. Since childhood they are best friends. Then there is a twist of fate. (Here, again: two actors with splendid performance - Yang Se-jong and Woo Do-hwan.) Minister Nam Jeon alone is responsible for the twist of fate in this friendship, but Prince Bang-won becomes a free rider in this.
In short: "My Country: The New Age" offers an epic, visually stunning story with a lot of action and emotion, worth seeing sword fights (actor Jang Hyuk does the stunts all by himself), plenty of blood and even more emotion. Yes, of course there are also women and love involved ... The abundance of (epic) tragedy is KDrama at its finest.
Was this review helpful to you?
It was good till it was not.
Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get. Success and happiness doesn't necessarily go hand in hand but what matters is how you strive to maintain a balance between them as well as thrive with a content heart.Drama series UNCLE is a remake of the UK television series of the same title that aired on Channel 4 in 2012 and BBC One from 2014 to 2017, created by Oliver Refson and Lilah Vandenburgh. Its a mixture of comedy, melodrama, music and makjang. The Korean remake is produced by 2 companies "Hi Ground" and "Monster Union", broadcasted on TV Chosun.
UNCLE is a story about a failed musician who takes over his sister for taking care of his nephew and the family who move into an apartment complex as renters while trying to escape from their abusive family. The story includes the uncle trying to rise in his failed career as well as trying to protect his nephew from all the odds created by the ruthless Granny and the sly group of mothers, namely "Momblies".
Wang Joon Hyuk (Oh Jung Se) despite his failed music career due to fraud and betrayal by his friends and family is a sincere and selfless person always ready to lend a helping hand to the needy. Already distanced from his family, he initially hesitates to meet them but eventually embraces them with all his love. Min Ji Hoo (Lee Kyung Hoon) is a kind-hearted kid with OCD who gets panic attack even by thinking about his granny. He's inclined to music just like his uncle and loves his mother so much. He takes his time getting used to his uncle and later on becomes so fond of him that he can't imagine his life without his beloved uncle.
Wang Joon Hee (Jeon Hye Jin) is a divorced lady who separated from her husband after being abused for 12 years by his in-laws, to protect her son who also was beaten mercilessly. Her character is something that wins heart by realistically expressing her emotional curves, a character with an unusual narrative. Park Hye Ryung (Park Sun Young) is a sly and manipulative lady who controls the group of rich mothers, called "Momblies" as it's "Diamond". With her connections and influence she can pull any thing off but chooses to veil her toxic life with lies.
Other good actors in major roles are Ju Kyung Il (Lee Sang Woo), Kim Yoo Ra (Hwang Woo Seul Hye) and Chun Da Jung (Jung Soo Young) as the residents of the apartment complex. Song Hwa Eum (Lee Shi Won) as the middle school teacher, Jang Ik (Ahn Suk Hwan), as the 'Hot Bar' owner, Shin Hwa Ja (Song Ok Sook) as the Chairperson of Gangto Money and Ji Hoo's Granny, Min Kyung Soo (Yoon Hee Suk) as Ji Hoo's father.
Among other major child actors are Ju No Eul (Yun Hye Bin), Ye So Dam (Kim Ha Yun), Shin Min Ki (Go Kyung Min) and Park Se Chan (Park Shi Wan).
Plot development in overal is just fine. The introductory episodes were impressive though the screenplay didn't seem usual and it was difficult to decipher whether it'll be a sitcom or melodrama themed. Progression was also good despite very typical elements used; it might seem like a makjang but it's actually not. Personally, I liked it a lot for the first half and it continued to be entertaining even after interval, until the 10th episode where it started going downhill.
The major characters suddenly become dumb out of nowhere, unable to decipher the conspiracies by the antagonist side. It takes at least 2 episodes for them to figure things out and then their strategies to counterstrike them were even more typical, which even became very repetitive. The final outcomes by the end of 14th episode weren't very impressive and didn't keep up the interest for the finale week. And trust me, the finale week was even more underwhelming.
Despite the shoddy decline towards the ending, one thing that remained constant was the love uncle had for his nephew, which, in fact, saw an uprise in the graph. Many scenes involving the heart-touching interactions between many characters were emotional. The story involves many elements such as: failed marriage, abusive relationships, mental health of children, bad parenting issues, greed for power and money, teenage pregnancy, toxic relationships, devotion for music, ideal teaching techniques,
Ji Young Soo PD-nim and Park Ji Sook jakka-nim have fair share of experience in the industry; even though the drama isn't that good, their skills were well-utilized. The screen-editing, play management and execution is well taken care of. The writing was a bit off and I think the major issue was turning a sitcom into melodrama. The screenplay is surely full of comical elements for most of its parts but it wasn't portrayed as a sitcom to begin with. 3/4th of the story is okay but the last quarter becomes shoddy.
There 12 OSTs in total with 3-4 tracks used as a drama version (as Joon Hyuk is a singer) which are sung by Sangmin Chu to keep a consistent voice for J. KING. "Your Dream" by Sangmin Chu is my most favourite followed by "Living Together" by Sangmin Chu and Lee Kyung Hoon (Ji Hoo). Sangmin Chu has also sung "Even if we break up", "Time to say goodbye" (drama version), "On The Beach" and "By your side". "BLUE BIRD" by Lunch, "Stay with me" by Lee Kyung Hoon (Ji Hoo), "Love Sign" by Lizia and "Not Alone" by Bae Sung Yoon are some other tracks from the drama. "Butterfly" sung by the child actors of the drama is so cute.
Overally, "UNCLE (엉클)" is a good one time watch. Too many characters and incomplete arcs were the limitations of the drama and it went downhill in the later half but it's not really bad having so many heart touching moments. The first half (or let's say till 10th ep) was a fairly balanced watch. Can't say it's a must watch or something but it doesn't really offer something exciting or impressive to look forward to, either.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A cute love story with no drama
Jitenshaya-san no Takahashi-kun is a soft romance drama that you could watch it to relax. The drama is rather small, approximately 25 minutes per episode, and someone could watch it in just one sitting.... like me. What we learn in the drama is that you can't judge a book by it's cover.CHARACTERS / PLOT
In the series we follow the life of Ryohei and Tomoko which seem to be total opposites, and we understand how they develop their relationship. In one hand, we have Ryohei who is working at a bicycle repair shop. His rough looks, piercings, tattoos, dyed hair, and the fact that he always speaks his mind, make people around him to think that he is a scary person but in reality he is a rather soft hearted that pays attention and cares for the people around him. On the other hand, we have Tomoko, a 30 year old woman who is working in a toxic environment with an a**hole boss. She is shy and rarely turns other people down; and due to that, she gets to do things that she doesn't want to do.
Moreover, we have Koki who is working at the same company as Tomoko and at first he courts her and asks her out. Koki has a bright personality, is the same age as Tomoko and both him and Tomoko come from Tokyo - which Koki uses as an excuse to get closer with her. Moreover, in the same company we have Sato, who is Tomoko's best friend and always has her back when they have to deal with their toxic boss. Furthermore, we see Masaya and Teruyuki who are friends of Ryohei.
The storyline is rather simple with no major drama in it. At first I was afraid that they would follow the following story path: Tomoko and Ryohei get together --> people are saying that Tomoko should break up with Ryohei because he is a deliquent --> Tomoko breaks up with Ryohei --> crying --> they back together.
Thankfully I was wrong. They showed us how the protagonist got in a relationship - and if I may add, I want to say healthy relationship (because Ryohei didn't pressure Tomoko on having s*x for the first time) - and we follow their lives around their relationship. We see how both of them grow in their own way and how they overcome their problems.
ACTING
I enjoyed everyone's acting in the series. In the past I have watched other drama with Suzuki Nobuyuki (Ryohei) and Uchida Rio (Tomoko) and I have to admit that they keep up the good work and deliver their roles in a splendid way. Moreover, the support actors didn't have anything to lose from the main actors. Everyone in the series did a very good job and the overall outcome was amazing.
MY OPINION
Maybe something that bothered me, was the fact that we didn't get closure on some topics. For instance, why did Ryohei have such a love-hate relationship with the old man (which I assume is his granddad)? Even though we saw Ryohei's father I am not sure if they ever resolved their problems. If not, why didn't they invest more in their relationship? I would have liked it better if they also provided us some further background information for these stuff. Because in the series we see Ryohei expressing himself towards these two people in a rather aggressive behaviour but I am not so sure why.
This is a spoiler, but what I really liked is that by the end of the series Koki admits to his grandmother that he might be gay and after the grandmother said something old fashioned ("I know a good doctor that can cure you"), we see that Koki explains to his grandmother what he truly feels and that he maybe cannot fulfil her wish to see great-grandchildren. I really liked this part because Koki in the end decided to be true to himself and to his grandmother and he came out of the closet and in the end his grandmother understood.
As I said before, it is a rather small drama that could be watched in one day. If you ever have the need to watch something fluffy and no complex this is a good drama to do so :)
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
No bullshit BL...
I don't know if we can describe this mini-series as BL. It's more in the realm of a queer mini series. Besides that, MDL says it has only three episodes and say's the second part is a side-story - which it's not! It is a continuation of this series.A young man has a breakup because his girl friend just tells him, he's "bad" in bed and does all the things wrong. She recommands that he should take lessons. He made a post somewhere to search for a tutor and he found one. But he does not know that his tutor is also male - that's the story in this three episodes.
This is not fluff, this is not a love story (not yet, anyways), but the teacher does just teach. This is a really unique concept to take all the bullshit of any BL out and just make it about learning how to respond to your sex partner, how to make him hot and how to do "stuff".
While this mini-series has not much story (yet), the actors are really naked, no BL make-out under the blanket or just the foreplay. It's also about penetration and how to do it right and you may think it's p0rn but it's not. I find this concept refreshing and something completly different to nearly every other show. The next three episodes will get more story and I can only hope they will continue the story because the story itself has potential. And I bet some people could learn from it!
Was this review helpful to you?
Recent Discussions
-
What was the last song (non Asian) that you listened to? #212 minutes ago -
Which Was the Last Drama Episode You Watched? Part 339 minutes ago -
Last NON Asian Movie you watched? #239 minutes ago
-
Novel (Raws & English Translation)44 minutes ago -
Last Drama You Completed? #22 hours ago
