1FULLY BLOOMED
I have to commend the show for showing us that short series doesnt have to feel rushed. With 11 episodes of about 12 minutes each, the series was beautifully developed and delivered with just the right pacing.I loved that almost all scenes (and characters) felt important with minimal fillers, sprinkled with just the right amount of cuteness, sillyness, adult kissing (and lovemaking) and a few obligatory shirtless trap scenes.
It also doesnt hurt that we got two very good looking and capable leads. Im not sure if it was intentional but the awkward acting of Jo Kyuk Joon somehow worked for his mysterious emo character, and Kang Eun Bin is like a younger Kim Min Jae, and i mean it in a good way.
On the other side, the series reminded me of the anxieties i felt while watching all other beauty transformation series that tried to deal with leaving an old life behind and trying to live with a somewhat fake beautiful identity to get acceptance - only this time, we see it from a guy's point of view. Or are we?
Cha Si Won can be played by a male or female actor without needing to change any of the script. The series was trying to say love is love and it has no gender, by emitting (or ignoring) any mention of homosexuality. However that for me was the weakness of the show - because in reality, same sex relationship isnt all rainbows and butterflies, and it could have added another layer to the love story of SiWon and Da Un. There are so many BL series nowadays who prefer to take this route and to be frank, it acts as a double edge sword that can sometimes work but sometimes can undermine serious gender issues and over romanticize the idea of an unconditional love.
The fact that they showed the mother feeling scandalized by being portrayed as a bad mother and yet has no concern about having a kid being in a same sex relationship, may prove to be a little too unrealistic and unrepresentative of the situation on the ground.
To be honest, what we have here is a shortened watery version of My ID is Gangnam Beauty.
Would i reccommend? Yes, definitely.
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This review may contain spoilers
A VERY realistic take on Japanese LGBT life and its society that affects all the characters
Thanks for Furritsu for the subs. I finished watching the remaining episodes on BilliSo I really liked this drama, it’s different. To me depressing or not happy endings stories like this one really interest me. I don’t get emotionally affected by stories like these (because I don’t see it as real).
Oh yeah I am going to talk SPOILERS for this series.
Story: The good half of the story (episode 1 to 8) focus on Mieko and Makio, their friendship and their involvement with Eiji who they all met working part time in a restaurant. With the POV being on Mieko making her the main character of this series. This changes in the final two episodes (8 to 10) where the POV is more general and focus on Makio and Asato general relationship.
For me I liked how realistic and down to earth the story is. Mostly you are following the lives of Meiko, Makio and Eiji (in the 1st half) and Asato (in the later section). For me I don’t think this is a BL story, as while Makio relationships with Eiji and Asato are shown the story does’nt completely focus on Makio. As the story covers Meiko story as she progresses in her life. Also the portrayal of how society views LGBT relationship is completely realistic compared to the fantasy of BL. I just thought things
like this happens in real life and that’s fine, people are in one situation and the next moment they move on to another.
Characters
Meiko: Is such a refreshing female character, she's interesting character, but yes thinking about it she's really stupid for the actions that she did. What I like about her is that she's relatable and reminds me of myself, she is an observer but wants to help when she wants to. Her friendship with Makio is amazing. I understood her downfall when she volunteered to be a surrogate mother, thinking she would help Makio and Eiji’s relationship but as a result it was the one of the catalysts to cause the breakup of Makio and Eiji. Because I could see that is not what Makio wanted. Ok her actions were VERY selfish and egoistical of herself, but in a way she was'nt a baddie in my eyes, she really valued Makkio in her life and I see it as she did'nt mean to intentionally break the relationship between Makkio and Eiji. She's like WAY better than some toxic female characters in most BL dramas these days.
Makio: From the outside he’s a very happy go lucky kind of person. He also doesn’t think much when he decides to date Eiji. The thing is this series does'nt really show you what kind of person Makio really is so you have to judge from what you see him on the screen. But when he dated Eiji and moved on to Asato just shows that he really wants to get into a relationship with a guy the BL way lol (like date a guy with no judgement on his gay status, no child, just have the guy to himself)
Eiji: A really interesting character. I like how honest he is with himself but too shy to stand up for himself, like how he just confessed to Eiji after a misunderstanding and the same when he confessed to his parents but to me he feels like he rather please others rather than thinking about living in a way he wants to. But sadly he is a prime example of being influenced by how society views LGBT subjects. He wasn’t mentally strong to maintain the relationship he had with Makio.
Asato: A late comer into the story. He honestly needed more episodes than 2 to get to know his character. But he’s at least more emotionally stronger than Eiji, I liked how casual his relationship with Makio is and how naturally they became lovers. From being ex-classmates, to bickering about rubbish, to being casual friends and to being lovers. Felt natural and down to earth. He has his own personal problems career wise (and with his granddad) but not related to his sexuality.
Directing: Really slick and felt natural. I LOVE how the ending credits are shown.
Music: It's not really there, snice it's trying to show real life so most of the scenes have no music. I do like the ending themes tho.
Postives: Very high production values, very good acting, great directing and a very realistic story about LGBT life. I liked all of the characters in this story.
Negatives: The Asato and Makio storyline needed more episodes than two. It was a very sudden change of pace from the Makio, Meiko, Eiji storyline.
Overall: More than words IS NOT A BL drama in my view. It’s more like a slice of life drama with the characters being LGBT and how society affects them. Many BL fans might be disappointed in the way the story focuses on one couple for a good amount of episodes only for them to break them up and gives little time to set up for the second couple to form. But I found this story to be SUPER REALISITC because stories like this happens in real life. I don’t know if BL fans think the story is depressing/sad because one couple ending is not happy at all, I thought it ended on a happy hopeful tone to it.
But for those looking for a mellow down to earth slice of life drama with gay characters this series might be for you.
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W was certainly one of the most anticipated dramas of the season, and for good reason: a creative storyline paired with an exemplary leading cast. I, like many others, was captivated by the idea of a webtoon coming to life. And Lee Jong Suk? Huehue. Say no more.
The writers of the show crafted a plot that is bound to keep you on your toes and send your brain into overdrive. It’s not the most intelligent story I’ve seen. At times it's confusing and borders on being nonsensical, but it’s logical enough to make it worth watching. W is especially intriguing because of its unpredictability - even if you grow used to the plot, each new problem creates an addicting mystery. You become determined to understand exactly what will happen next.
While I enjoyed W and the anxiety its suspense caused me, this drama is not perfect. A show amazing in concept, it fails to deliver in some of the most important aspects.
One thing I found particularly problematic was the romance. Some might disagree, but I found Kang Chul and Yeon Joo’s loveline to be one of the most poorly-written in any K-drama I’ve seen. I’ll admit that there was incredible potential in their relationship. However, the writers never give you any reason to like this couple except that they just are a couple - it’s the unspoken drama rule that because they’re the main characters, they have to be together. Fair enough, but that doesn’t get my heart racing.
Is the romance necessary? Yes - to an extent. Love is the easiest way to connect the two main characters. But trust me; that romance sucks badly. In the beginning episodes, you find it cute. What’s not adorable about a cool guy who’s curious about this ditzy girl? Then, you suddenly hit the point of doubt: but…but why, though? Why are they together? How? Sadly, there is no satisfying answer to these questions.
Yet, as much of a letdown as the romance was, what ultimately kept me from giving this show a higher score was its characters.
I have a burning passion for well-written characters, and I thought W would be the perfect drama to see it being done. The idea of the story is that the boundaries between reality and fiction are blurred, causing a mere created character to act and feel as a real human does. What we viewers deserve out of such a concept are heart-wrenching characters whose personalities you could find within a human in this world; who would persuade you that creations are self-aware. But disappointingly, nearly every single one of W’s characters are dull.
Strangely enough, the best example is Kang Chul. Our main character happens to be perfect. That sounds great! He’s rich, goodlooking, with an incredible sense of justice (this is where I swoon). He wants desperately to live, and you feel for him because…well, he’s not just a webtoon character; he’s a human being goddammit! Look at his perfect skin. And his eyes (oh his eyes). Also his backstory is so sad! But there’s something sadder than his backstory - his personality, which is as two-dimensional as the lines that were drawn to create him.
I’ve seen a lot of people share the same justification for why he has no real flaws: he’s a webtoon character, thus not real, thus does not have to be bound by the unspoken law that all people are imperfect. Fine; that makes sense. But isn’t that ironic? His whole gist is that he’s a human being. Where does he come off claiming such a thing if he’s so flawless? You’ll begrudgingly accept this character because of Lee Jong Suk, but that’ll be the extent of it.
And, the side characters are just that - side characters. Oh, sure, they exist. Yet I never really cared about them. Most of the time, they were convenient plot devices, not people. (I’ll say that I did very much like the role of Yeon Joo’s father - out of everyone, he feels the most realistic.)
If this were any other drama, I would let this go. I understand that a show can’t have everything, and characters are often the afterthought in the face of such a complex plot. However, I want to make it clear that if the writers are going to create a show based around the idea that these webtoon characters seem human, then they have to create characters that are human, and as a result, elicit my empathy. By the end, I should have been setting up a shrine in my house and counting prayer beads in hopes that they all get a happy ending! Uh…maybe that’s an exaggeration. But do you get me?
I know this review sounds bad, but I do want to get across that altogether, I did have a good time with W. Doesn’t sound like it, but it’s true! Its problems may be obvious, yet its strengths are enough to keep you going.
Its control over suspense had me hiding behind my hands at certain parts. And the cast itself is great - particularly the actor portraying Yeon Joo’s father; I cried womanly tears for you, sir. I’ve never watched Han Hyo Joo on screen before, but I did enjoy her role and thought she did a pretty good job with her character. I will also again emphasize my love for Lee Jong Suk: those emotive eyes. Gah. Almost made me like Kang Chul.
I recommend you to watch this drama, but simultaneously caution yourself against the blinding hype that it received. The end product of this show was nothing near to the perfection that I expected it to have, but it also wasn’t anything close to being bad.
Don’t expect a masterpiece. Watch it; have fun with it!
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Both Extracurricular and How to Buy a Friend were really refreshing takes on the high school genre, which I had previously lost interest in due to the fact that most dramas of the same vein were now being reduced to simple, relatively mundane rom-coms. Having attempted to watch many other dramas this year that felt like they dragged on aimlessly, the fast pacing was a huge source of relief.
The main characters are, for the most part, morally ambiguous. The world of Extracurricular isn't solely black and white-- there are various shades of grey in between, which makes them all the more fascinating to watch. The cast does a great job of delivering their roles, and while I initially took it up for the boys, I ended up falling for Park Joo Hyun (I can't wait to see what kind of roles she'll be doing next!) Kim Donghee did a great job of embodying the role of the reluctant, disillusioned antihero. I also loved the snappy dialogue and the dynamics between the characters.
The plot isn't entirely unpredictable, but that didn't take away from the story itself. I was still on the edge of my seat at every turn, both anticipating and dreading what would come next. Overall a really fun watch.
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Only in Loss do We Appreciate the Comforts of Life
From the moment I read the announcement that the ageless Jeon Do Yeon and eclectic Ryu Joon Yeol's comeback to the small screen, I’ve had it in my sights. The many teasers I'd watched since in anticipation gave me My Mister vibes, one of the best dramas ever made. The premise of Lost resonated with me in how relatable the story was of ordinary people who, despite trying their best, reach a point in life when they realize their hard work didn't amount to much.I remember thinking as melancholy and dark as things seemed at Lost's opener that it would do for me what My Mister did --shatter me to pieces before methodically putting me together again through the emotional bond that develops between two of the most unlikely people. And Lost does that and more. It took me through the journey of pain not just of our leads but all parties involved, from their vacantness to their gradual wholesomeness as they come to realize what life is to each of them. Lost is penetrating and poignant from its opening, especially in how Ryu and Jeon D Yeon and those around them deliver their roles. From the anxiety to the emptiness and loneliness, it all cuts through the interlocking issues of human nature, social relationships, disconnection from those relations, and the state of existing but not living -- drifting aimlessly through life.
Lost evoked in me some serious emotions and questions. It made me ask myself if I died tomorrow, would I be pleased with the life I've lived; would I be satisfied with the mark I left on the world, or would I even leave a mark and if I would be pleased with the relationships I've had; it gave me a lot of food for thought moments that I appreciated. What I liked most about Lost, other than the way the story was told, was that it brought one of the most prominent issues that afflict everyone the same regardless of status, class, age, gender, religion, ethnicity, or race to the forefront, the feeling of inadequacy. Being ignored, as they say, the worst feeling in the world isn't being lonely; it's being forgotten. Everyone has a secret sorrow, which the world knows nothing about. And often times, the world calls them cold when all they are is sad.
I think I can write a novel about this drama, there is so much to say but I will keep it simple. Lost will probably be one of the few dramas that will stay with me for a long time. Nothing about it was superficial, it was as real as real can be. Nothing was rushed, not the conversations or the tone, nuanced and whole. The journey, the simple messages along the way that relay the facts of life -- that the tests of life are not to break us, but to make us, and that most times, it isn't about the journey or the destination, but the people we meet along the way that can change us in ways we never imagined. It drives the message that all of us as humans have scars, fears, and pains, some of us bear them better than others. Sometimes, that pain blinds us to the pain of others, but sometimes it helps bring everything into focus. That is what Lost has done for me.
What's even more special about Lost is that by the end of it the viewer gains appreciation for all the characters even the not so likable ones. And as bittersweet as the ending of the drama is, it made sense because only in loss, do we appreciate the comforts of life. A thousand and one kudos to the writer, the director, all the actors, they each did a great job getting me as the viewer to relate to them even as I hated some of them. But the standing ovation goes to Jeon Do Yeon and the ever special Ryu Joon Yeol for the wonderful and eye opening journey -- for showing me (us) that inner peace comes when you trade expectation for acceptance. I hope Boo Jung and Kang Jae find their happiness in each other and hopefully so do Jung Soo and Kyung Eun because they too deserve their happiness . As they say, sometimes bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best thing that will happen to us. This is one drama everyone would benefit from watching. I know I did.
To read more about my thoughts on Lost check out episodic reviews here
https://www.kdramabanter.com/blog/categories/completed-dramas
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This review may contain spoilers
Just Watch It! (This is long).
This is my very first review, so please bare with me.Story:
Regarding the story there were some plot holes here and there, and I feel like the running time of each episode was poorly used in many occasions, some added things felt unnecessary to the plot as a whole, and some things could've been explained in a better way.
Yes, the pacing...
I love a slow burn romance, the whole enemies-to-lovers trope, but watching this show week by week was actually painful, and not in a 'oh my God, what happens next?' kind of way. It was actually frustrating, and when I thought things were about to pick up, it slowed down completely.
Still, I have to say that I absolutely love the concept of "The Little Prince" involved in this story, and how he falls in love and ends up with the fox.
Acting / Cast:
Let me have my shallow moment...
The first time I saw anything about this series, what called my attention was how attractive both main leads were. They have different vibes, and I think they fit perfectly in what was presented, but the real question is, what about the often mentioned chemistry? Looks are not enough to measure weather there's chemistry between a pair or not.
Jin Yu Zhen is a complicated character, with unresolved and complex feelings, your seemingly stoic, heartless, asshole kind of character right there. I do think Aaron Lai nailed it, especially when we saw the transition of JYZ opening up little by little, showing his true colors.
Honorable mention to the last episode, I felt his desperation all the way through the screen.
Shi Lei is not only someone with that bright, beautiful, dimply smile, I like how he had a personality and how he wasn't afraid to stand his ground no matter what. Hank is a newbie as far as I know, and he did good, I like his acting.
Honorable mention to Shi Lei "coming out" to his mom, that scene was beautiful, and necessary.
So, in conclusion, they do have chemistry, a lot in my eyes, I liked to see how Shi Lei fell for JYZ little by little, how he had an "oh shit" moment, realizing he was caring a lot for him, and how Jin Yu Zhen reciprocated his feelings and cared for him just as much. They had a lot of cliche moments, but I didn't mind it at all. There was tension, and want and longing.
The second couple can be a big hit, or a big miss, sometimes they even steal the spotlight from the main couple, and this time I have to say they were cute and all, but I unfortunately didn't really care for them. There wasn't enough substance, I don't know how to put it better.
Yan Zhao Gang was a good guy, with good intentions and he mostly had some great things to say, the type of guy you go for advice, I like the actor playing him, and I don't think he's bad.
Wu Si Qi on the other hand, was the shy, young and inexperienced guy. Cute? Yes. Still, I don't know, but I cared even less for him, I felt detached. I don't blame it necessarily on the acting, but oh well.
The rest of the cast does the job, I found some of the meant-to-be-funny moments to be actually funny, and I liked their interactions.
Shi Lei's mom has to be mentioned, she was his wingman, the real MVP, a mother who cared for her son's happiness and well-being. It's refreshing to break from the stereotype of a mother who's disappointed, mad or angry, against the fact of her son/daughter being in love with someone of the same sex.
Music:
I love soundtracks, and I have to admit that the "I do, I do, I do" is catchy.
Rewatch Value:
I wouldn't mind re-watching the whole thing now that it ended, maybe it would feel different than watching week by week.
Overall:
I know this review is very mixed, I tried pointing the flaws, but also the good points of this series, at the end of the day all I can say is to each their own, don't let anyone else's opinions and thoughts stop you from watching something, do it, see it for yourself.
For me this series is worth watching, it's simple, it's cute, it's easy, and the end is refreshing.
Hope this helps.
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Fast Moving, Amazing Chemistry, Girl Empowering
The Autumn Ballad is an intriguing suspense romance story with strong male and female leads. Interestingly, the development of the story is almost distinctly divided into 3 sections: first section being both the main leads meeting and hating each other and yet they’re forced to work together to survive; the middle section being the main leads starting to warm up to and discover each other with many sweet moments together; the final section being they falling in love and fighting their adversaries hand in hand.Qiu Yan (Qiao Xin) is not a conventional girl of her time. Having gone through a lot of hardship and heartaches growing up, she is strong, proactive and knows how to fend for herself without letting fate dictate her. During her mishaps, she meets Liang Yi (Jeremy Tsui) who is a ruthless cold hearted investigator. At first, Liang Yi thinks Qiu Yan a gold-digger, using her dirty schemes to land a big fish for marriage. After working with her to solve various criminal cases, Liang Yi changes his view of Qiu Yen and she begins to attract him. Mutually, Qiu Yan doesn’t like Liang Yi initially because she thinks he is cruel and heartless, but after working with him for a while, she realizes that’s just a façade he puts up to undermine others. Under that face is a kind and caring person who has helped her again and again. She begins to take an interest in him. Their interactions for the first 20 episodes or so really feel like a rom-com, with smearing and sarcasms against each other which is really fun to watch.
As they begin to develop feelings for each other, a few episodes are devoted to show their romance and this thrills many viewers. After episode 20 or so, it is an open fact that they are a couple without declaring their feelings to each other but each knows the other’s heart. They are almost inseparable solving mysteries and a huge conspiracy while saving each other’s life with their own. For many romance buffs, it is satisfying to see a couple that reads each other’s mind so well, and they give the viewers a lot of sweet moments; their chemistry rocks.
I didn’t quite like Jeremy Tsui when I first watched his work in Legend of the Phoenix. His pale face, sly smile had made me uncomfortable and I wasn’t even sure if he wasn’t an antagonist. But in this drama, I find his acting very believable with his minute expressions and overall charisma. I particularly love the scene when Qiu Yan tells him she’s the girl he has rescued years ago. His facial expression is priceless. Like many viewers, I am attracted and mesmerized by his magnetic deep voice, though some viewers criticize his unclear articulation in his dialogues. This is my first drama of Xiao Xin and I find her beautiful and natural. I really enjoy watching her especially when she starts her bickering with Liang Yi. Her look and emotions are adorable and convincing. The other characters are equally well executed by the cast.
My Verdict
I like this drama very much at the beginning for the first 20 episodes or so. Though I love their romance in the later episodes, somehow, the story starts to lose its appeal in the later episodes. There are still twists and turns, but no more surprises as things become predictable. Many unfathomable logic (such as how can one work closely with a person who has just killed the person who is like a brother to you?) starts to creep in. There are various such logic flaws throughout the drama – working with someone who has killed one’s loved ones. For the later episodes, Qiu Yan seems to be smarter than Liang Yi who has been a brilliant investigator in solving cases for years, and he is supposed to be the best who can see the bigger picture instantly before anyone else can. So it seems like a change in capabilities of the characters. As with the lazy writings of many Chinese historical dramas’ endings, this drama doesn’t escape the same fate. Quite a few of the prominent side characters perish unnecessarily. Though there are many plot twists which are unexpected, I find the final twist that causes the life of one of the characters rather needless. It leaves many questions marks on my mind.
Having said that, I have truly enjoyed this drama and its conspiring couple, both witty and share the same belief. These two love birds are like a pair of duets, always harmonizing each other. It is so good to watch this type of relationship. I also find Qiu Yan very inspiring as she doesn’t leave her life to her fate - she constantly reminds the viewers that.
This is a fine drama that I strongly recommend despite some of the flaws mentioned here.
BRAVO!
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1. Romance: It has one of the best OTPs of all time, in terms of chemistry, character, story, hotness, AND did I say CHEMISTRY? I think Healer set some kind of record for skinship and hot kisses for a major network Kdrama.
2. Action: Sure not all Kdramas have action scenes - but really good ones do! And they are a common feature of Kdramas. And when they are done well, they add so much excitement and fun to the show. Healer has really good fight scenes.
3. Acting: I would put Korean actors up against Hollywood ones any day and this cast was fantastic from top to bottom.
4. Kdrama Trope Soup - Healer has it all: mysterious vigilante hero, childhood traumas, powerful evil organizations, birth secrets, conspiracies, corruption, twisty plans, murders, orphans, weirdly specific illnesses/psychological issues that act as plot devices, quirky co-workers, and an OTP that was destined to be since childhood. (I'm sure I've missed a bunch.)
5. Hotness: A beautiful lead actress and a smoking hot leading man.
6. Directing: Lots of Kdramas have subpar directing, but I've noticed that on average their directing is much better than most other foreign fare. Healer had very good directing!
So when I say that Healer is not the best Korean show I've ever seen but it is the best Kdrama I've seen, that's exactly what I mean. Healer takes all of the things that make a Kdrama a Kdrama and then puts them together better than anyone else. It does this without any of the failings that so many less stellar Kdramas have:
1. plots that start good and then become redundant to fill time or unravel towards the end,
2. noble idiocy / characters that don't tell each other the truth when that would solve all their problems just to keep the plot moving,
3. poorly thought out plots where the writer puts herself in a corner and cannot get out without the writing going to crap,
4. poor OTP chemistry,
5. annoying characters that make you want to strangle them (especially when they are the female lead),
6. mediocre acting,
7. sketchy directing, and
8. crappy endings (by that I mean endings that don't actually end anything!!!!!!!!!)
The best thing about Healer is the OTP and their to-die-for, smoking hot chemistry (and the fact that they are genuinely awesome characters both together AND on their own). But the second best (and rarer) thing that makes Healer so special is that the writer really thought it out from beginning to end. There are hints and clues all over and nothing is wasted (no guns are left unfired, for all you Chekhov fans). The writer is not lazy or gratuitous or wasteful or redundant. Everything that is there is needed. I am, of course, not the least bit surprised since she wrote one of the best Kdramas of all time, Story of a Man, and one that I have not seen that is also considered one of the best of all time, Sandglass. (She's written some crap too, but I think her good outweighs her bad.) So, props to the awesome Song Ji Na!
The only reason I gave it a 9.5 and not a 10 is that the ending, while satisfactory was a bit rushed. And I felt just a twinge betrayed since the writer had paced it out so well for 19 episodes and then got a bit rushy at the end. However, if I could give it a 9.8 I would.
Anyhow, I normally only write reviews of less popular dramas, and I know that Healer has a huge online following so it is definitely not in that category. But I still had to get my two cents in because it's just that great! And if you haven't seen it, and you still need convincing: didn't I mention the historic levels of skinship and hot kisses?!
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It couldn’t of been any better.
I really love this drama from the cast to the plot, the soundtrack, the comedy, the fluffiness, and the leads. I can’t think of anything that I wish they would’ve done different or better. I truly loved it just as it was. I’m so sad it’s over, but pleased that we got this beautiful show.Well, I liked it from episode one a few people have mentioned that it’s a show that really grows on you as you watch it and as you start to care about the characters and I could see that. Because in the first episode you’re like OK where is this going? But as you sit and watch you like oh I like where this is going this is actually very very cute..
The ending was exactly what I wanted it to be and I’m so happy that they ended it and flushed out all the stories and didn’t leave us hanging with open question marks. Nice job writers!
I have no doubt that more people will watch it and fall in love with it because it is really a hidden gym right now and I can see it being ranked videos of the year definitely and of the last few years likely.
Give it a watch, watch the first two episodes and I’m pretty sure that you will be hooked and wanting to know what happens.
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I'm loving this!
Haha... no, this is not a McDonald's joke but I really do love the drama. I mean, people used to say Hwarang was bad but aside from some endgame plot that I'm not really fond of, that drama was okay. The same would I say about this drama. I've been waiting for a new drama where Hyungsik would play another royal prince character and lo, WE GOT IT! And this time, his character has a higher likelihood to get the girl SINCE HE'S THE MAIN LEAD GUY!😃Anyway, since this drama more or less was based on a Chinese novel... some plot might be predictable to those who are familiar with the novel. Or maybe not, since it's a kdrama some elements of the original novel would've been changed to suit the sageuk theme. That should be quite interesting to see regardless.
I really like how the characters were written. I mean, as much as there was this supposed triangle between Hwan, Jaeyi and Seung-on, the drama didn't focus too much on the triangle and just let the characters naturally grow to develop a decent friendship. There weren't too many unnecessary conflicts being made just to make the plot 'dramatic'. Which was nice. I love how Hwan and Jaeyi's appeared to start at first as an encounter between two people in crisis, which progressed into a sweet friendship between two person who could've easily been childhood friends and later having a much deeper love growing in between. I like how natural their relationship progressed into mutual love as Jaeyi grew to learn more about Hwan and help each other.
I also love the comedy element with Myungjin and Ga-ram and even more when Hwan and Jaeyi were with them. Cos seriously, I feel that a lot of the funny scenes were brilliant adlibs by the cast and that's so brilliant!
The mystery and political intrigues and conspiracies are nice too, but the serious plot didn't completely overshadow the lighthearted scenes. Also the ost, songs and special effects are well done as well and the visuals are pretty, so what else to ask? Seriously if you consider the time period where it'd be hard to investigate a murder and find the culprit without the modern techs we have now as well as the fact political murders and violent outbreaks of people who desire control of the throne are a common thing, it makes sense for people to not be able to trust anyone so completely, in order to stay alive . Added with superstitions and lack of complete knowledge on how things like science work in such times, life could be so scary if you're stuck in such a situation. I really like how the writer made good use to insert little clues here and there that may at first seem unrelated or pointless, only to later bring it back to form the bigger image in order to head to the final conclusion.
If you just want to enjoy some drama to fill your pastime, you can try watching this drama and you may find yourself liking it. If you're the type to be all negative and expect a drama to live up to some non-existent 'perfect' standard of what could be a great drama, don't bother watching this drama and spread your negativities here.
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Pinocchio's story is intriguing, very captivating, well written and highly thought-provoking. It's also very well executed, in terms of acting, camera work and plot development. I enjoyed all episodes and was eager to watch the next.
So why have I given I Hear Your Voice a full 10, and bestowed this one a "mere" 8,5?
In rating a drama I always try to be as objective as I can be - try being the key word. A show that awakens the intellect deserves high scores, but it's the emotional share which earns it a perfect score. I was intellectually very engaged by Pinocchio, but I felt slightly detached when it came to the heart. Among other things, the romance didn't make my heart flutter, not even once. Honestly, I can't even pinpoint a reason for this: Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk are both beautiful, very sweet in a puppy-like way, their respective characters lovable and their love story believable. And yet, it seems to me it lacked romantic tension, it was like watching two cute people in a commercial for shoes, or coats.
The moment they stopped being on screen, in my mind they also stopped being a couple.
On the contrary, I think Hye Song and Soo Ha are still dating, overcoming their differences and being happy together. I could mention many other drama couples that, to me, are still a reality somewhere in that evanescent world created by fantasy and therefore linger in my heart. Dal Po and In Ha are not among them.
Nobody's fault, mind you. The acting of all was above average and I was positively impressed by Park Shin Hye's performance. It must not be easy to interrupt every other sentence with a hiccup and make it sound believable. Her character isn't a champion of resolution, but she's very sweet and I liked her a lot. Lee Jong Suk is clearly a rising star in the drama world and can play this kind of role better and better. I loved the supporting cast, villain(s) included.
The music didn't make much of an impact on me either.
To explain my re-watch score, I'm going to confess a weak spot of mine: when a particular scene has a strong impact on me, I can't help but watch it again as soon as the episode is over. I haven't done so with any of Pinocchio's scenes. I may re-watch the entire show one day, but for now this ride, as much as it was enjoyable, is over.
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1This review may contain spoilers
i am conflicted about how i feel when it comes to this drama.....first and foremost, bohnduen who? why are they the main characters? they were cute at the beginning but then sadly as they progressed.... they became boring and annoying i just had to sonicc my way through the episodes and skip their scenes
why didn't i like bohnduen?
-bohn's actions were kinda creepy? i just found how he was pressuring the heck out of duen not cool....
-bohn has no right to treat duen like he's some sort of object he possess and also he should chiLL like ffs this dude gets jealous about everything and i don't understand how tf duen is the one apologising !!!
whether you're in a relationship or not, you can't limit your partner to not have interactions with anyone else lol
-sO repetitive !!! legit the only conflicts they have is bohn getting jealous bc someone came an inch closer to duen liKe bRuHH
-cheesy and not the good kind of cheese
-i feel like they would've done well as side characters
mekboss? more like mehbore hA sorry yeah idk what to say about them except that mek's actor deserves better they did him dirty with that dubbing
fiNALLY RAMKING THARAFRONG THANK YOU JESUS
-if these 2 couples didn't exist in this drama, i have no clue how i would've survived watching this !!! i absolutely love these two they truly stole the show
-ramking are the softest boyfriends (i know they're noT official bUT THEY ARE OKAY SHUT UP FIGHT ME)
i love how they cared for each other at their lows and i melted like a goSh darn puddle
i couldn't find any reason to not sacrifice my heart to these two (i am in a cult yes)
-tharafrong? yes they have the half of my heart
thara being the purest out of the purest, having a pet lizard called cupcake and him cleaning places when he's not in a good mood???? hence, thara best boy
i feel like their scenes were a teaser bc we didn't really get much out of them buT I'M ABSOLUTELY PUMPED TO SEE MORE OF THEM IN SEASON 2
therefore, ramking and tharafrong are the superior couples and you can't change my mind
(hi i don't welcome war thanks)
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That was better than I expected.
I loathed this series after the first episode. I gave is a 2 and dropped it and only reluctantly came back after friends insisted it got better. It did.My objection was the totally absurd treatment of drunkenness, and the fuzzy morality, with the writers trying to have it both ways. You can't get so drunk that you think a person is someone else. Maybe for a few moments, but certainly not after sleeping if off for several hours, and Vee having three beers in 2 hours is not sufficient to lower his inhibitions enough to do something awful, so that shot of his garbage can with empty beers in it didn't fly. So you have two choices: Either Mark knows it's Vee and wants to get laid to help him get over his pain, or Vee is a repugnant rapist and the whole series is appalling. Neither option works, so I gave up in disgust with the terrible writing.
So why do I give it a 9.5, you ask?
The thing is, because this is a remake, the production was stuck with the outline of the poor writing of the original. And I can't give it a 10, because the plot is so unoriginal and we've seen it so, so many times. But the execution of this story is so good in every way, and so much depth an nuance given to the story and characters, it's like having a piece of chocolate cake. You've had many, I'm sure. Some are dry, some are factory produced, some pretty good - but then you have a slice that is so perfectly made that you can never enjoy any other chocolate cake again.
That's sort of how this series is. It really, really needs to be the last story with this tired plot - it will never be done better than this, it's so overused that I, and probably many or most of you, groan when a preview shows anyone wearing a blue engineering shirt.
While this follows an established formula, it isn't just the usual shallow boy-meets-boy, boy-hates-boy, boy-gets with-boy, boy leaves boy for girlfriend, boy-hates-boy, boy-and-boy-live-happily-ever-after story.
First, Mark and Vee aren't 2D uke and seme characters. Mark (the uke) knows who he is, is totally comfortable with it, he's a jock with a ripped body, and he doesn't let himself be pushed around. Vee (the seme) is confused and indecisive, can't bear to be the bad guy to the point that his desire not to hurt anyone hurts everyone, and he's never in control of the situation, and seems to fail at everything.
Other than the first episode, the writing is complex and sensitive, never stuffs characters into the narrow boxes of stock archetypes. Mark isn't a useless uke, Vee isn't a brooding prince who will swoop in to take care of him, Vee's girfiend isn't evil or scheming, she's just weak, damaged, and needs the validation of a man desiring her, Nuea isn't a terrible person nor is he an alternate prince, he's just a smitten horny guy who crosses the line a little, and even Mark's father's true motivation is Mark's happiness despite his dickishness. His emoji in the last scene is hillarious.
The story contains one of the classic misunderstandings wherein one boy shows up somewhere just at the right time to see something he can misinterpret and, implausibly, no communication occurs to clear it up. But in this case the plot gives a sequence of events that leads to that moment that is logically constructed, and the timing is not at all coincidental, and while Mark misunderstands, Vee is not innocent - he let himself be put in a situation that he shouldn't have, and given their past, Mark's reaction and subsequent behavior is totally reasonable and relatable.
The dialog and writing are excellent, creative despite the unoriginal story, quirky, and provides us with suprises and unexpected resolutions, like the final family confrontation, where Vee's father is a true boss. The finale is lovely and romantic, and gives us a typical fairy-tale BL ending - and then there's the post-credit scene, for which you may need medication, possibly counseling. The typical uke-finding-a-public-sniff-kiss-to-the-cheek appalling routine starts, then heads in a direction so, so, SO far from where you'd expect that it manages to be hot, funny, and a little frightening all at once (War could [and should] play a truly terrifying villain).
The cinematography, all the editing, the music, is all thoughtful, beautifully excecuted, and all serve the story.
But what really seals the award for Best Execution of a Stale, Tired BL Plot is the acting. War (Mark) has always been good, but here he's SO good that he can make you feel eight different things with one look. Yin (Vee) was frankly a bit weak in the original series, at least compared to War, but here he's improved so much that he's able to hold his own. Vee's impulsive idiocy is funny, relatable, and believable.
If this had a better first episode, perhaps with a devastated Mark just callously grabbing Vee as the nearest male body to fill his... needs, this could have been a 10. But it's still one of the best BLs of all time and I don't hesitate to recommend it.
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Vigilante - The story of A Dark Hero, without super power's fighting for Justice.
➥ Intro / Reminder :-It's a story about law and vigilantism with sub story about evil fighting the more bigger evil & became an evil with fighting against evil.. Protagonist ( Nam Joo-hyuk) when facing the criminals that the law had freed, displayed a calm, clear smile and a refined madness that was not beyond at the top.
➥ Short synopsis:-
"Vigilante" is an action thriller in which Kim Ji-yong ( Nam Joo-hyuk), who lives as a "Vigilante" who defends the law during the day, judges criminals who have avoided the law at night, and people with different purposes face each other fiercely.
➥ Detailed Analysis :-
If you're a fan of intense dramas with a gripping plot, well-developed characters, and an thought-provoking exploration of moral complexities, then The vigilante is a must-watch drama.
Excellent and Wow. That's all I can say. I was freaked out about this drama, because I loved the first two episodes. after reading 25 episodes of webtoon I had high expectations. And it exceeded those And truly the Best drama to bring a webtoon so chillingly and realistically to real life ife.
The acting was excellent, The action was good the action here is based more on suspense and violence.The story was great. The characters were diverse and interesting. However, the drama does not only deal with the catharsis of crime and punishment.It makes the viewer think constantly about the justice system.
Criminals getting away from the law is a problem that the show brings up, and vigilantes need to step up and do something about it. There are important questions that this brings up about the legal system and how people can help keep the peace.
And in 5th ep When Ji-Yong comes face-to- Jo-Heon about the errors in the legal system, the moral ambiguity of his vigilantism is highlighted. This sparks an intriguing debate about righteousness, morality about law and the shifting boundaries between right and wrong makes Watchers to think what is correct in present society is Vigilantism or Law this one is my fav scene of Vigilante. The conclusion of Vigilante will cause viewers to reconsider what justice and the law are. The public remains unaware of Ji-Yong's identity as the vigilante at the final episode, Viewers are also at ease to judge whether or not the vigilante's actions can be justified morally by this point of view. Despite his efforts, Ji-Yong is successful to preserve his identity under wraps, some things are out of his control.
➥ Nam Joo-hyuk :-
Nam Joo-hyuk, who is challenging the action genre for the first time in his life through 'Vigilante', to create realistic and realistic action, he received weight training, boxing, judo, and martial arts, he lived in his character role here "The law has a hole. Now I'll fill the hole.With the line, "This is justice," he shows charismatic appearance, armed with intense action and cool eyes that punish criminals with a deep black hood.. his black hood and police uniform, create a completely different atmosphere, making us look forward to his first action thriller completed with his delicate and detailed acting.
➥ Other departments :-
The cast is full of top quality actors including Nam Joo-hyuk, Yoo Ji Tae, Kim So Jin, Lee Joon Hyuk
The Remarkable Direction, Cinematography, Music and the Acting, editing, sound, score, visuals, and action are all top notch. The series' cinematography and storytelling skills especially shine during action scenes and scenes with shocking twists. The depth of the characters and the complex plot development make this series fascinating.
➥ Direction:-
Despite being Choi Jeong Yeol's first drama, he handled it very well. The drama showed his potential in 4 episodes, which is enough to anticipate more entertainment from the next episodes..
➥ Conclusion :-
Vigilante, the intriguing webtoon adaptation that offers a unique twist on the vigilante genre, blending character development with intense action, making it a must-watch for fans of action and thrillers and exploration of complex moral themes..
( Personal Review )
Vigilante" who judges criminals with his own justice, and throw a new topic to viewers about the law and what true justice is.
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