This review may contain spoilers
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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This review may contain spoilers
The ending isn't the only problem with this drama
The whole drama is one big problem. This drama is so bad that I decided to write a review for the first time to warn others. Don't waste your time. There are much better dramas worth watching.Why do I think drama is so hopeless?
It's mostly about the plot. Or rather, the lack of it. What's the point of this story anyway? There isn't any. Really. Normally, every story has a beginning, a middle part and an ending. It reaches some conclusion.The story started out interesting . DAS wasn't as good as other zombie/monster dramas, but it was still interesting. Aliens invasion was quite original idea. And that's it. The further you go, the more nonsense the story becomes.
Part 2 begins by showing the students eliminating the aliens. It's promising. We know it's been a while since the incident when Sergeant Lee was killed. It seems that the children have matured and learned to take care of their own safety. You could not be more wrong. From this moment the story starts to get idiotic and full of plot holes.
First of all, why are the children alone? What happened to Kim Won Bin? Did he leave the children alone? Did he evacuate without them? Why do children talk about everyone who died and not him? He seems to have survived, so why did the writers suddenly forget about him?
As I wrote above, at the beginning of part 2 we see that the children have grown up. And suddenly... They start acting irrationally and getting hysterical again. All character development suddenly disappears. The other scenes don't make sense either. Why was the prison scene included in the series? The kids needed parts for a radio, so shouldn't they look for an electronics store in a deserted city? And how is it possible that the prisoners survived? We know that it's been at least a month since Sergeant Lee's accident by the time part 2 starts, and the town has already been abandoned. Did these prisoners live for more than a month without food, water and other necessities? And they were in such great condition? Seriously? Where is the logic?!
Another thing are the spheres. Where did the spheres come from? What did they want? What was their purpose? In the first part, it seemed that people were learning more and more about aliens, e.g. that they were sensitive to cold and noise, and that they could communicate. And in the second part? Aliens are mindless. They run to the prison because the children screamed a few times, but they didn't show up at the amusement park, where children make noise, So I am asking again where is the logic? At the end, we also learn that a weapon was invented, thanks to which the aliens were eliminated, but the spheres were still in the air. Why?
As for the ending, In my opinion it was stupid. But the stupidest thing was that nothing foreshadowed it. The writers didn't show us that Guk Yeong Soo is slowly going crazy, he just suddenly went crazy because his exam was canceled. Seriously?! PTSD would be much more convincing.
All in all, I do not recommend wasting your time watching this drama. The writers made this story as if they didn't respect the viewers. The series was very hyped, so they wrote anything, after all, the viewers would not notice.
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1Story : 9.0 - like i said it was a bit rushed, many people said that it was a bad ending, but in all honesty it made sense to me, the romance was exciting and I longed for more romance scenes, and that's what I got, If you're into LGBTQ movies this is definately the movie for you.
Acting/cast 9.5 - what can I say the cast was spectacular, the romance they portrayed was beautiful, no doubt! Also the support characters did a wonderful job.
Music 10 - Oh Wow! The music was beautiful I always love violin in movies and this is perfect for the atmosphere, truly no fault in any of the pieces of music.
Rewatch Value - It's a quick movie to watch again, so I'm definately going to be watching this again in my spare time.
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All the puns on the series title are already taken, so I'll just say it's awful.
I'll start with the good:There's a scene where Gawin is almost naked.
End of the good.
OK, not quite, although that's why I gave this a rewatch score of "3". I will rewatch that scene. Many times. Although there's a better Gawin disrobed scene in Not Me (and even without the Gawin nudity, one of the best scenes ever, period. But that's not important right now.)
Force does his best as a noob playing Akk, and has some real charm, although he leaned heavily on his sad-puppy-dog face, which is cute but gets tiresome by the end. To be fair, there are some cute scenes between the main pair - the scene at the LOL fake Eiffel Tower was a rare well-written moment - not fairytale perfect, but just right for people that have been best friends their whole lives.
On to the problems:
The writing is terrible. The entire plot (except for the last 2 eps which fling a series of non sequitur plot devices in the way of our heroes) hinges on Theo's hunt for Enchante, a mystery suitor who defaces a library book to leave one single message for Theo, which makes him obsessed with finding the guy. If they had several back-and-forths that were beautiful and meaningful, we could have invested in the idea of Enchante - but because this did not happen, it was completely mystifying why he cared about this, and since it's clear by watching the opening credits who Theo will end up with, it's doubly pointless, which makes the entire rickety plot unable to support the leaden weight of this series. (To be fair, they do give a solid explanation near the end why he cared, but it will make you hate him.)
This could have been at least partially salvaged by casting somene who can act as Theo. I hate to criticize actors, but Book is terrible. I will mitigate this by suggesting this series had poor direction and he was playing a truly awful character, so only the most charismatic actor could have made him remotely sympathetic. But I noticed that really talented actors like Gawin and Fluke weren't great in this series, so a lot of it is probably poor direction.
Which brings us to the character of Theo. Having a spolied-brat malignant narcissist as your main character is not a great idea. Theo is the most self-absorbed and selfish person I've ever seen as a protagonist in a drama. I can't think of a single thing he did for anyone in the entire course of the series. EVERYTHING is about him. His parents' marriage (the actors who play his parents are sexcellent - needed to throw that out there), saving the literature department, Enchante, it's all about him. He never once asks a friend how they're doing (even though his supposed best friend Akk looks tortured all the way through this) - he just seems to expect the entire world to revolve around him.
At one point, it's revealed that Akk knew about something that he was aware would upset Theo, but it was absolutely not his place to reveal it, and if he had, Theo would have rejected it and reacted even worse than he did. Theo is extremely upset that Akk didn't tell him about it and won't speak to him. The problem is that just before this, it is revealed that Theo had orchestrated a colossal, monstrous lie designed to manipulate Akk and which caused him an immense amount of pain over a prolonged period, so the hypocrisy is so mind-boggling that it's LOL funny, after you first stare numbly at the screen until it sinks in that you did just see what you saw. Also, what Theo is upset about and how he reacts to it is how a pre-teen child would process this, not a 20-something, where it's so immature and self-centered that you wish he were an actual baby so that you could shake him.
At this point you actively hate Theo and hope he dies (or is murdered by Akk) so Akk can get someone way better (like Saifa. Or one of the hot football extras). This is made even worse by the lack of chemistry between the main pair, which is curious because they have it in BTS and other promotional material. Some of that is also directing. For example, there's a key cuddling scene where there's a huge stuffed animal between them so their bodies aren't actually touching.
Some of these problems, as well as a possible reason for the weak acting by Book, is almost certainly that a soft-fliter is used throughout the series that is so strong that I thought I had glaucoma. I think a lot of shadings of facial expressions are blurred away by the soft-focus. Note to Thai BL productions: We don't care if an actor's complexion isn't perfect. Nobody's is. We don't love actors for their perfect skin, we love them for their six-pack abs and chisled pecs. And their acting ability. And their muscled thighs. And gorgeous faces. Pert butts. But mostly their acting and the character they're portraying.
I can't recommend this. There really aren't enough redeeming characteristics to be worth slogging through the terrible writing and enduring Theo. I hope to see Force in a better production than this, so we can see what he can do.
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This review may contain spoilers
"Don't give up , don't become distant"
Overall this was a very good drama. It didn't have a complicated plot nor did it have villains. It had a very realistic ending, although it was a happy ending it showed that everyone's "happy ending" differs. I recommend watching it, it's a very light drama and every character has a good point about them but also bad ones, which makes the series more enjoyable.One of my favorite things a character said was what Hyun Seung said during episode 16, "But now i know I cant always win in love, even when I've given it my all."
Some spoilers about the episodes!!!!!
I started this series expecting nothing, especially since most of the comments were about how creepy Hyun Seung was, but after watching it, I don't regret picking this series up. Yes at the beginning Huyn Seung was a bit creepy and stalkerish, but let's be honest how many of us haven't acted at least a bit stalkerish towards someone we had a crush on. The way he broke the news to her was very crude, but after understanding her character better, I don't think she would have believed him if he didn't physically show her what was happening. He has also had a big character development since in the span of 8 episodes he went from stalkerish to knowing where the boundaries are. It's really nice seeing Yoon Song Ah slowly starting to fall for him.
Lee Jae Shin is a total jerk despite his past. Yes, he was unfortunate but he decided his own path. His excuse was that t was a plea disguised as an order. but he had a choice. He could have said "no" and he could have lost everything he had but he would have gained his freedom. His excuse was that he had no choice but I beg to differ, even when you're given an order there is always a choice, and it's up to you to decide what you want, and sadly he chooses his poison, which led to him losing Song Ah. It is even more repulsive to think about the fact that he was in a sense playing with both women, and that he planned to hide it from Song Ah.
At first, it thought Lee Hyo Joo was going to be the typical bratty spoiled rich girl, who was going to do everything in her power to destroy Song Ah after she had the tiniest doubt about her relationship with Jae Shin, yet during episode 8 she started to intrigue me.
EP011/12- I completely take back what I said about Hyo Joo, she is not stable. I don't if she expected Jae Ahin to drop to his knees and love her after she basically forced him to marry her by threatening him with her life. On the other hand, our main couple seems to be going strong. I loved all the small sweet moments. Also loved how Song Ah's team members stood by her side and stood up for her when the rumors were going around. I can't wait for Hyun Sung to meet his soon-to-be brother-in-law. I want to see their reactions since from what I see Hyun Sung doesn't know his sister is dating lee Jae Woon and Jae Won doesn't know Hyun Sun is his girlfriend's brother.
I also like how the ending of almost every episode is a heart-stopper, that leaves you wanting more.
13/14- For me these two episodes were depressing. I hate how they went towards the typical break-up before the ending episodes and then getting back together on the last one. I don't blame her for picking her dream job over her relationship after all they were both on different emotional levels in the relationship. Hyun Sung is obviously more emotionally invested since he was pinning over her for such a long time. The last scene on episode 14 where they were both on opposite sides and when he saw her he walked away broke my heart. I think he finally had the time to love himself more and out himself in the first place. It's obvious that for the next two episodes it's going to be her trying to get back together with him and they will probably get back together on the last episode if we are lucky they will get back together soon and if we are unlucky it will be typical they get together again on the last 10mn and it ends with a hug or kiss. On the other hand, jaewon and jiseung are so adorable together. I am glad they found each other. I felt so bad for the other sister though.
15/ Ok this episode was not that bad. I like that Jaewoon and Ji seung are getting married. I can tell the second sister and her husband will have us guessing until the end. The second leads seem more mature. Lee Hyo Joo also seemed like she learned how to draw the line and not depend on wanting a man to love her, seems like they will be back together. The only thing I disliked was again the whole breakup. It doesn't seem smart to add a breakup 2-3 episodes before the final one, it seems the last episode will just be song ah trying to win Huyn Seung over. And I get this was based on a webtoon but seriously the whole breakup is an overused cliche.
16/ This episode was very nicely wrapped up. I would have wished to see Jaewoon and Ji Seung's wedding, also I'm glad jae won and Jae Shin kinda fixed their friendship. Jae Shin and Hyo Joo also had a very good ending. Apart from Jae woon and ji seung it was hinted during the last scene that Huyn Seung and song ah were going to get married, again I would have loved to see their wedding and the reaction of their co-workers to them getting back together. Song Ah mom also had a big character growth, at the beginning we saw how dependent she was but in this episode, we finally saw her being independent and enjoying time with her friends. The second sister broke my heart, but I'm glad her ex-husband finally started to accept himself.
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The story overall was beautiful and touching... I laughed and cried along with the characters. Be prepared though, if you are going to watch this movie, have a box of tissues by your side because you will cry your eyes out. Anyone who hasn't watched Koizora should; it expresses the feelings of absolute happiness and pain.
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This drama’s story centers on revenge, action, friendship and romance: the ultimate combination to create various story’s developments all the time excluding any chance for dragging or slow moments. The intense events were always present to create cliffhangers at every turn in each episode. What I appreciated the most about this drama’s screenwriting was the action and revenge departments; they were really well done in a way that will make you believe they’re the core of the drama regardless of any other subjects. I also have to refer to the masked hero theme that was used in a great way.
The acting department was actually good. Lee Min Ho can be quite stiff but that doesn’t deny that his action scenes were pretty well done. Other cast were also appreciated since they could deliver feelings especially Kim Sang Joong who portrayed the villain role in a perfect way. As for characters, I believe they were nice to follow considering the fact that their developments were quite good.
As for music, I have to give this drama’s OST credit; not only they were well chosen but they were also put at the right moment creating an enjoyable atmosphere.
This drama can be watched by those who like action dramas mixed with revenge and romance or those who like the masked hero theme and thrilling stories. However, this drama should be avoided by those who dislike Lee Min Ho or those who are looking for a light drama.
If you’re willing to watch City Hunter, get ready to throw yourself in an endless circle of intense events without a drop of slow moments.
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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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I actually don't know how to summarize this one, I just believe everyone that can watch it should watch it. I haven't read the webtoon so I don't know how fans of the original material will react but, judging it on its own two feet, it far surpasses any expectations I had.
STORY
Honestly, this story almost felt like two, in the best way possible. Going into it I had this expectation of what would occur and what kind of avenues the story would take based on the teaser, but it proved me wrong. Weak Hero isn't just brilliant action, it's a deep dive into how interpersonal violence and bullying can affect and harm people long after the physical threat has disappeared. It's a case where I found every episode better than the last. The script and directing use foreshadowing masterfully, there are parallels that provoke so much thought and every moment feels deliberate. There are parallels everywhere, and the use of foreshadowing is deliberate and beautiful. Thought-provoking isn't even enough to cover it. Of course, there are issues with the script, some things are glossed over to fit the runtime, and the theme came off as confusing to some (not me) but overall I enjoyed the story it told immensely. The character motivations and progression all felt natural and understandable. It's a complete and interesting story that doesn't require additional knowledge from the webtoon to fill in the blanks and its end, though open for a second season, is satisfying and will leave you wishing you had more time with this world.
ACTING
I don't usually go to action flicks for character studies and heartbreaking emotions but the cast delivered on both and on stellar fight sequences that hurt just to watch.
So little disclaimer I am a Jihoon fan, but I will try not to be biased. Park Jihoon acting as Yeon Sieun was amazing. In the story put to screen it would've been very easy for Sieun to be one note, but Jihoons acting and eyes brought him to life.
Hong Kyung gave me the most compelling performance of the entire year. You have to watch it to know.
Choi Hyunwook brought a lovely levity to the story and his well-known ability to charm his way through the screen is at full display.
The entire supporting cast really showed out for this drama, the viciousness and vulnerability of boyhood were on full display. Special shoutout to Kim Sugyeom whose venom playing Youngbin almost burned through the screen.
MUSIC
The OSTs and music choices throughout the show helped evoke teenage listlessness and despair beautifully.
REWATCH VALUE
I considered placing this at a lower mark because some of the scenes are very hard to watch. Watching this drama inflicts a lot of emotional turmoil, but I honestly think it could only get better on rewatch. The point of the twists and turns is not to shock you, they're natural and understandable consequences of the violent world that bred them. Every choice makes sense, and the hunt for parallels in the script and directing upon rewatching would make it all the more worthwhile.
This easily falls into the top 5 dramas of the year for me. I would recommend any day! Also if you want to discuss it shoot me a friend request and a message I have so much to say.
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Perfectly constructed, every episode is just amazing, go watch!
Desperate to fund her daughter’s surgery, Myung Joon (Yoon Kye Sang) kidnaps a feisty child genius Rohee (Yuna), who lost her memories. When his call for ransom remains unanswered, Myung Joon drives to her house only to find her parents were mysteriously murdered.I’m going to first mentioned my most memorable aspect, that is Yuna as Choi Rohee! Yuna’s performance was such a delight! she stole the show with her vast range of emotions and also strong nuances in her micro expressions. It's magical how her emotions tore me apart. I laughed and cried for her! In one scene, I cried so hard and still cry however many times I watch the scene. T.T, I also love The Kidnapping Day for the solid storyline. It blends different genres expertly, giving me a high-stake, angsty, funny and endearing feel altogether. It’s a found family through kidnapping, but it never delve into Stockholm Syndrome as Myung Joon and Rohee dynamic is equal. Myung Joon is silly but caring, while Rohee tends to dominate, but as a child, she’s yearning for family love.
I enjoy how unpredictable and unconventional the mystery unravels. The investigation isn’t drag, the police make progress, obtain evidence, etc. We are rewarded with clues and twists constantly without them being overwhelming. It's rare to experience a drama that’s perfectly paced & each episode is juicy like this. For me, it’s the best release in 2023 and will always be one of my tops of all time! Wonderful!!
-Oct 2023, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge
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The constant comparisons won't help; on the contrary, they'll spoil the fun. All in all, I DID enjoy this second season of Meteor Garden. The acting of all has improved tremendously, and so are photography, direction and characterization.
Meizuo and Ximen's side stories are addressed and completed, something I thought was sadly lacking elsewhere. Shan Cai grows into a truly likable character and the second female lead is, for once, a delicious person, instead of the usual viper-like, scheming character. So refreshing! Honestly, I've had enough of girls portrayed as if they were incapable of true friendhip or generosity and who seem to live only to target the guy of their dreams. In this sense, this second season is way more romantic and realistic than many other adaptations.
It has some dragging parts, mostly when the whole plot is compared in length to the pretty rushed ending, but as a counterpart to this, some details are truly satisfying (I can't elaborate this unless I spoil the end).
Overall, I am convinced this drama is much better than what's usually expected and deserves a try.
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Support SK!! Their debut is insanely good. At least give them a chance, regardless of if you watch the show or not. You won't be disappointed.
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This review may contain spoilers
Dysfunctional family to touch. True to life. Rough. Surprisingly on a positive note though
"Boomerang Family" refers to the term 'boomerang kids': adults who for pragmatic reasons move back in with their parents - mostly for financial reasons, because of unemployment or because of divorce. The protagonists of this KMovie are the mother, her three adult children and her granddaughter. Together they form the boomerang family.In South Korea, family is the greatest good. Family is omnipresent and gets involved everywhere. This does not mean, however, that family is therefore only associated with happiness, love and warmth. On the contrary. There's a lot of pain associated with it. Much is and remains unsaid. Punches are often included as well.
That's what "Boomerang Family" is about - the dysfunctional aspects of a simple family. Strife and rivalry and fights. Envy and inferiority. Pride. Yet also moments of happiness. Eventually not being seen. Yet, being seen, too. Unspoken truths that will sooner or later be told anyway. Very private, often rough, unsightly, even downright repulsive manners in everyday interactions in the smallest of spaces, which we actually (if at all) only share in the closest, most intimate circle. E.g. in family, that takes you as you are. (Inevitably.) (Out of habit.) (Because one is just so familiar due to the proximity in time and space that one has shared.) (Out of love?)
The bottom line in "Boomerang Family" is love, which, in its most screwed up way, slumbers and lurks somewhere behind the curtain of mostly ugly, all too familiar patterns of everyday, long-established, well-established manners. Strangely enough, it is simply there.
In the world of the protagonists that curtain is rather shabby. Life is simple. The language rough. Proximity is created through shouting, scrambles and fights. Community can be experienced through shared meals, though. Those meals structure family life and become a connecting, binding medium. The common meal is the place of communication and encounter under largely regulated, peaceful conditions. Everything before and after, however, can quickly (almost certainly) get out of hand.
A special aspect for South Korean conditions, where the direct bloodline is still enormously important: Over time, it becomes clear that the protagonist family is actually a rather progressive variant of a patchwork family. Because of that fact, at first glance all seems to be in question. Nevertheless, this realization cannot erase the lived experience as a "family". The simple, unnamed, tangible, rustic, crude 'love' between siblings that is celebrated with this movie, is not in the genes, but has grown out of shared experiences. In this message lies the magic of this otherwise rather brittle, sometimes dark story. Eventually the heaviness is balanced here and there with a breeze of quite idiosyncratic humor.
Everyone in the family has their own stories and small, medium or big tragedies that bring them back together under one roof. A dysfunctional family to touch, true to life, authentic, in all obscenity. As a spectator, you are brought up close, sometimes closer than you might like. Heaviness and pessimism may want to impose themselves in the course of events, but they ultimately fail to determine the emotional space. You wouldn´t believe it, but the story ends on a consistently positive note.
The KMovie is a film adaptation of a novel. It could also be a theatrical performance. It touches, repels, shamelessly places the ugly next to moments of happiness. Who actually is to judge life? What is good? What is beautiful? What is valuable? What is happiness? Ultimately, all protagonists feel (not only, but ALSO) valuable and happy in their affiliation. So what are the criteria for evaluating the quality of life? "Boomerang Familie" chooses a very idiosyncratic, but ultimately soothing perspective - beyond lifestyle, image, aesthetics or monetary wealth.
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Well, I liked it!
DISCLAIMER: I do have notoriously low standards hahaI did go in with very low expectations after reading the main review but NO regrets watching it <33
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STORY:
PLOT OVERALL: It was like a cute little on-shot written with the synopsis ("Actors Play and First being made to live together for 10 days in a house to find/whip up chemistry for their upcoming series ") as prompt.
-1- I am pretty much sucker for a good "OBLIGATORY-LIVE-IN" plot, especially when mashed with an "HATE-TO-LOVE" ingredient. And I got it here.
Actors Play and First being made to live together for 10 days in a house to find/whip up chemistry for their upcoming series - was an acceptable and believable excuse. (I've seen series coming up with much more ridiculous reasons to push two people together).
-2- CHARACTER GROWTH: Personally I DID FIND subtle growth and changes in character - and that was all I needed. The story is of 10 days span and they pretty much had an slow steady built relationship, catalyzed by situations of close proximity and a third party, maybe hindered by personal inhibitions - common plot development but always realistic and understandable.
-3- DEPTH: Was lacking, or I am missing some details. But again, for a 5 episode plot explaining 10 day story with lot of fanservice scenes, it is not expected in an average show.
-4- PACE: Was slow, even super slow at times, I could safely skip 5, 10 seconds instead of waiting for something to happen and that's saying something. I was thankful to the speed controlled widget I have lol, I watched a lot of scenes between 1.2 to 1.8 speeds.
-5- HUMOR: It was a little bonus, to my humor sense, some scenes were funny, and I lowkey like Penelope (even though she was a little "clingy" at some parts haha).
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ACTING: GOOD.
MAIN LEADS: IMO CHEMISTRY WAS GOOD - their acting could show growth of their chemistry well, and the awkwardness in the beginning too. Nothing in to make me feel cringed or that it was unnatural.
There was indeed a little something missing in the chemi - a tiny little bump I cannot quite place - but as a casual viewer I was satisfied.
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SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:
I liked the variety in natures of the casting team. PRAEW was either aloof or just acts that way and probably a Y-girl, FAH was strict and more of a cold minded professional, PENELOPE was colorful character who could does have flaws but is also sensitive and fun, DIRECTOR pretty much impressed me in the tea scene lol-he gave his all, CHAI too surprised with acting skill in "that one scene". PLUTO was the sweet kind of second lead who in a well produced drama can give SLS induced heartaches.
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REWATCH VALUE: I am not big into rewatching but this definitely makes my list!!!!! It could be a cute comfort show for another day.
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