News 
At the time, I needed something cliche to watch so this seemed to be the right option.
2) Storyline/Plot:
Well, it wasn't that special or original, it's one of the common rom-com stories that you can find anywhere but it wasn't boring.
Positive points:
*Funny moments mixed with romantic moments along with serious moments made this film appealing somehow.
*The seduction element was somehow hilarious and childish which excludes blank moments during the story's development.
Negative points:
*This is your usual rom-com so don't expect anything special from it since it had all the cheesy-cliche moments that you probably saw before.
Story: 5.5/10
3) Acting/Cast:
*Henney Daniel: his presence made this film very interesting to watch plus he was speaking good English not the sort of English that would hurt your ears. I am going to be subjective about his acting because all I saw there was only looks and *inser shallow feelings*.
*Uhm Jung Hwa's peformance wasn't bad but the role didn't fit her age, there were serious age probems in this film.
*Anyway, the chemistry was acceptable so no hard feelings about the acting department.
Cast: 6/10
Acting: 4.5/10
4) The ending:
This was your typical rom-com ending but I have to say that I didn't appreciate the final scene.
The ending: 7.5/10
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*I had fun while watching this film mainly because of Daniel which means my shallow feelings took over while watching this plus it's one of the fewest rom-com films that I rewatch sometimes only for my shallow feelings.
My impression: 8.5/10
6)Overall:
*If u like rom-coms then you would like this.
*If you want to watch a good looking male lead then this is for you.
Overall: 6.5/10
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Strong beginning but nc-scenes alone don't tell a story...
While watching the first two episodes, I thought we get something different and interesting from Thailand for a change, but the script writers had no clear vision and in the middle of the series it felt just flat. We got our 2D awful father, of course the family of the other one was not better anyways and we got a side-couple to fill in the minutes.The nc-scenes in the beginning were a story driver but that also collapsed in the middle of the show. At least they did try very hard to show us always different scenes, but that could not save the series. The endless explainations of the meaning of "peaches" was also getting on my nerves. It's ok to set it up once, but there is no need to repeat it every episode.
The side-couple could have been a balancing force with the sex-driven main couple but that also failed when in episode 4 they had sex quite quickly considering one of them was extremely reserved. After that the side-couple is just an afterthought with barely any screentime.
Production quality was ok, there where the occasional sound problems due to on body microphones, they used a lot of blur for no reason and an excessive amount of lipstick. The pacing was all over the place, especially in dialog scenes between the sentences they streched the time. This made some parts of this show quite boring. Instead of 60 minutes per episode, 40 would have been enough. Overall this is just an average show, started with a strong premise but it ended up in smoke and blur.
Was this review helpful to you?
First i have to say to everyone who don't want to watch it because of the 100+ episodes, just watch it ! Each episode lasts 30min so it's really fast. But i have to admit that i watched this drama in one year ! Why ? Just because it's the type of drama you want to watch when you need to laugh, don't have a lot of time ( for exemple during exam ) and you need some fresh air. Every episode have a different story but it has a link and every charachter has his "highligh" moment. This drama made me laugh ( like reaaaaally ), cry, had goosehumps ! I loved every single charachter and i am very sad to say goodbye, but well after a year it was time i think :)
Anyway, I have so much more to say about it but i am just gonna say : watch it, it totally worth it
Was this review helpful to you?
In the beginning, I was totally annoyed by Anna's personality. She was just some high society lady, never satisfied with anything, always greedy. Oh Yoo was friendlier and more sympatic. But as the story continued, I noticed how special Anna is.
You may think she is just like all those spoiled young women that appear in a lot of shows and Anna really is. But somehow she has grown dear to me. I can't really say why. Her character developes during this Drama, but still she is very unfriendly to everyone. She experienced so much already, so she can't change this much anymore.
After completeing the Drama, I'm really missing the Anna who was always yelling and complaining. Just like Chul Soo's love to her my affection to her also grew. I just love the way she developed but still remained the same.
Even thought Anna was the main character and carried nearly all of the story by herself, the side stories were very amusing as well. They made me laugh several times, but still they fit in well since they had some dramatical scenes as well. I was disapointed because there were one or two scenes where the comedy part didn't quite fit.
Over all I think the comedy and drama parts were well timed and well balanced.
The music was also fitting very well, I seldomly enjoy an OST this much. I'm even listening to it at the moment (:
Overall I'd highly recommend this Drama. I'm sure it won't fit everyones taste, but to me it seemed very well balanced, except some scenes of a side story. Still I liked the whole cast, especially Anna and Kang Ja (her friend). The main story was enjoyable, so I'm considering watching the original movie, even thought I'm afraid that it might be a bit disappointing...
Was this review helpful to you?
KBS Drama Special 2013: My Friend Is Still Alive
31 people found this review helpful
Kikwang plays the role of a leukaemia patient extremely well and the love between both best friends was evident.
Since it was only one episode long, there were some parts of the story that were underdeveloped but yet, I still enjoyed and I still loved it.
I would definitely recommend, besides, it's only an hour of your time. Why don't you take a watch and see for yourself?
Was this review helpful to you?
They are beautiful and hardworking ladies BLINKS let's keep on supporting them
Was this review helpful to you?
One of my personal favourites but might not be yours
My humble apologies as this review is not in my normal style. I did start to write the typical review but after several paragraphs, I had to stop. I was doing my usual breakdown of the plot, discussing certain scenes and review the acting when I realised that I'm not making sense why I like this show so much. So let's try something different . . .On paper, this is a mid budget, college romance with no big name actors. AKA a B-grade c-drama that is turned out by the dozen every year to feed the programme scheduling beast. I would go as far as saying that it is better than a typical idol drama but still hardly a top tier show.
Now that we have laid the cards on the table, please indulge me with a bit of subjective rambling. ;)
As a college romance, my expectations are quite low. I’d be happy with a decent filler while I wait for the next blockbuster release. What I didn't expect is to binge watch all 24 episodes with barely a pause. I still can't quite quantify the reason why I liked it so much but it just clicks with me. May be a lot has to do with the script resonating with me. I was fully invested in their lovelines. Even the little acts of love and kindness feel just right to me and spark joy. I actually watch with anticipation which is rare these days. Meet Yourself was the last show that touched me in a similar way but that show is S class.
Similarly, the acting of the leads resonated with me. Yes, their characters are cliches. The usual feisty FL and ice king ML but there is depth to their characters. Both have damaged psyches due to their upbringing and the breakup of their family unit. They have a fear of abandonment and while the FL hides behind a facade of exaggerated cheerfulness, the ML learns to show no emotions as a way to survive living with his demanding and abusive mum.
While many shows have used the fate card to tie the leads together which usually involves some form of childhood entanglement or accidental encounters that are nothing more than contrivance, this show actually sticks the landing. The leads' childhood friendship is quite poignant and has a long lasting effect on both of them. How they resolve their historical misunderstanding is beautifully done. Once again, this is a very subjective point. Some might see it as dribble and a blatant act to tug at our heartstrings. That is a fair call and I can only say that it works for me.
I am also surprised that the 2CP is good as well. They are not the lazy pairing of the typical BFF's just to fill the quota and use up some screen time. Their romantic journey is heartfelt and I can ship them wholeheartedly.
Both CP’s have great chemistry and a decent amount of skinship. Once again, they just appeal to me. I like how they complemented each other. They're provide each other with what their SO is longing for.
Of course it can’t be all rainbows and unicorns. There are some narrative issues. For instance, while the show is angst lite, it is not all smooth sailing. Although none of the protagonists are really evil, their actions still have a significant impact on the leads and their friends. Yet they are readily forgiven and everyone just carries on as if nothing has happened. That doesn’t sit comfortably with me. Some of the side plots are meaningless and some of the support roles are straight out of central casting. I don't mind them in the bigger scheme of things but others might take umbrage.
I can see the good and the bad of this show. They are not dissimilar to other shows. Yet, it hits me in the feels like few others. So my score for this show is more subjective than usual. You might have a different opinion and I respect that.
I am happy to recommend this show but your mileage may differ.
Was this review helpful to you?
Lighthearted Comedy with Depth
I loved this drama! The actors were amazing, especially with their spot-on comedic timing. What I really appreciated was how they kept things light, even while dealing with some pretty serious cases. They didn’t let the comedy take away from the heavier themes but also didn’t let things get too serious—it struck the perfect balance. A lot of shows like this start off funny but end up feeling way too heavy by the end, but that wasn’t the case here, which I really enjoyed.I also loved how they gave credit to almost all the extras at the end—it was such a nice touch, and it gave me the chance to relive some of the funniest moments from the show.
They also did a great job subtly touching on deeper issues like the struggles of parenting, athletes not living up to their potential, the scars parents leave on their kids, following careers you’re passionate about, and dealing with loss. They handled all of it thoughtfully without going over the top.
A couple of personal highlights for me were Kim Dong Wook’s goofy smile and the character of Dong Gu—they both brought so much charm to the show. This is definitely my second favorite, right after Gaus Electronics!
Was this review helpful to you?
Watch Lighter and Princess first!
Listen to me. Have you seen Lighter and Princess? No? Watch that first. You’ve seen L&P already? Then be prepared for a downgrade when watching this. These two shows are quite comparable. The setups are the same (a college romance in the beginning) and the basic structures are similar. Both include a breakup at the midpoint with a timeskip (not a spoiler), with a significant business focus sprinkled in between while ML desperately attempts to salvage whatever love they have for each other. It’s difficult not to compare them.The first 14 episodes or so are fairly standard. Nothing to write home about. A college romance. He’s a sneaker designer starting his own business, while she’s a struggling college student entering the world of business finance to support her mother. Slowly but surely, a romance develops, only for the show to break them up in the latter half of the story. Sound familiar? I told you it’s similar to Lighter and Princess. This is where the writing truly begins to test your patience.
I wouldn’t call it toxic per se but the “will they, won’t they” shtick was really annoying. The pushing each other away in order to protect the other person had my eyes rolling numerous times. ML is particularly guilty of this, and his decisions led to significant consequences.
There is a second couple, but many would find a professor-student relationship pairing weird, but I didn't think much of it. Their storyline was not particularly interesting by the end anyway.
For me the best thing about this show was the opening duet performed by Arthur Chen and Sabrina Zhuang. Really good.
Was this review helpful to you?
One, I loved the message that the drama brings to the table, which I elaborate on further below.
And Two, it was fun to see some leading jdrama actors (Oguri Shun, Narimiya Hiroki, Yamapi, and Ninomiya) before they hit their peaks of popularity.
STORY-
The drama is about a group of 4 high school friends and all the crazy things that they get into in the process of losing their virginity.
They also reunite with their childhood friend Chie (Suzuki Anne), who seems to have her own reasons for coming back into their neighborhood.
The story is written well, with a perfect balance of comedy and touching moments between friends and family. The plot twists are interesting and I was quite invested in the characters. I usually hate love triangles with a passion, but this drama managed to do a believable and sweet love triangle that I actually connected with emotionally.
At its heart, STAND UP! is a coming of age drama with a focus on sex and friendship.
ACTING/CAST-
Great acting all across the board. Tons of character development and fun minor characters.
Ninomiya really impressed me with his portrayal of Sho: he played insecure, naive, and adorkable very well
Also, Suzuki Anne took the Chie's character and made her into a sweet and endearing female lead.
MUSIC-
Pretty decent soundtrack featuring Arashi.
LAST THOUGHTS-
Though this is a teen sex comedy, there is a good amount of character development, so it's worthwhile to watch. There are also positive messages throughout the drama which reinforce that love is more better than sex. And not to fall into peer pressures. And that sex has consequences. And friends are awesome!
One of my favorite j dramas for its laughs and for its heart.
Was this review helpful to you?
Scriptwriter is Mad, Crazy Good
This scriptwriter is mad, crazy good -- they say a mark of a remarkable script writer can draw in the audience despite the story’s complexity. To slowly but swiftly and persistently keep an audience engaged, guessing, and wholly invested in each character, the heroes and villains, takes a lot of talent. This writer’s ability to spin the web of the story extends further and more profound than what’s visible on the surface, and that’s why despite being confused at times, I remain engaged without judgment for the haze of confusion to clear away that effectively happens at the opening of each episode. I love this writing style. But as good as this writer is, the actors, director, and editing team interpreting the script are even better. Kang Ha Neul and his cast of friends and foes leave me wanting for more each time. One of the better thrillers out there that is deliberate with the choices it makes, heightening and amplifying the cohesive and focused story goal with a consistent and escalating related conflict that is exciting as it is complex.I I truly enjoyed this intensely complicated yet surprisingly fulfilling journey that Insider laid out. I want to give a massive shout-out to Lee Yoo Young for how well she plays Oh Soo Yeon. I never truly appreciated her acting until this one. Given the right part, I believed she could deliver even better, and she's proved me right. Every character plays a key role, especially the villains in Heo Dong Won as Yang Jun and Jung Man Shik as Yang Hwa, they are worthy of praise. It's easy to be slighted when playing against Kang Ha Neul, who is golden as the very complicated yet brilliant Yo Han. Still, Kang Young Seok in the role of Jang Seon Oh and the ever-so-engaging Choi Dae Hoon as No Seung Hwan definitely held their own and deserve to be recognized for their brilliant acting. Insider must not have been an easy drama to write. Kudos to the writer, the director, and the production team. I hope this drama gets awards as it's up there with some of the best of 2022.
One of the better written, directed, acted, and edited dramas I have seen since My Mister. Undoubtedly one of the best of 2022. I loved how complicated yet engaging this drama was; the writer threw a lot at us, and sometimes I felt like I was drowning but not once was I bored. On the contrary, I couldn't wait for the next episode, especially the first three to five minutes that connected all the missing dots. I will miss the whole cast; everybody played a crucial role in making this drama the success it became. As I wrote yesterday, everyone is deserving of an award. But especially the writer for penning such an intricately complex story that, in its complexity, made all the sense possible, Kang Ha Neul, Lee Yoo Young, Kang Young Seok, and Choi Dae Hoon, who has a special place in my heart.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
The drama is based on a manga that I haven’t read so I can’t compare but from the overview, I am sure this story can make a fine anime if that’s ever planned. I always said that Japanese tend to pick interesting and different plots for their dramas; this is definitely one of those intriguing topics that invade Japanese seasons each year. The plot may seem a little heavy due to some episodic procedures but it’s smartly written to overtake certain sensitivity against the episodic pattern.
S - Saigo no Keikan (aka S - The Last Policeman) is about Special Forces in the Japanese police organization and their way of handling terrorist attacks or situations. The main focus of the drama is NPS, a new special force that gathers the qualities of two older Special Forces SAT and SIT. NPS’s purpose is to secure criminals without killing them, that’s the main belief of the force, its members and our main lead. The operations’ build-up feels quite real although the final outcome can be fairly dramatized for the sake of emotions.
Despite being a straightforward action drama with lots of gun shooting and explosions, the drama’s main focus was the ethics and the feelings behind each case. It’s indisputably not brainless action for the sake of entertainment, it’s also not action games for the sake of thrills, military techniques or the suspense; it’s action for the sake of human emotions and relationships. It was an interesting take of the police, its higher-ups and the power struggle between Special Forces.
Acting wise, this drama’s producers knew how to choose their leads, supporting roles and even guest stars. Mukai Osamu and Ayano Go had a good chemistry as opposites in the same line of work. Although Ichigo’s character would sound a little cheesy with his over-concentration on not killing any criminal but he managed to keep the character interesting until the very last end. However, Ayano’s Soga was more penetrating with a cold character and a detailed back story. Another interesting character must be Odagiri Joe’s Masaki Keigo, the actor does crazy roles so well; I am glad I will be seeing lots of him this year. If we talk about acting then we shouldn’t forget the veteran Omori Nao and other cast members that delivered so well no matter how small the role was.
The action department was quite intriguing at times, even though shooting and bombs’ explosions weren’t present each episode but the Special Forces techniques and operations’ codes were believably made. The OST and cinematography were also pretty fitting for the drama.
Watch if:
-You’re looking for a good Japanese action drama.
-You like dramas that focus on special themes.
-You’re looking for a good casting line-up.
Do not watch if:
-You can’t stand the episodic pattern.
-You dislike the Japanese way of making action dramas.
-You’re looking for romance.
S - Saigo no Keikan is an entertaining drama with lots of action to keep you entertained mixed with dramatic moments to stimulate emotions. I will be impatiently waiting for the film!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
loved everything about it except ending
In the last few episodes, they showed all happy moments then I understood something bad is going to happen in the ending, as expected I didn't like the last two episodes. The last two episodes ruined my overall experience of watching this show, felt like 15hrs that invested in this show went waste. I was too involved in drama throughout, maybe that's why I feel this much disappointment. I absolutely loved all characters, that's why the last two episodes were like hell for me. goshhh i wish I could change that part of the story.anyways for talking about positives, ML is super cute, the characters that you may dislike in the beginning will make you fall in love with them eventually. people who just watch for entertainment and don't get much involved in the story can enjoy this show as one time watch.
I know no writer or director is going to consider my review but still wanna mention that 90% of the audience like happy endings. for god's sake don't play with audience emotions towards the end of the show. many awesome fantasy dramas keep us involved in the story but breaks our heart towards the end, I know for writers its creative work, and they have their own imagination and understanding of the story and what they want to deliver to the audience but we would appreciate if they keep in mind that we watch dramas/shows for entertainment, so please don't spoil endings for us, just let us leave with a smile of our face after finishing watching it. don't ruin our overall experience with overdramatic endings.
Was this review helpful to you?
The acting is excellent. Unexpectedly the chemistry between Kam Woo Sung as Dong Ha and Choi Soo Young as Bom Yi is palpable. The age difference between them in the drama is 18 years and in real life is 20 years. I think some people might have a problem with it. However, Bom Yi is the kind of person in whom everyone would fall in love. Bom Yi's personality is well written and portrayed. Choi Soo Young is beautiful and seamlessly kept balance between optimism and depression I have totally fallen for Kam Woo Sung. His portrayal of loving strength is perfect. I would definitely want to be in a relationship with that kind of person. I am now going to find time to watch every thing he has done. The other actors are good too, but I came to not care much about anyone other than the main leads and the children,
The music is beautiful.
I won't rewatch this, but I can see someone might want to rewatch it.
I highly recommend this drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
