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Give it a chance
! There Might Be Spoilers !Yes, there are no spice scenes at all, and yes, there is no kissing (the little one while Hem was asleep, doesn't count)
But I think everyone should watch this series at least once.
This is a MAJOR SLOW BURN, so don't go in expecting anything else. With that being said, there is a lot to it, honestly, the underlying message that the series gives overall.
The whole series is stunning, the secenry was enough to make me watch but the tension that Fifa and Hem give off was enough to make me stay, there is no spicy scenes at all or even kissing and I kept yelling "Just kiss already" may times in the last episode but after thinking about it, it doesn't need all of that, the tension between the two was some of the best in any Thai BL's.
It's easy to forget that we don't need heavy spice scenes to make a good series. I think if you're reading this and on the fence about watching it, give it a chance because I believe you will be missing out on a fantastic series.
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Ok I'm going to try to make this short...
So plot wise this story was a very heavy melodrama but for me it wasn't overpowering like most melodramas. It had a different feeling to me. A bittersweet feeling. It always felt as though even during the happy moments there were hard ones.
Yes this drama is painful to watch. It's a story of a forbidden love filled with heartbreak. What can you expect? I loved every single second of it though.
All of the cast gave of this real and raw energy. The emotions that they expressed just felt so real...
Park Shin Hye was only 16 at the time when she filmed this drama but she was able to portray a adult and someone who was being abused with ease. I was impressed not very many 16 year olds would be able to do what she did.
Lee Wan who I had never heard of before was great. He didn't speak for a large part of the drama but was able to express himself without talking. That's when you know their good actors.
I tried listening to the OST after finishing the drama but I kept on visualizing what had happened. The OST was astounding but I recommend waiting a few days before you start listening to it again.
I gave this a low re-watch value because for me it would be to hard watching this drama again..while knowing what happens.
I would say to everyone go and watch this drama! I highly recommend but do it when you are feeling happy and are in a good place.
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Warm and fuzzy atmosphere, it hurts a bit but in a good kind of way, oh and lots of pining
Soramame and Oto meet for the first time and as a watcher you instantly know they have a connection which only deepens as they get to know each other. Both of them are talented in different fields but what they have in common is that they aren't living up to their true potential yet. They can rely on each other and help each other tackle the various hurdles life throws at each of them.They banter with each other like siblings but at the same time you know they care for each other deeply. The mutual pining will tug at your heartstrings, it may become a bit frustrating at times but all in all their journey is quite plausible to me and I enjoyed it a lot.
It has to be said that the romance part of the series is not the main focus, each lead has a lot on their respective plate. If you're looking for a drama where there's an abundance of skinship or where the couple starts dating in the third episode or so, this drama might not be the right fit for you.
The atmosphere is what I love a lot about this drama. You get those warm and fuzzy feelings when they sit together at dusk (!) sharing what happened that day or to give the other a push in the right direction if they're stuck with something they're working on at the moment. The title of the series fits really well because a lot of the scenes take place in the quiet evenings when you can see the last sunrays of the day on their faces. The setting is very intimate and I liked the conversations they held.
The music underlines the cozy atmosphere, sometimes with a nice song and with the slow piano and strings version of said piece at other times - or no music at all which leaves the deepest impact. I already checked out Yorushika and put some of their songs on my playlists.
I'm by no means an acting expert but I think the cast did a very good job. They made me laugh and shed a few tears (which is not something that happens to me a lot when watching a drama) so in my opinion they accomplished their goal.
Rewatching a series is not something that I do frequently but I can safely say this one will be a candidate.
This has become one of my favorite romantic dramas from Japan. Most of the times there's a point at which I get bored but that was not the case here although I have to admit the ending was a bit drawn-out.
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I decided to watch this movie on a whim not knowing what to expect, little did I know, that 2 hours later, I would end up being left mesmerized. This film is not for everyone (a word of caution there is strong sexual content and nudity), some may even call it disturbing, but if you look past it, you'll see and hear a beautiful story being told right in front of your eyes and ears. The directing, acting, casting, and music painted a canvas so breathtaking, it would almost be a shame not to call it a masterpiece. The ending was so poignant it left me feeling something I've rarely ever felt before, the feeling of breathlessness.
This is one of those films that you watch once in a lifetime (as reflected in the scoring I prescribed) not because it isn't worth rewatching, but because you'll still remember it, way down the line.
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The story of this drama shows how the life of a normal family really is. You'll learn many things by watching this and it'll make you understand each situation of an individual in the family.
The actors really did a great job because they had shown their versatility as actors and actresses. This sitcom is long but you'll love every part of it because it'll really make you laugh and cry.
This drama is excellent and you'll never regret watching it.
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Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring
33 people found this review helpful
This was a movie that showcased the beauty of life in all it's stages, what the world can show you if you only watch and listen, and how harmonious it can be. This is not a fast paced film, nor is it filled with alot of dialogue. However, 10 years later I still remember this film fondly and look forward to watching it again.
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A story with great potential, that lost its spark along the way
I was really looking forward to this drama, it seemed like it would be fun and refreshing, and I have to say it was. I loved this drama so much during the first half. It was funny, the characters were all so real, and the drama was also able to deliver meaningful messages. The ost was cute, and I loved Eu Ddeum, he was such an adorable character. Hari and Yisang continuously made my heart flutter, and I would always look forward to their scenes. There was cute bromance as well. Oh My Baby was everything I had been looking for.However, the drama lost its spark for me at around episode 10. The characters suddenly became so immature. The angst really didn't suit this drama. Hari and Yisnag suddenly began acting like children, breaking up and getting back together again, not trying to face the problem. The episodes felt boring, and I started to watch them in 2x. I was expecting actual third lead syndrome from this, something new, but Jaeyoung and Eu Ddeum were practically useless. Jaeyoung was so frustrating. His character had such a unique setup: a man who had it all, a beautiful family and well paying job, who was now at the lowest point of his life, with a daughter to take care of. But we barley got to see his growth and he was just there to frustrate viewers. I was also disappointed with the use of Eu Ddeum's character, he was just there to add humor. For a drama that focused on an infertile couple, we hardly got to see their struggles. Instead we got unnecessary break up scenes. In the last episode, everything that had been empathized on, was suddenly no longer a problem.
The ending was cute, a little predictable but I still enjoyed it. Overall, it was an okay drama. I really wish it didn't lose its spark for me, because it could've become one of my top dramas.
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All style no substance.
I was really excited to watch this Republican period detective drama. Having enjoyed Hu Yitian and Zhang Yunlong's chemistry in My Roommate is A Detective, I couldn't wait to see them team up again in a similar setting. The adaptation of Agatha Christie's Poirot mysteries seemed like an added bonus. Sad to say, despite the visually sumptuous set and costumes, both the characters and cases are bland, uninspired and the pacing is very draggy.While Situ Yan is the lead detective, he is not meant to be a literal adaptation of Hercule Poirot. Poirot with his known eccentricities including his fastidiousness and obsession with symmetry, is one of the the most distinctive, well dimensioned fictional detectives ever. He has a clear process and methodology that is based on human nature and psychology for solving the case. I would never cast Hu Yitian as Poirot and I am ok with the fact that Situ Yan is not Poirot. What I am not ok with is the colorless, cardboard characterisation of Situ Yan as simply a highly intelligent but rather lethargic lawyer with a strong sense of justice. Hu Yitian does his best with the role but he doesn't have much to work with. This is made worse by Luo Shaochuan, the money guy whose contribution to the crime solving aspects of the partnership is unclear. This character is so indifferently written it is not worthy of an actor of Zhang Yunlong's calibre. The two leads get little screen time together as they go down disparate paths in the investigations. Unlike their previous best loved collaboration, Zhou Mowan is more often Situ Yan's sidekick than Luo Shaochuan is. Thus we don't get to enjoy their banter and their incredible chemistry that builds up and fleshes out both characters as they work through the cases. While both female leads are well written and likeable, they crowd out the bromance.
When it comes to adapting these beloved Poirot classics, I am no die-hard Christie purist. I am receptive to and have seen good adaptations that take a fair amount of liberties with the original works. This can be successfully achieved because changes notwithstanding, the adaptation remains true to the essence of Christie; the psychology of the crime. This is where Checkmate fails to deliver. The supporting cast is very mediocre and lacks screen presence. Bland storytelling and poor pacing with unnecessary romantic digressions disrupts the build up in suspenseful tension into the final reveals. The cases must be evaluated convincingly from the point of view of each character, to assess their psychology as a sense of imminent peril escalates. Who was the victim? Why would someone want them dead? Who would cross that line and actually do the dastardly deed? This drama fails to make me feel invested in the human aspects - the victims and potential suspects; it fails to create a sense of urgency to solve the case or engender that mixture of sorrow, pity and revulsion for the perpetrator that is signature Christie.
The first case is Murder on the Orient Express, a well known case that has been adapted to death. While this version does not stand out, it stays close to the original and is fairly well done. Although Roger Ackroyd is also quite well done considering how difficult it is to adapt an unreliable narrator case into this format, from there, things start to go downhill. These cases are masterpieces; material changes should be weighed carefully and not made with the misguided idea that such impeccable Christie plots have scope for improvement or merely for the sake of delivering a surprise twist. Which is what they did to one of my personal favourites. They went for the plausible alternative solution which simply did not fit the human nature aspects of the case. And thus fails to deliver Christie's magic wow factor, the thrill and the chill and that sense of shock, sorrow and acceptance that it all made sense; that it is the best and only solution. It devolves further as cases are stitched together in a cut and paste fashion that is increasingly incoherent. The final case bears little resemblance to what I think must be the original. While it took no genius to spot the the final antagonists a mile away, their motives are uninteresting and unconvincing and the ending is frankly farcical.
If you are a Christie purist, I would say avoid this drama. You will feel they have desecrated some of the author's best works. If not, this is a watchable if unexceptional adaptation. The production values are quite good and the Republican period setting in Harbin has some novelty appeal even though the drama overall is all style no substance. This is a 7.0 for me but I would have rated it 7.5 if they didn't ruin Five Little Pigs and finish in such an absurd manner.
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Brilliant Cast, Average Storyline...
Easily one of the most hyped Korean movies of the year, screenwriter-director Lee’s ” Seobeok” drew attention by the collaboration of two of Korea’s biggest stars in the industry, Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum working alongside one another. However, something which does seem to have been left out in reviews beforehand in favour of biased comments upon the actors themselves, is glossing over the actual storyline.
Seobok is an odd fusion of drama, philosophy and morality in the first-half closely followed by fast-paced action with gunfights and psychic powers in the final part. It is surprising, but somehow, these two halves did blend quite well, resulting in a rather entertaining film.
The movie is the tale of Min Ki-hun (Gong Yoo) a former intelligence agent with a traumatic past. He suffers from a long-term illness which causes him to occasionally lose consciousness (mostly at times most convenient for the plot). Chief Ahn (Cho Woo-jin), his former cunning agency head, recommends that he be part of a revolutionary experiment that might help to cure him of his ailment. This experiment involves Seobok (Park), brought to life through stem cell cloning and genetic engineering. Seobok is a gentle, benevolent soul who is fascinated about the world, and morbidly about mortality.
Seobok’s bone marrow contains special cells that could unlock the secret of immortality. Unsurprisingly, a lot of people are interested in him, mostly for selfish reasons.After a surprise ambush by some military forces, Min and Seobok find themselves on the run together. If viewers can put two and two together, the screenwriting openly becomes predictable as the story moves along .
Admittedly, the action scenes are pretty enthralling, opening up in the beginning of the film with a terrific moment when a vehicle is driven through a brick wall. Yet whilst the plot does begin to build up to a satisfying climax, the pacing is ultimately slow in parts with perhaps the only reward seeing the antagonists get their just desserts, as well as some more profound moments of angst-ridden backstories for the characters. The philosophy in the movie whilst arguably risking the problem of being overwrought, did add a multifaceted layer to the storyline.
As far as acting goes, Seobeok is certainly headlined by its two main actors Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum, who do not disappoint within their performances.
Amazingly, Gong Yoo was hesitant to accept the role at first and was unaware that he would be starring alongside junior actor Park Bo Gum. However, Gong Yoo later confessed that he enjoyed playing the role ( as well as being able to break away from his typical ” good guy” roles as a foul-mouthed and cynical agent), something which he certainly excelled within his performance as troubled protagonist Min. In a scene exploring Min’s back story, Gong Yoo captivates the pure humanity of his character in arguably one of the most memorable parts of the film.
Evidently, costar Park Bo Gum also had his fair commentary upon feeling fairly nervous with working with Gong Yoo in the film. Regardless, Park’s somewhat romanticised appearance as the mysterious Seobok, did not diminish his talents onscreen as both characters and their bond over the course of the film was fairly likeable and easy as a viewer to become invested within. Admittedly, the side characters were mediocre at best; not dire nor unwatchable, but the antagonists in particular felt formulaically one-dimensional.
As far as the ending goes it is more a matter of opinion. Some may interpret it as more a clever metaphor, whilst others may be less impressed by the abrupt and sudden conclusion . Overall, ” Seobeok” had undeniably brilliant performances by the lead actors Park Bo Gum and Gong Yoo who certainly do not disappoint. However, whilst the movie attempted to style itself as an intricately complicated philosophical, action-thriller ( and was successful to some extent in parts), it often struggled to pace its own storyline as well as breaking out of unoriginal cliches . Nevertheless, it was enjoyable in parts, and certainly worth watching to pass the time.
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Great drama, great ending and great chemistry!!
This Chinese drama is refreshing!! YES, finally one that is done right, although I believed it was filmed in 2019?Zhao Jiang Yue is a top manager in the company, just turned thirty and has never been in love or in a relationship. Gina Jin who plays the FL is off the charts in this- gorgeous, beautiful, dressing makeup and hair all done so well! Very good acting as well. I loved the way she teased her bf. Her male counterpart Gu Jiaxin is the son of the CEO, forced to be ZJY’s assistant by the mum. Although he’s a rich kid and didn’t want to work at the company, he’s thoughtful and kind, and eventually starts falling in love with ZJY.
Their chemistry is SO SO GOOD!! The stealing glances, the hand brushing against each other, the “I will protect you” manoeuvres, the intensity, the longing.... my gosh!! Can’t get enough! The other side couples are not too bad as well. The only criticism I have is the character Li Yan Ran. She appears after a few episodes, and she is the MOST ANNOYING PERSON EVER!! Her character just ruined the whole drama- seriously. I understand the writers need a female rival, but this does not cut it. UGH!
The music OST is also very enjoyable and memorable. Definitely highly recommended drama- very refreshing and feel- good overall with a great ending!! Must watch :)
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This review may contain spoilers
My Strawberry Film — When Love Exists Only in the Eyes
Many viewers claim My Strawberry Film is “not really BL or GL.”But this reaction says more about what we expect from the genre than about what this drama truly is. This is not a story about labels, kisses, or confessions shouted into the rain. It is a story about people who don’t yet have the words to name what they feel. And because of that, it is one of the most emotionally honest dramas I have watched in years.
A Story Built on Echoes, Not Declarations:
At its heart, My Strawberry Film is about how love is inherited, not biologically, but emotionally. Minami discovers that her mother, Mizuki, was once in love with her best friend Kaoru, now married to a man. When an old video of Mizuki is exposed online, Minami is forced to face the truth: her mother’s first love was a woman. This revelation doesn’t feel like a plot twist. It feels like a quiet earthquake. Minami begins to recognize herself in her mother. The same sensitivity. The same emotional intensity. The same instinct to care too deeply, too quickly. Her feelings toward Chika are not random; they are a reflection, a continuation of a story that was never allowed to finish. The series does not frame this as tragedy, but as inheritance: love passing through time, reshaped by a society that has only recently begun to allow it to exist.
Ryo and Hikaru: Love Without a Vocabulary
The emotional core of the drama belongs to Ryo. Ryo is an introvert who has been in love with Hikaru for a long time. But instead of confessing, he does what many queer people learn to do early: he supports from a distance. He hides. He waits.
For six episodes, he encourages Hikaru’s attraction to Minami, even though it quietly breaks him. The camera often places Ryo on the edges of the frame, watching from doorways, corners, behind glass. His emotional isolation becomes visual language.
Hikaru, meanwhile, does not understand himself. He is drawn to Minami because he projects onto her the look he once saw in Mizuki’s eyes in that old video—the look of someone deeply in love. But Minami never looks at him that way. The person who does is Ryo. The playground scene, where Hikaru finally asks Ryo if he has feelings for him, is one of the most painful moments of the series. Ryo hesitates. Hikaru’s eyes fill with fear. So Ryo lies. Not because he doesn’t love him—but because he does.
The Past as a Mirror
Episode 7 recontextualizes everything. Hikaru realizes that Mizuki’s gaze in the video was the gaze of a woman in love with another woman. He understands, perhaps for the first time, that love like this had no safe place to exist 25 years ago. And suddenly, he understands Ryo. When Hikaru finally says that Ryo looks at him the same way Mizuki looked at Kaoru, the series completes its emotional circle. Love has traveled through time, waiting for a moment where it can finally be named.
The final scene is not a spectacle. No kiss. No music swelling. Only two hands holding each other. And that is more than enough.
Why Some Viewers “Didn’t See It”
Many online reactions describe the series as “one-sided” or “not really BL.” But My Strawberry Film is not about resolution. It is about recognition. This drama belongs to the same cinematic family as His (2019), Taiikukan Baby (2008), and Asymmetry (2008)—stories where desire is expressed through silence, through gaze, through what is never said. It trusts the audience to feel. And if you were waiting for visible confirmation, you missed the emotional language the show is written in.
Final Thought
My Strawberry Film is not about who ends up together. It is about the moment someone finally understands why their heart has always been restless. If you thought nothing happened, then maybe you weren’t watching the faces. Because in this series, every silence is a confession.
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This review may contain spoilers
An Absolutely Wild Ride!
I went in with ZERO expectations after YouTube randomly recommended me the first episode, and let me tell you, the leads are both absolutely unhinged!While I love the ML, the FL stole the show for me! This lady is no damsel in distress. If anything, she’s the one causing others’ distress half the time lol and is capable of saving herself and the ML too. They are logical to an extent and think like normal human beings, which I really appreciate.
FOR ONCE, we have an ML with a functioning brain, who does not welcome the supposed dead lover back with open arms and actually asks the FL for cooperation to check if this randomly resurrected chick is sus or not. Them acting like a couple in love absolutely cracked me up. From the looks of it, the ML probably enjoyed it a little too much and has no qualms choosing the FL over the random gege-ily-back-from-the-dead chick.
The ML and FL team up quite often to break open conspiracies, and it’s so nice to see the FL being the one with the loose screws. And the ML absolutely knows that, which makes their banter absolute GOLD! (especially when they’re offing people who offend them)
The chemistry is through the roof sans the usual violence in the name of affection. There's consent asked and given once they move past the murder-y phase. Not to mention, it’s an enemy-to-lovers done right where the ML was ready to off the FL in the beginning for supposedly causing his GF to die. But once he figures out something is fishy, he not only helps the FL find the truth about her cheating BF but also helps her punish her stepmom. All the while he’s still doubting her lmao
And they both don’t give two shits about the yappers around them. The nosey sister, the domineering grandmom, the slimy brother, the spoiled child princess, everyone is background noise for them to use at their convenience and dispose of as required.
But there's character development and I actually ended up feeling sorry for the 2FL. The whole diary thing was kinda random tho but okay. The SIL became FL's follower and the grandmom sorta just accepted the situation and gave up. Yay for that honestly!
I do have an issue with them letting people go rather than dealing with them, but they all do get what they deserve, and most of it happens in things seemingly unrelated to the leads, but totally within their purview, which makes for an interesting watch. Because they know how to borrow others’ blades to deal with others, and not directly get involved and tarnish their own reputation.
The ending 3-4 episodes were kinda weird tho. It was almost like the writers forgot they had a bunch of episodes left and ran out of ideas once the 2FL's identity was exposed. The push and pull didn't feel authentic since the ML was very much making heart-eyes at the FL but suddenly had an identity crises after the diary was discovered. Again, kinda weird, since it would've made sense for the ML to be confused about his feelings during the early episodes since he was supposed to love his kinda-dead GF but suddenly felt drawn to this girl who spoke and acted in a familiar manner. But once the FL had the epiphany that she liked this guy, she was very much committed to making them a thing. Gotta respect the hustle.
The swapped person plot was very reminiscent of the coroners diary and kinda felt being thrown in for shits and giggles to pass time. Maybe they were a 20 episode drama and had to extend last min. Never-the-less, the ending was decent so I'll let it pass.
Was quite worried the FL would probably sacrifice herself with all the assertions of loving herself the most (coupled with the ML's love of letting the antagonistic brother just go) but I'm very glad they proved me wrong. She really does have foresight and is well prepared for all the shit that might go down so props to her.
I’ve previously seen the FL and my god, she’s improved by leaps and bounds. Haven’t seen much of the ML’s work, but he’s definitely on my radar now.
All in all, it’s an amazing watch, especially for a mini-drama, and if you’re looking for something with minimal dog-blood plots with sensible leads who have more than one brain-cell between them and actually TALK to each other instead of making wild assumptions from thin air, you should definitely check this one out! Kinda surprised it hasn’t blown up much, but I guess limited availability could be a reason too. Hopefully, we get better subs in the future :/
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Be ready to stuck by lightening
Where to start… its amazing story. From start to end a journey full of emotions, love and compatibility. The chemistry was on fire n I am not exaggerating if i say that they didn’t even need to kiss to create fire 🔥. Don’t worry you will get plenty of 😘. My favourite character was Li Xi although he seemed to be a stubborn guy (exactly opposite to a gentleman, sometimes acted like a jerk yes an extremely proud guy .. or Atleast he pretended to be) but deep down he was a softy. He took his time to understand his surroundings and value friendships but he tried after many events (considering his background we can digest it). All in all I congratulate Arther Chen for being my new offical crush (damn cute). The FL was good. The thing i like most about her that she was not hesitant to express herself. She didn’t care about the so called ‘I am girl’ image n confessed her feelings from time to time . She trusted him in every stage. She was not blinded by jealousy even he purposely tried to mislead her yet she knew him so well and trusted him till the very end!Other characters played their parts well. Guo showed most versatility in his character. He made me like him, hate him and felt sorry for him. I wished he could stop himself but … it was too late when he realised! The friendship was stained…!! ( Still happy that he ended up with Xu Luna at the end (an ending different from novel)). Ran Di was cool… Fung Xiamo was also unique in her own way( I wished she could ended up with that guy from uni days (who had a crush on her) but the director didn’t put attention on her storyline as she was already additionally acted from novel). I like the changes they made in drama version but i also liked the novel (except the last part where the writer dragged it). All in all it was one of the best dramas with a good rewatch value.
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A new favorite in the making
Original review (first 2 episodes):It's been quite a while since a drama had me hooked in the first five minutes. But from the opening scene of My Perfect Stranger I loved the music, the atmosphere, the cinematography, everything, and by the end of episode 2 I was not let down. The pace so far has been fantastic and there hasn't been a single moment I was bored. The acting from our main leads is stellar, be it in emotional scenes or quieter moments. They make these wild circumstances feel plausible simply by the realism of their reactions. As far as the story, this drama had me at time travel. I've often wished for more Korean dramas with this premise because it's a theme I've loved ever since I can remember and I'm really enjoying the execution here.
The overall tone is lighter than I expected and it's great. It sets it apart from quite a few other dramas I've seen involving crime/murder and makes for what is, in my opinion, an easier and more pleasant watch. The humor is clever and genuinely funny without being flat out comedy. Honestly, I would find it a little difficult to name the exact genre of this drama because it truly has its own unique feel, which I personally love. I can't wait to see how the plot develops, as well as the relationship between Yoon Young and Hae Joon. I already sense some chemistry there and I hope that if there is in fact romance in this show that it's not rushed or forced. I would totally dig a low key slow burn between them. The OST is the cherry on top, both with the instrumental soundtrack and the 80s songs interspersed. All in all, if the drama keeps this up, I may have a new favorite on my hands.
Update (completed):
Let me start by saying that most of my feelings from my original review remained true until the end of My Perfect Stranger. The family relationships remained strong and beautiful throughout and my love for the main couple only grew. It's been a while since I was graced with a such a subtle, unproblematic, and yet adorable romance in a drama, and my only complaint is that I wanted more of them. For the most part, the drama managed to maintain the pace and feelings of suspense for me. That being said, after a while I began to realize that no matter who the culprit was, I probably would not feel shocked when their identity was revealed. Why? Because I had already spent hours considering every single person in the entire cast. Any one of them could be the culprit, it seemed, and I started to feel that none of them would surprise me. Sadly, I think that turned out to be true. The reveal simply did not pack the punch I was expecting from such an intense drama, and that was possibly the most disappointing part for me. I couldn't fully appreciate the climax because I was waiting for a second identity reveal that would REALLY shock me and prove the first one just a fakeout. Needless to say, that didn't come.
I've heard some mixed things about this drama and I know some people felt it became too contrived or went downhill. Personally, I don't know how contrived it was, but I enjoyed it beginning to end largely because I could almost always follow the plot. It felt like the writer prized the story more than shock value, and the same cannot be said of many in its genre. It is worth mentioning that I don't usually watch dramas as they air and it's possible I couldn't appreciate some of its flaws simply because I couldn't remember them lol. I do think it took a bit of a plunge into darkness later in the drama and that grew a little tiresome for me, but it did manage to bring back some of the humor and heartwarming elements again.
I have a few other gripes here and there, but in the end, I let them go because I think that overall, the drama did what it set out to do. It told a nostalgic time travel story that was both emotionally intense and heartwarming, and is ultimately about second chances. It wasn't afraid to delve into deep tragedy and heartbreak, which made the victories and happy moments that much sweeter. We got rare focus on family relationships and friendships, beautiful arcs both in the characters and relationships, and an extremely satisfying ending that left me smiling and feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside. I definitely recommend this one, flaws and all.
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