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My only complaint is that I wanted more episodes,I mean, how could they end at just 8 episodes? But there has been reports that other 8 episodes are already filmed, so fingers crossed for that.
You can watch it on Netflix if you are in the mood of something light and mushy.
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Extremely Terrible Story Line
I normally don't write reviews. But this drama is so astoundingly, record-breakingly bad that I had to break my own record and write a review for once. I'm usually pretty generous with my ratings, I don't normally score anything under 7. So giving this a 3 means that I literally cannot stand this drama.To be clear, I found this drama to be bad from the start. But I pushed through because people kept saying it gets better (also because I can never find myself dropping a drama no matter how bad it is). Unfortunately, it never really gets better. I did find the drama a bit more bearable around episode 26 / 27 and thought I was going to finally be okay with the drama. But then I continued watching and it just turned out to be even worse.
Acting - Okay to start off, I don't really have major problems with the acting. It's not spectacular, but it's decent, watchable. As a fan of Zhao Li Ying though, I have to say her acting in this one is not on par with her own standard. There were some parts when you could tell that she wasn't really mentally there because she was just staring off into space. Just by looking at her eyes, you can tell she has spaced out. And that she's tired. She looks really tired and slightly aged in this drama. Maybe she made her comeback too early, I don't know.
Characters - Oh my God. There were just way too many dumb characters. Apart from Zhou Fei and Xie Yun (and maybe head of Disha Shen Tian Shu) all the other characters are pretty dumb. Li Yan gets the award for stupidest character in this drama. She's just so annoying. She cannot fight, doesn't have any common sense, is extremely naive, always gets into trouble and yet she always insists on tagging along. I'm just done with her. All the other characters feel a bit bland too. I think Li Sheng is the only character who had some sort of character development. He changed, still cannot fight really well and does occasionally dumb stuff but he became a bit more logical and mature I guess. But the other characters? No good character development.
A lot of the side characters like Third Prince and that young master from I forgot what mini sect serve no purpose other than being dumb and creating trouble for Zhou Fei and Xie Yun again and again and again and again. Some characters like the generals are honestly pretty useless too. I feel like they supposedly played some important role in the war or something but I always just forget who they're supposed to be. Zhou Fei's parents are also MIA for most of the drama, so again they don't really contribute much.
Story - This is what I have the biggest problem with. Right from the very start, there were way too many supporting characters with their own stories. There were way too many sub-plots that you can't even make out what the main story line is supposed to be. As the story progresses, they (slowly) start to focus less on the sub-plots but by then, you're so confused you still don't know what the story is. And then you get to the middle and you realize that maybe the story line is about this highly coveted treasure / artifact / god-knows-what called Hai Tian Yi Se. So what exactly is Hai Tian Yi Se? You will only find out in the second last episode because guess what? None of the characters know what Hai Tian Yi Se is either!! Yay, so nice. Is this supposed to make viewers more curious and drawn to find out more? Because it only made me frustrated. Also, I don't know if I missed it or what but they never really explain in detail about the tokens of Hai Tian Yi Se is either. It's like just some casual comments here and there about the lock, about the sheath etc. So here I am, having finished the drama and I still don't quite know what the full 5 tokens are :/ I don't think I've ever been so lost while watching a drama. I'm usually the one thinking "have you guys not been paying attention?!" when I see people commenting asking when something happened or asking to confirm something that has already been confirmed in the drama. But with this drama, I'm the one going "wait what is going on? did they already explain this cause i'm lost and i don't know what is happening". They also casually miss out some stuff like whatever the hell happened to Chu Chu's brother? They just casually forgot about him.
Here are also some of the other stupid stuff that they did throughout the drama + about the drama:
- too many flashbacks that make no sense
- having really really long flashbacks in the middle of the battle???
- talking in the middle of the battle
- escaping but then stopping halfway to start chatting and joking around
- Zhou Fei constantly breaking her blades (this never happens in other wuxia dramas but she breaks her blades like nobody's business)
- Zhou Fei and Xie Yun acting cheeky and lovey dovey when there's dead bodies around them (no, the dead bodies aren't even of the villains. THOSE ARE DEAD BODIES OF PEOPLE ON THEIR SIDE)
- catching up to the villain but not killing them immediately, letting the villain escape so they can wreck more havoc in the future
- DOING ALL THE WORK FOR THE BAD GUYS AND LETTING THEM WALK AWAY WITHOUT A FIGHT WHAT THE HELL
As a viewer, struggling to even make out what the main storyline is, IS THE WORST THING EVER! That is a sign of extremely bad storytelling. Need I say more? (No.)
Music - Personally, I don't hate the OSTs. I might even have liked it if not for the fact that I am so repulsed by this drama that I can't even bring myself to like the OSTs.
Production quality - Yeah the editing is pretty bad. Some of it doesn't even make any sense, like they just cut off the scene without any elaboration or explanation or follow up scene. Also there were some parts when they blurred out the face of the body double?? WHAT EVEN
In conclusion, it's a terrible drama. If eye candy is enough to satisfy you, or if you're just here for the romance, sure go ahead then. But if you don't care for the above two, don't bother watching.
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It's incredibly rare for me to give 10 to something because I think that's the vote reserved to just masterpieces and nothing else but that's exactly what is Sotus for me: a masterpiece and the most beautiful and perfect love story I've ever seen.
I love every aspect of this drama, the actors are great (especially the two leads who seem really in love, I was blown away by their performance, they deliver all the feelings in an incredible realistic way) the characters are all likeable and adorable, the music is beautiful and perfect in every scene, the love story is finally a realistic one (I was so tired of the love at first sight of movies and drama..) that keep me in tension since the very beginning ... I have no complain at all and I have to say that I hope that there won't be a second season, I'm too afraid that if there is the magic will be ruined by the same old cliches ..
I must, howewer, admit that not all in this series is perfect, there are some incredible bad mistakes like bracelets that change to one arm to the other and many things like this that could have been avoided with more attention.. the sound also is somethimes really bad but I know that is a problem of all the Thai series.
These two problems anyway for me don't ruin at all the magic that I feel in this serie that I must say it became my favourite serie of all time... yes, I'm madly in love with Sotus XD
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DON'T JUDGE BY THE RATING, THIS IS THE BEST ROMANTIC DRAMA
This is my honest review. At first, I am not really into in to this drama because I thought that this is just an ordinary romantic drama. But I tried to continue watching, and now I can say that "THIS IS THE BEST DRAMA". The story is amazing, kind of realistic relationship between two people. How do you find a love, loving each other, how to love our self, to understand the partner, and yea maybe there is a part a little bit frustrating of the story, but you have to watch, why there is a "frustrating scene". There is a reason for that, so don't stop in episode 2, you will get nothing. The line of this drama is so deep, really.The concept of this drama is fresh, like an interview. The way they tell us about their story just funny for me, like they are talking with us. Some people can't accept this new concept, but this is good concept. I mean it. Beside the good story, the ost of this drama just beautiful. Every scene has their own music, so you seem carried away into that emotion.
Ji Chang Wook is the best actor for this role. You can see by yourself from ep 1, how the emotion change every scene every episode, so does with Kim Ji won. If you watch episode 8 you can see that they are the best actors. They are perfect couple for this drama. The chemistry, the emotion just amazing.
Overall, this drama is amazing. The story, the cast, the music, cinematography, color, the view are really good. So don't judge by rating. You have to watch it first.
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Definitely deserves the title of one of the best k-dramas of 2024!!
I had pretty high hopes for this one because of the cast and the unique storyline and I am happy to say it didn't disappoint me till the end!!Pros:
1) Little to no lagging
2) No overused cliches regarding the backgrounds of the leads
3) real life issues depicted in a comical manner
4) perfect amount of episodes
5) great osts and songs throughout
6) great casting choices
7) morally grey characters finding their place in life
8) teens finding love in a cute way
Cons:
1) the biggest con I had was the superpower with time every little change you make should have huge domino effects but here they pretty much ignore those aspect ig? but we have to understand that a 12eps drama can't cover all the semantics
Overall a great show, its a breath of fresh air as compared to your everyday rom com and it was definitely a great watch, but I have to say that if you are a huge fan of romance and not the angst then you may struggle till around ep 8-9 after that I'm sure all types of viewers will be satisfied
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1This review may contain spoilers
awesome setting/styling, slightly confusing plot (watch suggestions)
Overall: while I loved the setting/styling, there were way too many characters/plot for 12 episodes and I was ambivalent about the romance aspect with the leads. Because of the collaboration, actual kisses & wide release, this got a bit of a rating boost. The series is based on a book but I reviewed the series on its own merits. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired 2 episodes per week on: YouTube, GagaOOLala, Viki, iQIYI, WeTV, Loklok & Heavenly (more info at the end of this review)Content Warnings: murders/deaths, rape?/non con turned consensual?, suicide, non con kissing, strangling, manhandling, fights/violence, blood, torture, manipulation, drugging, theft, kidnapping
Watch Suggestions (focuses on the leads, takes out love triangle, most violence/angst/pain)
- watch episodes 1-5 (beware episode 1 has non con/dub con)
- watch episode 6 at 31 minutes if you want a plot explainer
- skip episode 7 (angst and torture)
- episode 8 watch 5m30s-9 for a side couple, the rest is angst, pain, love triangle stuff
- episode 9 start at 29 minutes and watch to the end to get more plot developments
- episode 10 skip 7:30-20 or watch the whole episode
- episode 11 start at 11 min to 14:40, 18:30-20:20, 23:45-25
- episode 12 watch 7:45-18, 26:30-30, 34:10 to the end
What I Liked
- an opposites attract dynamic
- sweet moments
- setting/style
- really happy that a character convinced another character not to see/forgive a truly terrible character in episode 12
- got actual, shown kisses
- the production really made an effort to get this on as many platforms and to as many people as they could, they also wrote out the countries on their social media that had access to each platform
- collaborative effort between China, Taiwan and Thailand; hope this was successful and we see more collaborations
Room For Improvement
- exposition dump to start the series
- too many characters and plot given and I was confused until finally in episode 6 at 31 minutes they explained the plot more clearly, spent too much time on the leads apart
- wish they had modified the scenes in episode 1 and in episode 6
- how no one was concerned about the sister's fate
- wanted more relationship development shown of the side couple, it seemed that it mostly happened off screen
- Su Yin was infuriating and had way too much screen time
- the dubbing especially with 1 character (I guess he was speaking Thai and then they dubbed over it)
- odd camera angles
Thoughts on Grey Characters/Their Romantic Relationships
Sometimes these characters and their dynamic work for me and other times they don't. Here are the factors that I think about:
1. was there a realistic reason why the character/s acted the way they did in the past (Huai En was tortured/abused/manipulated his whole life but that doesn't forgive what he may have done in ep 6)
2. how bad was/is the treatment (because this is fade to black and based on reaction afterwards, I'm not sure if episode 6 was rape or turned consensual but it was still terrible, and in episode 9 he was choking the other lead)
3. were both characters grey or was one squeaky clean (Xiao Bao was pretty squeaky clean, he's very dense, Huai En was a cold blooded killer)
4. was there some kind of apology/amend making (I don't think Huai En apologized, he did save Xiao Bao and his family and risked his life to do so)
5. was there character growth (episode 9 and Huai En was still physically violent, in episode 11 he did have a revelation of the tighter he tried to hold on to Xiao Bao the more he slipped away)
6. do I believe that the characters will stay together in a happy romantic relationship (maybe)
final verdict: I'm nervous that the first time Xiao Bao looks at another attractive person Huai En will rape/kill him, but they did seem pretty happy at the end
Airing Platforms/Links/Countries (country info was from the production company)
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkzvQsQu-ofvkwO5v1gax9jqOYNYvhWN4
Airing everywhere except: Thailand, Japan and South Korea
GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4541/meet-you-at-the-blossom-2024-e01
Airing everywhere except: Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong China, Vietnam, Philippines, Canada, Australia, India, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Brazil.
Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/40650c-meet-you-at-the-blossom
Airing: Americas, Oceania, Middle East, Europe, India
iQIYI https://www.iq.com/album/meet-you-at-the-blossom-2024-1689d4pr2sl
Airing: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Macau China, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Brazil
WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/album/c5o1ffdwm6yhwy5
Airing: Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Macau China, United States, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal
Loklok - airing: Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, India, Mexico, Spain, Russia
Heavenly - airing in South Korea
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1It’s another show about a confident jerk male lead and a nice and madly in love female lead who is willing to get dumped countless times and still cannot give up on the dude. What is surprising, though: they are both somehow likable (many would disagree, so don't quote me on that). I wanted to slap Soo back to reality more than once, but I also loved all his scenes and found him to be an interesting character. Woo Yeon, even though desperate with her unrequited love, still seemed like a strong character that is slowly gaining more confidence and learning how to put herself first. The flaws were presented in a way that made me curious about the development, rather than annoyed with their current state.
The show is full of cliches, but I was weirdly not mad about them at all. I saw these plotlines in other dramas, I should be bored, but somehow I wasn’t. Why? Because I cared for these characters. I was emotionally attached to them and was genuinely interested in their stories.
I also have to appreciate they at least tried to give a better explanation for Soo being such a selfish jerk. It wasn’t just random, short conversations we usually get in dramas to explain the behavior. His past was mixed well in the overall plot and, even though it did not excuse his actions, it made me understand him more.
They took a similar approach with Woo Yeon. While she was a weak person in terms of her love life and the desperation she presented, she also was strong and striving to achieve her dreams. She wasn’t weak in all areas of her life. She was flawed in one. And that made her an interesting character.
The chemistry between all the characters was amazing. Not only romance felt natural, but also the friendship between the main and supporting cast. Nothing felt forced or unrealistic. Great acting from the cast for sure helped achieve that.
The sub-plots were also interesting, with 2 supporting couples bringing something different to the table. We got comedy and we got melo. Such a striking difference, but even when their scenes were one right after another, it never felt disconnected or like they belonged to different shows. The flow and transitions were just right.
For me it was just a fun romantic comedy that had a good amount of sub plot surrounding the main one. Nothing felt like useless fillers for me (though I am sure many people would disagree).
Do I think this drama could have been shorter? Sure. I honestly believe getting 12 and not 16 episodes would be ideal, but I have exactly the same opinion about ALL romantic comedies. They are just not meant for a longer format. The last 4 episodes were painfully full of cliches. I'm pretty sure I saw my brain a few times when I rolled my eyes so hard. That said, I am unable to name even one rom-com that avoided cliches at the end. I think it's just given and expected in the genre.
Overall, if you cannot get over the over-confident male lead that is extremely selfish most of the time and desperate for his love female lead, this ain’t for you. The characters are far more than the flaws, and I myself found them likable, but if these are your personal pet peeves, you will not like it.
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The acting was superb. From the small characters in Songjoo village to v.p Kim to the King himself. They made this drama what it is.
The plot itself for me it was an okayish story. Not that captivating. The story did not stimulate me or make me want or eager to find out more and neither did it trigger my curiosity. I was like okay okay okay the entire drama. There was never a cliff hanger that would get me to the edge of my seat or make me smile in the midst of my tears. There were no tears to begin with and no huge grin plastered on my face.
I tried reading the comments on discus to find out what the hype was all about.
In my opinion it was just fangirls fangirling on D.O that's all. His acting was superb so yeah it did deserve the fangirling.
In my opinion if you are considering watching this for the story then you will be disappointed. If you are considering watching this because you are a fan of EXO and D.O to be specific then yes you will be blown off your feet....that boy can act.
If you are looking to watch this because you are bored and you have nothing else to watch then...best advice look elesewhere.
These are my opinions you are free to agree or to disagree with me.
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THE RATINGS ARE WAY TOO LOW
Motel California is a beautifully crafted drama that delves into the complexities of first love and the emotional distance that can come between two people who are meant to be together. The story revolves around two characters who reunite after a long time apart, only to find that unresolved feelings and misunderstandings create a barrier between them. While the initial episodes are filled with angst and longing, it's essential to take the time to appreciate the gradual development of their relationship.The frustration that arises from their inability to communicate is relatable, and the dual perspectives provided by both leads allow viewers to empathize with their struggles. Unlike typical dramas where one character pines away while the other moves on, both leads in Motel California are deeply invested in each other, which adds a layer of depth to their story. The slow burn of their relationship is both heart-wrenching and rewarding, making it a captivating watch for those who appreciate emotional storytelling.
The female lead in Motel California has sparked a lot of discussions, with many labeling her as a red flag. However, it's essential to recognize that her complicated feelings and reluctance to fully engage in her relationship stem from a deeply rooted backstory. Her experiences of feeling hated and abandoned, coupled with a strained relationship with her father, shape her character in a way that makes her relatable and real. It’s not uncommon for someone to protect themselves emotionally, especially when they’ve faced such turmoil.
What I appreciate about her character is the depth and complexity she brings to the story. She's not just a simple love interest; she embodies the struggles many face when trying to reconcile their past with their present. Her journey reflects the reality of being human—feeling vulnerable while also striving to be strong. The internal conflict she experiences, especially as she sacrifices her first love for her own emotional safety, showcases her strength and vulnerability.
While it’s easy to get frustrated with her actions, it's crucial to understand her motivations. She’s a character who evolves throughout the series, and her development is a testament to the writers' ability to create a nuanced portrayal of a young woman grappling with her identity and choices. This complexity makes her journey all the more compelling, and it’s refreshing to see a character that feels so authentically human...she is a character who embodies the complexity of being human—making mistakes, feeling regret, and attempting to mend those errors while sometimes needing to take a step back. This frustration is a reflection of real life, especially when she stands in contrast to the flawless male lead, who is calm, collected, and unwaveringly loyal. While she may appear villainous to some, her struggles add depth to their relationship, which is both thrilling and heartwarming, infused with a palpable angst.
The chemistry between Na Inwoo and Lee Se Young is palpable, and their performances convey a range of emotions from longing to love. Their eyes tell a story that is both heart-fluttering and deeply emotional, capturing the essence of their characters' journey from fear to a warm embrace. This drama is beautifully crafted, with a cinematic quality that feels like a movie experience. The soothing OSTs enhance the magical chemistry shared by the leads.
While the pacing may be slow at times, it is undeniably addictive as the story unfolds. It may not resonate with everyone, but it’s worth giving it a chance—don’t just rely on ratings. The acting is exceptional, and the overall experience is one that leaves a lasting impression....
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Typical story yet well executed.
A group of good-looking boys struggling with their individual issues and a broke girl is forced to live with them under one roof. The entire story revolves around how the girl helps them deal with the problems while also falling in love with one of them who is the rudest of all. Yes, you have watched a lot of this sorts.This will be a short one bcs this drama doesn't need a detailed review nor it's anything productive giving scopes to talk a lot about.
"Let Me Be Your Knight" is clearly a pre-2015 Kdrama romcom script; in fact a trend that existed till 2015, somewhat. There is no lying in this regard from either sides, i. e. the makers and the audience. So the question should be whether it's worth a watch in the year 2022?
So to summarize this particular story, LUNA is one of the most successful KPOP Idol band known for their good looks and quality music. Things start going wrong when Tue leader of the band suffer from sleepwalking, to counter which the members have to live with an in-house psychiatrist. The psychiatrist is basically fake, who is forced to pretend like a doctor due to her financial situations. The story is all about the fake doc helping the 5 of them to overcome their hurdles accompanied by a developing love story alongside.
The acting department is pretty average, full of young actors and plenty of rookies. In Yoon Joo/Kang Sun Ju (Jung In Sun) isn't highly ambitious but aims to save a fortune and purchase back the house she lived in her as a child. Yoon Tae In (Lee Jun Young) is the lead vocalist and the leader of LUNA with horrible childhood experiences, that has led him to having sleeping disorders. Not gonna mention rest of the major characters but I must say the casting was fair.
Plot development is steady and moderately up to par. The story starts with addressing thw issues lying with LUNA and it's public image as well as the FL and her life. It mainly focuses on the ML's healing process with the FL's help. In constantly provides the audience with fluffy romcom elements along with emotional scenes. Idol life issues is equally emphasized by putting the individual members of thd group on the pedestal at different times. There is nothing much to talk about the progression, ngl. The ending was smooth and satisfactory.
I honestly never knew the makers of this drama and guessing from their biographies, this is their debut. Regardless, the director didn't have much to do given the storyline, expect for screen editing, organization and cinematography, which I think have been well taken care of. I wonder what was the need of 4 screenwriters for such a story, but well (haha). What I didn't like about the writing is the soddy character arcs; wasn't really expecting anything but it seemed very bland.
The set of OSTs are well composed. They aren't really memorable in comparison to the vast sea of songs but I like how it was mostly relatable to the story and it's essence. The theme song having the same title as the drama "Let Me Be Your Knight" is my most favourite. It's soulfully versed, beautifully composed and exquisitely sung. Other songs by the imaginary group LUNA are: "Love Paranoia" , "Beautiful Breakup" and "Love One Day". I liked all 4 of these. OSTs sung by non-cast are.
"Dreamin'" by Seo Eun Kwang (BTOB)
"You are my soul" by Monday Kiz
"Because it's you" by Kim Woojin
"Rainbow" by Celine
"Sunshine" by SUNNY
What I liked...
# The OSTs are the best thing about this drama. The entire album is so good I swear; this was the only thing I expected from and I'm glad it's been delivered.
# The way they have addressed and presented almost all of the major South Korean idol issues is thought provoking. Idol dating issues, absurd rumors, career insecurities, competition within a group, struggles in the showbiz, etc are the areas they've covered. Just disappointed that one of the issues wasn't solved how i wanted.
# I am happy it wasn't much focused either on 2-3 characters or on the romantic storyline. Other members of LUNA have a fair share of screentime unlike other Idol dramas.
# The slice-of-life references put forward were heart-touching and emotional.
Well, it is a decent thing in my opinion which can be used to pass time. Irrespective of a story full of cliché, this has the least drawbacks to be pointed out. It's an example of typical story but well executed category. This is entirely no-brainer and very predictable and not really something to look forward to,so I would have given less but the fact that I found the least numbers of technical flaws, encouraged me to be kinder, haha. I can't say it's a must watch but if you're craving old romcoms and looking for something new & light-hearted, then here you go.
P. S. In a final confession, I wanan mention that this is better than "Imitation" in the perspective of an Idol drama. I don't wanna compare "Idol: The Coup" bcs it too was better than Imitation. In fact, the former was about a script and the latter was about idol issues, whereas, "Let Me Be Your Knight" is a perfect balance between both.
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This is a movie for those who love character driven stories because it is pretty much all about the "man and woman"'s feelings and how they react to them despite their real life and responsibilities towards their beloved ones. Don't get me wrong the story isn't original, nothing new about it but the way it delivered the "feels" is top notch classic. I felt like watching a movie from the 70s and 80s I really wholeheartedly enjoyed every bits and every second of this beautiful full of feelings story.
Acting: It is not surprising that Gong Yoo would steal my heart and make my heart beat like crazy with every gaze he gave to the woman he loves. This is has got to be one of his best performances! He didn't even had much to say in the movie there wasn't much dialog for him yet he was able to deliver such powerful intense feelings which isn't really new for Gong Yoo he has done it before and he EXCELS in it. Jeon Do-Yeon was perfect she delivered those complicated "silent" emotions in such a good way I was so happy she was GY's partner in this movie (excellent casting choice). As I said "A Man and A Woman" doesn't really have new story there is nothing new here or mind blowing but GY and JDY brought this normal overused story into life and made their characters so real with intense emotions even though they didn't have much dialog. I felt their stares, i felt their gazes, i felt their strong desire for one another, i felt their longing... I swear I almost felt "there has to be something going on between those two in real life howw else can they deliver all that silent intensity just by looking at each other". Thank you for this amazing wonderful performance.
This isn't a movie for everyone, you have to be a classic lover to appreciate this. If you are into the "feels" and "emotions" delivered, if you are into character and emotion driven movies then this movie is for you. If you are looking for happy fluffy romance, if you are looking for a romance where you can cheer on and can justify then this is not your movie. The reason I say this, is because I do believe many people here are low rating classic dramas which had the same feels to this movie so I realized it doesn't appeal to everyone. I've seen this one in the cinema and most of the audience were middle aged and older I guess I wasn't the only one who thinks this is classic one :)
Thank you for this beautiful movie.
Another thing I appreciated is all the whiteness (snow) in this movie even though it was for a short time but it gave me the chills because I remembered my most beloved drama Winter Sonata (not story wise only the sceneries).
Bonus:
Gong Yoo's interview regarding this movie
http://mydramalist.com/profile/Marooya/feeds/1GJQDXtb
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This review may contain spoilers
Better off as a non fantasy family makjang
Before saying I hated the reborn part -which technically should be reawaken cuz he was 10 :) - I'll mention the good partsI love love love sungminie ahjussi's acting, and I loved his character. Maybe he looked like a villain, but he was just a business man starting from scratch and also a head of a kiss*ss family. The poor guy had to deal with new business ideas in a time it was thought crazy and risky while also having money hungry family that only wanted to please him for his inheritance.
But, lol that was a long introduction, but he once he found his "reawakened" grandson, he found his match, his partner in crazy ideas and that was the most beautiful part for me
Also sungminie ahjussi's acting was 100000000x on point
That elevator scene and his fully devastated face will hunt me forever ♡
From what I gathered, he didn't have dementia in the novel, and this is the 3rd time sungminie ahjussi does it, so I think they hit the jackpot cuz each time is different yet still heartbreaking
Another good thing for me was the 80s/90s business vibe, everyone looked great but also the theme and history really enhanced the story rather than say, him awaking as a 10 year old in 2000 and being becomong an adult in 2010s and fighting his family in 2020s
I also actually really loved Sung joon and hyun min's toxic angsty relationship and I'd have loved this more from their POV, a bit like Secret makjang which is one of my favs (tho don't make me watch it with 2020s eyes)
Anyway the bad. I hated the rebornness, cuz as I said it was more like being possessed, then made complicated by double songs cuz it didn't make sense unless both hyunwoo and dojoon switched places, which might've become even more like golden spoon
I also hated the flat romance. Cuz technically reawakened dude is 30+19(?) When they 1st met and so he's a 50/60 year old going after a 20/30 year old no matter their past connection. I actually hate going back to change the past romances for this reason
The ending.. "it was all a dream" is such a old time cliche, I always remember twilight breaking dawn saying the fight between the oldie vamps and collin family was filmed and my 1st thought was ofc it's all a vision..
It's basically a cheap bow out from cleaning up the mess one makes. Ie making two Songs and making one come after the other (which were said to not be in the novel) then not having the courage to continue...
One could say he projected himself trying to remember, analyze and amend. But would one really dream of 20 years of life, remember every single detail and basically playing SIMS with a stranger? Atleast they could've hinted it with weird time skips or foggy memories xD
So basically, a normal family makjang where he would've wanted revenge for how his grandparents disowned his parents would've been enough. Like sure we needed him to know certain time stamps and events but he could've still been like his grandpa good at and even bad at business and we could've had stronger bonds between them
Also this drama got real boring once grandpa died Y_T
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Pure Fluff
StoryIf I had to describe this drama in a few words, I'd say it is a drama that is more on the cliché side but executes it so well, that even the more predictable things are just a joy to watch. I think most people would agree that what carries this story and journey is the impeccable chemistry of the Main Couple. Just for that, I think this show is worth a watch.
But further, than the absolute fluff and wholesomeness, what really made this drama memorable is that you don't hate any characters. Sure, at times there are the villains that of course you dislike but as far as I am concerned, every one of the key roles gets their redemption.
What I truly love about this kind of drama is when there are no misunderstandings. For someone like me, that is very sensitive towards angst and drama, I really enjoy it when I see a couple that trusts each other and goes through everything together.
OST
I have not a lot to say except that I fell in love with the Soundtrack. I downloaded the whole OST already and I have it stuck in my head all the time. It's just so fitting and cute and well, just plain good.
Should you watch it?
If you are like me, a sucker for fluffy and domestic romance with a little drama here and there that doesn't make you too anxious, you should give it a watch. If cliché and a few predictable plot lines aren't a turn off I genuinely think you will enjoy watching!
The rest of the review will contain spoilers:
What I didn't like:
- I was a bit disappointed that the second lead Du Lei was made very evil, if I may say so, in the last few episodes. I mean I get that he loves her but, please my dear, that's plain assault:( So I was happy that they cut him off from their friend group.
- The allergic to tears plot point could've been build on more. What I mean is that towards the end it was as if the writers forgot it existed. I first suspected that it would cause more of a drama but maybe that's just me.
What I liked:
- I said it earlier but, the MC chemistry is just off the charts. Amazing. One of my new comfort couples.
- I love when every character gets their happy ending. This show satisfied me.
- Dog
- The side couples weren't overwhelmingly great but I still rooted for all of them and loved their collective support and friendship.
- Another thing about the Main Couple, I love how they support each other and just have trust. Even though they fight sometimes it felt like they truly cared and that was what made this romance feel real.
- I can't pinpoint many other things right now but overall I just really looked forward each week to the new episodes. It is a nice show that I won't forget!
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The Lovable aspects of SG:
1) Comedy
This is the most hilarious K-drama I have ever watched. Period.
For it almost caused me a wonderful death by laughter. Now, I know you're thinking that I'm being over-dramatic by saying that, but I assure that I truly am not. One fine midnight, I was lying on my bed, devouring popcorn and happily watching Secret Garden and before you know, utter hilarity ensued between the main characters for the umpteenth of time. Now, I, a mere mortal tried but failed to keep some semblance of calm and so chortle after chortle helplessly spewed out of my mouth. In all this mess, the poor popcorn tried to waddle along my esophagus but my spasmodic movements halted its journey and suddenly, I choked.
And I kid you not, it was surely a full-on deadly choke. My lungs were burning, I couldn't breathe, eyes were flooding and dread had encompassed my heart in a tight fist. Now, a less motivated Koreaboo would have given up on life there and then but I persevered for the ending was still there to finish and hence, became a survivor.
Moral of the story: Secret Garden is a life hazard. Keep oxygen masks nearby.
2) Acting
At this point, Ha-Ji Won can dress up in one of those cringey Teletubbies costumes and go around screaming Friday by Rebecca Black in her Korean accent and I would still be a die-hard fan. I really don't know how she does it. There is always so much sincerity in her acting and she can control her facial expressions in such a way that all that the character is feeling is openly displayed on her features. It's simply captivating to watch her in action.
Hyun Bin- Ah, one of those beautiful creatures who communicate with their eyes. He has such soulful eyes that half of the time, I deluded myself into thinking that President Kim and I were having a telepathic conversation through the screen.
Bottom line: Both of the actors brought their best to the table and I simply couldn't get enough of them.
3) Romance
There is such genuine and honest romance in this drama. It's filled with swoon worthy, butterflies in your tummy- dirt in your mind sweet yet burning moments that you can't help but fangirl throughout. The characters have deep understanding with each other and their chemistry is tangible. Every K-drama watcher probably cried in gratitude because of the make out sessions because finally, they had witnessed a couple who didn't kiss like dead entrails of catfish. The love story is so believable and authentic, that it's a must to root for them.
Bottom Line: You can't get a better ship than President Kim and Gil Ra Im, so get sailing.
The Not So Lovable Aspects:
1) Episode 17 and 18
Basically everything I didn't like happened in these two episodes. Examples:
a) Over-Crying:
Now this is a drama where there was so much love and merriment throughout, so if they were going to make it sad, they needed to be very careful in order to give maximum impact but I'm sorry to say they failed big time. Aside from that one part where President Kim gives his shoes and watches to OSKA, literally every other emotional scene fell flat. SG went from 0 to 100 real quick and I was caught bewildered in the midst of it all. Everybody suddenly started crying like a baby and doing it over and over again. Sure, give me sobs once or twice and I'll sob with you, but give me sobs a hundred of times and I'll want to shove a sock in your mouth to shut you up.
It was a horrible feeling because due to the excessive sobbing and lack of emotional connection, I started to develop a mild annoyance towards both of my beloved main characters and was consequently upset because of that fact.
b) Rise of the cliches:
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against cliches. I firmly believe that if you yourself haven't used the idea then it isn't old. Some of my favorite film pieces are those where writers took an over-used plot, put their own spin on it and turned it into a unique masterpiece. SG's plot, while not something never-before seen was already pretty unique in itself. However, in these two episodes suddenly the cliches started piling up. It would've been okay if they were one at a time but bring them all in together and it's a hot mess.
The "I love you so I'll let you go" scene followed by that one jarring accident, followed by excessive crying, followed by the infamous coma, followed by the hero being the martyr, followed by some more crying, followed by amnesia and then finally a convenient plot device to make everything dandy and sunshine. Please no.
2) Im Jong Soo:
My God, I have wanted to repeatedly slap this dude in the face. I mean I get that he was just there as man candy, ready to flaunt his English speaking skills when ordered, portraying a supposedly cool love interest for Gil Ra Im but like, did they really have to cast someone who couldn't act to save his life? It's so painfully obvious that he's a model and not an actor because he literally posed and bullshitted his way through the show. Plus, he just had one of those faces that can annoy you with a mere glance.
One of the more interesting characters was Joo Won's mother. She's probably the worst mom in K-drama history; extremely cruel and selfish. The actress who played her did an excellent job and I loved how much she made me hate the character. No joke, I wanted to grind her into mince meat, barbecue over a scorching grill and then feed her to rodents.
The supporting characters brought their fair share of fun. OSKA, Yoon Seul, Secretary Kim, Secretary park, Han Tae Seon and Gil Ra Im's action school sunbaes were all simply hilarious. Even though I was more interested in the side character's interactions with the main leads instead of their own stories, I didn't think that the drama dragged on more than was necessary.
So yes, there were some downs that came with SG but the ups more than made up for them. This is a sweet and beautiful story and I recommend it as a refreshing dessert to some spicy and tragic tearjerker of a drama.
Enjoy!
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This is the story of the first Empress Dowager of Chinese history.
This is a story which takes place before the beginning of the Qin dynasty.
You are following Miyue, a princess who was told to be in the future the one who will impact greatly on the country. She's has a very strong personality, despite her mother having no social status and was only a servant of another concubine. Miyue and her sister Mishu, the oldest daughter, and the daughter of the queen. Despite their social statues are as different as a lion is different compared to a cat, they have really good and close sister relationship.
They grow up, they fall in love, they slowly change, they became enemies.
It's a love and hate story.
But it is also the story of Miyue, of how, a princess like her, grew up to be the first Empress Dowager of Chinese history, and how she established strong foundation to the unification of China for the later Qin dynasty.
I see 3 parts in this story:
1/ Miyue as a Princess, as a big sister, and as a teenage girl with her first love.
You will watch her grow up in a very difficult environment despite her being a princess, how she's going to keep herself real and virtuous, and how she starts to spent her time on knowledge, how she's teaching her younger brothers to be a good man when they grow up etc.
2/ Miyue as a servant of the future Queen of the Qin country, her older sister Mishu, then as a concubine of the Qin King, and how this king will impact on her greatly.
I won't say much, but this part is really important for Miyue : she's had a strong personality when she was young, but with him, she's going to have more and more ambition and quit being a teenage princess but slowly step by step, becoming an intelligent woman.
It's also a part where you see how Mishu is changing because of her selfishness, also because of her misunderstanding, because she's also a mother, and how these sisters are slowly distancing themselves from each other.
3/ Miyue as a responsible mother, then as a political leader + her 3rd love story.
To put it shortly, you're going to see how Miyue try to reach her ideals and how she's going to sacrifice herself for the country.
/! what is good in this drama, it is also that the script took a lot of fact of the real history :)
* Acting / Cast :
Nothing to say, perfect.
Betty Sun improved so much, she was not acting Miyue, she WAS Miyue.
Big up to MaSu, to LiuTao and to Fong Alex, who impressed me with their acting skills! They were great really...
* Music :
Well, the music disappointed me...
speaking the music only, it was not that good, and i think it did not match the drama.
like the music in the legend of zhenhuan were a perfect marriage with the drama
but here i want the music and the drama to divorce, and ask LiuHuan to create another music, and ask Liu Lianzi from the heaven to sing one more time.
But the music with the instrument that Miyue is often playing is really good.
* Rewatch value :
well it's a very long drama, but if you ever have free time, definitely recommending to rewatch this drama :D
* Overall :
minus 0.5 for the music. it is not horrible, it is in reality very pleasant to hear, but i just NOOOOOoooooOOOOOOO these musics because it doesn't match at all the drama.
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