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Visually, musically, emotionally - This show hits all the right spots!
Season 1 ended well, leaving the audience much to look forward to in Season 2!I was anticipating this drama not only because of Dilireba but also because of the director, Zhu Rui Bin (Chu Yui Bun), whose works included "The Long Ballad". Apparently, a casual conversation between Zhu Rui Bin and Dilireba, who was reading the "Blue Whisper" novel, led to the filming of the series and their collaboration. For those interested, the novel "Blue Whisper" is written by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang, and you can find a good English translated version here: https://wayeast.weebly.com/the-blue-whisper.html. I started reading and finished the novel when I was almost done watching Season 1, and it is a good read!
This show is tagged as a Xianxia, an ancient Chinese fairy tale set in a magical fantasy realm, with gods, monsters, ghosts, and cultivators (or xiūshì) who seek to become immortal beings called xian. As for the female lead, she is a guardian/spiritual master of the Wan Hua Valley. The male lead is Chang Yi, a Merman (or jiaoren) captured by Princess Shunde, an immortal and the older sister of Tianjun who is the Lord/Emperor of the Heavenly Court.
The drama starts with an episode highlighting the intelligence and kindness of our female lead, Ji Yun He, portrayed by Dilireba. Yun He is resourceful, and she seeks to achieve what she wants through the least harm to everyone involved. She is pitted against her "senior disciple brother", Lin Hao Qing, the young master of Wan Hua Valley. He appears crueler and one who would stop at nothing to get what he wants. However, his actions are contradictory, especially when it comes to Yun He. The audience will find out why eventually.
In exchange for a high reward, Yun He and Hao Qing accepted a challenge from Princess Shunde to transform the captured Merman into her subject by 1) teaching him to speak, 2) for him to grow legs, and 3) ensuring that he is forever loyal to the Princess.
The story focuses on the main couple's journey, as Yun He and Chang Yi fall in love, and the trials and tribulations they go through for each other. In season 1, the audience may find that the main couple does not have enough screentime together, and much of the story is also about the side characters. However, for me, each character adds depth to the story, and I find the side stories engaging. That being said, I still want to see Season 2 showcasing Yun He and Chang Yi more.
Visually, musically, emotionally - The story pulled me in so deeply. The production is undoubtedly high-quality, and a lot of attention is paid to the details. The costumes and sets provide a striking visual impact, and the special effects/CGI are well-done, immediately evoking feelings of wonder and fantasy. I like the cinematography, where the director filmed from different angles and views, providing a fresh experience, and drawing in the audience. Furthermore, the choreography for the fights, flying, and other action shots were done so superbly. I watched the "behind the scenes" (BTS) clips and it is obvious how much effort and time the actors put into practicing the wire-flying and martial arts moves.
So far, this show is a gem - it flows nicely and is well-executed. Each episode kept up the pace, never lost the momentum, and just got better and better. With unexpected twists and turns (some not in the novel), I never feel tempted to skip, and there are scenes that I would rewatch just so I could appreciate the gestures, effects, and words again.
The episodes show different aspects of a situation and the different perspectives of the characters, who are interesting and none are superfluous. No one is all good (except Chang Yi initially) or all bad. Every good character has flaws, and each villain has a backstory that makes them relatable and their actions justifiable. You will come to understand what the characters go through, the reasons for their emotions, and their circumstances. Overall, the script scores points with dynamic characters who struggle with their actions, who are not always clear if they are doing the right thing or what the right thing even is. I find myself connecting with the characters and rooting for many of them. As the story progresses, there are many more tears-inducing scenes, and I become more emotionally invested.
I have nothing but praises for the acting delivered by Dilireba, Allen Ren, and the other actors, including Xiao Shun Yao (very manly!), Hu Yi Xuan, Fan Zhen. Together, their looks are a visual feast for the eyes.
Dilireba fits the role of Yun He perfectly, but then again, this is not surprising since she often plays intelligent, quick-witted, and strong female leads. This time, it is another female lead with a tragic background that formed her resilient character. As expected, she looks gorgeous in her outfits and make-up. Just wait till you see her transform into her demon animal, you would be blown away! To me, she has improved even more in this role, honing her skills to deliver the story via her eyes and facial expressions. She does so well not only in scenes with increased, intense emotions, like laughing while crying during the ironic or tragic moments, but also in simple scenes where the audience only needs to watch her face and feel the loss or longing that Yun He is going through.
Likewise, Allen Ren impresses me with his ability to emote a myriad of feelings and thoughts just with his eyes and micro-expressions. His character does not speak for the first couple of episodes, and only through his physical acting, can still move the story well. Side note: I read that Allen got criticized for wearing a muscle suit during his merman scenes, but that still does not detract from his fineness. Chang Yi is the epitome of pure goodness in the show, which is what Yun He is drawn to at first. Allen delivers this innocence well but he is also able to easily express anger, nobleness, and arrogance. His visuals are not my usual preference, but in this show, in that persona, he's captivating. His transformation from trusting, naive, "fresh out of the water" Chang Yi to the all-powerful Lord of the North highlights Allen's acting chops.
The show does a great job, allowing each main actor to showcase their talents and skills. Yun He is featured more in the earlier episodes, and I like her character development. Then in the later part, Chang Yi has more screen time, and he becomes way cooler and more impressive.
The entire cast has performed well, and the supporting characters help to carry this show. There is such good rapport among them, like the endearing sismance between Yun He and Luo Luo, her butterfly spirit, played by adorable Hu Yi Xuan. I also appreciate Xiao Shun Yao's portrayal of Lin Hao Qing's character, who displays conflicting motivations, forced to act a role to protect someone he cares for. Compared to the novel, the show made Hao Qing more complex.
The OSTs are on another level, with appropriate pieces underscoring the scenes. The starting and ending songs are very fitting, and both set a dramatic and emotional tone that is infused throughout the show. The more I listen, the more I like them! For posterity, I have recorded the main tracks here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpzFy3Rzd74
Song: 留白是表白 (More Than Blanks)
Artist: 金志文 (Jin Zhi Wen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExRgy5Ry3C8
Song: 鮫人之歌 (The Song of the Merman)
Artist: 周深 (Zhou Shen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_pzD0itRfo
Song：#如你所想 (As You Wish)
Artist：#毛不易 (Buyi Mao)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtKnVuUxCN4
Song: 魚躍而上 (Leaping Fish)
Artist: 薩頂頂 (Sa Dingding)
On the whole, I find this drama worth watching and following. Not surprisingly, many of us are eagerly waiting for the English subtitles to appreciate it fully. I will rewatch this show when the whole show completes airing with proper subs in case I may have missed any nuances during the first watch.
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That "death" was almost predestined by Doctor Stranger's plot. At first, the show was thrilling; it's focus on Park Hoon and the things a doctor has to do gripped me. Yet, a show that has one weak character from the beginning will often find that weak character to be the cause of its entire downfall. That's what happened here. A weak character was then joined by mediocre characters, and the whole show had to rely on one really strong character (Park Hoon) to bolster the story. That weak character, though, thread through Park Hoon's performance, made a wrong stitch, and unraveled it altogether. (Don't even get me started on the ending.)
Acting-wise, it was either a beating heart or a flat line. Lee Jong Suk, Kang Sora, and Park Hae Jin gave a lot to their roles. In Jong Suk's case, his acting showed more depth than his previous roles and made me feel for Park Hoon in a real way. Unfortunately, the flat-lined actress Jin Se Yeon, brought as much character as character development for her character, that is to say, none. She tripped and stumbled over every scene that required any emotion other than a blank face that clearly said, "I don't know what the hell I'm doing."
Music-wise, I have no complaints.
Instead of asking, "Will you re-watch this?," I would say the question should be, "Do I have to re-watch this?"
Overall, I can't waste any more words than the characters did over dying patients on this drama.
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I'm ready for more adventure
Speechless.I don't know the first thing about One Piece. I've never watched an episode in my life and knew nothing more than Luffy. So essentially, I went in blind, and I'm so glad I did. I heard about this a while ago. Naturally, with the string of failed live action adaptations of anime, I was highly highly skeptical, but I decided to watch for Mackenyu anyway. Even from the first episode, it blew me out of the water (no pun intended).
It's so obvious how much love and passion they put into this project. Everything from the detailed sets, the costuming, the fight choreography, the personalities, the story arcs, and it acting, it all felt so genuine. Even as a non-OP fan, I couldn't help but smile at the world they were able to bring to life. I felt Luffy's passion. I felt their deep bond as they went from strangers to family. I felt their struggle to survive in the dangerous world. It took me on a rollercoaster of emotions as I went from laughing to tearing up within a few minutes.
I was so intensely invested in the crew's journey, I nearly forgot it was an 8 episode remake of a 1000+ ep anime. Now I think I can see why it's so popular and gone on for so long. Personally, I think Inaki did a fantastic job. Though I don't know Luffy's character, I can tell how much love he gave to his portrayal. In my case, he played such a lovable lead. His portrayal never felt overexaggerated or cringey to me. Whenever he showed up, I actually felt relieved? Zoro was certainly a standout too (or maybe i'm biased). Funnily enough, he had some of the best one-liners in the show. I also really couldn't ask for anybody else to play him. I think he's portrayed more seriously in this, which I personally thought fit with the overall atmosphere more. Buggy was fantastic as well. I'm excited to see more of him if they have future seasons.
In general, I adored the serious tone the show carried throughout. One of the things that always stopped me from watching One Piece was the comedy aspect, which I'm not a fan of. And this adaptation captured the more serious, realistic tone perfectly. Overall, it was just a splendid show. I'm in awe. I never would've thought I'd be as invested as I got. It created such a vibrant world, with addicting arcs, and likable characters. All in only 8 eps. I seriously highly recommend it to anyone a fan of action and adventure, even if you're a One Piece fan. It's honestly nearly perfect. I can't think of a single glaring fault.
Now I'm ready for season 2.
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There's no use of mentioning that the idea is far from original, the amnesia trope has been used so many times already and even though I'm totally sick of it, here it wasn't that bothering because it was part of the main concept of the show. The ''thriller'' elements though... they could have done a better job with the plot twist, I just couldn't care less about the stalker. I mean, I know it's not OCN so I shouldn't have expected the most shocking twist, but still, it wasn't even a 'twist'.
I'd hever thought that a romance between Kim Dong Wook and Moon Ga Young would actually work but it did quite nicely. Lee Jung Hoon and Ha Jin were imperfectly perfect for each other and their relationship developed very well. Dong Wook and Ga Young's chemistry was shockingly amazing and, ladies and gentlemen, we witnessed real kisses! God bless!
The second couple was cute, but I wish the controversy hadn't happened. Well, I hope Lee Jin Hyuk will be more careful from now on. Your whole career can be ruined for a second, dude, don't make stupid mistakes.
The acting was good overall. Moon Ga Young completely owns my heart. She devlivered such a subtle and brilliant performance and was perfect as Yeo Ha Jin. This role was made for her.
Overall, I would recommend Find Me In Your Memory if you're in a mood for a slow-burn romance melodrama. I don't think I would have managed to finish it if I didn't watch it while it was airing, it's a very slow-paced show and two episodes a week were more than enough for me not to get sick of the story.
It's not something special, but it's nice. I would even rewatch some scenes with the main leads, I simply loved them together!
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Had potentials but lacked something along the way!!!
Episodes 1 to 4 were hands-down the best! The fight scenes had real intensity, and the male lead’s emotions were everywhere. In these episodes, EuiGyeom’s desperate struggle for survival was clear, his ability to learn his opponent’s moves added flair to the drama, making every fight feel meaningful and purposeful.
The masked era felt like it came and went in the blink of an eye, I expected more battles and hidden identities, but it ended too fast, leaving a sense of loss.
The worst father of the year? Absolutely. He treated EuiGyeom just like his own father treated him, despite losing a child. You’d think he’d be more lenient, but nope! His mother wasn’t much better, she stood by and watched her eldest son suffer, but at least she came through for the younger one. Maybe that’s a step toward redemption?
EuiGyeom endured torment from his brother, father, and grandfather, which took a serious toll on his mental health. Fighting was his only release, and he did it brilliantly.
The SML, he seemed like he’d be the stronger one, but in the end, he lacked the will and ability that his early portrayal promised.
Some fights were just unnecessary, like the one with the guy in the cap. His presence felt pointless, like they were stretching out the story for no real reason.
There were some golden moments too. One scene in 8 was so wholesome, the way he looked at his father before stomping on the bad guy’s leg was perfect. And during the fight, the transition showing everyone who had ever angered him? Masterful.
But wasn’t the trip supposed to be a rehab? Instead, it was more like a survival ground for a high school student battling mental health issues. Are they hinting at a Season 2 with this?
Overall, Episodes 1–4 were peak storytelling. I might just pretend 5 and 6 never happened, but the backstory in 7 was solid, and 8 was passable. If they had kept the intensity of those first four episodes, this could’ve been a truly great drama!
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This review may contain spoilers
the show ended at the 18 min mark of episode 10 ,anything else delete
the ending? imagine you watch the show weekly and you are invested then they give you a bs ending? im sorry but was that necessary? not at all..my advice if you want to watch is to stop at 18 mins of ep 10 ,thats a good ending, the other few mins should get deleted and gone
what i liked about the show,: the chemistry of the mls, they have a good chemistry
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LOVE BREAKS BOUNDARIES OF GENDER, AGE AND TIME. THIS MOVIE BREAKS ALL OF THE THREE.
"Before the sky turn bright
Before feeling the warmth of sunlight
Before the flowers bloom
Before having a sweet dream
I've never had anyone in my heart
Till your love came
A nd made me see the brightness
I've never had anyone beside me
`Til your crazy mercy came
And motivated me
To live...
In this mad world."
The story starts August of 1996 when Dew and Phop met for the first time. From then on, the innocent acquaintance will turn into something unexpecting beautiful. But what they have is something unconventional during those times. Having different family backgrounds didn't help either.
From the walkman, to the pagers, what's the trend when it comes to fashion. For those who grew up, or spent their teenage years in the 90's will definitely feel the nostalgia.
Instead of focusing on the stigma in the 90's, let's be glad, celebrate that people learned from it and are more accepting nowadays. Even the stigma is what caused the rift between the two main, I prefer to focus on the love they both shared.
STORY
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"Dew the movie", a viewer should tell early on that the story is about Dew. His struggles to fit in and find comfort. But that time, it wasn't kind to Dew.
The alternate title, "Dew Let's Go Together", is from the point of view of Phop. His sacrifices is the focus of his story that will continue on the second half of the movie. Remember the sentence "Let's go Together" because it where it all started and where it will end.
The parallelism of the young Phop and the adult one is very obvious, that is when you will start to feel a pinch in your heart, again.
When you can get pass the age gap, that is when you feel and experience tha magic. For love breaks the boundaries of time and gender.
Furthermore, there is belief that water is life and for others, you are reborn in water.
Lastly, don't takes things literally or you'd miss out the magic in this movie. Magic does not equate to logic. Ultimately, it will be your choice if you want to question the appropriateness of things that happend in the film or get lost in the magic this movie has to offer. I prefer the latter.
ACTING
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OHM as DEW - Make It Right 1&2, He's Coming To Me, Blacklist are the things I've watched where Ohm appeared. You can see a big "maturity" in his acting from Make It Right 1 to Make It Righ 2 to He's Coming to Me. 2019 was Ohm's year as he appeared in two Thai series, both he played a contrasting character and yet he delivered the portrayal quite well. In this movie, I feel like is an extension of his acting from He's Coming To Me. For he showed a myriad of emotions. He will make you feel what his character is feeling as if you are in his place in what you are watching.
NONT as young PHOP - To be honest, I thought Ohm will own him, acting-wise. His acting is not at par with Ohm, HOWEVER, props to him given that this is his first acting in a main role. Don't mistaken Nont's lack of connection to his character. It show that the character himself is detached, uncertain, having an inner conflict. It just there are few scenes that aren't that convincing as Ohm's. Can't wait though for Bad Genius and see how he will do there!
PAHN and LEW - it is not really her acting but how she transition from her old self to the enlightened one. I can't blame her for that but it lacks development for her transition. Her actions and demeanor is as rough as Ohm's and subtle and vulnerable too.
WEIR as adult PHOP - given his repertoire of acting, it is given that he delivered. No brainer in his acting.
SONG
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For what Dew told in front of the class that "won" the contest, refer in the initial part of this review.
- It is not technically a song that you listen, but more of a translated lyrics of a song to English.
The opening song, what Dew's listening to: ดีเกินไป by Smile Buffalo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MANY2BDBaI sets up the fast paced progression of what Dew and Phop is about to go through.
Songs match perfectly the scenes were it played. And the few sound effects highlighted some emotions.
REWATCH VALUE
================
When a myster is solve, it is really hard to rewatch it with the same excitement and anticipation. Some things are better watched once, to keep it special. And this is no exception.
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Have you ever loved or be loved unconditionally? Have you ever experienced giving your time, strength and love without getting or even expecting anything in return? This movie shows it all.
A story in between reality and idealism that had been delivered well. In our society today, understanding and patience are the foundational values to selfless and unconditional love. This film outstandingly delivered that message.
This movie will tell you that no matter what your belief is, it doesn't necessarily be the right thing. Most often, understanding the situation, understanding the people around you, would be the best and the right thing to do.
The critical role of being patient is well portrayed here as well. More often than not, if the people around us tell us to stop, we will stop. But, sometimes, it is worth fighting for to be patient and persevere no matter how hard and complicated the situation may be.
Kudos to all the cast and the directors and writers for this excellent story telling of how being understanding and patient with humility and respect play a major role in our daily lives. A very timely movie which will leave us the questions, "If ever, this same thing happen to me (or even worse), can I be that selfless as well? Will I be patient enough and persevere? Until when? How far my understanding could reach? Is it worth it?
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1This review may contain spoilers
SIAN’S INFERNO: A PREDICTABLE, HAREM-FUELED SNOOZEFEST
***DISCLAIMER: THIS IS JUST MY OPINION ON THE ENTIRE SEASON YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE AND I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH ANYONE.***My comment section is not safe for Sian and Junseo fans or sympathizers. I will probably call out everyone and you might not like what I have to say. To protect your peace I suggest you just keep scrolling because I am not be going to go back and forth with anyone over this show.
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OVERVIEW (SPOILERS AHEAD!)
I really thought Single’s Inferno 3 was the worst season yet, but Single’s Inferno 4 somehow managed to be even worse. A predictable, uninspired mess that revolved around one contestant—Sian—and her never-ending harem of men chasing after her like lost puppies. The show stopped being about romance and connection and instead turned into a glorified dating sim where Sian held all the cards, leading on multiple men only to predictably choose the red flag in the end.
The worst part? It wasn’t just the cast that made this season unbearable. The editing, production, and overall pacing were awful. Netflix completely fumbled what made Single’s Inferno work in the first place—an organic blend of romance, drama, and character development. Instead, we got shallow interactions, choppy editing, and emotional moments ruined by horrible music choices. They even changed the iconic opening song, and for what? Sorry but “SAY YES” will forever be the best… this new theme song didn’t do anything. Every time a moment could have been impactful, the editing undercut it. There was no buildup, no emotional investment, just scene after scene of surface-level connections that felt hollow.
And then there’s the predictability. This was yet another season where the entire cast revolved around one person, and by the finale, three men were standing there, waiting for Sian’s decision like it was the final boss battle of a romance RPG. The same thing happened in Single’s Inferno 3 with Gwanhee, and I’ve had enough. It’s lazy. It’s boring. It’s exhausting. We get it—people like the thrill of competition, but if every season is going to end with the entire cast worshipping one contestant, what’s the point?
Now let's get into everything that went wrong...
THE DOWNFALL OF CAST DYNAMICS:
From the moment Sian stepped into Inferno, she took over the entire season. It quickly became clear that every guy would orbit around her while the other girls were left struggling for screen time. This isn’t even about jealousy or whether she was “too popular”—the issue is that it made for bad television. There was no balance, no real competition, and no variety in storylines.
Sian herself? She drove me nuts. She kept insisting that she wanted a man who was thoughtful, kind, and vocal about his love—yet none of her choices reflected that. Who was she trying to fool? She wasn’t drawn to stability or sincerity. She wanted toxicity. She wanted the thrill of push-and-pull, which is why she clung to Jun Seo despite him being emotionally unavailable and a walking red flag.
She gaslit herself into thinking she wanted a sweet, considerate guy, but deep down, she craved an “alpha male” type. That’s why she played mind games with Theo and Jeong Su, leading them on for days before ultimately settling for the worst option.
Like many have said before, she treats men like Pokémon, collecting them for the thrill of it but never truly valuing them. The better men—Theo and Jeong Su—were strung along only to be discarded at the last minute.
And the worst part? Her indecision and selfishness meant no other female contestant got a real chance. Though I want to believe it's their choice not hers... there's no way the other men didn't want to get to know anyone else. I feel this season was written after the script, and the producers pushed the candidates in the direction they wanted to achieve the desired outcome.
THE EDITING & MUSIC RUINED THE EMOTIONAL DEPTH:
What made Single’s Inferno great in earlier seasons was its ability to pull viewers into the romance through music and editing. Remember the soft, sentimental background tracks? The perfectly timed instrumentals that made every confession feel weighty? All of that was gone.
The music choices this season were horrible. At times, they felt out of place, almost like they were taken from a generic reality show rather than a romance-focused dating program. It stripped away any emotional connection I might’ve felt.
And the editing? A disaster. Scenes were choppy, emotional beats were cut short, and crucial interactions were often rushed or left out entirely. At one point, we were getting random reaction shots from the hosts instead of seeing actual conversations unfold.
For example, they completely cut the scene where Dong Ho called Arin “chagi” (honey/dear), which would’ve made it clear he was never swayed by Hae Lin. Instead, they edited it to seem like he was conflicted, when in reality, he was always set on Arin.
Why are key moments being left out in favor of manufactured drama?
Oh, right. Because Netflix took over production...
THE SHIFT IN QUALITY:
This is where I need to rant. Season 1 and 2 were produced by JTBC, and the difference in quality was glaring. JTBC focused on love, friendships, and genuine emotions. Netflix? They just want toxic drama.
Seasons 3 and 4 had this overproduced, almost scripted feel that sucked the soul out of the show. Conversations felt more forced, editing choices felt more manipulative, and the cast interactions seemed heavily controlled to push certain narratives.
For example, I know some of the guys were told to create fake tension in the final episode. Junseo walking past Minseol like he was going to pick her? Jong Hoon walking past Hye Jin only to turn back? That wasn’t natural. That was producer interference to create a moment of “shock” that nobody bought into.
It’s lazy, it’s transparent, and it makes the show worse.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES & WASTED CAST MEMBERS:
There were so many great contestants who got zero chances because of the production’s obsession with Sian.
Sian herself was frustrating beyond belief. She treated men like playthings, keeping Jeong Su and Theo on the hook while clearly being drawn to Jun Seo’s bad boy persona. She knew she was going to choose Jun Seo. Everyone knew. And yet, she kept leading Jeong Su and Theo on, acting like she was confused when in reality, she just enjoyed the attention. She thrives on chaos and emotional tug-of-war, and she got exactly what she wanted—men fighting over her while she played the victim.
Jeong Su, for all his initial coldness, actually turned out to be one of the more sincere contestants. When he finally let his guard down, it was heartbreaking to watch because, by that point, it was too late. Sian had already set her sights on Juns Seo, and no amount of sincerity was going to change that. Theo, on the other hand, deserved so much better. The fact that he still chose Sian at the end, despite everything, was hard to watch. He stayed true to his emotions, but for what? She never truly considered him a serious option.
Jun Seo, of course, was performative to the end. The way he strutted very near to Min Seol like he was about to pick her, only to continue walking and choose Sian, was disgusting. It felt producer-driven, especially since Jong Hoon did the exact same thing to Hye Jin. These fake-out moments didn’t add drama—they just made the guys look like clowns.
Then there was Tae Hwan, who had no excuse for his nonsense. When Ji Yeon confronted him about his earlier statement that he wanted to stay single, he tried to worm his way out of it with weak justifications about hoping someone would change his mind. But that’s not what he said when they were in paradise. He knew Ji Yeon’s dream was to get married and have a family, yet he clearly didn’t care. In the end, Ji Yeon still left with him, but it was obvious she didn’t really have another option. He looked almost nervous, like his ego was bruised by the idea that she might reject him.
As for the other women, they were done so dirty. Imo You Jin was hands down the best girl in the entire inferno. I like her bright personality and how she’s able to make everyone feel at ease / comfortable and light up an entire room. It’s just too bad she wasted her first couple days on Jun Seo. If she had more time in the inferno plus more time to talk to the other men, I’m sure she would have turned more heads. Her choosing Jeong Su in the end was sweet, but it was hard to get invested when we barely saw them interact.
Hae Lin, the wildcard / game changer, had a similar same problem. She was initially interesting, but coming in on day 5 basically ruined her chances. I feel bad that the men initially hyped her up so much only to basically ignore her or decide she wasn’t worth giving a chance or their time. The wild card contestants always get screwed over just like Minji last season and it pisses me off to no end.
Dong Ho and Arin were maybe the only couple I wasn’t upset at. They at least had some form of connection. The show tried to make it seem like he was wavering, but in reality, he was set on her from the beginning. Their paradise date confirmed that, especially since they worked in the same industry and lived in the same neighborhood. Arin calling it fate was a little sappy, but it was cute, I guess.
Hye Jin and Dong Ho were a pity couple. They only decided to end together because there was no one else. I’m sorry but I genuinely didn’t feel like there were any sparks between them. They seem to have an ok to mid rapport and are cordial with one another but to me it seemed like Hye Jin was just quicker than the other girls when it came to getting his attention after he got rejected by Sian.
THE FINAL EPISODE:
By the time we reached the finale, everything was painfully predictable and anticlimactic.
• Sian picked Jun Seo. Obviously. She wanted her “whirlwind” romance, even though he’s the least stable choice.
• Theo stayed loyal to his emotions. He deserved better.
• Dong Ho stayed true to his feelings for Arin but I still felt like production did Hae Lin dirty, typical whenever they bring in a wildcard.
• Jeong Su poured his heart out, but it was too late. I actually felt bad for him.
• Hye Jin got done dirty at the last minute. Jong Hoon’s little fake-out move was unnecessary af.
• Ji Yeon settled for Tae Hwan. Even though she knew he didn’t want a serious relationship. We needed Dex in the inferno!
Nothing felt satisfying. The entire structure of “three people chasing one person” is overplayed.
Netflix needs to take notes from the first two seasons, which were produced by JTBC. The difference is night and day. JTBC focused on love, friendship, and organic relationships, while Netflix is obsessed with toxic drama. That’s why the last two seasons have felt so off. The production quality has tanked, the editing is disjointed, and the emotional depth is completely missing. Instead of real connections, we get fake love triangles, forced drama, and empty relationships that don’t last beyond the finale.
And don’t even get me started on the final choosing ceremony. They need to do something else, having everyone spread out over the island waiting for the men to walk to the woman of their choosing is beyond ridiculous. I also wish contestants could choose themselves because girls like Ji Yeon and Hye Jin got the short end of the stick in that regard. Morevover, watching the leftover contestants stand there awkwardly after not being chosen was depressing. They should let them change their minds and couple up with whoever’s left. It would be way more satisfying than watching them stand there awkwardly while the camera panned out.
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MATCHES:
Couples —
• Dong Ho x Arin
• Sian x Junseo
• Jong Hoon x Hye Jin
• Ji Yeon x Tae Hwan
Singles (+ their choice) —
• Theo → Sian
• Jeong Su → Sian
• Hae Lin → Dong Ho
• Hye Jin → Jeong Su
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FINAL THOUGHTS:
Single’s Inferno 4 was an absolute waste of time. The production was sloppy, the cast was forgettable (except for Sian and her harem, unfortunately), and the season was so predictable that I almost regret watching it. The emotional depth that made the earlier seasons interesting is completely gone, replaced with surface-level connections and producer-driven nonsense.
I used to love this show because it gave me a mix of romance, friendships, and unexpected pairings. Now, it’s a tired, predictable mess where one person dominates the narrative while everyone else fades into the background.
The editing sucked.
The music sucked.
The cast felt wasted.
And Sian’s harem was the least interesting part of the show and ruined it for me.
I never thought I’d say this, but Season 3 wasn’t even this bad. At least that season had multiple storylines going on.
Would I recommend Season 4? Absolutely not! It’s completely skippable. I feel like it’s generous to even give this a 1/10. My rating doesn’t even reflect how I truly feel because I’d give this a 0 if I could.
Initially, I considered a 2/10 solely for Theo and Youjin, but even they couldn’t salvage this mess. Those two were the only redeeming qualities of an otherwise atrocious season. They deserved so much better than to be wasted on this trainwreck of a show.
Netflix needs to hand this show back to JTBC before they ruin it for good.
At the very least, I hope Netflix realizes that the one person with multiple suitors storyline has been done to death. It’s lazy and boring. I can't believe they are getting a S5 after this disaster of a season. Honestly, they need to pack it up! Like are they seriously not going to switch things up for S5? The same stale format is getting old. How about some actual eliminations to shake things up? And can we please make the contestants put in some effort to get to know each other? It's infuriating to watch the guys sit around all day, waiting for the women to do all the work.
And bring back the rule about not picking the same person for Paradise twice in a row! It's ridiculous that people can just fixate on one contestant (*cough* Sian, Gwanhee, Seulki and Jia *cough*) This season You Jin, Hae Lin, and Hye Jin were totally robbed of their chances / potential because everyone was too busy fawning over Sian. And don't even get me started on how Sian got to pick Jun Seo after spending time with him in Paradise the day before. I think 10 days in paradise is too short to actually fall in love, it's all a hoax, it's all for PR and I don't believe any of these couples will last. Four years has been long enough. I'm so done with this mess of a show – it's time for me to find a new guilty pleasure!
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SIDENOTE:
Just because I hated it doesn’t mean you will. You have to watch it and see for yourself, but truthfully if you are a S1 or S2 enjoyer this season is nothing in comparison. It's just as annoying as season 3, but it's somehow worse because Gwan Hee maintained his ignorance throughout but Sian and Jun Seo were very aware of what they were doing. In my opinion you aren’t missing out if you decided not to watch and you’d probably get the gist from Tiktoks / edits on YouTube.
Anyway, good luck but don't say I didn't warn you...
Thanks for reading!
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
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This review may contain spoilers
Try not to fall asleep
Updated with final thoughts.What started as a unique concept became tiresome at times. Sometimes shows drag a few episodes but I've become tired at how slow this show has been moving. I've been watching it at 1.25x or 1.5x speed because the show is about to complete and it's dragging. It feels like there wasn't much of a story to begin with so what could have been completed in 10 episodes was stretched out to 16.
The earlier episodes of the show were enjoyable but you slowly start to get fed up and just wish the characters would tell each other what's going on. By the 14th episode, you are just waiting for things to be done already because you've lost hope in anything redeemable in the plot.
As far as acting goes, the male lead has only been able to express concern and sadness and the rest of the time he is straight-faced whereas the actress had to play a clueless bunny who weeps frequently. Not the actors fault for having to portray such characters.
Spoiler:
If they had established that the sister was dead and they just needed to find out what happened to her, I would feel less frustrated with this story. And the chef has not been able to open up his restaurant until the 15th episode which just adds to the madness. I had hoped that the ending might be able to redeem itself but alas, it continued to drag. One final question remains. Why? What was the motive? It is never explained. It seems like no one was interested in finding out if there were more possible victims. Everything else just seems like an attempt at rescuing this show but there's not much they could do at this point.
High expectations. Low return.
I am going to leave the final score at 6 but honestly I would not recommend nor rewatch this show.
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This review may contain spoilers
So I just completed the series and went to put my "grade" on it when I saw that that rating was so low compared to the last season and, to be honest, I'm a bit disappointed in fans for rating it at 1 without even completing the series (if you haven't completed it better just not rate it at all). So I can see that the main issue for the fans with these series is that it's not lovey-dovey like mostly all the other BL series are. But, in my opinion, it actually makes it even better cause it shows real-life problems so that we, as fans, don't live in a fantasy of love being only about lovey-dovey stuff but also that it needs some problems to make it real. Obviously, it ain't nice to see your favourite couple fight and cheat but in the end, it shows that if love is real, then it can overcome those problems and make the bond even stronger. STORY: The story itself, as I already said, shows a lot of real-life problems that people might go through, i.e. cheating, parents who can't accept, confusing in feelings, sleeping around, being pressured by your boss, etc. Those are all things that series usually try to avoid to keep their audience and play it safe. This is what I really love about the particular series that they are willing to take the risk and portray these problems as well.
KornKnock part: Their part was pretty interesting and heart-touching especially the part with parents. These series showed that not always parents will be willing to accept their kids for what they are and not just because they hate or can't stand their orientation but also just because they feel like they have been lied to and that all of a sudden they have a different kid. Of course, it wasn't nice to see Korn suffer just because his father couldn't come to the terms of the news but it happens so many times and this is a good example that even those people can change for better, even if it takes such measures as almost losing your kid just to understand it. Also the part about Korn not being able to come out to his father. It maybe seemed that he just cared about the fact that he doesn't want him to know cause he was scared but if you look closer, then there's also the feeling of not wanting to hurt him. As he said, If I ain't wrong, he doesn't want to choose between love for Knock and his family so he does everything to make both work. For Knock, I can understand his point of view. He doesn't understand Korn cause he himself risked so much to just love Korn cause, in case someone has forgotten, he is straight and Korn is his exception, so it wasn't so easy for him either. He even came out to his parents to show Korn that it isn't so hard and everything will be good but he refused to understand Korn's point-of-view. His own parents were so nice and accepting so he couldn't imagine why Korn can't do the same. This also is a good example for real-life situations. Then there are problems with Pete. Trying to play off as a nice guy to get in Korn's pants which wasn't pleasant to watch but this happens all the time. He manipulated so many people just to get what he wanted and in the end, he dug his own grave. He is a good example of a jerk who only cares about his well being and is willing to sabotage everyone that steps into his way and tries to break his plans. Of course, it all ended good and they deserved that ending. The fact that Knock gave Korn a second chance and couldn't even take revenge, even though he wanted to, showed that he really does love Korn. You always should give a second chance cause mistakes do happen. If the mistake keeps happening more that one time, then it's a clear sign that it's just not meant to be. Obviously, what Korn did was pretty bad especially if we look in what situation he and Knock already were in. Then again, this all made then rethink a lot of things and come to the right conclusions.
Yihwa/Cho part: can't say that their part of the story was my favourite but I already fell in love with this couple after Bad Romance <3 It was nice to see how they portrayed the problem of being in a relationship for a long time but suddenly being confused in feelings. It's only natural and it happens all the time too. Yihwa confused the feeling of a really good friend with love for Art and thus almost fucked up and, even if she didn't even do anything as bad as Korn did, she still felt really bad and took time to sort out her own feelings so that she could be sure in the future and make the right choice. The fact that Art was trying to push her all the time to make that decision just made it worse for his own good, on the other hand where Cho was waiting and was being careful with the steps he took and only when he was sure he took action. We can easily see that he loves Yihwa so much that all he wants for her is to be happy, with him or not. Also, I like how they ended the series with not a clear ending for those two, showing that it's not so easy and fast to sort out your feelings.
Farm/Bright/Rit part: these 3 were pretty complicated XD Farm' s character took such a turn from the last season and made him look more badass and had put him in a more dominant status. From what Bright had done to him, he became the same and let Bright taste his own medicine. But then again I felt really bad for Nong Rit. He didn't know what he got himself into and fell in love with Farm. He tried so hard but he eventually realised that Farm has been using his just to get some revenge on Bright. But in the end, he made a right choice of taking everything is his own hands and just breaking up with him and after that refusing to stay friends cause that would make everything harder for him cause he loved Farm very much. The fact that he teamed up with Bright to show Farm how bad he has become was pretty savage but a pretty good plot twist. Bright in the end got what he wanted and realised how bad he used to be to Farm as well but then again he realised that Farm really touched his part and, even if it may have been pretty hard to see, he was jealous of the fact that Farm was sleeping around with other guys and at the same time being with him. The ending for all of them was good. They started from the very start and even at the very end it was shown that Rit is also starting over.
ACTING/CAST: As always, all of them were really good. Especially the chemistry between Tul and Max. They are the rare ones who can make it seem so damn real. Even for CGame and Porsche or Meangmum and Tomo, it wasn't as good as them even though they were amazing in their roles. Those to just have the best chemistry I have seen <3 Even without kisses they still show so many feelings for each other. For example, the scene where they finally made up, I just loved that they didn't do the really passionate kiss but a hug instead. For that moment it was so much more appropriate rather than a kiss and the hug had so many feelings in itself.
MUSIC: I don't have much to say about the music and I really loved the fact that they used the soundtracks from the previous seasons too, especially from Bad Romance <3 It made it easier to take the feel of that moment. I can't say that I loved all the songs but they did suite the moment when it was playing.
REWATCH VALUE: I would 100% rewatch these series just for the sake of having fun or when I feel bad to make my day better and care more about their problems rather than mine.
OVERALL: I really enjoyed these series and I and really sad that so many people dropped hem in the middle just because they didn't get the classic lovey-dovey BL series they were expecting for. But then again, this is so much more interesting than just another cheesy series where everything is rainbows and sweetness. It's not like that in real life and it nice to take something with you from the series as a life lesson :) The only thing that did bother me through the whole series is that they didn't include most of the cats from season 1, thus Bad Romance, even though this part takes place after it and Together With Me is a prequel to Bad Romance so it was really unlogical why they had casts from TWM that didn't appear in BR as if they suddenly disappeared from they lives in BD but but didn't have any casts from BR in TMW:TNC even though it would be more logical that they would at least appear here and there at some moments. It just seemed that they were such good friends and all of a sudden they were not in their lives anymore. As well and continuing Farm and Bright' s story as if nothing happened between them in the time of BR. They did fuck up with the timeline here and this just bothered me a lot cause at first I was expecting to see all of the casts, and perhaps not see so much from TWM cause they didn't appear in BR but guess I that's not as important cause perhaps t the same in the books.
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1This review may contain spoilers
So why was Jae Pil here? - An entertaining failure...
The drama that initially presents itself as a story of female friendship, that's how it sets up the plot, that's who they introduce as main characters, that's how the synopsis is written… and yet the way they went about it and told the story got people hating either female leads and fighting who is worse of a friend. There is no real message, there is no clear vision. There are just things happening and a lot of frustration. It was fun, but at the end felt cheap. Like eating fast food - you might enjoy the taste as you eat, but later you suffer from indigestion.Personally I think there are 3 major flaws in the show that truly could ruin a viewing experience and almost ruined it for me.
First of all - the hard cut that happened with the time jump. By all means you will basically watch 2 completely different shows. All the character development happens behind the scenes and we never witness it, hence who you saw in the first half is not who you follow in the second half. The transition was poorly planned and delivered. They needed to reintroduce all the characters since they are in a completely different point of their lives which, with how many plotlines the drama had anyway, feels like a waste of time. Even though I prefer linear storytelling, I do believe in this case mixing the two timelines throughout the show would be a better way to present the story and make it feel more balanced.
The time jump leads me to the second issue - Yeong Rae and Jae Pil’s relationship. First of all, no it’s not like I disliked them because I wanted him with Jong Hui (I was full on Jong Hui and Yeong Sik shipper). I disliked them, because the way their story was directed and presented was just trash planning that took away all the things that should make me feel something. Sadly they literally skipped all the butterflies inducing moments, all the build up, falling in love, the moments that made them appreciate each other more. We got none of that - just a short one minute flashback. This is NOT how you write romance. Romance is all about feelings. You cannot just tell me he fell in love with her, because she supported him. You need to show me that journey, I need to experience it with the characters. Otherwise I won’t give a shit. And so I did not give a shit about them. Were they cute when they started to date? Sure. Did I care? No really. I guess I didn’t even dislike them, I just did not care at all.
There was literally zero set up for their romance, at least on Jae Pil’s side. He was completely not interested in her in the first half. There were zero romantic feelings. No attraction. So for that love line the whole first half was useless. Young Rae’s story of falling in love was “love from first sight” that could be done in just one episode. And then after the time jump we are told by all the characters around Jae Pil that there is more between them. Everyone is convinced they will date. Everyone tells him to look into his feelings. And I’m sitting in front of the laptop and think: how the fuck did this happen? When? What exactly made him fall for her? Was it gradual? Was it a specific moment that made him see her in a different light? Why aren’t they showing us THAT? And the way they just wanted to cover it all up with a short flashback montage was a pathetic circus of writing.
Going back to the topic of lack of balance - what was the writer thinking when they decided to put all the pain and misfortune on Jong Hui while surrounding Young Rae with all the love and happiness? What kind of sick trauma porn was it? When yet another bad thing happened to Jong Hui, at some point I just started to laugh, because it was purely ridiculous. While for Young Rae the bad things that happened led to better outcomes long term, even if Jong Hui received something good, it then led to more pain. For example - Yeong Rae got fired from work in an unjust way? Right away she got a new better job with far more opportunities. Jong Hui saved someone from attempted suicide and thought she found a new family and home? The mother turns out to be abusive and manipulative. It was just exhausting to see her get slapped in the face by life over and over again, when by all means she did nothing wrong.
I’m just struggling to grasp and understand what this drama is about. What is the message? Because the last minute happy ending cannot erase all that happened for the remaining 11… Personally life lessons I’ve got from it were:
Life is not fair, deal with it no one cares.
Don’t help people, you get screwed in the process - whenever intentionally or not.
Be selfish - at the end of the day your needs should matter the most.
You cannot escape abuse, life be like: out of the frying pan into the fire.
Also abusers are not really bad people, they are good REALLY DEEP INSIDE and you just have to apologize to them.
Even if you find someone that cares for you, they most likely care for someone else more.
There is no real female friendship if a guy is involved as a third party - only more trauma can bring you back together, communication is overrated.
Being ignorant about other people’s suffering will make your life easier.
And here’s a thing that made me the most annoyed, frustrated and uncomfortable - I started to dislike Yeong Rae as we got closer to the end of the show. She was in fact a great character - smart, dedicated, brave, driven, caring, adorable, bubbly. She did shine bright. But with how sad and tragic Jong Hui’s life was, I sadly could not enjoy her character. When I knew she was able to lead that life, because Jong Hui protected her in the past. When I knew how bad the aftermath of it was for Jong Hui. How she ended up with no support system, thinking of dying, struggling to survive every day, just to end up in a fake doll house with an abusive adoptive mother… It was hard to be happy for Yeong Rae, when her happiness was unintentionally built on someone else’s suffering. And no, it was not Yeong Rae’s fault at all. It’s not like Jong Hui took the blame for something Yeong Rae did. It’s not like Yeong Rae asked Jong Hui to stab the manager. It was Jong Hui’s choice, but with where it led… There were moments where I wished she did not protect Yeong Rae. And for that feeling I blame the writer. Instead of making me root for both female leads, the writer made me resent one, when she did nothing wrong.
No matter what happened, the story always had to go back and focus on Yeong Rae - she was the forefront of the drama, every main plotline led to her and concluded on her. She was the main character and all the rest were just support. And this is not what I wanted to watch. I wanted to see her and Jong Hui together, as partners, and equals, as individuals with their own stories, that are connected by a close bond.
For the minor issues: unreasonable double standard in terms of abuse. Jong Hui’s mother was justifiably pained in bad light for hitting Jong Hui “and loving her when it fits her, and hitting her when things don’t go her way”, but Jae Pil’s dad was “misunderstood soul that actually cares deeply for Jae Pil and deserves apology from Jae Pil for misunderstanding him for years” - excuse me, but what the fuck? No. He was just abusive and trash. He did not deserve the ridiculous redemption and the scene of Jae Pil crying and apologizing made me feel sick.
On the redemption arc - Jong Hui’s brother gets one too. Why? He literally beat her so bad she almost died and was living in fear for years. And now he is not that bad, because he wants to save her? Nope.
What was the point of wasting screentime on Kim Jeong Sik [Bus driver] in the second half? He served his purpose as a dick and created the set-up for romance between Sang Cheol and Jeong Bu with the adorable little family they created. There was literally no real reason for him to show up in the second half - ZERO.
Go Young Sik not having more presence. We truly needed his brain and maturity more amongst that brainless land of lack of communication and stupid decision making.
I do not understand why Noh Sang Sik decided to only get revenge on Jong Hui. Yeong Rae was the one to screw him over first, Jong Hui got involved to help Yeong Rae, Yeong Rae then was the one to blackmail him with what she knew, so he could not step forward and his life got screwed. Don’t get me wrong, if we go by facts his life got screwed because of his own choices only, but from his messed up head perspective, I just do not understand how he did not blame Yeong Rae at all for any of it.
Ko Yeong Rye in the Miss Korea competition made no sense. There was nothing wrong with Ko Yeong Rye, but the girl is not a Miss Korea type. She does not have to be. Her being part of it made no sense in terms of realism.
Moving on to things I actually enjoyed. First of all, the show was somehow both predictable and unpredictable. I feel like the overall big picture was rather obvious. From episode 2 I knew what the end game was, but what the drama delivered was enough ambiguous content that made it possible to dive deep into delulu land with just enough hope for different ships to happen. They were baiting different relationships so skillfully, creating such a good chemistry between different pairings, I believe there is a fun ship for everyone, even if most of them are Titanics.
The friendship between the female leads in the first half was literally the best part of the whole show. Honestly - they were the best ship at first. The level of care and support they had for each other. The fact they both were willing to give up the guy for the other (adorable, but also dumb. Why not have a proper conversation instead of "sacrificing your feelings” when no one asked for that?). There were nice messages about standing up for yourself and your friend, amazing vibes of found family trope.
The acting was great. Kim Da Mi did a phenomenal job presenting first the truly innocent and shy young version of her character, and then more mature and confident, but just as bubbly as an adult. Shin Ye Eun aced presenting how hurt Jong Hui was, while hiding her feelings and pretending to be strong. I feel bad for Heo Nam Jun, because Jae Pil was rather a mess. The least cohesive and constant character. That said, Nam Jun did what he could with what he was given. His scene where he confronted his father in front of the mother’s grave? Amazing. All the other actors and actresses did as much of a great job as the main three. Acting wise there was honestly no real weak link.
Then we have the styling - perfection. While I loved the wardrobe of Jong Hui in the second half, I want to focus on how all the characters had their own style that fitted their personalities and their lifestyle.
Any and all drinking scenes of Jae Pil, Jeong Hyeon and Yeong Sik. You know what I need? I need them to go back in time and reshoot the show so they can add the aftercredit scenes that last for like 5 minutes of these three chilling and drinking after every episode. Or better, give me a spin off focused on their growing friendship.
Just Ko Yeong Sik. God bless him.
Overall… What a ride. Props for evoking so many feelings in me and making me care so much. Too bad they were mostly negative feelings and they made me care about the wrong things that just made the show more frustrating.
PS. Justice for Jeong Hyeon.
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The battle of ideologies...
“An idea is something you have; an ideology is something that has you.” : rightfully quoted so by Morris Berman, “Bloody Hearts” takes us to a chronicle that excellently proves how our choices and actions always result in real consequences. Realization of our very thoughts is what makes us real, not the thoughts that have us in its gasp, which, again, changes over time. What seem like a perfect idea today at times of prosperity, might seem futile or ridiculous tomorrow as tragedy befalls us.Produced by “GnG Production, “Bloody Heart (붉은 단심)” is a sageuk politics drama, written by Park Pil Joo and directed by Yoo Young Eun. It was originally broadcasted on KBS2 whereas Disney+ took charge of international distribution.
Both the poster for the drama and the synopsis in the major sites could be misleading, so let me put forward an alternative gist. The drama surely put 3 characters in center but the story isn’t all about themselves. The drama, in fact, shows the real shades the old times and the way politics outweighed everything else for personal gains of few at the top of the pyramidal hierarchy. The drama is a true illustration of how personal feelings, influenced thoughts and mis-planned decisions can lead to unforeseen and misfortunate events, affecting herds of lives. The drama has its sets antagonists and protagonists, accomplices, scapegoats and the trivial beings, but it attempts to exemplify how all of them are responsible for whatever choices they made.
Crown Prince Lee Tae (Lee Joon) ascends the throne following his father, the king’s demise. Constantly being watched upon and with no one to trust upon, as he plans to gather reliable subjects and make a system of his own and authorize it, his secrets seems to have been made aware to his biggest enemy, the left state councilor Park Gye Won (Jang Hyuk Park being an upholder of the ideologies of his nation, has dedicated his life to bring stability to the throne and make the truest king. In his plan, he involves Yoo Jung (Kang Ha Na) who has been the King’s lover. But as the time moves forward and more secrets come to surface, everyone including the Queen Dowager, the royal court and the royal subjects find themselves in the power struggle.
The other familiar faces throughout the drama, in various major and minor roles were: Park Ji Yeon, Heo Sung Tae, Ha Do Kwon, Cho Ri, Kang Shin Il, Cha Soon Bae, Ryu Seung Soo, Jo Hee Bong, Lee Tae Ri, Oh Seung Hoon, and Kim Sun Hwa. There are in fact many popular faces in guest roles as well.
Plot development was amazing. In purely my experience, the development was steady yet discreet as well as sporadic in occurrence. As told earlier, the synopsis isn’t actually a firm gist of the story, the plot itself is a coalescence of events that takes place in a time frame that was long enough for them to present it in a spectrum of continuity, which gain, imo, was a wise decision in the writer’s part. The beginning of the show serve with several character introductions and establishing the base of the story, enmarking “where, why, when and how it all begins”; which was successful in creating striking impressions. The skip in time is when the real story commences and the truths that was already made aware to the audience, start unfolding for the characters.
But, not long after, the story flows into a new direction, making the situations complicated and unavoidable, and that’s how the story becomes even more entrancing. Honestly, there were points, where it felt like the story could have ended only if the characters had done otherwise, but then I realized that, in that case, the drama wouldn’t have been able to provide us with more, haha. This also indicates how the dram is character-driven to an extent, putting emphasis on choices and how the consequence depend upon them. There was no single episode or instance, it felt like the drama was losing its momentum or even running out of context; it was simply engaging from the beginning to the end. The ending sequence and the final outcomes, for the characters and for the overall chronicle was highly satisfactory.
Both the Writer and the Director are practically less-experienced, for they have been parts of only few dramas and some KBS drama specials, all of which had average outcomes and moderately popular. But I hope this drama proves to be a breakthrough in their respective careers for it seem their collective experience has been able to bring fruitful results. Not only the story has been written very graciously also the characters have been built with lots of sense and the plot devices including twists, revelations, connecting points and vouchers have been well-incorporated. The development is drawn in detail and majestically presented. The pacing is perfect throughout; not a single instance striking boredom, nor making you let your guard down. The sound and screen-editing are amazing. The scenario designs and the CGI works combined by good execution are visibly ecstatic.
Cinematography is the best aspect of the drama imo, in fact, the most compelling thing of all. The initial backdrops of the bamboo tribe village is where it hit me and while trying to notice the details, I completely fell in love with it. The director of photography has experimented with several possible camera movements, from close-up to full and low- to high- angle shots, establishing shots of uniform frames as well as panning shots and Dutch angle shots. Notably, in a rare case of Kdramas, POV & OTS shots have been. Communication through manipulation of focus and movements of camera, everything accompanied by various mechanisms, provide ecstatic experience to the audience. One of the most remarkable features were the eye-shift during angsty interactions. It, again, incorporates shots from the above of premises as the characters are seated/stood symmetrically, which were eye-pleasing.
Composed by Choi In Hee, there are a total of 6 OSTs, all compatible to the ansgty and serious mood of the drama, even for the disquieting love story of the leads. The tracks are beautifully written and pleasantly composed, plus the stupefying covers.
# “Missing You” BY Han Dong Geun is my most favorite which incorporates heart-touching words and been ornamented with melting vocal.
# “Dimly” by RIO is a melancholic softbeat track as an attempt to hold back things dear to you.
# “Wish Becomes Stars” by Kim Won Woo is about hopes that keep you living.
# “It’s Red” by ID:Earth & Park Da Wool is a high beat heart–wrenching song about insecurities in the darkness.
# “A Star in the dawn” by Chung Ha is heartfelt track about the joyful days to cherish.
# “Let It Flow” by Lim Sang Hyun is again a melancholic song about longing reminisces.
What I liked…
# The intrinsic messages of a show always intrigues me and I’m happy to have witnessed it in another sageuk, where, even when they stick to tradition-based ideas that were prelevant in the contemporary times, they also try to tackle the patriarchy, customs and standards by means of the of the characters, especially the female ones.
# The dialogues were captivating and enthralling and beguiling, all at different times. May be because the story mostly takes place within the palace and involves high-ranking members and their servers (maids, eunuchs and court-ladies), the dialogue sticks to pure hanja literature for most of its parts. The statements and response incorporates awe-inspiring patterns and proverbs as well as idioms.
# The character arcs were prodigious and exceptionally built-up with prominent development. I guess the term “development” would be not apt, for the characters didn’t really change their natures or intentions, rather their growth resulting from learnings and knowledge. The King’s character is untypical and it’s the FL’s character that outshines everyone else followed by PGW’s charismatic role that he carried out stupendously.
# I don’t really complain about the amount romance in a drama but this one surely had an apt portion which makes me mention it. There isn’t too much or too less and that much is also perfectly incorporated throughout, wherever necessary. The relationship between them didn’t entirely rely on love, rather it had idealistic viewpoints for the FL was a rationale and kind lady, the opposite of the ML who thinks everything is justifiable when you desire to achieve something.
# The intriguing sceneries as a part of both the real camera landscapes and created with CGI to suit the timelines and points, were well-utilized by the makers. Since most of the affairs occur within the walls of the palace the medieval vistas of “hankos” (traditional Korean houses) and the royal palace as well as different parts of it, shot in Yeolhwajung Pavillion and Gyeongbokgung Palace were alluring and enticing.
# The inclusion of back stories of minor characters as a part of justifying their acts (from their pov ofc) is done in a way you end up sympathizing with them. No wonder I as well as the audience watching it were forced to change sides and rationalize and change sides again as a cycle, before we could finally build neutral stances about the characters and about whatever was going on. Now go back to my title and you’ll realize why I wrote so.
What I didn’t like…
Honestly, I couldn’t pick any in particularly; nothing in the character arcs or the plot development of the used elements or even with the enactments. It definitely wasn’t a perfect but its good and could have invisible/unnoticeable flaws to be filtered. So, I don’t have much to complain except for how I didn’t like particular actions of the characters on personal levels.
One of the many symmetrical elements in this drama that I loved was ‘manipulating through the baduk (go) board’. The King establishing consonance with reality through the stones that corresponded colour with people of 2 different categories, was a pleasant and alluring scene. The movement of stones implying the varied actions implemented by Park Gye Won was what made me stagger.
Vertical groove patterns on the attires of the royal subjects, including the king is what I noticed during the first half of the show and it felt very different. There was a point I felt that I had seen the same in another drama but I could not exactly recall. So, either the drama has tried to add the detail with particular intentions (which is unlikely bcs they would been complained for misappropriation of history by now) or there actually exists such hanboks with some meaning to it, which I am unaware of. Please enlighten me if you know.
There will be not just one or two, rather several instances where you might question the said antagonist’s true intentions. That being said, the writer has done a very good job in showcasing how ideologies and actions make us human beings. The perspectives of Park Gye Won were clear even though we couldn’t see it. Albeit his manner of accomplishing anything were ill or wrongful, they, at all the times, weren’t particularly indicative of two-way results. This is what makes the drama different.
Not strategy, rather grandeur bureaucracy is one of the major devices that the writer has chosen to foreground as a part of the state politics in the drama. Conspiracy-based politics are the typical elements in historical Korean drama but the makers here went south to prove how idealistic systems can still be the core of politics, which might not be very realistic if you consider the actual history. Not like the story is devoid of ill conspiracies but even that sticks to the protocols of the systems.
Before I sign off, I must bring to notice of the readers that the drama does an exemplary job in establishing few roots into the recent developments in female-centric sageuk stories that attempts to break the trends of usuality. In simple words, the drama is, firstly, neither the King’s nor the Queen‘s or of the antagonist(s), it is about the choices and actions of the characters that lead the consequences accordingly. Even so, the prominence put into manufacturing the female lead combined with the performance by Kang Ha Na, makes the story even more powerful.
Final Remarks… All matters summed up, the drama is a fabulous piece of sageuk, in fact, the 2nd best of the year, keeping “TRSC” at the first. From an excellent script to noteworthy direction, from spellbinding cinematography to transfixing editing and from amazing performance to thrilling presentation and finally the astounding outcomes, it maintained the quality throughout and proved to be a must watch piece. Most importantly, the drama is what you call “thought-provoking”; it made us ponder, resonate, rationalize and infer the characters’ perspectives and action, in our own lenses ofc. My overall experience and my sense of considering the previous productions of similar type, has led me to conclude that this is a well-made show with untypical execution, even so it is not very unique or a masterpiece. PLEASE WATCH, for its worth the time and deserves much more appreciation.
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I binged!
It was a great watch and i did watch it in one seating, usually happens when you are watching something good. It has its dramatic moments but overall it was quite an uplifting show. As much as it was a romance story between Minho and Soobin's character it was also very much a story of the four friends. I love the from start to finish the friendship between these four never wavered. Even if they all were dealing with their own problems they never fail to show up when the others needed them. I also love how even the side characters in this show great, i find myself rooting for them as well. Over all a great watch. Give it a chance people!Was this review helpful to you?
plot with no stakes, no real consequences
it was cute and fun but if you’re looking for a serious story and/or a serious romance, this isn’t it. it’s one of those shows you watch in between shows that you’re waiting for.lots of plot twists that didn’t make sense, hard to follow what the actual rules are and what the stakes are, if any. i was so ??? that kang siyeol’s grandma was in ONE episode after the switch and then never again lol weird ass plot device that could’ve had more meaning but whatevs.
the chemistry was there, but i didn’t believe they were all in for each other. when there are rarely any stakes, even dying isn’t that permanent, then it’s hard for me to see strength in their connection. all the actors were great, but the roles they played didn’t have enough depth in their writing or directing.
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