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Marry My Husband doesn't want you to think about it that hard
Okay, I’ll say it: I really really didn’t like Marry My Husband.That’s not to say that it’s a drama without redeeming qualities. While I might have resorted to “hate-watching” at some point, Marry my Husband always felt addictive and binge-worthy. There was always something exciting going on. The over-the-top nature of this show certainly prevented it from feeling stale or boring. The acting performances were??? okay??? Probably??? Everyone does too much all the time but hey, that again works for what this was trying to be. The fashion choices also made me laugh at points (why did she wear a wedding dress to a class reunion???). That’s not a strength of this show, but at least I got great enjoyment out of it.
This is most definitely a Makjang drama and I knew that going in, which meant that the lack of realism was never going to be a factor in my review. Prolonged silliness was what I was signing up for. Still, Marry My Husband left a bad taste in my mouth for reasons I still find difficult to articulate. Is it wrong to dislike a story for feeling mean? Because personally, even though this show bent over backwards trying to make me loathe the villains, I still didn’t get much enjoyment out of them getting their karma. Ji-won transforms over the series from a victim into another vapid mean girl. That in itself is a topic worth exploring but I am not entirely sure if anyone in the writing-room even considered that my sympathy for the protagonist could only last that long. The message is less that cruelty is wrong, more that cruelty directed at the wrong people is wrong. The goofiness of the plot and insanity of everyone’s performance constantly clashed with the severity and realism of the presented issues. Setting another woman up with a man you know to be abusive is an incredibly hard sell. The show only could attempt said feat by making sure that their female antagonist didn’t feel like an actual woman. Su-min had to be comically evil so no one in the audience thought about the implications of the plot. But in doing so, they also robbed me of all the fun I could have had with such a story to begin with.
But okay, even though this drama really doesn’t want me to, let’s talk about the implications of Marry My Husband and Ji-won's mission. When Ji-won is facing domestic abuse, Marry My Husband rightfully recognizes her situation as pitiful. But when Su-min is presented with the same fate, it’s fine because ultimately Su-min is a lot less likable. She’s just getting what she deserves. Women are only victims when they haven’t done anything wrong.
“But Ji-won had to act this way because someone had to fill her place in her abusive relationship”- cool, in-universe this is totally true. But Marry My Husband doesn’t exist in a vacuum. This rule in its worldbuilding only exists, because the author decided to write it. No one made them do that. Even worse, this creates a cycle where abuse is a necessary evil. Someone has to be at the end of the stick. And we have to choose the least likable person who deserves it the most.
This show also has a very strange relationship with class, which I found very questionable. Most villains in Marry My Husband are lower class. This is not necessarily a problem but it sure is noticeable. And the one time there is a valid criticism of class society, it gets dismissed entirely because it comes from the least sympathetic guy in the entire show.
Also, even though this is a classic exercise in Girlbossism™ arguably too much of Ji-won's revenge was reliant on the aid of her rich chaebol boytoy who was just a dreadfully boring character. Booooo, I am throwing tomatoes.
Maybe this is my fault. Maybe I just wanted something from this drama that it was never interested in giving. One-dimensional villains that you can just hate certainly still can be fun. I loved the arguably similar The Glory for that exact reason. But even though she was pure evil, I had fun watching The Glory’s villain. Because I could recognize actual attempts to make her feel somewhat real instead of a straw woman.
When I voiced my concerns about this show, I was assured time and time again that it’s “not that deep”. This is just a silly Makjang drama. Its main purpose is to just entertain me. Granted, it did that. Against my better judgement, I sat through its insanity. But I ultimately am the one who decides if it’s that deep to me. You're free to take away from it whatever you want, but what if I'm dissatisfied with the surface level? Marry My Husband might not want me to ask the big questions. Well too bad because I am asking them anyway.
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1U-turn on expectations and clichés.
Not gonna lie - I dropped the show after the first two episodes. They were fine, but did not grab my attention. Next week I felt like watching a rom-com, so I picked it up again, and from that moment I just enjoyed the silly ride it took me for. They really played into, and at the same time broke all the cliches of kdrama rom-coms, and it was so much fun to watchThe story is something we have seen countless times - a fake relationship leads to a real one. Rich guy falls for a poor girl, yet few twists made it much more compelling and interesting. The female lead was not a damsel in distress - she is competent, friendly, strong. The male lead was not a cold lead - he is a cute and soft potato. The father was not evil, rather funny and a bit childish. The best friend second lead deal is dealt with in a realistic manner.
While the conflicts and issues between the main couple come from their different backgrounds, the second couple’s issues come from the differences of their personalities. Thanks to that we see a variety of interesting situations that kept me entertained.
That said, there was one side plot situation that had quite an impact on the characters and their behavior, but then was gone and never mentioned, simply because the current plot progression did not need it anymore. I wished we had some kind of closure or explanation for it.
The characters were all quite fun to follow. Except for the main cast that delivered a good performance, I want to talk about Seo Hye Won who played Jo Yoo Jung Young Seo's cousin. The girl was hilarious. Her random English lines with cartoonish subtitles on screen were some of the best scenes. She was extremely over the top, but it worked perfectly in the context of the show and overall tone.
While I have no huge complaints about any of the performances, I was slightly disappointed with Kim Min Gue. His character lacked expression. I get that he was this well mannered, stoic, logic driven guy, but I was just not completely convinced by his delivery.
It’s an over the top romantic comedy - funny sounds, funny animations, funny subtitles on the screen, but all of that was rather fitting and elevated the scenes - be it making them more funny, cute, sometimes cringe. I mean, the whole show is cringe, but I appreciate how they embraced that. Sometimes it’s the way to go - don’t take yourself too seriously, so people can enjoy it for what it is.
I don’t really have much to say about the soundtrack. All the songs were nice, cute and matching the drama, but the only one that truly caught my attention was Han Seung Yoon’s Whatever You Want.
Overall, if you are in the mood for romance, I don’t think you will find any better production from the past few years. It was cute, entertaining, did not have any over the top problematic plot lines, no random murder mystery we sometimes see in Korean rom-coms. Sometimes all one needs is good looking people falling in love with each other and all the cringe and sweet butterflies that come with it.
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To love and be loved
The King’s Affection is one of three sageuk produced by KBS this year, following River Where the Moon Rises and ending right at the start of The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won. It is also one of eight sageuk set during Joseon Dynasty, as well as nine overall to be aired this year. 2021 truly has been inundated with a number of K-historicals and fans of the genre are all the better for it!This firmly belongs to the fictional romance variety, the likes of Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung, Love in the Moonlight and the more recent Lovers of the Red Sky as well as the currently airing The Red Sleeve, albeit purportedly based more closely on historical records. The thing with romance-centric sageuk is that there is generally a wider scope of themes being depicted, in addition to the love story between the leads.
In this case, they include palace politics, melodrama, comedy and a fair amount of “fluffiness”, while commonly established tropes are added into the mix for good measure, comprising childhood connection, contract marriage, crossdressing or gender bender, found family, love triangle, and the star crossed lovers. So if you’re in the mood for a sageuk that isn’t too heavy in terms of historical accuracy or the seriousness of the politics but with enough light-hearted moments mixed with a dash of heart-wrenching events and a big dose of passionate romance, then this is definitely one to consider.
The drama tells the story of a pair of royal fraternal twins who switch places, with the female becoming the Crown Prince in her brother’s stead before eventually succeeding the throne, hence the appropriately given title for the drama. Along the way, the “King” develops affections for one of her subjects, amidst the intense political rivalries between various factions in the palace. Further complications arise to the already precarious situation in the form of dysfunctional family dynamics, forced marriages and murderous antagonists who are hell-bent on furthering their nefarious agendas.
The screenplay by Han Hee Jung, who previously wrote Gunman in Joseon, is adapted from the manhwa, Yeonmo (연모) by Lee So Young which was serialized between 2011 to 2014 and revolves around the fictional King Namjang but with references to real life historical figures from the late Yejong to early Seongjong era of the Joseon Dynasty. This is the first work from directors Song Hyun Wook and Lee Hyun Suk that I have seen.
Being a pre-produced drama that began principal photography in April, filming finally concluded in late November, halfway through the drama’s airing schedule, due to a number of delays caused by Covid infections to the crew and a fire that reportedly broke out at a filming set. Yongin Daejanggeum Park, the iconic MBC film set for historical productions, served as the primarily filming location along with several other famous landmarks and notable locales. These include Minsok Korean Folk Village in Yongin, Sangdangsanseong Fortress in Cheongju, Gwanghalluwon Ojakgyo Bridge in Namwon-si, Jeongseon-gun Doroni Pond (Gangmujang Pond), Itaesarangbawi Rock in Geochang-gun (Gangmujang Cliff), and Andong Seaside Film Set.
What I Liked
The production values are obviously very high and reflected not only in the nationwide filming locations but also the quality in terms of the visuals presented. In addition to the cinematic feel to the atmospherics courtesy of the excellent cinematography and post-production effects, the aesthetic art direction as well as the beautiful elaborately designed costumes certainly enhanced this aspect significantly as well. There is quite a fair bit of slow-motion immersive and “romance-themed” framing. I truly appreciated this approach to the visual language.
The direction as well as editing absolutely complements this aspect of the storytelling because the entire drama takes its time allowing certain key moments and scenes to breathe and leave a memorable impression on viewers. Although nothing to write home about, the action sequences and the choreography for the sword fighting appears quite decent for the most part and progressively intensifies as the story approaches the climax.
The grand scheme of the overarching plot and the conclusion. As soon as I had read the synopsis (which is rather spoilery, by the way), I knew that the conclusion to the story was going to be limited to only a handful of options, some of which probably would leave viewers somewhat distressed. Without spoiling it, I will say that the outcome of the story surprised me a little but in a good way. I also think that the drama ends as strongly as it starts, with episode 19 a particularly thrilling rollercoaster of emotions and adrenaline rush.
As far as the characterizations are concerned, the FL, her grandfather and the ML’s father stand out for me. Especially during the more serious segments of the plot development pertaining to the court intrigue. Each of them is extremely grey and buried beneath the many layers that they have embodied into their persona that sometimes I, as a viewer, become unsure of which mask that they put on is the "real" them. After years of pretending to be a man, the FL probably does not even know what it means to be a woman anymore, until her affections have been awakened by the very person whom she first developed feelings for, as a child. Physical attributes aside, her demeanour is utterly that of a royal Crown Prince.
The Left State Councilor, Han Ki Jae is a man who will stop at nothing to preserve his political powers, including his own flesh and blood. At times, the villainy of this character is truly awesome to behold. Likewise his retainer, the cold blooded and ruthlessly efficient Jung Seok Jo. If Han Ki Jae is Emperor Palpatine, then this man is Darth Vader. But beneath the facade of unrelenting malice lies a truly conflicted and tormented individual who knows deep down that he has sold his soul to the Devil.
The performance by all 3 actors for the aforementioned roles are the highlight of the drama for me. Park Eun Bin is absolutely phenomenal. This lady has so much potential given her track record for compelling portrayals in recent times, and her iteration of the gender bender is one of the best I’ve seen. Yoon Je Moon provides the perfect delivery of the antagonistic grandfather and politician of the Joseon court, where his subtly expressed passive-aggressive undertone imbues an added dimension to the depth of the characterization. Bae Soo Bin is much more action oriented given that he portrays quite possibly the best swordsman in the drama, Jung Seok Jo. In addition to the physicality and despite being a man of few words, the nuanced microexpressions on his face say it all, really.
Apart from the impressive trio, Bae Yoon Kyung’s Shin So Eun is noteworthy considering that she lacks screen time because she steals the scenes whenever she does make her appearance. I have to mention the child actress, Choi Myung Bin. Out of all the child actors I’ve seen this year, and there have been many, I do think that her portrayal of both Lee Hwi and Dam Yi is the best. Of course, at 13, she’s considered quite mature but her duality in depicting two vastly different characters, one of whom is male, sold it for me.
The soundtrack is very good, and I wouldn’t expect anything less. If there is romance involved, one can be sure that the music will no doubt play a major part in tugging at the heartstrings with emotional love ballads, of which there are plenty in this production. In this aspect, TKA definitely does not disappoint. My personal favourite is the main theme by LYn, which gets significant airplay via the infusion of countless MV scenes of the lead couple.
LYn (린) - One and Only (알아요)
Ro Woon SF9 (로운) -No Goodbye In Love (안녕)
Baek Z Young (백지영) - IF I
SUPER JUNIOR-K.R.Y. - Shadow of You (그림자 사랑)
An Da Eun (안다은) - I Believe
VROMANCE (브로맨스) - Hide and Seek (숨바꼭질)
Haeyoon (해윤) of 체리블렛 Cherry Bullet - Full of You (티가 나)
Room for Improvement
As much as I have waxed lyrical about the positives, TKA is not without its flaws but on the whole they aren’t overly detrimental to the storytelling. I think at times, particularly midway through the story, the fluffiness probably receives slightly more attention than is perhaps necessary. As a result, cuteness overload features prominently as fillers, where the leads behave out of character and out of place with the setting. Adorable but ridiculous at the same time.
Rowoon, portraying the ML Jung Ji Woon, has the physique to match the action scenes well. His chemistry with Park Eun Bin, as the only CP in the drama, is quite apparent and their scenes together are pretty convincing. My only gripe is the emotive aspects of his performance. Park Eun Bin appears the more superior performer and it truly does show, IMHO. The same goes for the other supporting cast of Nam Yoon Su and Choi Byung Chan as Lee Hyun and Kim Ga On respectively. I’m actually rather intrigued by the character of Kim Ga On, who I wish could have been more fleshed out because despite the potential of his backstory, his character arc never fully materialises into something more than the stoic persona throughout.
As far as the other supporting characters are concerned, Lee Pil Mo as King Hyejong, the FL’s father, appears somewhat inconsequential to proceedings before eventually becoming a mere plot device to the overarching plot. The character of the psychotic Prince Chang Woon who has a penchant for unmitigated violence, played by Kim Seo Ha, is clearly a cliche and written to be nothing more than an OTT antagonist. He comes across as a cartoon character whose only job is to provide angst and cringe. Meanwhile, Jung Chae Yeon has the unenviable task of playing the annoying airhead and occasional comic relief, Noh Ha Kyung. That said, the character is rather pitiful and I actually feel sorry for her in the end, which is a credit to the actress’ interpretation of the role.
Overall
The pros outweigh the cons, and I have absolutely enjoyed Park Eun Bin’s performance here. The story also provides an acceptable closure, much better than I had initially anticipated. The King’s Affection ranks as one of the better produced romance sageuk that I have seen this year.
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carried by hao du and leyan
The beginning of this drama started out so strong, but it really lost the plot after episode 17 and also fell into several tired and old tropes regarding its older female characters. Wu Lei was very convincing in his role, but unfortunately he lacked chemistry with Dilraba. Maybe your mileage will vary, but what really made the show worth watching to the end for me was Liu Yuning and Zhao Lusi's portrayals of Hao Du and Leyan, respectively. While they didn't actually contribute that much to the plot (which, again, went completely off the rails after such a strong start that promised so much potential), their emotional arc was amazing. I might never rewatch the drama in full again, but I will definitely rewatch the Haoyan scenes.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
As a fan of Park Shin Hye and Hyun Bin's work on Secret Garden, I came into Memories of the Alhambra with a lot of optimism, enthusiasm, and excitement for the show. The show's premise was very new and exciting, as the show started, with the story line of a man trying to find the genius inventor of an artificial reality world. The concept was interesting for two reasons. One, this vision of the world being changed through the emerging technological advances of AR is more realistic than fictional, especially when one considers the huge explosion of Pokemon GO! and it's use of AR technology in making fictional creatures real. Two, this concept of having a show revolve around AR isn't commonly used in the tropes of Korean Drama. From my knowledge, only W (which was created by the same screenwriter) had anything close to this concept. The concept of AR created the basis of interest for this show.However, as the series went on, the story line started to experience a drag in story and, at times, character. One key instance of the story dragging was the show's annoying use of flashbacks. At one point of the series, an entire episode was a flashback with the focus on Hyun Bin's character and the reappearance of Chanyeol's character. Park Shin Hye's character (and, in retrospect, a majority of the female characters) were ultimately useless by the time the show ended. Their characters were so stereotypical and narrow-minded that it made the show unbearable to watch at time.
The one thing that destroyed this series was the lack of story and explanation. For example, Se-Joo's (played by Chanyeol) return to reality leaves a lot of questions that are never answered in the finale. Se-Joo, during his escape from the Ghost of Marco, somehow encases his physical self into a different dimension. An 18 year old kid, who invented an advanced AR Game, somehow broke the laws of physics and was able to hide himself into a different reality. Ultimately, the nail in the coffin for Memories is the finale. Hyun Bin's character disappears and, after hearing of his appearance during simulated fights, Park Shin Hye's character ultimately finds him, or rather, his silhouette, a silhouette that is in the shadows and flickers like a glitch. This open ending in the fate of Jin Woo was insulting. To close off a show, in this type of manner, made the viewer's 16 hours of dedication to the show a waste.
While these are one of the many reasons to why the show was a story-line disaster, the show had some bright notes. One, as stated previously, was Hyun Bin's superb acting. Being able to act as though you're sanity is on the brink of collapse and being able to draw empathy from the audience is a trait that is only available through hard work. Hyun Bin's superb acting, alongside Park Shin-Hye's likeable acting, made this show bearable to watch.
While Hyun Bin and Park Shin-Hye brought interest to the show due to their star power, their brilliant acting is not enough to save Memories of the Alhambra from being a slight disappointment. The lack of storytelling and explanation ultimately destroy what was once a promising show into a show that ends with the slap of disappointment.
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Unrealistic boring AF
I regretted watching this...*wasnt as cute as season 1
* all teasers or pictures promoting season 2 was songkang... so whats that huh?
* too many slowmotions
* frustrating story line
* i dont like hye-yeong visually (expressionless)
* dark cinematography
* is it just me? But i was convinced till the very end that she likes sun-oh. Time with hye yeong was too boring and forced...🤨. When you are inlove it should be fun but this one is gloomy..
Ugh! Never been frustrated like this... so annoying!
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Huh?
Q: How was the series?A: Huh?
Q: Was it good?
A: I think so?
Q: Would you recommend it?
A: Maybe?
Q: Can you answer without it being a question?
A: Seo Kang Joon
Q: It has to do with time travel. Is it messy?
A: I'd say complicated, but what time travel story isn't?
Q: Another question reply. Did you find it entertaining?
A: Seo Kang Joon
Q: Was it worth the time to watch?
A: Time doesn't flow.
Q: Huh?
A: Huh?
Q: Ok, one more try. Do you think I should watch it?
A: Episode 7 is really going to irritate you. I mean, like reeeeeeally make you want to shake someone vigorously.
Q: What about the rest of the episodes???
A: The rest will be the cop irritating you.
Q: What's your overall view of the show?
A: I understood that I understood nothing.
Q: You've been no help at all.
A: Seo Kang Joon!
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Now, lets dissect. Shall we?
1) General:
In my opinion, this is one of the best dramas to date.
It is Unique.
It is Structured.
It is Fresh.
Doctor Stranger was able to infuse different genres and intricately flow them together as to not seem forced or rushed.
2) The Plot:
The originality. That is what it is. The plot was so perfectly structured that I used it as a premise for my English final (English teacher loved it-to say the least). With the time allotted for this drama, Doctor Stranger's plot was understandable, intriguing, and sufficient. Now, if we nitpick every little detail, and fuss over every thing it is inevitable to find faults; however, generally the plot was tres bein.
3) The characters/actors:
Park Hoon: Possibly one of the strongest characters I have seen. Lee Jong Suk was able to portray the troubled, dedicated, loyal, loving, light and strong character that Park Hoon is. His character was not a One-side kind of character, but one that embodies a well rounded person. He is not too lax, too romantic, too silly, or too cold. He is a young man who is happy and funny, but at the same time he is scarred and at times cold.
Park Hae Jin: A great character, with a great messed up, sad back story. The way he treats Park hoon and Soo Hyun probably makes people dislike him, but towards the end we see how that contributes to his personality.
Oh Soo Hyun: ....Ok...In all honesty I don't see what the huge hype about her is-in terms of character at least. kang So Ra was perfectly able to play her characters role- the quirky,and hardworking chick that Oh Soo Hyun is. Yet, I don't find Oh Soo Hyun to be that "phenomenal" character people are making her seem to be. Maybe its because shes cute and all, and she acted all school-girl crushy when it came to Hoon. Nevertheless, I recognize her importance in the show and her distinct personality.
Song Jae Hee: *DRUMROLL* SURPRISE! She was my favorite character (besides Hoon and Hae Jin). She is a greatly structured character. She is not the average main girl character in a normal k-drama. She's not loved automatically (by the audience), and she does not possess the average cute/sassy/spunky/cold attitude that a lot of female main leads do. She's complex.COMPLEX.
She also represents an actual, real girl who exists in our real world with that kind of personality and mentality [Yay. Finally some people in the real world can relate!]. Shes strong, assertive, smart, cunning, loving, and brave. Holy Crap. People (the viewers) underestimate her, or write her off simply because she rubbed them off the wrong way in the beginning, or she pissed them off at some point. Don't get me wrong, she pissed me off at times as well, but at the end. *All the Awards to Jae Hee. Seriously Bro.**
Quick Note: I BEG TO DIFFER JIN SE YEON WAS GREAT IN THIS. You might not have liked her acting simply because you don't think she acted the way you think Jae Hee should have. Yet, in terms of JAE HEE and her personality and who she is, I feel like JSY nailed it.
***If you want more details on my feelings on this, message me***
IM SORRY. I have rambled.
3) The Music:
It was great. Five Star. Gold Star. The music suited the situations it was used for. Pretty catchy too.
4) The Romance:
GOSHDAMNIT.
Park Hoon x Jae Hee: A love that has withstood and persevered through every obstacle to reach the happiness they seriously and honestly both deserved.
Soo Hyun x Hae JIn: A love based on forgiveness and understanding or the other.
*If you want clarifications for this as well, I love and welcome anyone's message*
Wrap Up: I basically loved it and found it a source of not just drama perfection but a practical masterpiece [if it had ever been a book].
MUAH <3 To whoever read till the end. Come visit me sometime, you're worth it.
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In the beginning, I liked that they provided a fresh musical spin on the Candy/Jerk pairing trope, and gave their second leads their own distinct personalities. But all of that seemed to break down somewhere around episode 10 or so, when the drama started focusing on one frustrating trope after another, rather than playing to its strengths: the acting, the music, and the lighthearted comedic tone of the show in general. I would have preferred better character development of the second leads, emphasizing more comedy rather than drama, and of course, more music.
I would only recommend watching if you are a fan of any of the main or second leads or interested just in the music, because the actors did an excellent job with the material they were given. Eun Ji was perfect as Chun Hee (and to be honest, should be required to sing in all of her future dramas, because her voice is just amazing), and Ji Hyun Woo did a great job fleshing out his character in a way that felt more three-dimensional, in spite of his actions early in the drama.
I don't have any plans to rewatch this, as it was frustrating enough the first time. Watch at your own risk, but fast forward through the angsty scenes.
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1. Enrique Geum. He was really funny, sweet, and perfect! You'll really enjoy his carefree personality.
2. None of Go Dok Mi's heart's contenders were arrogant jerks, as you usually see in dramas.
3. The secondary characters like Watanabe, the girl with the under eye bags, Dong Hoon, etc. They're all really unique and so funny. There was also a secondary couple that I really liked. Don't want to spoil it, but I'll just say it involved Dong Hoon.
4. The hilarious scenes. I've never laughed out loud so much for a drama! You've got falsetto battles, "mafia" scenes, really bad spanish accents, etc.
5. The OST was perfect. It had J Rabbit, one of my favorite singers, and so many cute songs. Plus, the sound effects were really good!
And here is why you might doubt watching it:
1. Go Dok Mi. She was okay for the first few episodes, but then she began to get annoying. She was a Mary Sue: a character that's a perfect flower that bends with the wind, and that does no harm, but is attacked by everyone. I only really liked Dok Mi in the last episode.
2. The unnecessary, annoying drama that begun around episode 9 (I think). I wish the plot could've developed better, because it started out SO good. Those episodes made me feel as if the writers were dragging out this drama too much.
The wonderful last episode and the pros of this drama are what made me give it a 10. If you want to watch FBND, don't begin with such high expectations, that's my only advice :)
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Started Strong, Ended Wrong – A Shamanic Misfire
→ Recommend to Watch: Unfortunately, NoThis is going to be a short review—because honestly, the disappointment was so real, I don’t even feel like writing a long one. Which is saying something, because I’m usually pretty verbose.
→ What went Wrong:
I started this show for Choo Young Woo, having absolutely loved his performances in *The Trauma Code* and *No Mercy*. His acting is consistently solid, and I was excited to see him in something lighter. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the cringe romance and comedy—even though high school tropes aren’t really my thing anymore. The “shaman high schooler” concept was quirky and fresh, and the visuals, music, and early mystery had me hooked.
I paused after Episode 10 for as I had to go for a 2-week vacation, hoping to return to a strong, satisfying finale. But wow, as Shikamaru from *Naruto* would say: *“What a drag.”* The last4 episodes—especially the final 2—were a complete mess. I was literally pulling my hair out watching Episode 11. The story could’ve wrapped up neatly around Episode 8 or 10, but instead it dragged on with repetitive, emotionally hollow plot loops. One character sacrifices themselves, the other saves them, rinse and repeat. It was exhausting and boring!
→ Best Thing:
The silver lining? Discovering more of Choo Young Woo’s work, and being introduced to the FL actress and Ji Ho’s actor—both of whom I’m seeing for the first time and will definitely follow in future projects. They were bright spots in an otherwise uneven ride.
→ Overall:
I came back from vacation hoping for an epic finale and a reason to recommend this drama. Instead, I got a narrative nosedive. It started with promise—especially with the intriguing shaman twist—but ended in chaos. Disappointing.
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One sentence doesn't mean that it's already bad and no sense.
I'm a Filipino and my mother is a domestic helper in short a maid but Im proud of it coz without her I wouldn't be successful. Let me tell you, I love watching chinese, thai, taiwanese, kdrama or turkish because it makes me relax. For me theres nothing wrong with just one sentence. I'm not also insulted when he said that because I know being a maid or DOH is a great job. Mind you, its a decent job. We have a lot of problems in our country by watching this it makes me feel at ease. You better think before you comment your hurting them also. Its not here fault they are just actors. To the casts and team don't mind the people with small brains and show them what u can do.❤️Was this review helpful to you?
The drama had a nice dynamics between the two leads. They were funny and cute together. However, the romance took forever to progress and the ending was terrible. The mystery part was good at first as well, but it got complicated and messy. Plus, the fantasy part was not properly presented or explained.
At least, the performances were good, as expected, from everyone in the cast and the pacing interesting.
So, five out of ten.
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A Serenade of Love and Delicious Foods
In a landscape where dramas are often dominated by convoluted plots and intense conflicts, Love Me, Love My Voice（很想很想你） stands out as a breath of fresh air.Love Me, Love My Voice narrates the story of Mo Qingcheng and Gu Sheng, who encounter each other online accidentally and gradually get to know and fell in love with each other. The beauty of the drama lies in its simplicity. The drama refrains from bombarding the audience with exaggerated conflicts or confusing plotlines, opting instead for a narrative that revolves around the genuine connection between two individuals and delicious foods!!
What sets this drama apart is its realism - the drama narrative focuses on the gradual deepening of the relationship and connection between the main leads: love, career and family. There is no antagonist in the drama, instead the characters has a normal life, celebrate each other's successes, and navigate the complexities of their lives with a sense of unity and togetherness that is both heartening and rare in the drama realm.
The side characters in the drama are also all very lovely! The interactions between the main character and side characters are also woven together beautifully, each individual character arcs into the broader tapestry of the story, allowing each side character to contribute uniquely to the overall narrative. Not to forget, the drama also showcases a lot of delicious food and cooking. The inclusion of delicious food and cooking scenes adds a sensory delight to the storytelling, viewers are treated to a visual feast of mouthwatering dishes! (you definitely cannot watch in an empty stomach!)
Tan Jianci and Zhou Ye is the perfect choice for Mo Qingcheng and Gu Sheng. They have a great rapport and they look gorgeous and fitting together and deliver many squeal-worthy moments. They manages to portray a couple deeply in love through their micro expressions. Although some might complain that the romance is a slow-burn, but it is justified, as it is just the beginning of their relationship, they are still getting to know each other.
The cinematography of Love Me, Love My Voice also deserves special mention. The visual aesthetics are both vibrant and soothing, mirroring the overall tone of the drama. The scenic shots of the bustling city juxtaposed with the serene moments between the main leads create a visually pleasing experience that complements the narrative beautifully. In addition, Love Me, Love My Voice also has a very exquisite and beautiful outfit. Gu Sheng’s outfit are 新中式穿搭, a modern-chinese traditional style. The outfits are not only beautiful, but it also accentuates Gu Sheng’s love towards the Chinese culture.
Another notable mention the OSTs. The drama has an array of OSTs that complements the narrative perfectly. Each OSTs are carefully created with heartfelt lyrics and also thoughtfully placed, to enhance the mood of every scene! The OSTs resonate with the themes of love, passion, and more, creating an immersive experience that transcends the screen and lingers in the hearts of the viewers. Not to mention, Tan Jianci’s voice are so soothing and fitting to every song he sings.
Overall, Love Me Love My Voice delivers a heartwarming and soothing narrative, offering audiences a respite from the typical dramatic rollercoaster genre. A must watch if you love a simple but heartwarming drama!!
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The plot is totally unbalanced when it came to quality of writing, one part of the story is about Jang Man Wol's past and her personal story, a wonderful story about a character who is serving an eternal punishment for a revenge happened in the past. The flashback moments are basically the best part of this show and the contrast between old/present Jang Man Wol is superb, IU did a great job in portraying different personalities.
Instead of making a drama entirely dedicated to this plot, the Hong Sisters decided to fill in the rest of the drama with boring sub-plot about hotel management and ghost hunting. Qualitatively speaking, the present story doesn't hold up to the past story.
In addition, the Hong sisters failed to develop interesting characters outside IU's role. None of the other characters can compete with IU's performance, the show was made for her, written for her and invested tons of "money" on her, with beautiful outfits, make-up and accessories. It almost seems that the Hong sister first wrote the role of IU and her personal story, then when they realized that they had to fill 16 episodes they added crap as much as they could.
Even the great Yeo Jin Go couldn't do much about it, his role was weak from the start, a scary kid that end up working in a hotel full of ghost, despite his good acting skills, the personality of his character wasn't strong enough to compete with IU's charater. Other characters were mere filler, they explained a bit about them but most of the sub-plots were closed only during the last 4 episodes, sign that the show didn't give them much space and importance.
The romance is another giant failure of this show, the initial chemistry felt between IU and Jin Goo during the first episode disappear complety when the role of Go Chung Myung came out. I was too curious about their story to care about a Jin Goo, in addition IU and Ji Goo moments together were very slow and the romance take a long time to sail.
If we consider that most of the drama was shot inside the hotel, the director had to exploit a lot of other elements to entertain the viewer, as already said, they have invested a lot in the appearance of IU, with beautiful outfits. They also used a lot of scenes that provided color games (the tree in the hotel) and the beautiful soundtrack. But as I always say, making the most of some good element of the drama doesn't hide a weak and poorly written script.
They say that Hong sister are a hit or a miss, HDL was a miss and it survived only thanks to the hype.
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