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it sucks
read the original novel or even the webtoon. don't watch this shit. make it flop let the director suffer for even trying to ruin it for the people who love orv.dokja is a victim of bullying and violence and yet they painted him as a bully and a fucking murderer? seriously? if you didnt have time to read the novel then you should've just not made the damn movie. why is gilyoung a fucking toddler? why is jihye a grown as woman? why do they have guns? removing the abuse dokja faced, the pain he has suffered through just to cater to incels. removing SA faced by heewon, domestic violence faced by dokja and his mother and the whole coin farming part really tells us about your misogynist mindset. take this la and shove it up your ass you misogynist motherfucker.
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This review may contain spoilers
This Love Have A Lot Of Basil
Sskksks, I’m sorry, but if pettiness was an olympic sport, Kluer would win gold, mfer did not come to play! Also, tell me why the moment JJ showed up, I went ‘Wait, isn’t that the boot licker from Pitbabe? yo Kenta, what your arse doing here?’ LMAO.No really, the moment Kluer said, ’Stir fried with long beans’ I went ‘Damnnnn Susan, yous is petty!’ Not gonna lie, I clapped a bit, be petty Susan, be petty. Up until the finale, I thought he was gonna be the only petty character, but seeing Chef open a restaurant right around the corner was a whole new level of pettiness, damn what's in the water in that restaurant?
Chef Oab: You are Eliminated! As a chef, always be aware of the cleanliness of the kitchen.
*A few moments later*
Chef Oab’s naked butt on the kitchen counter, doing the devils tango with Plawan.
ME: *boombastic side-eye*
Peoples, we are eating stuff…if this is what happens behind the scenes of these restaurants, imma learn to make my own tiramisu. Also, what's with Chef and doing it in the kitchen? Every chance he get he's breaking plates and spilling product placement noddles.
Anywho, RIP to those of us who watched this without food, and almost ended up licking our screens. The food looked sooo appetising! And, am I the only one who even blew on invisible food every time the characters did? Damn I’m hungry.
CHARACTERS
I think everyone did what they were supposed to, which was refreshing. SailubPon were good in their roles, had great chemistry and managed to keep my interest. Most of the times, I intend to get pulled in by the second leads, but here, although I was enjoying the dynamic of the second couples, my focus was on the main leads.
Or course, Plawan chopping the chef while working for Methas was a big-no-no, but hey, I’m here for the drama, so I kept cheering on him to not tell Oab until it was too late. I like that they weren't overbearing, even when that female showed up and there was misunderstanding, they didn't break up. It was a good change, seeing adults act like adults. I really liked it.
The will they won’t they relationship of the second couple was good. You could cut the tension between them with a bread knife. Which was why, I was a bit disappointed with the finale. I didn't want KinnPorsche level of swimming pool end, but like, this was them throughout the series:
Intense stares. Helping you pee. Falling on your naked body. His face really close to his face. Cinema dates. Buying the hospital you work at. Near kisses with so much tension. Slow burn. If you want me, earn me speeches. More intense stares. THEN, in the finally, JJ shows up in a towel, and it's like:
JJ: I'm half naked, boobs on display, please, go home, I want to sleep. Hehe, don't look at me, hehe stop it.
METHAS: *In love noises* Come here. You're in trouble today.
ME: Girl, it's about to go down. They about to break Methas other leg and the bed.
WRITERS *Missionary kisses. Next scene. They engage.*
ME: Engaged? Dafug y'all rushing for??
Like, that's not what was advertised? Sirs, we did not order this? Where the food at? What happened to the promised good eating? I mean, I'm satisfied with what they gave me, but I'm not full. That's that make sense? It wasn't bad, but it just felt flat after all that tension. That being said, they were cute in that scene.
Anyway, my only problem in the beginning was that JJ was asking too much of Methas. Sure, all he wanted him to do is to be more human, instead of an evil business man, and good on him, Methas needed to know that JJ will only date someone he felt was a good person. But at the same time, JJ forcing Methas to be ‘a good human’ defeated the purpose of growth. But I think this was redeem in the finale, cuz even though he had the ultimatum, he was still popping champagne, and it took him losing JJ and taking his advice for him to come to the good side. So, a bit of grown on his own, which was good. And frankly, I think he's the only who had any major sort of growth, everyone else was pretty much the same with little changes.
But like Methas' whole personality was like: money, money, annoying, money, annoying, money. Then when he fell in love he was like a child at a candy store. It was funny to see him out there giving out free rent instead of increasing the prices. Also, that wedding ring. Damn, that rock shined brighter than the sun. But tell me why homeboy told JJ he'd teach him how to love? Child, you just learned it like two seconds ago, and your definition of it still so-so, so what you gonna teach him?
Listen, KLUER is a loser. And not the graceful kind, but the kind you wanna leave at disneyland on his birthday. He sucks. Characters like him are the reason why I sometimes thinks second leads deserves no right.
This dude was doing too much, all because he had a crush. First, calling Khao Suay to come back home and disturb our peace, then trying to state some claim when he saw Chef and Plawan might have something on the side, then literally trying to kiss him while he was 'asleep', then immediately hating him cuz he was a spy.
I laughed. The deep kind that makes you choke, when Chef and Plawan were eating each other and Kluer was alone on his bed sobbing. The editing was chefs kiss, best scene sequence ever. Good job editors. Yes, Kluer looked so sad and pathetic, and I was supposed to feel bad for him, but at that time, I was so done with him, his lonely arse weeping with in a pain with heartbreak made me laugh happy tears. Then when he got rejected, he was remembering when he almost kissed Plawan in his sleep. Son of Adam, how is that what you choose to remember, was that a happy memory for you? cuz…
I'm glad his pathetic arse finally grew up and came back to work with the team. I did understand him in the end, first Chef could have left the restaurant to him since they worked together for so long, but he decided to hold a competition. Then, Chef again stole/fell in love with his crush. That must have hurt, in the finale when he was chanting 'get marry' I was like, damn, 'you gonna cry into your pillow tonight, ain't you Susan?' but he seemed generally happy... sooo...
PLOT:
Listen, I think This Love Doesn’t Have Long Beans was wrongfully named. Sure, that female character who doesn't like long beans showed up to annoy us for like two episodes, then got dump while trying to eat her sandwich. (Side note: Chef, really, did you have to bring her the sandwich? It made me laugh. And gawd, he was so brutal when he dumped her. Yikes. ‘I don’t think I ever loved you’ damn, #sad) But still, it should have been called This Love Has A Boatload of Basil. Cuz really, that’s all they talked and smelled about. Plawan spent more than half the series sniffing Chef cuz he smelled of basil.
I have dried basil at home, but I’m tempted to go to the grocery store and sniff a fresh one to see what all the fuss is about. That would be weird, right. Yeah, that’s weird… don’t wanna be labelled the ‘basil sniffer,’ people know me in this town.
And, sure, I’d like for female characters to stop popping up like rent is due to cause unnecessary drama, but they add to the good drama when done right, and this one made me dislike Kluer more, and brought out Plawan’s sassy side, so we good. Plus, her arse got dumped while eating a sandwish and made me laugh, so thanks for your service female ex-girlfriend.
Anywho, there wasn't anything big, or special about the plotline. The story has been done before. It's always a nasty job when you date someone you work with, and that too the boss, but I like that it wasn't just a workplace romance, and it started out as a con. Sure we all knew he was gonna fall in love in the end, and they gonna have a happy ending, but the execution of it, was done well with a good cast, which made it interesting to watch.
The plot gave me exactly when it promised, and for that I enjoyed it. It was a simply story about food that managed to entertain me every week. A lot of dramas have been trying to fit so many themes and genres into them, that I’m all too happy when I stumble upon a simply slice of life like this one.
FINALE
I went into the finale ready for drama in the first few minutes cuz now Chef knew Plawan has been deceiving him, instead, he just chopped him well-well. And the whole time I was like… hmm, sirs, where is my drama?
ME: Enough eating each other to robotic background music, give me drama!! I want drama. I want yelling, throwing stuff. Drama. Drama. Drama.
*Writers give me drama. Tears, yelling, shoving, rain, outside, fatal position.*
ME: Nooo *in the corner crying* that’s too much drama. Take it back. Take it back.
Which of course immediately turned into laughter, cuz damn Chef did Plawan dirty opening that restaurant. So petty, and for what? Then he went and ordered food from him, so he'd come and see his new place. That was Foul!! Though, I like how when Plawan finally came to say sorry, he accepted, warned him to never break his heart again, and immediately violated all the health codes. Loved that Plawan was the one to propose, I was like awww, that too surrounded by basils.
Overall, the finale felt a bit rush towards the end, but it didn't leave any major loose ends, and I was satisfied with it, so we all good. All in all, a good show, that I’ll highly recommend to anyone looking for something unheavy to watch. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to more work from the cast.
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This drama is made to give you butterflies! The romance is just beautiful...
Two calm and young humans fall in love amidst a snowstorm in a snowy country! This sentence sums the whole drama up.From the beginning, we get to see lovers who fall in love in a pure way, just like snow. It's just serene and sweet, and nothing more.
There are obstacles. There are past issues. There are some grains of mystery involved, but their romance development is on-point and flowing like the wind.
The scenery is marvelous! we get to see European cities covered in snow, trees, and cute cafes. It's one of those Aesthetic dramas that satisfy your craving for beauty.
The OSTs and main songs are sooo beautiful. The lyrics match the whole story and it's mesmerizing.
Also, there is no love triangle or exes from the past.
The leads have the healthiest relationship ever and their communication is so sweet.
Also, it's notable to mention that this drama has the most beautiful romantic scenes. The leads get to kiss and hold hands whenever they are given the chance! it's just pure ROMANCE.
Overall, a very sweet and romantic modern Cdrama. It's a must-watch imo :)
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Controverse Love 4 Love In The Air <3
LEGITIMATE 18+ rankingALSO because it´s written by MAME and there are displayed CONTROVERSIES stuck to the way both main characters approach each other etc.
(TW: non-consensual touching, homophobia, manipulation, mind games, s*a*, torture)
If you´re not okay with those, I would not recommend watching this series.
Story >> 7.5 >> 8.0 >> 7.5 >> 7.0
While this story contains a lot of elements that appeal to me, because I am a fan of controversy, it´s somehow not entirely intriguing, hence plotwise not capturing me as much as I want it. However, what I find significant is the emphasis on Phayus's kinky and controlling nature and the interesting balance of power in the main couple´s relationship. I can see that I start liking the plot because it´s getting more capturing and unpredictable the more it is broadcasted.
Production (>> 8.5)
I´m impressed by the visual quality, such as the cinematography, of this series and how well the screenwriting was done. When watching the series on YouTube tho, especially when the censored parts are cut, the cutting is a bit confusing. Overall I think the team did a great job!
Acting/Cast >> 9.0 >> 9.5 >> 9.0 >> 8.5
I don´t have much to nag here, Boss is showing off some cheeky skills while playing Phayu. The roles were distributed thoughtfully and I think that all the actors fit their characters. If they were following hardcore clichés of how Rain was perceived by some readers of the book, my view on this would have been different.
Music >> 7.5 >> 7.0
Personally, I don´t find any of the soundtracks outstanding and they give off a little bit of a Sims-Vibe. However, there are no errors in matching it to the series' overall vibes and I´m hoping that some darker scores are yet to be revealed, so that I can lift my rating a little. Gotta appreciate the singing tho.
Rewatch Value >> 8.0 >> 7.5
I´d watch it again if I will be looking for a series where one of the main protagonists is as manipulative and daring as Phayu. I like how they respectfully embodied the sensuality between the main couple.
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The situations are mature, the friendships are genuine and the love story is refreshingly real and sweet. The writing of this was very smart and truer to life than most dramas. The 11 episodes went by fairly quickly.
I really enjoyed the premise of five friends coming together by meeting through Twitter. It was such an original take on how people meet, grow to care for each other and become an extended family.
This is a slice of life piece about a particular time and stage in a person's life. It is off the beaten path from the usual standard drama fare. I loved it for that. The serious situations were handled in a realistic way that had me walking away feeling bittersweet but much more on the sweet side.
All of the characters were believable; the actors true and natural. My one small nitpick is that while I like JaeJoong and he improved in Protect the Boss, his acting in this felt a little green and new. But I did like "Doctor" and it wasn't so bad as to be distracting.
This drama really is a very nice piece of work. Sunao Ni Narenakute is an enjoyable watch, even with the angst and troubles that naturally come with the previously mentioned growing pains. This drama is about being true to yourself, learning to be brave in life and love. It is done with humor, some very stark realism and a lot of warmth.
The soundtrack was great! There wasn’t a song out of place. They were a mix of pop and alternative that fit perfectly with the age group portrayed in the drama. The songs were also memorable and this is one of those rare times I wish I owned the OST. (I liken the quality to Soulmate and Coffee Prince)
I am giving the re-watch a 10 because I know I will go back to this drama again.
I recommend this drama very highly. It is smart, fun, touching, and romantic. A WIN in my book.
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The first 10 episodes were amazingly well developed and I loved watching the character development and the initial friendship between Yu Xi (Lorene's character) and Zhan Cheng (Kingone's character) when he was blind. As their friendship developed into love, they became a super compatible couple. Their kissing scenes were also very cute. I think they're a great OTP for sure. Another reason why I liked this drama so much was because of the department store rivalry scenes/element. Unlike other romance dramas where the male lead is a CEO and they don't talk much about it other than the fact that he looks great wearing suits and has a lot of money, this drama plays out the rivalry scenes. They continue with the department scene rivalry side story throughout the drama and I really enjoyed these scenes because they were intense and nerve wracking to watch and they added to character development of Zhan Cheng. It wove seamlessly into the main plot and didn't distract from the romance.
Kingone really carries this drama. His portrayal of a blind man was seriously amazing. His acting was flawless and I couldn't see any flaws in his portrayal. I wasn't initially a fan of him because I usually like idol drama actors (read my other reviews) , but his character is really the ultimate perfect boyfriend. I actually liked Lorene's acting. Although her acting seemed a little fake in the beginning, her acting got a lot better. Like I said, Kingone carried the drama and he guided her through the romantic scenes well. Many think her crying scenes were fake, but I thought it was realistic because realistic crying isn't pretty. In terms of the supporting actors, I loved William's camaraderie with Zhan Cheng, and Yu Xi's relationship with her family. The supporting couples between Zhan Cheng's sister and Yu Xi's brother was adorable, as well as William's relationship with Yu Xi's best friend. Lorene was good at her dual roles as well.
The music is so heartwarming and emotionally provoking. I think this is one of the best soundtracks as a whole for a drama. Bii did most of the soundtrack, and I liked his songs a lot. They perfectly match the tone of the drama and the scenes.
For those of you who are unsure if you want to watch it because you're not sure if you can handle the various tragedies of this drama from the summary you just read, trust me, it is worth watching. It took me 2 weeks to finally decide to watch this because I selectively pick dramas to watch since I don't like dropping dramas; I feel the need to finish a drama once I start it. I'm glad I watched this drama; after all, it has now become one of my favorite dramas. Re-watch value is definitely high. In fact, I'm re-watching it right now! If your taste is anything like mine (read my other reviews for T-dramas), you will definitely love this drama. Give it a try. You won't regret it.
***edit*** As I said earlier, I'm watching it for the second time and after watching it for the second time I came to appreciate the beautiful cinematography of this drama even more. The BTS videos were also very entertaining and showed the chemistry between the leads. I recommend watching the BTS if you fall in love with the characters like me! I'm starting to like all the characters after watching it for the second time because I can start to understand some of their actions even though some of them were unforgivable. This might sound crazy, but I think I might watch it for the third time in the future. I really hope Kingone and Lorene collaborate on a drama again! (10/9)
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This is not a romance.
Don't get me wrong, there is something going on with the ml and fl but it isn't the focus, despite what I expected. Instead this mini and confy drama show us the the relationships between humans, and a god (woven) learning about them. It's totally worth watching cause the production is the one of an epic drama and also, I always have wanted to see a lee soo hyuk's drama but never got the guts to watch a "big" one, so this one was perfect to me.Being short just like the drama all I have to say is: You need to watch it, it's on another level of quality.
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Hoping for a season 2 :(
Just finished watching this drama and I can say, the storyline is really sad.. although in the beginning when she acted as a man, she did pulled it off, but was too dramatic. In my opinion though, she did the best job in acting as this 2 roles. Displayed her character well and really able to understand why was her character behaving in a certain manner.I think the production crew did a great job in making an effort to make the female lead pull off as a man/woman. Also, many people are saying that this drama has a bad ending but I don’t think so. It explains the title of this drama so much and how the female lead and the male lead can never be together.
I just feel a bit upset that they ended this drama in a rush. towards the last episode. The story starts to conclude everything with little explanation, and then with many people start dying... I really hope they continue a Season 2 soon and maybe tell us more into the story of the female lead and what might happen if the both leads ever meet again.
As seen in last episode, they both passed by each other and was so close to seeing each other again, but it ended just like that. Which is such a cliffhanger and leaving viewers wanting to know more...
But overall, this is a good drama! Almost dropped it in the middle, but the story starts to get interesting again! Hoping for a season 2!!
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Lovely chemistry and excellent production but extremely weak story.
I feel kind of bad rating this so low considering the elements I do love about it, but it's just so disappointing in the end that I can't rate it any higher...Positives:
-Chemistry and acting. Sam and Yu really carry this entire series tbh- without them and their chemistry, I would have rated this maybe a 3-4. They are both incredible actors and their chemistry is insane. Sam in particular is just incredible- especially in the drunk scene. Their angsty, intimate scenes are the best thing to come out of this season (don't lie you replayed the sh*t out of them too). You can just feel the passion and emotion in those scenes. If you were on the fence about watching this and loved the first season- I'd recommend just watching the first 3 eps to see all tension and eventual makeup between the two. I was waiting with baited breath for every scene they had alone in those eps. But I was surprised that their arc is pretty much tied up in ep 3. The first 3 eps are pretty decent, but get progressively weaker after that.
-Production Quality - it's filmed beautifully and is very aesthetically pleasing (although I find some of the environments a bit cold and sterile this season- but I loved the waterfront restaurant!). The outfit design, styling and overall production quality is great!
Negatives:
-Story. What story? The plot was weak and disjointed. I think a lot of us were worried after the previews for the season that the reason that Shu Yi and Shi De split up for 5 years would be an extremely stupid, unconvincing and contrived gimmick... and it was... I'm so sick of the same weak and plain old lazy miscommunication tropes in BL. It's just lazy writing with zero creativity. Like at least add some flair to why they "had to" act like babies and not talk for 5 years smh. (I'll admit that although I hated the whole setup- it did allow for those incredible angsty scenes filled with fire sexual tension though lol- which I can see was the whole point).
-The scenes showing the blonde woman with the baby that were never discussed again? I thought this would be an angsty plot point as why would you show it otherwise- but nothing is ever done with it?
-The pacing, nothing happens. I saw a lot of comments excusing the bad story by saying they only had 6 episodes, what could they do with such limited air time? There's only so much they can include blah blah. But that's untrue as there are so many movies and short series that convey an interesting and fleshed out storyline in similar or shorter timespans. And we have the direct comparison of the first season being the same length but having a good story so? Honestly in this season I found myself bored in a lot of scenes waiting for an ep to finish.
-The whole software/code being stolen plotline- legitimately NO ONE CARES. This was downright filler bullshit where air time was limited and could have been used on actual/plot character development??? Worse it was boring af to watch and if you've ever worked in a corporate or IT environment (like me)- it is done laughably bad.
-The second couple of Shou Yi and Zhen Xuan. Wtf. Honestly for the first half of the show, I was one of the rare people in the comments who was actually intrigued and keen to see more of this couple. But by the end I was completely turned off by them. They are given so few scenes and then that random "explanation" at the end about Shou Yi having a dissociative disorder- and that's why he's a cold prick the entire season? Um. Ok. Don't get me wrong here- I actually liked that they were including a couple with chars with different conditions. But they handled the whole thing sooo badly and messily. They implied the whole season that Zhen Xuan had some kind of attachment disorder and that Shou Yi was distancing himself thinking it was the right thing to do. Then they randomly do a one eighty and suddenly Shou Yi is the one with a disorder and that's why he distances himself????? What. Then in the last ep after Zhen Xuan's monologue basically saying goodbye- the next scene with them they are acting fine and all chill with each other? WTF?
-Also this is a minor thing but why is Shou yi now running a bar/restaurant instead of being a doctor anymore? This is the kind of thing it would make sense to include as a plot point or at least comment on since this is a character driven drama.
-3rd couple who? I found it really strange that the third couple that has barely a couple of scenes in the entire season gets to take the spotlight of the final scene with the random marriage proposal? I found myself thinking wtf I don't care- can we actually finish with a scene of the main couple? Or you know, touching on how the second couple pretty much just had their emotional, goodbye monologue scene and now are randomly all good again? WTF is this? I know it says "their story is not over" at the end- but this whole setup was just messy af.
I would still eagerly watch a 3rd season if they make one- but this season largely felt like a waste of time that was mostly filler. Overall it was pretty with some excellent tension filled scenes between Sam and Yu- but aside from that the season was a general disappointment.
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The setting of the drama is what initially attracted me. At the turn of the century, it is an important time for Joseon, where their fate for the next few decades, even up to our day and age, would be determined during that time. One of the themes that were emphasized in this drama is the injustices some Koreans went through at the hands of their people, especially due to hierarchy. This resulted in many people with a grudge against their own country, especially against the nobles.
Another very strong point about this drama is the character development. Other than the Japanese antagonistic, and the depiction of some traitors, many of the characters were given layers and layers, that you can't help but feel for. Of course, it all bloomed thanks to the talented actors behind it. Starting with Kim Tae Ri playing the character with a mission Go Ae Shin. This character could've easily become overbearing (think Gaksital FL), yet here she remains constant. As the story goes on, you can't help but be driven by her plight. And that is what happened with all 4 other leads. Eugene Choi on the other hand is the character I connected with the most. The feeling of not belonging to neither country can be lonely. You see him struggle daily trying to understand where he stands. I admired how he never felt ashamed of his origin and felt for his pain and grudge against those who caused it. Then you see his grudge falter as he is met with people that kept challenging the preconceived notion of his birthplace. Lee Byung Hun really gave his all for this character, especially towards the end.
Watching Yoo Yeon Seok after seeing him in "Hospital playlist" it is difficult to accept that is the same person. Looks aside, his character is the most pitiful and toxic. He has no problem slicing anyone in half if they got on his wrong side, yet he won't hesitate to protect them if he sees anyone being unfairly treated. The most tragic character is Kudo Hina / Lee Yang Hwa played by Kim Min Jung. Having been sold off previously like some commodity really shaped her personality. She is all about being in control, however, the one thing she could never control is the action of her parents. This breaks her time and again throughout the drama. You can also sense the sadness in her eyes. Finally, Kim Hui Sung played by Byun Yo Han was the main reason for me for starting this drama. He was the actual sunshine here. His smile lightened my day, even when you could feel the heavy burden behind it.
Of course, what made this drama memorable is a large number of supporting characters. Gunner Jang was a character I followed and rooted throughout. This story was as much his story, as it was Go Ae Sin's story of a man who rejected the leaders of his country but chose its people. He was the forever rebellious Jang. Another character that stood out is the king. He was frustrating for most of the drama, but as the story went on, you realize how helpless he felt, and how carefully he chose his actions to protect his people. Being in his place is the most crumbling experience. There were many more, too many interesting characters.
The horror of colonialism is really well exposed here. The actions the Japanese did makes you wonder if it was possible to lose one's humanity to this point. Now, I do not know if what was portrayed was exaggerated. Some instances couldn've been, while others not. However, I do know the dangers of collective brainwash. When being constantly fed on how those "other" people are less than you, your brain accepts it and you become desensitized. Seeing what my beloved Japanese people did was really conflicting. But that is the truth of becoming a colonizer. Though they suffer a lot later due to losing the war, I think that was a blessing in disguise. It helped them reflect on what they have become and change. That opportunity was never offered to those that never lost a war.
Action scenes were great overall, but especially the sword fights with Gu Dong Mae. The scenery was beautiful, and some scenes were haunting. The train scene will probably go down as one of the most beautiful scenes in my memory.
While the drama had all those great things going for it, it still took me so long to finish. I lost my motivation to watch due to the lack of direction for the story to take. Each episode was between 75 - 80 minutes, with much of it had the characters walking around and eating dessert. The actual story starts at around episodes 19-20. Yes, it took THAT long for the story to take off. That is too much fat needed to shed. There is also the mix of history and myths that bothered me, and no reasoning given for actions that took so long to be taken. For example, the Mori character made no sense. They used it to turn the Japanese colonization of Korea to be some family centuries-old conspiracy when this had nothing to do with the truth, nor the overall story. Just added drama that didn't amount to anything. The portrayal of America is also in the same vein. On one hand, it's treated like this paradise, only to be brought down to reality by our Korea-American hero. One line said really stood out:
"America & Britain lent Japan a total of $410 million dollars, and 40% of it is being spent on the war. The two countries basically forced Japan into the war. Hence, America will never help Joseon. The Russo-Japanese war will result in a great deal of profit for America”
The music was overall negligible, but there was some sweet background that brought peace to the scenes.
It was overall a good drama to watch if it wasn't for the dragginess. I do recommend it to all.
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I give it a 9, because overall the story, casting, directing, and rewatch value are very good.
A story about genius crossdressing painter in Joseon era, it highlights the arts, especially paintings and makes it one of the most artistic Korean drama. Not only that, the cross-dressing story also create problems to hero's journey to find love and soulmate. This drama will taught us that love is not as simple as people think. Love is complicated question.
As a sageuk, this drama delivers compelling story with enough politics but not make it as boring as in any sageuk. The characters feel and think like human being. The villains are interesting and the leads really adorable.
There's also some comic relief injected throughout the drama. But the drama itself won't be this great without outstanding performance from Moon Geun Young as Shin Yun Bok and Park Shin Yang as Kim Hong Do. As a duo, they're really amazing and adorable.
Overall, it's a very good historical drama that not focused on politics but more on the arts, especially paintings.
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So here's my review on this drama...many people said that it was nice at first but at last episodes it's become something which they can't understand and trust me because of this type of reviews I thought I'll not watch this drama but I am glad I watched this cause I really like it somehow I understand the writer's feelings and if you watch this drama carefully you'll automatically relate the ending from the starting episodes..I know that childhood trauma is now becoming common in kdramas but I still recommend this drama to watch cause it's worth watching..I really loved the cast acting and the script also..I loved this drama..:))
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This review may contain spoilers
Another time-consuming drama that never gets anywhere
I have watched dramas with no story and just solely for romance. I have read reviews and they all vouched on the romance part, so I started watching. I was disappointed. QY was great, he's far from a good person, but I don't think there wasn't anyone innocent in the show. It's all about perspective. Their own view of justice. I'm dumbstruck by how naive and dumb CH was. I mean yeah, she gave up immortality to find true love, and just because a system tells her the man she will first meet is his fated man, she blindly trusted it and relied on it, like she has no opinion or emotions of her own. That kind of woman who resigns herself to destiny is not my cup of woman. They said she matured as the show progresses, but I didn't see it. Yes, she saw the cruelty of the world and she was enlightened. But all she ever did was blame QY. Then she left him because she didn't trust him anymore? What did she give her immortality up for? To find true love, and she found one, only to let it go because she didn't want to believe the man she loves. This is why I am not fond of love triangles. The FL tends to go back and forth between the ML and SML and this was no exception.Overall, the show was OK. But I will not rewatch this, no matter how hot the ML was.
Edit: OMG, so I just realized now, a few months late... that this was when I first saw Li Hongyi.
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There is this thing with a 10 point rating. Some give it very easily, some almost never give 10 points. As for me, it's like this: If a drama is successfully absorbing me into its universe and everything just seems to be perfect to me, then it reached a point where it's worth receiving my whole dedication. It doesn't matter if others say, there are flaws in it, whether it's true or not. I just don't see them anymore as I am part of that new world where there are no 'story-faults' and such things.
Signal was successful in every matter.
Story.
First episode and it just pushes you right in the middle of the event. You get immediately drawn to the characters, the suspense and the story. You don't have time to take a deep breath, instead you completely hold it. And when you think it's over and you can take some minutes to rest, the next incident is already starting and you just get sucked in again. If you're lucky, you get some minutes to reminisce about and take in what just happened. But as the story continues, the suspense intensifies and breaks loose in a shocking finale.
Characters.
They like to play with your emotions. Ups and downs, but most of all excitement and anxiousness. Plenty of. The acting was on point, it captivates you. There is this female cop you're dealing with. And there's the present version and a past version of her. They are completely different as the older version has matured and became stronger. You just see the growth. And there's this guy. You see him and you want to help him. You see his conviction and his struggle. You just want to be by his side, so he won't be the lonely hunter in a forest full of wolves. And then there's this boy. He's so full of himself and full of hate for others and the world. But he gets a chance and a view from another angle. And he takes it. And don't forget this villian. You don't know about him right away but you soon grow to hate him like no other. Extremely. Wholeheartedly.
Music.
Every minute, every scene, every moment. It just fits. It just gives you this special feeling about the story and its meaning. And then there's this nostalgic feeling to it. You can't even discribe it. It just takes you back in time and like you're reminiscing about your own past, it carries this wistful desire to actually go back, live again and maybe change something.
Background.
To get to know that many cases are real-time cases makes the drama even heavier and impacting. Sometimes you think writers create scary non-realistic monsters. But truth be told, our world, our reality creates the most fearsome monsters you just wouldn't believe them to exist among us.
Message.
Whether there is one or not. Everyone has to decide that for themselves. But the drama depicts some really interesting and worth thinking about questions. Most of all: What would you do if you could change the past?
Deserved 10 points.
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