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It was so interesting in the beginning,the first episodes made me actually excited but...What happened writers?! I even started this drama with high expectations,the plot looked really promising and the cast didn't looked bad at all. I love Lee Sung Kyung as an actress so i was 100% sure this was going to be bomb.
But halfway through the story,the show lost it's way. The writers fucked up so much. This had the potential to be unique and refreshing until the end but the wrong choices and the dragging scenes were excruciating to watch. I forced myself to finish it,i don't even know why,i should've stopped at episode 8 cause that was the only one that i loved and the only one that made me cry. I feel proud for staying till the end.
Sadly,i don't like skipping episodes,but i had to skip a lot of scenes in the last 4 ones. I was pretty much done with this drama. Even Rowoon(the beauty from Sf9 <3) didn't make it better,i kept watching for him but his relationship also dragged so much,it started to be annoying and immature.
And so many characters were fillers. The evil brat that the writers seemed to love and prolonged her story to the point i wanted to jump out of the window and that guy only speaking in one language but understanding korean fluently. Like wtf,why? And the mom,istg this ahjumma always has irritating characters.
And i thought the ending was going to be okay but hell no. The writers just quit and walked out. This reminded me of when i used to do my homework 5 minutes before class started. Exactly the same,rushed and lazy written.
Overall,execution dragged the plot considerably and it's a shame because so many good actors wasted their time on this. I wouldn't recommend even if you're bored but if you have insomnia and you want to fell asleep,watch it.
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The first few episodes bombarded me with many plot twists and "shocking revelations" to the point, I started to call the show "soft makjang". So many things happened, I was left in a state of confusion, but it made the show that much better, since the main focus of the drama is the aftermath and the process of healing and re-connecting with the family. We were getting to know the facts with the characters, learning bits and pieces, which helped me empathize with them more. I could understand why they struggled with the new situation, since I myself was confused about what was truly happening.
It touches on subjects such as LGBT, rape (did not happen during the show, but one of the characters was a victim of it, and it played a part in their story), ending a relationship when both sides do not agree on when and how to part ways, misunderstanding based on differences of characters and how you show you care for people.
Through the 3 siblings, we can observe different struggles people face in life. The oldest, Eun Joo and how she always tried to be strong, level headed and control her emotions. The middle sibling Eun Hee, trying to keep the family together and pacify all the sides in times of conflicts, acting as if she is carefree. The youngest Ji Woo, who tries to find himself, learn how to be independent, as he watches his family fight with each other.
I just truly cared for these characters, so when the drama ended, I already missed them. Did I cry? Yes. Not to mention, it has some of the best, natural and well paced romance I watched this year and the best "not a confession" confession scene (you'll know when you see it).
Did anything bother me? Not really. I was not that interested in the Sang Shik and Jin Sook story, and it was the weakest part for me personally, as I was annoyed with some choices both of them were making.
Overall, I have a feeling I might rewatch the show, or at least a few scenes this year. The good set of characters was for sure the core value of it.
Ps. Kim Ji Suk... damn, he fine.
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Revenge doesn't stop.
Created by Logos Film in association with Studio Dragon, "Military Prosecutor Doberman (군검사 도베르만)" is a Military-legal cum revenge thriller Kdrama accompanied by action and dark comedy. The drama written by Yoon Hoon Mo and directed by Ji Chang Gyu was broadcasted on tvN.The story basically portrays two gungeomsa or military prosecutors who, together, attempt to avenge the death of their parents, which has ruined their lives to great extents. While they're aware of the culprits' existence within the military, they conspire to take them one by one, with law and order.
Do Bae Man (Ahn Bo Hyun) is a highschool dropout who due to his persistence enlist into army as a military prosecutor. In spite of his urge to conquer the truth, he goes for the pet cases of his superiors for fame & money. But his life takes a turn upon meetung Cha Woo In (Jo Bo Ah), who is a newly recruited permanent prosecutor, supposed to replace his post upon his discharge. Cha Woo In has a mysterious personality, meaning that she's not what she seems. Becoming alone in the world from her chaebol life, she's determined to do anything she wants. As time takes a toll, making both of them aware of their intertwined past, will they be able to seek vengeance from the military within which the influentials cause ruckus during power trip among themselves?
Many of the familiar and skillful actors in tbe show are: Kang Mal Geum, Oh Yeon Soo, Kim Young Min, Kim Woo Seok, Jung In Ki and Go Keon Han. The performance from all of the main and supporting cast is up to par and special mention must go to Kim Woo Seok for carrying out such a complex and variable character well. Whom I loved the most is Jo Bo Ah; I honestly have watched her thrice before this drama but the character she played in her demanded patience, self-control and obviously acting skills, and she gave her best to it, I felt that sincere attempt through her delivery.
Plot development... Not so good, not so bad, yet way beyond the average mark. "The children avenging parents' death" trope ain't anything new for Kdramas per se, so what matters is the script and it's execution, which is well done, in fact, very. I suggest you to have a good amount of expectations from it. The pilot episode was just okay, and gave me the impression that the writer will mess up by the end, but I was once again proved wrong. The furtherance came as a carefully plotted progression, with stepwise manner, having elements of variable kinds and touching different sensitive topics, that requires attention. It's engaging and entertaining, the courtroom and fight scenes being the best. The one-by-one manner of taking down a group of antagonist was well-drawn and should be appreciated. I am happy they didn't run out of context at any point of the story. Likewise, the ending sequence was amazing and I loved how the writer has wrapped up the show by not leaving any ends loose.
Yoon Hyun Ho jakkanim is a famous name, known for his legal thriller scripts, most of which is coupled with revenge plots. This show definitely bears the authenticity of his own genre, and you might be able to picturize his previous dramas. The basic storylines, the screenwriting, the plot development and the plot elements, everything is so well crafted and drafted that it made me forget about the flaws which amount to only a handful number. Even so the final quarter of the show exaggerated things a lil to achieve a dramatic conclusion, I felt it was manageable.
Jin Chang Gyu PDnim who's still very new in terms of direct experiences, however have been able to get his dramas some recognition and I wish this drama creates a path for his future endeavors, as it's the best among them. His work has been tremendously incorporated into the execution of the script, the scenario setups and screenplay editing. The cinematography remains dark for most of it's parts and the bright light courtroom scenes with yellow hues are awe-inspiring.
I l ove all of the OSTs, most of which are highly adrenaline-bursting, woah! I can go on dancing to them the entire day. Composed by Kim Jang Woo, there are 5 OSTs in total. "Doberman" by Guckkasten Ha Hyun Woo ahjussi is a perfectly fitting theme song for the drama with hardcore lyrics about challenging your life. "My Zone" by SAYY is a song meant for the FL with sassy lyrics and depicts courage for facing anything offered by life. "Ignite" by YELO is a cry about the injustice done by the unjust society, abd is more on the melancholic side. Isaac Hong's vocals never fail to reach the deepest point of our hearts and "Dive in" by him in the drama is a touching track about reminiscing the pains from the foregone past. "Flame" by Kim Han Kyeom is an open call for war and is surely a mood booster.
What I liked...
# The plot elements used are definitely unique, from each of the cases fought in the legal battle, to the ones involving the characters' personal affairs, and in fact the plots of conspiracy and revenge.
# The complexity to characters is what I didn't expect out of it, from my side at least, but seeing that the writer has carefully drawn the arches, with angst, resentment, anger, intelligence and everything, I was slightly taken aback go acknowledge it is actually a good show.
# Real cases of bullying in society, particularly in the premise of the army, that claims to be the most disciplined, was heartbreaking, though the portrayal was necessary, in order to be shown and conversed about. I was happy how they were dealt in the show, regardless of the fact that it's all fiction.
# Relevant events of military, other than the violence and slavery, such as the power trip for hierarchy, corruption, desertion from camp, unfair & unequal treatment and significantly the role of gungeomsa (military prosecutors) is well depicted ane presented.
# The action scenes were stupefyingly fantastic, for it has several scenes where the ML & FL have to get involved with Thugs and villains of different kind. It includes both simple fighting techniques and breathtaking stunts. Jo Bo Ah in her alter ego was the best in this regard, I never imagined her playing such a character.
# The courtroom scenes or the legal battles were obvious scenarios you could expect given the title of the show, though it comprises of only 15-20% of the show, but whatever proportion it shares, it was good, detailedly taken care of of and well executed.
# The rap battle between Sang Ki and the discharged soldier in the guest role, was soooooo pleasant and funny, like we could never expect such a scene. It kicked off instantly and lasted for barely 2 minutes, but woah! What a face-off it was!
What I didn't like...
# Pacing of the development isn't at all bad per se, but at few instance around the interval of the show, it felt somewhat inconsistent. As in, the characters and the furtherance of the plot wither slowed down or seemed like the characters were forgetting their goals. But I would say, they don't suffice to a level where you might want to give up or drop the show.
# Less of Kang Ha Joon (Kang Young Seok) disappointed me and it could be a personal one, since I was expecting him to have a good share of screentime and play greater roles in the game of vengeance. Him disappearing after first few initial episodes did disenchant me even though he had hia parts in destroying the evil.
# The chief prosecutor and his role didn't seem to be of any single use. I get that he was there to fill in for the comedy scenes but still I was kinda turned off by the character.
# Over-domination by the leads led to reduced scrrentime for the co-workers in the prosecution office, which is another flaw from the writer's side. Even so Bae Man and Woo In were central characters, the investigation process should have involved the other 2 with some importance to their characters and significant contribution by them.
# The thugs are another set of hugely useless things the writer have incorporated into the story, as a bad decision. The cheap comedy from their part didn't interest me, and them appearing from time to time, just to fill in was funny (sarcastically). They should have disappeared after the bridge fight scene, may be.
# The lil amount of drag in the last quarter was noticeable, though it doesn't really affect the overall story & development. On that note, the script never ran outta contents and even for the last 4 episodes, it had sufficient elements left in order to treat the audience.
Final Remarks... "Military Prosecutor Doberman" is a beyond decent and fair one time watch, with a entertaining story, good direction, amazing performance and up to par outcomes. Despite the little flaws it bears, I would recommend people to give it a try and see to it, whether it suffices their tastes. Giving it a 8.0 because I think it's fair provided the limitations that I have mentioned above. Anyways, go ahead if you are into a bittersweet revenge game.
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The story has a certain charisma of bringing sci-fi to a lighter romance novel-ish type of feels. Sure first few episodes will make your mind think like "WTF am I watching??" but as the episodes progress you get the satiafaction of finding out the reason behind everything that happend in the previous episode.
The director was so clever in putting lots of small hints and details that you will definitely see once you rewatch the episodes because they will make you rewatch to have that "oh did i miss that? let me see that again" moment.
You definitely need to level up your perspective in this series. It feels like Inception, Oldboy, and Fringe put into one pot, sprinkled with Korean Royalty and boiled in one sweet and spicy revenge water.
Overall, it was a good watch. Probably best not to binge watch at first then rewatch after you finished to check back on the cool details you might have missed.
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Where To Begin With One Of The Most Mixed-Reception Dramas Of 2021…
First of all before critiquing " Doom At Your Service"( " DAYS") , let’s address the biggest controversy surrounding the mixed-criticism by viewers . There is the vocal contingency of devoted watchers who loved the series , and then the critics who argue that the storyline was a complete " waste of time”. However, this leaves newcomers on one hanging question; is the show actually worth watching?
Let’s start on an issue which both defenders and critics of the show seem to agree upon ; the casting. Let’s be honest. If you’re a diehard K-drama fan, it’s likely that your immediate attraction to this drama happened to be A-listers Park-Bo Young, Seo In Guk and Lee-So Hyuk staring back at you through the screen. It’s undeniable that these big names don’t disappoint ; Bo Young flourished as our female lead Do In- Kyung, Seo In Guk offered a dynamic performance away from his typical boyish charm roles as Myul Mang, and Lee Soo Hyuk’s baritone-style voice was perfectly suited for delivering Cha Joo-Ik’s one-liners.( Even our supporting cast consisting of Kang Tae Oh [Lee Hyun Gyu],Shin Do Hyun [Na Ji Na],and Woo Hee Jin [Kang Soo Ja ] helped to add their own beguiling charms in the drama.)
So, why has an intriguing drama with a fairly star-studded cast, sparked so much mixed reception from watchers?Well, this problem ultimately boiled down to the screenwriting.
On an arguably positive note , ” Doom At Your Service” does certainly cast its net far by employing the common trope of " misfortunes" to present Dong-Kyung as an “appealing female lead”;an orphan with a fractious younger brother , despising her job and casting ill-fortune upon the world when she finally gives up all hope with her terminal-illness. This leads her to her fated meeting ( literally) with “Doom" ( aka. Myul Mang) and soon peculiar romantic sparks flare from here.
However, it soon becomes apparent in the drama that screenwriter Im Me Ah Ri fell victim to using cliches as a pillar of support for the storyline, rather than an asset. Ultimately this stunted the plot and character growth due to the screenwriter’s lackadaisical investment in these key areas of the drama. (For example, Dong Kyung’s illness was only used as a necessity for "tension" rather than to solidify her sentience as an individual. The series could have explored so much here with her impending fate, but instead brushed this over in order to invest more time upon the “ puppy dog eyes” between Dong Kyung and Myul Mang.)
Similarly this is case and point with our male lead Myul Mang. In between his tedious monologues with "So Nyeo Shin" ( Jeong Ji So), our male lead undeniably was intriguing; a a powerful deity-like being who struggles to comprehend human emotions, however , this is where we hit the biggest rut with his character also; his sudden change of heart in regards to his involvement with Dong Kyung.
Some devoted watchers of the drama argued this was " "beautiful" by the reversal of the male lead’s personality, whilst others just saw this as lazy screenwriting.For those unfamiliar with the plot ( and without decisive spoilers), Do-Kyung wants to make Myul Mang fall in love with her, Myul Mang toys with her affections by manipulating elements of her reality ( but soon comes round to ‘ feeling bad for her ’ after Nyeo Shin lends a hand), then Do-Kyung decides she is no longer interested in him, leading to a whole reversal of chasing after one another and repeat.
This isn’t to condemn the main pairing entirely. Park Bo Young and Seo In Guk had brilliant chemistry onscreen and there were certainly some fairly sweet moments between their characters .However their characters did sadly suffer as a consequence of this lacklustre character development which was particularly certified by the existence of the "contract".
Now, without decisive spoilers , it is pivotal to say that this " contract" played an important role in the exposition of the storyline . Yet whilst it was an intriguing premise, the " rules" surrounding this contract were often ineffably upturned by the actions of Myul Mang. Whilst a later storyline revelation did offer an adequate explanation , this reduced the " contract" to being nothing more than a plot MacGuffin; thrown in to add tension, but ultimately useless towards defining the lore of DAYS’ fictionalised world .
Of course, a storyline does not always have to contain a big battle with the " big bad" or an internal conflict for the hero, however, this is also where dramatic irony became prominent with ” DAYS”. The evident ending goal of " DAYS" ( without spoilers) surrounds the female lead making her final wish. Of course whilst this does become a major plot line throughout the drama, the series often dismissed this problem to play upon the separate idea of the ‘’ paring" of our main leads. ( Rather than interlinking the two more concisely.)
This isn’t to drag the entirety of the series down. There were certainly some enjoyable moments with Dong-Kyung’s brother Tak Seon Kyung ( Dawon), Dong Kyung’s doctor and client Jung Seung Jun ( Lee Seung Jun), the haughty teen writer '' Young Prince" ( Nam Da Reum), and the terminally-ill writer ‘’Dalgona’’ ( Oh Yeon Ah).
Even our second leads had some oddly sweet moments with tight-lipped Cha Joo Ik chasing the affections of our bubbly writer Na Ji Na. Until the love triangle with Ji Na’s former schoolmate Lee Hyun Gyu ( Kang Tae Oh)was introduced into the subplot .
This isn’t to say that their scenes were unwatchable . For the most part, these side characters had the potential to be very interesting. However, at times this made viewers fell as though they were watching very different storylines; a potentially intriguing modern fantasy drama, and then a cutesy slice of life romance show with a ” love triangle". These two plot lines rarely collided and when this did occur, lacking screen-time undeniably made the subplot feel sporadic and disconnected from the main storyline .
However, it’s impossible not to talk about subplot characters without bringing up the problem of "So Nyeo Shin". This character could have easily been one of the most intriguing elements to the drama . However, there were a couple of factors which let us down on this front; lacking character development and then the actress Jeong Ji So. Now, this isn’t to hate upon the actress. Respectfully, she has had a well-established career as a child actress and certainly does have charisma. On the other hand for this performance, Ji So was nearly literally reading her lines in monotone rather than adding something to her tone. Viewers should have felt as though they were watching a godlike being in a human guise , not just Ji So regurgitating her lines onscreen.
The finale of the drama could have admittedly gone down several routes ( and there was evident uncertainty over what would be the chosen ending) , however, the chosen ending wasn’t entirely bad per say, just lacklustre by failing to explain and wrap up some key story points.
So, is " Doom At Your Service" actually worth watching? This entirely depends on what you’re looking for . If you’re a fond fan of a drama with cliche romances , aesthetic cinematography and arbitrary philosophy , then you’ll absolutely appreciate this drama . However, those looking for a well-rounded and profoundly plot-driven drama with intriguing characters , then " Doom At Your Service" will certainly not fit the bill.
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This review may contain spoilers
A whole bunch of episodes that lead to NOTHING
Dude. What kind of ending was THAT?! I'm so mad. The story was so slow and prolonged and I would have been okay with it, because my hopes were that they would end up happily ever after. Where the mom would finally recognize her flaws and let them be together. Or at least they would recognize that they wouldn't be able to be together with the way her mother feels and therefore, change the way they would make their relationship work. But instead, they broke up and got back together after some time apart and realizing that they still loved each other and they were back to square one!!! Nothing changed - not her mother (they didn't really try to convince her mother, they just said they love each other and pouted), not their relationship/behavior toward each other and we weren't lead to believe that things would be different. They would just "be."And can I please just say - this mother was absolutely unrealistic and it's not possible to like her. She didn't care if she was ruining her daughter's happiness, it was her way or the highway and she ended up losing her daughter in the end. Realistically, a parent should be objective and when they realize that they're being unrealistic and that their children are pulling away from them, they change in an attempt to keep them. So yes, I HATED this mother very much - wanting to punch her in the mouth a lot. A lot of people hated the mother in Uncontrollably Fond (and I didn't), but I for real hated this mom (just to give you something to go off of).
OMG. If that was gonna be the case, why did I waste 16 hours (give or take, because some of the episodes were longer than 1 hour) if they were just gonna be together after all the heartbreak with no developments?! I literally screamed at the TV for an hour after finishing this drama and it is probably my most HATED drama, right after, That Winter, The Wind Blows.
So many stupid things happened between them and NOTHING changed. Which means the stupid issues they had were absolutely POINTLESS.
I can respect your opinion if you like this drama, but it dragged too much and since the events that transpired essentially led to nothing, I can't every recommend it to anyone (I'd actually try my best to dissuade you from the waste of time).
One (and only) nice thing? Jung Hae In is VERY attractive. Feast your eyes because that's ALL worth seeing or paying attention to in this drama.
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Dilraba & Chen Feiyu’s Chemistry is Addictive! Cast Them in a Modern Drama
Love Beyond the Grave is the series I was most looking forward to this year, and I have to say — it didn’t disappoint me even a little bit!The story follows He Simu, the powerful and immortal Ghost Queen who lacks all five senses. She appears cold and detached on the outside, but deep down she’s incredibly fragile. Then there’s Duan Xu, the young and mysterious general with a brutal past, who turns out to be fiercely devoted and surprisingly gentle with her. He’s willing to give everything for her. What begins as a chance encounter gradually blossoms into a beautiful, intense, and heartwarming love that transcends the human and spirit worlds.Both lead actors delivered fantastic performances. Especially Dilraba — she was outstanding and played the role with such depth. She beautifully portrayed the transformation from an emotionless, icy queen to a young woman slowly learning about love and vulnerability. Every scene she’s in looks stunning and majestic. Chen Feiyu also did an excellent job conveying Duan Xu’s obsessive love and inner pain with subtle, nuanced acting. Every glance and every action makes it crystal clear how much he loves her. The supporting cast was generally solid, though I really hated Yan Ke’s character — he was so annoying and frustrating that he genuinely made my blood boil. On the bright side, Wei Zheming was great, and Zhang Li looked absolutely glamorous in her role as Jiang Ai.
The production is spectacular. The visuals are premium-level, the CGI and fight scenes are well-done, the costumes are incredibly intricate and gorgeous, and the soundtrack perfectly enhances the emotions of every scene.
What I loved the most is the chemistry between Dilraba and Chen Feiyu — it’s off the charts and so addictive! Their skinship feels so natural, both on and off screen. Every time they share a scene, the chemistry flows effortlessly without any forced moments. It really feels like the whole world disappears and there’s only the two of them. It’s such a shame that the production cut out so many kiss scenes in episode 30. Those were some of the best kiss scenes ever . I really hope the leads do another drama together, maybe a modern one next time.
Overall, Love Beyond the Grave is a romantic fantasy series that was absolutely worth the wait this year. The leads have incredible chemistry, the production is grand and beautiful, the fight scenes and CGI are top-tier, the costumes are stunning, and the soundtrack fits perfectly. 10/10 — I highly recommend everyone to watch it.
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Awkward and Poor Script
If not because of Zeng Shun Xi (aka Joseph Zeng), I don’t think I would have continued with this drama. The writing is weird, the dialogues are weird, the logic is weird, Liang Jie’s acting and character are weird, and the English title is even more weird. The only saving grace is Zeng Shun Xi’s acting and his character which I really like a lot. This drama is set in the Song Dynasty when often the emperors had no heirs of their own and were forced to adopt their nephews as their successors.Zhao Xiao Qian (Zeng Shun Xi) is the adopted son of the Emperor. He and his older brother were brought into the palace to be groomed as the heir to the throne. Then the Empress conceived, and the two brothers lost favor. When the Empress had a still-born, Zhao Xiao Qian’s brother died and Zhao Xiao Qian was banished to Wu Jiang Fu, a city far away from the palace. He is happy living his quiet life, until Xie Xiao Man (Liang Jie) shows up and he falls in love with her. Zhao Xiao Qian cannot marry her because of their difference in their social statuses – he’s a noble and she’s a commoner from the countryside.
Fundamentally, Zhao Xiao Qian is a good person. He's kind and caring, generous and protective towards all the people he cares about. However, he is also hot tempered, entitled, unreasonable, demanding, authoritative and abusive, all an act to cover his pain and anger. Zeng Shun Xi's acting as the explosive Zhao Xiao Qian with a lot of pend up anger is very convincing, and I empathize with this character, despite his initial verbally abusive behavior towards Xie Xiao Man, which I feel she totally deserves. For some reason, Liang Jie’s acting of the Xie Xiao Man character here is not very impressive; she feels awkward and unnatural. I don’t know if her voice is dubbed, but she sure sounds cringey.
This is a story about class struggle and the oligarchy system which imposes injustices in the society with rampant corruption and abuse of power. The writing seems childish, written for young viewers. The characters are very immature with very simple dialogues and logic. Though they later grow to become more responsible and to achieving their dreams, they remain naïve because their thinking is still simplistic. More than 80% of the drama is spent in an academic setting where the characters are acquiring their education. Initially, the theme of equality emerges - one mustn’t judge another by their birth, in particular in gender equality when girls are inspired to nourish themselves with education and contribute to the society. Then this theme fizzles out with nothing much to show.
The writer seems to be flip-flopping with the characters, in particular with the Xie Xiao Man character. On one hand, she is smart, but at the same time, her actions are pretty dumb. She is supposed to be strong and brave, and yet she is so muddle and girly, causing misunderstanding again and again, that she is frustrating to watch.
Overall
This is a youth school drama in a historical setting with a theme that says, “Education is the most powerful weapon” when the characters, boys and girls, are encouraged to value education. Then enters gender equality when girls are inspired to perform as well as the boys and contribute to society. All these fizzle out; the world is still unjust with birth statuses still being the determinant of what one can and cannot do with one's life though Zhao Xiao Qian manages to upgrade Xie Xiao Man’s status so that he could marry her; girls are still being treated as the belongings of men and cannot make their own decisions for their own lives though an independent female businesswoman is being highlighted here; the rich and powerful still rule the world though Zhao Xiao Qian manages to take down some. Flaws and plot holes everywhere, the dialogues are boring and bad. Many viewers find the OTP’s relationship toxic, and they grit their teeth watching the romance development and continuous misunderstandings one after another, and the annoying behavior of Xie Xiao Man that always angers Zhao Xiao Qian. For me, he loves and wants her, and the feelings are mutual (though she also feels insecure), that is good enough for me (boy! I have such low expectation).
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The story is not a complicated one to follow: Seo In Guk plays an orphaned teenager who once was a competitive swimmer but who quit after experiencing a trauma. This trauma left him unwilling, and perhaps unable, to enter the water. Lee Jong Suk, on the other hand, plays an Olympic-bound swimmer with the typical rich, overbearing, and distant father. Rounding out the main cast is SNSD's Kwon Yuri who doubles as the boy's mutual childhood friend and current "love interest" (in scare quotes because the romance was hollow and weak). The soundtrack of the film is most provided by Yuri, whose character is a hopeful on a Superstar K-like show, meaning that the music is bland pop-rock carried by Yuri's weak vocals. For someone in such a renowned pop group, Yuri's music moments were extremely awkward.
Acting-wise, the cast did their job well. Yuri did her best to pretend to be an actress. Lee Jong Suk was his typical angst-ridden teenager (is there a single role this kid has where he isn't moodily listening to music through oversized headphones?). Who really blew me away was Seo In Guk. Yes, his character was a little over the top, but he committed to every moment, making for a hilarious and lovable portrayal of Won Il.
As we were walking out of the theater, my friends and I all agreed that this is one movie we would watch again when released with subtitles. It was fun, a dollop of drama to add the right amount weight to the story without bogging it down, and a bit unpredictable, which is a rare thing in the wold of formulaic Korean dramas and light films. A definite watch, with or without subs.
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Finally, a K-drama that’s actually worth watching!
Tackling such a sensitive topic takes real skill. It’s a fine line to walk: the writers have to handle it with nuance and sophistication, without slipping into vulgarity, while still keeping the story engaging for a broad audience. Judging by the first four episodes, this drama has all the potential to be a success.I particularly like the contrast between the two main characters’ family backgrounds and their views on relationships. One comes from a traditional, conservative family with clearly defined expectations about family life and the roles of men and women, while the other grew up without those traditional family values. It’s an interesting setup that makes me curious to see how their different perspectives will shape their relationship especially around their line of work. Finally, what I most curious is how it will be accepted by viewers in Korea because even for Western countries it's quite progressive (it's not taboo, but definitely not that topic that will be discussed at family dinner or even friends meetings).
Back to the show. The casting is spot-on. Both the ML and FL fit their characters perfectly, and their chemistry is exactly what this drama needs.
The scriptwriters & director deserve credit as well with some wonderfully subtle humor in the dialogue and scenes that are genuinely hilarious to watch.
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CAST/ACTING: Nam Goong Min was just phenomenal. How he portrayed Na Yi Je from being a kind doctor to a vengeful and power seeking character. His signature expressions was everything!! He truly became one with his character. Kim Byung Chul was just stellar as Seon Min Sik, seriously that smile was creepy, and at times i did find him annoying, but in the 2nd half he really played his cards well. Choi Won Young was great as Lee Jae Jun, the way he had such great control over his expressions and body language to portray his character and the illness. I wish Nara's character was more developed and incorporated. I felt like the female lead was just left as a side character, but whatever scenes Nara had, she was great. And i also loved the supporting cast members, they were soo good! Loved Prosecutor Jung and Miss Oh's interactions a lot!
OST: I personally really liked the soundtrack. They fit in well with the ambience of the drama. There were songs that felt hopeful, but then also sad and agonising.
REWATCH: I don't really re-watch dramas, but there are definitely some scenes that i would watch again.
One of the most well scripted, well directed and well cast drama i have seen in a long time!! This drama is gonna take me a while to digest.
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The Sweet Taste of Pie
"Cutie Pie" has baked itself into a scrumptious treat. With masterful cinematography, a stirring soundtrack, and impressive performances from its male leads, it serves up a feast for both the eyes and the heartThe chemistry between the male leads is electric, a bond so strong that from the very first episode, one can't help but root for them to end up together. In the emotionally-charged episode 9, as the male leads profess their love and vow to belong to each other, the moment becomes more than a simple exchange of affection. It's a powerful statement of love's power to triumph over adversity and unite two individuals of the same sex
The icing on this already delectable dessert is its commentary on the issue of marriage equality. Gay couples deserve recognition and protection under the law, and this is a message that will resonate long after the credits roll
The drama's imperfections, like a slightly burnt crust or uneven filling, are the blemishes that mark a pie and add to its character and depth. They give it its greatest flavor
For those reading the mixed reviews, I urge you to give "Cutie Pie" a chance. Taste the pie with your own palate, and let it work its magic on you. "Cutie Pie" should be savored by anyone with a sweet tooth and an open mind
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if you like romanticised se**al assault this one is for you
I am not into series where the ML forces himself on FL with romantic music on. I think it’s pretty sick for 2024 drama. I was not expecting this and it happens not once but several times through episodes.Old school tropes. ML changes personality and doesn’t seem very clever and has not much respect for the FL. Plot is very basic and nothing new under the sun, even for a 10 minute episode drama.
I am dropping this because it is just not worth spending my time on it.
Hoping I can forget I’ve ever watched this series.
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A good pyschological thriller but definitely not for everyone.....
"The Doubt is a compelling psychological thriller that offers a unique take on the genre. The story revolves around a criminal profiler who finds himself entangled in a case that unexpectedly connects to his daughter. As he uncovers clues, he grapples with the unsettling possibility of his daughter's involvement, creating a tension-filled narrative that explores trust and doubt.What sets The Doubt apart is its deliberate pacing. Unlike many thrillers that rely on constant action and adrenaline, this drama rather opts for a more measured approach. The suspense builds gradually, allowing for a deep exploration of the characters and their motivations. The daughter, portrayed as a mysterious figure, adds layers of complexity, keeping viewers guessing about her true intentions.
The storytelling in this drama is slow, and I think it's intentional to build up the suspense and mystery surrounding the plot and the characters. Despite the slow pace, a lot can happen in a moment. It has this laid-back vibe that keeps you calm but intrigued by how the events unfold.
The characters are interestingly written. The dad can seemingly read a lot of criminals' minds but struggles to understand his own daughter's, reflecting their strained relationship. The daughter looks suspicious from the first glance; she’s secretive, smart, and a planner but also a loner. Her blank look at times shows a lack of feelings, adding to the intrigue. The side characters introduced for the murder case are also well-developed, with their stories connecting to the main plot, which I find interesting.
The acting is undoubtedly impressive. The overall production, the gloomy cinematography, the soundtracks, and everything else contribute to a great viewing experience.
However, When I say this drama isn't for everyone, I mean that some might find it slow or boring, and others may not appreciate the laid-back vibe. But if you’re looking for a good psychological thriller that’s thought-provoking and keeps you guessing with strong acting and interesting characters, then you should definitely check it out.
Note:
The Doubt may not appeal to everyone. Its slow-burn style may frustrate those seeking a fast-paced thrill ride. But for those who appreciate a psychological exploration of relationships and the intricacies of trust, this drama is definitely worth watching.
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2A lot of words that start with the letter P, and perfect for me...
What do you get if you combine the best parts of Who are you, school 2015 with My Name and add some political fight the power stuff and make it in Thailand instead of South Korea?
Nothing perfect, but definitely something for me... This drama just ticked so many boxes with things I loved taking me on an exciting journey with a powerful political statement in-bedded in a nail-biting plot with just the perfect amount of bromance, romance, and everything in-between...
A drama where the plot is so good that all the "ohh they are so cute" just feel like an added bonus, do not get me wrong there is plenty of fan service such as oil wrestling, dimples and what not... but it does not take over and feels true to the plot. So to say that I loved this is an understatement...
The cinematography the directing, the styling, the writing everything was all well done, there is one point where the clothes more or less match the colors in the abandoned building. Fine there where where a few plot holes here and there, like running around and leaving fingers prints all over the place... and some plot twists were pretty predictable... but as a whole this was really high quality and highly entertaining at the same time (a more rare combination than one might think) . And what can I say even the PPL was noticeable but not over the top. And the so called sex-scenes where very tastefully made.
The relationships are for the most part pretty consensual, though they do seem to punch each other a lot, fight till the brink of death and may just have a Punch and make up kind of take to the classic kiss and make upp... but once you look past that most of the characters are actually rather nice , not so very toxic and definitely likeable.
There is some pretty powerful art and da3nce and the take on identical twins is very interesting.
To conclude definitely a good highly bingable drama for anyone one who enjoys a bit of fight the power, with a side of romance.
P.S After watching Theory of love I was already very impressed by Guns acting while not as impressed by Offs acting however this drama only strengthened my adoration for Gun and gave me a new found one for Off... Their chemistry is phenomenal so I am starting to get the whole OffGun Hype if there is one.
Also, this is one of those dramas where time flies, you start watching it and poof you are half way thru it without noticing the time...
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