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1STORY (No spoilers)
Aside from an initial round of confusion when watching your first run of the first 3-4 episodes, there is nothing further I can think of that really mars the perfection that exists for this drama - storywise.
And may I just say that even the initial confusion of the first 3-4 episodes which is mainly due to the large number of characters being introduced, and the fact that you are thrown literally right into the show without any prior setup of what's going on, no longer exists upon re-watching.
In fact, you will actually realise and appreciate just how intricate and how detailed the writer has been because lots of foreshadowing and information actually exists within the first 3-4 episodes which would have flown by your head upon a first watch, but which makes complete sense upon re-watching.
It really gives you a sense of respect for the writer who has clearly and thoroughly thought through how her story would flow, and has been diligent in embedding subtle but key information throughout the episodes so that as the series progresses towards the mid-way mark, those individual and seemingly disparate threads then come together to form a brilliant picture which then takes your breath away.
The story appears simple - a man who survived a tragedy returns to the capital 12 years later under a new identity to re-dress the horrific wrongs committed.
The execution of the story, however, is FAR from simple.
Like a grandmaster, this man kick-starts things into motion which will change and transform everything, and the way he does it is simply masterful and marvellous to watch.
The pacing of this show is neither fast nor agonisingly slow. The show takes its time to dwell on certain threads longer than others, which may come across slow and a little boring for some viewers, but patience is a virtue with this series and if you patiently keep on watching, it will become evident that the time spent on those disparate and seemingly unconnected threads will bear much fruit when things come together. You will find yourself marvelling at the level of care and craft that has gone into the storytelling, I promise you.
The best analogy I can give is that of a master sculptor working with a block of wood or ice. At first, all you see is a block. Then, he starts hewing and hacking at certain parts of the block and slowly, a rather vague shape is being formed. As you keep watching the sculptor at work, seeing how he starts to focus on first this section, then that section, the vague shape becomes more discernible and you're able to get a glimpse of the art he is producing. Keep watching and observing and you will see that what was once a block is starting to be transformed into a beautiful piece of artwork and at the end of it, as he puts on the finishing touches, the little carvings here and there, you then marvel to yourself at how amazing it is that he is able to visualise and produce such an outstanding piece of work from just a block of wood or ice.
Since there isn't a section that talks about the cinematography or the sets or the camera-work, I will mention it here.
The cinematography, the scale of the sets and the camera-work is just beautiful. I was informed by friends conversant with the chinese netizen community that some of the directors for the show were art/photography directors, which explains why almost each shot being framed can be screenshotted into a piece of art in itself with its colours and its composition. This makes the show an incredibly beautiful one to watch with every frame and shot a feast for the eyes.
The costumes and the sets were apparently incredibly faithful to the time period in which the show is set, down to the bronze teapots and hand warmers. Court etiquette and forms of greeting and respect were appropriate and in-line with the time period too and apparently the actors had been rigorously trained by experts so that their carriage, their conversation and their movements all conformed accurately and naturally.
A great deal of care and diligence had been put into producing the series and it shows.
ACTING/ CHARACTERS
The show being so large and sprawling with its cast of characters, there is insufficient time to dwell on the merits of each one of them. Suffice to say that each supporting character played their parts to perfection, nary a redundant character or scene in this series. Every conversation bears some significance or the other.
Another marvel is that, in most drama series, supporting characters, even those that pitch up for maybe just an episode or two, tend to been given short-shrift in terms of their characters or personalities. Not so here. There is hardly a one-dimensional or caricature personality here. All come across real and believably alive in this series whether they be a passing character, or an antagonist, or a protagonist.
This show is alive and full of layered, nuanced and complex characters whose motivations, goals and actions are believably real and understandable, if not sympathetic. You understand where they are coming from and why they behave the way they do as more about them gets unveiled. This is a brilliance of not only the writing, but also the acting of actors playing those characters, in being able to bring them so wonderfully alive and to come across amazingly real.
Spotlight on the main lead.
HU GE, playing the main protagonist of the series is simply outstanding in his subtle, layered and nuanced portrayal of his character, Lin Shu/ Mei Changsu/ Su Zhe - why does he have so many names? Please do watch to find out, and no, it is not confusing in the slightest. Powerhouse performance from Hu Ge who has to play a sickly, restrained and controlled man who, for good reasons, have to hide his true self and keep many secrets and cards close to his chest. His quiet and subtle responses to events and news which directly affect him but which he cannot allow to give him away is mesmerising to watch, and utterly heart-breaking to see. Simply stellar stuff which I've not been able to see the equal of since.
MUSIC
There is not a lot of soundtrack for this series. 3 songs with vocals, and all employed sparingly but impactfully throughout the series. Most of the series is carried by brilliant moments of silence and traditional chinese instrumentals which heighten the tension where it needs to be heightened, and gives poignancy to the scenes which require poignancy. Another masterpiece in music direction as nothing detracts from the scenes but only enhances. Beautiful.
RE-WATCH VALUE
Can i just say that this show is an absolute MUST for re-watching. Not only because it is just THAT GOOD, but also because of the level of intricate detail and storytelling that goes in it. A first watch will never really allow you to fully unpack and appreciate the masterpiece that you have just seen. Scenes, conversations, camera close-ups on objects that seem inconsequential, all of these which did not make too much sense upon a first watch will make complete sense upon a re-watch, causing you to marvel even more at this show.
Seriously, if you have time to watch episode after episode of some sub-par K, C or J-drama, why not spend that time re-watching Nirvana in Fire instead?
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Heart-Pounding, Beautiful Romance, Sad Story
When I first started watching this drama, I, like many viewers who only made it through the first couple of episodes before dropping it, found it awkward. Liang Jie’s acting felt unnatural, the dialogue was stilted, and even Chen Zhe Yuan had his moments of awkwardness. However, I kept watching—partly because Chen Zhe Yuan looks incredible in tactical gear and partly because he won me over when he rescued the female lead and held her tightly to protect her. That moment was undeniably heart-throbbing.Initially, my impression was quite critical. The script felt weak, the conversations lacked depth, and the romance scenes moved at a frustratingly slow pace. Even moments of physical contact felt cringeworthy. However, by episode 11, my perspective changed. I found myself moved, unexpectedly shedding tears as I began to feel the characters' pain, suffering, and emotional turmoil.
The first 11 episodes take place in war zones, immersing viewers in a world of chaos and danger. After that, the characters return to China, only for the male lead to head back to the war zone in episode 25, with the female lead following shortly after. By the time they both return to China in episode 37, they are broken.
Story & Themes
White Olive Tree is based on the experiences of Song Ran, who witnessed firsthand the horrors of a war-torn country, met Li Zan, and lost friends along the way. At its core, this is a story about PTSD—one that highlights how only those who have endured combat can truly understand each other’s pain.
It delves into the grim realities of war: terrorists planting landmines in fields, car bombs in crowded plazas, suicide attacks, and the ever-present fear of death. Beyond that, it’s a story of camaraderie, love, loss, and survival—a deeply disturbing yet hauntingly beautiful tale of romance set against a backdrop of war, courage, and heroism.
While the pacing is fast and tense during action sequences, it slows down significantly during romantic scenes. Dialogue is minimal, often relying on long pauses rather than words. However, despite the sparse conversation, the longing between the leads is palpable through their gazes.
Another theme this drama explores is the role of journalism in war reporting. While many reporters cover conflicts from the safety of hotel rooms, Song Ran immerses herself in the battlefield, capturing raw footage and firsthand accounts. Unlike journalists who chase fame and prestige—seeking recognition and lucrative rewards for their coverage—Song Ran is driven by a desire to reveal the unfiltered truth to the world.
This theme subtly critiques the bias of mainstream media, highlighting the contrast between sanitized, agenda-driven reporting and the unvarnished realities on the ground. It also underscores why platforms like TikTok have become a political battleground. While traditional media often relies on controlled narratives from a distance, grassroots reporting on social media has empowered ordinary people to document and share real-time footage, frequently challenging and exposing inaccuracies in mainstream coverage.
Characters & Acting
Li Zan (Chen Zhe Yuan)
Li Zan is a bomb expert, a professional building demolition engineer, and a volunteer diffuser in a foreign war-torn country that strongly resembles Syria. He is compassionate, selfless, and undeniably lovable, a role that Chen Zhe Yuan brings to life convincingly.
While he looks young and has an almost boyish charm, his performance in emotional scenes is commendable. His crying scenes are particularly raw and moving, capable of bringing viewers to tears. Despite his somewhat stiff and robotic voice at times, his portrayal of PTSD is gripping and heart-wrenching. His action scenes, particularly in tactical gear, are well-crafted and believable, making him captivating to watch.
Song Ran (Liang Jie)
Liang Jie naturally exudes an air of awkwardness, which works well for her portrayal of Song Ran, a war reporter. Initially, her character can be frustrating—she jumps to conclusions too quickly, is clueless about war zones, and is often oblivious to danger. However, as the story progresses and her backstory unfolds, her independent yet vulnerable nature becomes more understandable.
Having grown up without a mother and feeling like an outsider in her father’s new family, Song Ran developed a strong sense of independence. However, once she meets Li Zan, she finds herself relying on him, as he consistently has her back. Liang Jie’s acting improves significantly after episode 11, making her character much more likable.
Both Chen Zhe Yuan and Liang Jie have a youthful appearance, almost reminiscent of high school students, which at times makes their pairing feel slightly off in such a heavy setting.
Supporting Characters
The banter between Sa Xin and Benjamin is a highlight, with their playful insults adding humor to an otherwise intense story. However, the long pauses between their dialogues sometimes make their exchanges feel overly calculated, losing the natural spontaneity of real banter. That said, Benjamin, played brilliantly by Wang Tian Chen, stands out as one of the most compelling characters aside from Li Zan.
OST & Cinematic Elements
The soundtrack is a major strength of the drama, featuring beautiful slow ballads in both English and Chinese, often accompanied by acoustic instruments. The music enhances the emotional depth of the scenes, making moments of love, loss, and suffering even more poignant. At times, the combination of the soundtrack and the visuals is enough to move viewers to tears.
The cinematography successfully captures the realism of war zones, military barracks, and battle sequences. Explosions, gunfights, and chaotic war-torn landscapes are executed convincingly.
Final Thoughts
The setting of the war zone bears a striking resemblance to Syria, and the political undertones of the story evoke real-world conflicts. The thought of a foreign superpower toppling a government that Li Zan is volunteering for, leaving the region in ruins and handing control over to terrorists who kill innocent civilians that Li Zan and his friends are trying to save, is deeply unsettling. The drama subtly mirrors these harsh realities, making its themes all the more impactful.
While I was initially critical of the acting and dialogue, the emotional depth of the later episodes won me over. Those who have experienced war or PTSD may find this drama particularly resonant. Beyond its romance, it paints a harrowing picture of the tragedies faced by people in war zones—parallels that may evoke sympathy for the struggles of Palestinians, Syrians, and others suffering in conflict-ridden regions.
Despite its awkward moments and slow pacing in certain areas, the intensity of the bomb disposal scenes and combat sequences compensates for these shortcomings. The war-torn landscapes feel authentic, and the emotional weight of the story lingers long after the credits roll. However, the length of the series begins to drag, particularly around episode 30, making it a challenge to endure all the angst and suffering alongside the characters.
The drama currently holds a low rating of 5.4 on Douban, likely due to, among others, its ambiguous ending, where the leads seemingly vanish and reappear in spiritual form, leaving viewers questioning their fate. Though the wounds on Li Zan's body have healed, the scars in his heart and mind last forever. The final message—that sometimes death is preferable to living in endless pain—is hauntingly tragic. The ending forces one to reflect on sacrifice, war, and the depths of human suffering, leaving an emotional imprint long after the last scene fades.
Side note
According to a viewer who has read the novel, dropped the drama and gave it a 4.5 rating, the original story has been drastically altered, diluting the emotional depth of the romance and making it far less heart-wrenching. While Chen Zhe Yuan delivers a brilliant performance as Li Zan, the screenplay does a disservice to Song Ran, reducing her character to an unlikable and poorly developed version of her novel counterpart.
Despite these flaws in the adaptation, I still love the story. I can only imagine how much more inspiring and emotionally impactful the original work must have been.
Great watch! Prepare to cry!
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The script needed a red apple
Honestly for me, the only (and most) enjoyable part of this series was ragging on it in the comments with the other fans/prisoners of this show.Like I think they had pieces there to make a good series for me. But it just didn't happen. I'm totally fine with slow burn and build up and tension building, but this series was ridiculous. It was so repetitive but also literally nothing happened. A lot of cryptic comments and stares and standoffs. It was an ugly love dodecagon of people pining over people who were obviously uninterested in them because the liked someone else.
Then at some point, we get one of the most one dimensional villains ever who was campy and almost fun but for the low ceiling of this series. Her motivations were non-existent. Her plans were kill her way to the top and then rule with an iron fist, except she had 3 goons who couldn't find 2 people living in pretty much the most obvious place to search for them.
This series was just.... a mess.
Peterpan and Noh were stealing the show but then the "plot" came for them and they separated and this slow af series got even slower. I really want to see them in another show.
The fencers were frustrating as they both were chasing each other sorta, and other people sorta, and one was so mean for no well defined reason to the other one. Then they end up banging outside a house party.
Sun and his MANY cardiac events and red apples and fainting and grimacing. Like dude.
Also at some point, I swear, they gave Kim psychic powers or something like that. Like literally? Maybe? It was very unclear. But it seemed like he had powers. Maybe that's why his brain was bleeding and he was losing memories later.
I don't know.
I still think Snow White was behind it all. That would have honestly made this series make sense.
Please Peterpan take another role in a different series.
Kan too.
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A Journey Into The Hellish Depths of Horror And Loneliness...
There’s no denying that Strangers From Hell is possibly one of the few and most disturbing psychological dramas that South-Korea has ever produced to date with actual investment and creativity over scenes and lighting, as well as quite bloodthirsty scenes in later episodes.Based upon the eponymous webtoon, Strangers From Hell’s title and concept is taken from a very famous play, No Exit ( 1944)by a French existentialist called Jean Paul Sartre. The play focuses upon three people who are trapped in “ Hell” which exits as a single room, and as they grow gradually sickened by the torment of one another’s company, one of the individuals realises on stage that “ Hell is other people”.
Yet Strangers From Hell isn’t a drama about three individuals stuck in one room. Instead, it is rather a focus upon our main lead Yoon Jong- Woo ( Im Siwan)’s gradual descent into madness after moving into the mysterious Eden Complex in Seoul; a cheap apartment with creepy residents and in particular, falling into the mysterious trap of the charismatic psychopath Seo Moon- Jo ( Lee Dong Wook) . Whilst not unexpected due to Im Siwan’s previous roles , it was certainty a surprising shift since his renowned role in the slice of life and business drama Misaeng, to see Im Siwan tackle a darker and more disturbing role in a psychological horror drama. Undeniably Im Siwan was brilliant within portraying the very slow mental decay of his character by the show exposing dark revelations of Jong- Woo’s past. This role was parallel to the surprising choice of typically typecast romance drama actor Dong Wook , who undeniably went beyond expectations within portraying the sheer complexity and charisma of his psychopathic role as Moon- Jo.
On the other hand, it can’t be sugarcoated that Strangers From Hell’s pacing could have been quicker or the episode lengths reduced. This isn’t to say that the show should have been constantly bloodthirsty or violent as it was part of the suspense to feel unease at what would happen next to our tragic lead, however, by the midway point ( before the ending), the drama often felt a little dragging upon focusing on one element of the story at a time. There’s obviously nothing wrong with doing this, but thus did mean there were a couple of really nuanced plot inconsistencies which were left out ( such as security cameras, suspensions and criminal records) which would have added more realism to some of the tackled scenarios.
Yet despite this, the one element of the show which must be given full praise for ( in addition to the fairly good OST, with The Rose track Strangers adding to the eeriness of the drama) , was the creativity behind the scenes and lighting. There was nothing glamourised nor glossy about the image of the apartment complex or even Jong- Woo’s workplace. It was eerily drab; adding to a later epiphany for viewers that Jong- Woo’s true hell began even before moving into the apartment complex in his hellish everyday life . ( E.g. his “ busy” girlfriend who dismisses his ridiculous claims about the residents and is nearly always at work, his arrogant old friend and boss who constantly undermines him as being worthless, his haughty colleagues as well as his fellow cadets during his time in the army ).
The finale of Strangers From Hell was certainly a surprisingly one, yet nonetheless fitting for its genre and deeper intrinsic philosophical questions of our main lead’s Hellish experiences. Whilst the drama was flawed by certain aspects of pacing and plot inconsistencies, the cast helped to realistically flesh out the characters on screen through their performances, the story was certainly intriguing and disturbing of a man just pushed too far by his experiences and it was overall a very good Psychological - Horror. It is easy to see why this show has earned its status as a cult-classic , and certainly worth a watch.
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The Unveiling
The direct translation and original English title for this production is The Black Sun. This probably refers to the solar eclipse in which the sun appears black. As far as this drama is concerned, it perhaps represents the metaphor where the truth is concealed, hence the befitting title of The Veil. Viewers will find that there is more than just the one piece of veil that covers the hidden truth; there are layers upon layers to be unveiled over the course of the drama, before answers to all questions are finally revealed.The Veil is MBC’s 60th anniversary special drama with an enormous production budget of 15 billion Won. It is the first drama project by screenwriter Park Seok Ho, who had previously written miniseries for which she had won two MBC creative screenplay awards. The award-winning and prolific composer Kim Jang Woo serves as music director while the production is helmed by MBC’s inhouse producing director, Kim Seong Yong. Being a pre-produced drama, it wrapped up filming in August 2021 right before the lead actress Kim Ji Eun was diagnosed as Covid-19 positive. The drama had reportedly altered its airing time after 4 episodes in an apparent attempt to boost viewership as it was competing against SBS’s One the Woman in the same time slot. A 2-episode spin-off focusing on the backstories of characters played by Jang Young Nam, Park Ha Sun and Jung Moon Sung is scheduled to air by the end of October 2021.
From a technical point of view, the execution is excellent, which is to be expected considering the huge production budget. The standout aspects are the action choreography, stunt sequences and the special effects. From the very first minute of the first episode, the drama exudes Bourne Identity vibes in terms of the action scenes which the quality camerawork captures beautifully. I also noticed that the picture quality of the drama is noticeably different compared to the usual fare. The application of muted colour combinations and high contrast grading contributes to a somewhat subdued and desaturated visuals, which I suppose complements the overall edgy and gritty tone of the drama.
The story is set on the premise of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) waging a war against a homegrown drug cartel with mainland Chinese ties. In the not too distant past, the NIS was always depicted as being engaged in espionage cat-and-mouse games against their North Korean counterparts. However, perhaps due to the current political climate, it is much less politically sensitive to cast drug lords as the primary villains, which is the case here. That said, other political affiliations do get their fair share of mentions - China’s Public Security Bureau and NK’s own intelligence outfit. Aside from the action scenes, the ML’s character development is reminiscent of Jason Bourne’s own character arc with the presence of the amnesia plot and his quest to regain his lost memories.
I went into this drama fully expecting a highly exciting and action packed thriller filled with explosive gunfights, slick unarmed combats, high-speed car (as well as speedboat and helicopter) chases and plenty of non-stop adrenaline-fueled agency and urgency. As it turns out, the focus of the drama is not so much on the action, which is still present but not as abundant as I had hoped, but rather on the cloak-and-dagger aspects of investigations into uncovering secret agendas amidst the convoluted internal politics of the clandestine organisation and its major players. A crucial plus point - depending on your standpoint - there is no romance involved in the story as far as the leads are concerned, which is just as well due to the limited duration of the drama. However, there are brief instances of misplaced humour involving primarily a certain data analyst co-worker. Sometimes I wish I could tell K-drama screenwriters directly to cut that crap out and just focus on being consistent with the serious and dramatic tone of the drama.
There are essentially 2 parts to the narrative; the first part concerns the flashbacks, backstories and process of unraveling the web of deceit while the second part sees a unified team fighting against a common enemy. Most of the action happens in the second part which begins from episode 10 onwards. The initial arc unfolds during the first 9 episodes, which I feel takes too long and becomes rather over complicated as well as convoluted than is necessary. In truth, the plot really is quite straightforward and the catalyst that triggers the entire chain of events comes across as somewhat weak, which is shown to viewers in the final reveal. Long story short, the psychologically-induced disorientation along with the long-winded mind games takes up the bulk of this 12-episode drama which, in my humble opinion, finally comes alive in the final 3 episodes despite kicking-off with a bang in the first couple of episodes.
This drama will most likely be remembered for Nam Goong Min’s dedication and commitment in preparing for his role as NIS super agent Han Ji Hyuk. He reportedly began training, via a gluten-free protein-enriched diet and 4-hour daily gym workouts that added 10 kg to his body mass, in January 2021 to transform into the powerful physique and achieve absolute conviction in the portrayal of the character. Additionally, he performs his own stunts in the brutal and savage fight scenes which further enhances the believability of the characterization. From the very first minute of his appearance, I simply could not recognise him both from the facial features (even after his character eventually loses all the facial hair) and the body language which have completely changed. This is not the NGM that we all remember. Amazing! Aside from the physical aspect, NGM also manages to showcase a nuanced depiction of the emotional depth written in Han Ji Hyuk’s character arc.
The main female characters are portrayed by Park Ha Sun and Kim Ji Eun, as NIS agents Seo Soo Yeon and Yoo Je Yi respectively. I think Park Ha Sun is quite compelling but, unfortunately, her character of Seo Soo Yeon is a wasted potential, for obvious reasons. Perhaps the character would be more fleshed out in her spin-off origin story slated for release later this month. On the other hand, I’m not so convinced with Kim Ji Eun’s character. Yoo Je Yi is more suited as an analyst rather than a field agent and even towards the end, is lacking in development. However, this is more an issue with the writing rather than the actress’ performance which is quite decent given what she had to work with.
As far as the supporting cast is concerned, the veterans impressed me the most. Jang Young Nam and Lee Kyung Young as Deputy Directors Do Jin Suk and Lee In Hwan respectively. Both these two experienced actors are no strangers to playing such powerful and authoritative characters, as can be seen from their past performances. Yoo Oh Sung who plays Baek Mo Sa feels somewhat more subdued and has very minimal dialogue this time around, although he still manages to expertly infuse his character with subtle shifts in aura and demeanour that fit the narrative.
The soundtrack features 4 OSTs while the dramatic score composed by Kim Jang Woo generally fits with the overall vibe of the drama.
요아리 Yoari - Reason
일레인 Elaine - Stay With Me
요아리 Yoari - Searching for Reasons Why
이정민 Lee Jung Min - Get Ya
In addition, Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight gets some significant airplay in the drama as well.
All things considered and truth be told, I had rather high hopes for The Veil because it has been quite a while since we had a proper espionage-themed drama the likes of the Iris series and Athena: Goddess of War. As fantastic as NGM has been, this drama falls short of my expectations. Fortunately, it does finish as strongly as it started which is the saving grace in the end.
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The way I know the storytelling was excellent is that I never thought about it while I was watching, but realized it wouldn't have been able to care as much if it was delivered differently.
I think all three main characters did amazing jobs. I hurt when they hurt; I hated them when they hated themselves; I loved them when they tried to heal.
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Heartbreaking.
Bible has once again pulled out all the stops to reveal what a great actor he is! His performance was so moving, so beautifully enacted, so deliriously loaded with emotions, it really hit you right in the feels. Heartbreaking, yet so powerful; he just nailed it. Jes, whom I am less familiar with brought his A-game as well. You could see his experience and talent oozing out of every scene, and he was fantastic too. They could tell a super powerful love story, truly affecting, within 20 minutes of screen time for both.To me, the story is all about the love between two people - one who loved too much and one who loved too little. It was a love for which Garn was ready to give everything; he poured his heart and soul into that love until his last breath. On the other hand, Tul chose to go by the expectations of society and so he went for a wife and child. He did not repent his choice, but somewhere in his heart, he felt sorry that his love for Garn was not strong enough to match Garn's feelings.
Seriously, they both did amazing! ꨄ
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An intriguing premise that slowly lost its magic
I don't know where to start. I was completely hooked by the synopsis because I really like time travel and body swapping. And while I did enjoy the romance aspect of the plot, I expected to like it much more. In the end, I was left with mixed feelings — neither enchanted nor disappointed, just... sort of somewhere in the middle.Surely you’ve heard (if anyone’s even bothering to read this review ) about the Butterfly Effect? You know, that whole metaphor about how the tiniest tweak in initial conditions within complex systems can completely flip the script and lead to drastically different outcomes. I know it, you know it, but our main characters clearly missed the memo. So naturally, they rushed into trying to change the future without thinking about the consequences and ended up completely blindsided.
And this didn’t just happen once or twice — it was a non-stop loop, which made the pacing feel super choppy. Even though the show is only 12 episodes, at times it dragged heavily. It felt like every time they went back to some point in time, my hype just dropped. Honestly, that’s probably why the story felt so slow and my enjoyment just kept fading.
To top it off, the finale hit me like a chaotic, cluttered mess. The whole resolution felt incredibly rushed. But hey, this is a Korean series. I’m used to it.
The romance was... meh. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the main characters. Yes, they were beautiful, in love, and ready to do anything to be together, but that doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t feel any sparks between them.
Yun Ha Ru was honestly such a cutie — hands down my absolute favorite character. He’s also the main reason why I bumped my rating up to a 5.5 instead of a solid 5. He was the kind of friend who didn’t hesitate to risk his entire future, throw away everything he’d built in real life, get injured, and completely change his career path just to save his bestie. Plus, his love story was just so incredibly sweet.
Alright… wrapping things up. My vibe completely shifted while watching this show. It started off feeling super fresh, but by the middle it was pure boredom mixed with a side of regret and frustration.
That being said, just because it didn’t hit the spot for me doesn’t mean you won’t like it. So if the premise sounds cool to you, I’d still say give it a shot!
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This review may contain spoilers
STARTER OF JOONGDUNK'S ERA
GURLLLLLLLLLL. MISS GURL. I LITERALLY HAVE NO WORDS BUT ALSO HAVE TOO MANY WORDS AT THE SAME TIME. Like… AM I ACTUALLY WATCHING A GMMTV SERIES?? BECAUSE WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK????? THIS SHIT IS SO GOOD. I mean, okay, sure, there’s room for improvement, but like, tiny, microscopic, almost nonexistent room. This series just completely SLAUGHTERED anything else GMMTV has put out recently. The pacing? The cinematography? The climax? The conflict??? BRO. EVERYTHING IS ON STEROIDS. AND THE CHEMISTRY??? BITCH, Y’ALL CAN TELL ME THEY’RE JUST ACTING ALL YOU WANT BUT IN MY HEAD, THEY ARE MARRIED. IN FACT, I WASN’T EVEN A JOONGDUNK GIRLIE BEFORE. I DIDN’T CARE ABOUT THEM. BUT NOW??? NOW I AM A CONVERT. I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT. I HAVE JOINED THE CHURCH OF JOONGDUNK.And let me tell you, the fact that they finally gave them a series with a PROPER plot instead of whatever watered-down nonsense they had before??? Like, THANK FUCKING GOD. Anyway, onto the review before I combust.
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1. Plot
When I tell you this series GRABBED ME by the throat from the very first episode… Like, the way it started off strong had me thinking, “Okay, this is good, but can they actually keep up the momentum???” AND GURL. THEY DID. AND THEY DID IT SO WELL I CHOKED.
So, we have two main pairings: JoongDunk and FirstKhaotung. JoongDunk is giving enemies to lovers, and LET ME JUST SAY—THE SEXUAL TENSION??? SO SHARP IT COULD SLICE THROUGH A FUCKING DIAMOND. I WAS SWEATING. Meanwhile, FirstKhaotung is more of a “we like each other but let’s be dramatic about it” situation, and while it was cute, my brain was still looping back to JoongDunk’s tension every five seconds. SORRY NOT SORRY.
Plot-wise, we have Fadel and Bison, two hitmen working for some big boss they call ‘Mother,’ whose job is basically to kill bad people. One day, Bison meets Kant (while playing bowling of all things) and they have a one-night stand that turns into something real. BUT OF COURSE, Fadel, the king of cockblocking, is NOT HAVING IT. Enter Style, Kant’s friend, and suddenly we have a love square where everyone is either in danger or horny (or both). The conflicts just keep evolving, and honestly? That’s what keeps this series so addictive.
The pacing is chef’s kiss—not too fast, not too slow, just enough to make me DESPERATE for the next episode. ALSO, THE OUTFITS??? HELLO??? GIVE THE STYLIST A RAISE. I WAS LIVING FOR EVERY SINGLE LOOK. (STYLE, I SEE U). But let’s talk about the real elephant in the room. THE MASTURBATION SCENE. HELLO??????? UM?????????? I AM STILL SCREAMING.
A) JOONG? SEXY AS FUCK.
B) DUNK? SEXY AS FUCK.
C) VISUAL COUPLE ON MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE.
The vibes were kinda Only Friends but with better execution and a plot that actually makes sense. The only thing I wasn’t fully gagging over? Some of Joong’s action scenes were a little too… chill. Bro, YOU’RE A HITMAN. WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’RE WAITING FOR THE STUNTMAN TO GIVE YOU A SIGN??? Just a little more sharpness, a little more BAM POW, and it would’ve been perfect. ALSO. Kant’s fear of the ocean?? I NEEDED MORE. WHERE ARE THE TEARS? WHERE IS THE FULL MELTDOWN? I NEEDED BISON TO HOLD HIS HAND AND HAVE A FULL “I GOT YOU BABY” MOMENT. LIKE HELLO, MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
AND ANOTHER THING. I KNEW Ruerat WASN’T THE KILLER. I JUST KNEW IT. LILY WAS LOOKING SUS FROM THE SECOND SHE STEPPED ON SCREEN. And when she got arrested??? THAT SCENE WAS TOO RUSHED. WHERE WAS THE STRUGGLE? THE DRAMA?? HOMEGIRL JUST WENT “oh no, u got me” AND THAT WAS IT. EXCUSE ME???
BUT LISTEN. The burger scene??? Fadel and Style having their last meal together before 5 years of pain??? STYLE WIPING FADEL’S LIPS????? OH, BITCH, I WAS WEEPING. And for a hot second, I really thought they were about to go full Bonnie & Clyde and commit a crime just so they could be with their boyfriends in jail, BUT NO. Kant had to be all smart and rational and turn them into prison teachers instead. I MEAN, SLAY.
Side note: I wish Keen got more screen time. GIVE THIS MAN MORE TO WORK WITH. His whole deal with the siblings could’ve had so much more juice to it, but nope. Wasted potential.
The ending??? I LOVED IT. No spoilers, but trust me, it’s satisfying. They basically have to rebuild their lives from scratch, but these men are talented as fuck, so I have zero doubts they’ll be fine. ALSO, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE CINEMATOGRAPHY??? That one scene of Style drinking at the pool while complaining about Fadel? LOOKED LIKE A WHOLE ASS ART PIECE. THE COLORS. THE CAMERA ANGLE. PERFECTION.
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2. Characters
- Fadel (Joong) – Okay, listen. I already knew Joong was a solid actor, but THIS??? THIS IS HIS BEST PERFORMANCE YET. I’M NOT EVEN JOKING. THE RANGE. THE DEPTH. THE SUBTLETY. Fadel is a character that could’ve easily fallen into the “broody, emotionless hitman” trope, but Joong understood the assignment. The micro-expressions? The way his voice would get slightly softer around Bison? THE POSSESSIVENESS? FUCKING INSANE. And his fighting scenes? OKAY, SOME WERE A LITTLE TOO CHILL, BUT OVERALL, HE ATE. And let’s be real… THE WAY HE LOOKED AT STYLE LIKE HE WANTED TO DEVOUR HIM. HELP. I felt the jealousy. I felt the internal struggle. Fadel looks clingy and cute as fuck when he is with Style after 5 years in prison got me like 👅. Fadel is becoming emotionally unstable because he starting to get clingy with Style LOL. AND THE AFTERGLOW SCENE????? MOTHERFUCKER WAS ON HIS ACTING GRIND. This man went from emotionally constipated to head over heels and DID IT SO SMOOTHLY. I AM BOWING. I AM KNEELING.
- Style (Dunk) – DUNK. SIR. I AM SO SORRY FOR EVER DOUBTING YOU. The way this man has EVOLVED AS AN ACTOR??? BITCH. Style is literally a menace in the best way possible. This man is the DEFINITION of power bottom energy. I MEAN, HE WORE A CROP TOP, HAD A COCKY LITTLE SMIRK, AND GIGGLED AFTER FLIRTING??? LIKE, HELLO, OFFICER??? I NEED TO REPORT A CRIME. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT HIS CHEMISTRY WITH FADEL??? STYLE WOULD LITERALLY TEASE THIS MAN TO THE BRINK OF INSANITY AND THEN JUST SMILE ABOUT IT. I KNOW FADEL WANTED TO STRANGLE HIM (OR MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE… 👀). BUT THEN. OH, BUT THEN. When Style started actually catching feelings??? I WAS DONE. THE WAY HE BECAME SOFT FOR FADEL?? CAN WE ALSO TALK HOW HE DIDNT PULL AWAY FROM JOONG'S KISSES? THANK YOU, SIR.
- Kant (First) – OKAY. HERE'S THE THING. Kant is sweet. He’s solid. He’s the guy you wanna bring home to your parents. BUT. HE WAS MISSING SPICE. LIKE, WHERE IS THE DRAMA??? WHERE IS THE INTENSITY?? I NEEDED MORE FROM HIM. But other than that, First still did a great job. And let’s be honest, Chubby First was the best decision they ever made. HE LOOKED SO SOFT I WANTED TO HUG HIM. I think its because he works out so he need to eat more protein.
- Bison (Khaotung) – I AM EATING MY WORDS BECAUSE I REALLY THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA BE MID, BUT NOPE. HE WAS SERVING. He had this playful, unhinged energy that just worked with Kant’s more reserved personality. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE WAY HE LOOKED AT KANT??? THIS MAN WAS IN LOVE. LITERALLY BECAUSE HS IS SO ADORABLE. IM TALKING ABOUT BISON HERE AND NOT KHAOTUNG. OKAY MAYBE I DID TALK ABOUT BOTH OF THEM. LOL. Anyway, Character development? LOVE IT. After 5 years, Bison is more stable now. He is more rational than Fadel ( WEIRD I KNOW ) and trust Kant fully as their relationship grows.
- Keen (Pepper) – NOT ME LICKING MY SCREEN EVERYTIME PEPPER ON THE SCREEN. I’M SORRY BUT THAT NEEDED TO BE SAID FIRST. His character??? FULL OF POTENTIAL. WASTED. UNDERUSED. LIKE, THIS MAN WAS DEALING WITH FAMILY DRAMA, BETRAYAL, AND HIS ENTIRE LIFE FALLING APART—WHY DIDN’T WE GET MORE OF HIS STORYLINE??? WHY WAS HE JUST THERE??? GIVE HIM MORE EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWNS. GIVE HIM A REDEMPTION ARC. GIVE HIM SOMETHING.
Babe (Ken) – Listen. I try to be nice. But I HAVE to be real. Ken’s acting was STIFF. Babe was probably the weakest link in the entire show, and it hurts because his storyline could have been interesting. But every time he spoke, I was like… “Sir… do you even believe what you’re saying???” No emotion, no conviction, just vibes. And not the good kind. NEXT.
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3. OST
OST? YAAAAASSSS OMGGGG FIT THE VIBE FR. I love the OST SO MUCH. I just know if the series have Khaotung, I just know the song is lit as fuck. AND LET ME TELL YOU. ALL THE SONGS THEY USE IN THIS SERIES ARE LIT AS FUCK. LIKE none of them actually boring ????? I AM SHOOKETH ????? I still cant move on from dancing scene cause the song is lit. AND THE INTRO is nice as fuck! Bro the concept? YESS!!! They dont even require much videos and only some pictures as the intro. Love it! THE CHOICE OF SONGS ARE GOOD LIKE UM HELLO???? NOT ME DOWNLOADING ALL SONGS TO BE ADDED INTO MY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST.
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4. Chemistry
WHEN I TELL YOU THE CHEMISTRY IN THIS SERIES IS NEXT-LEVEL, I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. THIS SHIT FELT REAL. LIKE, I WASN’T JUST WATCHING A BL—I WAS WATCHING TWO ACTUAL PEOPLE FALLING IN LOVE IN REAL TIME. THE EMOTIONS? RAW. THE CONNECTION? UNDENIABLE. THE TENSION? ELECTRIC.
And let’s be honest… JoongDunk is THE main pairing here. FirstKhaotung?? LOVE THEM TO DEATH, but they were major support characters for JoongDunk’s story. That being said… FirstKhaotung was TOO DAMN CUTE, I ALMOST DIED. LIKE, WHO ALLOWED THEM TO BE THIS ADORABLE? THE DANCE SCENE??? I HAD TO PAUSE, TAKE A DEEP BREATH, AND COME BACK BECAUSE IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR MY HEART TO HANDLE.
NOW. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE JAIL SCENE. I AM ACTUALLY FOAMING AT THE MOUTH. THE KISS. THE TOUCHING. THE HEAVY BREATHING. MY MEOW WAS MEOWING. MY SKIN FELT ELECTRIC. MY BRAIN SHORT-CIRCUITED. LIKE, THAT WASN’T JUST A KISS, THAT WAS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE. I SWEAR I SAW FIREWORKS EXPLODE INSIDE MY HEAD.
Now, onto the sex scenes… OH, BABY. FirstKhaotung got the good stuff. The choreography, the pacing, the eye contact—it was all there. BUT. JoongDunk’s scene??? It NEEDED MORE. Like, don’t get me wrong, the kisses were PERFECT—desperate, passionate, messy, full French action. BUT THE ACTUAL STEAM SCENE? IT FELT TOO SHORT. WE HAD ALL THIS INSANE, HIGH-BUILT-UP TENSION, AND THEN BOOM. IT WAS OVER TOO FAST. WHERE WERE THE GASPS? THE MOANS? THE LINGERING TOUCHES? I NEEDED MORE. I DESERVED MORE.
That being said… was it still good? YES. YES. AND YES. But would I have sold my soul for an extra five minutes of intense, breathless, emotionally wrecking realness? ALSO YES.
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5. Overall
Alright, let’s be real. This is a SOLID 9/10. There are tiny things here and there that could be improved, but honestly? NOTHING CRUCIAL. The chemistry alone makes up for everything. The emotions? The storytelling? The visuals? CHEF’S KISS.
And let me remind y’all I DO NOT REWATCH SERIES UNLESS THEY’RE GOOD. Like, I physically cannot sit through the same thing twice unless it’s THAT level of addicting. AND THIS? OH, IT’S THAT SERIES. I WILL 100% BE REWATCHING.
Now, onto the important questions:
Would I rewatch? YES.
Would I sell my soul for a Season 2? ABSOLUTELY.
Would I commit a crime just to make JoongDunk do another series like this? No comment.
FINAL RATING: 9/10. A MASTERPIECE.
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Awful script-writing and character development
To start off with a positive, the two main actors had great chemistry and their acting carried the entire show. Intimate scenes were done well but they were often very abrupt and I had trouble understanding the characters' thoughts or intentions most of the time leading up to these scenes. In particular, the character of First (played by Folk Jakrin Sangruan). First's character showed no development throughout despite meaningful talks with the acting teacher - he continued to treat Play (played by Gameplay Garnpaphon Laolerkiat) meanly with an excuse of 'teasing him because his reactions are cute' and I'm not entirely sure how that led to them getting together, nor do I understand First's feelings towards Play.The supporting characters added nothing to the plot and I ended up skipping all of the random side story parts as I really couldn't care less about Penelope... The love triangle was mostly unnecessary other than to give First a shove in the right direction and they should have allocated more time to focus on the two main characters and the development of feelings between them. It felt like their relationship kept going from 0 to 100 and then all the way back down to 0 again.
I only finished this since it was short, wouldn't recommend unless you have nothing else to watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Story About Dreams & Destiny: "Although I know my destiny, I still courageously choose to face it"
Fangs of Fortune is a fantasy drama that is based from Chinese Mythological Creatures. It tells a story about a heavily discriminated great demon named Zhao Yuan Zhou and the journey of his life as he chooses to face his destiny. Along his process of walking onto this new path he had chosen, he managed to be involved with a group of beings ; either mortals, gods, demons. They later formed into a team at the Demon Hunting Bureau who at first were only bonded together for the sake of solving mysterious cases about creatures that had gone rampant. They each face each other with indifference and mistrust at first, but the more they unravel truths about the past - especially of their own, they gradually began to warm up to each other and thus, formed a friendship that later turned into found family. Regardless of their differences, they began to understand each other and stand in equal footing eventually learning to separate evil and good from origin, and coming to accept life's greyness and the complexities of beings - whether mortals or creatures.What had heavily made me gravitate towards this drama is its compelling storyline that is thought provoking and how it finely touched different gradients about morality. It isn't all for a captivating watch as viewers are also challenged to put their perspectives into each of the characters shoes to understand the different contrasting layers of these characters ; their decisions and actions towards certain events or situations. Adding to these is the unabashed portrayal of intense emotions from every character no matter what gender which in turn pinches at the corners of the viewers hearts. To say it is merely a fantasy drama is a bit of an injustice, beyond the excellent cinematography and gorgeous visuals lies a much more meaningful story about life and its lessons.
The great demon Zhao Yuan Zhou's journey came with a lot of loaded heartache but as the plot progressed, his heart became vividly clear. He is a very courageous character who had accepted and had long awaited his destiny, yet still he chose to face it. In the process of doing so, he found himself spreading warmth towards everyone and at the same time receiving the same warmth which he thought he is undeserving of. His selfless act of sacrificing his life for the greater good and his loved one despite having already grown roots for living, proves his heroic character, great love, and how he holds his dream of a peaceful and carefree life ever so importantly. He didn't just simply accept his destiny, he fulfilled his dream along with it. The immense amount of greatness of his character is immeasurable.
This drama might not have been centered solely on the romance between the main leads, however, their love story turned to be the most beautiful yet tragic to be foretold. The love between Zhao Yuan Zhou and Wen Xiao is one that is seen as subtle on the surface, barely palpable - but as you take off the heart shaped rose colored glasses, what awaits is a love that conquers all. Deeper than the romantic moments or sweet intimate scenes, it's the strength of their feelings towards each other that time and time again, they constantly and gravely chose one another. Zhao Yuan Zhou's journey to life started because of Wen Xiao, but it also ended because of her. His love for her is so vast and selfless. While Wen Xiao became the living testament to his deep love, her devotion to wait for 300 years in the sundial and her willingness to guard his home ; the wilderness, while endlessly waiting for their reunion. The nuanced and subtleness of Zhao Yuan Zhou and Wen Xiao's love, proved against odds how deeply rooted and ever lasting their love is, even if their fate is tragic, their feelings for each other never cease to exist, and continue to live on, for every rain shower is their reunion.
All the performance of the actors in this drama are praiseworthy. I specifically have to praise Hou Ming Hao's phenomenal acting skills, his portrayal of Zhao Yuan Zhou connected the most with me. The expression and emotions he delivered on screen screams how great and talented of an actor he truly is. He always left me in awe. I instantly became a fan of him. On the other hand, Chen Du Ling's role as Wen Xiao spoke so much volumes about humans limitations when faced with destiny, her portrayal has been admirable. Tian Jia Rui and Cheng Xiao doesn't fall behind much, they also did a commendable job with their roles. I am looking forward to seeing more of Lester Lin's growth as an actor, he carries so much potential at a young age. Lastly, Yan An, Zhen Xuan and Lai Wei Ming deserves more recognition for their acting performance, I applaud their performance too.
I highly recommend this drama. Perfection is something unachievable in life, even the best comes with flaws. This drama is no exception from such flaws but what makes this stood out is the amount of good qualities it had. From storyline, to cinematography, to acting, to characters and to chemistry.
The 'Fangs' in 'Fangs of Fortune' surely carved into my heart ♡
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True To Love !
What after you break up ... all that fuss for nothing. Life is not all rosy and not always will the person next to you make you feel butterflies, life reaches you in various aspects some you imagine and some you dare not. And that's just what it's all about -living each day as if there's no tomorrow while planning a forever.It's a combined package of hope and despair.
So a dating coach failing at love huh, to be honest, I did not really expect that I would love it this much but clearly, this show grows onto you. With each passing episode, you realize that this show doesn't promise an answer to how you should deal with your love life or as a matter of fact breakup it simply just promises a hope that it'll get better.
To me, there's no simple answer to whether you should watch it or not all I can say is you need to try it for yourself. To some the character of bo ra may seem shallow but it has layers to it. The ML and FL may not be the best for butterfly chemistry but they do top the charts for real stuff.
It's an achievement for a show to depict a fiction that seems real. Everyone knows things in real life don't work like they do in the show but even then it answers questions in a way that makes you feel content.
What I loved throughout the show was that it was lovable in little elements and the characters were true to themselves.
SPOILER STUFF AHEAD !!! .............
(So it's been long since I wrote a review and quite frankly I know I am writing a long one again this time. ) A LITTLE HEADS UP !
Let's begin with how ML offers rides to FL before even falling for her. Even though he doesn't agree to the ways she believes in and advertises, there's a certain respect that he offers. (manifesting friendships like these)
I love how Bo Ra even after hearing that she is suffocating to be around still hangs on to her personality of confessing first and being the hopeless romantic. At the same time I also appreciate that ML was true to his personality of being the closed one. I am the closed kind of person and know that even if we see things going wrong we just can't really admit to our emotions easily.
During the course of the show, I come to like Bo Ra because initially I just literally thought that she was a dumb kind of character for going back to someone who clearly ain't into her. But through the journey of these 14 eps, I realized that both things are okay since there's no right or wrong in matters of heart. Either you say it or you don't in the end all that matters is the feeling.
I love how she has her own journey of self-realization while writing that whole book ...
The free hugs, walk back home, listening to her blabber while drunk was all so much needed !
WHAT AFTER A BREAKUP ???
..the major and best part of the show ...get up, pick yourself up, find an identity that belongs to you, see the world with the new perspective you have found, order that special pizza, buy your birthstone jewelry and fucking live.
do whatever makes you happy if that's getting drunk on street it's absolutely okay. It's okay to have a hard time breaking up it's okay if you fall for someone who makes you feel special instead of someone who cannot provide you with the assurance you need. Everything is okay, not being able to get over that cheat or parting ways mutually, falling in love again , failing in love again ....fucking everything.
I love how the side characters try to make things work ( Bo Ra's friend and her husband) I know as a fact that marriage is not some child play and it's not that simple. The way they just exist next to each other is a treat in itself.
(But as they say too much sugar is bitter - at times they are just so annoying that I literally had to skip through)
I must admit that I liked how their marriage was an issue in itself and how they were trying to sort things through.
I also liked the trope of ML's bestie and her ex-wife they had a journey of their own. Of self-realization, blame games, hatred, longing, affection and so much more. They just made it so much better.
I liked the Farce comedy throughout the show and somehow it just makes it objectively better for me cuz afterall I need drama in a drama.
What could be avoided ....
Well the pregnancy trope was really a big turn-off for me.
The return of Bo Ra's ex clearly unnecessary.
The ceo falling (ML's bestie) for some coworker...I didn't need that
I certainly did appreciate the fact that the show covers every aspect like marriage, divorce, dating, cheating, breakups, and proposals ....like everything.
THE BEST LINES FROM THE SHOW .....
"Even if someone will die tomorrow if you kill him today, it's murder." (The context in which it is used is just love)
"I can't leave this world with a tombstone that says - She was dumped, drunk and clingy."- (so rewrite who you want to be, rewrite so you can lie peacefully in your grave.)
"And then, I felt the ground. It had felt like a bottomless pit, but then I felt the ground. It was impossible to sink deeper. I hit rock bottom and it can't get any worse. Now I can only get back up."
"I don't need reassurance from someone for the choices I make."
" Whether it's a happy ending or a sad one I have to write my own ending."
and the last lines from the drama ....
"But our love is neither a perfect happy ending nor a sad ending, it's an open ending.
There's no such thing as a strategy for love, that never fails.
Promises will be broken, Love will change in the course of time....
some may say ...after making all that fuss you guys ended up splitting...when our relationship ends at some unknown point.
still, we will not regret that.
Like we live though we know we'll die someday.
Like we buy flowers though we know they'll wilt.
Like we sadly say goodbye though we know we'll see each other tomorrow.
likewise, we make promises we can't keep sometimes
like we buy stuff that is useless
we are true to love every possible moment
....from the bottom of our heart, we are true to love. !!! "
TO WATCH OR MAYBE SAVE TIME ....???
For me I really feel like this show does have a lot to offer but I do acknowledge that It's not the show that everyone would love.
I'd still suggest you that on case you try it out be patient let the story build and grow on to you you won't regret spending time on it.
I'll probably come for a rewatch in my next life ...for this one I plan on exploring a lot other gems. !
but once was a must !
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This review may contain spoilers
What could be cooler than the idea of a murderer killing people in one world and dumping their bodies in the other?! This crime thriller with two parallel worlds looked like something I’d absolutely enjoy, and It did satisfy my thrill trash self a good deal! Train is a super intriguing, intense, carefully crafted, and well-executed drama. It successfully avoids straying into side stories and gives all of its writing power to the main mystery aka finding the real serial killer, hence focused and very consistent in its storytelling. All characters and murder cases are connected, with every new ep, writers throw a new thread to catch on, every detail is purposed & noteworthy, nothing sounds irrelevant, nothing to waste screentime on. I’m sure such a thing would be even more rewarding to binge-watchers.
Also in terms of production quality, Train didn’t fail expectations!! That chilling dark vibe OCN always sends is clearly there. Cinematography is neat and somehow depressing, with a warm yellow tone for world A and a blue cold one for world B (each similar to their perspective characters!). Editors really did a brilliant job seamlessly switching from world A to B to the past to flashbacks. Music was also on point. Lyrics “I’m gonna find you”, playing at the end of each episode, make you look forward to the coming one, and another soft melody singing “I want to stay with you” makes emotional scenes a bit more felt.
On the other hand, Train is quite predictable, which is not necessarily a bad thing as I was still eager to watch and see if my theory was right or wrong, and everything was built up well with no apparent holes. But I found it cheap that certain characters had suspicion written all over their faces!! I have to admit, it made the resolution a bit underwhelming. I wished if writers would bring another twist but everything was foreseen at the end.
Another thing that bothered me was how I failed to connect with characters and their emotional scars. Although it could be only me, I think they could have chosen a better cast tbh. Most of the time, It felt like YSY was carrying the whole show on his shoulders. He totally lived his character and showed diverse emotions either playing the workaholic detective who lives to care&protect or the discontented inspector who lives with hate&shame. I rooted for him but it felt hella frustrating that no one was responding!
The FL was rather weak (in terms of performance); she had that one angry/sad expression on her face that I was absolutely numb towards. I’m not trying to undermine the actress’s effort, but in my eyes, they had little to no chemistry and it always felt one-sided. That shouldn’t be much of a problem for a thriller really but It’d have been much better if the story was more seasoned and I could feel the desperation to save someone or catch someone, yet clearly the mystery element was my only driver. That’s in part a problem with writing too; ‘cause most characters lacked personality and development, the main culprit’s character is so cliche, and many were merely running the story, I could see no problem if one of them was replaced :( If there’s anyone I loved, it’d be Jung min (the forensic doctor)& Jinwoo (junior detective).
Regardless, Train was an experience I enjoyed and anticipated every week. I recommend it and I’m pretty sure many will like it :)
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All my friends watched it and fell for it; they kept recommending so I watch it in order to find out the fuss that went around it.
2) Storyline/Plot:
This rom-com doesn't have the usual boring concept of other films, it has a new story that bumps out from crowd.
Positive points:
*There was a great self-introduction at the beginning of the film: it was a cool start.
*The love story was just great from how they met and all the weird yet sweet acts that would keep anyone interested.
*So much laughter in this film, it was really hilarious most of the time.
*Beside romance and laughter there were also some sad moments and captivating twists so it sort of got it all.
Negative points:
I couldn't find any, even if there was, they weren't so serious that would ruin the general story therefore there's no need to mention them.
Story: 9.5/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*Jun Ji Hyun : This was the first and only work that I saw with this actress; she has a lot of potential since she prtrayed her role perfectly since I don't believe that there's any other actress that would portray the sassy girl the way she did: she was convincing, brought me laughter and some sorrow near the end: *Claps*
*Cha Tae Hyun : I really liked that actor, he has held the main lead male in a great way. The character was appealing to the point that I feel sorry for him since he always get hitted by both his mother and the girl he loves, so much laughter in those scenes xD
*I loved the chemistry between the leads and the way they acted in the park and in the club with school uniforms: I loved those scenes.
Cast: 8/10
Acting: 10/10
4) The ending:
It may sound weird but I saw it comming while it's supposed to be a "surprise".
Anyhow, it was a smart move to gather events in a way that would make the film end that way. Great end overall.
The ending: 8.5/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*This film made my day, I kept wondering why I haven't watch it sooner.
*I laughed a lot while watching this, it was a great K-film classic that deserves to be remembered.
My impression 9/10
6) Overall:
*If you like rom-coms then this is a must watch.
*If you like unusual yet sweet love stories then you would like this.
*If you like hilarious films with a strong female lead then this is for you.
Overall: 8.5/10
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This review may contain spoilers
I'm not a fan of manga so I decided to see it just because it was ongoing and it was showing up on my explore page all the time. You can tell it's a manga adoption just by Risa's voice and Hiroto's haircut (you know that typical long manga hairstyle).To the plot ... I really like the fact that each episode is a little less than 30 minutes long which doesn't tires me unlike the typical 1 hour + long dramas. To be honest everything is happening really fast but again how long would be the storyline of a manga? It's definitely a drama for more mature audience or people who like a little bit of smut ;)
Now the story is quite basic : The typical virgin "never-had-a-boyfriend-before" girl fells in love with a mysterious, sexy , rich guy who's manipulative but she doesn't care (or understand it) because she's in love. It kinda reminds me of Twilight movies sometimes ( and I wasn't a fan ). Anyway I would really like to know what's his secret that he has to hide so well from her but from some spoilers I read that he might be bisexual and doesn't want her to know???? I guess I'll have to wait until the end to learn...
I would definitely re-watch it for the spicy scenes ;)
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