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This is how you (almost) score your own goal
This show is not particularly pretentious, and the early indication is a contract marriage trope with bonus cute little kids. The FL is a struggling single parent, but she is trying her best. The ML is the typical cold but super competent CEO who is also a single parent. After a series of fateful meetings and the odd accidental skinship later, they are married but not a couple. Easy peasy.In fact, for a good 3/4 of the run, the show is motoring along very nicely. Their romantic journey is swoon-y and developing well. The little kids are not bothersome like some other dramas, and they add some colour to the mostly by-the-book main storyline. There is a hint of a revenge plot, but the general outlook is rosy.
This is where some iffy writing starts to rear its ugly head and almost scored an own goal. I’m keeping this spoiler free, so I'll talk in general terms.
The first problem is the portrayal of the leads. The FL is sweet and empathic, but she has a lot of self-doubt and can be easily swayed. On the other hand, the ML is smart but have very poor communication skills. This is a bad combo because it means misunderstanding can be just one scene away and any misstep escalates quickly.
This is not helped by poor communication between the protagonists. The ML, the grandfather, the FL's parents all withholding vital information and keeping secrets from each others. This only serves to pour oil on the fire of misunderstanding once there is a spark. Honestly, this is such a lazy trope but without it, there is almost no plot. Ouch!
Furthermore, the antagonist's motivation is a bit opaque. We are told one thing but snippets of information point to another. His mental state also casts a lot of doubt about what are facts and what might be his imagination. This is obviously done by the writer to keep us guessing and to create tension. Unfortunately, this part of the main plot is weak and loaded with inconsistencies and shortcuts. We are fed bits of information to try to paper over gaps in the narratives. For instance, one of the key characters is found to be adopted and her behaviour is all blamed on her time in the welfare home. Ditto pieces of damning info happen to fall into the wrong hands. Where did they come from? There are other contrivances, but I would be giving the main plot away.
Obviously, the writer is trying to shape the plot in a certain way, but it feels unnatural and leaves the viewer baffled and a bit frustrated. The drama would be better off without the revenge plot. The show doesn't need one and it derailed the main plot for little gain.
Acting wise, the FL is fine but her role is not well written. The ML’s visual is idol grade but his acting skill is still developing. There are times when he just looks uncomfortable and a bit lost.
The support cast is actually quite good. The SFL who started off chasing the ML but becomes the FL’s bestie is quite endearing. The 2CP works too. A bit kooky at times but their journey is heartfelt, and I can ship them. The senior cast members pull their weight and provided some stability.
I didn't have high hopes for the show at the beginning. I was hooked by mid show, but they lost me towards the end. The HEA ending and fan service helps to restore some faith. It is watchable and largely inoffensive. I just wish they'd leave well enough alone. Peace out.
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This review may contain spoilers
None of these characters are likable.
Major spoilers are ahead...The FL, So Rin, is a fan of ML, Lucie, her idol while she's in high school, and she accidentally meets him without even believing it's him. They spend one night hanging out and the next night, she's supposed to go to a meet and greet with the real "Lucie." During this time she's also trying to audition to become an idol trainee.
Si Woo is best friends with So Rin along with their other friend mutual friend, Ye Seung and they enjoy their friendship going along with So Rin's fangirling. Si Woo secretly harbors a crush on So Rin, and together, they both win tickets to Lucie's meet and greet. While Si Woo takes both of them there on his bicycle, on the way, they're stuck by an oncoming vehicle which results in So Rin being hospitalized.
Lucie in the meantime keeps looking for So Rin at his fan meet to let her know it was really him that she met the night before. But of course, she doesn't show up. Lucie goes back to the US.
Fast forward to a few years later, Si Woo has become an idol. A decision he made for So Rin, who mentioned in the past, that if he auditioned to be an idol, they could go through it together. Feeling guilty about So Rin's accident, Si Woo becomes driven and motivated to become an idol.
But while Si Woo becomes an idol in a k-pop group, "N and S", So Rin, who suffers from severe tinnitus and dizziness, can no longer dance because of these symptoms. These came from a result of her accident but the tinnitus that she suffers from seems to be more psychologically stress-related. Although she no longer pursues the dream of becoming an idol, she works closely with Si Woo at the same agency. Their mutual friend, Ye Seung also works as a driver for the same agency. After all this time, Si Woo still hasn't told So Rin about his feelings for her.
Lucie comes back to Korea to do a collaboration with Si Woo. But Lucie goes under hardships as he is accused of tax evasion. It turns out his manager took all his money as Lucie wasn't planning to sign with him anymore. He has no choice but to collab with Si Woo and his agency. Broke and displaced in Korea, So Rin takes him in, and later, Lucie finds out that So Rin was the fangirl he met that night.
So now, here starts the love triangle... where the girl is so clueless and oblivious that these guys like her, and honestly, the story doesn't develop enough as to why these guys like her.
You can understand why Si Woo could like So Rin because after all, they grew up together as best friends, but why he takes so long to tell her is beyond me. So now Lucie enters the picture and now we just have to sit through these guys being competitive for So Rin while she doesn't have a clue. But honestly, you feel nothing for these three characters. So Rin comes off as under deserving of Si Woo's interest actually. It seems like he does more for her than she does for him. He's always checking in on her. And as for Lucie, he's just too arrogant for anyone to like him.
I find this to be a slow-paced drama. So far I'm on EP 12 and only now, are they just starting to dig into whether or not So Rin should pursue her dream as an idol. They had a few flashbacks of her trying again after her accident but nothing came of it. I don't know how, by the next two episodes, we're supposed to believe that all of a sudden, So Rin will become an idol. I think that even mentioning this in the detailed summary of this show is kind of misleading. Even the title, "Miracle" makes no sense.
So with only 14 episodes, I don't know how much progress we'll see after since the episodes are short. They're trying to show more scenes of Lucie and So Rin together as they have some "let's stare at each other with OST playing" moments. He seems to coincidently show up as he stalks her when she's having bad symptoms. But Si Woo has also been there for her so you don't know why the showrunners don't give Si Woo and So Rin more "tender moments". If you going to do a love triangle, do it somewhat properly.
There are other side stories, like Lucie's disappearing manager, another female k-pop group in which one member, Ju Ah crushes on Si Woo, and there's even some tension within Si Woo's group, N and S. The leader of N and S, Do Un wants to be an actor but only Si Woo got offered a leading role in a drama. This made Do Un jealous. But with these short episodes, their stories aren't interesting enough. Everyone seems miserable and it's not just from suffering through some hardships, it's more like everyone is miserably jealous of someone else.
The acting of everyone isn't that great so it makes it harder to enjoy this show and the singing and dancing are all subpar. Who wants to watch a show with two guys just constantly glaring at each other? It just makes this show drag on even slower.
I'll update this later if necessary.
UPDATE:
A week after the last two episodes already aired, I finally decided to dive back in and finish up the series. And... that's it. The end. (That's how exciting it was.)
I don't know what direction the writers decided to take in the last two episodes but it got pretty negative and dark all of a sudden. Ju Ah, crushes on Si Woo, finally confesses to him. He doesn't return her feelings and when he tells her he likes someone else, she's like, "So what?" I mean, why do they write women with like no dignity or pride? And if she's so close to debuting, it makes no sense why she would even be entertaining the idea of pursuing someone or even dating for that matter. Zero sense. She would just be focusing on debuting.
Then she finds out that So Rin is coming back as a trainee and now she's even more frustrated and upset. So much so that she injures herself while practicing and for good measure, the writers threw in some pills she suddenly seems dependent on.
Then all of a sudden, we find out that besides Do Un, another member of N and S, Ik Chan, also has a problem with Soo Win. Like where did this guy come from? And... they finally caught Lucie's scheming manager. And... So Rin finds out it was really Lucie she met that night. And... Lucie finds out about the accident happening that same night and why Si Woo dislikes him.
And... all this in one episode. And... it was still boring.
By the last episode, some crazy sasaeng of Si Woo tries to throw acid on So Rin but Lucie saves her by blocking it. So now we got acid folks. That's some pretty damaging and dark stuff. Like I was shocked by it. Acid is some pretty serious sh*t and it just didn't feel like it belonged in this kind of drama. It was really out of place. I felt for a moment that I was watching some Bollywood drama for a second there. It turns out that Do Un planted an idea in Ju Ah's head to post pictures of Si Woo and So Rin online as if they were dating. So that's why the jealous sasaeng showed up.
What's worse is that management finds out what Ju Ah and Do Un did and yet nothing happened to them. Management was like, " Oh we didn't know they were hurting. Let's just sweep everything under the rug and everyone make up." Seriously... W...T...F??? A crazy sasaeng was charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder for hurling ACID, because of what Ju Ah and Do Un conspired and nothing happens to them? Especially Do Un who was the mastermind. You would've thought that Si Woo would've been really angry at him since the sasaeng targeted So Rin. Whatevs dude.
Anyways, So Rin has a spot in a voice competition but she pauses during her live performance because of her tinnitus, but the guys are there to "save" her once again. And like the other reviews mention, the show doesn't show her choosing Lucie or Si Woo. And the other friend, Ye Seung as the ending fairy made zero sense too.
I changed my rating from a 5 to a 4.
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This review may contain spoilers
As good as expected
GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/7600/love-class-2026Since prior to this I watched and really enjoyed the previous 2 seasons of this series, I was super excited for the 3rd season. Due to previous experience with Love Class, I had pretty high expectations, and they were actually fulfilled.
My biggest problem with this series is definitely how short the episodes were, especially since there are 16 of them. They could've made it so much better by just doing 8 episodes with double the length per episode.
Things I liked:
1. Jae Min and Khun as a couple. They are so cute and adorable together. Their storyline was excellent, and I really enjoyed watching all of their moments together.
2. Khun. He himself as a character was definitely my personal favorite.
3. Good chemistry between both couples.
4. Great acting.
5. Ye Eun and Stella as a GL side couple.
6. All of the cute and funny moments with the couples. Genuinely had me giggling and kicking my feet.
7. The kiss scene with Jae Min kissing a guy after he kept harassing him really gave me a flashback to "Love for Love's Sake."
Things I disliked:
1. Short episodes. As I already said, I think 8 ep. 30 min. would make far more sense than 16 ep. 15 min.
2. It's quite exhausting how they switch from one couple to another. Because one of them is going through all the drama and another is just two cute guys having fun. There has got to be a better way to switch between couples without making it feel so choppy and chaotic.
3. Classic misunderstanding over seeing a person you have feelings for interacting even remotely friendly with other people.
4. I don't really like how they keep dragging out all the drama till the last minutes.
5. Ending. I didn't necessarily dislike it too much, but with the time skip and everything else, I kind of hoped for more. The ending felt quite rushed.
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In love with it
I don't care what others think of this series. They might have felt that way because they were waiting for another episode each week. I binge watched the series and fell in love with it. In fact I could feel all the emotions and cried while watching too. Worth the watch. So happy to see Charles after a long time. Each actor did full justice to it. Special shout out to Jame. Loved his character.Was this review helpful to you?
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Of Office Politics and Love
I just finished this drama. The 12 episodes are just enough to capture what's going on in Haemu - the office politics, your average employees, strict boss and even a love story. The pacing of the story, how they end each episode kept me waiting for the next and see how Haemu's story and also the characters' story transform.Thank you for casting Shin Hae Sun and Gong Myung who had delivered their parts very well. The focus on the leads gave us a closer look at how relationships in the office and outside of it transformed. Shin Hae Sun gave us that confident boss who had a facade of one that cannot be brought down. In-Ah's reputation had preceded her, so many of her subordinates had been tiptoeing around her. She can be ruthless but reasonable. She learned what teamwork means later and became their 'fortress' later when she learned what work means to them. I think this is quite a transformation for In-Ah, especially when she fell in love with Ki-Jun. Ki-Jun's perspective had made her re-think her choices and learned to let in other people into her life.
Ki-Jun may be a very by-the-books guy when it comes to his work. He felt he should be promoted but when transferred to another team felt demoted. He did not see what In-Ah saw. Instead of investigating outside, his role becomes important to cleaning house. Ki-Jun can be idealistic, but that what sets him apart from the rest of the Audit Department - he wants to make things right even if it cost him his own job.
The VP may look like leaning only on the influence his wife has but eventually learned to stand on his own principles to help the employees of Haemu. Sometimes we need the upper management to look into the concerns of the people and not just making money which his half-brother is only after. His EA may have misplaced allegiance, but later on suffered the consequences of her choices. I like that the characters are not unforgiving, that they learned to accept their mistakes and later on knew when to reach out and be of help to others.
I love Team Three - how they worked well together, supporting each other like a family. I think this is what transformed In-Ah to care for them. Though Team Three is not excellent when it comes to work, their care for each other is what made them work together and later on support In-Ah.
The other supporting actors did well to create this drama meaningful. I am glad this drama ended in a positive note.
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All of us know a girl pretending to be a guy and a handsome man going gay for her is probably one of the most recurring and unoriginal plot in dramas. Granted, the reason for Yanou's gender-bender ways was different from the usual ones. But still, Bromance was full of typical gender-bender stock scenes and cliches.
What made this drama special, was the way the sexuality of the male lead was handled. His affection for his sworn brother transcended beautifully into love and the issue was handled so delicately, it simply made the whole experience amazing. Du Zi Feng's acceptance of his sexuality and acknowledgement of love and attraction as something that crosses boundaries of gender, was beautiful. He sent a strong message that sometimes, love is not about the person being male or female but simply, a person you have come to love. It felt like a subtle protest against the segregation of human beings based on these terms and that simply made me love this drama. People surrounding Zi Feng and Yanou were also extremely supportive and wonderful.
Coming to the cast, Megan was so flawless while portraying a guy. Everything from the way she walked to the way she talked, you could get a dude-vibe from her. I have never seen a girl playing a guy act so realistically. Good acting from her. In fact, the female cast did a fab job altogether. From the moms to the sister to the cousin and everyone else, the female cast had a strong presence in the show.
Coming to the male lead. Honestly, Baron Chen's acting is mediocre but he has really great screen presence, which worked for the show. The character of Zi Feng was certainly the most interesting in the show. Besides being overly handsome, he was so kind, caring and open-minded, it made him all the more attractive. I don't remember him being a jerk even for a second.These kind of sweet and gentle male leads are rare (let's face it, dramas generally have jerks and bullies as leads, however much we love them). He never blamed his homosexual feelings on Yanou, which truly earned him extra points.
The music was really good. And the rewatch value for this show is pretty decent too because the two leads have great chemistry and many cute scenes together. The sub-plot is also pretty interesting. Bromance is definitely among the best Taiwanese dramas of 2015!
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a BL with a soccer backdrop
Overall: it was entertaining. I wish they had reduced the number of characters/side plots to have more time for relationship progression. 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI (U.S. for sure, not sure which other countries) https://www.iq.com/play/sqxdf59e7s?lang=en_us&sh_pltf=4Content Warnings: past non con picture taking/sharing, unwanted public outing
What I Liked
- visuals
- CEO was a decent antagonist (I really disliked him in episode 1)
- laughed a few times like when he hugged a standee and the difference between interview questions vs. real life
- caring moments
- really liked the captain and the idol
- nice dreams
- good kissing (ie no dead fish lip presses with blocked angles)
Room For Improvement
- the back and forth timeline in the beginning of episode 1
- one short flashback wasn't clear in episode 4
- too many couples, the third couple vanished
- introduced more antagonists, should have focused on the main characters
- nonsense: the plan/approach, how he didn't remember him from high school, did not appear to be enough players for their match
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So if you are a curious fellow reading reviews to see whether it's worth a watch, yes it definitely is, don't be discouraged by the ones who didn't like the ending. It's WAY MORE than just who Na Jung ends up with. It's a story about life in your 20's in a realistic way. The passion of youth.
It had the same homey feeling as its predecessor, Answer Me 1997, and I really felt like i was part of the Shinchon Boarding house by the time the drama ended. In terms of character development, AM1994 is better than AM1997 because all the characters are a lot more complex and go through a series of change throughout the drama. The characters are not flat, and each character has their own story arc, which I found really charming.
THE CAST WAS PERFECT! The acting was superb, and Go Ara really really exceeded my expectations. Everyone's acting was perfect in portraying their character, and every emotion and feeling can be felt by the viewers as well. and Jung Woo was AMAAAZING at being Ssureki Trash Oppa. You will not hate a character in this drama because all of them are portrayed so well. And the parents once again are soo crazy and even funnier in this drama.
I also think that while you are watching the drama, you should pay close attention to the songs being played in certain scenes because the directors specifically and intentionally put these songs in to suit certain scenes. The music was really good again, like in AM1997 except this time they got their whole cast to sing for the OST haha :)
Overall, i give this drama around a 8.88/10. Although there were some holes, they do not affect the story as a whole and these little holes don't change the meaning of the story. My advice to those who are looking to watch this drama is also to not overthink and overanalyze the drama because it might ruin it for you like how i have seen it get ruined for others. It's a GREAT show that will really get you emotionally entangled with it and shouldn't be overshadowed by the husband mystery. I'm sorry i had to reiterate the part about not focusing too much on "who's the husband" because it's such a waste that a great drama is being clouded by this. It's a realistic portrayal of how life can be like for those in their 20's and is once again a heartwarming story which will, without a doubt, have you **laughing **and **crying** with each character of the series.
Recommend this to those who liked AM1997. Great writing just like AM1997 and was not a mere prequel or sequel that doesn't make sense like Dream High 2. Cable ratings reached over 10% which is a record-breaker so that is saying something :)
It was really a beautiful series.
oh, and there were a lot more passionate scenes, so i was quite satisfied with that too LOL. Go Ara opened her mouth man.
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It is also deeply underrated and I believe deserves more recognition.
In this drama the female lead is obsessed with money and is hoping to marry a man who is very wealthy and is going to die very soon.
The male lead has just come into a large sum of money....you can already see were this story is going.
What really made me like this drama were the characters. They were different from anything I had seen in a K-drama and were to me believable.
This drama captures your attention right from the get-go.
The last thing I have to say is go and watch this drama!! Its a great drama!
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Anyways, back to the drama - WHY DIDN'T I WATCH THIS SOONER?! WAE WAE WAE??? This is just amazing. The plot is so intriguing. Not just the romantic parts but also the stuff about mental illnesses and stuff. It's very thrilling. I LOVE VIC CHOU! I seriously cannot believe he didn't win the best actor award for this drama. Same for Barbie Hsu. I mean, their expressions (once again I'm not talking about expressions of love and longing.)were just so beautiful. Gave me goosebumps the whole time.
The kind of characters they built for this drama really impressed me. Ling is the most perfect guy in the most imperfect sense possible. His shades of his personality and different layers of his character, the laugh, the tears, the past. It just moved me, I don't know why. Same goes for Qui Luo. I love the way her character developed after Ling came into her life. I loved their little shack that they made for themselves. I loved the music of the show. I have most of the songs on my phone.
Coming to the rewatch value, I'll definitely give it a 10 because I already watched it twice (no kidding) and I am definitely going to go watch it again for sure. Especially a few favorite parts for which I even remember the episode numbers now (lol).
I'd say if you are an Asian Drama fan, don't skip this one!
PS- Still can't believe Vic Chou didn't win the best actor award for this. My faith in the world of righteousness is shattered. But I'll try not to dwell on that.
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I want to go through that feeling again and again and again.
I feel like this drama numbed me from the world. Yes, that’s the expression. My head, my brain, all become numb, and time stops when I watch it.One of a kind. I can’t believe it’s over. I am crying because I will miss them. I am the fangirl Baek Da Hye is here.
This show is recommended for non-diabetics. It may contain too much sugar sometimes.
Some may consider the story plain. But the execution was very good. Something that was consistent in the drama: Warmth.
The drama is so pretty and lovely!! ㅠㅠ
All pairings looked good together. Everyone’s chemistry is so good, couples and non-couples. Amazing cast. Very nice drama. I loved every moment. I never liked any ‘famous stars’ portrayals in drama but Tae Sung is the best (can’t believe it is the same too flowery, cheesy Oh Nam Joo from Extraordinary You). Jung Yeol-i is the cutest. And “Yuuuuuuuu Naaaa -yaaa” is one of my favourite lines. Ki-ppeum was a great friend. Han Byeol was the loveliest. Every single character is something amazing. The noteworthy lovely cute moments are uncountable.
Every scene ensured me of how good the directing is. Watching it felt soft.
The story is precious. The meaning behind it is beautiful. It is very informative. I laughed out loud so many times. And I sympathized so much with them. The writing was really clever at times. It was alive.
I don’t deny that the first 7 episodes were a 🌟☆ starry ☆ 🦋 butterfly dream ‿︵εϊз . Those 7 episodes pulled me hard. And after that it because closer to regular kdrama. The drama became more about events and less about characters, but it was still lovely and meaningful. I was expecting more angst in the beginning; that was my only complain. But then it picked up again. The end episodes made up for it. It swiped me off me feet again. Finally, it closed with the vibe it started off with; the best way. What a perfect way to end the drama.
I forget how good this drama manages to make me feel. Then I start an episode, the numbing starts. It makes me feel something new every time.
The music was just good enough to give you drama feels. The ost slowly infiltrated me. One song sounded noisy at first, but it took its effect on me. And in another song the singers' voices resonated. When the drama ended, I cried listening to it because I didn’t want to leave.
Honestly, I was hesitant about the cast when it was announced, but I was sold for their visuals in the promo photoshoot. That manicure picture. It screamed chemistry. They were visually perfect for each other.
And beginning from the first episode, I could feel the not-yet-tangible, in-the-drama-air chemistry. It was already amazing and very entertaining! The directing was so good at showing invisible things. I had a feeling I would love their dynamics. By the second episode I was already in love (with their relationship).
Watching it, I experienced so many sweet feelings. Warmth took over my body from head to toe. After binging a few episodes my face was burning hot and felt red from the feelings simmering in my stomach, and from the pumps of blood my heart fired. I wanted to stop but I couldn’t allow the feeling to go. I woke up with music pieces playing, and their voices talking in my head. Their energy took an effect on me. I was becoming light and bubbly like Tae Sung and Han Byeol. They are holding my heart currently
I JUST LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. And I love how it feels like romance dramas from around 2017. I guess that’s even more why I was pulled.
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These lyrics echo throughout the drama, as the amazing singer Ali sings the main song "In My Dream". It's a song about unavoidable fate, tragic love and dreams.
"Empire of Gold" is definitely not a drama for everyone. I'm sure half the viewers were bored to death while the other half was helplessly glued to the screen dying to know what happens next.
This is a drama about greed. The path is Hell but the winner gets Heaven. But to get there you need to fight, sacrifice everything you love, shake hands with enemies... and sell your soul.
The synopsis is extremely misleading. There's very little romance in this drama and even though there is something like a tragic love story, it doesn't involve the two characters you'd expect from the synopsis.
The strongest point in this drama is definitely the writing. The characters are complex, the dialogue is intelligent, the whole story is extremely well written. The cast boasts some very good actors but the quality of their performances seemed to fluctuate... in some scenes they were insanely good while in others they were a bit lacking.
Sometimes I felt that Lee Yo Won wasn't fully able to convey the complexity of her own character Choi Seo Yoon. In some scenes the dialogue seemed to hint at something but her face didn't express anything. On the other hand, Go Soo seemed to express TOO MUCH sometimes.
This is a drama that relies heavily on its actors' performances. The action and tension isn't created with big car chase or explosion scenes, but instead with tight dialogue and hidden intentions. It's a merry-go-round of backstabbing.
The last half drags a bit, since some characters fall from the chessboard. The sets become repetitive: Office A, Office B, Office C, living room. But still we watch, too curious to see the outcome.
Then we get that ending... which received a mixed reaction. I think it was a suiting ending. He fought in a wold of Hell because he believed that it became Heaven for the winner. But there can be no Heaven for those who sold their soul.
Even though this drama is definitely not the type I enjoy watching, I was hopelessly addicted to it. And it did leave an impression long after I finished it.
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But those are my only complaints. Hotaru and Buchou are just as cute and funny as ever, if not cuter and funnier. Their chemistry is amazing and Buchou's amazing character is helping Fujiki Naohito sneak onto my Asian Hottie List. ^_^
So, basically, not quite as good as the first season, but definitely still worth it for the main couple. I can't wait for the movie!
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Jo Jung Suk and Gong Hyo Jin are perfectly matched in this! She has basically paired with most of my favorite male leads at this point, and in some of my favorite dramas, but this match is definitely one of her best. Na Ri is quirky and likable, and frustrating, and definitely a memorable character. Parts of her personality would have easily made me hate her if she were played by a lesser actress, but she is so good that it works. Jo Jung Suk as Lee Hwa Shin however, is the key to what makes this couple so good. He's played lovably arrogant before, and extremely well, but he made me fall for him so much in this role, even though he is an absolute jerk. I don't want to give any of the story away, but it's certainly not your average love story set up. It also could have easily gone a much cheesier melodramatic route, which this story thankfully avoided. The plot stays true to the seriousness of the subject matter without losing any of the humor. What I never expected from these two was that they would have some EXTREMELY HOT moments, with an intense attraction that was addictive to watch. The relationship also felt real, with their personality flaws on full display, which made them super relatable.
Of course, I can't leave out Go Gyeong Pyo as Jeong Won. Not only is his bromance with Hwa Shin perfection, and an essential part of the story, but he completes my favorite kdrama love triangle, possibly of all time. These three actors had me excited about watching their shenanigans each week, and I could never quite guess what would happen next. I loved them so much that for the first time I was excited that a show was longer than I expected it to be. Gyeong Pyo is also the kind of character that the term "Second Lead Syndrome" was made for. His actions did start to annoy me after a while, but they never lost their charm as a trio, which was the best part of the show for me.
The rest of the cast is filled with memorable, and hilarious characters. It truly is a great ensemble, with entertaining stories of their own. I could spend all day writing about why I loved each supporting character, down to super cute Seol Woo Hyung, but I will just say it's a cast worthy of a perfect score. Again, I need to compliment the story for staying interesting, and not falling into the same old expected clichés. Although this is pretty much a romantic comedy, I not only laughed, but I cried, I also laughed while I cried, and got deeply invested in each story. It also made behind the scenes in the newsroom seem fun, interesting, and even intense at times. Usually, the "at the job" parts of the story just feel like filler to me in romcoms, but the cast and crew of SBC were entertaining on their own. I also feel the same way about the Chef, and the apartments at Rak Pasta, though it took me a little longer to get into that part of the story because it was initially kinda confusing (especially how related they all were without knowing it).
Would I watch this drama again? Absolutely. In fact, this is one of those dramas I was ready to watch again immediately after it was finished. I have the soundtrack, of course! The "step step" song will be stuck in my head for a long time! There are a lot of good songs and some that fit the mood of the story really well, like "Monday To Sunday"... which always played at the perfect time. Hilariously, "No No No" is maybe one of my low-key favorite OST songs of all time.
Overall, I knew this would be added to my favorite drama list halfway through, so of course I recommend it! By the end, I was totally satisfied and was never bored, and all the weirdness in the beginning made perfect sense... umm... except for the aliens... What's up with the aliens? Anyway, This is an absolute must for Gong Hyo Jin fans and Jo Jung Suk fans, and romcom fans in general. If you're not a fan of either, it's still worth giving it a shot. Prepare yourself to laugh, cry, and crave ramen while watching. This drama is definitely unique, so just go along with that "What the hell am I watching?" feeling that you will probably have in the beginning, and I don't think you will be disappointed. Personally, I miss the characters so much that I'm singing the OST to myself... "step, step, where do I go now?" :(
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