Perfect chemistry
Song Wei Long and Zhao Jian Mai have perfect chemistry! Every time they are on screen together, you literally get sweetness overload. There were so many sweet moments and scenes that made me swoon and kick my feet. I totally loved their love story. There is something to be said about being with somebody who always chooses you and shows you they love you in so many ways. That is top tier love.Now, let me be honest in saying there are some parts of this show that were a little off-putting, like the background effects in some scenes. Like who are they kidding with those green screen scenes? I am sure they have a better budget and tech than that?! That was just poorly done IMO. Some plots were drawn out and unnecessary too and I thought didn't really contribute or felt like was completely addressed.
But I would still recommend this for the love story, the OST, and just the over all vibes and visual of the main leads.
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Usually I have no problem if there are some unhealthy aspects in the relationship of the main couple, but when all the relationships in a show are toxic at various levels (or at least questionable), I might be disappointed.
THE GOOD
Realistic and flawed characters. And oh boi they were flawed. My blood boiled more than once while watching. It did make the story more probable in my eyes though. The bad characters were truly villainous. If you need to find a nice example of a psychopath, you can find it here.
True diversity in female characters. It was not just a bunch of fangirls running around after hot guys, they all had their own personalities and motivations. The chemistry, as I already said, was amazing, but not only between the couples, but also the group of friends - it had such a realistic feel to it. What's worth mentioning: development of some minor characters and how their behavior was turned into these small plot twists.
THE BAD
What was Bright's character? I'm sorry, but damn I hated him badly. The age difference in looks between him and Farm freaked me out so bad so many times. It didn't feel like a dude using an innocent guy, but rather playing around with a child. And while I appreciate where it led Farm's character (that was extremely realistic), I hate how it was not really addressed as something bad by anyone.
THE QUESTIONABLE
As I said, having some questionable things going on with the main couple I can deal with, quite realistic. There is a whole different story when there is literally not even one normal, healthy relationship in the drama. When the most typical and not-problematic one is a student going after his professor... I'd say you have overused the dramatic plotlines to get your viewers interested.
Overall, I did enjoy it, binge watched it in two days. The additional commentary from the subber did make the viewing experience better tho :)
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This drama definitely had potential. The actors were quite good, the plotline grabbed my attention, it had a solid beginning... WHAT WENT WRONG?
Story: Generally, it was opposite of what most dramas are like. Most dramas have a pretty slow beginning, and the episodes build up exponentially to a grand finale, with twists and sub-plots in between. This drama had a good, fast-paced beginning, which then FLATLINED before spiking an ultimate climax in the last two episodes.
Episodes 1-3: The first few episodes were interesting enough to hook me in. There was a good mix of action, romance, and comedy. However, there was little to no creation of the main plot, which I could have overlooked, had it not been for the next dozen or so episodes.
Episodes 4-18: The writers/producers filled up the gas tank but forgot how to start the car. Honestly, I was on episode 16 or so when I looked back and asked myself what the heck I had been watching for the last dozen episodes. It was like I figured out something, but then had to watch the next 5 episodes as every single other character had their own "Eureka!". Not only did the plot deviate quite a bit from the main storyline (which was very repetitive/draggy), the sub-plots also did little to help push the actual story forward (scenes of Seo Won's parents etc.).
Episodes 19-20: AND... we finally see some action happening over here. The revenge that the "bad" people had planned for 18 episodes is finally executed. What the drama lacked for 16 excruciatingly long episodes is all cramped together into these last two episodes, which were full of action, drama and the true bond of friendship/love. I was so satisfied with the ending, that my initial review of 4.5 went up to a 7. It's one of the endings I've longed to see in all my favourite dramas (usually resulting in my disappointment), where most, if not all, the loose ends/sub-plots are tied up and concluded, and there is solid proof of a happy ending.
*Note: The different names of both lead characters was also quite confusing at first.
Acting/Cast: Ok, I have to admit the cast was pretty good... it's just the characters that frustrate me. First off, there was little to no loyalty between the characters! There was just one betrayal after another, which frustrates me to no end! The only characters which stayed by each other's side throughout the entire drama were the "bad guys". By the end of the drama, I found myself rooting for their side because they were always there for each other, protecting each other, TRUSTING each other, something which the good characters completely lacked. There was barely a bond between families... the two main characters were always fighting with their parents and vice versa, while the two "bad guys" spent the entire drama attempting to get revenge for their families. I'm sorry. How can I sympathize with the good characters if you completely mask their good qualities with numerous, huge flaws (which, by the way, the characters never managed to fix).
Music: It was actually really good. I loved the music in this drama, and am currently searching for all the OST's and adding them to my playlist. There was really nice, soothing, romantic music to go with the romantic scenes (which were not as romantic as one might think). It's almost like the music was there to lure you into a false sense of romanticism to mask the fact that there was barely any chemistry between the characters.
Rewatch value: Ah... let's not get me started on this one. I'm 99% sure I won't be rewatching this anytime soon. (Ok, MAYBE I'll rewatch some of Joo Won's adorable goofy moments~).
Overall: A perfectly healthy drama went into cardiac arrest, died on the operating table, then miraculously came back to life in the morgue. It was decent. Not my first choice when recommending a drama to somebody, but if you're dead bored and have absolutely no dramas to watch, and are a fan of Joo Won or one of the other actors, then go ahead and give it a shot. But... before that, drop me a message and I might be able to recommend some other better ones for you :) Last but not least, I think this drama would have done much better had it split off into 2 completely separate dramas: an action drama with a spy/revenge storyline, and a romantic drama where the two leads have to overcome troubles with their to-be in-laws. The writers tried to group the two together and it didn't work out very well. If you're looking for the former, you're definitely in the wrong place. If you're looking for the latter, you're probably in the right one.
P.S. Just one last small note: my two favourite episodes were episode 6 and 19 if memory serves me right ^^
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Storytelling and simplicity of love story
This is the best asian drama I ever watched...... everything is just so good.... performance of the both the leads is just the best out of any romance drama I ever watched.....they just make this simple story to once in a lifetime experience... and the way director captures every scene and the fact that she knows what audiences want out of every scenes ......visuals is something which kept you thinking (whether I should watch their faces or acting).... that's just what I can sayThis is once in a lifetime experience so everyone should watch this
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Sad to see this end!
As with most high-rated dramas, this one has its share of mixed reviews. Those that love it, LOVED it; while those that didn’t, didn’t. For me, this series was a true breath of fresh air for C-dramas. Relationships built on patient respect, communication, and unconditional love rather than bickering, backstabbing, or guilt-tripping manipulation. In that sense, this drama was indeed different. Instead of being an intense roller coaster of emotions, it was more like a cross-country road trip of a story: a gentle, meandering trek filled with breathtaking sights all along the way.I’m so grateful to Zhao Lusi, Chen Zheyuan, Ma Boqian, Zeng Li, and the whole cast and crew for taking us on this beautiful heart journey. It was magnificent, with so many memorable moments; and you will be so missed. Putting you on repeat until next time….
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A simple romance
Overall, the storyline is nothing new. However, I appreciate how the characters were developed and enjoy how once the main characters admit their love for each other that it is not a tug and war of trust like most drama. It is refreshing that each episode they tackle the new crisis/drama together, instead of the usual one person trying to fix every thing without telling the other. It is nice to have an adult, honest and good communication relationship to watch. Sometimes, you just want to enjoy a simple romance with a little drama thrown in with lots of humor added.Was this review helpful to you?
And I think while Koreans are best at making dramas about love, Japanese are the best in making dramas about friendship. :)
Special credits to Nakatsu and the times when he's talking to himself with gestures. AHAHAHAHA. Gets me every single time! And the Panty-On-The-Head-I'm-Not-Homo dance. OH GOD!! Super special credits to the the dorm leaders' reaction on seeing a girl in the school. EPIC!!! xD xD xD
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Pulled in by the story
What really keeps me watching is the main storyline around Arisa and her revenge plan. The idea of her going after the person responsible for her mother’s death, while getting involved with Lalin, adds a lot of tension to every scene. It’s not just drama for the sake of it! There’s a clear motivation behind her actions. I also like how her character feels guarded but not emotionless. The mix of revenge and complicated feelings makes it easy to stay invested in where things are going next.Was this review helpful to you?
Could Have Been Better
This could have been an enjoyable drama had it not been the poor performance of one of the lead actors, Yu Menglong. Though the storyline is simple, conflicts between neighboring countries, conflicts within the royal court, conspiracies, switches of identities etc. make this drama a rather good watch.All the characters are quite interesting too. The Jing Ci character could have been so intriguing but Yu Menglong’s disastrous robotic portrayal sends it down the drain; he walks like a robot, talks like Alexa in a male voice, stands like a mannequin. Even when he tries to tell his love how much he loves her, there’re no emotions nor expressions on his face, nor can the viewers feel any heart-warming passion he has for his love. His declaration is like an announcement reading from a book – unemotional. It’s indeed such a pity because Yukee Chen (plays the Feng Mian Wan character) and the other cast members put up quite an impressive performance.
I must say I quite enjoy watching the side couples especially Princess Zhangle (played by Ma Yue) and her to-be consort. Though they don’t have many scenes but their dynamics are cute, as the princess has a forward personality whereas her consort is rather timid and unromantic. The other couple is Zuo Yanxi (played by Kid Young) and Jiang Tan (played by Xu Hao). This is a tragic romance when a great man is being brought down by his love of the woman who is also his Shimei (sister in learning). The Jiang Tan character is not likable as many viewers take her scenes as the opportunity for bathroom breaks, to put it mildly.
Overall, I would say, watch this drama if you can’t find anything better to watch, or watch it in between episode releases of other dramas. It’s not totally terrible, but it’s not fantastic either.
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A fitting conclusion to both stories
I'm not gonna lie. I'm gonna miss this series now that it's officially over. It was nice seeing both KluenDao and FahPrince together in this episode and to see how they got a fitting ending to their stories. Loved it. It was so funny to see Fah still being protective off Dao when Kluen approaches him, and him becoming a softie only when Prince intervenes. And I love how both Fah and Kluen are so willing to be with their boyfriends, and their promises are so heartwarming. Can't wait to see them again in a series next year. Until then hasta la vista and good luck!Was this review helpful to you?
This show is above your average sci-fi show, gracefully entwining the elements of suspense and romance. The story pace is always thrilling and keep you on edge, making you want to watch more and more. Some things were beyond belief as we have never seen an advanced AI ever, but since it's fiction, who is to stop them from pulling a full frontal TERMINATOR in the show.
Story- The story is very well executed. It has a beautiful yet unconventional love story. If you like to think beyond what you have seen and have an open and broad mind for imagination, you will love the story line. The story is well written and I love how they made the characters more accepting about unconventional things than people are in real life. After all, these stories and shows set a benchmark for people's behavior in real life.
Acting- Seo Kang Joon is just brilliant. To portray two diverse, poles apart character traits in one show is something to commend about. His brilliant acting made me think of Human Shin and Android Nam Shin 3 as two different people, even when they were together in one frame. He playes the character of the robot so effortlessly and innocently that I rooted for his happy ending rather than anyone else's. I cried a couple of times when Namsin 3 was sad that his mother was concerned about Human Sin and not him. And I never thought I would sympathies with an android character ever. As much as I loved his robot character, i equally hated his human character.
Music- The music is passable and some songs are pretty good.
Rewatch value- I would definitely watch it again for Seo Kang Joon, if not for anyone else.
Overall- It's a must watch if you are looking for a good sci-fi show but are okay with a little suspense and romance.
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I picked this one up because I liked Bae Yong Jun in Winter Sonata and Hotelier. This is an artistic movie about forbidden love, morals, betrayals and friendship. It reminds me so much of Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood in "The Bridges of Madison County" or Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung in "In the Mood for Love".
There is hardly any dialogue; the pace is methodical and purposefully slow, subtle background music, and flashbacks but excellent acting by the two leads and very restraint directing.
This movie is all about the little things; the gazes, the touches, the unspoken words, the guilt and the what ifs.
The love scenes were tastefully done and actually quite beautiful. The music plays a secondary but important role to set the mood but there isn't something that is memorable that I would download to my playlist.
Is it a re-watch? Not likely given the abundance of choices we all have before us. But if you can appreciate its artistic value and do not expect a heart wrenching melo, or cute romantic plots then this may be worth your time.
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“Even if you failed yesterday, even if you crumbled today, another tomorrow awaits us”
And we did crumble so many times watching this show - all the tears, all the frustration, all the healing after. This show is a long journey and even though at times exhausting, it’s so worth it.What I really loved about Mental Coach Jegal was the complexity of the characters. The flaws were not just random setbacks - they all had a solid explanation and served as an amazing character development arc. I liked how the show kept reminding us that what we see is neither the beginning nor the end of their journey - they had their own struggles in the past, they have their own motivations for the future, and what we see is just the present self that keeps changing.
It’s like that for Je Gal Kil,Cha Ga Eul, Park Seung Ha, Lee Moo Gyul. There is more to these characters than we initially think. I honestly enjoyed the majority of them from the start, and even Goo Tae Man was impossible to hate.
That said, the character I found difficult to accept at first was Park Seung Ha. I honestly found her more unlikable than the bad guys themselves. It was too hard to ignore the lack of professionalism in her previous conduct in her professional life. The drama is magical though, and I started to appreciate her more and more as the story progressed, and her past actions, while not excused, were explained in a way that I could move on and see her for who she was - a flawed human being, like the rest of the characters.
I think that's the overall positive aspect of the drama - it's rich in different contexts and (both internal and external) factors that influence the characters, and the solution is not easy to find, since no one solution can solve all the problems.
Then we had the villains and antagonists - some better, some worse. I feel like the main villain was underwhelming in terms of the lack of depth. With all the characters being so complex, he just did not fit that picture. As if the last stroke of the brush in a masterpiece was done by a 5 year old child.
Then we have Oh Dal Sung - trash, the truest cockroach of kdramas. At some point I was not even frustrated or angry about his character, I was just tired. I wonder if there was any other way to deal with his story without hurting the overall quality of the plot and other characters’ arcs…
That said, for a show that is focused so much on the internal fights and struggles within the characters’ mentality and approach, the writers did quite a good job with presenting the villains that overall did match the plot and pacing. Although some were more of a plot device, not individual characters, I still found a certain value in the way they were written.
About writing - I don't think I've ever watched a drama where I really wanted to write the quotes down. I’m more of an “appreciating in the moment and moving forward” type of person, but here - the narrations and dialogues were so well written I just had to pause the scene many times and type down the words to share with others. They just hit all the right spots and were relatable on an indescribable level.
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵. 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦.”
Big picture wise, Mental Coach Jegal addresses many important issues, both specific to the sport related environment, but also the things everyone can experience in their lives. I am amazed how they managed to make it all logical and have a significant impact on the plot and the characters. Without going into any details, the various traumas and issues the characters had to face, different ways they all dealt with them, whenever victims have any responsibility in what happened to them and how they should or should not handle the aftermath, the lack of support, inadequate support, shame, psychological issues - there are so many themes and topics it’s impossible to write them all down. And I honestly feel like the majority of them were dealt with proper respect and maturity from the writers.
To the acting. Jung Woo is a master of chemistry. He truly made a perfect team with each and every character. There was not one interaction he had that felt boring or flat. He could talk to a tree and I would find it the most entertaining thing ever. Him and Kwon Yool are a duo I will miss for weeks. The way he found a perfect balance between the comedy and seriousness, how Jegal was both eccentric and relatable. I am truly amazed.
I expected a phenomenal performance from Lee Yoo Mi and it is what I’ve got. I started the show because of her and I was not disappointed. She perfectly embodied the idea of someone being both vulnerable and strong.
All the rest of the cast did an incredible job. I cannot think of one performance or scene that was lacking in any aspect.
The production had a similar effect on me as the writing - I could not stop myself from screenshotting. I especially liked the use of the wide shots - they often looked like beautiful paintings.
All that said, the drama was not perfect, even if at times it felt like it is. Few things that could have been improved and can be seen as flaws.
First of all, Je Gal was introduced as a famous mental coach and writer. He was not a nobody, he was like a celebrity. But his fame was downplayed and non-existent after just a few episodes. I feel like him having rather high social status would be an issue for the plot to unfold the way it did, so that fact was just… ignored and removed from the equation.
Rather poorly done transition between the leading genres/plots. At first the show was more or less a sports slice of life with comedy. At some point it changed into a political drama with comedy, and that transition was not done smoothly. You can literally tell which episode is the turning point and it’s a clear cut deal. I did not mind where the plot went, it made sense. I was bothered with how it was executed.
Not utilizing enough “No gold medal” club. I feel like they either should have been even more in the background, or more prominent. They were neither the supporting characters, nor just a filler background - somewhere in the middle that I could not get attached enough to truly care about, but also not insignificant to just accept whatever happens to them. Since I loved each and every character in that group, I did wish we had seen more of them, especially in the middle part of the show.
Some questionable relationship developments I could do without. While they made sense character wise, I also felt like they were not truly needed plot wise. I could understand why they happened, but I also asked myself - did it have to happen?
To sum it up - it was not a perfect show, but for me it was close to perfection. By the end, I was so attached to the characters I honestly feared the day the show would end. I was not ready to say goodbyes.
I think a great show is not a perfect show, since these don’t exist, but one that makes you ignore/forget the flaws. They seem so insignificant compared to all the positive aspects, you just don’t mind them. Mental Coach Jegal did it for me. And I’m known for complaining about the most minor details ever. Mental Coach Jegal had some convenient solutions by the end, but I can’t bring myself to lower the rating, even if some aspects were not perfect in my book.
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1A masterpiece, not just among BL dramas."
I don't watch many BL dramas and have little experience with them, so I compare this one with other favorite Asian dramas : it's an excellent show and shouldn't be confined to the BL category. The acting is top, especially from the actor Up, who, for me, is a revelation in Asian cinema. The plot is also not overused—where else have you seen a main character, a Top one, who is in love with another for half the series (even in hetero dramas, the male lead rarely loves someone else)? There were some plot holes, and the acting of support characters was so-so, but the main couple and the love line between them is incredible, awesome and very captivating. The intimate scenes were top. Before this, I had watched more modest dramas, but I really liked everything here.As for the plot: Ming is an abuser and far from a positive character, but I was rooting for him from start to finish. The actor outperformed his partner, or perhaps Poom's character was just more modest and had a less complex role.
Thank you production for this great and incredible show.
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Story: The main story line is a complete convoluted disaster. If it hadn't been for the interesting characters and addictive sub plots this drama would have flopped hard! As with most Hong sisters dramas the main story line is almost completely overshadowed by the romantic sub plots. This usually isn't an issue for a fluffy rom-com lover like myself but considering this is an adaptation it was very poorly executed. There is an abundance of plot holes and over use of prop gimmick instead of actual story and character development. The saving grace are the interesting/entertaining characters and romantic/comedic sub stories, something the Hong sisters do very well. There are also some pretty great ideas and moments scattered through the crazy mess of a story but as a whole the story never delivers in a satisfying way beginning to end!
Acting/Cast: This has to be one of the best cast dramas i've seen in awhile, and that is a complete shame! Instead of making use of the great talent at hand production chose instead to rely heavily on props and an assortment of unnecessary sfx to sell the story. There are probably a lot of people who have negative things to say about the actors based on the poor development of story and character instead of actual ability of the actors. I honestly think they did the very best in a bad situation.
Music: The best thing about this drama is definitely the soundtrack, it's great! I have several songs downloaded to my playlist and listen to them daily now. I highly recommend checking them out even if you decide to skip the show.
Re-watch value: Very low for me. If I do it will be with the help of my trust fast forward button to get to the sweet and fluffy stuff.
Overall: This drama is mostly disappointing for me. It started out plagued by production and broadcasting mishaps and just kept on skirting by week to week from there. I fully believe it has some really great thought behind it which could have made for an epic drama but the execution was just so lackluster. A drama like this truthfully should have been pre-produced instead of filming to broadcast due to the abundant amount of story complexity and special effects needed. I believe that much of the cringe worthy mediocrity of this show can be attributed to a "just to get by" attitude adopted from unrealistic production constraints. It has great characters and very memorable moments I'll not soon forget but the lack of real substance to the sweetness leaves you feeling unsatisfied, what a shame!
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