This review may contain spoilers
I saw a movie recently where a character said "You like somebody because of things but you love them despite things” and I think that applies to this show. This is a messy, gleeful and heartwarming tale about a chef, a gangster and an heiress who lose everything but then come together to reclaim it. Chinese masterchef Poong (Joon Ho), reformed gangster Chil-sung (Jang Hyuk) and lonely socialite Sae-woo (Jung Ryeo Won) have nothing in common but their shared calamities: all three hit rock bottom in the first few episodes.
These three characters with different backgrounds and temperaments are the disparate ingredients this show promises to turn into jjajangmyeon - the signature Korean/Chinese fusion dish that Poong is an expert at and that Chil-sung and Sae-woo are perpetually hungry for. While the first few episodes are almost unhinged in the seeming-randomness of their elements, the show makes it clear that Poong is the cook that's going to bring them together in one perfect dish.
For the fist half of its run, this was a show that was about jjajangmyeon but was also jjajangmyeon itself: televisual fusion cuisine. That’s why the show was originally so messy and it’s why I loved that the show was so messy. Because it seemed to be saying that people, relationships and life are a huge mashup of disparate things and it’s not about one being ‘good’ and the other ‘bad’ but about the proportions of each ingredient. Throughout the first half, all our characters were floundering because their life recipes weren’t right yet. If life is a recipe you're constantly refining, then all our characters were still deciding on the menu.
From the beginning, the show was extremely clever - but sometimes too clever. Its brilliant use of metaphors and imagery is a device I personally love but even I thought it was a bit overdone in the beginning. There were episodes where I was so busy tracking its use of hot and cold and the black and white that I missed plot. Nietzsche was thrown in there, first to intrigue us and then to confuse us. Poong was either a Nietzscheism superman or its antithesis; the writers never seemed to be sure. I know a lot of viewers simply couldn't cope with the chaos and dropped out. I stayed in, loving every minute and waiting for the writers to bring it all together in one glorious dish of fusion cuisine.
It's probably not surprising that this did not happen although it's not entirely clear what went wrong. Originally slated for 20 episodes (40) and then cut to 19 (38), maybe the show suffered from losing an episode, maybe it was three episodes too long. The show went on hiatus for two weeks and when it came back it was seemingly a shell of its former self. Characters disappeared, plots were dropped, major plot points were resolved quickly and anti-climactically, and others were dragged down with standard, almost pedestrian, kdrama plotlines. It was almost as though the writer had been instructed to play it more safe and the quirky, surreal magical realism was replaced with the plotline of a standard romcom.
The minor characters often detracted rather than added to the show in the end. The antagonists, which started off suitably hateful and conniving, became one-dimensional villains of little import, if they didn't disappear completely. The Giant Hotel may have loomed over the Hungry Wok like a corporate Goliath but David didn't defeat it so much as replace it and the little restaurant seemed more beset by disloyalty and ingratitude from its employees than by external threats.
Poong and Sae-woo remained adorable and sexy and wonderful and Chil-sung held a kitten every episode so the show is worth watching till the end. No matter how many plots got dropped or how many characters disappeared, the relationship between the three leads was the show's saving grace. The romance between Poong and Sae-woo is passionate and sweet - just the like sweet-and-sour pork that is his other signature dish. The bromance between the two men is loving and supportive. And while there is technically a love triangle here, it's handled with maturity and without unnecessary angst. These three people love each other and watching them come together is the show's best element.
In fact, show ends well. It's just not the affordable gourmet meal we were promised but more like a rushed lunchtime bowl of noodles while we're trying to get back to work.
In the end, I love Greasy Melo despite its flaws and I guess that means my Love Is True. I can dream of a more perfect version of this show where the writers were able to use all the ingredients they prepared to make the perfect meal instead of leaving half of them on the chopping board. But if lasting love is based on acceptance, then I accept. This is the show it is.
9/10
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Story: I gave it an 8 since the plot isn't any groundbreaking and I admit the description for this drama is cliche but when you get into the drama itself, it was so refreshing. In most romcom kdramas, I usually know or my expectations were right on what will happen next but Marriage Not Dating is just pure surprise. They made the cliche worth watching, you don't even know what to expect.
Acting/Cast: 10. The actors are so perfect esp the main leads. I already forget the last time I root for the main couple so much. Props to Han Groo and Yeon Woo Jin, it's like this drama its tailor-made for them. Though the side characters Jinwoon and Sunhwa did not appeal to me, Jung Min (Hoon Dong), and Kim Hae Sook are so great I kind of forget the 2nd leads.
Music: Should I include the sound effects here because 10 is not enough for it. :The sound effects guy must be in every romcom drama) The OSTs in this drama are so good and it match the scenes perfectly.
Rewatch Value: Oh boy, this one of the few kdramas I will never get tired rewatching. Maybe I'll start in a few hours. Haha. :)
Overall: 9.5 This my highest rated kdrama ever because I never give a perfect 10. It's just me but definitely all those almost perfect dramas waned in the middle or still lacks something. But all in all this is still the best romcom drama for me. No extended angst and pure fun.
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I hate hockey, therefore I was very hesitant before starting it, a good two years ago. But I soon realized that this particular sport was a narrative necessity, being a rude, violent one, but played by people with a lot of heart.
Pride is a sweet love story, between a man whose name means Spring and a woman who's called Autumn. They are totally different in almost everything, to the point they become complementary and fit into each other's life like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. He has his way of pulling her out of her shell, and she has her own at showing real strength is not the physical one.
They are a pleasure to watch together. As I said before, Kimura does not disappoint, he's a great actor who knows how to charm the audience. I'm very partial to Yuko Takeuchi, I can't help being completely captured by her voice, her elegance and blend of ingenuity and wisdom.
Aki and Haru - Autumn and Spring - are one of my favourite drama couples, with tons of sparks crackling between them whenever they are on screen together.
The music doesn't need a review. The entire OST is by the Queen. Like them or not, they have been one of the greatest rock bands in history. And they fit the drama to a T.
I have already watched Pride twice and a third view is definitely in my plans, therefore I'm ready to give it a very high re-watch value and recommend this show to everyone.
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This movie is very quiet but it works quite well for it. Throughout the entire movie, probably only about 4 songs are played. Three of which are instrumentals and the fourth an extremely calming, beautiful song called Gafsa sung by Natacha Atlas. Music would only be played if a scene needed to be over emphasized. This only happened a select few times in the movie but when music would play it would do exactly that. It would evoke a whole new kind of feeling from a scene.
As for the dialogue, it was also very quiet. In the entire movie, the extras had more dialogue than the two main characters. The main male character, Taesuk did not have a single line while the main female character, Sunhwa, had two.
The plot and dialogue alone may not have been anything amazing, but the idea of the movie appeared not to be focused on a gripped story. Instead, it felt more focused on extracting emotions from the audience and allowed the audience silence to think and interpret the movie without distractions of constant dialogue, music, and plot changes. Its beauty lies in its simplicity.
For people that are into solid plots, surprising twists, complex dialogues, and romance, I would not recommend this movie. But for the people that can appreciate a calming, simplistic movie with realistic themes this would be for them.
This is my all time favorite movie and is the only thing on this site that I'm okay with giving a 10 on rewatch value because no matter how many times I watch it I never get sick of it
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just want to point out the differences
I'm going to keep this short and sweet. I wrote an in-depth review on GOODBYE MY PRINCESS previously, so here I just want to point out the differences in this "Director's Cut" edition and the originally aired edition of the drama. The main thing you are probably wondering is if there are "3 extra episodes" and the answer is NO NOT REALLY. Sorry to disappoint.The reason there are "3 episodes" MORE in the Director's Cut and the original drama is that the first two episodes and the final 2-3 episodes have more scenes added in. Most especially in EP #1 & EP #2? Meaning, so many "cut scenes" were added back in, that is added up to approx 120-130 minutes of cut footage which extended the show by 3 episodes.
The MAJORITY of the show has absolutely zero changes. If there were any "extras" in the middle episodes they were so subtle, I didn't notice them. I wish we had more scenes with our leads extended in the middle of the show and after the Oblivion Falls shenanigans, but no such luck.
All that to say, I really did like the additions that were added in the beginning and in the end. They would have been MUCH appreciated if they had originally aired.
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A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love
61 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
Wow, this is one of the best dramas I have seen in a while. The plot may seem simple, but do not let it fool you! You will be in for a good watch!
The drama touches into deeper aspects of life, and how one should continuously strive for their dreams no matter how impossible it may seem. This drama teaches the audience the importance of working hard for one's success and even if you don't reach your dream goals, you may be able to help others and guide them to the path that will help reach their goals.
While some people are against student-teacher relationships, Junko is very careful in this drama to not be in a relationship with her students while they are her students, so you do not have to worry about that. She does not break any laws or rules here because she is not in any relationship with her students while teaching them. The chemistry between Yuri and Junko is absolutely wonderful, and Yuri is super mature for his age. I would even say he's even more mature than Junko herself and even as mature as the other male competitors in this drama. The character development for Yuri is amazing, and we can really see how much he has grown as a person mentally.
Watching this drama, you can't help but rethink about your own life and values. Just because I didn't reach my dream, should I give up? Is it worth helping others reach the same dream that I myself couldn't do? Do I have confidence in helping others succeed when I myself did not in the past? These are some of the questions that come to mind when I watched this show, and it really made me think about my future.
Overall, I loved both the plot and romance of this drama, and this is must watch if you want something light or fun to watch while still having a deeper story behind it all :)
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As many reviewers pointed out before me: the title of this show is really misleading. This is most definitely NOT a Cinderella story and the difference in social status plays no significant role in the story. The story itself is interesting and complex and all four main characters go through a real development during the series. It's really refreshing to see a story about an intelligent, career-driven woman who (usually) has no problem balancing her work and personal life. Also, she is a scientist (a lab worker of some kind) which is a field not often enough associated with women.
I only wish they would give more space to the character of Yoko. That's my only regret.
ACTING/CAST 10/10
Flawless, but I would expect nothing less from this cast. Oguri Shun is especially hilarious as socially awkward, short-tempered Hyuga Toru and he has great chemistry with adorable Ishihara Satomi who makes her character extremely relatable.
MUSIC 7.5/10
OST is nothing extra special, though several tracks are great. I usually don't like when one song is 'overused' in the show, but I didn't mind with 'Hikari E' . It's an amazing, catchy song that goes well with the mood of the show.
REWATCH VALUE 10/10
I've already rewatched all my favorite parts...oh so many times and I suspect I will rewatch the whole show in the future (also many times).
OVERALL 10/10
WHAT KIND OF FEELS THIS SHOW GAVE ME
This show made me literally giddy with joy. And I mean all the episodes, not just the ending. Despite the fact that some plot points were quite predictible, it never bore me. The Special was superb and it gave a great closure to the series (which is kinda rare in the world of dramas...). I admit I am not praying for the second season. Second seasons are usually worse than the first ones and I am afraid they would ruin this perfect show.
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This review may contain spoilers
I think this drama started off strong, but lost steam as it went along. The ending episode was meandering and pointless, honestly. It had a happy ending, but was lackluster and bland. I think that if they had cut this show to 16/32 episodes instead of 20/40, they could have written a tighter story. There were some things that got lost in the story, some things that were never explained, and some things that dragged on way too long. The romance sizzled in the beginning and then flickered and died, and then when it rekindled, it was barely an ember. One thing that some people liked, but kind of annoyed me was the lighting in the show. Every time the main characters were about to have a real kiss - there was always this bright light shining between them. I guess it was supposed to be artistic? Once would have been plenty for that and it might have been ok, but it happened at least 3 or 4 times. Most of the actors did a good job. Ji Chang Wook and Nam Ji Hyun are both fantastic actors and I love to watch the play of emotions on JCW's face. NJH is so earnest and sincere in her acting. Choi Tae Joon as Eun Hyuk was such a cutie pie and his awkwardness and his boyish charm and enthusiasm were fun to watch (this was my first show with him.) I wasn't really impressed with Nara or her character. She was bland and we didn't learn much about her. I thought Kim Ye Won was a scene stealer though! KYW as Ji Hye started off as an unlikable bully and a cheater, but she quickly became one of my favorite supporting actors in this show, and I kind of wished she had been the second female lead instead. I loved her snarky comebacks to Yoo Jung - she made me laugh a lot. And Dong Ha, as the villain Hyun Soo, did an amazing job. It's the first time I've seen him in anything that I recall, but he nailed his role.
The music was decent, nothing stand out, but appropriate.
I won't re-watch this. It was ok, but not one of the best I've seen. I think the longer run time severely hurt the pacing.
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This review may contain spoilers
don’t waste your time
don’t waste your time on this for it shitty ending.It started well for me, but the plot went down hill at some point, the last 6 eps were disappointing.
The good :
- the acting was decent
- the music
- the third couple (who was not seen a lot) was cute, pretty good communications, healthy relationship. they solved their problems pretty fast
- I think all 3 couples have good chemistry
- some scenes impacted me emotionally, like ep 18 with the second couple or just scene related to first and second couple, I was almost crying
- I like the eps when the leads were with the kid
- the friendship
- this is a good and bad point, but I appreciate at first using mental illness of ML as a plot for problems/breakup, that felt real to some aspect and not like some cdrama where are think the breakup is pretty stupid or the use of a third party is annoying
- at some level, I liked the second couple, I loved their chemistry, but I don’t think their story was well written
- I enjoyed the romance between the leads (expect the last part of the drama)
the bad :
- dragging second couple getting together
- dragging the problems between the leads
- became somehow boring at some point, 36 eps was too much
- the worst ending possible that literally ruins everything. Doesn’t make any sense, rushed, nothing explained. FL is 100% hallucinating him, sad ending. And this is just nonsense. be clear damn it!! if he is dead, explain it, be clear about it. Why end with such horrible nonsense ending. Feel incomplete. Poor FL too, I hate it.
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Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
68 people found this review helpful
by AigooMyLengthyParagraphs 
1 
1
1 1 THE HYPE FOR THIS DRAMA IS ALL TRUE!
AWESOME IN ALL CATEGORIES!The HYPE for this drama is all TRUE!
No doubt, Now, this is One of My All Time Favs!! :)
The Plot is Good and the Characters are Well Written. Every Character is Lovable.
Direction, Production, Cinematography, Visual effects, Acting, OST/BGM, Pacing, EVERYTHING IS DONE VERY WELL AND RIGHT TO THE POINT!
OST is the BEST.
Both the Couples are Lovely.
The Bromance of Kim Shin & Grim reaper is Cool .
These two along with Deok Hwa, the Trio is Funny 😂
But at times, it's just Repetitive or a Content filler, prolonging the number of episodes mindlessly.
(It's like an unnecessary REVISION to the Viewer, haha).
Without those repetitions, Could have wrapped up very well in 16 hours instead of 20+ hours.
***
Overall, THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE! 👌🏻
My RATING is 9.5/10.
Without those so called revisions, it's 10/10 ! :)
P.S.1: That content filler repetitions KILLED ME but this OST HEALED ME! 😂
P.S.2: I can still hear the OST song , ringing in my head and hum, while writing this review, even after many years of watching this drama (BTW, it's my phone ringtone now :) )
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This review may contain spoilers
This was a real surprise
When I first watched Ep 1, I could barely get through it - it just seemed so ridiculous, slapstick, and annoying. But a friend urged me to go back to it, and I'm so glad I did.When you first watch, the laugh track and sound effects will be annoying. If you're not Thai, some of the laughs appear to be in the wrong places, but remember, a lot of wordplay is missed in translation. But soon you stop noticing the track, and it is toned down after the first episode.
This is a classic enemies to lovers trope, but there are some original spins on it. The series appears at first glance to be episodic and without progress in the relationship, but it's there. It moves at a different pace for Diao than it does for Rak, whose feelings are fairly clear by the middle of the series, overtly revealed in a powerful moment - you'll know it when you see it. And by the end things start moving so fast that it's quite surprising, but never feels rushed or unearned. There are many, many moments that you'll really feel. Yes, there are the way-too-long stares (a LOT of these), but somehow they work (and when you're watching the full-episode version, you're getting both ends of a segment break, so that makes these even longer). But by the last quarter of the series, the way Rak looks at Diao could make a block of ice burst into flame.
I've seen commentary and reviews deriding the seme/uke dynamic between Rak and Diao, but there's a point being missed. First, Rak holds "power" at work because he's the boss, but Diao does at home because he's Rak's landlord. Rak is older and much more mature than Diao, but Diao isn't a classic uke at all - this is highlighted by the opening scene, with him showering and showing off his ripped body, usually the preserve of a seme. He's smart and capable, strong-willed, and can walk without tripping and chop vegetables without cutting himself. In fact, it's Rak that ends up having the physical mishaps and Diao has to take care of him.
This is highlighted in contrast by the fujoshi, who throughout the series is writing a BL about Rak and Diao - and in her story, the guys are an extremly classic seme-uke duo, and their interaction in her scenes, which are adapted from observing the "real" Rak & Diao are far more overtly romantic and tropey. And as such, they lack the electricity of the real interaction, and the power struggle and heavy ribbing are smelted down into stock BL cliches. This is a critique of the seme-uke duality, and underscores how pigeonholing characters into these boxes removes a dynamism in their interaction which has so much more heat when there's an equal give-and-take. Normally all the teasing is done by the seme, which makes the uke sulk. When Rak teases Diao, Diao hits back just as hard, and occassionally even wins the exchange.
As an example, there's a scene where Diao is going on a date, and he wants Rak to stop him. The fujoshi sees it, and in her version Diao wants Rak to give him a reason to not go, and Rak says "because I love you." and Diao responds "that's all I wanted to hear" and they embrace. The "real" scene is wrenching and the desolation and longing are visceral.
The main pair are the usual heteronormative types that are ubiquitous in almost all BL - but neither show any interest in women at all. Diao expresses an interest in the idea of finding a woman, but is never interested in any actual women, and when he realizes who he loves, he accepts it without any of the common "but we're both guys!" And their chemistry is insane.
The two leads are excellent. They both have great comic timing, but are also capable of subtle emotion and speaking without saying anything - Diao is especially good at a glance that is not OTT, but clearly says "f&*% you." Both of them are easy to look at, espcially Rak, who is absolutely gorgeous, and the wardrobe is outstanding - their outfits are often wow moments, although there are a couple that won't age well, like Rak's fluorescent blue plaid suit. Rak tends toward a masculine wardrobe, and Diao is high fashion, with beautiful color combination.
I would never have expected it, but this is one of my all-time favorite series, and I can't recommend it highly enough - but give it time if you decide to watch it. You may not like it much at first, but I guarantee it's not as silly as it first seems.
Story: 9 - the episodes are tightly written and almost all of them are self-contained, and yet part of an overall arc. Things that happen don't disappear never to be referred to again - in fact, there are things that happen in the first episode that are very important towards the end. The balance between the characters is handled with great skill, and nobody behaves like an idiot just for the sake of the plot (although there is immaturity, but that's not the same thing).
Acting : 9 - excellent with surprising range, especially Win as Diao, which is a tough role. He's impulsive and immature, often almost obnoxious and often ridiculous, but fundamentally sweet, and when he's sad it hits you, and his drunkenness is the most realistic I've seen in a BL.
Music: 9 - some of the best I've encountered in BL. It doens't just support the story, it elevates scenes and gives them quite a bit of extra power.
Rewatch: 10 - I've seen each ep three times - once raw, once with fan subs, and again with the offical subs. There are scenes I've watched a dozen times.
Overall: 9.5 - I'd have to put this in my top handful of BLs. It's not the most profound thing you'll see, but it's a real pleasure to watch, and it's a lot smarter than it first appears.
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If you ever felt like degrading almost every drama you have watched so far only because of this one new show you just started, then welcome to Money Flower. Is it captivating? Yes. Does it have an amazing cast? Yes. Will the script blow your mind away? A definite YES.
Although I know that there will always be this one or two per cent who don’t enjoy a show and that there are also those dramas whose hype is just overrated, I’m sure that most of the people who watched this one, enjoyed it as much as I did – and probably felt the same (painful…) torture every week.
I haven't watched many dramas with Jang Hyuk yet, but the character he took on in this drama is by far and without doubt one of his best - if not THE best. I can't compare much but I also can't imagine how Jang Hyuk would top what he delivered here. He plays a typical anti-hero who wants to take revenge for something that happened a long time ago and therefore concocts a plan that takes action over a long period of time while needing a lot of patience. 'Strength lies in calmness' one would say, well damn, Kang Pil Joo (Jang Hyuk) created this line all anew. A first glance of him and his whole demeanor tells you to not approach him. He seems like a fox that transforms into a tiger later on. He's cold and manipulative, calculating and ambitious. It's incredible how scarce his facial expressions were and at the same time told so much about his inner thoughts and conflicts. It was also thrilling to watch him pursue his goals and root for him but also see whether he would be able to go all the way, cross boundaries or stay focused till the bitter end.
Jang Hyuk's acting is leading this drama effortlessly, even though he is not the only force and has some equal counterparts who delivered their stories just as well.
For example Jang Seung Jo who is portraying Jang Boo Cheon. He seems to be a clueless guy who doesn't have a serious plan for his future and therefore gets lead like a puppet by his mother. Deep down he is a good boy. He has many flaws, makes mistakes and even though he tries to do the right things or correct his mistakes, he ends up worsening them. Yes, he's not perfect and definitely no saint but his bromance with Kang Pil Joo was beautiful and painful to watch at the same time. Twists and turns will test him in every possible way - and while Kang Pil Joo's path seems rather clear, Jang Boo Cheon's character will be thrown into some fatal situations. You won't always agree with his behavior or his decisions, you might even get furious about them. But there are also some moments when you want to give him some slack, too. Out of them all he was the one who was the hardest to predict, especially in the second half.
His mother on the other hand is one despicable woman. Lee Mi Sook. Whenever I watch a drama with her, she makes me want to strangle her character - sometimes jokingly, sometimes with all my might. Jung Mal Ran, the woman she is impersonating, definitely belongs to my latter choice. Just the sight of her makes me furious. Yes, she had some hardships in her life and always had to fight for everything while constantly living with the fear of losing it all in the end. But the lengths she is willing to go to secure those things and totally ignoring what's really important, put her on a way that would be very hard to escape from. I wouldn't say that she's one of the best villains I've seen so far, but Lee Mi Sook put on an enjoyable show and her performance is worth the effort.
These three actors just received the MBC rewards for excellence performances in Money Flower. It's the first time that I actually agree on the winners because their acting was far above everyone else.
Park Se Young plays Na Mo Hyun, the innocent equivalent in this drama and someone who brings a little balance into this heavy revenge game. She gets caught in Kang Pil Joo's net of lies without realizing it. Even though she seemed to be the naive good girl, she never appeared weak in my eyes. She had to deal with some cruel situations but after falling down, she put herself together and fought back which was so important because otherwise she would have become insane. I appreciate her character very much. She did what was in her power while staying true to herself, getting stronger and raising her confidence. I like Park Se Young a lot, her acting might not have been as outstanding as the others, but she still did a wonderful job and on top of that had sizzling chemistry with Jang Hyuk. Yes, they kept me on tenterhooks like I have never been before... But beware, this drama focuses on Pil Joo's revenge and doesn't care for its viewers desires.
There are so many other characters and actors who nourish the story and should be mentioned. But I don't want to take away all the enjoyment. It's hard to praise and do justice to this drama without getting lost in the details and reveal too much. Everyone should experience this road for themselves.
The story is smooth like water, it doesn't have rugged edges, and the colors and the music feel like a well balanced frame, that carries a calm but sweeping tone - and you realize that something big is coming down. It's like one of those paintings you discover in old art museums. The more you look at it, the more you get sucked in - Money Flower is just like that. It makes you curious and excited. It leaves a hole in your heart whenever you have to pause it. Sometimes I wanted to hide my face but the drama wouldn't let me do that. I was too paralyzed to avoid my gaze. And of course, I didn't want to miss even one second. I started to anticipate the heat in my veins while getting furious or anxious or flustered.
Other times I found myself crying without realizing it, because the tears suddenly exploded in my eyes. I didn't cry much during this show and I didn't realize how deep my emotions got entangled until a certain moment. Then it suddenly hit me and one scene, one tear of Jang Hyuk and my rivers broke. Believe me when I say that it's that good - in every aspect possible.
I was worried and in doubt until the last minute whether they would be able to conclude the drama with a satisfying ending. But they certainly did. I might have some personal issues with one tiny thing (that is so not worth mentioning) but overall a deserving finale.
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The casting for this movie was perfect. Kang Ha Neul and Park Seo Joon just work SO WELL together. As reluctant police academy students, they were the best of bros and I was 100% here for it. Ki Joon and Hee Yeol's brain-brawn dynamic made for a wild ride, and I can't think of anyone else that would have delivered like these two did. They played off of each other, and after hearing that they ad-libbed quite a bit during the movie I was sold -- that friendship did not seem like acting at all. The bromance was so strong in this.
Midnight Runners was a great example of what a buddy-cop movie should be (though if you want a super serious police procedural, this isn't it). It balanced Ki Joon and Hee Yeol's light, easygoing antics with the gross (and tbh, kind of scary) villains. Also, it was INFURIATING, and I do mean infuriating at one part. I mean, ignoring a very real, serious issue just because protocol had to be followed?? I was about to tear my hair out. It was so, so frustrating.
Midnight Runners' only issue is that the action doesn't really pick up until around the second half of the movie. The beginning is more of a buildup of Ki Joon and Hee Yeol's dynamic, which I'm not complaining about, but the actual conflict doesn't really begin until about an hour into the movie.
Overall, Midnight Runners was a solid film. It's not anything heavy, and I can definitely think of worse ways to spend 1hr 50min. Even if cop movies aren't really your thing, the bromance and the way the two leads build off of each other is worth watching.
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It follows four main couples, whose relationships are considered... "questionable..." I suppose by Korean standards: Living together without being married, a huge age difference, homosexuality, and (?) deciding to be married after only dating a few months.
The amount of screen time goes mainly to the first couple, who live together and yet aren't married. The conversations between this couple is realistic and relatable, with laugh-out-loud scenarios or serious and loving relationships that the actors have no trouble in showing the viewer. It was real, it was lovable, it was raw, it was sexual... it was beautiful.
The second couple I found the most entertaining; a thirty-three year old woman is dating a twenty-one year old starving artist who lounges around all day eating ramen obnoxiously. Of course, there's going to be some crazy moments with pillow fights and petty jealousy, but it also showcased some amazing character growth, especially in Young Joon. The couple works together in a sort of symbiotic way, and you can see how much they care for each other. Plus is just hilarious watching Young Joon. That guy's a riot. I image the actors are thinking: "Sigh, the things I do for my career." Because they nailed it.
Dear authors: do you want to get your reader shipping like crazy? Follow this screenwriter's lead when it comes to Takuya, the Japanese traveller, and Joon Jae, the hermit. These two had the sexual tension from the moment Takuya put a single foot in the threshold of Joon Jae's home. Hilarious angles lead to misunderstandings I didn't mind all that much, feeling that second hand embarrassment. This couple probably had it the worst in this series, with only two minutes or so per episode of screen time, but the relationship is developed, and by far my favorite couple. These boys... watching Takuya made me listen to some of Cross Gene's music, and it's really very good. Both of the guys playing these roommates may not be gay themselves, but they made me believe it, with a full course of Awwws and sexual tension.
The fourth couple had next to no screen time through the entire series, and are easily the most underdeveloped couple living in this apartment. I will admit, the competitions between the girl and Man Goo over who was more feminine (who had bigger boobs, longer legs, more successful boyfriend...) were absolutely hilarious, but the relationship between the engaged couple themselves was a rare thing. Which I didn't really mind... I wasn't paying much attention to them, anyway. What little time these actors had to develop their characters, I'll give them some credit there.
The music was very beautiful, and connected in lyrics or tune to the mood of the drama. And luckily, the name and artists of the songs are put on screen for you, so you don't have to look it up!
Overall, this is a wonderful, hilarious, real, and emotional drama that tackles almost any kind of relationship hurdle it comes across, from jobs and careers to confused sexuality and identity. Its a real, relatable drama with relatable characters, and the moments that each of the couples spent interacting with the other couples... (I love Joon Jae and Takuya being so much taller than Oh Do... HEHE) It's a must-watch.
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STORY
PCBM's story is completely unique and one of a kind. It centers two men who die wrongfully but are sent back to life in different bodies to conclude any unfinished business they might have. Help their loved ones with their problems, give them closure and help them move on, but most importantly they are sent back to get to know theirselves better, understand their mistakes, and try to right them. This is exactly the show's main premise. We need to look at our lives in a not one-dimensional way. Life isn't about just working, no matter how pure our intentions are, people might get hurt because of our ignorance. Life isn't about being in the background because we believe our loved ones don't deserve us. We are perfect the way we are. PCBM gives several messages about life decisions, family, friendship, work place attidute and problems, marriage and more.
This drama was literally a gem, not because of its uncommon story, not because it blends several genres together in the best way possible, but because superficially is the funniest show ever, but if someone decides to scratch the surface and dig deeper the show assesses life itself and sends tons of messages and meanings that were all truly wonderful and heartwarming. Beware that this is not your average romcom -thank god-, this is deep, it is serious, it is emotional, it is heartbreaking but still it is safe to say that the comedy is executed perfectly.
Furthrermore, another thing that deserves mentioning is the fact that this drama broke the 16-episode drama usual plan. You know how everything is amazing in the beginning, and slowly everything falls into place around episode 10 and the last 4-5 episodes are just filler ones, pulling and dragging the story around. PCBM, not only broke this stupid rule, not only it was the only 'comedy' that had actual plot twists but it managed to never be boring, always have a purpose and be interesting until the very last minute.
ACTING
It was widely argued that the acting here was bad, either i missed something, or .... 'people' missed something, or were just dead set on hating. The acting here was impeccable, coming from an amazing ensemble cast. I have learned from my stay in kdramaland that it is unrealistic to ask the actors to have great chemistry when the dramas are so small in lenght. They don't have the time to develop a chemistry and when it is there (rarely) i am thankful and grateful. The actors here not only managed to have great chemistry in their possible romantic connections, but literally EVERYONE had excellent chemistry with everyone in their respective relationships. This is possibly the most unique thing about this drama. The cast clicked so perfectly together, it was completely unrealistic!
I'll start with my favourite, Oh Yeon Seo. Her character was difficult to pull off, and very fundemental for the show to make sense. She needed to act manly, tough, and still stay femine, not look stupid, look badass and emotional. The woman was IMPECCABLE, a standing ovation from me, she was shivering in everything she did. No words are enough. In many ways she was the show.
And when i thought she was going to overshadow everyone, Rain came to the picture. His quixotic talent to slip through different emotions in a matter of seconds shocked me. He could go from crying to laughing in a split second without ever looking fake or his emotions forced. First actor in kdramaland that pulled that off, and he was completely up there with OYS for what -if i may- could call THE BEST DUO EVER in kdramaland.
Lee Min Jung, Lee Ha Nui, Lee Tae Hwan, literally everyone was exquisite in their role, no words are enough to describe this awesomeness, that nobody should overlook.
RECOMMEND/REWATCH
Overall, this show might not be for everyone, since it is completely different from your usual kdrama. The humor is different, the romance is present but not the way people want it, the plot is completely innovative and might not be accepted by everyone. In my book innovation=win, but from what i've gathered from my stay in kdramaland, kdrama fans like their chiche stories. So, if you are ready for something completely different than what you are used to, ready to laugh and cry at the same time (i'm not exaggerating), you should definately give this a chance. This is a marvelous show not to be missed. Definately rewatch-worthy, first show ever that triggered so many emotions simultaneously.
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