Reviews

A must-have for makjang-lovers. A roller coaster of evil where you end up feeling for the worst, too

"Five Fingers" is a must-have for all those who love "makjang". A roller coaster of evil... and it doesn't stop. The spectators are allowed to tear their hair, wriggle, turn, annoy themselves to the bitter end... It's about the piano, too - some battles take place while playing, being around and doing business with the grand piano.

This is about family and South Korean family values/virtues in particular. Submission to the value system is declined as a virtue in all its fatality. In the interweaving of events, the viewer inevitably faces the question again and again: is it virtue or stupidity, virtue or impertinence, virtue or arrogance?

The series dates from 2012 and makes a cunning attempt to challenge viewers to confront the value system. The rebellious thoughts inevitably arise in the minds of the viewers, because the well-meaning decisions that the protagonists make over and over again drive the values ​​surrounding family (love) to the absurd and trigger suffering one after the other.

The ambivalence inherent in this is exploited perfectly. The actors do their part.

With 30 episodes there may be a tendency to flee in between, but I don't know anyone who didn't stick it out to the end. The ending may not be the classic happy ending, but it may be the true happy ending: the wheel of fortune comes to a standstill. Peace.

At first glance, the greed for money and power seems to be the driving force behind all evil. But actually it is the greed for love and recognition. The wheel of fate and suffering has already been turned on long before the protagonists - the two half-brothers In-ha and Jin-ho - compete against each other. To a certain extent they live out the unresolved conflicts of their parents. If you want to ask who is to blame for everything, then the root goes back a long way. The father pulls the strings out of the grave and it goes even further. A nice psychological study. Especially since you can't help but feel sympathy for everyone, even the worst troublemakers.

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It feels like I was listening to a lovely song

This has been one of my most anticipated Korean movies ever since I saw the Cast line-up. So, I finally watched it and this totally reached my expectations. Infact, I feel empty now. I wanted more of this!

A Year End Medley is simple yet overwhelms us with a bitter-sweet pleasure.

The movie starts from a full festive vibe where Seo Kang Joon is singing the Christmas song "Jingle bells, jingle bells… jingle all the way…" and everything is in like a happy to go state. Everyone can be seen gearing up for Christmas and finally when Christmas comes, we come across the other side of the coin. When most of the people are excited for Christmas and New Year with their friends or families, there are yet many people who have their own problems and loneliness to deal with… that's when this takes us on a "little" deeper ride but as the year finally ends, gladly everyone finds a "New Hope" in their life. It's like inspiring us to keep going on.

There are actually 5 different stories which are intermingled to each other. All characters were lovable. Yes! No negative or annoying character which makes this such a light watch. My favorite character was "Sang Hoon" (acted by Lee Kwang Soo) ~ a selfless, dedicated manager who supported a singer when he was in his down, he could have left him and signed up someone else but he became his pillar and made him a big star, when he was really popular, he didn't even try stoping him from signing into a bigger company so that he can get more opportunities. I loved how selfless and caring he was. They had a brother like bond which was truly precious to see. Infact, all 5 stories were special in their own way.

The Cast was the major factor that attracted me here and they all did a great job acting their own parts especially the Old duo – Lee Hye Young ( as Katherine ) and Jung Jin Young ( as Sang Gyu ) were great presenting a touching love story. It was the top notch acting that made this movie more memorable.

The best part of this movie is that it made us experience so many wide emotions in just two hours. All 5 stories gave me something. Then, the OST. Beautiful songs that match the situations. I didn't even realize how fast my two hours went and I was already done watching this movie. It's like a smooth ride perfect for a evening watch. I watched it alone this time but I would like to rewatch this with my family later…

Overall, just a bunch of ordinary stories wrapped up in colourful flavours which should be watched at least once.

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When i discovered this series and read the summary i wasn't really catched by it. But i wanted to understand why people around me love it so much. I thought "How is a drama about a girl that wants to dive for seaurchins exciting anyway?!". So i gave it a chance and watched the first episode.

With this, the "Ama-chan effect" hit me hard. I couldn't stop watching it. I finished this series after 11 days, and I'm sad it ended. This is probably also due to the phenomen, that the episodes are rather short with a runtime of 15 minutes, and you keep watching and watching, while you tell yourself: 'just another one, then i'll stop.', but you just can't. Its one of those series you really never want to end.

The Story itself i really addicting, as its absolutly not repetitve. The constant up and downs make oneself really go with it and feel it. It makes you sad, It makes you cheer, it makes you feel lost. If a series is able to this, then its a masterpiece. Kankuro Kudo really made a awesome job.

The Characters are absolutly memorable. You could really notice the cast was putting their hearts into it. I've never watched a series where the acting was this good. Each actor played their character so well, i could really belive everything could have happened in a village close to mine. There was no way you couldn't feel with your favorite character. (Which was Yui in my case.)

A enormous portion of this series marks the soundtrack. I'm usually one of those people skipping the Opening Sequence, i absolutely refused to do that when i watched Ama-chan. I found myself boucing around whenever the opening started. From the "inserts Songs" which where played pretty often, i must say i never found them annoying at any time, eventho they brought them up a lot in recalls or in different versions. On the other hand, the BGM music really gave this series its essence. Every musicportion in the series transported so many emotions in every single second. It really sticks to your brain and you'll find yourself humming it here and there without even noticing. I had to sing and hum along every single time.

You might wonder about the 9 instead of 10 points for the Rewatch Value. I have to admit, i had to deduct a point, just because its not a series you could watch again in just a single day, but thats about it. This is a Series you really can watch and enjoy everytime. Watch it with your friends, family, girlfriend, they'll love it.

Overall i Can only say, this series made a huge impact and is my new favorite Series of all times. If you haven't i can only say: YOU MUST WATCH IT!

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An aesthetically pleasing, original fantasy drama

When I saw that IU would be cast in this drama, I felt that I had to give it a shot, and I'm glad to say that for the most part, it did not disappoint. Without a doubt, Hotel Del Luna is my favourite kdrama of 2019. There is plenty to love about this drama, ranging from its stunning cinematography, decent storyline, excellent cast, oh and how could I forget: the most beautiful OST in kdramaland.

Plot/Storyline:
I thought that the writing was pretty solid throughout the drama. It is refreshing to watch a drama that ventures into foreign territory and breaks free of the traditional kdrama tropes and cliches to explore the less commonly visited genres of horror (though I wouldn't really consider this drama to be scary at all) and fantasy + romance. The plot is layered and has some depth, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge. The main character Man Weol's story captivates you right from the get-go, as the show uses flashbacks very well to reveal small snippets of her past at a time, causing you to be curious about her past, and eager to find out more. The generous use of humour also helps to balance out some of the heavier, more emotional scenes, while also allowing the drama to be easy and fun to watch throughout its lengthy episodes. Personally, the ending did not play out exactly how I had hoped it would, but it was fitting to the themes of this drama and very beautiful to watch, as well as very emotional. The drama explores the themes/ideas of 'letting go', 'resentment', 'unselfish love' and 'forgiveness', which are all very meaningful, thought-provoking ideas, not just in the context of this drama, but these themes also have a place in our lives as well.

Elaboration on themes for those that are curious:
For example, the drama shows that it takes a greater act of love to let go than to hang on, which the same can be said about many situations in life. Suppose this: a severely ill person is given a few months to live. His family can choose to convince him to receive the surgery that would extend his lifespan by a significant amount, but which would also drastically reduce his quality of life (place him in a vegetative state), or let him die naturally of his illness. One may argue here that the greater act of love is to let go and allow the man to live out the rest of his days to the fullest, eventually dying a dignified death, rather than trying to desperately hang on and cause the dying man even more pain. Don't quote me on this sketchy analogy, but this is my best effort at trying to explain the themes that the writers explore in this drama.

Cinematography:
the cinematography of this drama is frankly top-notch, and can be compared to the likes of dramas such as Goblin. It is that good. The elements of fantasy were conveyed by great camerawork, skillful use of special effects, and excellent editing. The drama truly bought the supernatural fantasy world of ghosts to life, creating a vivid and charismatic viewing experience. It is difficult to describe in words, but once you see it for yourself I'm sure you'd agree that it is spectacular. The production team also did a phenomenal job of picking out Man Weol's outfits. IU looked absolutely incredible in pretty much all of her scenes, and I've lost count of the number of unique, beautiful outfits that she wore throughout the drama.

Acting:
the cast for this drama is a highlight for me. After watching IU's brilliant performance in 'My Mister', she was one of the main reasons I came across this drama in the first place. The drama is largely centred around her character Man Weol, and she absolutely nails her performance. She plays her character like it is second nature to her, effortlessly conveying emotions through her facial expressions, while also managing to bring out the complexity of her character. Her character is the focus of the drama, and IU does an excellent job in portraying her character's growth arc in the drama, all while making it seem very believable and authentic. And as a bonus, she looks absolutely gorgeous flaunting her giant wardrobe of high-end clothing. Furthermore, this drama exposed me to Yeo Jin Goo, who also delivers a very commendable effort and holds his own against IU. He appears to be much more mature than his age (considering he is only 22 years old), and the scenes of him breaking down emotionally feel raw and sincere. The chemistry between IU and Jin Goo both on and off the screen is also evident, and the relationship they develop seems to be very natural and genuine. The supporting cast also complements our two leads well, providing some comedic relief and some interesting side-story.

Soundtrack:
Although the soundtrack is supposed to complement a drama, Hotel Del Luna's soundtrack is far from ordinary and deserves a shoutout. Not only does the OST include big-name artists including the likes of Taeyeon, Punch and Heize, the tracks also have excellent synergy with the drama. The OST helps to effortlessly set the mood of multiple scenes and makes the emotional scenes even more powerful. There are many excellent tracks in the OST, but the standout for me is the special, unreleased OST by IU that is used at the end of one of the episodes. This track only plays once throughout the drama, but it merges into the emotional scene perfectly and elevates it to another level. (end of ep 12, )

Overall, this drama performs strongly across the board and ticks many of the right boxes for me, other than a few imperfections here and there. Although I wouldn't call this drama perfect, it comes pretty damn close in my books. I think I'm already experiencing withdrawal symptoms having finished the final episode an hour ago. It has been one heck of a ride, and now that it's over I feel like there is an empty void within me that's not going to be easy to fill. But giving credit where credit is due, hats off to the Hotel Del Luna team, as they have created something quite special and unique. Worth a watch, especially if you're an IU fan, as this drama is all about her.

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One of the best action, comedy and fun packed dramas!An Absolute Masterpiece

This drama is a pleasant surprise, it has everything I was looking for. Suspense, adventure, action and comedy are superbly balanced. The story is super captivating and entertaining.

YGM is extremely fascinating person, it's mind boggling how he manages to be a failure at studies despite being a committed and hardworking student. Its very commendable that even though he has fantastic talent in martial arts, he insists to pursue his dream of achieving what he wants. I love how incredibly witty, bold, brave and zealous he is. He appears to be a nerd, but very ironically he is anything but that which throws his opponents off. Making them believe that he is a weak person and then underestimate him. Anyone who messes with him or his family/friends finds out!

While YGM is trying to realise his own dreams, he is unintentionally solving the root problems of the high school. His determination to fight through bravely in the face of discouraging, oppressive, brutal and corrupt system, is inspiring others to do what they always have wanted to do. ML and his study group team mates teaching all the villains the lessons they deserve in very creative and hilarious ways is extremely fun and satisfying. His goals, dreams and actions are helping his teacher LHG achieve her goals of reforming the YTHS for the better and getting justice for those who were oppressed, deceived, used, bullied, belittled, framed, threatened and harmed.

YGM's chemistry with all the new friends is very smooth and dynamic. It's very impressive how all the characters are improving and developing subtly. They all are supporting each other, becoming more trusting, understanding and reliant on each other - becoming a caring family and a very formidable team. All the actors have done impeccable, immaculate and remarkable jobs of portraying their characters perfectly. They have brought the webtoon series' characters to life very cleverly. The iconic scenes of the series are executed astonishingly well.

The fight scenes are the heart and soul of this drama, they are very innovatively and expertly  choreographed to perfection. I am absolutely stunned by the unique and powerful and at times funny fighting style of ML. I find it very hilarious that ML's mom is also an awesome martial artist too. An apple doesn't fall far from a tree. It's making me very curious about ML's uncle.

Sun Cheol and his grandfather's story is so touching and beautiful. Its really heart warming how YGM and his friends are saving these lost and trapped souls in the deep dark abyss. He is not only capable of protecting himself but everyone around him. He always extends his hands and holds firmly those who need his help.

This drama is very unique in showing that in this day and age while many students take oppurtinities for studying and peaceful environments for granted, some students around the world like the ones at YTHS were at serious disatvantage. There are students in this world who have to fight very hard to be able to study or follow their dreams. The motto of study group is "i will create opportunities even in hellish situations", its there to establish hope for those kinds of students so they can be encouraged to pursue their dreams.

This drama also shows that although violence is bad but at times its vitally needed when innocent people have to fight to protect people and things precious to them. Martial arts and fighting ability is a tool of self-defence and to protect. The study group members in order to realise their dreams, had to go as far as to face not only school bullies but corrupt teachers, headteacher, deciplinary committee, unsupportive parents, killer street gangs, corrupt police, paparazzi and hidden political agendas. In addition, they had to fight their own inner demons, personal handicaps and socio-economic difficulties to latch onto the hope and motivation to be able to pull through and never give up on themselves and others. The moment you give up on yourself and others is the time you have truly lost. PHU believed firmly that struggling against corrupt embedded system was futile thats why he never tried to change himself but forced others to feel hopeless and fearful like himself under the tyranny of his dad. YGM chellenged his beliefs that he and his friends, family, teachers and good people will show him that people/situations can be changed.

The 'Back Packer' and 'Hood' OSTs have become my most favourites ones, its very impressive that this drama's OSTs are rap-based which perfectly suits ML's badass and awesome personality. These OSTs are spectacularly supporting the fight scenes, enhancing their impact many folds. The opening OST's art work magnificently conveys the idea that this work is a live action of a webtoon series.

I'm very eagerly waiting for S2, I must find out what transpires next and how this best school squad overcomes many new challenges in their way to success. I highly recommend this drama for action, thriller and comedy lovers, it's 100% worth the watch!

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Makes you feel more lonely than you already are - in the best way possible.

This is everything I want from a romantic comedy short story. Simple plot that is connected to all the characters, great acting, amazing chemistry, bop of a soundtrack and aesthetics shots.

To My Star is proof that you do not need complex, over the top, dramatic, and ridiculous sub-plots to make a good show. It's obvious the writer and director had a clear vision of what they wanted to show, and they focused on making it as high of a quality as possible. And they succeeded! All the subplots connect and affect all the characters, so you don't feel like watching different shows depending on who is the focus of certain scenes. Things hinted at the beginning are addressed by the end, and no loose ends are left.

Characters wise - pure perfection. There was not one character that felt redundant. They all were fun, unique and felt like real people. The chemistry between the leads was amazing, but it's worth talking about the awesome synergy between the supporting cast. Not one scene felt boring, and I truly enjoyed every second of the show.

From the opening scene I knew, To My Star will be a feast for my eyes, and I was not wrong. The show was just beautiful. Lately I am tired of the "shaky camera" and cuts and changes of frames and angles every few seconds. The still shots were a blessing. I could truly appreciate the scenes and what was happening in the story when I was not being distracted by random cuts.

The soundtrack. I mean - I need to google all the songs. I never care for the OST. As long as it's not distracting, I rarely even remember or care for even one song. Here though I am truly speechless at how good it was.

With all the love I give and all the praises, why not 10? We all have our own pet peeves, sadly this one hit some of mine... One being "crying without tears" and the other: random, poorly delivered English lines (acting wise, not language wise - clarifying so no one will get pressed again). But these are minor problems that most people will not even notice.

Overall, definitely one of my favorite BLs. Definitely one of my favorite rom-coms overall. I just love the simple and chill vibe it had, the wholesome feels and the great production value taking into consideration how small of a project it was compared to mainstream dramas. The acting was just gold, the chemistry made me feel lonely and in need of a relationship, the OST made me want to dance, and the aesthetic scenes made me take too many screenshots.

Make yourself happy - watch To My Star.

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You Are My Glory: Living up to the name

'You are already the rabbit who has seen most stars'

The love story between a celebrity and a normal person isn't anything new for dramaland. But YAMG is any different? Let's found out.

This is going to be a super long review... if you aren't interested in reading my very long essay, I'll sum up some important points.

↠Great acting from both leads with sizzling chemistry
↠No external problems, stupid misunderstandings, conflicts, the portrayal of a very healthy relationship.
↠The story and characterization are realistic with witty dialogues.
↠Inspirational story giving some important life lessons! but we aren't missing humor too ;D
↠Focused on leads, so screentime doesn't get distributed on supporting roles or any side couple.
↠No overdubbing, actors using their own voices.
↠So many sweet and heart-fluttering moments.
↠No annoying, and unrealistic, over-the-top characters. Very likable leads. But not perfectionists.
↠Many gaming-related scenes in the start and aerospace-related scenes in the middle part of the drama. (in case if you aren't interested in both of them)
↠The flow of the story is very slow in the initial episodes, and it can be boring for someone.

↠And Yang Yang just looks so fine with glasses on, this wasn't really necessary but I wanted to say it lol xD

If I've to use my food analogy again... I would compare it to wine, which needs some ripening to get the perfect taste and treat for all taste buds, a little bitterness in the start is natural but then you experience sweetness that lefts in your mouth at the end, and with time it gets better and better.

Though it seems like that cast is the best part of the show, it's not. The importance lies in the story, dialogue, and execution. I'm a Books-Over-Screen adaptations person (only Hobbit and LOTR would be exceptions), but this would the one of the best adaptations I've seen so far in dramaland. Having the book writer as a screenwriter ensures that writing quality would be par as the novel. In the initial episodes, the pace is slow... not much romantic development between leads: a slow burn. It's natural and realistic, they don't fall for each other out of anywhere for no good reason, through the slow process of getting to know each other with time. The story itself isn't exciting or even grand but it's presented but how it's presented that matters, it doesn't follow any tropes or cliches. Even being 32 episodes nothing feels unnecessary. I loved the fact it doesn't show any external conflict or cause that creates problems but in the start problems are, real, internal struggle, and valid.

Who says it's not exciting so it doesn't have surprises... in the second half its pace changed by 180°... so many heart-fluttering, butterflies moments ahead. The serious ride when becoming full fluff you never get you to know. Prepare yourself for soo much sweetness. Be careful about pain in the muscle of cheeks, I found myself grinning all time ;D

The dialogues are meaningful, and witty too! cherished the small detailing in the bits. For example, when Yu Tu and Jingjing go to watch the movie, they watch 'Coco' and Yu Tu's situation is quite similar to the lead of that movie 'struggle for chasing their dream and what they really want from life.'
When Yu Tu was eating in the canteen, he had conversation with Jingjing that time she said.. she wants to eat at their canteen and when you see Jingjing visiting his research center for first time.. he says we can't go to canteen coz as we don't have much time, I mean see the details.
Yu Tu's name has a special meaning behind it Yutu (玉兔) literal meaning: Jade Rabbit, it was a robotic lunar rover that formed part of the Chinese Chang'e 3 mission to the Moon it had an expected lifespan of 3 months but managed to operate for 31 months on the moon. . So when Jingjing states that he had already seen most stars, it is a reference to this... as Yu Tu having an expected lifespan of 3 months managed to operate for 31 months on the moon.

What to say about the cast, top-tier actors of the industry with their heavenly looks. We've got Yang Yang, Dilraba... Liu Yu Ning oh sorry he isn't there. No actually, he's there coz the drama starts with his voice. The opening song Fireworks and Stars 煙火星辰 is sung by him (ah this guy is everywhere lol).

Oops, I got distracted we're talking about the cast, right? Dilraba looks stunning, beautiful as always.. she always adds that spunk, and charisma in every character she plays that's what makes it special. The only problem would be that her makeup is a bit off :') She did a great job portraying Jingjing as always. Maybe even better as Jingjing is more like she in her real life.

But this time for me Yang Yang outshined or it was Yu Tu... maybe both, due to the complexity of his character, the wide range of emotions and experiences he had to go through. Out of the all works of Yang Yang it's best to date, I wasn't really satisfied by his acting skills yet aside from the great looks he got, but this time he impressed me, his eyes talk a lot... there's no need for words for some emotional scenes, just take look at his eyes and you know what's going on in his mind. Playing as Yu Tu is challenging as he goes through a drastic change throughout the whole process and with every stage, he has to make it visible with his expressions and his acting.. and Yang Yang did it beautifully.

Having extra love for astrophysics and space-related stuff I didn't skip anything related to Yu Tu's profession but you might find yourself skipping those parts as they can be considered boring. The same goes with the gaming scenes, the first few episodes heavily contain them, it was the medium that bought them together after all. I didn't like how Jingjing tricked Yu Tu by calling him to her house, Tbh these are the only problems I found in the drama.. and actually, they aren't really problems as it depends on your preference.

The characters... I love them!
Honestly, when I saw Jingjing first, I got worried oh no not again a cute, innocent female lead. But she proved me wrong. Yes, she is very cute and adorable but quick-witted, smart, a high-spirited person not to forget she has a high EQ (as anyone should have in the entertainment industry). She knows how to talk, how to behave. And she's aware of what exactly she wants. Loved how understanding and considerate she was to Yu Tu.

Again writer surprised me, what was I expecting Yu Tu to be? a successful aerospace engineer living a picture-perfect life. Who would have thought we'll get a struggling male lead.. with low confidence, self-esteem, confuse between a better job opportunity or a dream. It also shows a bitter truth... getting good grades, having a high IQ, great education doesn't mean you can live whatever life you want. Everyone has to struggle for their dreams, desires and on the way to do that reality hits hard, very hard. I would prefer Yu Tu over any perfect CEO lead as he seems so real (Not talking about his looks lol coz that's surreal) I found his struggle, his internal conflicts very relatable. His personal development is the key point of his character, how he starts to believe in his dreams again, belief in himself again. Wait this isn't it... just have some patience and see a new Yu Tu, in a new light. You might argue with yourself is he the one I know before. He's a completely new person, I don't know him anymore xD

Normally for me, when a couple gets together I lose interest, then drama starts to get boring for me but it's just contradicted my belief as it gets more interesting with time. Yu Tu and Jingjing make a perfect couple together with the sizzling chemistry, not just that they look so good but their personalities compliment each other very well (High IQ+High EQ) and both know how to flirt very well, what we need more ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯... they live in two different worlds but it has 0 effects on their relationship, that's what I love, nor external problems, neither silly misunderstandings. Even their small fights are so cute. Most important they behave like they are adults who are in a relationship, not people in their 30s but still behaving like teens lol.

I wasn't sure if the drama will manage to show the professionalism of leads, as their jobs are very busy, time-consuming. What a smart way to use time skips.. without even making it feel as they don't have anything to do other than dating with giving a lot of their moments together.. while doing their job properly. It covers a wide range of emotions. With some very emotional, heartbreaking scenes. I shed tears in Yu Tu's conversation with Zhai Liang 'I made mistake, that's why she's gone. She's a good person.' But then it has some peak comedy moments that'll make your stomach hurt. Bitter-sour-sweet-spicey we get a whole set of flavors. Good deal, right?

This is S+ production, so great aesthetics, pretty clothes (maybe this isn't fully), beautiful cinematography, the color palette is as expected. But I'm not fond of the opening sequence I found it a bit cartoonish and in need of good editing, but it doesn't cut any points as it's nothing to do with drama. Not really fond of music. Other than the opening song that's also used as bgm any other ost doesn't really stand out for me as it's the only song used till the 16th episode (so if you are a little sensitive about music, point to be noted)

The opening song: Fireworks and Stars (煙火星辰) - By Liu Yu Ning, I've mentioned it before but it feels like ages now :')
Time Monologue (光阴独白) - By Lala Hsu
Fall in Love (陷入爱情) - By Curley Gao & Mika
Speak To You (说给你听) - By Aska Yang
Born To Be An Eagle (生来是鹰) - By Chen Xue Ran

This definitely a re-watchable drama, you won't get satisfied watching some episodes only one time. And it's binge-worthy!
In the conclusion, I'll say... You Are My Glory is soothing, refreshing, thought-provoking drama. But not everyone's cup of tea/coffee is hit or miss. But if you are liking it from the start.. you'll end up falling in love with it ;) The heck, I did again 9.5 to a rom-com? But not regretting it.

Whoa, anyone reached here!?

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Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo: NJH AND LSK ARE DATING IN REAL LIFE
A drama filled with so much beautiful meaning into it. A very healthy, sensible, genuine kind of story as to friendship, family, love, goal, career and priority. It is really funny especially with that "WHAAAAAT!" lol. Plus this drama is such a TROLL not everything you'd expect will happen, It will take you by surprise and you'll find yourself laughing. The edge of this drama from the one's I've watch? It's not the feels but the message it brought me, It was truly amazing.

CHARACTERS
Kim Bok Joo and Joon Hyeong is the best love story I've watch, a kind of relationship that would bring out the best in you, filled with overload cuteness, realistic a normal one. Phasing of their story is slow but slow kind of stories turned out to be awesomely perfect! They are so friendship and relationship goaaaals!!

Kim Bok Joo
This girl is totally relatable, when she's in love, to music taste, to clothes, to fangirling activities. Everything about her is suweeeeeeeeeeg!

Let's talk about the male lead. Joon Hyeong, ok I'll keep it short his character is so boyfriend material, a kind of guy you want to keep in yourself, in your life.

Ex girlfriend: OK she's the "only one cliche" here like a kind of clingy ex you'll hate but her existence didn't much affect me.

Friends: yes a very fun friends to be with
Abujji and samcheon: You'll love the father and daughter relationship, samcheon is very sweet, likeable and so kind plus funny.

Actors and Actress:
Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk both are great and I know it's not related here but I just want them to date for life. lol
Edit: They are officially dating not as characters but as real life couple!!!! Confirmed by Papa YG this month of April 2017. According to dispatch they've been dating since month of January 2017
Everyone else of the cast is so good ofc!

LESSON: Every girl deserves to be treated as a girl, a woman despite of any career she's into like Police, Carpenter, Judo, Boxing, Weightlifters.... Those fields are mostly for men so they're like boys into other people's eyes but ...Hell they shouldn't! They are girls too! Who would love to wear dress, wears clip, wears lipstick and wants to be beautiful especially when they're In front of the guy they like. I think they're the coolest girl ever with a suweeeeeeeeeeg!!
(There's more into lessons, life, meaning into this drama I just give you some points about it. Kekekke)

RECOMMENDATION:
Even though I so love this drama. I would not recommend it for everyone, this is a kind of a kind of drama that targets a certain group of viewers. I'd highly recommend it to the youth like from age bracket of teenagers to 25 years or if not by age depends with your personality like if your happy go lucky one, or if you love reading my review and it keeps your interest, the genre is your style then you'll definitely love it despite of your age. This drama is slow yes. Could be an advantage or disadvantage. You just gotta be patient with it and everything will be worth it and it will perfectly fits into place.

Music:
I always enjoy the sound effects in funny scenes that's the best thing like "WHAAAAAT"!

Rewatch Value: I thought one time viewing is enough or just rewatch a certain scene would be enough but as I watch more episode I become more attached with the story and I was like I need to watch this as a whole over and over again.

Overall: one word, SWAG!

Writing a review feels like I'm saying goodbye to this drama for the second time around that it hurts so much.... *Wiped tears*

Kim Bok Joo and Joon Hyeong is so lovable, I would not mind watching another season with them or another drama from LSK and NJH..~

Warning: if you deeply love the story, the characters, once you complete this drama you'll feel incomplete, a happy one but it will make you sad.

It will always have a special place in my heart.

Ok before I end my review I have a question for you. Ummmm... Do you like Messi? Hahahaha!! Nevermind. Anyways hope my review helps!!!

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Romance?? Action?? Logic?? This Drama Said No Thanks..

Disclaimer: This might sound like a rant.. Because it is one.. If you somehow enjoyed this drama.. Good for you..

Script?? Bad.. Acting?? Bad.. Action?? Bad.. Romance?? Bad.. Character Development?? None.. VFX?? Worst.. Not one scene had good CGI.. I sat through this drama for SWL and what a disappointment.. It felt like the entire production team lazily put this together.. Apart from the costumes everything else felt completely half assed.. Like the team just threw things together and hoped for the best..

Angela Baby.. I hope you take some acting classes because seriously, what happened?? This was painful to watch..

The ML was supposed to be the next Wolf Lord or something but instead he spent the first half of the drama getting hurt, stabbed, hurt again, stabbed again by the FL and her minion.. And he still wagged his tail like a lovesick puppy while she kept taking advantage of him.. Where was his brain?? His dignity?? His revenge for his parents?? At one point he even got stabbed on purpose just to stop her from leaving.. That’s not devotion, that’s a suicide attempt you fool.. And then, after all that, he goes and gets shot with an arrow to protect her..

The script was all over the place.. Like the writer forgot what they wrote five minutes earlier.. The ML gets stabbed with a sword and yet wakes up the next morning like he is ready to go and win the La Liga.. And man he was so happy becase he saw the FL sitting by his bed.. Dude, she was literally applying medicine and touching another Guy's leg in the previous episode while she didnt even bother to prepare medicine for you.. That didn’t tell you anything?? And to top it off she was shamelessly ready to give away the locket or whatever that was that you gave her.. And you still didn’t realize you meant nothing to her?? At least not at that moment??

And the princess?? Dumb as a rock.. Another infuriating character..

Ep 13 was actually decent and I thought maybe things were turning around.. Then Ep14 happened.. The FL, in her infinite wisdom decided to protect her minion who literally tried to kill the ML by threatening to kill herself if anyone harmed him.. And the ML?? He had to tell his soldiers who had just watched their comrades die, to lower their weapons because his love interest was having a meltdown over the guy who tried to murder him.. What kind of joke is this??
Then somehow in the next scene the ML and FL end up in bed together.. She just threatened to kill herself over another man who tried to kill him and now they are suddenly sleeping together?? So all those soldiers died Just so he could end up in bed with her?? Unbelievable..

Even if she did love him which is questionable, she manipulated him the entire way.. She never once did anything for him.. Yet he kept crawling back like a fool.. She faked her death, ran back to her hometown, and started living her life while he was left depressed thinking she was gone.. She never once made an effort for him.. Not.. One.. Thing.. Meanwhile he spent the entire drama begging for her love..

What a complete waste of time.. Even the conclusion was unsatisfactory.. After everything it didn’t feel meaningful.. Just another half baked ending that failed to justify the mess before it.. I don’t know, maybe I had high expectations.. But for me this was just another drama with a mediocre storyline and wasted potential..

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This drama was full of happy and sad moments throughout. It contained cute romantic scenes to heart wrenching goodbyes, this drama had it all following multiple stories but not dragging the attention away from the main characters.

'When the Camellia Blooms' is about a single mother who moves to Ongsasn with her extremely young son in hopes of owning a successful bar, The story progresses over 5 or so years where her bar isn't going exactly as well as she had planned and neither does she really fit in with the rest of the community there, she later on meets Yong Sik a police officer who falls for her at one glance. The story follows the two going through hardships to do with family and also a serial murder on the loose (sounds kind of clique lol)

The story was really well written and laid out, especially focusing on relationships with the character's mother's and being a mother, plus the sacrifices and hardships you have to overcome to protect your child. The story also followed with romance with a fateful couple and a married couple falling out of love.

The acting was really well played and suited each of the characters personalities! All really well acted. The emotions displayed really play with your heart strings! Especially DongBaek and her raw emotions and her crying is extremely contagious!!! Plus the interactions between Dongbaek and Yong Sik are so natural and have so many emotions it feels like your watching a couple together in public!

I really recommend this drama it's full of many versatile genres which would be the taste of most people as each genre is spread throughout the episodes so it 's not constantly romance or not constantly about crime or family which is sometimes a bit tasteless or insensitive to some moments in dramas but this is spread consistently so it doesn't always feel so strained and forced especially when it comes to romance between two characters where the chemistry is basically non existent

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Sometimes a show comes along that is so insightful, so unexpectedly profound and so transcendently beautiful that you are left without adequate words to describe it. This is that show.

Lee Sun-kyun plays Park Dong-hoon, a numb middle-aged engineer in a tired marriage who finds himself entangled with Lee Ji-an, a very young, almost unsocialised woman played with an extraordinary subtlety and quiet intensity by IU. Ji-an has been tasked to help get rid of Dong-hoon by the CEO of his company, Do Joon-young (Park Young-min) who is having an affair with Dong-hoon's wife. Ji-an wiretaps Dong-hoon's phone and finds herself identifying with his unhappiness, even as she is drawn to his inherent kindness.

Surrounded by a cast of unhappy and dissatisfied people, this is a show about middle age and about failure but in the end about how our lives are enriched by kindness and community. Ji-an is a damaged young woman who has endured almost unimaginable tragedy but through her relationship with Dong-hoon they are both able to heal and to finally pursue happiness.

The performances of the entire cast are extraordinary but it's the sparse script, off-kilter cinematography and haunting pensive OST that give the show a sensibility that's hypnotic, almost mesmerising. It’s melancholic and a little weird – but in the kind of way that people are a little weird. It’s grim and there’s very little joy in it but the tone and lack of joy is presented in a way that makes it analogous to the disappointments and mindless drudgery of middle-age.

But beyond the themes of failure and the cold darkness of winter as a metaphor for dissatisfaction, this is a show about the triumph of kindness. Portrayed so often as a weakness, it is instead Dong-hoon's kindness that is his greatest strength. It is kindness, community and love that is celebrated and through that celebration this show finds a beauty that transcends mere television.

It is, for now, the best show of 2018.

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Phenomenal and addicting! So good!

I normally only leave reviews for shows that really impresses me. I can only say wow! It's rare to see a story with strong leads that stay strong all throughout the series--when I say strong I mean leads who aren't foolishly blinded because of "love" and are strong all on their own regardless of the other person(s). They are independent and can make their own decisions. I love that there aren't any of those annoying drawn-out misunderstandings that historical dramas usually have.

Both characters of ML and FL are very likeable and loveable all on their own, with their own individual quirks which makes their coupling even better. Also, for once the main girl has a good family--no family drama which is really refreshing for me. The FL is strong, fierce, smart, has good martial arts, has influence and confident which is uncommon for historical dramas. The ML is equally great. I also especially love that they incorporated comedy appropriately into the show. I laughed so much almost every episode and there were a lot of "aww!" scenes. This is a very fun and wholesome show.

Both Neo and Gabrielle did such a phenomenal job displaying their character and roles. The storyline is unique and refreshing; misunderstandings are resolved without viewers having to pull their hair out from frustrations. I'm currently on episode 36 of 40 and will be sad once the series is over. I already know this show is worth a re-watch!

**EDIT: I have now completed the series--all 40 episodes. I am so sad that this show is over, but really enjoyed watching it. I have already re-watched twice. A very addicting show and also quite uplifting and wholesome. This is a great show to watch, especially for those who hate angst-filled dramas because this drama is not--it's more light and fluffy. ♥

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ran on vibes (though there were some sexy vibes)

Overall: my advice is to watch ep 1-3, 7 and 8. This series could have been a 9.5 but the paper thin/cliched plot and too many side characters lowered my rating. 8 episodes about 20 minutes each aired on Viki (U.S), GagaOOLala & WeTV depending on your country.

What I Liked
- the child actors were adorable and did a great job (though I was confused about who was who)
- heart fluttering moments, boss Jun had some excellent flirting/innuendo laced conversations
- really good kissing/intimacy in the last episode
- that gift they received was awesome and how boss Jun had it in his hand at the end (this is a first I think for kbl)
- Mr. Heart actor cameos in ep 5 (did not enjoy the rest of ep 5 though)
- good communication in episode 7 (finally)
- production value (except poor editing with confusing flashbacks tossed in)

Room For Improvement
- paper thin plot, too much business meetings that I cared zero about, not enough time spent on the leads and explaining their motivations/reactions, why did the other interns bring up this HR nightmare but then it's never a problem? cliche poor communication skills (a 1 sentence text would clear up the misunderstanding in ep 5)
- what on earth is boss Jun's "plan?" Why did he wait until now? Why does he act like that with her and not clarify things? How stupid is he? Even his unworldly hotness couldn't save his nonsense actions, the writers never even bothered explaining why the two boys couldn't/didn't keep in touch
- too many characters that were not well developed, why was everyone so in love with intern Jun, he's nice but ????
- confusing flashbacks that weren't immediately apparent were flashbacks and didn't contribute much to the paper thin plot
- translation error in ep 1? confused who is who in the childhood flashbacks

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A Memorable Show: TRUE LOVE WILL TAKE ITS COURSE

Overall: 10/10
This year I have seen too many modern Cdramas but only this drama has Reached a 10/10 for me or may 100/10 ( L&P just Won my Heart Over)
Chinese dramas are mostly youth-themed about a journey from high school to Adult Life. But this one totally outshines them all for me and will remain a masterpiece of them all. The last Modern Day Cdrama I Rated 10 was Go Ahead, exactly after 2 years I got to watch this gems, both these dramas had such meaningful stories and Beautifully portrayed characters that stay with us for a long long time...(also we got a little reunion of "father Ling and father Li" from Go Ahead).
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LESSON LEARNED: That life goes on and sometimes we have to learn to forgive and forget to continue living our lives in peace, if we hold on to the past our future will be dark and wasted "FORGIVE OTHERS NOT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE FORGIVENESS BUT BECAUSE YOU DESERVE PEACE"
An Emotionally Satisfying Ride.
I'm not very good at nitpicking, so when I like something I just express it through my reviews, this one was definitely THE ONE for me. RECOMMENDED 100%
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Story: 10/10 Outstanding elaboration of the story
Mostly modern-day Cdramas become draggy and messy as the Storyline unfolds but this one was unlike any other Drama and kept me craving for more and more, the real enjoyment was to wait each week to watch it and get satisfied with new episodes. It just keeps getting better and better and you keep asking for more and more. It has so many touching/motivating dialogue, The Story Successfully Attracts and holds the interest of its viewer till the end(cause I was hooked).
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We live in a society where many times we are being outshined by those who are better than us. It takes guts to admit defeat and take benefit from who is someone better than us, just like Zhu Yun did. but Success Fades When Ego Kicks in just like Gao Jian Hong Ruined his happiness just because he wanted to defeat Li Xun once... Many are calling Li Xun rude and narcissistic but why can't he be it? not everybody is a happy-go-lucky type of person, he was a prodigy student and why can't he show it off? He was a Genius of IT (nothing narcissist just 100% FACT) even their Professor was unable to get rid of the Virus he created. ;p
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Main Characters:
Li Xun:
His character is an Introvert and Anti-social person who doesn't like to make friends and finds it a waste of time to interact with people instead uses that time for something more productive like coding, After all the hardships he faced and his mother's death left him with only loneliness, still he worked hard went University and wanted to dedicate his life to create a chance to find a cure so that others don't go through the things he went through. ( LIXUN TT )
he was a soft-hearted person but wasn't good at expressing himself. He made Gao Jian Hong Embarrassed during the website project which was a bad idea but he had Gao Jian Hong's goodwill in mind as it was explained afterwards that it was his way of teaching Gao Jian Hong so that he learns from his mistakes just like Li Xun learned from his mistake when he got a burn on his hand by playing with fire, I also believe the best way a person can learn is by facing failure and learning from their mistake but it had a negative impact on Jian Hong.
But Gradually he becomes a friendlier and happy person when he starts dating Zhu Yun and it is shown that he is a gentle person as he made up with his sister and maintained a healthy relationship for 3 years(these moments were like a cherry topping on a cake) cause it showed their relations stability. He was in his early 20s when he lost his only family, the guilt of not being able to protect his sister and his fury made him do something irreversible and it was hard for him to maintain a relationship when a lot was going in his mind amidst of all this He broke her heart(he wasn't farsighted at this and didn't imagine how much she loves him and what a great blow it was to her TT. We all make mistakes at some point in life or in our youthful days but that doesn't define our personality but helps us to become a better person which he indeed became...

Whenever I will think about this drama ill always remember the youthful days of Lixun Zhuyun and their smiling eyes
Those who Find Li Xun Toxic Are living their lives too Far from Reality nobody is a Mr Perfect in real life and everybody has some flaw...
The fact That His Love For Zhu Yun didn't Change Even After What He went Through And enduring all that pain And still smiling, similarly Zhu Yun Supported him again even though he broke her once but she still believed him and knew Li Xun better than anyone else that he wasn't Bad Person in the end because she was closest to him. He did break her heart and Was Mean to Her but who hasn't hurt a loved one?
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Zhu Yun:
She is a Darling Friend, the Most Supportive Gf, and a rebellious child (that only after meeting Lixun but again it was an independent move not Li Xuns fault, he just gave her an ample amount of confidence due to which she started making her own decisions and have her own dreams.
Parents want their kids to be always safe but in that process, they repeal their kid's choices, and Zhu Yun's breakthrough from her controlling mother was much needed and a positive change in her personality though she didn't give up or proved to be wrong till the end(having a teacher as a mother can be a horrifying sometimes)...
In this fast-growing society If u r not able to make your own decisions then Ur life ahead will be hella hard ( cause the world doesn't show mercy to the weak, they just stomp on them and move forward)
But we should all thank her mother it was only because she sent Zhu Yun to the CS field where they met...
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PS: Too Many Happy Tears for My babies who fought against all odds AND won back L&P.
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Gao Jian Hong:
From The Start Considered Li Xun a Competitor even After getting defeated multiple times, He didn't give up even though he knew what Li Xun was Capable of. Friends can get jealous and talk or fight it out which is healthy but envy is dangerous it keeps building inside you and eats you within which is why it is unhealthy. Everyone around Gao Jian Hong was heads over heels for Li Xun even his Professor, his Classmate and the only girl he ever loved does great damage to one's personality.

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Acting/Cast: 10/10
I haven't seen any other work of both leads but I'm 100% Sure, no one Literally no one can replace Chen Feiyu and Zhang Jingyi as Li Xun and Zhu Yun. Li Xun's smiling face Around Zhu Yun when she is irritated and their eyes were always full of love, All their Emotions felt so Genuine and Pure...it surely is very hard to resist their chemistry. We might hate some characters but in the end, it was all because of the Outstanding Acting that we felt invested in the story. I'm gonna miss this badly TT
FINAL BYE TO ZHU YUN AND LI XUN
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Music: 10/10
After Ending It with tears in my eyes I Fell asleep while listening to Its album on repeat, after effects of this drama are undeniably high. With so many beautiful OSTs I enjoy the opening theme the most while all the songs are super amazing too.

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