Completed
Secret Garden
11 people found this review helpful
by cyssan
Feb 21, 2014
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
my cousin told me about this series a long time ago but i didn't watch it right away. i was thinking... one of these days I'm gonna be so bored that i'd want to watch any series.

sure enough around September 2013... i wanted a distraction from work. so i chose to watch Secret Garden.

i wasn't expecting anything. however, when i got started, I was hooked.

Secret Garden is about a snobish rich guy who falls in love at first sight with a poor stunts woman.

he tries to stop his feelings but ends up stalking her. when he finds her house, he spends the whole night watching the apartment as if wondering how a person could fit in it. he walks out and tells her to forget about him when he sees her coming out of the house.

she was more than happy to disappear from his life. but some how they wind up in a secret garden where they get a magical potion. to their horror, they find their bodies got switched.

put a rich CEO in a poor stunts womans body and a poor woman in a rich man's body and imagine the chaos that will follow.

-----

i was laughing, sighing and crying throughout the whole series.
this series is so good that the lead actor and actress both won an award.
nough said. watch it for yourself and discover the magic of Secret Garden.

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Completed
The King's Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang
11 people found this review helpful
Jun 5, 2014
108 of 108 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 6.0
This is the first review I've written but for a drama like this a review is a MUST. I'm not sure whether I'd watch another drama as long as this but I would definitely recommend others to watch this despite the number of episodes.

For me the drama didn't instantly pull me in and I think that was more to do with the fact that I was keen to see the older cast. However the earlier episodes are really important in the development in the story and so even if it may not seem particularly interesting at first PLEASE bear with it because it only gets better from there.

As a drama in general, the character development for each individual cast in the drama was done really well. As a viewer I was completely immersed in the drama and as much as I tried to hate some characters I really couldn't. I could see each character's good points as well as their flaws. The really good thing about this is that no character in the drama was portrayed as being 'perfect' or 'evil' which made them seem simply human, because i was able to understand them to an extent I couldn't bring myself to hate them. Even those who angered me to bits I could tolerate more as the drama progressed. Even if they may seem completely villainous at first, the director set out this drama in a way that you could also see the reasons why they behaved that way. Throughout the drama we go through all the ups and downs with the female lead and I felt myself becoming emotionally invested as i continued to watch this drama.

I loved how strong the female lead was and there were many moments where I was crying with her, the amount of situations she has to deal with and the pain she goes through, makes her a character to be respected. There were also many humorous moments in the drama which added comical relief. I came to adore the supporting casts which added a lot more to the drama.

To cut a long story short, this historical drama contained a lot of elements there was a love story ( a couple actually), strong friendships made, a number of family problems. From watching the beginning of the drama I really wasn't sure how it would finish but as the end of it drew near all of the secrets came out and it was pieced together really well. I cried and laughed many times from watching this and I'm sure anyone else watching this drama would understand why.

The music is really fitting especially the instrumentals in the background. After watching half of the episodes, you'll find yourself singing along to the OST.
I probably would NOT rewatch the WHOLE of this drama but just go back to my favourite episodes once in a while.

If I was to pick out a negative in this drama it would be how prolonged some parts were, I just was going immense stress just waiting for the moment that someone would find out the truth. However this drama wouldn't be that long if it was going to be that simple. So a definite watch even if you don't normally watch long dramas MAKE THIS THE EXCEPTION!!
I had a great time watching this drama and I encourage everyone to try it out.

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Completed
Love Better Than Immortality
12 people found this review helpful
Oct 3, 2019
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers
Just finished it and having major withdrawals already just like when I watched Scarlet Heart. I started watching because of Zhao Lusi after seeing her from I Hear You and seeing positive reviews.

The setting is roughly about our main female lead from the future who is willing to give up her immortality to transport her to a time period where she can find her ideal true love.

At first I wanted to drop it because it was too cutesy and was annoyed at how boy-crazy she was and trying every chance to generate a "loveable" moment with her destined one . As story progresses, I started to understand how unconditional one can be for their loved ones. She desired skinship from Xiao Bai but he was a gentleman and felt it is inappropriate. On other hand Qiu Yue has no problem with popping in her room to monitor what she is doing.

Watch it for the romantic love story. You won't regret it.

I cried a bucket up tears in the end because the love was so beautiful. You will fall for the lead who is deemed a devil that calculates through ever moves to benefit himself but ends up sacrificing everything for the female lead.

It's amazing how this started out as a fluffy drama that I could lightheartedly watch, ended up with me scrutinizing every single word the two leads spoke to each other. I did not want to miss any interaction between the two. Chemistry from both leads are awesome, the supporting cast all did an amazing job and I expect to see them more in the future.

A Cdrama done right. It may not have the hottest star, the best scenery, the best costume, the best storyline, but a good love story and actors that brings life into their character is all it takes.

Everyone on youtube is asking for a season 2. All I'm asking for is the two leads to work together again.

I do know that the two leads are in Prodigy Healer but ratings for it isn't that high, so I'll see if I'll end up watching it.

This is one of the few dramas that I would definitely rewatch and that's saying a lot because there are so many dramas choose from and I am willing to rewatch this one.

P.S. If you like kiss scenes, there's a ton off it.

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Completed
See You Again
12 people found this review helpful
Oct 18, 2019
45 of 45 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers
This show is just like a wish come true. After watching Shawn Dou in princess agents and Tiffany Tang in Weiyoung, I really wished to see them together in a show as the main couple with happy ending .
Plot: In short the story is about SJ, a wife and a would be mother. After the accident SJ wakes up and realise that, she was transported 10 years back in the past. Now she tries her best to save her family and friends from the bad fate which awaits them, along with it she tries her best to win her husband “YJC” back with a hope that after uniting with YJC everything will go back to its original place. This drama is very simple not much complicated one and I really love the chemistry between Shawn and Tiffany all of their memories were so adorable but I also liked Tiffany’s chemistry with Yang Shou.
Characters:
SJ : I really love her character, she is cute, intelligent and a supportive person moreover her undying love for YJC. After her transportation into the past, she tries her best to find YJC but she also remember that currently he is in a relationship with SXJ. Without thinking much she found YJC and did her best to stay by his side for 2 reasons, first is her hope to get everything back to its original place and secondly she wanted to be a part of YJC’s struggling period bcoz in future SJ mets YJC when he was already well settled in his career. Therefore, what she was doing was not weird for her bcoz he is her husband, they have a lot of memories together including her pregnancy. She is not a stalker or an obsessed person, she just wants her love and husband back the way it was including her pregnancy.
Stalking means u keep all record of someone’s daily life and obsession is where if u don’t get the person u love, you would either try to destroy them or kill them, which SXJ did. After YJC broke up with SXJ bcoz of her controlling nature, she ruined YJC’ future and career to make YJC realise that without her family name his talent will not be acknowledged by anyone neither he will be able get any position on his own.
I agree that at some point I felt that SJ should let the time arrange everything but every time she tries her best to stay way from YJC, fate brings them together which gives her the sign that they are fated and she can’t give up. SJ is such a generous person❤️????..... since SJ was fully aware of what’s gonna happen in the future, SJ tries her best to prevent such things from occurring even though she was criticised for it but she still helped them which resulted in change of their fate specially her mom and wenwen’s fate. I know u can’t tell someone to restrain them self becoz of the future they r not aware of but there is also a saying that “prevention is better than cure“, so she was not totally wrong to make sure that they don’t face the same painful fate. But the only thing annoyed me is when SJ was giving hopes to YJC on the basis of his future, that was totally wrong u can’t tell someone to believe that he/she will have a good career but do nothing for it just let the time do it.
After YJC dies, I really don’t mind her moving on with YP. YP is a good person and he loves SJ unconditionally, also he is the one YJC trust’s completely. Honestly in the end she did some crazy things just bcoz she believed that it will take her back to the future and YJC, which is very lame. SJ wanted her mom to have a new life but she didn’t want the same for herself why ? Sometimes when u didn’t get the happiness u wanted, try giving happiness to others and may be, u will be able to live happily again.
YJC: He is such a dedicated guy but it was a bad fate that he met SXJ first instead of SJ otherwise the struggle and embarrassment he faced even after being so talented won’t be there just bcoz he broke up with SXJ. Even after YJC career was destroyed, he did everything he could for SJ to support her mom’s surgeries. But instead of being cured it got spread, SJ wants best treatment for mom which can only be done in England but YJC doesn’t have the financial stability to support her but YP has, he was left with no choice but to gave up on her so she can take YP’s help in getting the best treatment for her mom. YJC also knows that YP’s love for SJ, he wanted SJ to get a good life unlike him. I really cried seeing YJC, he wants to be with her but the condition he is in, he can’t help her so the only thing he can do is to let her go to YP , who can give her the best.????????
YJC and YP doesn’t have any difference when it comes to loving SJ and talent but the only thing different is their status.
YP: I really love his character as YP and the way he loves SJ without expecting anything in return is just amazing. I really loved that scene when SJ came and told him that, taking his help makes her feel like she is using him and YP replied that he wants to be used by her. YP has the power and status, further he is very smart to not be fooled by anyone specially his uncle “YQ”. Honestly I knew it’s not possible between YP and SJ bcoz SJ was someone’s wife, from the beginning their was no chance for him except in the end when YJC dies. The only time I really felt very sad is when it was shown that he remembers everything that’s was cruel..???? but I don’t understand how did that happened? Bcoz I thought in the future YP won’t remember anything, for him it will be like nothing happened.
We know that in reality she is not TIME TRAVELLING ????, but I don’t mind bcoz if it’s about time travelling then it won’t be different. The only thing is, if they wanted her to wake up it would have been so much better to show that she was in flight with YP for some other reason then they met with the accident and she realise it’s similar to the one she had faced then she helps YP and wakes up, she realise that everything is back to it’s original place while YP doesn’t remember anything at all.
Really satisfied with the drama and it’s ending. All the cast did an amazing job in portraying their characters.
Acting Skill: Tiffany Tang , Shawn Dou and Yang Shou, no need to say they all are splendid actors.
Rewatch Value: definitely yes, in future

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Completed
The Master's Sun
12 people found this review helpful
May 6, 2014
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
I just finished watching this drama, and I already miss it!
I can't believe how long it took me to finally decide to watch it! I should have seen it sooner! That is my only regret.
At first I was kind of sceptical about this drama, not knowing what to think of a horror and supernatural korean drama, thinking it wouldn't be as great as it appeared to be... I was so wrong. I could not have enjoyed it any more. It had everything, from good comedy to almost horror (I really got the creeps in some scenes) with a really touching (though frustrating at times) romance.

First, I absolutely loved the story : it had a mysterious overall plot that left you on your toes for most of the drama (more mysterious than I first thought), while also adding short plots that changed every episode, and they were interesting and greatly contributed to the progress between the two leads and were in no way unnecessary to the show. The romance in this show wasn't awkward at all, it was a proper fall in love over time and not at-first-sight kind of romance. It left much more room for the comedy and the mystery. I found myself really looking forward to the next episode, squirming with delight when something good happened, and it brought tears to my eyes when something sad happened. The good thing with this story is also that, you also create a connection with all the other characters, event the cameos (the short-plots), the show left plenty of room for the small roles to poke at our feelings and move us just as the leads do (or maybe I'm just an emotional wreck). Overall, this story had good progression, fulfilled it's duty to make us laugh, cry, dream, and also scare us (seriously, not kidding, they did a great job with those special effects, because I was affected ^^). Great plot!

When it comes to the acting, it was absolutely great! So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo Jin had am-a-sing chemistry, I really want to see them in another drama together. The acting was very good, and I think this drama is underrated acting-wise (story-wise too), I think it deserved many more awards than it actually got. I really want to applaud Gong Hyo Jin and So Ji Sub, just excellent! I would not change anything about the cast!

For the music, I fell in love with a few songs, not all of them, but it was a pretty good OST, that I probably will still be humming in a few months time.

For the re-watch value... definitely! There would be less suspense, but the cute relationship and great comedy and story are worth every minute! I would definitely re-watch!

Overall, I highly recommend this drama, to anyone (though I'm sure not everybody would agree with me) and I am still kicking myself about not starting it sooner. So watch it now!

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Completed
Sunshine of My Life
12 people found this review helpful
by Taz_X
Apr 15, 2021
45 of 45 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Natural and Realistic Romance

This is a very slow burn romance that is natural in the sense that it grows at a really nice and realistic pace. It's not love at first sight, hate-to-love or obsession, it's just pure and quite boring romance. It is also realistic in the sense that the drama focuses on the work life and romantic life of all the characters and it has a good balance of this. If you want a slow but real romance, then I'd recommend this.

I loved the leads in this drama. This is the first drama I've seen where both leads are level headed, reasonable and actually stay together throughout the drama. Any issues they have in their relationship is resolved within an episode. There is no dragged out drama that break them up and get them together again. Despite all the drama in this show and how many people are trying to get in the way of their relationship, nothing stops the leads from doing what they want and being with whomever they want. They also had really good chemistry together, it seemed so natural and not at all forced. The FL and the SML have a very different relationship, the way they portray their characters, their relationship is meant to be forced and it's seen through their chemistry.

I actually really liked the FL (Mo Fei) in this drama. She was talented, independent, level headed and always pursued her dream. She didn't need a man to help her, if anything they got in the way. People liked her for her talent and personality and despite the fact that she was not of the same economic status as the ML, you can tell that she had a very bright future ahead of her as a designer and that she will make it big in the industry. She never got into any drama, and if anyone made it difficult for her or tried to jeopardise her, she would put them in their place through words alone. It doesn't matter who they are, she will put them in their place. And I love that despite how trusting and friendly she is, she will never let anyone walk over her or get away with it.

I loved a lot of the friends that the FL made on her way to rise in her career especially her first roommate in France, Duoduo. Duoduo was probably my second favourite character after the FL. She was such a sweet friend and amazing girlfriend in my opinion, but she used violence unlike the FL, and I felt like her unreasonable was sometimes more reasonable than the FL's reasonableness. Duoduo didn't let things slide and only forgave a person if they put in effort. But the FL was so easily willing to forgive an old friend for backstabbing her even though the friend didn't ask for nor want forgiveness. If that was Duoduo in that situation, she'd slap the girl, call her for her shit in front of a crowd and then walk off never looking back.

Another one of my favourite characters was the SML's sister. She was really sweet, nice and reasonable despite her dire situation.
The FL's brother was also one of my favourites. The FL and her brother had such good chemistry, they just exuded sibling energy throughout.

The most unreasonable character in this drama was definitely the SFL. She is a character that went against everything the FL represented despite being in the same field of work. She is an independent woman but became what she is in order to get a man who clearly said he has no interest in her and she was completely fine with the idea of marrying a man that can't love her. She doesn't suck up to the man either, she sucks up to the mother which is even worse because she believes that she can force him into marriage by simply getting the approval of his mother. I hate people like her in dramas who sacrifice everything for a man they're not in a romantic relationship with, and then blame the man for not loving them. The FL, despite being with the ML never sacrifices her dream to be with the ML. They did long distance and it worked. If anything, this drama teaches you to put your dream before any person.

One more thing I have to mention are the outfits. The outfits alone will make you believe that this is a fashion romance. I mean the outfits of all the characters in every episode were just gorgeous not to mention the wedding outfits. I loved the wedding outfits so much, it suited the characters so well.

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Completed
Time to Fall in Love
12 people found this review helpful
Jun 13, 2022
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Loved it~

I was looking for a quick-watch drama when I stumbled across this title. It didn't take much convincing since I love Luo Zheng and I remembered the female lead from another drama. The show is definitely trope-filled, but I knew what I was getting into (plus I secretly love cliches). The main cp had beautiful chemistry and the second leads started out annoying but I loved them by the end. Though some parts were predictable, there were a few surprises in there that I wasn't expecting. I laughed a lot and cried more than I thought I would. It was short and sweet and gave me all the feels I was looking for. Also, Luo Zheng's face is just....I mean....need I say more?

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Dropped 14/14
Woori the Virgin
11 people found this review helpful
by jane
Jun 14, 2022
14 of 14 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 1.5
Story 1.5
Acting/Cast 3.5
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Ads lied, the series disappointed me more than anything I have ever watched

The way it is advertised lies about the content of the show. I thought I finally got lucky finding a series about a woman with two husbands but I found another boring, misogynistic series about a man who has slept with every woman he has met and I absolutely HATE the writers did not let Woori the virgin confront him about it. Instead, they made it so she would get embarrassed and humiliated when pointing out what an absolute whore this rich man is. I dropped the show the moment that happened. Biggest waste of my time. Would recommend nobody wastes their time with it.

Not only did they not deliver as promised but also gave me a misogynistic disappointing show. If you want more women to watch it don't just advertise it as a female fantasy then fill every single part of the series with male fantasy.

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Completed
A Little Thing Called First Love
12 people found this review helpful
Dec 1, 2019
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
This drama was so cute! I really recommend this drama to someone who is looking for a light hearted c drama with not much melodrama (or any at all).

This c drama has themes of youth, popular guy and not so popular girl, high school, college, friendship, fashion, architecture, and the cutest little jealousy scenes ever!

Out of the probably 80 c dramas I’ve watched (and counted), this drama goes into my top 5 for c drama youth. This type of drama is exactly what I’m looking for when I think of a youth drama. And yes, there IS a happy ending!

Just keep in mind that the cast is 18 years or younger, so there isn’t much to the drama than your middle school romance lololol. Still recommend!

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Completed
Fated Hearts
60 people found this review helpful
Oct 28, 2025
38 of 38 episodes seen
Completed 40
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Sha Shi 杀石 or Smirk and Soap?

Jinxiu’s flamboyant red-clad commander Fu Yixiao, the most magnificent archer across two warring kingdoms, takes careful aim, her moon-shooting bow coiled tautly at full draw. Her arrow unerringly strikes her enemy Feng Suige, the first prince of Susha, in the heart, halting his charging battalion in their tracks. The Susha army has no choice but to beat a hasty retreat, only to find assassins hot on their heels. Then, because makjang never met a cliché it didn’t hug, Yixiao tumbles off a cliff and wakes up with amnesia. Fate, that tired scriptwriter, deposits her in the same neutral sanctuary as her enemy. Of course he captures her and is perfectly justified in smacking her around as payback. But our feisty lady warrior bites, scratches, and kicks back as good as she gets. Domestic violence rom-com? The show thinks so.

I found the initial violence between the leads distasteful, but the narrative does a good job developing their relationship organically after that. It starts with suspicion and reluctant collaboration, then evolves into shared understanding, respect, and unwavering trust. Yixiao is no love brain; she methodically pieces together and tests her scattered recollections from the day she was ambushed and betrayed. Feng Suige more or less figured out what happened but gives her space to investigate and reach her own damning conclusions while he hovers protectively in the background. This convincing progression from enemies to lovers is well portrayed by both Li Qin and Chen Zheyuan. They are charismatic, conversant actors, and I enjoyed the romance—but for some reason their screen chemistry didn’t rock my world. Maybe it was Chen Zheyuan smirking through Suige’s first confession, or maybe I was too distracted by how obviously their love scenes were reenacted from Yang Mi and Mark Chao’s iconic ones in Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, down to costumes and sets.

Plot wise, the drama starts sharp and then free falls into increasingly sensational with over-the-top twists and high emotions centered on familiar tropes and unhinged character archetypes. Each subsequent arc is a triangle of lunatics, masked nobodies; a bunch of bat-shit-crazy mini-makjangs mashed together into an incoherent and ultimately unsatisfying story. Don’t get me wrong—there were many riveting confrontations where scathing truths were delivered in a dramatically satisfying manner. Sadly, the motivations and grievances underlying all the burning resentment are shallow, even petty. Ultimately there are no good villains—just a bunch of spoiled brats and their over-indulgent parents, all victims of their own deluded ambitions and warped sense of justice. Even Feng Suige lost me after he made an irrational case for his love-brained sister, then a hostage princess no less, to ascend the Susha throne.

It is clear the writers have lost the plot when the most rational and understandable character ends up being Xia Jingyan—the unhinged Jinxiu emperor. I enjoyed his arc with Feng Xiyang a lot more than even Suige and Yixiao’s story. Acting-wise, Qin Tianyu steals every scene, cycling tyrannical, humorous, forlorn, and almost empathetic. His formidable aura made Chen Zheyuan’s "menace" conveyed by a lopsided sneer look like a toddler practicing scary faces. Even though he tones it down to a bearable level here, this actor’s tendency to overact loses me time and again. It is only after he abandons the sneer in the ending arcs that his acting seems more authentic and less performative. The supporting cast is strong all-around and ham it up for all their worth through all the emotional showdowns and exaggerated plot twists.

Li Qin remains the sole reason to finish - she is fantastic in this role of a commander of men who can hold her own against the best and the worst of them. As story progresses Yixiao becomes relegated to playing bodyguard while Suige’s agenda plays out. Meanwhile, Jingshi remains a rational and somewhat empathetic antagonist until the final arc where he becomes completely irredeemable. It was anti-climactic to watch this cunning and calculating antagonist seal his own fate by making an out-of-character and delusional love-brained decision. But what really ticked me off was I stuck around for the lovers-to-enemies arc. I wanted to see Yixiao's revenge, her arrow, his heart. I was seated for Sha Shi 杀石, an ancient Chinese makjang take on Kill Bill. What I got instead was a man stepping in to get the job done right. Tarantino would never have robbed the Bride of her agency like that. The ending was exhausting and I have no words to waste on Suige’s harebrained ideas about succession and governance. On the bright side, there are too many people with mental health issues running amok in both Susha and Jinxiu that they are certainly doomed kingdoms not worthy of memory or survival.

Verdict: Visually stunning, addictively theatrical, narratively bankrupt. Li Qin earns every point; the rest is smirk and soap. 8/10—for the first ten episodes and one flawless archer.



Best lines:
I can change him - Feng Xiyang
My condolences - Feng Pingcheng

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Completed
First Love Again
60 people found this review helpful
by Shiro
Mar 19, 2022
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 2.5

The definition of mediocre

This drama is so mediocre it is impressive!

The dialog- mediocre
The chemistry- mediocre
The kisses- mediocre
The acting- mediocre
The scenery- mediocre...

EVERY SINGLE DETAIL SCREAMS MEDIOCRE

With one exception Song Han Hee who played Yoo Sin Bi / Mikael was actually pretty good and impressed me in her role, she reminded me a bit of IU....

But I guess that is the exception that reinforces the rule... But there really is nothing bad about this drama but nothing good either.... it just is...

So all on all... Mediocre... did I mention it is mediocre?

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Completed
Strong Girl Nam Soon
36 people found this review helpful
by Sugar
Nov 27, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 1.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 1.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Worst story

The villian out shined everyone...

The story writing is shit...
The fl has numerous super powers,but she chose to lie and backstab the villian🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

She could have found about the villians bad deeds any other way...but backstabbing nd lying while having all these super powers seems senseless....

And our beloved villian ryu shi oh deserves better💔 he had no other choice but to become a mafia...he was trained like that since he was a kid.....he definitely deserves redemption🤧😭
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Completed
King the Land
36 people found this review helpful
by kobeno1 Flower Award1
Aug 10, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 4.0
This review may contain spoilers

Underwhelming, Cliche-Riddled "Fairy Tale" That We've Seen So Many Times Before!

I’m not sure why I continue to fall into the trap of watching these romantic dramas that overuse cliches that have been done hundreds of times before. It’s the biggest reason why I stopped watching American romantic comedies because they’re mostly all the same. However, perhaps it’s because I’ve seen enough refreshing takes on the genre in K-Dramas that I remain hopeful, that there are still a few gems out there. This series isn’t one of them.

Once again, we have the super-wealthy man who swoops in for the plain working girl. We’ve seen this duo so many times, that it’s literally become tiresome. It’s also insulting that women today—in any part of the world—are made to feel that the “jackpot” is still the rich man. Look around, and you’ll probably find that many such relationships don’t last or end well.

There is little innovation or creativity in this series. It’s about as predictable as you could imagine. It follows this predictable formula: wealthy son has a problem, so he’s a bit of a recluse. Wealthy son has a parent who is unhappy with him and, of course, he disapproves of the girl he likes and is told to get rid of her. Always a power struggle between the guy and a sibling or rival. Regular girl doesn’t have much self-esteem and struggles to make ends meet. Regular girl begins to question her value as soon as any objection is made against her, especially by his parents. Wealthy guy miraculously recovers from his problem, usually with the help of the girl, and we see him begin to soften and see life in a different way. Wealthy man treats the girl to many exotic events that nobody could possibly experience (bought out restaurants, amusement parks, lavish hotel rooms, etc.) as if this is the only way to enjoy each other’s company. Everything is miraculously wrapped up in the last episode so that everything ends on a happy note.

What we end up having is a very predictable series where we already know what’s going to happen from the very start. This formula is used in nearly every Hallmark movie ever made. In fact, I wondered if the writer stole their template to use for this series. It wouldn’t surprise me.

The series could have been brave and chosen to go off in a totally different direction. Perhaps the guy gives up his wealth to pursue his own dreams and happiness. Or how about this? Why can’t the woman be the wealthy one and the guy be the regular shmo? Because culturally, we still live in a world where women continue to believe that ultimate happiness lies with a wealthy man, which is beyond sad. It’s pathetic because it’s so completely untrue.

Gu Won (Lee Jun Ho) is the reclusive son of a wealthy company and hotel owner. His mother suddenly disappears from his life at a young age, and he doesn’t trust people who smile. He views such actions as fake as well as insulting as if the person is hiding their true feelings. He’s not entirely wrong. There is nothing so superficial as a fake smile. He comes back to Korea after years in the UK to learn the business, even though at first, he has no interest in taking over.

Cheon Sa Rang (Im Yoon Ah) is a young woman who’s always dreamed of working at the King Hotel. It’s a place of warm memories from when she was a child, and because of her customer service skills, she finds herself moving up the ladder to King the Land—an exclusive VIP floor of the hotel, only for the very richest of people who demand special service. She’s very good at her job, and when she’s asked to interview Gu Won for a promotional scheme, of course, there is immediate friction, especially when he demands that she stop smiling.

As you can already guess, these two are whisked away alone (you have to hand it to the writers who scheme to come up with some plausible way to force these two characters to be alone in order to break the ice!), and they begin to learn about each other. The sad part is that by the end of the third episode, Gu Won miraculously recovers from his problem of seeing people smile. This is an area that could have, and should have, been explored much more thoroughly than it was. This was a missed opportunity.

Cheon Sa Rang has two other friends who both work under the same company. Kang Da Eul works at a duty-free shop. And Oh Pyung Hwa is a flight attendant. All three women are very immature, cowardly, and weak. Wallflowers are never attractive or appealing. Sa Rang constantly allows herself to be abused at work. Kang Da Eul is abused by her in-laws and husband. It’s sad that her little girl has more maturity than she does. And Oh Pyung Hwa has her past held against her, and she’s also abused by the pilot and co-workers. None of them ever speak up and stand up for themselves.

To be fair, Korea is arguably the most competitive country in the world. And what we see is a very cutthroat mentality in which workers are expected to fall-in and do whatever they’re told without argument or complaint. This leads to a hierarchy of those above abusing those below. In one of the high points of the series, Gu Won attempts to correct this oversight. His plan is for companies to appreciate their employees and to treat them as valuable commodities rather than throwaways. This is a philosophy that is sorely needed in today’s world, but perhaps especially in Korea. This point was actually my favorite aspect of the series, so it wasn’t a total loss.

Lee Jun Ho is the glue of this series. He has a very natural acting style that makes you appreciate his acting chops in nearly every scene that he’s in, and in many ways, he single-handedly prevents this “ship” from sinking completely.

I’ve always loved Kim Young Ok (Grandma) who dazzled us in “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” as well as “Tomorrow.” She’s a true delight in everything she does. I smiled when I saw her in her first scene.

Im Yoon Ah is the weak link in this series. this woman is like a Jekyll and Hyde actress. She's either upbeat, bubbly, and warm, or she's cold, rude, aloof, and indifferent. She has no other "speeds" which is why her range isn't very good. She has no clue how to build up a scene. She can only hit one button or the other, which really hurts her performance. Too often, she looks uncomfortable in scenes where she shouldn't be. I found it ironic that she’s the last one to smile in the wedding of the last episode. She looked so uncomfortable, and it showed. She has a good grin, but she hardly has “the best smile.” Her performance is very inconsistent and lacking believability in many scenes. I certainly won’t be watching any more series that showcase this actress. She’s decent at best.

Kim Sun Young plays Gu Hwa Ran, Gu Won’s sister, even though she looks more like his mother. While she played the character well, Gu Hwa Ran is way too one-dimensional. This was another character that should have been explored with much more depth.

Finally, we have Ah Se Ha playing No Sang Sik (Gu Won’s assistant). There is a fine line between playing the idiot and playing the funny man. The buffoon is rarely appealing, and the Thailand trip was cringeworthy and easily my least favorite part of the series. It takes someone with real acting chops to toe the line between being annoying and funny. He was easily my least favorite character of the series, making me question why he was there.

I prefer series like “Business Proposal” that showcased strong, mature women who could fend for themselves. Women who didn’t act like wallflowers who wilt under every kind of pressure, which is what we have here. “Hometown Cha Cha Cha,” “Our Beloved Summer,” “Touch Your Heart” and “Love To Hate You” were vastly superior to this series. These writers really need to start thinking outside the box instead of hammering us with the same plots and weak characters that have been done to death.

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Completed
Celebrity
36 people found this review helpful
Jul 1, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 7
Overall 5.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Everyone on this show needed to go outside and touch grass, my GOD

If you're looking for a revenge drama about rich people behaving badly, you'd be better off watching The Glory, which is an altogether more satisfying execution of this story. That said, I do love watching horrible people get their just desserts, so I ate this up regardless.

The acting was quite good and Park Gyu Young was especially captivating as A-Ri, which says a lot about her skill as an actress because the script didn't really give her much to work with. It felt like we, the audience, were kept at arms-length from her for the entire show and even after watching all 12 episodes, I don't feel like I really know her as a character at all. The same goes for Si-Hyeon and I wish Lee Chung Ah had gotten a meatier role and a chance to do more than just look wan and melancholy. I do like that they maintained their friendship as I was convinced for the first few episodes that it was gonna be an All About Eve situation. The less said about the romance (if you can even call it that), the better, because what the hell was that? Congrats to this show for having one of the weirdest "romances" I've ever seen, I guess.

As someone who doesn't really care about Instagram or influencers, I found most of the conflict quite petty and hard to take seriously, and even though A-Ri's reputation (and by extension, her livelihood) was on the line, the stakes never really felt that high. I also think there was a huge missed opportunity for the show to say something about privilege, as A-Ri's massive success was not just due to her hard work, but her fashion knowledge from her wealthy upbringing and her industry connections thanks to her father's old company.

Ultimately, this was a fascinating peek into a world that is so outwardly glamorous and a good reminder to get off the internet once in a while, but instead of skewering modern internet/influencer culture, the show fell into its own trap and gave us the filtered, Instagram-ready version instead.

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Completed
Close Range Love
36 people found this review helpful
Apr 26, 2015
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 1.0
I don't know. It's cute yes but hmmn, the feeling was just not there. Not a movie to remember. The first part was fun but it just flowed forward into boring scenes.

I'm totally not convinced by the main roles Yamashita Tomohisa and Komatsu Nana in this movie. The acting was just soso. It could have had lot's of more feeling. If you're watching this movie for Yamashita Tomohisa's appearance then you should watch this, handsome in every scene. Yamamoto Mizuki did a great job as a supporting character! I want to see more of her.

Also a very very cliché story..Don't expect something unique. A typical manga love story.

I liked the music!

Watch this if you're bored and don't expect much, then maybe it's good for you!

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