Reviews

The series that will keep you hooked until the very end.

This has to be the series to watch if you're looking for something interesting, something that will keep you watching until the end and not skip. This has to be one of my favorite dramas; I've seen it several times and it never gets old; the story hooked me from the first scene. All of the characters are interesting, and you'll doubt everything until it all comes together. The main character is superbly written, and Nam Koong Min's performance is flawless. All of the actors did an excellent job portraying the characters; it may have made me cry and suspect many times, but it is the best series for me.

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Lives in Your Mind Rent Free

Honestly, this show was so pure and fun! The cast was amazing, and it was so great to see them interact with each other and approach each other with purer and more innocent intentions compared to dating shows that feature adults.

The structure itself was very well planned and written. You could see the stark transition from when they were at the 19 school and when they arrived at the 20 house. It made you want to do that with your friends, or wish you had done it when you were that age. It made you immerse yourself in the cast's stories and lives. The whole show was really well edited and seemed to portray their lives pretty naturally and mostly as it were (although I wish I could've seen more of the unreleased moments of the couples and Seo Yeong because she seemed really fun at the end and in the interviews).

Each of the cast members was charming in their own way and seemed genuinely nice. They obviously made mistakes, but most of them quickly owned up to it and even the rejections were handled very maturely. My personal favorites were Jungyun, who was very clumsy and awkward but seemed very genuine and innocent, and Heeji, who was so bright, cheerful, and fun while always supporting all her friends. Pyeongseok's surprising rizz, Jiwoo's unexpected maturity, Yerin's funniness, Sangwon's kindness, and the other members' personalities also definitely carried the show.

Also, shout out to the panel who would voice my thoughts and bring up things I hadn't thought of each episode. They added something meaningful, even if it was just excited squeals, every single episode, which isn't an easy feat.

After every single episode, I was thinking about the show and looked forward to the next episode—literally lives in your mind rent free. I'll definitely be looking forward to, hopefully, a season 2 and more news from the cast! It was my favorite dating show ever, and would definitely be willing to rewatch it. Also, SPOILER WARNING BELOW!

Love how Jungyun Jiwoo and Heeji Pyeongseok are still dating! Hope that both relationships go well (hopefully forever?).

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Weepy all too common story line.

A teenagely, weepy, naive story. Although starting out rather good it quickly deteriorated into uninteresting, like unfortunately many Korean dramas nowadays.
Main male actor has no character. The other two main male actors have much more charisma.
In Korean dramas the person contesting for the "heroines" love often like in this drama depicted as someone she can hardly stand. It makes the story very one sided. Reality isn't just black and white. Most of the times it's just different shades of grey...
Don't know how can be so popular. Think it's mainly because the female lead used to be a "cute" child star.

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I try to keep the number of "10" dramas I have to minimum, but no matter how I parsed it, I had to give this a 10. It is just about as perfect a Kdrama as I've watched. If I had to rank the best features of this drama I'd probably say:

1. Acting
2. Characters
3. Directing
4. Story

The acting in this drama is stellar across the board. I mean really, really amazing. I already new Kim Kang Woo was one of the best actors in Korea. (Ever seen The Railroad, no? Well then go find it, now!) But he takes it to another level in this playing the antagonist Chae Do Woo. This is such a unique and intricate character, not at all your cookie-cutter bad guy (for a perfect example of a cookie-cutter, 1-dimentional bad guy, see Jo Gwan Woong in currently airing Gu Family Book). For a drama to be truly great, the bad guy has to be as interesting as the good guy. This bad guy is way more interesting than the good guy. He is definitely right there with Lee Jin Pyo (City Hunter) as one of the most interesting bad guys ever. And over time you almost start to want to feel for him, almost.

I could go on all day about KKW, but the rest of the cast is just as good. From Park Ki Woong's autistic Mazinger Hunter (props to him because playing that roll had to be exhausting with all of his twitches and odd eye movements) to Jang Hang Sun, who absolutely kills it as Do Woo and Eun Soo's father -- everyone is great.

But I have to really express my love and sadness over Park Yong Ha's performance. I had never seen him act before this and never heard any of his music either, but I was just blown away with his acting and wanted to see more. So it was with a very heavy heart that I found out he had killed himself not all that long after this drama aired. I cried when I found this out because he was so talented and it was such a great loss to the world. But at least there is this amazing performance to remember him by.

The acting may be my favorite thing about this drama but even the best acting can be ruined by bad directing. The PD, Yoon Sung Sik also directed Gaksital and I'm not sure what else, but I'll be watching whatever he does from now on because the directing here is excellent. A great director doesn't get in the way of the story and the acting and let's the drama unfold organically, and in some cases should present us with some really beautiful cinematography, and that is what PD Yoon did. This drama has some truly beautiful shots and no glaring directorial errors or jarring transitions. One scene I particularly enjoy (without giving anything away) is when Seo Kyung Ah and Chairman Chae are entering a long dark hallway to go see some of his business associates. The way that brief scene is lit and directed is just soooooo cool!

Finally, what good is great acting and directing without a decent story to tell and witty dialogue? This drama has all that and a bag of dried squid. The story is so complex and compelling. I found myself always on the edge of my seat wondering when the next shoe would drop. This isn't just a revenge drama. It's a revenge drama that becomes a redemption story and is laced with philosophical themes that keep you thinking long after it's over.

As for the music, I don't pay much attention to OSTs so if the music doesn't annoy me and they know how to use silence properly, then I score the music high. I hate it when there is music playing (and loudly) at inappropriate times, and Story of a Man does a good job of tempering the soundtrack so it is not distracting.

I gave this an 8 rewatch value only because there are a lot of twists and surprises that won't be as fun the second time around. That said, there are also a lot of really neat details that I think one would only see on a second viewing so it would be worth it. This drama is intricate and pays so much attention to detail. The details are something that really set it apart from most dramas.

In conclusion, watch this drama, NOW! It is just so perfect. And it probably would be a good drama for a newbie who's used to American tv too because of the high quality production and acting.

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Marry first, fall in love later and achieve great things together

“Destined” is a Chinese costume drama that tells the journey of two people, Gu Jiu Si and Liu Yi Ru, who were married by chance, fell in love as they achieve victories and went through hardships together, and grew as individuals and as a couple.

This drama has romance, familial love, friendship, love for the people, burden to help the country, and loyalty - themes that would appeal to you if you're looking for a story that transcends beyond the characters' personal ambitions.  I laughed at the funny and light-hearted moments, cried at the emotional and heart-tugging scenes, and celebrated with them in their victories. There is also some political intrigue, strategizing and battle scenes, since there are forces bent on wreaking havoc in the country.

Liu Yu Ru (FL) is responsible, smart and business-savvy.  Despite being the only legitimate daughter of a cloth merchant, she and her mother were mistreated because her father favored the second wife.  To forge a better life, she initially had set her sight in marrying into the influential and scholarly Ye family.  Gu Jiu Si (ML) is the only son of Yangzhou’s wealthiest family. He is witty, has excellent martial arts skills, and despite his infamous reputation, is actually kind-hearted; he once fooled around but gradually changed and became a serious learner, a good husband and responsible leader, partly due to the FL’s influence, who gave him the needed push and encouragement.  I like how their relationship developed and their love for each other blossomed throughout the drama.  They have a healthy relationship, they complement each other, and there are no silly misunderstandings between them.  Together, they are a power couple.

Bai Jing Ting’s portrayal of Gu Jiu Si is spot on! His comedic timing is gold, and he can also carry the heavy scenes.  He is really a versatile actor, and one of my favorites.  Song Yi also gave a good performance as Liu Yu Ru.  Her LYR is gentle yet tough, savvy yet kind, loving yet firm. Their chemistry is natural and doesn’t feel forced; hence, the growth of their characters and their relationship flow organically. 

The supporting cast is commendable too, and those that stand out to me are Ray Chang as Zhou Ye, a dependable and loyal friend; Zhang Hao Wei as Ye Shi An, the idealistic scholar; and Li Xin Ze as Shen Ming, who's loyal and street smart, and the funniest of the three. Together, they are like the three musketeers.  I also like Zhao Yuan Yuan as Qin Wan Zhi, the badass female warrior and a good friend to LYR.

One thing that I don't quite understand is how Luo Zi Shang (played by Liu Xue Yi) survived and eventually became a powerful figure. It's not well explained in the drama. 

Final Verdict: Despite a few unanswered questions, I like this drama and enjoyed watching it. The story is balanced and well-paced, and the characters are generally well-written, so I would gladly recommend it!

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you need to watch this drama

I think the criticisms the drama received isn't unfounded. The gaming aspect of the drama was never fully explained. I still don't really understand the game or how the championships work. There is a clear emphasis on the personal lives of the players, rather than on their actual performance in games.

However, E-sports was the setting or background of the drama, so I don't know what more people were expecting. The main focus of the drama was the characters and their growth, not the actual game. If people are looking for a true E-sports drama, this simply isn't the drama for them. At the end of the day, it is a Chinese romance drama, not an E-sports documentary. I understand the reasoning behind the controversy, how it can come off as disrespectful, but no one would really believe the things that happen in a drama anyways.

Rather than giving a realistic point of view and emphasis on E-sports, I think the drama focuses more on addressing other pressing problems. Things like how E-sports is still not considered a real profession, hardships and doubt young people may face when pursuing their dreams, and crazy fans online who care more about their idols' personal lives and appearance than what their idols really do professionally and represent. The topics brought up in the drama even caused me to take a second and reconsider how the show applied to the real world. I think where the drama lacks in sincerity towards the E-sports genre, it makes up for by speaking about these problems.

The acting was a bit stiff and forced, but not to the point that it made me dislike the drama. The romance was perfect. I haven't liked a couple in a Chinese drama as much as I've liked the two main leads. Their characters are made to be complex, yet consistent, and I love it. I sometimes find scenes in Chinese dramas extremely cringey, but there weren't that many of those in this show. I found myself getting butterflies whenever there was something between them. There are some parts in the story where it's painfully obvious that it was to move the plot forward or a filler, but again, like the acting, it wasn't so bad that it made me dislike the drama.

THE MUSIC FOR THIS DRAMA IS TOP TIER. I loved every song. Seventeen made a song for the show, and I was so happy when I found out.

This drama is far from perfect and definitely has flaws, but for me, it was one of the most enjoyable and entertaining Chinese dramas I've watched.

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Never would have I imagined that a drama about taking revenge could be this fun!

I simply started this drama on a whim, this was never originally on my PTW. But I'm so glad that I decided to watch it, because otherwise I would have missed out on such an epic drama.
Why you should give this a chance?

- One of the reasons I was hesitating watching this drama was because I thought it would be too "serious" for me. But like I said, it turned out to be really fun. There's still an underlying tone of seriousness, which is important for the show, mainly because it deals with subjects like infidelity, bullying, domestic violence etc. However, instead of having the dark, sombre energy that I first expected going into this series, this has more of a vibrant energy. Which might be easier for viewers to get into.

- The main characters: 3 strong women, and 1 country boy.
Jung Hye is a chaebol daughter, who is a straightforward and composed woman. Yet there's this vulnerability and innocence about her.
Mi Sook is a calm and subdued housewife, whose husband is a famous professor. She's probably the most rational one amongst all the other members, and never lets them go overboard with their revenge.
Hong Do is the eldest member of the Bok Ja club. She is the most courageous one amongst all the other members. She' always takes care of the other members, like her own family.
Soo Byum is the maknae of the group. Through various circumstances, he later on joins in the club too.

- The sismance is so strong here! Despite the fact that they have completely different personalities, they become a family together. They cheer each other on, they rely on each other, they support each other. Their relationship is one of, if not, the best thing about this drama. The Bokja Club unnies have become my favorite sismance!

- This drama is #SQUAD-GOALS! Although these four people met randomly, they had crazy good chemistry with each other. I loved how well they worked together. Each had their specefic roles. The witty one, the courageous one, the reliable one, and the straightforward one. Together, they formed one of the best squads I have seen in a drama. They came up with so unique, interesting and just plain awesome ideas to take revenge. I loved this squad!

- There's even a minor bromance going on with Hee Soo & Soo Byum, which I found adorable. And there are hints of romance speckled in too, just in case you were wondering.

If you're like me and for some reason hesitating to watch this drama, my advise to you is- give it a go. You never know, you might just come to love this like I did. I personally think this is one of those dramas that you shouldn't pass off.  So I hope you give this drama a chance! Happy Watching!!

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"Who Kissed Me" is a 'best friends to lovers' type of romance based around a peculiar female main character that has an... obsession? a thing? for kissing, although she has never been kissed before - until a strange, foggy night. I recommend it to anyone looking for a light-hearted romance.

Personally, I found Yoon Sol's interest strange, but if you look at it lightly, if you don't actually take it serious, it's easy to brush aside. She has a very bubbly, energetic personality, although she's oblivious to many, many things - as your usual young female romance protagonist. Hae Young, her friendly and shy best friend, is just as charming as the male leads you find in this type of troop. The rest of the cast was okay.

There are many aspects to appreciate in this little web drama: even if the premise was weird, it's original; the drama is fun, entertaining, even if it can become frustrating since it was easily predictable; the attention paid to a certain side couple was interesting and fresh (and I wish they had done another couple's experience while they were at it) and... I have to say it... that kiss scene... I never care for those but I can't write a review without slow clapping that kissing scene. Best off 2020 so far (as if we're that far into 2020 lol).

(Sort of Spoilery part!) One thing that threw me off was Hae Young's character development. Although it did happen, and we did have key moments of said development shown to us, the way the writers closed off the narrative oh-so-neatly in the last episode left me with a bittersweet feeling. Other than that, the pacing was good.

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Ultimately flawed.

The show had good intentions, but ultimately flawed.

With so many variables and ineffective challenges, there is no way they can say they found the absolute best physique or specimen out of all contestants.

In my opinion, it's not a show entirely focused on actually and accurately finding the perfect body.
Many good contestants and top athletes were eliminated too early without having the chance to showcase their true abilities, and also some developed injuries which also did not help.

The team challenges sets were incredible. And while were most exciting and fun to watch, did little to actually single out the best of the best. Rather I saw it as them wanting to slash down on contestants.

My biggest gripe was the final episode. So much momentum and excitement was built only to be letdown on the finale. Not because I didn't like the finalists, but I felt the challenges were lazily put together. I expected a lot more especially for the chance to win a quarter-million dollars.

Some, if not most of the games were just to create a wow-factor or to stir excitement, rather than set out to actually determine the best physique among contestants. If that were the case, there would be more one-on-one challenges.

It's a good watch to burn time and but I wouldn't take this show too seriously because there's just way too many variables and too many flaws.

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16 chapters would have been enough

This drama is nice and warm. Is very romantic and has a lot of cute moments. Main characters are endearing and they develop well. Also, the relationship is nice, there is no much drama regarding it; is very straight forward and not problematic. Music is good. The general aesthetic and styling are awesome. However... it's very slow paced and the plot feels like running in circles at times, because there are not many subplots, mainly in the second half. After they get together there is no much left to be told, but, it goes on... It was a little hard to finish for me, but it was still enjoyable

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Is is a bird? Is it a plane? No, ITS A TOXIC ALERT!!

Although it was intended as the main storyline of this series, personally I wouldn't watch this drama for 2 main reasons:

1. The toxic relationship between the male and female lead
2. The amount of 🤦 moments in the drama that kinda make you go huh?

Unfortunate to say, but I did finish this series only because I was hoping for it to pick itself up at the end but it didn't so it was relatively disappointing.
The utter tyrrany, manipulation, obsession, corruption and toxicity radiating from this series is just not healthy and it's definitely hard to preservere through the drama knowing that it's there in every episode.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend the drama if you're looking for a healthy and lovable one although, if this is your kind of trope, by all means, it's possible one of the best ones in that category.

Happy Binging!!

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When I was the most depressed

I am a Jisoo fan from day one but wont stop me from saying that this one was nearly a disappointing drama for me. The story is something that would have been interesting a decade ago. When you got an amazing cast at your service, the makers should have been a bit more productive. This series stands between mature and cliché. The dialogues were good and were executed brilliantly. There is no wrong in a complete melodrama format but it becomes a headache if you can't bring realistic aspects to it. Character portrayal like Yeji's aunt and Carrie was cringe at times. The father of the brothers was one to applaud.

The saviours of the drama is indeed the cast. I liked Ha Seok vibrant acting. So bad that he is not used well. He could make any role. Im Soo Hyang is really the soul of this drama. There is something peculiar in her acting. Her way of dialogue delivery is a textbook to other actors.

Coming to Jisoo, been a fan of him since Angry Mom, and five years apart, he is still the sad boy. Dude just needs to change his agency.

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