This review may contain spoilers
A Simple Story with Depth
When you first read the anemic synopsis , you can't help feeling like you've seen this exact plot summary play out multiple times in a plethora of different languages, timelines, and nameless faces . It then becomes difficult to stifle the incoming yawn once you realize that this drama is going to be set in a slow and meandering sea side village, and that the drama is going to attempt to use a character driven plot to keep audiences glued to the screen.You find yourself tempted to skip Hometown Cha Cha Cha for the next generic Kdrama on your Recommended List. But then you decide to watch one episode. That felt great, light and breezy you think, and so you play the next episode. That felt even better you thought to yourself! Then you realize there are no more episodes... you are in trouble... this simple drama set in the tiniest of fishing villages has entangled you and a million of other fans in an endless loop of hungrily waiting each week for the next episode of a drama that has very little plot twists, dark mysteries and shock factor; and yet somehow has inexorably entranced a legion of Kdrama fans in it's simple story.
Don't let the simplicity of the story fool you though, as there is plenty of depth to be found in this drama. Hometown Cha Cha Cha aims to keep the audience hungry with it's strong character driven plot, and succeeds heavily in this regard. The time the drama takes to develop it's supporting characters with ample screen time and character depth are rewarded in the latter half of the drama as these characters, that would be nothing but fillers in any other drama are given life, their names carrying more weight, and their presence offering soothing support for the Main Couple of the story. No longer are these supporting character left to be skipped and forgotten but rather they serve as a blend of different characteristic that serve to enrichen, and color our black and white sensibilities in warming palettes that we can see and feel.
The writing of the plot, the direction, even the light and melodic OST all serve as the backdrop for these top rated thespians to showcase their crafts. Whether it's the has been singer, the nosy neighbor, or the tireless mother, these talented actors and actresses break out of the mold of the stereotypical kdrama side characters to breathe life into these tired and comfortable cliched characters that would be caricaturized with a lesser plot or thespian. The has been singer becomes multi-faceted, the nosy neighbor gains depth, and that one tireless mother makes our eyes swell with tears, as her quivering voice mask the inner cracks forming within.
The ultimate purpose of the development of the characters of Gongjin became apparent in the midway point as the supporting character's stories start to intertwine and intersect with the story arc of the main couple. Similar to theatrical plays like Hamilton, the audience is almost subject to an invisible fourth wall of which none of the Gongjin inhabitants are privy to. We see ourselves jumping from the life experience of one character after another, almost as if we are all encapsulated within the show, bearing witness to this beautiful romance blooming in this tiny seaside village.
The chemistry of the two leads is electric. From the first episode till the last episode, you can't help but root for the main couple as they both try to fight feelings that clearly has bubbled over since they first set eyes on each other. Although there is a love triangle inserted briefly in the show, it's actually the main couples personal trauma that initially keep them apart at differing times of their relationship. Maturity is as the forefront of this drama, as most situations are dealt with the way that you would expect mature adults to act. Although there are scenes of skin ships in the show, it's actually the scenes where you see silent understanding between the two main leads that sets hearts fluttering. And with Kim Seon Ho's masterful use of micro expressions, a silent three second gaze speaks more volumes than the boisterous and often used "Sarang Haeyo". One of the most powerful scenes in the show is Hye Jin, slowly walking, slowly realizing her feelings for Dusik.
We are mesmerized by the beauty of both the ML and FL. Their laughing eyes, their toothed smiles, and their dominant dimples; all these things play a role in making us gently take a seat and enjoy the sea side ride. But as each episode further shows cracks in the main couple, we start feeling guilty in our comfortably relaxed position, as we start seeing tears behind those laughing eyes, cracks showing between those toothed smiles, and dark depths in those dominant dimples. We start realizing that all that happiness, all that selflessness may be hiding a tale deeper than we had anticipated when we first start to step into Gongjin. Just like Hye Jin's shoes, we feel we are safely in the white sandy beaches, unknowingly to us, when we look down, the tide has come in, and with it a tale of sadness, and a short snapshot of the importance of mental health and a proper support system.
Where I feel the drama may have stumbled is in the unnecessary tonal shifts in the last few episodes. But the drama ends on a high note, and the last few mediocre episodes is not enough to sabotage more than 14 episodes of good will. In reality, this is a drama caught in between. It should have either ended after 12 episodes, or it needed 20 episodes to properly flesh out the emotions and character development to properly close Dusik and Hye Jin's arc. But since the last few episodes was rushed to close as much plot holes as possible, the tonal shift felt out of place and disjointed, almost felt like watching two different dramas. The maturity and depth of the first 10 episodes start to dip in the remaining episodes, and it suffered from slightly inconsistent characterization. Of course, all these tonal shifts can be defended and explained in ones mind, but I actually much preferred the easily digestible characterizations the Main Couple had in the first 10 episodes, that the back 6 paled in comparison.
Is this drama a perfect drama? It is not. But if watching Hometown Cha Cha Cha has taught me, is that just because something is not perfect does not mean it isn't good. Just like a Mcdonalds cheeseburger can seem like a gourmet meal to a starving man, in a time when many people are healing from the mental and physical strain of the Pandemic, Hometown Cha Cha Cha is that perfect drama that captures so many different emotions and situations that we can all find something to relate and heal from.
Was this review helpful to you?
An Unexpected and Unforgettable Experience with Xianxia Drama
Rather than a review, this is more of telling an experience. There I was, one night, trying to kill time watching some random shows on Netflix when this series popped up in the recommendations. "Ah~ A xianxia drama", I thought. I NEVER succeed in watching one xianxia drama, not even the infamous Eternal Love & Ashes of Love. I'm more inclined towards realistic period dramas without a shred of fantasy eg. Princess Weiyoung and Yanxi Palace. So, with absolutely no expectation at all, I watched it thinking I'd never make it till the end of the first episode. The lore in the prologue just flies over my head.Oh, how wrong I was. The CGI is awesome and not cringy at all. CGI in xianxia dramas has always been the element that made me not giving xianxia dramas a chance. I know a lot of xianxia dramas have good storylines despite bad or borderline good CGI, but I rather not watching those dramas if I can't find myself enjoying them. Another thing that amazed me is the actors' and actresses' gestures, postures, hand and body movements look so natural in scenes such as conjuring spells, flying and fighting which required layer of CGI. The actors' smooth action scenes, topped with good CGI, ended up look so natural and satisfying. Though, truth be told, it's maybe because I'm not exposed to other xianxia/wuxia dramas.
The cliff hanger by the end of the first episode is enough to make me hooked. Other than the prologue at the beginning, the drama focuses its first few episodes on the introductions of the characters, especially the main leads, Xuanji and Sifeng, and this is where I applaud the drama for making me invested. Keeping the lore on minimum, and focuses on the characters establishment first. Convoluted lore is another xianxia element that tires the hell out of me. I want to know the characters and watch their interactions first rather than digesting a lot of information but not enjoying the characters interactions.
Getting over these two main obstacles, watching this drama is such a smooth-sailing experience for me. I'm a hardcore masochist when it comes to a tragic love story, and this drama totally delivers the angst I'm looking for. Misunderstandings, heartbreaks, deception and tragedy are a common staple for this genre. Many would state that they are sick of it, but for most viewers, me included, these tropes are drugs that made them addicted and cannot take their eyes off the story. To each his own.
Each character in this story has their own arcs, and they serve their own interests and move towards their own missions and ambitions. I liken the story arcs like the main quest and side quests in a game. All of them are laid perfectly throughout the drama. The closure this drama gives towards all characters is also a major satisfying point to me. Revelations are laid at a timing when it perfectly coincides with suspicions. Plot twists are done so well, it's been so long since I was so moved and shocked with plot twists occurring in a drama.
Now, how could I leave the fundamental core of this story? The romance between Xuanji and Sifeng is definitely one that I could never forget among a lot of main pairings in other dramas. Many argue that Sifeng sacrifice a lot more compared to Xuanji, and it definitely true to some extent. But Xuanji's growth from a naïve and childish character, to a person who knows how to love despite still being gullible, to recognize good and evil despite their backgrounds is something worthy of respect. Despite few mistakes, Xuanji can never be who she is at the end of the story without Sifeng from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoy watching their sweet moments and it certainly made those frustrating times worth it.
Of course, each drama has its own downside and this one cannot escape from that. There is one misunderstanding that went too long for my liking and I can't take some scenes in episode 50++ seriously no matter how much I watch. The OST placement at the beginning of the drama is awkward and I just can't help but laugh. Alas, the enjoyment I got from this drama outnumbers the dissatisfaction.
As someone who got into this drama blindly, I'd never expect myself to be this invested. Still cannot move on from this drama, I kept searching for BTS videos, listening to OSTs and watching FMVs.
Was this review helpful to you?
A continued mix of annoying and frustraing
Disappointing. The intimate scenes are hot, sure, but the main relationship and story overall left a lot to be desired. Watch the love scenes on YouTube and save yourself the time and emotional frustrations of this show.The character Pat is annoying and Jeng is frustrating.
Pat is whiny and rude, his character "development" is too little and too late. I personally understand the difficulties with emotional disregulation, but the struggle to manage strong emotions does not excuse thoughtlessness, obstinance, self-centered-ness, and a "oh poor me, everything is unfair" attitude. And "being cute" is not enough to make this character really likeable.
I do appreciate that Jeng tries to evolve the way he behaves with others once it's pointed out to him. The struggle to change something so ingrained was portrayed fairly realistically.
The boss and subordinate dynamic in this show stayed uncomfortable. This is where the frustrations with Jeng's character comes in. (More below)
For a healthy, sweet, and realistic-feeling boss/subordinate BL I recommend The New Employee, a 2022 Korean drama. It doesn't have intense intimate scenes like this show, but I found it overall so much more satisfying!
Generalized SPOILER regarding this show's relationship dynamic & why it was frustrating:
The boss & subordinate relationship is poorly handled by both characters, but especially Jeng, the boss, who is also much older. I was so frustrated that he didn't take any proactive steps to protect Pat socially and professionally. As time went on it felt like Jeng repeatedly purposefully put off thinking ahead and planning for a future where they could both succeed together. Instead focusing on just getting what he wanted with Pat romantically without caring about any ramifications for Pat.
Was this review helpful to you?
Also, can I just say how much I want one of those translator ear pieces? Those were really cool.
Was this review helpful to you?
You'll meet one of the wackiest drama husbands/dads ever. Best way to describe the guy is to imagine the bombastic personality of somebody like say … Hugo Chavez, only he's Korean.
He runs his household with an iron fist and expects full submission from his wife and daughters, but there's no doubt that he loves his family. In fact, he's close to perfect husband material in many ways, but a dictator nonetheless. He, along with his wife, are the highlight of the show, believe it or not!
Fans of the very cute Song Joong Ki will not be disappointed. He and his lady love are an equally humorous duo, esp in later episodes.
As the series progresses it delves into more melodramatic territory which takes away a bit of its charm. The story meanders into a repetitive mess of parental blackmail & coercion, relying heavily on a series of coincidences and contrivances that would make even a 6 yr old scoff.
I did not care for the Kim Bo-Ri story arc, much of which consists of making mountains out of molehills when her situation was easily resolvable.
Moreover, she was the typical innocent, naive ‘country girl comes to the big city’ type heroine with noble idiocy that you see all over dramaland. I didn't hate her, but I didn't care for her either. Throughout the show I kept wishing she’d go away; sadly she remained to the very end. I much preferred the confident and warm-hearted Jang Inho (though you never did see any tears when she cried! lol).
A few aspects of the show compromised my enjoyment:
The drama details the important role of fathers in Korean society. I found this notion of single fatherhood novel because in a strongly patriarchal society where women are upheld as the sole caregivers, it serves to show that men too are just as capable of nurturing children. Confucian values that permeate Korean daily life, those of strong family bonds and honouring one's parents/elders, are also explored.
You’ll fall in love with Kim Sung Soo as the disillusioned, down on his luck single dad struggling to provide for his children. KSS didn’t really convince me with his acting, but his character was nevertheless wonderful here. The only ‘nice guy' hero I’ve seen in a long time that gets my full love and support without reservation.
Now obviously if I was looking for shows which espouse Western values I wouldn't be watching Asian dramas, but the show presented a few cultural and social mores that were a bit hard for me to swallow.
First and foremost, the parents in this drama were appalling! (except Dictator Dad). Manipulative, coercive; blackmailing their children with threats of disownment and suicide if they didn't do what they say, was their default approach to EVERYthing. I couldn’t fathom how in the world such callous & bizarre ultimatums constituted love, esp when your child is rendered utterly miserable as a result of your unreasonable, draconian demands. It made me dislike the parents … a lot; and these adult children too, to some extent, because they NEVER once tried to take charge of their own lives. Not even a little bit. I’m not saying they should turn against their parents, but certainly some form of protest, defiance, a rebuttal even, would have seemed more credible than complete surrender in the face of being treated like objects rather than human beings?
Basically, this story is all about parents constantly denying their grown children the right to manage their own lives. Over and over and over again for at least 30 of the 54 episodes.
Secondly the drama misleads its viewers in 2 major ways:
1) Halfway through the lead characters are switched. So you start out thinking one particular couple is the focus of the story … you root for them and fall in love with them … only to see their screen time gradually reduce to barely 5 mins of the 1+ hr runtime. dafuq? This particularly annoyed me because I could care less for the couple who took over the spotlight.
2) For the vast majority of the show you'll be shipping certain couples only to be blindsided by the end of the drama. I hate, hate, HATE when writers pull these stupid ass stunts. HATE. IT. To avoid disappoint, don't take too much of what you see in this drama at face value.
Last but not least while romance was constant throughout the drama it was exceptionally DRY. Please tell me how many times can you hug someone as a show of affection when you're supposedly passionately in love? I know there are strong censorship laws in Korea, but certainly characters can show affection for someone they claim to be madly in love with without locking lips (or resorting to one lame ass hug after another)? Writer-nim, PD-nim, how about tender kisses on the forehead, kissing the hand of your loved one, nuzzling the face, jump into his arms lean your foreheads together & stare deeply into one another's eyes, walking arm in arm, cuddling on the couch etc? It IS possible to create authentic intimacy without blatant sexualization. I guess I'll never get used to Korean prudishness as shown on their TV...
In closing, I simply can’t get on board with the overall moral of this story. First, we’re no longer living in Silla. If you’re an adult in modern society you should have some say in how you live your life. After all your parents aren’t going to keep you warm at night or satisfy your sexual desires. Second, making sacrifices for one's children is inevitable and a natural part of being a parent. Nevertheless, biological parents shouldn’t be together at all costs just for the sake of a child. Even when you’re a parent it’s not healthy to neglect your own wants & needs ... as long as doing so doesn’t compromise the physical and or emotional health of the child. You only have one life to live, and if you’re happy, likely your kid will be too. JMHO.
Despite these complaints, I DO recommend My Precious You to family drama lovers. Is it perfect? No, but it's worth watching at least once, esp if you’re used to or no longer suffer from culture shock regarding the issues expressed herein. You’ll enjoy the family warmth, the comedy and all the secrets are revealed at an even pace so things don't get too drawn out in that regard. If you’re still a drama newbie like me this drama will be enjoyable if you go in knowing what to expect. That way things don’t come across so shocking & bizarre. It is in this capacity that I hope this review has been helpful to you.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
always choose the 2nd lead!
1st of all I have to say, I'm a huge fan of both SYJ and KKW, but I'm not biased when I say their acting performance was amazing!I'm not sure if they were purposely "obvious" cuz they just wanted the journey not the shock value, or if it's just as I call it "mystery genres are dead"
I have lost hope in all crime genres and mysteries, it's been atleast 5 years since I thought a twist was shocking or revolutionary so it's nothing new for a twist to not faze me, and indeed I saw through it all but still it was a great watch
now for the story, to be honest, with stories like this there's always 2 options; it's real or it's fake. we've seen so many stories about having visions of the future so it's not that shocking to see her believe it, but I'll say the writer played it too safe by making all the "unfortunate" events around girls and worse, those girls didn't talk
so the only outcome is, memories, ie recalling which shows how a good title can atleast hide the plot, or they never intended to
so basically their plot twist was obvious, they wanted to make us doubt Seon Woo because that's where it usually leads to, the girl who forgets and the killer who pretends to be her husband, Secret Obsession had that plot to T. so even if the 1st time it seems "twisty", I knew they weren't going there..
also, actually the point I liked this was how obviously Seon Woo loved her. though as an actor I know he can pull both the sweet and the dark so I didn't doubt him as a serial killer but it was a nice subtle touch. as if to say "never doubt him"
also the fact that Yeom Hye Ran came and heavily implied that her husband abused her was a clear sign, also the way Seon Woo acted when he finally got caught, as if he was begging Soo Jin to believe his lies..
now the only thing that shocked me was how Ji Hoon was alive xD I thought that was another recalculation leading to the moment she got hurt, but it was wrapped up too fast and I hated how they had to kill Seon Woo cuz you know, he killed before and he's a main so he can't have a happily ever after
so I refuse to acknowledge that ending and will think they both finally fled their misfortunes and lived happily ever after
ok, I'll complain more on how both events would've been "self defense" so they reeeaaalllly didn't need to hide it or even worse bury a live body..
the ost was basic but I appreciated the low volume on the chewing, and I'd actually want to rewatch this but I would want the fire and hospital scene cut xD
Was this review helpful to you?
The story of this movie was cliche, but who the heck cared. It was entertaining and fun to watch. And it contained one of my favourite themes childhood love *swoon*.
Acting I gave it a 10. Moon Geun Young, that girl knows how to act. She played the 15 year old so well (when the movie was shot she was actually 17, I calculated it out of curiosity). Kim Sae Ron, he was soooooo funny in this movie. One of favourite part with him was when he confronted the guy that Boeun was dating, that was just LOL. OMG and the scenes involving them two, were just hilarious.
Music I gave it a 8 because seriously I wasn't paying attention to it. Though at the karaoke scene where the each leads sing a song was no coincidence. Production crew I see what you did there.
Overall I gave this movie a solid 10/10. And I would rewatch it again for sure.
Was this review helpful to you?
This was my first time seeing any of these actors. I would very much like to see the actress that played Go Ho do another rom-com. I thought she was quite good. I was also taken with the main male lead. He was quite cute at displaying his jealousy for Go Ho. And I think the chemistry between the leads was believable. I didn't care as much for the second lead, as he just didn't convey any emotion in my eyes. The other side characters, vying for Go Ho's affections are interesting and keep it fun.
The music didn't stand out much, but suited the mood of the scenes.
I think this is a good weekend watch and wouldn't even mind seeing it again.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It didn’t need 20 episodes
This drama really didn’t need to be a 20 episodes one. Started strong with potential but became flat at the end.It is supposed to be more romance-centric yet there isn't enough romance after the first half of the drama. The focus shifted to some weak power struggles and became unnecessarily draggy.
The last 6 episodes especially, the storyline really gets dragged out. Suddenly there’s an addition of Ha Kyung and her one sided love towards the king (whom she doesn’t know is a lady). The whole ha kyung + king story is really a bad filler, with no value adding to the whole storyline.
Towards the end, the drama tries so hard to inject more complications and depths by bringing in lord Wonsan (who wants the throne), forcefully putting back lord changun (who came back from afterlife briefly and died once again) and injecting more “power struggle” plot into it but imo has failed terribly. The petty little acts to expose the FL as a lady by lord wonsan and people around her just seem… lame? Instead of putting in more power struggle plays with bigger plots and schemes, they focused on the whole exposé of the FL’s gender.
The whole “evidence collection” to bring down lord sangheon also gets so dragged out and got very slow which after a while began to feel exhausting to watch.
The ending? I don’t even know where to begin. The writer could include pointless brief scenes like the dream of FL & ML getting married but they can’t even be bothered to explain why the FL survived the “poisoning” scene but her grandpa died. We can probably infer from the earlier scene that it most likely got to do with the pill she ate before drinking the tea, but isn’t it important to include a short explanation to bring the whole story to a full circle?
I also cannot grasp why they didn’t expand the backstory of ML’s dad (inspector jung seok jo) a little. Granted, the ML's dad is not the lead and this drama is to be more of romance but I mean throughout the drama, there were many parts where they hinted that there’s more to this than meets the eye regarding why the ML’s dad is so cold hearted and so compliant towards lord Sangheon? If they are not interested in expanding his character then those scenes were quite pointless. There were many scenes that hinted viewers about his past, where he mentioned about how the choice is only available to people born in nobility and not people like him. And how he showed sadness when his old friend commander yoon got killed (he even told his subordinates to stop firing those arrows)??? And the scene where he was dying, ML SAID HE HAS STH TO TELL HIS DAD THAT HE HAS NEVER GOTTEN TO, but there were go again, it stops there and the ML NEVER got to reveal what he wanted to tell his dad? What’s with all these little missing details???
The bodyguard character and his backstory also showed so much potential. Kim Ga On got close to the FL (&her father, the ex king) to assassinate them to revenge for his father (the royal preceptor whom the king and crown prince (FL’s twin brother) had loved back then) who was framed for treason and executed due to lord sangheon’s schemes. After finding out that the king and the FL’s twin brother had loved his dad, he ditched his assassination plans and helped the FL instead. The initial build up to him was interesting where there was some mystery to his identity but the final great reveal really fell so flat.
But then again we have time to go through Ha Kyung’s life as a commoner at the end… for? By this time I’m sure most viewers already forgot about her existence since she has already been granted leave from the palace after her dad has been found to have colluded with lord sangheon. But no, the writer HAS TO include her again where she mentions about why she prefer being a commoner??? This bit of airtime could have been used to help other stories develop / come to a full circle.
In all, the drama started rather strong and showed great potential with but ended up getting flat towards the end.
I did enjoy the first half of the drama though. The kid actors did well with their acting. The king’s chubby eunuch was a joy to watch too!
The goods:
- great main FL, they really casted the FL well. She’s a major girl crush! She can look so fierce and suave in male clothing and then so beautiful in her female clothes!
- good OST
- first half of the drama was well paced
- they managed to keep good characters like court lady Kim & bok Dong from dying
- consistent support provided by lord jaeun who stayed true towards FL
In all, if you Stan rowoon, and appreciate good acting and great FL, this is a drama that you can pick up but probably need to bear with some draggy parts towards the end.
Was this review helpful to you?
Came for KhaoFirst but JoongDunk stole the show!!!!
I wasn't going to watch it cause from the trailer, it felt like somewhat like "only friends" but ngl it was good. I loved the OSTs (specially Joong's song & Dunk's song)And, the story was cool.
Bison's cuteness, Kant's devotional Love, Style's Sexy body and Fadel's Character!!
I was hooked and completed it in a stretch.
I would say if you like lovey dovey action and thriller movies just go for it!!
Was this review helpful to you?
all my senses tell me I'm attracted to you
Let me just say. This drama feels more like a film project than a kdrama, and that is all meant in the best way.
I can't emphasize enough just how aesthetically pleasing this show is. The cinematography right off the bat is stellar, this drama simply isn't shot like any other k drama. It is done in a way that emphasizes scenes to be more intimate, intense, vulnerable, etc. With two episodes alone, and even with a first few seconds to the opening alone I can tell how every scene, every look, every thing is intentional in this drama. All the way around this drama is impressive because of that. I feel a lot of time and care because of how good the cinematography is, it feels intentional and that because the scenes and camera shots are.
For example of these scenes where it really shines is the shower scene, the changing room scene... I would get into them but I could go on and on all day.
This is just me telling you I feel bad for you if you don't watch this drama. It came out of no where it seems but it has a great start to it.
The acting is done so well and feels natural. The chemistry is so intense that I find myself holding my breath with most scenes between the two leads. Especially from the freshman, Ji Hyun. This is his first drama and he fits this role so well that I am watching without telling myself it is acting. It feels so natural and real, and Jae Won is the same. I can tell they both are attracted to each other, and I will see how they get together....... there is a lot I'm anticipating for this drama...
This is just a short and sweet review telling people to watch. This show I don't see as a BL, meaning to me it doesn't have the tropes and isn't selling itself out just because it is two males who will be together. This drama is like any other and is honestly better than most long k dramas I've seen. I don't even know what genre to call this other than excellent.
Let me just talk about the shower scene to emphasize how well done this show is:
So it is Jae Won's attraction that tells him to go. He isn't aware exactly what kind it is yet, but he wants Ji Hyun to shower with him and it gets across why pretty clearly.
The fact he tells Ji Hyun to come over tells me he is growing aware of how different his feelings are for him at this point. He tells Ji Hyun what is he going to do in the military if he is shy between them. To him they are both men, but also Jae Won just got out of the military. He just got done having no problem showering with other men, but now with Ji Hyun there is a problem. As soon as he realizes this he just leaves, and I found it so interesting because he was acting so confident before.. when he wasn't. I really thought the idea of him bringing up the military was so brilliant because it tells several things at once, it's efficient. That is why this drama doesn't drag on right now. It doesn't have to tell you in your face that Jae Won is curious and is getting confused about his feelings for Ji Hyun, because you feel them with him.
You are confused to why he would leave and can pick up on the fact that he is sort of being a hypocrite as he has been in the same positions like showering with others before. He is calling out himself really like he's trying to deny it.
I also really liked the scene of them walking across the shoreline together. Ji Hyun matched his steps with Jae Won's and that shows he pays attention to him and again begs the question why? It is curiosity I wonder how far that curiosity will take the both of them.
:
Now to sum it up... I really need a continuation of this story. It is amazing as a standalone, but there is so much potential that has been set up in this season that can be continued upon. I think the creators are aware of the demand and am anticipating any continuation from them and everyone involved.
Watch this show as a melancholic romance. It has mellow vibes and isn't campy, but it has its fun moments. It isn't over satirized on one way or the other. It's realistic, moving, thought provoking, and smart.
Was this review helpful to you?
PatPran as always (I'm Very Happy)
Doing 2 reviews because I hate not doing for every title that I watched and they are divided in 2 damnn.Anyways, I LOVE THE PLOT. It's so fun and SO PATPRAN, they are in their lovey-dovey and hate relationship all the time, I love the bickering, it's so them.
Most of the people wanted something more romantic, because of the Bad Buddy ending being they still hiding their relationship, and here we go back a little, not to the point that the series ended. I love it. I don't think that another thing would work more for them, it's their dynamics and it's exactly who made them so special to me.
The acting, as always, they are too deep in their characters, their acting is amazing, people are saying that they lose chemistry because of the SUPPOSED fight between them, and let me be honest: yall are projecting. They are insanely good actors and nothing could make them don't work on scene.
AND OH MY GOD, the way that I screamed when I saw Phupha and Tian, people don't are happy at all because most it's a fan of just one of the series but I don't care... I'm a fan of the two series and both are amazing! A crossover? Literally my dream. I'm very happy.
Was this review helpful to you?
Encapsulates all the lovable aspects of Korean dramas
Into the Ring is built on the solid foundation of its excellent writing, and it endears itself to the viewer with each and every episode. Although it is missing the typical ingredients for commercial success (e.g. top-tier actors, veteran staff), Into the Ring continuously challenges us for our attention and respect, much like the Female Lead. There is just enough romance, comedy, and drama for a well-balanced drama viewing experience just shy of perfection.Story:
The award winning merit of the newcomer Moon Hyun Kyung’s screenplay is undeniable. The diverse characters and dynamic relationships are a highlight. Consider these two side characters - a manchild who earns his elected position with his daddy’s money and a working mother who refuses to “sacrifice” either her personal or professional life. The relationship between them and the main leads is hilarious (like when the FL turns the manchild into a whimpering puppy with her assertiveness).
Even the political setting delivers laughs as we witness the ridiculousness of each politician’s pettiness. ITR transitions from this comedy to heartwarming romance to drama seamlessly. Scenes are often layered with all three, which keeps the pace refreshing and the story engaging. The drama’s journey is consistently pleasant from beginning to end, and the careful and deliberate screenwriting is what makes it all possible.
Acting:
My mixed feelings about the main cast changed quickly with Into the Ring. For instance, I know Nana for her kpop career with After School rather than her filmography, and the general attitude towards idol-turned-actor is lukewarm. However, Nana exceeds expectations not just with her comedic timing and romantic chemistry but with her nuanced portrayal of empathy towards others. Park Sung Hoon actually appears with Nana in Justice, which I did not watch. I did watch Psychopath Diary where I found his acting uncannily funny. To see PSH in a completely different character is eye-opening and impressive.
Yoo Da In’s character is surprisingly nuanced for what some may consider a “side” character, but YDI’s acting ability is clearly at the level of “main role” actors. I remember Han Joon Woo from his great but small role in Be Melodramatic. Unfortunately, it is a similar case in ITR where he plays an interesting character which does not receive much screen time for a “main role”. Veteran actor Ahn Nae Sang adds another quality appearance to his long filmography.
Music:
Compared to the strengths of the story and cast, the music is not as critically noteworthy for Into the Ring. The subdued backing tracks are a safe choice, a mix of kpop and ballads. The music is actually a good parallel to the overall drama, which is excellent in its strengths but not quite a masterpiece in its entirety. (One last comment - I am a sucker for OSTs sung by main leads though)
Rewatch Value:
As I happily followed along with the weekly episodes of Into the Ring, I did not envision such a high overall rating because of a lack of some jaw dropping scene or enthralling plot line. Instead, ITR makes its appeal piece by piece, and its beauty is fully appreciated when considering the entirety of the drama. After 32 episodes, I can confidently recommend Into the Ring as a solid romcom in a relatively dry 2020.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Never thought about falling deeply in love with you? plus complicated revenge story?
To be honest wasnt quite sure what to expect of the drama before watching it. I saw some reviews that said it was bad, but after I have watched it, overall was good but towards the end I would skip. I almost contemplating dropping it towards 36 ep because it started not to make sense... but the overall drama is acceptable. Although this drama has some traces of revenge , it wasnt the main factor/drive behind the story, a good chunk was about their job and being a financial headhunter, that make the story more breathable, but towards the end they kinda stretched the story a little too much.Male lead is Gao Shan. He is in the financial business. He has a complicated past. His father committed suicide from having not enough money to pay the people in his warehouse( i think he also went bankrupt) Gao Shan saw his father's suicide and his mother became mentally unstable. He completes to find a job in the financial industry, more over he wants to investigate what actually happened to his father. He meets the female lead Lin Wo, she is a financial headhunter. Their jobs are to find the perfect candidate to fit the financial job opening offered by the company. Lin Wo is smart, confident. Initally Gao Shan doesnt know that Lin Wo was the suspected person that was responsible for his father's suicide. Of course Lin Wo and Gao Shan fall in love. After he finds out about her identity, he attempts to break up with her.
He eventually gives up his revenge for her which I find sweet. I mean love can overcome hatred!!!But then the story gets weird and introduces to a character named Bei xiao rong. He was someone that Lin Wo took care of when he was younger. He use to have autism when he was younger... This character is introduced at a bad time and the introduction of his just makes the rest of the drama unbearable... He also complicates things and does things to ruin the relationship between the leads.... just because he likes her...
As for the romance between the lead, I felt they had a decent chemistry/passion. Although I wasnt the biggest fan of all their " punch kisses" ( lol term I made up) All their kisses were so forceful, like they plant the kiss in their face with force like punching someone lol. Can't they just be gentle?
Can we talk about the choice of clothing for the female lead? some formal outfits were so opened and low cut? ( something we dont really seem much in Chinese dramas)
Im so glad it wasnt just revenge driven or else it would be a very negative drama....It honestly did better than I expected.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Romance in the middle of good vs. bad
This is a good drama to watch when you want to binge-watch something. I don't suggest watching this and coming back to it a few weeks later because to me, if most of the episodes were not available when I binge-watched this, my curiosity for what would happen next and wanting to watch more would have dropped and I might have just stopped watching. The reason is that the story gets somewhat draggy and boring in the middle making me skip some scenes. But besides that problem I had which was not that big of a deal, I loved the drama. This story focuses on Xie Xiao Nie also known as Ni Chang. She suffered from a rival family's plot. She gets back on her feet after completing school in Yun School taught by a pretty famous teacher. She moves back to her hometown and starts a clothing business. All while this happens, the idea of revenge for her family is still in the back of her head. On her journey to get justice for her family, she falls in love with Luo Prince who she once met, but he doesn't remember. This is a super sweet drama entangled with emotional and serious scenes.Story-This is a 7 because I loved the beginning and the end but the middle was a bit draggy and there were some uninteresting scenes that I skipped being the bad characters' dialogues. The story is pretty interesting and unique to me. The story starts as a survival story and Ni Chang trying to get justice for her family members' murders but turns into a romantic one soon. The drama makes Ni Chang seem fragile and kinda dumb on the outside, but she is very talented at her craft and extremely smart and brave. I liked her being super talented but rarely bragging about her craft. She also always found unique ways to one-up her opponents. Zi Yu (Luo Prince) seemed like a very righteous chill dude. He seemed not too nice but not too mean either until he meets Ni Chang. Zi Yu is almost always there to help Ni Chang with her troubles. Their love story off slow and the type I don't care about your feelings, but as they interact more, they fall into love. I feel that Zi Yu knew he liked Ni Chang before Ni Chang realized she liked him. After they realize they like each other, their love story, only talking about a love story is just super sweet. They are just so sweet together and there are plenty of kiss scenes. Of course in every drama, you must have love rivals. Su Wen Yu liked Ni Chang since he met her and he is a super complicated character. He likes Ni Chang but gets rejected every time. In more than half the story, it seems like Wen Yu is trying to win over Ni Chang. He finally stops after getting himself back together. Princes Lan Zhou has liked Zi Yu also since she first met him. She appears later in the episodes and tries to chase Zi Yu but after he says he already likes someone, she stops. I like her character better since she is not as delusional as Wen Yu. There are several couples in the story, which I think are expected especially after you have watched half the show. The evil characters made me hate them so much. Yuan Dao Cheng, I hated him throughout the entire show from start to finish and I just him to lose his power and suffer the consequences of his evil-doings. Another evil character, Yan Wen Xiu, again a complex character like Su Wen Yu. She seemed just one of those normal bullies or something, but no she takes being bad, disgusting, evil to another level. She does atrocious things out in the daylight and it could almost compare to the evil things Yuan Dao Cheng does secretly. I somewhat disliked Wen Xiu from the first time I saw her appear but my hatred for her grew more as she did more bad things. The story overall is somewhat basic with the evil people, good people, heroines, etc. There were not that many shockers or plot twists.
Acting/Cast-Let me just say, the leads and most of the characters' actors and actresses fit into the roles very well. But some of the supporting roles, fit well but not as well as I wanted. Nevertheless, all the actors and actresses did a great job with their characters. If they were a bad character, they made me hate them. If they were a good character, I liked them. If they were a complex character, then I got mixed feelings. For the specific actors:
Bi Wen Jun (Ou Yang Zi Yu)-I watched a couple episodes of In My Class which he starred in and he didn't really catch my attention but he did in this drama. He was sooo good acting like a 5-year old. He made it seem like he was a 5-year-old in an adult's body. It was also super cute. He also did great when was like a normal adult. He seemed very natural with Li Jia Qi (Ni Chang) and their sweet scenes were so cute! He had great chemistry with Jia Qi. Jia Qi also did spectacular. She was great when she was super warm and nice and she acted great when she was serious.
Sun Jia Lu (Yan Wen Xiu)- She fit this character near perfectly. One look and you knew her character was going to be involved in some problems for Ni Chang. Since Yan Wen Xiu was a complex character, one where you feel bad for, but deep down still somewhat pity, I think Jia Lu did a great job. She made me hate her character so much.
Will Song (Su Wen Yu)-He also fits this character greatly. He looks very pitiful and always having some sort of pain or problem he needs to solve. The actor character made me so annoyed with Wen Yu and mad at him yet again somewhat pity for him at the same time. Also, based on Su Wen Yu's character, I think he might have had some mental problems since he was so delusional when chasing Ni Chang.
Music- It was ok and fit the drama well.
Overall-Decent drama to pass the time or when you are just chilling
Was this review helpful to you?
Recent Discussions
-
Need recs for good night sleep2 minutes ago -
What’s for dinner?4 minutes ago -
Everything Stray Kids!7 minutes ago -
BL Drama Lovers Club11 minutes ago -
GL Drama Lovers Club14 minutes ago
