Encounter (2018)

So far it's been a beautiful show and I find myself smiling like fool at the sweetness. Couldn't live off shows like (too much sweetness) this but I love it so far.

After finishing the show I still really liked it. Again, super sweet and a steady diet of these could probably get old. I loved the eagerness of the main male lead and the resoluteness of the female lead. You knew who these characters were and, for better or worse, they stayed true to that persona. They risk everything for each other even when you think that they aren't going to.

The secondary stories were good as well and kept things interesting. And I'm a sucker for beautiful cinematography so I was captivated. The music was good as well, I liked the music while they are in Cuba since it's closer to my heart. I also liked how they tied the two countries together in an interesting way as opposed to just the place where they met.

There was a stall (most shows have them) near the end but the wrap up was sweet and perfect and made me happy. I love happy endings.

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First thing about this drama is the acting of both the actors park bogum and song hye kyo , they both depicted their roles amazingly. The emotions of sadness,endurance ,happiness ,anger,love depicted perfectly. Not only by them and also by the supporting characters.

The drama is slow romance , the screenplay was well written that unfolds how crush or likeness on one person turns into love and it flows like smoothly like a river.

Big mention is to the ost and background score which makes drama more beautiful. In some places it makes the simple scene into more beautiful one.

Some of the scenes gives excitement to the heart. For me it is exactly in 3 scenes .
1. The jin hyuk reponse in front of all people to cha so hyun.
2. The cha so hyun reponse in front of all reporters to jin hyuk.
3. The decision made by cha so hyun when its comes between jin hyuk and ex-husband family meeting.
p.s : To know what decisions were made ,viewers have to see the drama and check it whether you also get excited at those scenes.

Lastly, the role played by the camera it took some nice pictures .

Most of them likes a love story to have a happy ending and this drama gives that happiness to the viewers.

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A Mature Love Story, feat. Park Bo Gum's smile

The reason why I decided to continue watching this drama was purely because of Park Bo Gum's smile. I FELL FOR IT. HARD. That is also the only reason I decided to stick to it till the end.

In terms of the story, there truly isn't much. And the drama also isn't the kind of drama that boasts a grand and impressive narrative. The whole drama can be summarized as what being in love looks like. While that is understandable and I really liked how everything was very mature, it was just soooooooo slooooooowwww.

The cinematography was one thing that really stood out for me. It had these beautiful postcard framed shots, truly lovely to look at. And to add the photography hobby into the mix to show more picturesque shots... Quite clever.

Now we come to the actors... GUESS WHO'S GOING TO BINGE ALL OF PBG'S DRAMAS NEXT. I was a little uncomfortable seeing how malnourished he looked in the first episode, but that short bob was quite interesting and "exotic". But damn that smile made my day. Even his character was so earnestly written, it actually shone through the series. Song Hye Kyo's character also was interesting. I am a fan of these kinds of understated, less talkative, mature female characters who talk less but are strong-willed. And Song Hye Kyo was able to pull it off quite well, seeing that this is her forte. The chemistry between the two of them though... *chef's kiss*. Often in mature kdramas, they make up for the lack of chemistry with some kissing... but here, you could actually feel how much the ML and the FL cherished each other. Full points for such an earnest performance.
Her ex-husband's character was a bit meh, but that's okay... the series justified why. I didn't really like the chaebol eomoni angle, it was a bit too much. But seen in the korean cultural context, it makes sense, i suppose? I don't know... But the best part for me was the friendships depicted in the series... it was quite nuanced and layered, and not the straight-up "oh, I'm your best friend, and I will be there just to cheer you with pompoms" kinda depiction. The actors who played PBG's parents were the MOST REAL characters in the entire series, even more so than the protagonists, might I suggest. Lovely, lovely acting by the two veteran actors there.

As for the OST, it's one of those very well-crafted albums. It is expected to hear a song explode right after any major event in the series, like BAM! And in a few series, this can be quite the hindrance (case in point, Something in the Rain). But here, because the songs were very mellow, the effect was much mitigated. Eric Nam's song and SaltnPepper's Take Me On are the best in the album IMO.

Also, as a side note, the opening credits' animated videos of fairytale tropes are quite beautiful. Nothing extraordinary, but just very aesthetically pleasing.

Cons of this series: It's a meditative watch, not fit for binging (although I did binge it at an alarming rate).
There's nothing much going on in terms of the story. Its just two people in love and... that's pretty much it.
I do wish there was some editing involved. Towards the end, it felt unnecessarily long; for example, if you skip 10 seconds, you will still not miss any dialogue. It basically takes 10 seconds or more for the actors to move past looking at each other and do things (be it talking or moving or whatever).
The pacing... it was soooooo sloooooowwwww.... like so slow, so slow... they paid so much attention to showing the couple that they didn't bother with the story at all. As a result, towards the end the conflict resolved rather quickly (in just 2 episodes) and shoddily. I understand that in a mature drama like this, there is no space for the outlandish ML FL heroics, but some nuanced storytelling to the conflicts would be better.
The treatment of foreigners is still a pain to watch. SO MUCH TYPECASTING. >_<

Over all, the drama was a really nice, soothing watch. Best to watch it on rainy days, with a coffee mug and your partner by your side (if they're into kdramas that is). The first episode is probably one of the dreamiest episodes I've seen in a long time in a kdrama. I personally feel, the drama was able to sail its way through because of PBG's smile. If the makers of this drama focused on one thing intently, then it's the visuals. Be it the actors' visuals, or the interior design's colour palettes, or the locations, or just the camera frames, they made sure it was so aesthetically pleasing. The series proved how aesthetics can aid in falling in love.

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The visual of this drama is astonishing, no one can argue with me about that. Everything here is beautiful, the animation, the song, the scenery, the actors, each shot is a beauty. The features of Cuba made me want to go there and fall in love.

Encounter’s plot is not new to us. It’s all about two people who loved each other despite the age difference, lifestyle and status in life. It is mostly used in any dramas- US against the world. I was hoping for more creative values and significance of the story which I believe it doesn’t disappoint me. A definite yes for executions of the show, you will hate the rascals and you will sympathize the protagonist. You want to embrace the possibility that love conquers all.

What I don’t like about this drama are the slow pacing and some repetitive scenes and arguments. To be honest, I got bored in the middle, almost to give up – but what can I say, I must endure the tedium to witness the happy endings.

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Romantic Show

Encounter was ineffable. I felt like I encountered a unique, soul searching romantic sensory. Just watch the show.
The cast did a fantastic job. This type of story is tough to pull off and make it believable. I believe they have achieved it. The story flows effortlessly.
I love the Go Chang Suk and Shin Soo Yeon character.
I do have a problem with the last episode. Usually this has to be spot on otherwise it will ruin the whole show. The writer had so many ways to end the show which could added more closure. The writer/director chose the vanilla version. Ending could have put the whole show on a pedestal. But it did not. I am a bit disappointed. This show still earns 10 stars from me because there is more to this show than just the ending.
It is difficult to pull off a show without any flaws. This show had it own share of flaws that does not mean it wasn't good.

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Encounter is the perfect drama for romance drama lovers. This drama made me smile a lot and I'm so glad I watched it. Actually I was hesitant to watch it at first after reading some reviews about how the drama is slow, have too many flashbacks and how it could've been shortened to 12-14 episodes.

In the end, I gave in and decided to watch it as I was curious about what type of chemistry Park Bogum and Song Hye Kyo would bring to this drama. And anyway, those 2 names are enough to get me curious to give it a go.
And I must say I am incredibly surprised at how much I enjoyed this drama.

What I Liked:
THE CHARACTERS: yes the story is slow paced and that's because it's actually a drama that gives more focus on building the characters than the story it self and I think that's why the pace worked for me. The drama itself was about the journey of love between Jin Hyuk and Cha Soo-Hyun. The back story of Soo-Hyun was exactly that, just a back story to give it some tension (if that). In terms of the chemistry, I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two. I never once thought it was awkward or forced. I thought both actors did such an amazing job with their acting as well, especially in the emotional heavy scenes, you could really feel their pain and heartache.

OST: I'm a sucker for drama OSTs and I loved the OST in this, that fact that there were some in English made me appreciate it a bit more and I found myself singing along to them whenever they came on :D That aside, the soundtrack definitely worked well with the scenes and added extra emotional impact to them on top of the already incredible actors.

EDITING/CINEMATOGRAPHY: The flashbacks in the reviews I read about before watching this drama was what worried me the most before watching it. I don't like watching too many flash backs.. However, having completed the drama, I must say that those were actually very well done and I actually really liked them. The flashbacks were edited in during certain scenes that gives extra impact to the 'present' scene. And actually in some of them it makes the 'present' scene even stronger as it shows the reasons why Cha Soo-Hyun or Jin Hyuk are doing certain things.
I especially thought the retro-photo style and the fairytale animations were a great touch too. The photo style obviously reflecting Jin Hyuk's love for photography, whilst the fairytale animations reflect the fairytale-like story between the 2 characters.

What I Didn't Like:
-The turnout from the backstory of Cha Soo Hyun with Taegyong Group/Chairwoman Kim was underwhelming. It seemed like the climax of the story was going to be from the them but nothing major actually ever happens. I felt like Woo-Seok's character was a wasted character that was really just to give the slightest bit of tension between the 2 main leads.

-Aside from that, there's not really a lot to dislike about this drama. Would I watch it again? Probably not but I'm glad that I DID watch it cause it made me smile and made me feel happy. I love romantic dramas with happy endings the most and this just ticked the box. The only reason I wouldn't watch it again is that I don't think it will have the same effect to me if I watched it for a 2nd time. So I'd rather keep the good vibes that it left me after watching it for the first time.

Would I recommend it?
Definitely! BUT only if you like romantic dramas and don't mind a slower pace. If you like feeling giddy/flustered over the main characters romance then yes. If you like seeing character development/growth, then yes.

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i came into this drama for BoGum but im having my first girl crush for HyeKyo eonnie! she is stunning! i can't stop looking at her!

first, the cinematography technic is first class, i was mesmerized from the first episode but i was worried how can this drama continue to provide me more of this once the storyline is brought back to where MLs meet with reality but i was not dissapointed! i absolutely love how they use the camera technic for angle and focus! someone hv to credit this cameraman!

second, is the animation artwork! a shoutout to the artist that make the artwork for the intro on every eps. my habit now is to checkout every element in the artwork. it was so beautifully crafted that ive started to follow the artist on sns!

third, ost. it matched the storyline, feeling and flow perfectly and im still waiting on two more quality soundtrack that has yet to be release! the score doesnt disrupt the flow unlike most ost/bgm does in kdrama. i believe in the power of editing and score that will either give impact or destroy the flow entirely and this drama editing is almost flawless!

fourth, casting! the first choice for the role is BoGum and HyeKyo eonnie and they were right! not only they are perfect for the role but it seems impossible for any other actor can bring such vibe since both ML actors has brought a huge aura that fit the role like a glove! most supporting actors are on point! im sure if i nitpick scene by scene, i will find some flaw but the editing is so good that everybody blended so well with the storyline.

fifth, storyline. everybody have doubt, even me. but i respect BoGum's choice and i trust HyeKyo eonnie's decision. and im yet to be dissapointed. the storyline flow so elegantly i feel like im falling in love head over heel for this drama. melodrama is not my fave genre to say the least (i actually stay away from melodrama) but this drama storyline break so many normal cliche scenes that shocked me to the roof every single week. of course the storyline between SooHyun xMIL, mother and father is cliche in kdramaland but SooHyun and JinHyuk chars actually break the norm for kdramaland! Their chars is crafted so elegantly that audience has become completely invested on their growth!

this is only 6 episode in and im looking forward for next week episode on how the story develop. so far, im giving a master class review here, hoping for the following week story development with further blow my expectation for this drama. Cheers!

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I'm sure you've heard this line before when a boyfriend dumps his girlfriend..."it's not you...it's me.  This drama had a great storyline, the cinematography excellent and it fits right up my "all I want in a drama" category.  But...in spite of all the positives that I gleaned from watching the first few episodes, I could not continue.  I know, it's not the drama....it's me.  I felt Park Bo Gum was miscast.  He's too young and his face, although handsome, was a little bit effeminate for the role.  Song Hye Kyo as Cha Soo Hyun portrayed a character so controlled and stoic so I thought that what she needed was a more passionate man that would awaken her from the placidness of her life.  The encounter or love story between Cha Soo Hyun and Kim Jin Hyuk lacked the intensity I expected and without that, the rest of the drama became a meh for me.  There was a total lack of chemistry and they looked more like an elder sister and younger brother.  I'm not concerned about the age gap because it does work if the characters have the right chemistry to make it work (to this day My Name is Kim Sam Soon is still my favourite K drama).  A So Ji Sub, Jo In Sung (think What Happened in Bali where both were fighting over the same woman)  or a Lee Dong Gun (Love Now) would have been perfect for the role.  They're not only gorgeous but they have the depth and ferocity to portray a man deeply in love with SHK's character.  

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~Kim Jin Hyuk :One of the best k-drama male leads to ever exist. Gentle, non-toxic and supportive to the end
~The romance made me feel super fuzzy and happy. It was so intimate, pure and poetic even
~I wasn’t too impressed with the FL’s acting. I found her to be bland and expressionless.
~Slow paced at times and there is not much to the storyline except two people falling in love and trying to make it work among various externalities
~The mothers were really annoying and unlikeable, borderline controlling especially towards the FL. They were the biggest turnoffs in the plot line for me
~The plot drags towards the second half and you end up wishing there were more fillers to the story
~The Cuba scenes were amazing and what got me into the drama. Beautiful OST that matched with the cinematography.

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