Barul Mistic (2020)

Enjoy the crazy ride.

This drama is just like it's title "Mystic". Never have I ever watched any drama which could actually play with parallel worlds!
Honestly speaking, I started watching this drama beacuse of Hwang Jung Eum and my love for Fantasy genre. I wasn't a huge fan of Yook Sung Jae nor Choi Won Young since I hadn't watched any of their dramas before. So, I was a bit skeptical.

The story was all about a pricky woman who operates a food tent at night so anyone (dead or living) can visit and grab a drink with the owner and then she can appease their grudges through entering their minds by giving them a special drink.
As the story progressed, it got me hooked everytime! I literally craved for the next episode. It soon became a story about some extraordinary people with some extraordinary capabilities trying to help out both ordinary and mystic beings. The characters were so diverse and well played by each and every actors/resses.

Hwang Jung Eum playing Weol-ju (the main character) was so different from her other characters she has ever played. Her character was written in so depth, we could actually feel those emotions. More matured, understanding, comedic, lively, passionate, etc! Being a spirit aged 500 yrs, under a grave punishment in the human world, the pop-up bar was set up as a place to help spirits let go of their problems and solve their grudges patiently to fill her quota to solve up to 100,000 grudges in order complete her mission.

I actually love that I came with an expectation of a bit weird love story between a supernatural woman and a younger guy. But NO, this was truly an Exception! Instead, I got two crazy spirits who are practically married but denying their feelings, and an adorably awkward part timer who's spiritual visions are widened! They together really made a hilarious little family.

Every episode is fun, and there’s a lesson we takeaway each time we watch it. Almost always we become jealous of people who have more capabilities than us, but this shows that knowing and having that much can get very lonely too. I had never expected the story to be so deep and at the same time so heart-warming and touching!
Each and every episode holds a mystery which unfolds just nicely. It totally delivers the heart wrenching and heart warming stories in a not over dramatic way. I actually liked that they didn't focus much on romance but human life itself which is perfect for what is going on in this world today. I cried and laughed every single episode!

The growth of attachment between the trio which eventually strengthened was so sweet to watch. How quickly did Kang Bae got attached to Weol-Ju and Chief Gwi? Kang Bae being upset and distracted awaiting their return even when he was with his girl was just priceless!

Best Things I loved in this drama:
● The first thing I got very attached to in the beginning of this drama was it's Music. The OST "Dive" totally has those 'Mystic' vibes. The orchestra Background score and the sound effects in each episode is so Amazing!
● HWANG JUNG EUM LOOKING GORGEOUS than ever! How amazing does she looks in that hanbok (Korean traditional dress)?
She looks so pretty. Her costumes were killing! Her transformation has indeed surprised me this time.
● YOOK SUNG JAE TURNING CUTE TO SEXY IN NO TIME! His expressions were priceless!
● CHOI WON YOUNG'S AMAZING ACTING!
● Hwang Jung Eum and Choi Won Young's ENGLISH.
● Yook Sung Jae's adorable side.

☆Overall - This drama is something I needed desperately! It's full of magic, love and laughter.
*This maybe not a drama which everyone will like, but it was perfect for me!

The only disappointment is that the drama is too short. Anyways, a complete enjoyable drama which is fun to watch. I would definitely re-watch it someday :)

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"Do you want to have a drink with me?"

"Counseling with a twist." That is how I initially perceived the theme Mystic Pop-up Bar. Dramas that touch on mental health issues are often either of melodrama or suspense genre. But here is a gem of a show that gives you a release and relief from a shot of soju, without the usual hangover.

In the first few episodes of this drama, you'll find stories of persons whose grudges could well be the same as many of us have. The counseling part comes naturally in the dialogue between the characters, often in a comical way. (It could be a good idea to have a paper and pen ready to take down some quotable lines.) As the drama progresses, it begins to focus more on the main characters' own concerns which has been taking 500 years to settle.

What's so awesome about Mystic Pop-up Bar is, while it's generally comedy, you'll also find some bits of romance, drama and action in it. Worthy of mentioning also is how clean the CGI effects they used in the show. I'm not sure with the others, but for me, each episode was like a movie.

Even though I chose to watch this because of SKY Castle actor Choi Won Young, I must say all the actors in this drama are worth applauding. Yook Sung Jae made a great choice of doing this drama before his military enlistment; he did really well as Han Kang Bae. Also, I could say that we have a different Hwang Jung Eum here, so if you're not a fan of the way she acted in her previous dramas, don't let that get in the way of you experiencing a one-of-a-kind journey in Mystic Pop-up Bar.

The OST is worth adding to your playlist as well, especially the song for Part 1 of the soundtrack.

I recommend this drama after watching heavy drama, suspense or action, or to those who simply want to have a good laugh after a tiring day.

Enjoy Mystic Pop-up Bar!

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I just finished watching this drama and now I'm so upset that it has finished. This drama was different because it was more about life lessons and family rather than romance which I really liked. The trio was so good and i was even more excited when I found out they were family. It was such a sweet drama whilst also being funny at the same time. It teaches you how to deal with grudges and how to let go, a really mature perspective on things . And I loved seeing sung-jae especially since he is in the army now. I had never seen him as an actor but his acting skills were amazing , especially towards the end. I would highly recommend this drama to anyone who wants something comedy whilst having an amazing story.

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Mystic Pop- Up Bar was a surprisingly enjoyable and fun show to watch at times...

Mystic Pop-Up Bar recounts the mystery behind our most unlikely hero Kang Bae ( Yook Sungjae) , who by chance, ends up meeting the eccentric owner of a “ Pop- Up” Bar called Wol-Joo ( Hwang Jung- eum). Together alongside her coworker Gwi ( Choi Won- Young), the duo are representatives of the other side, tasked with solving the numerous desires of their customers through wandering through their dreams. When Kang Bae ends up indebted to Wol- Joo after a certain incident, he soon finds himself stumbling into new worlds and strange revelations as well.

As dramas go, Mystic Pop- Up was a surprisingly enjoyable and fun show at times. It wasn’t groundbreaking upon the traditional concept of the oblivious protagonist stumbling into the world unknown, however, there were a lot of intriguing aspects of Korean culture ( modern and traditional) , mythology ( particularly deities) and a strangely sweet romance between Kang Bae and a most unlikely love interest in security guard Kang Yeo- Rin ( Jung Da- Eun) .Nonetheless, it was a bit of a conundrum from a watching perspective.

The biggest problem with this lay upon stealing too many cliches and tropes into the storyline. Whilst this in itself is not a crime and Mystic Pop-Bar did have a fairly intriguing premise , the drama just did not expand upon many of the later intriguing aspects as well ( particularly with the shocking twists near the finale).

This also caused and created too many loose ties in the entire show ( particularly later plot-holes). It’s understandable that the drama tried to balance comedy and melodrama to appeal to audiences , however, the biggest problem for Mystic Pop Up Bar was relying too heavily upon comedy for a major proportion of the drama than allowing the later melodrama to be just as impactful in later storylines.

On the other hand, whilst most watchers seem to criticise Hwang Jung-eum from her past experiences of acting and applying it to the show after the beginning of the drama , Jeung-eum was actually quite good in Mystic Pop Ip Bar. That’s not to say that she didn’t overact at times ( similarly with both her co- stars Young Choi and Sungjae), but, Jeung- Eum seemed to challenge a level of a profound edge towards her performance and character’s backstory , parallel to fellow costar Sungjae during the more tear jerking moments of the drama .

The delivered ending was fairly bittersweet. Perhaps not the “ perfect” ending to the show, but this just added to the fact that although Mystic Pop- Up Bar follows the generic scenarios and tropes of most fantasy and comedy dramas, it was still enjoyable and entertaining to watch.

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I never Knew Dreams Can Be this Real??

The mystic and ecstatic elements are held in abeyance ingeniously devised by Screenwriter Ha Yoon Ah and Director Jun Chang Geun. I cannot comment fully on the similarities to the 2017 webtoon of the same name, but it appears the Screenwriter tempered wonderfully warm melodic moments with a keen sense of humor.


It was Jun Chang Geun's first project since The Package (2017) that I flat-out enjoyed the beautiful scenery and famous landmarks in that show. Mystic Pop-Up Bar does not disappoint, but there will always be a select few people that will bash this show and nothing we can do about it. By this point, have we not seen all that we will see in the fantasy aspect, maybe not. Yes, we pine for originality in the script, but do the actors catalyze more visionary thinking in each other that this drama expertly displays.


The location of the outdoor drinking establishment lures individuals from all backgrounds that were the main focal point. The viewer invested by the average individuals' problems the Mystic Pop-Up Bar soothes the pain and suffering. The soft and upbeat music, along with the light clinking of glass, was soothing to my ears when drinking occurred, and the main leads entered the dream world. The Directing Style aided to the storytelling because we see a different side to what the director contributes to this Depleted Genre that I have trust will be in good hands for the future.

Acting:

Every character imparts much liveliness to the scenes. Hwang Jung Eum's tone and expression did not awake an old, unwelcome feeling that her other works sometimes did. I think Park Shi Eun's depiction of the younger Weol Joo was a significant reason why I overlooked the deficiency of her acting style. She has retained a certain mystique, which makes her such a compelling character.


Choi Won Young's heartening rendition of his character was something special as his dilated pupil and eyebrow expressions in a bunch of scenes caught my undivided attention. Also, he imparts strength and provides an air of talisman of protection. Yook Sung Jae timid, yet bubbly persona was too wily, unfailingly tactful, an adept with the touch of his hands. I especially cherished Jung Da Eun's role as a Security Guard, her metamorphosis of a resigned face to an alight face from the first episode to the last episode. YSJ and JDE are too adorable together.


I would have liked a little more character development from the villain. Still, writing this review, I reflected on the villain's role, and what they did was not bad considering tropes run rampant in every drama—a bittersweet story of the villain trapped by the flaws in his character.


Conclusion:

It had the right amount of episodes to enjoy every episode. If you have any doubts, I say watch the first two episodes and make your decision. I conclude I have a fondness for close contact with someone after viewing this show. The show elicits an aliveness we crave in this Coronoviris Pandemic once everything settles back to normalcy; Human Interaction and affection.



Final Rating: 8.75/10
Story: 8.57/10
Acting: 9.68/10

Rewatch: I will watch this again for sure. Four Thumbs Up.

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A true masterpiece

Okay folks, get ready 'cause I'm gonna fangirl really hard about this show for like...the rest of my life. If you're wondering wether to give this a chance or not, my solid advice would be: YES, DO IT! DO IT NOW! JUST DO IT!!!

To me, this drama feels like one of those shows that fill you with joy and makes you feel all warm inside. It is definitely something that reminds you of the beauty of life. I'm sure many times we find ourselves going through a rough patch, we get tired of the way things are going in life, or we just have too much on our plate. I mean, just as an example, in addition to our personal ups and downs, we're all going through a pandemic right now!! And it might make us feel like this is too hard, this "thing" called "living" is just not what we were waiting for or we would've liked it if it came with a series of instructions on how to navigate it. However, we all know this is not possible and that we have to go through life figuring out how things work and making the best out of what we have.

For me this show provided that pause I needed in my routine. It was like finding a friend who comes to me and says: 'Hey, it's okay. Stop for a second thinking of all the negative things that are going on in your life or how you don't know what's gonna happen in the future. Stop for just a minute and look at the things that are going well, at all that you've accomplished and at how you have the opportunity to start over each day and try your best to achieve what you want. I understand how you're feeling and it's okay. Things will get better and you're gonna ace it.' What I loved so much about MPUB is that it reminded me that we're all struggling in this uncertain journey called "life." We all have our problems and no one has a guide that says how to do it, we're all figuring it out at our own pace and that is fine. There'll always be good and bad times and that's just how life is. It doesn't end there, there's so much to enjoy and appreciate in life even though we're sometimes stuck in seeing just the negative part.

This show taught me something that I tend to forget many times. What's important is to value the small moments in life, the people we are with and the time we get to spend with our loved ones. Sometimes we just need to look up to realize that everybody else is also struggling and trying their best, that's the moment when we realize that it's not just us, other people are going through the same, other people need our help as much as we need theirs. If I had to decribe MPUB in one word, I'd say it's "healing." I get so many positive vibes from this show, it's like a friend who tells you that no matter what you're going through you'll work it out.

Every episode of this show has a life lesson or take-away (that must be one of the things I find most refreshing and love about this drama) and the one that stuck with me the most is that we all need someone to listen to us, someone with whom to share our struggles, our worries, but also our joys and hopes. We don't expect that person to solve our problems, but we all need someone to be there for us. And of course it's not only receiving, we also have to give. There are many people around us who need us to ask them how they're doing and listen, truly listen to them.

This is what makes MPUB a true jewel in kdramaland, it's not everyday that we come across a show like this. The character development and the relationships between them are so masterfully and beautifully written that they seem real people you can relate to even though this is a fantasy story. (Shout out to that person in the comments who asked if there's a word for shipping a family, 'cause that's exactly what I'm doing. I SHIP THIS FAMILY LIKE FEDEX). The actors did such a wonderful job in portraying the characters that I truly came to care for them (especially our mystic trio, they're now my precious babies that must be protected at all costs). Hats off to each one of them. I only have one teeny-tiny complain about this show. Even though I LOVED the ending, it didn't quite have the same feeling as the other episodes, if you know what I mean. It was a tad rushed in my opinion. I kinda felt I wanted more, more of my mystic trio being together as a family, but nevertheless, it was wonderful. Congratulations to all the people involved in this masterpiece, they really did an outstanding job. They deserve a standing ovation.

Bonus: I'd just like to take some time to talk about Chief Gwi and how much I ADORE this man. I mean, he just went ahead and raised the bar so high up that at this point, everybody else should just give up. I mean, where can I get a man who catches evil spirits for 500 years just so that he can spend 1 year with you helping you without expecting anything in return, without revealing who he is, just wanting to be right by your side, doing his best to help you achieve your goal. I mean, he didn't even try to explain what happened in the past because he felt that what was important wasn't to get himself a second chance but to fulfill his promise of protecting you. A man who literally decided to go to hell for you without expecting you to recognize all his effort and devotion. A man who promised to always find you no matter what and he DID. He did and stayed with Weol-ju, knowing how much she actually resented him but being happy of just being able to be with her. AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE ADORING LOOK IN CHOI WON YOUNG'S EYES EVERY TIME HE LOOKS AT WEOL-JU. I NEED THIS KIND OF ROMANCE IN MY LIFE. We didn't even get a single kiss from them but it wasn't needed, I hadn't seen this level of romance in a kdrama in a long time. That hug in ep 12 was everything I never knew I needed.

Bonus 2: Sungjae is a precious baby boy. Too precious for words, too precious for this world. He did an amazing job once again and I'm so proud of him.

In summary, MPUB is now one of my all-time favorite kdramas. It was an amazing journey and I'll definitely be rewatching it more than once. The found family trope is so strong in this one that it's all I ever wished for in a kdrama. We really need more shows like this out there. Once more, congratulations to all the cast and crew for making such a beautiful show.

"Everyone's fate is decided by the heavens, but the heavens is more easily moved than you might think. Little things that you say and do may change your fate. If changing your fate is called a miracle, miracles may be happening every day. The miracle of you being alive, the miracle of having that person next to you, the miracle of being able to have a drink with that person."

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GREAT CONTENT TO GET INTO.

I honestly love this drama, short but worthwhile and warm at the same time. The drama centers around 3 individuals 2 who are dead and trying to atone for their sins in the living realm and one who struggles with a power that has brought him misfortune his whole life. The storyline I depicted when I first watched the teasers was more a thriller feel but it ended up being way much funnier than I expected. it is very balanced in terms of equality in each genre. There is a sufficient amount of plot twists to make it an interesting drama. it is also very humorous as to not make it feel gloomy, I think Hwang Jung Eum, Choi Won Young and Sung Jae did an amazing job in this. Their previous works are known to be quite humorous and well-acclaimed they elevated that feel into this drama and the romance was heartwarming, it had the whole past life kind of eternal love which is cliche to most but they managed to down tone trivial lines in that kind of genre and make it as realistic as possible.

I commend the costume designers too, I loved the modernized hanboks that Wool Ju( Hwang Jung Eum) wore in this drama it really made her character stand out more and even to her character in the drama. it showed the angst she held in her heart over a very long time and although she did change her initial self and goals were all the same.
The cinematography was awesome, shout out to director of cinematography. the music was alright I would have loved a bit more scores in trenching moments but overall they did a good job. The performances were so nice with supporting roles like Jung Da Eun (Kang Yeo Rin) who played a re-incarnated spiritual tree and also Kang Bae's( Sung Jae) love interest.

I think Netflix in terms of k-dramas has a really good standard. Their originals have been good this year with extracurricular, the king; eternal monarch, and now mystic pop-up bar. if you're into the k-drama scene or if you're starting out this is a great drama to get into. WATCH IT.

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Truly a gem

I had not intended to watch this drama until I saw the ratings and read the pleasant comments about the show and I'm so glad I went for it. This drama is so beautiful. The cast is great, the pace is apt, the storyline well executed and the emotional moments well-placed , even though the story itself was nothing new. Some parts of the plot were predictable, but nonetheless this was an enjoyable ride. All thanks to the cast.

Hwang Jung Eum portraying a mature, feisty fantasy figure was different from her roles in previous dramas and definitely an interesting choice for a come back. Yoo Sung Jae was a perfect choice for the sweet innocent dorky Kang-Bae and it was also nice to see Choi won young in a charismatic, easy-going lead. Also, the whole fantasy, afterlife and dreamworld set up was authentic and genuine to that extent that believing in those things seems natural. If your up and looking for a simple, short, heart-warming show, this is it.

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one of the most underrated kdramas of the year

damn, I watched this show start to finish and ep. 1-11 were honestly the best thing ever, the plot was different, the characters had background, grudges, and DEVELOPMENT, the actors and actresses were awesome, every character had some part to play, I’m surprised how heavily underrated this series is tbh, AND THE TWISTS, UUUUUU BOI, like you will see them coming, but you’ll second guess yourself and say “no way, can’t be him, wait what, but it makes sense though if it is him ... arghhh ASKHAHNAHSNNS” just the twists this show had were so good and top notch and they didn’t screw over the plot, so I loved them. All in all, it was very refreshing to get 12 episodes that had promise and for most of the part executed the main plot well, that is ...

UNTIL THE END.

not gonna lie, ep. 12 felt like a bunch of scenes cut together to try to fit the 60 min. time limit, someone I saw in the discussion feed put “it felt like someone else wrote the last episode,” which I agree with, it didn’t even feel nearly close to the flow ep. 1-11 had, but there was some development and it was a happy ending, I won’t say the end was anti-climatic because we got some fight scenes, we got info, some burning questions we had were answered (aka those “twists”), but the end could’ve been better imo, especially with the huge plot hole at the end, overall though this series deserves an 8+ rating for the storylines in each episode alone, very heartfelt and a couple tearjerkers, I definitely do not regret watching this one, and even though the end kind of nodded off, it’s worth the watch for 12 ep.
:)

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I will admit, the first episode I had trouble focusing even though it gives you insight on why Wol Joo is currently in her situation. It does get better the 2nd half of the 1st episode. The ending, though happy, I kinda wished it would've been handled better. It is predictable on who is who but that didn't stop me from enjoying this drama.

Character/Actor/Actress wise: Some may hesitate on watching this because of actress HJE being in another comedy. I've seen her other romantic comedy dramas and yes, I was annoyed by how she was portraying her characters in those other dramas but in this one, she hit this role perfectly. It felt natural to me her comedy side and her vulnerable side. I love every moment and scene of her character.
Choi Won Young, wow. I've seen him as a villain in Doctor Prisoner but this role, he's just adorable and funny. That's what makes him a great actor but please don't do anymore villain roles. I like this nice side of him. lol.
Sung Jae, great acting being the passive & vulnerable character but I kinda wanted more from him. It's not the actor's fault. His character lines just didn't give this actor his full acting capabilities. I mean I got to see another side of his acting when his sacred tree spirit came out. That was awesome but short. I wanted to see more of that. But overall, great actor. I expect more roles for this guy when he comes back from military duties.
The younger cast of Crown Prince and Wol Joo, they were spot on as well. I saw more of them in this drama than I expected for being a young cast. I love how they got to be reunited in the proposal of Ep 11. That just melted my heart. I hope to see them more in other dramas.

Story: I love the plot from beginning to the end. Because of Wol Joo's goal was to handle 100,000 grudges, we got to see a different story in each episode that pertain to the hardships of one's life. There's always a special meaning in each episode. I kinda wished the main plot was handled a bit better though. What I mean is that instead of revealing everything in the last 2 episodes, it would've felt less rushed if pieces of the truth were revealed in each episode say after episode 6.

A few things that bother me about this drama. There is a plot hole that was never mention in this drama: why Wol Joo and Crown Prince looks older as a spirit but everybody else looks like how they were as a spirit when they were human. When they enter the after life as spirits, they were their younger selves. There's no mention why they age but everybody remain the same, like the spirits of the crown prince mom, the evil friend, the advisor of the crown prince (aka death), the cinnabar. Also, how did nobody know what the evil friend spirit was doing? You know, he was killing and absorbing other spirits, possessed his dad, the grim reaper. I mean there subtle hints that the grim reaper wasn't the same usual guy and yet nobody took those hints, not even the higher ups. It would've been nice to have at least 1 main character being suspicious about this. Last episode felt very rushed. Given that there were only 12 episodes total from the beginning, the progression of the plot stalled for too long. Too many things still happening for the last episode.

But overall, despite those small plot holes and issues and a rushed last episode, I stilled enjoy this drama. I think this is a first for me where I see a main lead character ends up with a support character. Interesting and yet their chemistry was on point. So many cute moments of them. Even Wol Joo and Chief. While they may not have spent the time together as Wol Joo knowing Chief was the Crown Prince, her lover, they still had many adorable & funny moments together. So I say romance definitely occurs in this drama even though it's not the main focus. You won't waste your time watching this one.

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Originally, I had no intention of watching Mystic Pop Up Bar. I happened to watch a trailer and saw Choi Won Young was in it. He rarely disappoints me so I figured I'd try it. So happy that I dd. This quirky supernatural rom com is truly endearing. Five hundred years ago circumstances happen that causes a young girl, Weol Ju, with mystical powers to kill herself and do damage to a sacred tree. As penance she must solve the grudges of 100,000 humans. With the help of her assistant (minder/supervisor really) and a young man with an odd power, she tries to solve her last 10 grudges. The story seems straight forward, but through flashbacks we see Weol Ju has some serious grudges on her own and not everything is what you see.

The story is a good one. For those that need romance there's not only a 500 year old longing, but a new budding romance with 2 very odd characters. For those that like supernatural, there's plenty. The ghost and demon effects were nicely done. There's even action and fight scenes for action addicts like myself.

Although the story is good, it wouldn't have been anything if it weren't for the outstanding cast. Choi Won Young never disappoints me. Sometimes what he's in does, but he never has. He was wonderful as Guibangjang. Hwang Jung Eum was very good, but I couldn't help staring at her lips. It appears she had injections. They were very unnatural. But she was playing a spirit so I guess whatever works. Yook Sung-jae rounds out our leads. I loved his scenes with Choi Won Young. I think he's a natural at bromances. He played Kang Bae with the right amount of charm, naivete, and hope. It made you root for KB from the very beginning.

The music was good I guess. I'm happy they didn't play the same sappy song in every episode like a music video. There were no flashbacks of scenes that were shown, thankfully! I really would love to see another season, but I don't think I'll re-watch MPUB again, at least not in the foreseeable future.

Overall, it was a really enjoyable show. Nothing truly deep and heavy. There are a lot of smiles to be had and perhaps some tears for some. I truly recommend it.

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