The best way I can describe this is that it is a fanfiction remake of the first season. You can't really call this a sequel because it did not continue the story from the previous season and while it did have mild mentions and references to the first season you could watch this without ever watching the first. This took the basic premise of the first season and just redid it, albeit they did it better but its still just a remake.

Things to note going into this from the first is that the characters all have a dramatic change to them. These will not be the characters you got familiar with previously. The personalities are all very different, again to me it felt so much like watching a fanfiction. In comparison to the last season this season had better cinematography, wardrobe, and story line. It executed the story in a more straight forward way this time and focused a lot on the relationship growth.

That being said it was almost too fluffy for my taste. You can't take any of it serious, including the antagonists as they are so over the top and silly. The romances, this focuses on two romances this time, do progress fairly naturally and have their cute moments throughout. But there isn't anything about this series that makes it great. If you just want something that you can turn your brain off for and will make you smile occasionally then this will be it for you. If you want something that will hit your emotions or leave a lasting impression then you won't find that here.

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If you have not seen the original W: Two Worlds and are thinking about watching this then I would highly recommend you don't. While this drama is a mini series and will only take a little under 4 hours to complete it also a very watered down version that follows the exact same story (minus the ending). In order to conform to the short nature of a mini drama there is a lot of information cut out in this that would actually make it pretty confusing if you aren't already familiar with the story. But most importantly is that what the original version of this show is best at is suspense and keeping you on the edge of your seat. Since this follows the same story line then it goes through the same events but in a fast forward kind of way with no real context or build up which won't leave you feeling anything and will ruin the effect of watching the original for the first time.

As for the production of this series it was really mediocre. The performances felt wooden from the cast, there were some scenes that were so bright it was hard to watch, the sound effects and music weren't incorporated well or were too sparse, and the wardrobe choices felt weird at times. I believe this show was created more for fans of W to reminisce but it just falls very flat.

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I have never had a drama suck me in as fast as this one did in the first twenty minutes of the show. The first episode was a masterpiece that immediately captured my attention and I can't think of many other shows that accomplish that level of interest out of me with just one episode. This mystery thriller really stands out in a lot of aspects and while I have seen several other dramas with the concept of comic book characters becoming aware this one had so many new ways to go about it. Even watching this in 2023 for the first time this drama still stands strong against other more recent ones I have seen. It follows the main protagonist Chul in a very popular cartoon that has his whole family murdered and the murder then pinned on him. He then spends ten years searching for the real culprit by overcoming every obstacle in his path. The creator of the cartoon ends up becoming weary of his creation and tries to kill off Chul to end the story. Chul does not take that storyline laying down and finds a way to save himself by dragging the creator's daughter into the cartoon. This event begins the disastrous and anxiety ridden road between the two as they navigate the dangerous circumstances and fall in love.

Where this drama truly stands out is in its nail-biting edge of your seat twists and turns. Every episode delivers something surprising and unexpected at a fast pace that will have your heart racing as you watch. These unexpected events keep you guessing all the way till the end of the show so if thriller dramas is what you are looking for then you will find it here. The twists do often connect the coherent dots as the story moves along, even if you don't particular enjoy those dots at times it will still have your emotions on hyperdrive.

Where this drama had trouble was with the romance portion. I don't know if it was a lack of chemistry or not enough scenes to really convince you that the two actually like each other but the romance here was just boring. There were several cute moments in the first few episodes as they get to know each other but then too quickly and without reason the relationship progressed and that forced story line began to feel a bit awkward. The emotionally heavy scenes were not carried well between the couple either which just left you feeling a bit blah about their relationship. There was also too much hopping between worlds that occasionally got confusing and tiring. The ending also did not give me the sense of completion that I was hoping for. Almost like it just wasn't enough of an explanation to make me happy.

Even with its flaws I would still highly recommend you watch this drama as it kept me firmly attached to the screen and continuously guessing.

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This would have gotten a 9.5 rating from me if the real world arc in this drama was done better. But the murderous siblings power struggle was boring and poorly written without adding to the overall story. Most of my review will omit that portion of the series because I honestly skipped over almost all of it.

The novel arc and romance portion after returning to the real world has topped my list of favorites. The production quality, cinematography, OST, and acting were all fantastic. There was great chemistry between all the characters, fun lines and interactions with little references to other works. There are a couple one dimensional characters in the novel world but it made sense for the story and was delivered well from the actors. The romance was told well and progressed in a way that felt natural and fun.

I do recommend watching this show but be prepared to skip over large sections of the real world sibling power struggle story line because it was overly dramatic and only detracted from the series. There was also a poorly constructed villian in the novel arc that was used as a plot point to force the main characters to confess.

Also be prepared for the obvious and repetitive product placement in this show.

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I decided to watch this after seeing a lot of the reels from different moments of the show. I grew attached to the characters after seeing them in those little snippets so many times and wanted to watch the show. Unfortunately it felt like the reels that I saw were the best moments of the show. This just did not live up to the hype for me. It was enjoyable enough but missed the mark in other ways.

Story: the basis of the story and the title is about how the main female lead Joo Gyung was always called ugly for having an acne filled red face, big glasses, and large eyebrows. She was maliciously bullied in school for her appearance until one day when she was able to transfer schools. At the new school she had learned how to apply makeup and wear contacts which changed her appearance so much that she was then considered a real beauty. Life was dramatically different for her because of the makeup and she was always worried that her true face would be revealed. Of course she meets someone that finds out about her secret and he ends up falling for her and not caring what she looks like with or without makeup. This concept last until about the halfway mark. Then the second half of the drama focuses more on the love triangle of the 3 leads where the 2 male leads are best friends and an unexpected event separates the main couple for years but the secondary lead stays by her side.

In terms of story it has a very simple concept that has been seen many times. My gripe with the concept however is that while makeup can completely transform your face, it can't change the texture so often when they show her without makeup and she has acne but somehow has perfect skin with makeup I tend to roll my eyes. Also when her secret finally gets revealed its like all of a sudden her 'ugly' no makeup appearance is not that different from with makeup. She adds a pair of glasses and her skin is slightly pink but that is it so calling her ugly for that seems offensive. While her new skin care routine would have helped improve her it was still annoying to watch everyone around her act like she was so dramatically different without makeup.

The love triangle. This is one of the shows where I fell hard into second male lead syndrome. While the main male was fine and everything, I still felt myself leaning far more heavily into the second. His character was so endearing and relatable that it is impossible not to like him. And while you understand the ending I actually found that I did not like it very much because it felt like the female lead did not care about his feelings at all. It felt callous since he has stayed beside her for 2 years and they had gotten so close that even all their friends expected him to care for her when she was drunk. But her care of his affection was not handled well at all. While she did not need to return his affection she could have handled it so much better. It left me mostly just feeling sorry for the second male lead all the way up until the end.

Acting: as far as acting goes it was acted fairly well. I was especially drawn to and impressed by Seo Jun. He was by far my favorite character throughout the entire series. The actor portrayed him so well and he was so entertaining to watch in all of his scenes. Su Ho was also acted well and the actor did a good job of transitioning the character from arrogant jerk with a chip on his shoulder to shy and nervous teenager in love for the first time to the more grown up version. The side characters also all held their own and did great. Joo Gyung was the one that got on my nerves the most. The actress often used this baby sounding voice that I really did not like but other than the voice she did act the part well. I also had a very hard time liking the character very much pretty frequently.

This series had several fun and memorable moments but the writing really let the show down. Joo Gyung was a very hard character to truly like for me so this show holds little rewatchability for me.

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best version out of 5

I have seen all five versions of this story and this one is my favorite. This is a complete story that felt fairly believable, with good character growth and appropriate suspense. The production of this drama was done very well making it enjoyable to view and very aesthetically pleasing. The OST was good and the acting was done well by all the actors. If deciding to watch only one version of this story then I would recommend this one but also if you want to watch another version of a familiar story then you won't be disappointed in this one.

Like all of them this has slight variations in the story to make it different from the others. It starts off with their relationship being a bit different. They meet and spend time together before the accidental night (versus in all other versions he is drugged and photographed as blackmail). The male lead takes longer to warm up to after their marriage than other versions as well but once he figures out his feelings and makes a decision then he stays firm and true to them. This version also has the best/ most heartwrenching scenes and the male lead really carries those moments very well. You get pretty annoyed with the female lead toward the end because her character growth goes from being too soft and pliable to too stubborn and unreasonable. But the male lead saves it and keeps you watching to see how far he is willing to go.

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This is the fifth version of this show I have seen. Looking strictly at this adaptation alone I will say that it was done well. The actors were great, the characters mostly likeable, and the story fairly realistic and believable. If you only end up watching this version then I am sure you would like it. The characters grow on you pretty quickly, the story is interesting enough to hold your attention and make you want to keep watching, the conflicts feel believable as well as most of the character growth and decisions. It is shot beautifully and is aesthetically appealing. The OST was good, although not very memorable. My one major gripe would be the random abrupt shifts in scene and music. That happens alot. The ending also felt rushed and was not completely satisfying. Still an enjoyable watching experience albeit just slightly above average for a drama.

Now if I were to compare this to all the other versions available to for you to see then I would say this one is okay but not my favorite. This is most like the Korean version as far as the storyline goes. As with them all there are slight variations in this compared to the others. What I preferred the most with this version is that the female lead was more realistic and likeable. She is soft, a people pleaser, and a push over but in a much more believable way that makes her character feel more fleshed out and not just dumb like some of the other versions have portrayed her as. The male lead is also softer and gentler in this version and his expressions begin showing his emotions much earlier though he is again most like the Korean version of this character. I also really like that he figures out what he wants pretty quickly and sticks firm to it. What I did not like about this version compared to others is that their attraction to each other was almost to quick. There was not enough moments between them to make you truly understand why either is so crazy about the other but thats a small gripe and pretty easy to get over.

If I had to rate this story and say which one I prefer the most it is probably the most recent Chinese version. So if you were going to watch only one I'd probably recommend that one. This one and the Korean version feel about the same as far as enjoyment to me though I do like the main leads in this one more as he is not as eccentric and she is not as boring as the Korean version of their characters. The Japanese version was the worst purely because it was cut short so you don't get the full story. I did like the original Taiwanese version but the end felt too dragged out.

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Weakest remake of them all

First I will look at this drama subjectively by itself even though I am familiar with the story. If you go into this never having seen this story you would just find an average drama. Nothing that stands out but nothing that really make you hate it either. The production is fine, the visuals are nice, the actors did an okay job with the script, and the OST was okay. But honestly none of it was really memorable except that one scene that will break your heart every single time. One of the biggest problems is that the characters were not given time to develop. Aya was such a weak character and you never got a chance to see her grow since this was cut so short. Its length also plays heavily on my ability as a viewer to feel invested or connected to the characters. If you are looking for something short to just pass the time then this could fit the bill though you may end it feeling dissatisfied.

This is the fourth version of this story that I have seen and it is the weakest. The length played a heavy role in that. By the intro and outtro you can tell that they had intended or possibly even shot the full show with the same ending as all the other versions but then decided to stop airing the show so it was condensed and the last episode rewritten. Because of this you end on a sour note with no real feeling of closure since the misunderstanding isn't completely explained. Aya was a weaker character in this version and her interactions with both male leads felt forced and awkward because there was no time to create a believable relationship with either one. For the same reason it was also hard to believe Kei's change in feelings because it was like a switch for the purpose of moving the story forward but as a viewer it did not feel genuine since all the interactions up until the abrupt change of heart did not give you enough of a sense of depth in his relationship with Aya.

I watched this out of curiosity since I had seen the 3 previous versions but I would not have if I was not familiar with the story previously.

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Disappointing sequel

If you are like me and you went in to this season right after finishing the first season than you most likely also feel like you picked up a completely different show. This season does not feel like the previous season; especially if you are going in to right after watching the first and it is fresh in your mind. If you are picking this up after having seen the first season when it first came out then you might find it more enjoyable.

If you are coming into this season hoping to feel the magic of the first then you'll be disappointed like I was. The first season did an excellent job of setting up the plot and characters that you kept you bound to the screen. The characters all had depth and their own stories that made them all endearing to you as a viewer. The main plot was well thought out and executed with the subplots contributing well to the overall picture. While So Mun is the main character and you do find yourself attached to him and his story the writing for the other characters was also done very well all the way down to the side characters that had little screen time. I rate dramas based on my enjoyment and season 1 kept me captivated from the first episode and I never wanted to fast forward through any part of the show which is very common for me to do in kdramas.

This second season however ignores many of the rules that were established in the first season while also abandoning the original character profiles for the main cast. The characters are supposed to be 2 years older in this season and obviously SO Mun has grown both mentally and his powers have also grown quite a bit. The writers firstly did not do a good job of explaining the power growth as it does not feel very reminiscent of the first season. While psychokinesis was touched on last season, this season it is now in every move all the characters make, even the villains, making the production feel more cartoonish and over the top. This season is also more about the villains from the very first episode to every episode after that. The villains are also made to be the evil version of the counters and while villains are not meant to be likeable these are downright obnoxious to watch. They get so much screen time but no backstory or explanation for how or why they are doing the things they are. Even Mr. Ma became more powerful so quickly that it did not make sense based on the rules you previously understood in season 1. While the first season made you feel like these people could actually exist, this season has turned them into super heroes instead. The humbleness that you felt in all the characters before is no longer present. The addition of the comedic relief new counter just leaves you frustrated any time he is on the screen instead of finding him funny.

I wouldn't recommend you watch and just let the end of season 1 be the end for you.

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Did we even watch the same thing?

I am utterly flabbergasted at the high rating for this show. I went into this thinking it would be a light-hearted and fun love story with a side of palace politics and power struggles. What I ended up watching was a show with ridiculous characters and nonsensical plot that circled around the frustrating love story of the two main characters. I am under the impression that Xu Kai fans are what has inflated the rating for this show because the drama itself is not worth watching.

To address Xu Kai; I actually liked him in this drama and thought his acting was done much better than I have seen in many of his other works. He had great chemistry with Jing Tian and the other male cast members in his army. His stage presence is great and he pulls off the carefree soldier that is being forced into his role of royalty. Jing Tian also acted her role well according to how she is written. I did not like the character very much but she was acted well and the chemistry between the two helped tremendously. The character herself was just frustrating and I often times wanted Li NI to just give up because she was not worth it.

But having two great main actors will not make a show great if it is written and directed poorly. And that is exactly what this is. It is so poorly written that it is laughable. Almost all of the characters are cartoonish in their representations of their roles. The main lead's father that becomes the emperor is spineless and ridiculous. He acts and reacts in ways that are childish. His two older brothers are witless and ambitious but just plain dumb. The writer of this show obviously does not have a firm understanding of politics because the way this drama moves in circles with with nonsensical reasoning for their moves and countermoves. Every villain that is introduced, and there are quite a few, are one dimensional characters making decisions based on one specific desire and the people around them just follow along as if that person is not dumb. And these actors were even directed to make the most ridiculous facial expressions that make them cartoony to portray evilness.

I was already struggling to get through this after the main leads father, whom you can not convince me is a person that could have ever held power, became emperor. Even if he was a puppet king he was so ridiculous that I could no longer watch scenes with him in it. Then came the tedious and LONG storyline where the female lead is angry that the Li Ni did not save her useless Young Master. I could have gotten past it and said it was her grief reacting but it went on for soooo long. When they finally find that cute and watchable area where the two are clearly in love you have the intrusion of the love scorned Young Master returning as a villain but in a way that made absolutely no sense. Did no one ask where he had been for months? No one questioned anything and just let him back to lead the army with authority higher than Ying even though she was very close to the general. The forced wedding episode was unbearable to watch for its nonsense. Move on and you have the female lead then forcing the unwilling male lead to become crown prince in order to marry her. It is one ridiculous plot point to another with no connecting strings or firm reasoning for their actions.

The only reason I am giving this a 5 is because the costumes are pretty, the main actors do well, and the OST is nice. But the CGI is horrible, the rest of the acting is bad and the story line is ridiculous.

I really just can't tell you enough to please skip this drama.

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This drama has mastered how to pull out every one of your emotions

This show is painful to watch. It is so real and heartbreaking and makes me constantly recall how truly callous and inhumane humans truly are; be it then or even now. This show drags all the nasty parts out and shows them exactly as they are. Its realistic and heartbreaking and shows human emotions and human viciousness in a way that makes me ache. The director has mastered how to pull your emotions out of you as a viewer and I went through a slew of them as I watched this. Anger, disgust, annoyance, sympathy. This is the kind of show that you feel your way through and will leave a lasting impression.

For me, I can not say I found this enjoyable or entertaining to watch, it's depiction of real life struggles and brutality left me feeling raw and utterly devastated. But it is so heart achingly beautiful that I could not stop myself from watching it. The acting in this from every person is superb. I can not think of any flaw in the way that this show was written, executed, acted, or shot. There are several scenes that are stunningly beautiful. The characters are all thought out, flawed, and experience true character growth. Even the way the production showed the change in color from pastels in the beginning during happy times to the greys and browns during and after war just added to how expertly composed this show is.

-Gil Chae: for me she was truly an unlikable character for the majority of this season and I found myself so frustrated with her specifically in regards to her almost ridiculous adoration and chase of Yeon Jun. Her actions are spurted forward in her pursuit of the man she could not get. She is a spoiled nobleman's daughter that says and does whatever she wants because she is beautiful and noble. But then war breaks out and you start to see her change. She is still ridiculous in her chase of Yeon Jun but she proves herself to be a survivor and a protector. Her character development is the type I want to see in all shows. The kind that is gradual and realistic. She changes as her world around her changes and the circumstances she is put through changes her.

-Yeon Jun: I never at any point like this character. He is weak but believes he is strong. Is selfish but thinks he is honorable. But in how much I hate him, I also know how very real his portrayal is of the men of that time. He stubbornly sticks to his 'loyalty' and 'honor' for himself, never putting anyone or anything over his own agenda.

-Jang Hyun: he is mysterious and seemingly acts out of his own personal interest at every turn. He is a bit of a cad but loyal to those dearest to him with a soft heart and strong mind. A business man that is cunning enough to end up in important circles but chooses to use that power for the powerless. He does find an obstacle in Gil Chae and I think that is part of his interest in her, very like how she is so adamant about someone she can not get as well. But his actions speak far louder than any others in this drama. He is willing to sacrifice himself in exchange for her but will not go down easily.

In terms of the political progression of this story it does flow in a coherent way. You understand the movements, the predicaments, and some of the choices. I personally do not love a politically heavy drama but I was so drawn to Jang Hyun that I kept watching.

If you are looking for a drama that will make you feel something, not matter the emotion then you will find it here. Most o the time you will not enjoy what the characters are going through or the choices they make and you will feel frustrated. The point being that it will make you feel. Out of so many dramas that I have seen there are few that pull out this level of emotions from its viewers.

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Enjoyable ride

All in all this is a perfectly fine drama. Well thought out plot that is mostly well executed with characters you can root for and villians you can hate. Beautifully shot and styled with stunning cast. A story about a woman who is given a second chance to go back and change her life a year before her death so she chooses to make those responsible pay and finds a man that is willing to help her do just that.

I have nothing bad to say about this drama. I enjoyed watching it and was fairly happy with the progression and conclusion of the story. I liked the main characters and felt like for many of them their motives were understandable and rooted in a believable way. Greed is one of humans most toxic traits and it will make some people do anything. Yi Joo's personality was also believable with her trauma clouding some of her actions in a way that makes sense and isn't as frustrating as I have seen done in other dramas.

My one complaint would only be that my curiosity about the ending for the villains was not completely fulfilled but they did at least give you a shadow of an answer. This is a fine drama. Not mind blowing or one of a kind but an enjoyable way to pass the time.

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Best short drama I have seen

I went into this not knowing what to expect but so pleasantly surprised by it. If you look at this drama as the low budget short drama that it is then it really pulled off so much. The production was great from the choice of locations, the camera angles, the colors, the outfits. Everything chosen added to the overall experience. The acting was also very good. There was no instance where I thought that these were new actors because they never appeared nervous on screen. Their characters showed through well and fit the story. The soundtrack is also one of my favorites.

If there is anything that takes away stars it is only the storyline. But that is mostly because of the short nature of the drama that things had to progress quickly and leave out details to fit the length. But even though some things can be a bit unbelievable it was still done extremely well within the constrictions. There is a clear motive for any of their actions so you never felt lost. Honestly I would love to see the story expanded for a longer drama with the same actors.

I've seen a lot of asian dramas and quite a few short and low budget ones; this is my favorite among them. Well worth the watch and it will only take a couple hours since the episodes are only about 10 minutes long each.

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interesting plot but lacks the charisma needed

I personally really like transmigration/ time travel type of dramas and the plot for this one is really intriguing. The female lead is sucked into her own novel because of the backlash of the horrible ending she gave it. The ending she wrote gives the character she becomes a quick death and the villain ultimately winning in the end. In order to get out of the novel she needs to rewrite the ending and do that by not being killed by her now husband, the villain of the story.

The idea of this is really nice, the setting and costuming is also really pleasing. What this show lacks however is the right kind of female lead to carry it. Since the entire show hinges on her then all your attention as the viewer goes to her. Unfortunately this actress does not pull it off. I saw and liked her in Ever Night so I know she is a capable actress, this role just does not suit her. They needed someone that has a stronger presence. Unfortunately in this setting the costuming does not flatter her figure which makes her come off as childish and not as appealing as you would expect from a character in this role. I also dislike her facial expressions and interactions with the male leads. I think they wanted to go for a more comedic approach but ended up with her feeling immature and annoying. She often gives strange facial expressions and the way she carries herself and moves seems so odd to watch.

The male leads are impressing me a bit, especially Ji Chu, most are unknown to me so this is my first time seeing them on screen. The poor choice for leading lady and weak comedic attempts unfortunately detract from this drama and make it difficult for me to be interested in how it continues.

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master class in emotive story telling

Very much like my review of the first season you will find yourself emotionally invested in this second half of the story. The characters have survived the invasion but that does not mean the war is over. The remnants and all the things that follow are equally as brutal and painful to watch but so beautifully done and acted to perfection. I hated the King and is paranoia and cruelty. I sympathized with the Crown Prince and his struggle to survive a foreign land to finally make it home and find himself having to struggle to survive again. His want to keep promises and fear of what that would mean. I hated the Princess and her selfishness but empathized with her want to be loved. Every character, no matter how big or small was written and portrayed in a realness that will take your heart and pull it in a hundred directions.

Cons:
-the timeline: I found the timeline on this hard to follow and still do not completely understand how long things happened and how one character had his hair turn white but everyone else looked exactly the same
-the constant push and pull of their relationship
-for me there was too much focus on the political aspect with no real follow through conclusion
-the ending did not give me closure, I felt like I needed more. Jang Hyun's past was almost glossed over, you don't get answers about Ryang Eum and why he ended up where he did, for how long, or what happened after, and while they tied the first and last episodes together by making the show as if it was the story being told from the character in the beginning I would have liked to understand the why a bit more
-amnesia used not once but twice on the same person

Pros:
-character development from start to end for all the characters was phenomenal from the main characters down to the side characters. Everyone went through change in whichever direction and it made sense according to their characters
-beautifully shot with appropriate camera angles
-the aesthetic for the post war world and the gradual change in colors that shows the maturity and aging of the characters was done well
-music was beautiful and accompanied their scenes very well without ever feeling repetitive or too much
-Jang Hyun is a major reason I watched this show because I am a sucker for a man that will do literally everything for his person

I can not say that this is a favorite of mine but it is a powerful work that will stick with me for a while.

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