MattPeddlesden
Kent, UK
Producers kept changing their approach
Short: Starts out looking really different to most, if you're familiar with "The Office" UK/US shows it's like that, docu-drama comedy style. I enjoyed the character arcs and how they developed, or for those that didn't necessary develop - they had other things to make them interesting. But it was IMHO too short and deserved at least a 16 run to make full use of the characters.
Detail:
Four characters in this story. The newbie producer who is probably the main thread that links it all together, coming at both work and life with freshness and naivity, but he's smart and bright so he picks things up. The two old-hand producers who have been friends for 25 years, one is constantly wrong in all his predictions (so much so that he's a reliable method of predicting the future, if you do exactly the opposite of what he says) and has a history of faltering shows including the one he's doing at the current time. The other is well established and PD of a successful Music show, but outside of work she's comically utterly oblivious to things that are going on around her, which leads to some amusing moments where you will face palm as it sounds like she's finally realised something - and then misinterprets it AGAIN. Lastly, the pop idol Cindy (played by IU) - who goes through the biggest transformation in just about every respect in this story.
This one starts out looking like the docu-drama-comedy type style with what seem like interviews and fly on the wall filming, intended to make the viewer feel like they're watching the behind-the-curtains activities of producing the TV shows they watch. If you aren't familiar with the style or it doesn't gel with you then that's going to make the first couple of episodes awkward to watch but I enjoyed it, it was different and I am always keen to see producers trying different ideas rather than just re-hashing the old favourites all the time. However, it looks like they changed their mind and this style of production mostly goes away after the first couple of episodes, returning on the odd occasion. A shame, but perhaps it just wasn't going down well with the audience when it was shown.
There's a good range of support characters too, in the office and at the various homes.
IU's character, Cindy, starts as a bratty celebrity expecting everything her way - but the story shines a harsh light on some of the brutal realities behind the lives of Idols and how fleeting things are. She comes out as a strong character who is able to wrestle back control of her life from what seem like impossible to beat odds and hers were some of my favourite scenes in the whole drama.
Overall I thought it was enjoyable, with some definite high points, but it was too short and with a cast of this level (who were all superb, as expected!) deserved much more attention than it got.
Its important to note that while it's 12 episodes - most of those are 70-80 minutes, and the final one is 1h45, so it's not going to feel short - you're just going to be left wanting more. I should also add that it does have a conclusion, perhaps more of a summary rather than a conclusion, and does feel like an ending, even if you are thinking "no, wait, more!". :)
Detail:
Four characters in this story. The newbie producer who is probably the main thread that links it all together, coming at both work and life with freshness and naivity, but he's smart and bright so he picks things up. The two old-hand producers who have been friends for 25 years, one is constantly wrong in all his predictions (so much so that he's a reliable method of predicting the future, if you do exactly the opposite of what he says) and has a history of faltering shows including the one he's doing at the current time. The other is well established and PD of a successful Music show, but outside of work she's comically utterly oblivious to things that are going on around her, which leads to some amusing moments where you will face palm as it sounds like she's finally realised something - and then misinterprets it AGAIN. Lastly, the pop idol Cindy (played by IU) - who goes through the biggest transformation in just about every respect in this story.
This one starts out looking like the docu-drama-comedy type style with what seem like interviews and fly on the wall filming, intended to make the viewer feel like they're watching the behind-the-curtains activities of producing the TV shows they watch. If you aren't familiar with the style or it doesn't gel with you then that's going to make the first couple of episodes awkward to watch but I enjoyed it, it was different and I am always keen to see producers trying different ideas rather than just re-hashing the old favourites all the time. However, it looks like they changed their mind and this style of production mostly goes away after the first couple of episodes, returning on the odd occasion. A shame, but perhaps it just wasn't going down well with the audience when it was shown.
There's a good range of support characters too, in the office and at the various homes.
IU's character, Cindy, starts as a bratty celebrity expecting everything her way - but the story shines a harsh light on some of the brutal realities behind the lives of Idols and how fleeting things are. She comes out as a strong character who is able to wrestle back control of her life from what seem like impossible to beat odds and hers were some of my favourite scenes in the whole drama.
Overall I thought it was enjoyable, with some definite high points, but it was too short and with a cast of this level (who were all superb, as expected!) deserved much more attention than it got.
Its important to note that while it's 12 episodes - most of those are 70-80 minutes, and the final one is 1h45, so it's not going to feel short - you're just going to be left wanting more. I should also add that it does have a conclusion, perhaps more of a summary rather than a conclusion, and does feel like an ending, even if you are thinking "no, wait, more!". :)
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