This was a very clear cut movie. I like how everything was portrayed at the pace that we were shown.

It's a very specific negotiation story. It's also quite shocking. You don't know what's happening underneath the surface of what we as viewers get to see. Until we are given more facts. It's a puzzle box. A very intriguing puzzle.

Acting was great by our two leads. The story was very well put together. You root for those you root for. That can change minute to minute in this film.

Hyun Bin put so many layers and such depth into his character. I knew there was only one way this could end at a certain time. I just didn't give up hope. Also just saying I've never been a huge fan of Son Ye Jin, but I was pretty happy with how she acted out her role. I'm not sure how I would feel had it been anyone else now.

I'm glad I watched it. I don't think many movies can do what this one did for me emotionally. I was also on the edge of my seat. Constantly worrying and thinking about what what will happen next.
I think it would take a little more time before I can watch it again. I mean its way too fresh.

Sara Rojas MAY 17 2019

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This movie was pretty darn great. Really kept ones attention and made the viewers think , and question: morally and plot wise. Which characters are you rooting for, which are evil and or depraved?

Okay.. love Lee Sung-Kyun. He does so well in everything. I could see others playing his role, but as usual he just brought in something different, and almost endearing to what would be considered a mostly unlikable character. He just has a way about him. Maybe that's why I didn't rate the movie that high. Just the way things unfolded.

He starts off and maintains his character throughout. There are moments when he goes through certain events that change him. The story goes as one would assume. Some aspects are just so wrong and morally corrupt that I was almost cringing at how much my mind didn't want some things to happen.

I did picture something else. Though the shock value at other points just WOW. Honestly one could rewatch this almost immediately. It's very well done. Stays true to the concept. Not really even one cop out. Which I greatly appreciated. Give it a go. It's dark, unfair, sad, thrilling, shocking, disappointing, well thought out, and very well planned.

Sara Rojas MAY 20 2019

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As Princess Agents is ongoing this review will be getting updated as I go through **

So far I love this drama it's characters are aces, plot progression though slow at times is well paced with information being told at good intervals. The OST's are amazing!!!! I love how everything is timed perfectly with each scene. Good action sequences and political aspects, strategic plans, scheming, inner and outer strength growing in our characters. Character growth is also really well done. Chemistry between all the characters is elegant, anticipated and well executed. The story line so far is absolutely one of my favorite C-Dramas up to date.

Okay that's where I'm at for now. Also even though I'm not finished I can say this with 100% certainty that I will be able to re-watch this series in the future as of today I have re-seen the first episode again.

If you want thoughts/reviews/slight recaps of episodes I have them up to episode 16.

WATCH THIS SHOW. It's in no way a regret. It may have a lot of episodes but the story and actors make it go by so fast :D Give it a try what do you have to lose? (An amazing experience of a show that's what lol)

Sara Rojas JUNE 30 2017

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Well I have things to say. I've been waiting to finish this drama for MONTHS.
Here I go.

Just saying: ONE I have some negativity in the beginning of the show and TWO although no names (aside from his daughter which YOU WILL HEAR MANY TIMES) are stated for some there could be some comments that could be construed as spoilers. Warning given :D

After the initial disdain I had for the first 2 and around 20% of the 3rd episode... the story finally started picking up.  In these past months I had tried to watch the first episode around... 5 times? Yeah about there.. Then I finally buckled down and said I will watch it all. Episode 2 will be better. After all of the initial "wheres my daughter?!, where's sooyeon!!!!" His parental rage would have gotten more from me if it weren't every second for basically the whole episode. I have strong dislike for the first 2 episodes. It took me so much will power to get past those episodes. NOW don't get me wrong. Overall this drama was very thrilling to watch. It is now 6AM when I finally finished,  and I was at episode 11 when I started my continued watching yesterday.  

The story progresses at such a pace that I was actually guessing and couldn't stop watching. Honestly the acting saved this drama. Sure, there is quite a bit of extra loud screaming, and angst, and crying, but there's also oddly well placed moments of hope, and plot twists, and character growth, redemption, so much finesse in murders. If you can get past that first little roadbump the rest of the series is expertly put together. It's actually quite a thrill trying to figure out whats happening to who and when. I wouldn't not recommend this show to anyone who's genre this is, because honestly its very well put together.  Even though I say eps 1+ 2 are will crushers (which can be true if you can't see red like the main lead) It's important to the plot and the rest of the story to actually fully understand and watch mostly all of eps 1-5/6. Lot's of knowledge will come at you :D

Sara Rojas DECEMBER 31 2017

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High-Paced, Intriguing, Captivating, Intense
This drama made 10 minutes feel like 3. It was so good! I loved it. It kept me very focused on the plot, and characters.

I appreciate how the psychopaths are represented, and how all the corruption is shown. It had a story with multiple points of separate "villains". Yet still kept a main large mystery throughout.

It's very cool to see how all the relationships & characters evolve. I had high hopes for this drama when I read the plot + the actors. I was in no way disappointed. Even the way they tied up everything in the end. Just 10/10!
Highly recommend it. I would rewatch it.. numerous times.

I kept my usual spoilers out of the review. Just so many little mysteries that just get revealed so well all throughout. It's like every box you open (episode watched) theres another box with more information and clues that leads to more and more. Hands down I love this show. Only found out later that its based on another TV Show called Luther. I will probably be biased towards this version though... so theres that.

Sara Rojas MARCH 6 2019

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Hello and welcome to one of the most unique/ known plots you'll see. As in it doesn't follow all things we usually get to see, yet it gives us a few things we do know.

Actors= LOVE
Acting= AWESOME
Music= Very Suitable
Relationships= Well Thought out, Deep, Trust, Believing, Bromance Galore, No Unnecessary Sidesteps (Just misplaced good intentions)
Plot= Great.
Character Development= It happened. Slowly, but surely... not for all, because some people were already well thought out adults with their personalities already settled (Appreciate that in a lot of the supporting characters). Though most people grew into clearer versions of themselves.

There were a great too many flashbacks. Now we all know flashbacks aren't bad. They give us more information, a new perspective on an old scene or even why things are the way they are in upcoming newer scenes. These flashbacks though... are everywhere. They're like internet pop ups. the first few were good for what I have above mentioned before. After the constant usage of the exact same flashbacks again and again, it just got really repetitive. Even with that I still greatly appreciated this drama. Now just saying for people who love to fully watch every scene in every episode... its actually okay to do so. I just sped up the speed for scenes where I knew I had seen the past scene(s) in flashbacks. It helped me through. I did however sometimes sit through the flashbacks of the early episodes in the concluding episodes. As it took me over 4 days to watch it... why not look at those scenes again. There are a few scenes in the beginning that although they begin the same you actually must watch in order to get the slight continuation. I have confidence and faith that you will figure it out. (You will get what I'm saying)

Alright then... our main couple is adorable. They aren't hating each other with burning passions nor are they suddenly magically head over heels in love in the first 4 episodes. Nan Qiao is a very dimensional character who doesn't follow cookie cutter personalities. She is very well thought out, intelligent, and very straightforward in her thoughts. I loved her. She's also very cute and lovable. Also just saying in the first episode especially she reminded me so much of Kim Go Eun (Drama: Goblin) Lovely Shi Yue. Where have you been all my life?! He isn't overbearing, chauvinistic, I'm right you're wrong, I'm way too smart for you. He's caring, intelligent but doesn't take himself for being more than Nan Qiao. He has a lot happen to him to turn him into the man he is when he meet's Nan Qiao.

Shi Yue and Nan Qiao give the audience beautiful expressions, gorgeous smiles + laughter, well thought out conversation, delicate tacit understandings, innovative flirting situations, uncommon dates. My love for this couple is immense and I felt fulfilled with their constant trust and faith. There's not a lot of will they won't they. Its more like when will they finally state the official lol

The secondary couples/ supporting characters are fantastic. Of course the best friends of our main leads get to go through some relationship journeys. (I won't specify, because half the fun is to figure it out for yourself)

Our main adversities and challenges presented themselves in the form of their solidifying their relationship with self obstructions, and then outside interference (2nd Female looking at you) The level of that meddling was just other level that I don't get to see in many modern day Chinese dramas. More so Korean DAILY or Korean exaggerated dramas.

Drones were a unique aspect that I wasn't expecting. Yeah I read the summary, and the fact that I saw drones there was a big factor in why I chose to watch it. The revenge that we are promised in that summary isn't fully the way it went down, but it did still play a part through the entirety of the drama. Its not just used loosely than suddenly they found a new path to lead the drama. It was well paced aside from one of my only complaints which is yes the constant overuse of flashbacks. I did like certain ones as I mentioned before. I was talking this out with another drama viewer and we came to the conclusion that: The drama aired everyday. Some people can't watch everyday. Thus so people still knew what was going on they could tune in whichever day and still get the flashbacks they need. Plus just some recap reviews of previous times. When I thought of it that way I just accepted, and appreciated the flashbacks. If I didn't marathon so well, and remember what I had seen previously... I would need those flashbacks.

Overall this drama was freaking ACES. Would highly recommend, and yes I will be re-watching it. Give it a shot. Very worth it.

Sara Rojas APRIL 22 2018

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Wow. Secret Forest is amazing. I felt connections with the actors. The interlaced plot with all of these twists and turns. Secret allies, conspiracies and of course hidden enemies. Misplaced loyalty's, justice, attempts of murder.

A different look at a done topic. I love how this is slightly like A Beautiful Mind. Both have a female lead in the police profession. Only difference that our main lead is a prosecutor.

This drama is so well done. The pace is not slow its like a steady current aiming to break down a rock. Steady but with power. It will crush the rock at the finale. Each episode builds on what we know and adds more to our knowledge of the story. When we think we have it all down and its done. We get a curve ball out of nowhere.

I love stories that develop like this. A puzzle in a puzzle hidden by an equation with additional variables and aspects that make you really think.

Its also slightly cute at points with interactions by certain characters.

Betrayals, friendships, sudden changes in alliances, great story, amazing actors. I'm so pleased overall with this drama. Even at the half way mark I was overjoyed to get to see more of the story unfold. I can already sense this hole in my chest hurting when I don't get to watch new episodes.

Its also a very good, solid choice of drama to marathon.

Sara Rojas JULY 30 2017

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Well that was a whirlwind of emotions.

Story was well paced, really thoroughly thought out. Straight up hits one in the feels.
It makes you think, I mean really think about life in general.

Music was amazing. Perfectly chosen for each scene to evoke certain emotions. It's just all so good.

The acting was on point! Great chemistry. Not going to lie, I did get emotionally invested. Tears occurred, twinges of heart strings pulled, chest crushed with emotion. Supporting cast wasn't there just to be there and ruin the story. No one was there for no reason. Everything was interconnected. In my own way I didn't feel that there was any real big bad. The biggest bad was the situation, and the battle to maintain and keep their selves in control. There was relationship bumps, but it still made sense. I didn't hate anyone outrageously. Which was refreshing.

The ONLY reason the rewatch is at 9.5 is because it hit me very emotionally in many ways. I could see myself re watching it a lot though. I hope this helped you decide to give this fantastic piece of work a good shot. [Just saying its EXTREMELY Marathon worthy] Took me 4 days only because of sleep+work.

Sara Rojas JUNE 4 2018

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Alright. Honestly I just watched it, so it's pretty fresh in my head. I didn't watch it for awards, or even for the actors. I had known the title only, and thought "Okay I finally found it. Let's watch this now."

I am in the boat where I won't openly say I hate or love this film. I'm in lukewarm water just soaking this plot in.

The characters are a little flat for me.. not all, but I didn't really connect with Oh Dae Su's character all that well. I did, it just didn't lunge me forward. I got his character and his need to find out why he was put there for 15 years, but then at the very end not sure I was for it. Still his acting was way aboveboard and it suited this film immensely. Mido's character for me was really only there to move plot inch by inch forward. There was slight appreciation for them not breaking her illusion for lack of a better way to say that. Yoo Ji Tae's character. Well I am a fan of him. He's a great actor with lots of dimension. His character in this movie kind of helped me out a lot. His steadfastness in his journey, his outlook, and his beliefs.

The premise is different, and the action sequences were pretty ace. A good use of plain bloody gore + mental anguish. I will admit certain scenes made me cringe. The bodily harm to more than one character that was shown so visually. The end twists were cringe worthy sure, but without them I'm not sure if Yoo Ji Tae's revenge would have paid off for him as well as it did. Not sure if he was smiling, so the world smiled with him; or if he was weeping so the world wept with him. It wasn't one of my favourite films, but I wouldn't say its a bad film. Its a very psychological, dark, and well paced film. It will keep you guessing/supporting until the end.

Sara Rojas APRIL 22 2018

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Temptation. A story of 4 people. We have two women and two men of vastly different states of wealth. Now we see them basically staying within their own groups. The two chaebols stay in each others reach for company related sabotage and the like. The mid tier couple are happy and satisfied being together.

Due to events and choices we get to see things fall apart and begin anew. One female goes from cold hearted to warm hearted whereas the other goes from a normal woman to doubting to grieving to angry to evil. I found the relationships to progress at a very decent pace. Although it was basically about affairs, it was done in a way that I was not upset at watching.
This drama was mainly about how the characters grow and people change.

I found the line distribution and acting to be fantastic, very nice subtle tones of voice to go along perfectly with their musical choices for the OST. I appreciate voices and how they allow their lines to come to life. It was done in a very stable, quiet but emotional way.

I am writing this review as I'm rewatching it so I would say its rewatchable.

This type of plot isn't for everyone, some people will just see it as a homewrecker wrecking a relationship, I don't fully see it that way. I see it as a woman who saw someone in a dire situation and chose to give them a choice. They made things happen by their own choices. Also the karma that this show deals out is pretty crazy as well.

Sara Rojas JULY 1 2017

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Well Woven Masterpiece

Oh my wow.

Acting yes. Music yes. Plot SO WELL WRITTEN.

Everything from start to finish was well placed and paced.

Our girl goes through a journey. Meets a public defender who is amazing at what he does. Starts to rethink the way she practices law and how she is.

There are familial, political, crime, and love plot lines. Though honestly it doesn’t go anyway like you expect. It’s funny, light hearted, and warm. Then suddenly it’s dark, tragic, and smothering to your heart. There’s revenge, justice, and warmth.

It is so well done that honestly it has something for everyone. It also keeps you guessing. The guessing and curiosity is what kept me going. Plus that classic will they won’t they. Yet already guessed early on how that might go. Watch enough dramas and making guesses comes as second nature.

It’s such a quick breezy watch. You’ll feel something watching this. Depends on your perspective. I do think we’ll all take something from it. A lesson is definitely wanting to be taken from the whole drama journey. You love who you love. Can’t forgive who you can’t. Feel for those who hurt.

10/10 would definitely watch again.

Sara Rojas MARCH 2 2023

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The Darkness Could Get You Sick

This movie is action packed like no ones business. It also broke my heart.

I mean it had a very clear path for how the plot would unfold. It’s just that the further we went in the film the more darkness was uncovered. Hidden secrets coming to light in such a terrible fashion. Aside from trying to can to her end goal there truly wasn't too much plot or backstory. The only thing would be uncovering the pasts of the sisters. I will reiterate the action and violence was next level. Very realistic. I feel satisfied with the ending if not a little empty. I wish there had been a bit more justice dealt out. One can only assume the true ending.

The casting was very well done, and I got to see some actors in a very different light. This film made me sick to my stomach at times. It was more heart-wrenching then I thought it was going to be. Yet I knew it was going to be sad and dark . Oh my goodness just so dark and terrible. The sheer amount of assaults that happened in this film are tragic, but its showing a side of reality that not everyone chooses to acknowledge.

The film left me with a lot of emotions still swirling around. If some time passes I could see it being watched again.. If there was absolutely nothing else to watch. I mean i love Lee Si-Young, she's just awesome in everything I see her in. The music was also relatively well placed and matched the movie really nicely. This is a thriller, vengeance, revenge film..and it was quite good. I just wouldn't recommend it to everyone.

Sara Rojas JULY 22 2021

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Pleasantly Different

This drama was so well done. It demonstrated real issues in a way that was basically sincere. It didn’t feel dragged out or out there to be a big issue. Just drawing your attention to how it feels to be different, questioned, and lonely. I felt my heart clenching and also laughed so hard. There were even times when I was at the end of my seat bracing my shoulders.

The music was very well done. There were just a few songs that I didn’t like last 80%. They still matched every scene.

The character development that was portrayed was fantastic. You saw our two mains really evolve as the drama went on. Their relationship didn’t even seem rushed. It wasn’t an out of this world meeting. It wasn’t instant connection. That was different and very enjoyable. Plus our secondary cast are wonderful at what they do. The drama itself didn’t feel overdone. It felt as though they wanted us to connect and really feel what everyone was feeling. Not all things work out, not everything can resolve itself perfectly in a bow. Being able to apologize, and be heard is worth all the effort. I love that it’s comedy is just perfect. The pacing wasn’t rushed either. Maybe it was the short season half hour episode format. I would watch this format again easily.

This drama is short and sweet. If you want a quick and easy drama to sink your teeth into give this a really good try. Might make you smile, cry, get frustrated and angry. Maybe a delightful combo of emotions you didn’t know could mix.

Sara Rojas JULY 18 2021

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Did not go as Expected

I regret this all. I wrote a review a moment ago. Lost it all. Like a fool. I’ll attempt again.

This was not a fun thing to watch. I went in expecting it to be a usual whodunnit film. I was very very wrong.

The genre seemed to change many times throughout the film. I also couldn’t really get attached to any of the characters which might’ve made me not as enthralled in it. The set up and the beginning were so well done.. then it just spiralled and fizzled out.

That could be because the characters didn’t really have a huge chance of getting known. I did however enjoy the tea house owners. The acting from all of the “suspects” was basically okay. The two who stood out the most were obviously Kim Sang Kyung, and Heo Sung Tae. Glorious.

The music always suited every single scene which was great. Whether it be light, dramatic, or scary it did the job.

I like watching movies that have justice served in the end. This movie made me feel as though not everything was resolved in a way that suited me. As I just watched the movie and it’s so fresh I wouldn’t be able to say that I’d want to watch this again. Maybe the first 29 minutes or so.

However if you enjoy complicated, misleading and whodunnit transition into a dark “wow didn’t expect that twist” movie.. Then give this film a shot.

Sara Rojas APRIL 23 2021

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Perfume. You were an easy marathon binge. We get to see a different story that is also very similar to the regular cliches.

The acting at times was a tad over the top. It was realistic except where it obviously goes against reality. The characters were a joy to watch. Every character was fleshed out excellently. The soundtrack was always great at matching the situation. There were laugh out loud moments, and moments that yanked your heart from your chest. Many life lessons were demonstrated in this drama. I watched it for the story, but also to see the main lead Shin Sung Rok playing a different character than usual. As well as Kim Min Kyu. That man has a smile that can melt chocolate. Now the production was overall well kept together. The plot was written very well. Overall it showed motives, both positive and negative. Obsession was thoroughly depicted throughout the drama. In a underlying fashion and blunt right in your face. Also there is a great amount of supporting characters that just make this production even greater.

It is worth watching hands down. Give it a good try people. Yes the trope is known. Yes, but the way it is depicted is truly interesting to watch. Hopefully you like it!

Sara Rojas APRIL 6 2020

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