Over the top, on crack and hyperbolic, but somehow extremely relatable.

I’m not going to lie, semi-pro alcoholism is not exactly my cup of tea, but somehow, I did not mind it here. It might be the fact that realism went out of the window with the sea of alcohol they were drinking - it was both scary and impressive. I don't think I've drunk as much alcohol in the last 10 years of my life, as they drink in a week.

It’s all about these eccentric ladies and their daily struggles as they hit their 30s. Each of the 3 ladies presents a truly unique perspective and approach to life. At times, you might even question how they became such close friends, since the differences are so obvious. That’s one of the best parts of the show - watching them understand each others’ ideas, goals, views and opinions and accepting them.

The comedy is good, well placed, fitting the situation and built on characters' personalities and relations. It’s not all fun comedy though. Each of the female leads have to deal with either past or present traumas and problems, which adds a layer of depth I did not expect when I started the show. These stories also serve as a great social commentary about several issues. All the tears, all the used tissues.

It’s a drama that finds a perfect balance between friendship, work, party and romance. The writer and director knew exactly how much screen time each of these aspects needed to feel like a cohesive picture with no underdeveloped plotlines.

The cast did an amazing job with the characters they played. Were they slightly type-casted based on the real life personalities of the actors? Yes. Being a fan of A Pink, Secret and Super Junior in the past, I can clearly see some similarities between the characters and people who played them.

Overall, I just loved it so much. Being more or less the same age as the main characters, I could not stop myself from relating to a lot of situations they had to deal with, feeling nostalgic about their past, that often was similar to my past experiences. It’s not a perfect show, but for me it was. There was truly nothing that bothered me or I would change.

Citeste mai mult

Nostalgic and warm, yet slightly disappointing.

Not to say this season was bad. There were quite a few elements I enjoyed a lot. It was simply not as good as season 1. Why? Because there was little to no development nor arc for the 4 out of the 6 main characters - they already went through it in the previous season.

First of all, in terms of the plot, the mystery seems impersonal since for the longest time we don’t really know why it’s even connected to the leads. It’s just something they come across by an “accident”. In season one Pan Seok was the connection between the male lead and the ghost. Here… it just happens because the plot needs it and there are no personal stakes and the few connections we have are not enough.

Characters wise, I liked the two new leads. Eun Sil was a great addition, but I feel like there was not enough focus on her - how she manages the village, how she interacts with others. Il Young is probably my favorite character. Obviously he had some issues and a dark past, but also seemed like a good person. That contrast made me curious about him. They did well in establishing the mystery parts like how he was able to leave the village, how he knew Thomas, what was his connection to the crimes happening in the outside world.

I feel like we only got glimpses of the village here and there and it was never truly the center of the show. The aspects I actually liked the best in season 1 were the storylines about the ghosts, not the investigation happening in real life. I wanted to see more of the ghosts perspective - depth of regret only someone who has no chance to fix their mistakes can have. Not to mention the whole idea of kids, their understanding of death and where they currently are, how the learn to be happy for the ones that leave the village - aspects that were not really explored enough.

Il Young is probably my favorite character. Obviously he had some issues and a dark past, but also seemed like a good person. That contrast made me curious about him. They did well in establishing the mystery parts like how he was able to leave the village, how he knew Thomas, what was his connection to the crimes happening in the outside world.

As for the rest of the main characters - nothing changed, nothing improved, nothing got worse nor better. They were all rather stagnant. Kim Wook got glorious hair and they tried to give Jang Pan Seok some interesting arc of not being able to let go of the past and traces of his daughter… but I felt like they dropped the topic at some point without conclusion.

The whole real life investigation was just mediocre at best. Random generic bad guys with no depth, little to no established motivation and awful fashion sense. The only good thing about the investigation was the fact we’ve got to see Shin Joon Ho a little bit more.

Production value was great - great sceneries, great set design, good special effects, nice visuals as all tvN shows have.

Acting was great - with this cast I expected nothing less. They did an amazing job with the casting, especially taking into consideration how many kids were part of it. Sometimes finding even one child that can deliver a believable character is hard, here they were able to find quite a few.

Overall, it’s exactly what one would expect from a second season - enjoyable, even if it did not get anywhere near the quality season 1 had.

Citeste mai mult

This was a crazy ride full of messy characters, ridiculous plotlines and scenes, but somehow I loved it. I also lost too many brain cells watching (not good, since I didn't have that much left to begin with) . I don't even know what my opinion is about the show. I loved and hated it at the same time. I was obsessed but also questioned my choices for watching.

Is this a good show? No. Quite honestly and objectively speaking. Characters at times make no sense, they randomly turn "gaynes and romance" from 1 to 10 between episodes, actions of most characters have no true consequences, and some ladies are just crazy. BUT it's entertaining and I enjoyed every second of it.

I planned to watch one episode, to just see why so many people are so obsessed, and ended up watching 11 episodes in one sitting. Once you start, you won't even know when you'll be on the last episode.

One of the things that for sure got people hooked was the chemistry between the main characters. The things they did... Hide the kids. Fire on screen. Overall the characters were fun to watch. Kim is my girl and the best female character I have seen in BL so far.

I don't have much to say about the plot, since it was never important in the drama itself. It's definitely driven by the relationships and interactions between the characters. The writers could completely change the setting of the show, and not many changes would have to be made.

But then there is Moira, who is basically a female version of Lhong. Throw her into the trash please.

I found the last episode a bit too over the top, even for such an over the top show. But it made me laugh and had some heartwarming moments, so I shouldn't really complain right?

Overall, as many before me said, it's a perfect guilty pleasure. Give it a shot and dive into the craze.

Citeste mai mult

The greatest mystery - who is Santa?

Are you done with watching incompetent cops trying to solve a mystery and catch the criminal? Do you find it funny, when shows try to hide who the killer is, even though it’s more than obvious to the audience? Did you have enough of female characters being there just to support the male leads? If yes, this show is for you.

There are no cops to be seen, so you don’t have to deal with their incompetence. We know who the killer is since day one and the whole plot centers around the amazing cast of female characters. Want a hero? Want a complex gray character? Want a chaotic villain? You will get it all here.

Inspector Koo is a whacky, bizarre and surreal crime comedy that presents an exciting cat and mouse chase, with a lot of traps hidden for all the characters. The show introduces a number of plot lines that, by the end, get fitting conclusions.

We follow three different sets of characters, having their own motivations, goals and ways of dealing with piling up issues - Kyung Yi and her team, K, and Chief Yong Sook. Each of them trying to be on top and outsmart the others.

Inspector Koo presents a refreshing take on the heroine trope. Koo Kyung Yi is not exactly the type of person you would admire and try to look up to. Struggling with basic daily activities, she gets absorbed into the investigation, getting close to an obsession.

Luckily, she has on her side Na Je Hee, who is able to keep the team operating, Oh Kyung Soo being the voice of a real reason and Santa, the innocent helper who cares for Inspector Koo deeply, while hiding his true identity. Who is Santa? That’s the mystery of the show.

On the other hand, we have Song Yi Kyung, who is the “righteous” serial killer hidden under the name “K”. With her wits and daring behavior, she was able to commit murders undetected. Her reasoning and personal moral code make her an interesting character to observe.

The third party involved in the plot is Chief Yong Sook and her subordinates, who team up with Koo Kyung Yi in attempts to catch “K”, serving a role of a behind the scenes power, while hiding their own motives.

The three groups present amazing dynamics and never ending scheming that kept me as a viewer at the edge of my seat. Not only that, the drama presents viewers with conflicting emotions - you know you should not be rooting for the killer, but somehow… it’s hard to be completely against their actions.

Inspector Koo is a perfect blend of crime, investigation and dark comedy. It never takes itself too seriously by trying to have a depth of the Mariana Trench, when it’s more of a puddle. It’s not here for you to break your brain trying to understand convoluted plot lines and morally gray dilemmas and issues. It gives you thrills, fun, action and an entertaining set of characters that work together in the most amusing way.

On several occasions we can witness the clever writing, when jokes or solutions are set up in the previous episodes. Some seemingly off topic and insignificant comments made by the characters are used to set a playoff in the scenes later on.

The production team committed to the bizarre characterization of the drama, elevating it by unusual, at times over the top editing and gaming elements - making the whole plot seem less realistic and surreal. Adding the perfection that the soundtrack for this show is - we’ve got ourselves quite a cinematic treat.

Overall, one of the biggest surprises of 2021. Fitting and funny comedy, amazing thrills, likable characters, unusual mystery and romance found in surprising places, scheming and wits that take you on the peculiar journey.

Citeste mai mult

If you are in the mood for a light, cute and sweet romantic comedy with a nice female lead who knows what she wants and smart not-an-asshole male lead, this is for you. While the plot was truly simple daily life and there was no main plotline except for the blooming romance between Si Tu Mo and u Wei Yi, nor huge hardships the main characters had to overcome, it was still interesting and enjoyable to watch.

It might seem like a drama with many usual tropes of rom-coms, but most of them are introduced in an interesting and fresh way. The love triangle is not as frustrating as it tends to be in this genre and gets resolved in a realistic way. The second lead female is almost non existing and does not affect the main couple in a negative way. Even the accidental kiss happened in a realistic setting.

Don’t let the tags fool you, neither is the female lead naive nor the main lead cold. She is strong willed and tries to fulfill her dreams in an industry she likes while staying positive and mature. Gu Wei Yi is a nice and truly caring guy. He might not be the best communicator and lacks the know-how in romantic relationships, but rather than being cold, it makes him look sweet and innocent.

All the characters were extremely likable, with Lin Zhi Cun being a background MVP who instead of being turned into a pushy guy that goes after a girl ignoring her own feelings, was written as a good person who is willing to help others in his smart and funny ways.

It’s a good drama for an evening when you don’t want to feel burdened with complex plots and many tragic and sad scenes. There are no weird plot twists and no moments that will make your blood boil.

Citeste mai mult

Killing the innocence, dehumanizing humanity.

Dark portrayals of greed, low self value and distorted view of reality based on the twisted social standards that are rooted in the obsession over money that takes away all the joy of life - all wrapped in a completely unrealistic scenario sprinkled with dark comedy tone, that emphasizes the absurdity of the characters’ choices and behaviors.

The childlike locations and games present a drastic contract to the brutality of the scenarios the characters are facing. The game creators put themselves in the position of innocent keepers of the rules, and any tragic deaths are the fault of the participants for breaking them. No one is forced to participate - you signed your death certificate yourself.

Survival in the game and survival in daily life serve as another good contrast - the physical brutality versus the emotional and existential dread. It’s more than survival games drama, the true horror is the reality of these people outside of the games and what they can do in the given situation to change it.

The aspect of Squid Game I definitely appreciated was the different perspective we were able to witness - we weren’t only following the players. The behind the scenes gave this unrealistic scenario more down to earth feel - witnessing the pink umpa lumpas with some despicable, but human qualities were for me a good writing choice. The whole mystery of the workers was a small part of the plot, yet so interesting. Sadly, it did not really lead anywhere.

Here’s the thing though - I kind of wanted the majority of the people to die at the beginning. They were really painfully unlikable, and not in the “he annoyed me a bit”, but rather “kind of a trash human being” type of way. Luckily, as the drama progressed and we started to understand their backgrounds, I was able to empathize with some, and even if I disagreed with many of their choices, I still felt bad for what may happen and how they might end.

Blood and murder are this show’s best friends - be aware of that before watching. Realistically speaking, this is not some new higher level of gruesome scenes, but they don’t shy away from showcasing deaths and accidents.

The acting from all the adults was truly amazing. Like in any drama, some roles had more depth and were more demanding than others, but none of the characters felt like an empty placeholder to fill the scene.

But then we had the group of foreign actors with such an exaggerated line delivery, I was thinking I’d rather mute the screen. Not one of them did a good job. All sounded like licence free sound bites.

Any flaws or complaints?

Depends on what you are looking for. Do not expect any elaborate death traps and clever tricks - it’s far more simple. It is pure survival with technically simple rules and games. You won’t wreck your brain trying to understand what is going on, since the plot is rather straightforward with no unexpected plot twists that turn the whole plot upside down.

You might want to sit down and analyze the message of the show and what might be the meaning behind. Depending on the viewer it could be a decent kill count watch with a bit of excitement, or a depressing portrayal of collapsing morals and society, as the money sucks all the joy out of our lives.

EPILEPSY WARNING IN EPISODE 4 - not a complaint, but something viewers for sure should know before starting it. This is the type of filming I cannot enjoy. I lose interest when I can’t really see what is going on. I know, it was done on purpose. I know, the chaotic atmosphere was the point. I still don’t like it.

There has also been a random sex scene, and I don’t think we needed that “final” nail in the coffin - it was clear even without it that people would do anything for survival and money.

Some details make exactly zero sense, and I truly mean zero. If you are lucky, you will not notice them at all, since they are less than minor. Squid Game is not exactly free from plot holes, but none of them have a big impact on the story. Some plot lines do hit the dead end though.

The reasoning behind the games? Kind of weak. I was hoping for them to give some unexpected twist, but in the end, they went with exactly what I expected them to show. The more they explained, the less I liked it. The last few episodes started to take away from the message of the show, which lowered the quality of the watch quite a bit. It was going so well… and then it didn’t.

Overall, it was a brutal drama, yet somehow I found myself laughing at quite a number of scenes. The dark comedy, calling out the hypocrisy - all that was truly amazing. 2/3 of the show was a solid 9.5, and I’m a bit frustrated with where the show went after that. Still, quite an enjoyable watch, with interesting set designs, well written characters and some solid thrills. They were able to get me attached to the characters and feel their desperation and pain. One of the episodes truly broke me, and I was thankful for that.

Citeste mai mult

Love Like the Black Hole - sucking the energy out of me.

It was just truly not a good follow-up after part 1. They limited/removed all the good aspects of it, and the new things they added/developed did not grab my attention or were just ridiculous.

One of the things I struggled with was the random shifts of tone - from drama to comedy, sometimes happening multiple times in one scene. I did not feel the emotional impact because of the random comedy lines, but I could not quite laugh about the comedy, because of the serious tone and situation the characters were in. This lighter tone fitted part 1, since the setting was less serious and less prone to major incidents. The moment Shao Shang entered the palace, it all changed, and I feel like her character and how the scenes were carried should have been tweaked to fit the new environment. I’m not saying make Shao Shang a completely different person, but character development exists in writing for a reason.

Yes, some of her behavior could be excused because of her young age and the lack of education/neglect. Some things though were so out there, it was too much to take even for me. Random treason? Why not? Making more or less the same mistake a few times in a row? Shao Shang will deliver. Here’s the thing - she was never that impulsive in part one. We saw her plan and scheme a sweet revenge quite a few times. Rarely ever she just randomly jumped into action without prior preparation. They amplified her hot-headed temper so much in part 2, it was hard to watch, and she went from one of my most beloved characters, to one of the most frustrating ones.

Not to mention, she demanded from everyone to accept her for who she is, while not doing the same for others. The egocentrism made it hard for me to like her.

With all that, there was one thing I liked about her character - her strong belief that women are as capable as men. That women can be individuals with their own goals, plans and motivation. That she can be happy and fulfilled without a man. Yes, sometimes they presented it more as her being just stubborn and not wanting to communicate/cooperate, but the overall sentiment stays the same - she knew her value and she knew she was capable.

Here’s another thing about her age though - it makes the romance creepy. I do not want to hear how “time period accurate it is”, because the whole drama is NOT accurate and realistic. Shao Shang with her bevarior in that time period would be dead in a few episodes. There is no reason to keep the semi-pedo age difference between the leads for accuracy, while also making sure everything else does not follow the time period customs and norms. On one hand I had to mentally age Shao Shang to be 18, to feel fine with the romance, but then I had to constantly remind myself she is just 15 to excuse her stupid behavior.

On the stupid behavior - what the heck happened with Buyi? The last few episodes were especially ridiculous. He was known to be meticulous, able to turn any situation for his benefit, and patient with his schemes. Now - all out of the window, left in the trash as he slays his way straight to treason and basically exile. He did not even try to find a different way. The Emperor was so painfully biased towards him, I’m sure he would agree to execute his uncle under false allegations, if it meant keeping Buyi safe.

And what’s up with the massive self-victimization of the leads? Both acted as the most pitiful people on the planet, acting as if they were the only ones who ever suffered hence their actions, no matter how egregious, were justified. Buyi thinking he never felt real love since his childhood is basically a slap in the face to the Emperor, Empress and even Consort Yue. All these people literally cared for and loved him more than their own children. Buyi had literally such a huge support system, and he willingly refused to use it. His loneliness is on him. It’s his own choice. He literally refused all the love people were giving him.

In the eariler episodes I was joking around saying he is basically a psychopath, because he distresses by torturing prisoners and hunting down traitors, but the closer to the end of the show I got, the more real it became. Dude was a psychopath. Machiavellian might be a better term.

Family drama, all the tea spilled during the dinners and gatherings was an easy 10/10. Shao Shang went from 10 to 5, back to 7 on good days. The romance was lukewarm, and Leo Wu carried it all on his back. Sorry, but Shao Shang gave me nothing in that aspect. Technically she did say she loves him and all that, but did she really? Like, really? I felt nothing, not a tiny bit of romantic feelings from her to Bu Yi. One day she was questioning what love really is, and how it feels, next day she was making some random love declaration and lecturing others about her undying love for Bu Yi. And my brain went - since when? How? It was literally: she doesn't love him, next scene: she loves him. And even then it felt more like her trying to convince herself she loves him, rather than her actually having these feelings. So since I did not understand when and how she fell for him, even the more emotionally impactful scenes felt a bit flat.

As much as I disliked the writing, I have to say the performances were truly strong. Especially Zhao Lu Si - this girl has such an emotional range I am amazed every time I watch her on screen. Leo Wu did well delivering the emotionally broken man too, especially during the more intense scenes. Other roles were not as demanding, but the performances were just as solid.

Another really minor and random thing that was good - some kills. They did not shy away from blood and truly showed the injuries and pain that comes with slashing someone up and running someone over with a horse.

Overall, I think I just feel disappointed? It hit me while watching the last episode, how good part 2 could have been if it was focused mostly on the separation and what happened after they reunited. The more serious and dramatic tone would make sense with the characters being older, the angst would be more impactful if it lasted longer than a few episodes. They would have had more time to show how Shao Shang changed through the years, and how she matured. I also feel like it would make much more sense if she truly fell for him after they reunite in the future.

Citeste mai mult

Too safe and too commercial.

There was nothing outstanding about the show. I’m not gonna remember any scenes from it in a month, because everything was just lukewarm and bland. And it truly pains me to say that.

I think my biggest issue is how for many scenes I did not feel like I’m watching Atom and Kongthap, but rather Fourth and Gemini. The further into the show we’ve got, the characters seemed less similar to how they were initially introduced. Atom was not really timid and clumsy and Kongthap went from not understanding what love is, to being pro in a relationship. I was watching Fourth and Gemini have fun playing around and flirting on screen, rather than two fictional characters and their story. And it completely took me out of the show.

Don’t kill me, but the whole drama I kept thinking: where did Fourth and Gemini’s acting skill go? Took a break? Deserved vacation? I loved them in the previous dramas, but here everything seemed… forced, some lines robotic. That said, Some of this seems to be the editing issue - leaving too much pause between lines made some dialogues sound unnatural. There were scenes that were great, but if I had to talk overall, it was more ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Since I kept seeing the actors behind these characters, I could not connect to the presented story at all. I stopped caring for their romance and individual journeys, even with how relatable they might have been on paper.

And the drama does tackle a lot of issues and concerns of youth. One that I especially appreciate is the conflict between following your friends and loved ones and following your passions and dreams. Should you pick a school that would let you cherish the closed ones and spend more time with them, or the school that would be best for your individual goals and improvement? How will you approach that dilemma? How will you deal with the aftermath of whatever choice you make?

What’s more to like? I did enjoy the second couple quite a lot. I found them to be more refreshing, cute and funny. Their scenes for sure stood out more.

Production wise it was good if we are talking about set design, directing. I have one question though - how low are the payments for PPLs for them to need so many? I felt like I was watching ad after ad, as if the show was created around different advertisements rather than these product placements being smoothly incorporated into the plot. You already have 4-5 different ads before each part starts…

Overall, I think we are passed the “nothing was wrong” standard and we can expect more and this show just simply did not meet my expectations.

Citeste mai mult

The greatest cast delivered us the greatest medical show up to date.

Let's be grateful for the perfection this drama is. No power struggle plot lines, no over the top unrealistic medical cases, no flawless doctors with such amazing skills they could be called superpowers. What we’ve got is a realistic representation of a hospital as a workplace with a brilliantly written set of original characters and smart comedy with depth and heart intertwined. I could not ask for more.

Some might argue that the characters were too perfect, but if anything, they were perfectly written. They still had their flaws, but I wasn’t slapped across the face with them. They were insecure at times, scared, and didn't know how to communicate with others. Their small struggles and mistakes they made never annoyed the viewers, because they were realistic and made sense. Rather than frustrating everyone, it made the characters extremely relatable.

The acting was A+... I truly don’t think we need to discuss that. With that cast you can expect outstanding performance and still be surprised with how good the end result is.

Is there anything that could be considered a flaw in it?
Yes and No. I think it depends on what you are expecting to see. There is no one leading plot line. It’s simply the daily life of the characters. Each one of them has something going on, but except for their friendship, there isn’t any big conspiracy linking them together. One could say it’s a slow paced drama, but with shows like that, talking about pace doesn’t make much sense. Since the plot does not progress in a typical sense (from point A to point B), we can’t talk about its pacing. It’s for sure character driven, and I myself love it.

What’s more, the cast of characters is huge and it might feel overwhelming at first - trying to remember who is who and how they are all connected. I have an advice for you: just watch. Do not try to remember and recognize every intern, student, doctor, nurse or patient. It’s not necessary. You don’t need to remember with great detail who said certain lines. There is no mystery to be solved, no puzzles to create a perfect picture. You can treat it as if you just started interacting with a new group of friends - as the drama progresses, you will slowly learn the names, personalities and motivations of these people. There is no need to stress yourself about being confused at first.

For me this drama was perfect. I’m sad that some of my ships did not sail, but it also makes sense that they did not go with the most obvious choice. A clean 10/10. I just finished it, and yet I want to rewatch it right away.

Citeste mai mult

A little bit too ambitious…

Here’s the thing, I refuse to give brownie points for a good idea that was not quite well executed. Time travel romance is hard, because if you want to do it well, it won’t be easily digestible. Why? Because old times were awful. And that’s where I Fell You Linger In The Air fails - the realism of the setting.

Did I enjoy Jom and Yai’s love story? Yes. But did I feel emotionally affected by it? No. Because I felt like all the issues were presented in an extremely simplistic manner I just did not feel the pain and the angst at all. At the end of the day the time period became a plot device to deliver some mild angst, rather than a proper setting. Even the truly awful and traumatic moments were presented with not enough care to make a real impact.

The plot tackled some important issues like inequality of genders, abuse, exploitation, and the generation gap, but the solutions and conclusions were laughable with little depth and meaning behind them.

It’s hard for me to take this epic time defying love story seriously, when everything else about this show was juvenile in terms of writing. I honestly feel like I would appreciate the connection between Jom and Yai more if I only saw their clips on youtube, because everything that surrounded it made it seem less valuable and worth the watch.

That said, I did enjoy quite a few characters. The main duo obviously being part of the approved group. Except for the, I also loved James who was the true MVP of the whole show and Fongkaew who was the one to take matters into her own hands. Great characters and great performances.

At the end of the day, I feel like it was simply too careful and too focused on being more approachable.

Citeste mai mult

I have not seen any of the previous dramas about Pete and Kao so I will be judging this as a solo act/drama - keep that in mind while reading my review.

I believe this drama shows in quite simple and realistic way what happens when someone openly gay dates a person who is still in the closet and not ready to come out. Most of the problems Pete and Kao faced were the result of Kao not admitting he is dating Pete to his friends and family.

That said, we cannot place all the blame on Kao only. We should take into consideration his situation too - the fear of his mom not accepting him, the possibility of losing his job because some parents might not want a gay person to tutor their children. Pete was in an extremely privileged situation - did not have to worry about money, his dad was as accepting as it was possible. Because of that, it was hard for him to understand Kao's struggle and how, for him, there was no good way out of this situation. No matter what choice he will make, there will be negative consequences.

I also like what they did with Non's character, no matter how annoying he was. The drama clearly showed how bad parenting can influence a kid. Giving us the glimpse of what Non has to put up with at home makes it easier to understand the character, but the drama makes sure to not use it as an excuse for his bad behavior. Being a victim does not mean you yourself can create more victims.

Overall, I believe this drama addresses the important topic of coming out and how it should always be decided by the person themselves, when and how they want to do it. It should not be forced on them, expected from them. It's not an easy decision and everyone's circumstances are different. To quote the drama: "It's my choice to tell or not tell anyone. I should get to decide.".

Citeste mai mult

These (basically) 2 hours felt like a summary of the story, not the whole story itself.

From the start I was not exactly amazed. Trauma, depression, and anxiety is a trend in k-bls in 2023 and I’m kind of tired of it. Still, just because it’s used a lot, does not mean it’s written well, so I would not mind a good representation - this ain’t it. It’s not offensive or anything, just painfully superficial. The whole writing lacks details to make it relatable and realistic.

And then they decided to literally put most of the plot and characters progression in the time jump. Not gonna lie, this was an interesting storytelling idea - not really showing the most important developments.

So we end up with Seung Jun who had little to no personality, Jae Hyun who must strongly believe in love at first sight to start liking Seung Jun without any good reason, Joo Won - the truest man-child with toddler tantrums (probably my favorite character, simply because of how entertaining it was to watch him act in such a pathetic manner) and Ho Yeon, a third wheel that is there to fill the space.

Realistically speaking, the best part of the drama was the friendship between Seung Jun and Ho Yeon - caring, supportive, calm and collected, selfless. Because Ho Yeon was such a big part of Seung Jun’s recovery, the relationship between the main couple did not feel as sincere. What about Jae Hyun was so impactful to have any effect on Seung Jun's life - this part of the plot was not really well executed.

The acting was good. Lee Dong Won presented the anxiety in a decent manner and while the writing and directing might have been improved, the performance itself was not an issue. Don’t think Byun Sung Tae had a hard job to do, since Jae Hyun is not exactly the most complex character, but he managed to hold my attention on him during his scenes.

The production was… your typical short low budget k-bl.

Overall, this is sadly a skip.

Citeste mai mult

The loop of framing Wei Young.

The drama went from solid 9 to 5.5, the plot went from entertaining cunning politics and schemes to repetitive ploys as if everyone got repetitively hit by the white truck of doom and got amnesia every few episodes, deciding to create the same schemes over and over again, for 54 episodes. Not to mention the IQ of the characters going from 150 to -10 as the drama progressed.

You know a show is full of clownery when a character that just has been tortured is being asked “Is it very uncomfortable?”...

I think the most disappointing aspect of the show were all the female characters. All the lead ones, except for Wei Young, had one focus and one goal only - to get the guy they love to love them back. All of them were scheming, plotting, risking their families’ and their own lives for dudes. How pathetic is that? Some characters were literally identical - copy paste. While at first they seemed to show some diversity of personalities, the second half reduced them all to just obstacles on the female lead’s path.

Every few episodes I tuned in for another “Who framed Wei Young this time?” game. By like 5th time it should be obvious that whenever someone accuses Wei Young for anything, she is innocent. The fact that even characters that did not even have a chance to meet her, and she did not affect in any major way wanted to kill her became a comedy of itself.

While I loved the female lead at first, the same traits that made me appreciate her, later became a reason for my dislike. Being patient, more reactive than proactive, acting low-key, never attacking first made sense in the early episodes - she had no power and no allies. Not being hot headed and thinking things through before jumping to action was smart at that time. Enough is enough though. When 90% of people around you want to see you dead, it’s high time to slowly eliminate them one by one, and not just react to what they try to do to you.

Male lead was a boring low-key psycho, who did some amazing job with gaslighting Wei Young in the last few episodes. There is close to nothing to say about him. He was supposed to be intelligent, good, noble, strong, empathetic, without flaws… boring?

I know a lot of people liked Tuo Ba Yu, but for me even he barely delivered as a character. Making his internal conflict more prominent would be better. I felt like with all his plans, he did not really risk that much when he took detours for personal reasons.

Since all the villains' motivations were either weak or boring, there was not that much thrills nor excitement. It’s obvious the female lead will not die 30 episodes before the drama ends, so all the life risking situations did nothing to me. For all the scheming, not that many people died and that’s a bummer.

That said, the drama for sure delivers in terms of acting. Tiffany Tang is a goddess in terms of looks and quite a talented actress. She did an amazing job acting as Li Wei Young. Sure, playing an 18 years old in your mid 30’ mid be a lot, but her performance was strong enough I did not even pay attention to how ridiculous that casting was age wise.

Production wise it has some amazing shots. Some locations they filmed at were breathtaking. There was quite a lot of work put into the details of the set designs. One thing I have to praise the show for is the make up - no one looked like a ghost with the foundation too shades too light cutting off when the neck starts.

Overall, the first 20-25 episodes were quite fun. The set up was strong enough, motivations of the characters clear. But then I got another 30-35 episodes of exactly the same thing. It was the same story told over and over again with few details changed. Instead of this person framing Wei Young for some crimes, it’s this person. How much of that can I take before I fall asleep?

Citeste mai mult

Finally, after having this drama on-hold for 2 years, I finished it. I do not regret waiting so long, before picking it up again. I might have rated it lower if I was watching it as it was airing, being swayed by other people's opinions. Now, with a clear heart and head, I can be as true to myself as possible.

STORY
Cults are not exactly the most commonly used theme for dramas, since it's hard to present them in a realistic way, staying true to the complexity of how these organizations work and the mentality of people being involved. This drama did a fairly good job at it. Till the end I wasn't 100% sure if the cult leader is a true believer, or if it’s just an act. There were hints fitting both of the cases throughout the show. That being said, it was unnecessary to introduce the "corrupt politician" into the mix. Next to such a fresh idea of the victims of a cult, giving us an overused story of a power hungry older guy doing anything he can to win, was a mistake. Especially since the drama would be just as interesting without it.

CHARACTERS
The drama tries to sell us a story of 3 young heroes: Sang Mi, Dong Cheol and Sang Hwan. Sadly, they failed. They told us Sang Mi is the heart, Dong Cheol - the muscles and Sang Hwan the brain of the group, but it was Dong Cheol that came up with the majority of the plans, he was smart enough to know not to involve the cops and not to believe in Sang Hwan's dad.
Sang Mi was smart enough to fool everyone involved in the cult and survived there for years. There was no brain in Sang Hwan up until ep 14/15th. A bit too late if you ask me. There was truly nothing going on for him as a character and I was never invested in him and his journey. He was there to show up at times and solve plot problems that might be hard to explain otherwise.

As I was finishing the drama, I finally knew why I disliked Sang Hwan so much: the writer and director tried to TELL us he is the hero of the story next to Sang Mi, but they did not SHOW it at all.

He kept making the same mistakes, never learning from any of them. All the consequences never hit him directly, but hurt the people around him. Don't know if it was the director's/writer’s idea or Taecyeon's misdelivery, but I never felt that he is truly sorry for all the things that he did. The production team tried to put him in the same "I am a victim here" group as Dong Cheol and Sang Mi, which was ridiculous. His mistake put his best friend in jail and an innocent girl in a cult for years, and everyone forgave him like it was not a big deal. I don't believe that there can be a nonredeemable character and they could have made Sang Hwan work, but they did not even try. All the mistakes were just forgotten.

One of the more interesting characters to watch was Apostle Kang. There were moments when we could slowly see her breaking out of that "salvation" mindset and seeing how things truly are in Goosuwon. It made me question and wonder how her character will develop and which side she will be standing on at the end. I appreciate that she stayed true to her beliefs, no matter how twisted they were. It just shows the true power of manipulation and brainwashing that had happened in the cult.

ACTING
Except for Taecyeon, all the cast did an amazing job. I must say, I might be biased though. I never liked Taecyeon acting, not once have I thought he did a good job with the role given. I just don't feel any deep emotions and those nuances in his facial expressions that distinguish amazing actors from just an actor. Being placed between such a strong cast, I could see that he still lacks in some areas of the delivery.

On the bright side though, Jung Hae Kyun and Yoon Yoo Sun did a fantastic job, easily overshadowing the rest of the cast with their acting. Everyone truly hated Joo Ho and felt pity towards Bo Eun. Many people think acting "crazy" is an easy thing to do since you just have to do random stuff, but it's hard... really hard to make it believable. The random stuff are not really random, there is a reasons they do them, do stuff that no one else seems to understand. You need to understand the reasoning behind the unreasonable actions to be able to portray them in your character.

Overall, really good drama. The frustration that keeps rising during the watch makes the ending even better. Even the comical death of Jung Ki was a good choice, and if all the actions leading to it were not as serious and heavy, I might say they overkill him. OCN knows how to deliver, and we should be thankful.

Citeste mai mult

The set, the scenes, the dialogues - it all felt empty and painfully staged. The story itself was rather simple, but fun to follow. Fish out of water scenario makes it easy to create some comedic elements, and Jun more than delivers in the role of Eun Ho with his facial expressions and natural line delivery, making the show worth the watch.

Seeing how the drama has a fantasy element and the whole background of it to explain, they truly wasted a lot of time on Lee Heon and his storyline. Who is there to kill him and why - truly unnecessary. Him being the abandoned Crown Prince that needs to hide to save his life is enough information.

Then, there is also the issue of Eun Ho just gives up on trying to find out why he traveled to a painting and finding a way out. Good few episodes he has been just chillin with the prince and his glam bodyguard, without making any effort to figure out what was going on. A few too many times I said to myself “What is going on?” for me to conclude the story was well paced and presented.

Not gonna lie, I did finish the show purely for Jun and his portrayal of Eun Ho. He was great with his funny, but realistic reactions and it was worth spending these 12 minutes a week on the rest of this rather mediocre project. Yoo Hyun Woo was fine during the soft and calm scenes, sadly, his delivery in more emotional ones failed to evoke any emotions in me. Kim Tae Jung was just there. With the way Go Geum was written, I don’t think he had that much work to do.

Overall, I believe this show would flow better as a movie. Watching it two episodes per week was a mistake. I am also not quite happy with the explanation of why it all happened - I feel like all we’ve got was “coz why not?”. Go for it, if you can binge watch all the episodes like a movie. You won’t be amazed, but it will give you a few entertaining bits here and there.

Citeste mai mult