Reviews

You are probably asking yourself how I came up with an overall 7 after ranking all the rest so low.

Fact is, for once I've decided to write a review which is very personal and not at all objective. It's based upon the emotions it gave me, not the cinematographic quality of the drama.



Also, I think it's necessary to say that among the 3 versions of the same story, this was the last I watched, despite its being the first live-action based on the popular manga.

And while I consider the Japanese version the best one regarding acting and music and the Korean one better in terms of photography, colours and characterization, I'm ready to face criticism and admit that the Taiwanese version was the most satisfying to me on a romantic level.



The chemistry between Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si is what makes this into a worth watching show. For the first time, I was not rooting for the heroine to end up with the second lead, but for the main couple to finally be together. While watching hana Yori Dango and Boys Before Flowers I found myself constantly thinking: throw that arrogant brat away and choose Rui, or Ji Hoo!

You are allowed to laugh.



I ascribe this to the actors and the way their interactions were portrayed.

While Shan Cai can be annoying at times, she is a consistent character and once she finally realizes who she loves - it takes her some time - she is truly convincing. The same can be said about Dao Ming Si, whose candour as a besotted lover is quite endearing.



Therefore, although I recognize this show is pretty cheap when it comes to costumes, screenshots, photography and overall acting, I still have a fond memory of it and will probably rewatch it in the future.

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When i started watching this drama I was looking forward to a generic romance comedy drama and this is exactly what this is. It's not bad, it's not BRILLIANT, but it's decent. The story is relatively ordinary, though it did get me to laugh and feel sad in some occasions(otherwise i wouldn't watch), but it wasn't an amazing drama. That being said, I did like the Cast and their acting. The music was okay. As for rewatch value, like I always say, i'm not much of a rewatcher, especially for an ordinary drama like this. Overall, this drama gets a 7 from me. It's a drama that is perfect for extremely boring Saturday evenings.

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I think this is one of the most under-rated dramas I know of. Like most people, I watched it for Aaron. But after the first couple of episodes, I liked it much more for the stories than him. Since they are based on TRUE stories, it always had the creepy feel to it. It was also pretty controversial, which is probably the only reason why they added a "Death Girl." The "romance" between the main characters lacked big time. Aaron's character was also kind of annoying and I felt kind of bad for him. The other characters' stories made up for these faults. The end was also pretty good.



If you don't like dramas about certain sensative issues like suicide and sex, then don't watch this.

If you do, then I would defiantely watch it!

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One of my all time favorites! This is pretty unique for a Taiwanese drama because it's a bit controversial, and that's part of what makes it so good. It is easy to watch, romantic, and funny. There are parts of this drama that will just jerk at your heart strings. The actors also do a very good job, even the supporting. I loved the beginning, middle, and end (yes I LOVED the end!) It's definately not a typical love story. The two both progress really well as characters. The music is also very cute and goes well with the theme of the drama.



The one thing I did not like was that when the new episodes were added, it was a bit slow. He also at one point said that a woman is pregnant for 10 months (it's 9...)



If it wasn't so long, I would probably rewatch it. A must watch for every drama fan!

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I loved this drama, however, it is not the greatest drama that I've ever seen. The story is set up to be equally funny and sad, considering that he is a straight guy pretending to be gay in order to live with a woman. The gay misunderstanding is very funny at times, the plot lines involving her family are interesting and their relationship is convincing. However, there are some boring parts, some wandering story lines and there is a lot of immature shouting. However, I loved it, really enjoyed the bits of real life that they threw in. I recommend this drama if you haven't watched a drama/classic romance drama in awhile. If you've just seen Full House, Secret Garden, etc, you might find this boring.

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I found this drama to be boring and dissatisfying. I really wanted to love it, but there was simply not enough character development to make up for the irritating behavior and unrealistic plot lines. I love a good unrealistic plot line, no doubt about it, but when the writers can't even come up with a plausible reason for heartbreak, it becomes really tedious to watch.







In short, the virtues of this show were Kim Sung Soo's beautiful face (playing Yoo Min Hyuk), Song Hye Kyo's adorableness (playing Han Ji Eun) and that amazing house they lived in. Faults? Just about everything else. The only reason I kept watching was in hope of a clever ending, a cute climax, something to make up for all the shouting and redundant plot devices. No such luck.







As Skye N Rain noted, it's really just good for passing a boring weekend with.

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I had watched a dozen or so dramas before I stumbled upon Secret Garden. Before, my favorite Asian Dramas had been Hana Kimi and Personal Taste. However, Secret Garden is my new favorite. I'm not sure what other Asian Drama fans look for in dramas, but what I look for is character chemistry, a good balance of unrealistic and realistic plot lines, and a dash of honesty amongst all of the silliness that is usually found in these productions.







Secret Garden had almost all of those things. The actors were really, really good. And not only did they have chemistry, and some sexual tension (unlike many dramas I've watched), their characters actually develop fully. I was astonished. So far, all of the K-Dramas I've watched had next to no character development. This was different, and I was impressed by how much growth took place. I wanted to quit watching halfway through - that stubbornness that is inherent in what seems to be all Korean characters was getting very annoying. But I pulled through and am very glad I did.







As for the plot, it definitely wandered and had little focus. I was left wondering what the writers were aiming for. However, the love story is sweet and the end is worth the wait, I thought. There are even some very funny, sad and cute scenes that are unique to Secret Garden, which is something that can't be said for every drama.







Conclusion? I recommend you watch it! :)







One more note about this... The characters are in their 30's, which helped to keep the entire drama more mature and sensible than dramas I've watched about 20-somethings. Just a note! :)

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This was one of my first Jdramas and till this day remains to be one of my favorites. The story kept me intrigued and best of all, showed me the amazing acting skills of Yamapi. The entire cast did an amazing job. The music was alright but it served its purpose. I'm not big on rewatching anything, but i'm sure after 1-2 years i would definitely rewatch this drama. Overall, i'm giving this drama a 9. If you're a fan of Yamashita Tomohisa(Yamapi), definitely watch it. If you're looking for a drama that will keep you interested and on the edge of your seat for every episode, watch this.

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First of all, when you are watching this drama prepare for heartbreaks. Now that's out of the way, I have to say this is my favourite Kimura role to date (and I'm the type to pick a good romcom over any melos). Kimura and Eri as Ryo and Yuko have chemistry that absolutely sizzles onscreen and unlike any other romance you will find in most jdramas. But more than their chemistry, the supporting casts also does a great job rounding out each of their characters. You will find that this is not just a drama written in black and white, everyone is more than they seem and no one walks out innocent and unscattered. The drama starts off puzzling and slow but picks up and positively explodes toward the end.



I rated the re-watch value quite low because this is still a mystery drama so once you know the big revelation, the impact won't be quite the same as the first time but there are plenty of compelling scenes that makes up for it.





Overall, I'd definitely recommend it to any Kimura fans who haven't seen this yet, as well as anyone looking for a compelling story about love, betrayal and redemption.

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Why are you reading this review and not watching it?! This is one of my all time favorite dramas. While at times the characters can be a bit frustrating, they do a really good job playing them. The romantic scenes in this drama are very romantic and rememberable (unlike the Korean version...). I could on and on about what I like, but I would spoil it for you. The only thing I can honestly say I didn't like was part of the end, so thank goodness they have a season two! The second season of this drama is also very good and doesn't ruin the first season (unlike Meteor Garden II...).



There are also two versions of this drama, the 30 episode verison and the 20 episode version. If you are the kind of person with a lot of time to spend watching dramas, consider the 30 episode version. But if you are the kind that has little time or doesn't like really long dramas, the 20 episode version is good too and really doesn't leave out much. I forget which version, but one of the two cuts off the ends really weird (probably the 20 episode version.)



What are you waiting for? Go watch it! (I've seen it twice!)

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