Nos blues La vie en bleu

Not a character miscast. Not an emotion overplayed. Not a storyline over-told. Absolutely flawless.

The technical details - not a single goof. The cinematography... breathtaking. The writing: quite nearly voyeuristic as we share these lives and learn their most intimate secrets.

That exceedingly talented (adorable!) little girl. The heartbreaking revelation of domestic violence. The genius introduction of a gifted artist. The profound bleakness of depression. The stigma of teen pregnancy. Through it all, the poignant need of a neglected boy who only ever wanted to hug his mom. Even after all those years.

And how all of those tragic elements pale in comparison to joy of belonging.

This entire show can be summed up in one word. Exquisite.

What a beautiful drama. Everything was done subtly, realistically, with simplicity and yet lots of depth. I don't think there's ever been a better cast in a Korean drama, the list of A-list stars in this is hard to believe at first. Episode 15 is a must watch, could probably be seen on its own.

From the beginning this series involves the viewer in the characters. This series boasts insightful portrayals of romances and friendships that is in turns dramatic, laugh out loud funny and touching. The characters are flawed and human and their problems including financial and mental and many hardships feel real and universal. An enchanting Continental accordion soundtrack and Italian songs add to the island atmosphere. The director is good a keeping the different characters and flashbacks clear and avoiding confusion.

The cast is so perfect it's almost like the roles were written for them. The central character played by the bubbly Lee Jung Eun is lovable. Han Ji Min also looks pretty and sweet here. There are terrific appearances from Cha Seung Won who plays depressed better than any actor and Uhm Jung Hwa who is just perfect as a pretty friend. Among the male leads, Lee Byung Hun is totally convincing and the intense Kim Woo Bin makes a strong return to the small screen.

The writer of this show previously did Padam Padam, It's Okay That's Love and That Winter the Wind Blows. Those shows lost steam during the series. Our Blues has so many characters and different stories that things never drag. Also even if some issues have been done before the way the director and writer handle them in Our Blues makes them fresh and moving. This omnibus format is a welcome change from the series format to keep things interesting.

Didn't imagine a show about seafood market workers in Jeju could be so good. This is a must watch show and one of the finest K dramas ever made.

Korean drama can be a bit prone to melodrama, with overacting and padded storylines being the main weakness. But 'Our Blues' avoids these pitfalls and delivers consistently fine storytelling, excellent acting and thoroughly engaging scripts and screenplay. This is top-notch drama delivering many deeply poignant scenes as the ensemble cast reveal their life struggles. If you want to dip your toe into the global phenomenon of K-drama, then this is the perfect starting point.

Just finished episode 8. I don't usually react emotionally but this episode had me in tears. This drama is great because it's not your typical kdrama that pumps out fairytale romances. There is no promise of happily ever-after, rather it delves into the intricate and intimate relationships of the small seaside community and not just from a romantic aspect. It captures the essential Korean grit of finding humour amidst hardship.

If you are looking for just korean rom-com then refer to Crash Landing on You.

If you're interested in a poignant portrayal of a small community, this is a surprising and forward production to come out of Korea.