44 reviews
Mine is without a doubt one of the best shows I've seen period. It mainly focuses on strong female characters while still having male characters who play their part well and develop as well. This show was an emotional roller-coaster where I drastically went from "Awww" to "I HATE THEM" to "What on earth is going on?". I couldn't figure out how anything was gonna play out so you kind of have to stay alert to follow along. I was emotionally invested along the entire show and was constantly surprised. Some of the characters and moments also add some comic relief so you get a break from the heavy for a moments every now and then. I strongly recommend this show to any and all people.
- feliciastrand-71308
- Aug 12, 2021
- Permalink
I'm reading very mixed reviews while I expected it to have hight ratings. So I will write my own.
I didn't think it would be good because I get tired of South Korean drama about rich families. I choose to watch it because it stars the tutor from Sky Castle. I ended up loving this show. The music is amazing, it makes every episode feel like you are watching a thriller. The atmosphere is like the architecture in the series From grand yet sinister, to transparant yet secretive. You feel like something unexpected might happen but it stays subtle, leaving things open for interpretation until the very end. It's very well balanced and detailed.
I felt sympathy at least once for every character. I don't want to give out any spoilers so I won't go into detail.
They could have picked a better child actor, but he's young so I'll forgive him. Sure the ending could be considered over the top, (and the police investigation was somewhat confusing) but it worked well for the storyline.
I didn't think it would be good because I get tired of South Korean drama about rich families. I choose to watch it because it stars the tutor from Sky Castle. I ended up loving this show. The music is amazing, it makes every episode feel like you are watching a thriller. The atmosphere is like the architecture in the series From grand yet sinister, to transparant yet secretive. You feel like something unexpected might happen but it stays subtle, leaving things open for interpretation until the very end. It's very well balanced and detailed.
I felt sympathy at least once for every character. I don't want to give out any spoilers so I won't go into detail.
They could have picked a better child actor, but he's young so I'll forgive him. Sure the ending could be considered over the top, (and the police investigation was somewhat confusing) but it worked well for the storyline.
- omgitselinn
- Aug 29, 2021
- Permalink
This was a simple crime mystery with heart. The intrigue was there at the start, with those great cliffhangers keeping me hooked on each episode and curious about the next. At the end of each episode, it kept slowly getting more intense. The amount of drama in this was also well a necessary layer, which made me care a lot for the main characters. Each of the three leads had their own conflicts to face with the antagonist, which added more to the overall conflict. I love the motherly bond with the son, at the center of it. Every choice made was for him. Mystery was well put together and unraveled, but the bonds formed between characters made it all worth watching for me.
- imdbnonymous
- Aug 15, 2021
- Permalink
Been almost.illiterate at the.social levels of Korean society I really Like this show.
The locations, scenes purity, lighting, photography in general and most of all the.clothing used in this series was just at leat to me out of the normal series I see each day.
I enjoyed every moment of it and was looking for the next scene to see another piece or fashion at the actresses, even at the male characters!. And I'm not a person who gives particular importance to fashion at all, but really this show made that issue a huge point.
The plot although kind of known from the begining keeps on changing and keeps you hooked.
The way they talk with different language and express themselves without saying the words in an explicit way is also great!
I really recommend this show.
The locations, scenes purity, lighting, photography in general and most of all the.clothing used in this series was just at leat to me out of the normal series I see each day.
I enjoyed every moment of it and was looking for the next scene to see another piece or fashion at the actresses, even at the male characters!. And I'm not a person who gives particular importance to fashion at all, but really this show made that issue a huge point.
The plot although kind of known from the begining keeps on changing and keeps you hooked.
The way they talk with different language and express themselves without saying the words in an explicit way is also great!
I really recommend this show.
- bhedderich
- Sep 12, 2021
- Permalink
The reviewer who said this show was too slow is on speed! This show is nothing but riveting, fast-paced, and on-the-edge of your seat suspense! Gorgeous scenes of haute couture custom-made fashion and fine cuisine. The architecture and design of the chaebol homes deserves an award of its own. 10 Stars all the way!
- HoustonKorean24
- Jun 5, 2021
- Permalink
This series mainly centres around the two houses of a large estate inhabited by family members of an elite family and the numerous staff employed there. It begins with a nun witnessing a mysterious death and then the events leading up to that tragic day. It is a very clever script with drama and lighthearted moments and the directing is taught and keeps you immersed in the story. The acting is superb by all the cast and the underlying plot is about the strength of the women and unusually for a Korean drama it has a lesbian character at the centre.
- alaningle7
- Jun 30, 2021
- Permalink
This is a family shackled by the proverbial golden handcuffs. If we scrape off the gilded trappings, it reveals that this family's hearts are what's shackled.
Is this not for everyone? Sure.
Is it well done? Absolutely. Ⓜ was skillfully crafted. If one can watch until the end, the message is powerful.
While, Ⓜ's not exactly subtle, it appears to be designed that way. The truth is in front of everyone. It's not running away - It's escaping them, because they refuse to see it. It's not subtle. It bludgeons the audience. Ⓜ is a slow burn style show with a weighty feel to it along w/ a sense of impending doom. Everything in Ⓜ is deliberate: It's a methodical work. The pace augments the slow burn effect. The soundtrack portends doom. The dialogue and acting sustain extreme tension.
The quest for more and more elusive power may leave one's soul powerLESS. Trapped. Snared. Hooked. Captured. That's the feel. Love, or the lack of it, is the true power in Ⓜ. We see the power of love is snuffed out by pride, and nearly every person in Ⓜ is damaged over the want of love. Jin-ho and Jin-hee were marred by a dearth of affection & (emotional) support because their parents are thoroughly self-centered. However, even /they/ were provided with more (emotionally) than Ji-yoon.
Metaphors, both visual and verbal, are utilized to add layers of depth. One character has a literal and metaphoric wake up. This person, though late to do so, makes an effort to encourage those around h/h to alter their destructive courses & improve themselves. Han Soo-hyuk's heart sweater represents his character. Kang's visual signals and wardrobe change as she adapts to the situation. Mother is always eating meat, always consuming.
Cadenza and Rubato are metaphors. Neither is a beautiful mansion. Cadenza is institutional, like an asylum. There is imagery of bars and cells everywhere. The beautiful painting at the top of the stairs features black, sturdy looking columns that aren't as strong as they first appear, vaporizing into the persistent wind. There are narrow hallways with ceilings that look like they reach the sky. Cheerless, they look like big inescapable boxes. Another hallway even has painted bars on the walls. Many of Rubato and Cadenza's rooms and hallways look like segments or cells lined up. That, again, brings to mind prisons and mental words. Could this represent compartmentalization? One character reveals h/h desire to "escape". The focus constantly drifts back to the stairs in the foyer. Kim Yu-yeon is always polishing that stair railing. The attention the stairway gets must mean something: What's extraordinarily impressive is how the staircase is an open mouth. Looking straight on, the viewer is in the INSIDE of the mouth looking out, and the stairs are the teeth. We've been consumed. They think they are consumers, but they are being consumed.
The director/writer consistently uses repetition to hammer a point and build tension. "MINE" "MINE" "MINE" Is ubiquitous in the series. One of the characters says: "I've never had a thing that was truly mine. Now, everything is mine," exposing replete self-deception. As Mother Emma will point out, we are all deluded about what we consider to be "mine." "KILL," "murder," "dead," - There's constant mention of those words. "I feel sorry for them" is said more than once in the series, Jin-ho being the first to voice that sentiment. He adds: "Everyone in the family is lonely." "Plunge," "fall," & "descent" are all concepts explored in the show, both verbally and visually. They've abandoned contentment for an illusion. They are blind to their own "stuff," shredding their hearts as they plunge to meet their own hard truths. Yet, they still try to enforce their way of life on Soo-hyuk.
Foreshadowing is prevalent. There's a heavy, weighty feel to Ⓜ w/ a sense of impending doom. "Lie," "spy," "die," is how they fly. Everyone has secrets. They spy to get fuel for their designs. They blackmail and threaten as easily as they breathe.
Arrogance infects all interactions. Ji-yoon is "chairdad's" illegitimate child, who was brought home to be raised along with his half-siblings. Ji-yoon tells his son, Ha-joon, that 'God always takes something from special people like us." His declaration that he's special may be coming from a place of pain. He was not made to feel special or loved, growing up, so he's grasping at anything that will feed his starving self-image.
The humor - it's funny at times. Nobody's funnier than clueless mother and her kids. She says stuff like: "Nobody's more stressed out than I am." Tsk tsk. Mother Emma is held up as a comparison to the family. She's the one that's truly living a fulfilling life.
Ⓜ echoes the excellent movie, Gosford Park. A predecessor to Downtown Abbey, there is not one scene where the servants are not present. They play their whole torrid lives out in front of the servants without hardly noticing anyone is there. Another character starts to channel an inner Rev Dimmesdale from The Scarlet Letter. This person becomes consumed with anxiety and guilt over the situation. These last few episodes are downright Hitchcockian, with Hi-soo as a Grace Kelly type (if Grace Kelly could flip a switch and dress a person down with Oscar-worthy verve). It's not perfect. Toward the end, they made one of the 'baddies' too easy to kill. The person was being too honest about their intentions, which wasn't realistic. No doubt some viewers will think it's too heavy handed. I'm of the opinion that it all works together well.
The narrator says in the intro that "she" caused the caste system at Cadenza to collapse. Wouldn't you like to know who that is? Is it, perhaps, a generic "she?" Ep16 is entitled: "Glorious WOMEN." We see some satisfying "girl power" moments in the last episode. I hope that some of this will help to underscore what is going on beneath the surface. I wasn't dying to watch it, but I think I'll probably drop in for another visit sometime.
Quote🗣:
"Think about what's truly yours. {She lists a bunch of possessions and points out that everything they own will be passed on to someone else, so things aren't truly yours.} The things you've said, the things you've done, and the values that you strived to keep throughout your life, or what you'll bring with you when you die. Let's drive to find what's truly ours during our time in this world. ~Mother Emma~
I also did a spoiler review.
🤑
Is this not for everyone? Sure.
Is it well done? Absolutely. Ⓜ was skillfully crafted. If one can watch until the end, the message is powerful.
While, Ⓜ's not exactly subtle, it appears to be designed that way. The truth is in front of everyone. It's not running away - It's escaping them, because they refuse to see it. It's not subtle. It bludgeons the audience. Ⓜ is a slow burn style show with a weighty feel to it along w/ a sense of impending doom. Everything in Ⓜ is deliberate: It's a methodical work. The pace augments the slow burn effect. The soundtrack portends doom. The dialogue and acting sustain extreme tension.
The quest for more and more elusive power may leave one's soul powerLESS. Trapped. Snared. Hooked. Captured. That's the feel. Love, or the lack of it, is the true power in Ⓜ. We see the power of love is snuffed out by pride, and nearly every person in Ⓜ is damaged over the want of love. Jin-ho and Jin-hee were marred by a dearth of affection & (emotional) support because their parents are thoroughly self-centered. However, even /they/ were provided with more (emotionally) than Ji-yoon.
Metaphors, both visual and verbal, are utilized to add layers of depth. One character has a literal and metaphoric wake up. This person, though late to do so, makes an effort to encourage those around h/h to alter their destructive courses & improve themselves. Han Soo-hyuk's heart sweater represents his character. Kang's visual signals and wardrobe change as she adapts to the situation. Mother is always eating meat, always consuming.
Cadenza and Rubato are metaphors. Neither is a beautiful mansion. Cadenza is institutional, like an asylum. There is imagery of bars and cells everywhere. The beautiful painting at the top of the stairs features black, sturdy looking columns that aren't as strong as they first appear, vaporizing into the persistent wind. There are narrow hallways with ceilings that look like they reach the sky. Cheerless, they look like big inescapable boxes. Another hallway even has painted bars on the walls. Many of Rubato and Cadenza's rooms and hallways look like segments or cells lined up. That, again, brings to mind prisons and mental words. Could this represent compartmentalization? One character reveals h/h desire to "escape". The focus constantly drifts back to the stairs in the foyer. Kim Yu-yeon is always polishing that stair railing. The attention the stairway gets must mean something: What's extraordinarily impressive is how the staircase is an open mouth. Looking straight on, the viewer is in the INSIDE of the mouth looking out, and the stairs are the teeth. We've been consumed. They think they are consumers, but they are being consumed.
The director/writer consistently uses repetition to hammer a point and build tension. "MINE" "MINE" "MINE" Is ubiquitous in the series. One of the characters says: "I've never had a thing that was truly mine. Now, everything is mine," exposing replete self-deception. As Mother Emma will point out, we are all deluded about what we consider to be "mine." "KILL," "murder," "dead," - There's constant mention of those words. "I feel sorry for them" is said more than once in the series, Jin-ho being the first to voice that sentiment. He adds: "Everyone in the family is lonely." "Plunge," "fall," & "descent" are all concepts explored in the show, both verbally and visually. They've abandoned contentment for an illusion. They are blind to their own "stuff," shredding their hearts as they plunge to meet their own hard truths. Yet, they still try to enforce their way of life on Soo-hyuk.
Foreshadowing is prevalent. There's a heavy, weighty feel to Ⓜ w/ a sense of impending doom. "Lie," "spy," "die," is how they fly. Everyone has secrets. They spy to get fuel for their designs. They blackmail and threaten as easily as they breathe.
Arrogance infects all interactions. Ji-yoon is "chairdad's" illegitimate child, who was brought home to be raised along with his half-siblings. Ji-yoon tells his son, Ha-joon, that 'God always takes something from special people like us." His declaration that he's special may be coming from a place of pain. He was not made to feel special or loved, growing up, so he's grasping at anything that will feed his starving self-image.
The humor - it's funny at times. Nobody's funnier than clueless mother and her kids. She says stuff like: "Nobody's more stressed out than I am." Tsk tsk. Mother Emma is held up as a comparison to the family. She's the one that's truly living a fulfilling life.
Ⓜ echoes the excellent movie, Gosford Park. A predecessor to Downtown Abbey, there is not one scene where the servants are not present. They play their whole torrid lives out in front of the servants without hardly noticing anyone is there. Another character starts to channel an inner Rev Dimmesdale from The Scarlet Letter. This person becomes consumed with anxiety and guilt over the situation. These last few episodes are downright Hitchcockian, with Hi-soo as a Grace Kelly type (if Grace Kelly could flip a switch and dress a person down with Oscar-worthy verve). It's not perfect. Toward the end, they made one of the 'baddies' too easy to kill. The person was being too honest about their intentions, which wasn't realistic. No doubt some viewers will think it's too heavy handed. I'm of the opinion that it all works together well.
The narrator says in the intro that "she" caused the caste system at Cadenza to collapse. Wouldn't you like to know who that is? Is it, perhaps, a generic "she?" Ep16 is entitled: "Glorious WOMEN." We see some satisfying "girl power" moments in the last episode. I hope that some of this will help to underscore what is going on beneath the surface. I wasn't dying to watch it, but I think I'll probably drop in for another visit sometime.
Quote🗣:
"Think about what's truly yours. {She lists a bunch of possessions and points out that everything they own will be passed on to someone else, so things aren't truly yours.} The things you've said, the things you've done, and the values that you strived to keep throughout your life, or what you'll bring with you when you die. Let's drive to find what's truly ours during our time in this world. ~Mother Emma~
I also did a spoiler review.
🤑
- 50fiftillidideeBrain
- Sep 16, 2021
- Permalink
11 hours into this not a whole lot has transpired for that amount of time, probably being generous with a 7 star rating
this isn't on the edge of your seat watching but Kim Seo-hyeong can really sell a role without her I'm out, wish they would expand on the young kid and his maid who he's in love with
Getting better liars, tramps and lesbians what's not to like.
Getting better liars, tramps and lesbians what's not to like.
- backnblack-06123
- May 9, 2021
- Permalink
Such a great series coming out of South Korea, capturing the mainstream audience but with some very important social messages. Absolutely loved it, so many twists in the plot and performances were brilliant. Wonderful acting from every actor, mesmerising performances for each of them when on screen. Every character added to the richness of the plot. Mature, humorous in parts, subtle and powerful. The direction was spot on and cinematically the shots were so well delivered and considered. Very satisfied with the ending. To be honest, it didn't catch me straight away but I am so glad I watched this show.
Great cast and story line , but i don't like that any Netflix production has to have a gay story inside the main story , the Korean drama production is clean they would never suggest any lesbian stories in it , So please Netflix the world doesn't need to be all gay.
- ladybug-2010
- Nov 21, 2021
- Permalink
The best acting and the best visuals you can get in a kdrama is here ...every scene is a visual feast..
- lonesomedove_80
- Jun 1, 2021
- Permalink
Beautiful cinematography and performances, storyline dragged but it was still a visual stylish treat.
- jannat_bibi
- Jul 15, 2021
- Permalink
- thezencode
- Jun 14, 2021
- Permalink
I didn't watch Penthouse despite all the hype and I chose Mine because after watching the trailer, I was very interested in the plot. I watched it regularly every weekend and it gets better and better each episode. It is a typical rich family theme but the storyline is on a whole new level. You can never guess what will happen next. I'm writing this review after finishing the last episode and I'll have to admit that I fell in love with every character including the villain. The chemistry between the three female leads is just amazing and that is what I like most about this drama. Please do give it a try if you want a series with interesting plot, great acting, great chemistry and great soundtracks. This is the one!
This show is getting better and better, every episode just gives me hard attack. I can't stop watching. :( All the cast are well played especially Lee bo young and kim seo hyung !
I can't stop watching and waiting for the new episodes! Great acting and great cast, might become one of my favorite korean dramas if it remains consistent with the amazing episodes. More mysteries to uncover!
This show is literally INCREDIBLE. The acting from all the actors and actresses are so so convincing. The costume and set designers, producers and music composers have all done an incredible job. The cinematography is also mind blowing. This drama is brimming with complex themes, motifs and emotionally moving performances by the actors and actresses. Whenever the song Dear Son by Park Sun Yae comes on it literally gets be sobbing. What a captivating and impressive drama. I would 10/10 recommended.
This show is like a painting that can be seen at many different angles. At one angle, it seems like a cheap Jerry Springer plot in the beginning. At another angle, it seems like a very prolonged Perry Mason, CSI... Why did the guy get murdered and who did it? At another angle it seemed like a story of lost romance and regret. At another angle, it seemed to be about having a religious confidant and support system. Another angle was making friends with your enemies and finding ways to gain trust and support and respect. And finally, at another angle it was a show about standing up for what you want and believe even if you lose a lot. It had many layers of characters between the in laws, exes, family, maids, friends, grand parents, etc. Many interesting scenes and atmosphere changes. Even outdoor bath scenes. The show changed so much from the beginning. In the beginning, I was wondering what's going to happen in one way, but the progression of plot was so dramatically different it was like a different world from what I was wondering in the beginning.
Anyway, this show is about a rich family that lives in a Mansion. But, the mansion is ugly!! Then, the whole family drives Volvos. That's effective marketing!! For the first time in my life, I'm thinking of Volvos. No offense to Volvos, but if you're rich wouldn't you like more variety or spice in your car choice?! Then, the main women in this show always wore long dresses and skirts. It was weird to see that. Never casual clothing. It's like some rich world where people dress differently. Imagine being rich and wearing only dresses and driving Volvos in an ugly mansion. The mansion and clothing seemed artistic too somehow. But, not in a warm and cozy way. The aesthetic was too cold to me it seemed at times.
Plot wise, at first I wondered about what's going on with that weird tutor... Then when I found that out, I wondered if that tutor is going to get what she wants? Then, when I found that out, I wondered if the husband of that ex actress is going to do something bad because I doubted his character based on his horrible hobby.
The emotions of the oldest son's wife, the lesbian, interested me and seemed deep. I felt bad for the husband being so lonely too. I felt bad for the grandma for a similar reason.
The emotions and convictions of the youngest son was very touching. I liked how he said he doesn't want too much of one thing and but enough of another thing.
The convictions and strong emotions of the two mothers and how dedicated they were was very intense too. It made the show more intense and interesting.
Finally, I felt bad for the villain, but not that bad. Because it seemed like excuses to me.
I feel like I should like this show more, but somehow, it's missing something for me.
I think the acting was good. I think the plot though interesting, was somehow too crass and cheap to me. And then that ugly mansion and the feel of it makes me like this show less.
I don't like the temper of the grandma and sister. It makes the show annoying.
The way the sister and the other girl spoke English in a loud valley girl accent was annoying too.
It's weird that the maids in this show did so much. They should have security or different employees types for things. I've seen other Korean dramas where rich people seemed rich!! This show, other than their ugly mansion, didn't do a good job of making their wealth come alive in a convincing way. Or showing a world that respected their wealth as real either.
Anyway, this show is about a rich family that lives in a Mansion. But, the mansion is ugly!! Then, the whole family drives Volvos. That's effective marketing!! For the first time in my life, I'm thinking of Volvos. No offense to Volvos, but if you're rich wouldn't you like more variety or spice in your car choice?! Then, the main women in this show always wore long dresses and skirts. It was weird to see that. Never casual clothing. It's like some rich world where people dress differently. Imagine being rich and wearing only dresses and driving Volvos in an ugly mansion. The mansion and clothing seemed artistic too somehow. But, not in a warm and cozy way. The aesthetic was too cold to me it seemed at times.
Plot wise, at first I wondered about what's going on with that weird tutor... Then when I found that out, I wondered if that tutor is going to get what she wants? Then, when I found that out, I wondered if the husband of that ex actress is going to do something bad because I doubted his character based on his horrible hobby.
The emotions of the oldest son's wife, the lesbian, interested me and seemed deep. I felt bad for the husband being so lonely too. I felt bad for the grandma for a similar reason.
The emotions and convictions of the youngest son was very touching. I liked how he said he doesn't want too much of one thing and but enough of another thing.
The convictions and strong emotions of the two mothers and how dedicated they were was very intense too. It made the show more intense and interesting.
Finally, I felt bad for the villain, but not that bad. Because it seemed like excuses to me.
I feel like I should like this show more, but somehow, it's missing something for me.
I think the acting was good. I think the plot though interesting, was somehow too crass and cheap to me. And then that ugly mansion and the feel of it makes me like this show less.
I don't like the temper of the grandma and sister. It makes the show annoying.
The way the sister and the other girl spoke English in a loud valley girl accent was annoying too.
It's weird that the maids in this show did so much. They should have security or different employees types for things. I've seen other Korean dramas where rich people seemed rich!! This show, other than their ugly mansion, didn't do a good job of making their wealth come alive in a convincing way. Or showing a world that respected their wealth as real either.
- KatieDuncan44
- Aug 24, 2023
- Permalink
Eventhough middle episodes seem getting dragged, the overall show was good. Love the tie between women which cannot be seen often in real life as well as in dramas. Give this a try. There are some unique aspects to witness regarding a chaebol family.
The whole parts from decoupage to script, and the other parts were completely satisfying but the actor's operation was just stunning. I really admire this serial because it was a great combination of charm, art, and genius.
- jessicadroselynn
- Jul 8, 2021
- Permalink
I love the message they tried to convey throughout the show about finding what is truly "yours" I was hooked since the very first episode, the acting is very convincing. All the scene is such a feast for the eyes.
It's now become one of my most favorite drama of all time! Highly reccommend.
It's now become one of my most favorite drama of all time! Highly reccommend.
- GreyCashmere
- Jul 15, 2021
- Permalink
I've seen a lot of Korean series but this one stands out strong! Good story, script and beautiful scenes! I became a bit obsessed with Ja-Yeon Ok who is absolutely incredible in her role as Kang Ja Kyeong!
- camilla_hogberg77
- Jul 27, 2022
- Permalink
Who the heck say it's slow just doesn't know what slow means. The drama is long altho it's basic with 16 episodes, and it doesn't make you feel like the plot is unnecessary and slow, so many things happen and excite you in every episode as it unravel what happens that night slowly. It's not slow at all! AMAZING PLOT. ONE THAT DOESN'T BORE YOU AT ALL, FROM EPISODE 1 TO 16! RECOMMENDED. DON'T LISTEN TO BULLSHHHHH PEOPLE CRITICS ON THIS ONE TRUST ME.
- dmrvr-86886
- Jun 26, 2021
- Permalink