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unrivaledraj
Reviews
3 Body Problem (2024)
Mediocre at best
I started watching it without any knowledge of the book it's based on or how different the book and show are.
The good thing about the show.
The idea and concept is brilliant, it's unique, quite different from 100 others alien invasion stories. But yeah that's also why in trying to be too unique and smart it falters on it's own premise.
The first five episodes are brilliant, the build up is fascinating and you are hooked up to see how everything unfolds, but the final 3 epsidoes are so dud, dull and boring and also stupid, that the thrill and excitement of first 5 episodes vanish and you also begin to see the loopholes and stupidity of the first 5 episodes.
There are dozens of things that go unexplained, or missed or are loopholes in the script, but they are never answered, maybe they'll be cleared up in future seasons, I doubt it because there are no indications, but still hope that atleast some of them might be touched down in next season. I'm stating few of such issues below.
It's made clear that SanTi aren't exactly evil, they are sort of clear, pure in thoughts alien race that's just trying to survive and thus they are coming to earth to coexist with humanity and not to conquer or wage war. They are a superior race in terms of technology and also civility, and thus would help humans solve basic issues and lead a better life on earth, both humans and SanTi.
Now here's the issue with this.
If SanTi are peaceful, why are they orchestrating with a fanatic human group to kill other humans.
Or mentally torture several scientists with that clock and pushing them to either stop working or die(either by suicide or killed by their fanatic human group).
SanTi have always been trying and planning to stop and destroy the human scientific advancement, that's why the whole clock thing and stars blinking thing. But through that game and in conversations with Evans, it was established that SanTi are just trying for the humans to understand about SanTi and learning about human from Evans. But then they snap as they learn humans lie and can't be trusted and thus decide to conquer earth rather than coexist. But weren't they planning this all along ? That's why they are trying to stop human advancement. So which one is it ? They're are peaceful and try to coexist and only change their plans when they learn humans can't be trusted OR they always planned on eliminating humans and conquer earth, thus lying about their true intentions. Which also contradict the fact that SanTi don't lie and are pure in thoughts.
Let's assume, though it's never shown or explained, but let's assume SanTi has somehow provided the fanatic Evans group with the code and programming knowledge to develop such complex video game, and it's Evans group that gives the scientists that golden VR helmet game.
Then who gives Tatiana the game in the finale episode ? Aren't Evans group all dead ? Even assuming some survived and fled, how did they get the VR game to Tatiana.
Similarly there are atleast dozen other things that just happen without any explanation or reason, sometimes contradicting their own established facts.
Now coming to the characters. I couldn't bring myself to like anyone apart from Wade and Clarence. All the scientists, especially Jin and Auggie are so annoying, their dialogues and behaviour are ridiculous. So much time spent on Will and oh god, every time he came on screen the clock moved slower, it was so slow and boring, all his scenes with Saul and Jack, OH I'M DYING, PITY ME, god just die soon please, all so that he can be sent to space as he's already dying. So much deadass slow boring scenes weren't needed to establish that Will can be sent to space. And it's obvious somehow his lost space probe will be picked up by SanTi in future seasons.
I wouldn't recommend it. Maybe it gets better in future, with better writing and acting. For now, skip this one.
Treason (2022)
Too stupid to continue
I'm halfway through the second episode and I have already given up a 5 episode series, yeah that's how ridiculously dumb it is. I love Charlie Cox, give him a good character, under a decent director and he'll shine through, saw him in a theatre play once and I have been his fan since. And I love spy movies, shows.
So this show had the best ingredients for me personally. But damn this is a disappointment on cosmic levels.
I first started to watch this when it came out and I gave up at first episode. 2 years later I tried again and now I remember why I gave up so soon on a mere 5 episode drama. Because this is just idiotic.
The lack of intelligence shown by intelligence agency and officer is outright stupid. Like seriously. First, head of Mi6 is just poisoned at a restaurant with no cctv, no eye witness, no security, she just walks in and poisons the drink and then walk out.
Then the wife of the new Mi6 head is the dumbest on screen wife, and this is when she has been an army captain herself. The daughter again, typical angsty teenager who is rebellious for literally no reason, despite being in a demanding job her dad spends time with family every day. Again, just plain stupid.
And similar idiotic things keep happening, like wife immediately starts spilling her Mi6 head husband secrets to her friend in CIA, yeah and she uses a magic spy pen to record his conversations, mind you he's the head of MI6. That boat scene, oh god, 4 highly trained operatives couldn't capture a girl from a small boat, the look out was waltzing around like a dumb bozo and no one thought of covering the exit either. Every scene has such stupid things happening. I can understand such stuff once or twice to further the plot. But this entire screenplay and script is stupid.
If you can lower your IQ to single digit. Please go ahead and watch otherwise stay far away. All 3 stars to Charlie Cox.
Lizhi pai shenghuo (2021)
A hit and miss drama.
I'm kind of confused as to how to rate this show. Because there are some bits that I absolutely loved about this show, and some important ones that this show absolutely missed which makes it a half baked goods.
I'll talk about them together. So please read it through.
So overall this show is decent enough, acting is good, music not so much, be ready to use skip 10 second button as I often did for me to not make it boring and snooze fest, but that's okay, since I have seen too many dramas, I often use skip in the lengthy ones like this 35 episode one, as it's often filled with scenes that are just too predictable for me and provide no gravity to the main leads or core story. You can chose not to skip, that's upto you.
To me personally, the best things about the show is the relation and dynamic between the ML and his mother. Absolutely adorable, understanding, and perfect mom son duo. Mom is so cute, understanding and the ML does absolutely everything he can to keep her happy and she reciprocates in loving him and giving him a free hand and believing in him. It was just lovely, as she was the only one who could drill some sense into the FLs aggravated mother, such was her calm and loving demeanor.
I loved both the leads as boss and secretary, like there are too many shows out there with tropes of boss and secretary romance or may December romance. But this one is different in terms of how the boss and secretary are portrayed. The boss, FL, is always calm, isn't hasty or ignorant towards her secretary, doesn't scream or demand too much from him, she's more of a hands on person and doesn't just give orders one after another. And the ML, the secretary, he is a complete newbie, no experience, but eager to learn, doesn't always chime in, but observes and learns from the boss, he doesn't shy away from keeping his opinions but does that in a nice manner with respect, I also liked how they showed him as a newbie in office, learning the ropes and not someone who's always correct, always does it perfectly and is a know it all, but hardworking patient guyz, a very smooth talker like everyone says, because he treats everyone with respect and kindness.
And they are so good at work, and thus the buildup begins which was probably one of the longest, 27 episodes, and I'm someone who hates overly long buildups between leads, but I sort of loved it herez because the dynamic between the two is so good, at the same time it's visible how their relationship develops with each episode with ML just breaking and hopping over the walls of FL and she let's him because she too unconsciously wanted that. It's just something she wanted in her good rational life, someone like him, who as a man isn't scared of her ambitions and success, and just enters her world to fill it with love and care and warmth without any demands. And you can see that they both care for each other and are like inseparable boss secretary duo.
But this also is a weak point, because as amazing as they were boss and secretary, when they actually start dating, the chemistry is there, but the passion is absolutely missing, that yearning and longing and desperation for someone you love, those things were absent, even dating, everything is well, they look happy together, but that spark is missing, which I personally believe is a very important factor, especially if your theme of show has core plot of the leads romance and relationship. They have like 4 kisses and 3 of them were so uncomfortable to watch, I don't know if it was a character trait of FL or the actress herself, but there was no passion from her. None.
Now coming to some small, but really nice points this show makes.
It's totally fine and normal if the man is less financially successful than the woman in a relationship, and I love how both leads think the same way on this, neither of them cares about it, and they both find success in their respective works, also how FL is 12 years older, so she obviously also has more success than him. But neither of 2 minds this, on the contrary I love how she doesn't control him with her age and experience and success, but rather just calmly imparts knowledge on how things happen, how to do this and that, and he has no ego to learn from this older woman who he is total smitten with. Like how every other suitor tried to win FL by showing their success and money and saying how she can benefit from them. But she just doesn't care, she's headstrong in the fact that she can make her career fly without a man, and all she wants is the ML, who just wants to love and care and protect her and isn't scared or diminished by the success and ambition of FL.
Another thing that I loved about the show is how they matched it with title, The Rational Life, like all the career and money and such decisions of life are rational, but when it comes to love, it's all irrational, there's no logic or reasoning behind it, and they make this point few times throughout the show, and FL puts it beautifully in the end to her mother, when they explain their relationship to FL mother, first he goes and tells her such things that even her mom admits that no one knows my daughter better than you, not even me, her mother, because only someone you truly love you'll just know notice and understand the unsaid things about her/him. FL hardly ever cries, but all 3 breaks into tears when ML tells those things about FL and all 3 are getting emotional, like how does he understand the FL so well, even better than she herself and her mother does.
And then her mom asks why do you like him, and she tells that, and then says, I don't know myself, I don't understand how or why I feel like this, feel like myself, feel so comfortable around him, I don't understand why when he smiles at me, this harsh cold calculative cutthroat world becomes all warm and pleasant to me. It's one of my favourite all time scenes, as they define love something that can't be reasoned, can't define or put logic on it. It's an irrational feeling.
Despite being a good show, I wish it had that spark and passion between leads. I was always waiting and knew that at some point he's gonna leave the job as secretary and I thought that would be a beautiful plot point, because if it happens before they start dating, then it would be nice to show, how much they missed each other and they realise that they weren't just boss and secretary, especially the FL will miss him more and it could be used to make her realise her love. It's not a new trope, but would have worked so well.
But on the contrary, it's nothing, even when he quitsz they are just normal, like it doesn't bother them as to how they are used to spending 18 hours a day together and now they won't, it should have bothered them more especially as they have finally confessed their love. Major plot missed by writers.
The last small thing, we see many other suitors for FL, first the bf she broke up with then her bossz and then her old college friend. But there was a not one woman who pursued ML, who's lovely in every sense, young, tall handsome. Though I understand that writers didn't use this same old trope that both leads have other suitors but I also hate how ML had none, it's just another plot point missed, where FL could have realised her own feelings when she sees other girls chasing the ML.
SORRY for the long review, I hope it helps.
Why Her (2022)
Almost perfect
I had a basic idea as to what and how this show is gonna be like as I started watching.
And it turned out to be much better than I expected.
The script is good, actors have done brilliant work here. The main leads actress did her character justice. The main antagonist was apt in bringing that evil demeanor in his every expression. Rest of the characters had good roles, and they did good as well.
My only concern or complaint with the show is that ML was very downplayed, way too much. And how the climax was done. I'll explain the details further.
The climax I feel was poorly done in contrast of what the show has been. Just ending the show by exposing all the bad guys all at once, all evidence exposed all at once, was just boring. Like the gods of luck just struck a chord with our protagonists and they got all the evidence all at once, was just lousy writing. The show would've been so much better if all the bad guys were taken down one by one throughout the show and not all at once in one single stretch of 30 minutes. Because it's basically a revenge drama, and the revenge would have been much sweeter when savoured and not gulped down at once.
The most important lacking of the show is how the ML was done. He had so much going for him, most of the core plot and the revenge story was also his part, and the way he loved the FL with absolute care and dedication, doting on her all the time, it was so well written but not explored. Also the two leads deserved much more time together, with all the crap they have dealt in their life. Especially the ML, he deserved much more love and care from the FL. And it would've made the show much better. As we see how ML, just crashes into the world of FL, breaking down her walls and seeing through the cold rude appearance of hers and not backing down even once, it was so well written, it was I guess in 2nd episode that he boldly just confesses to her that he likes her, and even after getting harsh cold words from her, all he does is love and care for her even more. ML was such a positive lovable character and he deserved much more part in the story, and it would've made even more sense, since he had a large part of why the revenge was needed. But he hardly had a part to play in taking that revenge.
I believe this part of the show is weak, it would've been a much better show with the two leads working together more, in revenge and relationship both. Rather than just being focused on FL.
Anyways, I'd surely recommend the show is you like revenge dramas, there's hardly any romance here, but you'll love how the ML dotes on FL. It's not a show that I'd rewatch, probably just few scenes where ML loves and cares for FL.
Ni shi wo de rong yao (2021)
Beautiful! Loving ! A must watch
If you like nice matured romantic dramas, then this is it. It's romantic, passionate, beautiful with 2 really good looking leads.
First about the plot.
It's simple, it doesn't have any twists and turns or big reveals, there are no evil characters, it's solely focused on the leads, and how they get to know each other, form a relationship that's beyond normal, and then keep getting stronger with each other and for each other. It's beautiful in every sense.
One of the best things that I love about the show is how it was scripted and paced. Where the first half is all about the online game that brings the two leads together, as the FL keeps doting on ML as he was her school crush and she never got past it, and as soon as she by chance comes in contact with him, she doesn't hold back. And then ML starts to get to know FL, and then he falls for her so hard that there's no going back for both of them. After his initial reluctance, he realises and starts chasing her, and she takes hardly any time to grab him. This began one of the most matured, passionate relationship on a drama. The next half is all about them growing in a relationship and in their careers, with a 2 and 5 year skip.
Some may find it tedious. But if you like simple romantic dramas, this is for you. As the 2 leads are so good, not a scene of them will bore you. FL is amazing, she acted well, her thin voice suits her character, she's smart, beautiful, polite and has a strong confident personality, absolutely loved her. ML is ridiculously hot, and in the entire drama every character keeps getting charmed by his looks, and not one time I got bored by that, because he does look like a freaking perfect man. And he carried his character so well, simple but handsomely dressed, a really sturdy posture with arms at the back, always quirky, doesn't speak much, but he never stutters as well, like he had the persona that justified why everyone gets impressed merely by looking at him, and also why FL has always been mesmerized by him.
When you can relate and feel what the writers and actors wanted you to feel as a viewer, I believe that's a big success. And this this drama for me is among my favourites.
Coming to the other most important part. The two leads have absolutely on point chemistry, with the way FL looks at him, and he just can't stop looking at her. And their kisses are so natural and organic and passionate, and once they start dating, they just keep on flirting with each other till the very end, which was so refreshing, and lovely. Also the love and understanding they have, despite staying away from each other constantly due to their work schedules, they never argue or fight or misunderstand, instead they value the time they get together. It was mature and romantic.
Also couple of scenes which I loved a lot. The first where during their class reunion, he bends his knee in front of FL, it was beautiful, as she once got rejected by him in school and somehow everyone found out and now he apologises in front of the same people. It was like telling everyone and to her, that how much he wants to be with her.
Second one was when during the desert shoot, he visits her for few hours and installs a signal booster so they can remain in contact. That was unique and good and romantic.
And then the basketball thing. She used to cheer for him in school, but then he was only a crush and she couldn't do anything about it. But now, they're in love and they're together, and the scene cuts back and forth from school to now in present, of him playing and her cheering, and she dotes on the memory, and realises that her long time crush is now actually all hers, she got her man. The way she smiles is just adorable.
I couldn't get enough of two leads. Despite 95% of screen time being theirs. It's a must recommend from me.
Ni shi wo de cheng chi ying lei (2021)
It is perfect, but there's an "if"
I liked the premise of the show. There aren't many kdramas or cdramas that involve army or special units and have full on romance as well. So this premise reminded me of descendants of sun. And it is similar to it in few ways as well, but the two shows are quite different and this one stands on it's own in a perfect way, all to the two amazing leads who have become one of my favourite onscreen couple.
But there's a big if, atleast to me. I didn't really like the other two couples stories, it was very predictable and most of the time not emotional enough for me to engage, so I started skipping scenes pertaining to those 2 couples. Which also helped me cut down the length from 40 to probably 32-33 episodes, and thus made this drama absolutely perfect for me.
Why this show is amazing? The two leads have done a perfectly fabulous jobs in portraying their characters and writers as well did quite good in making these characters.
I absolutely fell in love with these two. Like they were fierce and adamant and serious with everyone else and at their jobs, but as soon as they see each other, they are just the two most cute adorable loving matured couple. And they brought all these emotions and feelings to the screen so aptly. To me personally, I loved how mature they were, they don't waste time in realising their feelings, instead of avoiding them they act upon their feelings without giving up, as they date, they keep falling for each other more and more and with that the love and trust between them is just impeccable. The understanding they have is admirable. As a young adult, I love these kind of relationships portrayals a lot more, where lead couple handle their issues by talking them out and trusting and believing in their partners and don't give up on each other. A lot of dramas miss such good aspects.
Both leads acted out well. FL is just so adorable, the way she laughs and giggles and cries and voice breaking when she cries, is just so natural, she's a good actress. And the role here was perfect for her. She wasn't tactless, was very thoughtful and kind and understood ML reasons, despite being disappointed or hurt. It was just amazing and matured.
ML did okayish, by acting means, but he brought out the contrast in his characters very well, being a swat team leader, he was fierce and threatening and then he'd see and meet his girlfriend FL, and would just turn into a cute lovable puppy, watching this side of the character you wouldn't believe that he can kill you a dozen times in less than 6 seconds. I absolutely loved his character, not at all cocky or rude or arrogant, very understanding.
If you as a viewer find the other 2 couple tedious, then skip them. Apart from this, I had no issues with the show, bgm and ost was decent as well.
I'll definitely recommend this Cdrama to everyone.
Zhi Wo Men Nuan Nuan De Xiao Shi Guang (2019)
A whole lot of boring buildup
This show is so overrated. I started watching it after I read a lot of reviews and comments of people putting it in the same league and rank as Hidden Love and When I fly towards you. And I couldn't be more disappointed, this is not even close to the gems like the other 2 shows.
To begin with, acting is subpar, I know the ML actor from his recent show Derailment, the show wasn't that exceptional but good, but he looked so good in it and so was his acting. But here he just lacks the energy of being the ML. The FL character was a bit weak I'd say, she didn't have much of a character development throughout.
Other side characters of their friends, coworkers are just not interesting and writers gave no depth to them, they are just as they appear. Except the leads parents, which I liked as to how cool they were portrayed. So a star to that. And also to the character of ML lab senior girl, who liked ML, from start to the end, her character was so good, she didn't do anything devious, loved him silently, without making ML or FL uncomfortable. It was so good to see such a character and not being the cliched evil one.
This show could have been so so much better than what it is. They had such easy setup build for the 2 leads living together from the beginning, this giving plenty of room for their chemistry to sizzle and their love to bloom.
But that almost never happens. Since episode 5or6 to episode 22. It's just whole lot of back and forth buildup to almost nothing. The writers also missed/forgot, so many things ML did for FL, but the writers forgot the part to show where FL realises what all he did. Like him first buying hair band for her, or those proposal letters which FL never understood, or how much time and energy ML spent learning skateboard and table tennis just to please FL. There are atleast dozen such things which he did and FL never knew about them and as a viewer we never get to know whether FL was aware of how much effort he puts in. These were the chances missed which could have really brought the two leads closer. But it never happens. Similarly FL hardly ever puts in any kind of effort into the relationship. Such kinda romance just doesn't work for me to watch, it was bland and mundane.
I don't mind the leads bickering and then falling in love and then being absolute crazy about each other. I love such tropes, and they usually work out well when script is well paced and written and directed well. But here it's just buildup, they go back and forth, for the entirety of the show I don't remember the two leads having a good serious mature conversation with each other, which I cannot get past because two people living together, and also falling in love and then not having such conversations or being absolutely emotional with each other, it's just not possible for me to understand that this doesn't happen.
I wouldn't recommend this show, the leads don't have the chemistry, not the actors fault, it was written that way, although FL was very awkward/uncomfortable in kissing scenes. The romance is dull, and thus story is lacking as well. Bgm was forgetful, nothing good.
I had such high hopes for this show, but it was such a disappointment. I wouldn't recommend it, don't fall for the exceptional reviews, which puts this in the same league as HL and WIFTY. It's nowhere close those 2.
Yi ai wei ying (2022)
A big boring dud
Review till episode 12(out of 36).
Review update and final update episode 19.
It's been such a big boring dud till now, apart from maybe 15 minutes of average interesting scenes, rest of it has been a big boring dud. I have already started to skip scenes.
Both the leads have serious communication issues. For a entrepreneur CEO and a hotshot reporter, both of them can't seem to have a conversation with each other, I don't know how they excel at their jobs. FL will always blurt out random idiotic irritating things either in text or face to face, still I'd give her points for making so much effort, even though she behaves like an absolute clueless person when it comes to ML, for someone who's suppose to be smart mature adult, the plot convience makes her absolute buffoon. ML is even worse when it comes to FL, he can't seem to reply in texts, he either doesn't know how to type or has broken fingers, and face to face he can't say more than 2 words that make sense, will never say anything out loud or talk to FL , but gets annoyed for her not understanding. How will she know if you can't speak up? ML is typical rich character, who's rude and obnoxious and expects FL to roam around him all the time.
A special mention to FLs best friend. She can't handle her own love life, but always keeps interfering with the leads and gives the most incorrect problem creating advice to FL, and FL is even bigger idiot who blindly follows everything she says. This is to the point that if this character would stop interfering with her friends love life, the two leads would already be dating each other.
I'm so done with this trope in kdramas and cdramas where the leads have biggest idiots for friends who will always give idiotic advices to the leads and create issues.
I can understand this phase in a drama for 1 or 2 episodes at most. But it's been 12 episodes and the story has hardly moved on. It's just misunderstanding upon misunderstanding, and they keep piling on to the point that it's way too irritating.
I am desperately hoping for things to change and new things to happen between 2 leads, or atleast they can have proper conversation. I'll probably watch another 3 or 4 episodes, and if this continues I'm gonna quit it and rate it 1/10 for wasting my time.
FINISHED EPISODE 19
Just somehow finished episode 19, and that's it. I'm done with this absolute piece of garbage show. This drama is about bunch of idiots who can't utter a proper sentence to each other. ML just keeps a stone face and glares and can't utter words to form a proper sentence. FL is worse, she speaks and make things worse. Direction is even worse and so lazy, like each time the leads are about to get close their phone will start ringing at the exact moment, and they have used this dinasour age trope atleast 7-8 times, how lazy you have to be to write the same thing. The leads are just, it's episode 19 and they are at the same page as they were in the beginning. I have seen hundreds of dramas and TV shows and never I have been annoyed like this and wasted my time. Nothing happens in the show, literally nothing, he has meetings, does business deals which are boring AF, and she does interviews and writes articles, which are even more boring to watch, literally nothing eventful happens. Other times side characters have lame ass things to do and leads are the worst. Even the acting isn't any better.
The entire show is just buildup of misunderstandings, and there have been so many, probably more than 50, that I can't even remember some of them.
I thought it would improve but there's just no end to this. Average IMDb rating of 7.8 is just ridiculous. This show doesn't deserve anything above 4, that is if you are being generous. I'm gonna change my rating to 1, I would have chosen a negative number if there was an option.
Bombam (2019)
One of the best Kdramas
I watched Something in the Rain and One Spring Night, back to back. And while SITR had probably the best ever first 10-12 episodes of kdrama romance ever, I personally found OSN to be much better and fulfilling than SITR, in terms of plot, storytelling, characters and how everything unfolds, and how the leads stick with each other and follow through their words and promises to each other, while I absolutely loved the FL for having initial doubts and then coming over them with time and then having that unparalleled conviction, made her very human, relatable and lovable character. And ML was a truly amazing, having his own convictions, the love he has for the FL, not once backing down to the FLs pathetic ex, and handling all the situations and insults with such level of maturity , patience and understanding, it was absolutely amazing and admirable even.
Coming to the story, the first few episodes were so good, and it's all to the leads who did fabulous job. They had such strong feelings for each other, but couldn't unleash themselves because of FL going through breakup, they had to hold themselves back, and the conversation they had during those episodes, the words spoken and the way they acted through their eyes, really was amazing, one can literally feel how much they wanna be together despite all the issues they are gonna face.
The next half is equally brilliantly done, them coming close to handling everyone around them, to facing constant issues from FLs ex, the step by step process that convinced everyone around them that the two leads are meant for each other, it was all so well done.
The story remains focused on the two leads and their coming together and them convincing their friends and families, or to be precise convincing FLs friends and families, and handling her ex. But other issues like domestic violence, patriarchal father, single parent shaming, divorce and women dealing with pathetic ex, etc are constantly brought up and they don't derail the central plot of the show. It was all well done.
Though it makes no sense to compare SITR and OSN, but since I watched them one after another, I cannot help but do so. And while undoubtedly SITR has the best ever kdrama romance it's last few episodes brought down the entire show. But I'm so so glad OSN didn't go down that road or followed the usual kdrama script of leads breaking up or separating right before the finale and then getting back together in the end. OSN didn't do that, it followed it's plot and to what it had been doing all throughout the show, gave a very calm satisfying ending to the show.
This is a must recommend for every kdrama watcher, especially if you love romance. This is one of the shows I'll definitely rewatch.
Bap Jal Sajuneun Yeppeun Nuna (2018)
Could have been the finest unparalleled romantic kdrama, sadly isn't.
This was a definitely 9/10 or even 10/10, if one could ignore the overuse of background songs and some weird faraway out of focus shots of the characters.
But like mostly every other great kdrama, in the greed of making 16 episodes, the makers ruined the entire show in the last 3 episodes or so, with the rushed happy ending in last 5 minutes.
First, why this could have been the best ever romantic kdrama(I have watched pretty much every kdrama)--
To begin with, I loved how they steered away from the usual love hate relationship of the leads, as soon as both the leads come up together for the first time, you can sense how close they are, and the ML is already falling for her, as he immediately asks if she's dating anyone. And soon after, you can see the similar developments in FL, as when her coworker asks FL to set her up with ML, she hesitates and shoo her away, and such incidents happen pretty quickly within the first 2 episodes and it's clear they both have fallen for each other and they don't take much time to begin the relationship.
Now this part makes the show a true romantic kdrama, how their relationship builds, they are very comfortable with each other, not at all awkward in being physical, and don't take much time to confess their feelings. It was very naturally done, and hats off to the lead actors for playing their parts so well and naturally that they feel like an actual normal couple who are heads over heels for each other. They sneak around, they spend all the time with each other, calling and texting and FL constantly spending nights at MLs house. It was all very natural, romantic and relatable(to most young working couples I guess). There are so many good things and they all such continue, with some issues arising as well, but never internal, as they love and care so much about each other. Always the external factors, FLs ex keeps misbehaving and stalking, then people start to find out about the lead couple and while everyone pretty much supports them after the initial knee jerk and shocking reactions, except the FL mother, who's way too overbearing and toxic, and remains so till the end. She keeps abusing and maligning ML and his sister.
And our lead couple weather all this, without any conflicts between them, and even if an issue arises, they handle it between them, as they just cannot stay angry or mad at each other for even a moment. Though it's always the FL who keeps making mistakes, but ML is madly in love with her that he can't even get mad at her.
So all was good, and then comes 14th episode and both leads suddenly acts and takes decisions which our completely out of their characters, made no sense on the way they behaved, it was annoying and ridiculous to turn such perfect couple into this. And it continues till the last 10 minutes of the show, and they end it with a rushed happy ending.
I would have easily given it a 9, or maybe even 10, if they would've avoided things I mentioned above. I'd recommend it for those who like romantic kdramas, trust me you'll love the first 10-12 episodes.
But this sadly is also one of those kdramas that I wouldn't come back to watch second time, no matter how much I have loved the lead couple, my absolute favourite, because I know how the last 3-4 episodes are gonna be and they are just disappintment.
Ibeon Saengeun Cheoeumira (2017)
Utterly overrated and rubbish
This drama is about people who can't have adult, mature serious conversations, only talk in riddles and quotes and poetical, can't utter a word to the closest people in their lives, can't be honest about their feelings. I'm yet to meet a group of people like that.
I can understand one of the leads being like that, but here apparently both the main leads and even the other side characters are the same, they just can't have a simple conversation. This show doesn't have a plot, apart from constantly saying, marriage is bad. Just to clarify, I'm a young adult in mid 20's, and I don't believe in marriage being the ultimate goal of a relationship or that a person has to get married no matter what. I believe when 2 people are in love, just leave them be to whatever they wanna do.
So even to someone like me this entire show is just absurd, I couldn't get behind the actions of main leads, neither could get behind the childish behaviour of side couple in their 30's with 7 year relationship.
Main leads are just 2 people who are utterly awkward with each other throughput the show. More so because of ML being an android robot, I'd be shocked if someone tells me he is a human being. FL is little bit more relatable though nothing can convince me of her actions, she's reserved with ML, initially due to their formal relationship, and then ML being his usual robotic self. Even so, neither can she utter clear cut sentences and questions to initiate a response from ML, or to tell him how she feels, whether she's angry or sad or in love etc. Rather she just talks in her head, or other time they have small philosophical talks, which only confused them further.
No one, either an introvert or extrovert , or a shy or a socially awkward person talks like that all the time, especially to the one they love. Literally no one.
This drama is frustrating from start to end. Takes 6 episodes for them to enter in contract marriage. Then from there another 5 to realise they like each other, then 3 to enter useless overthinking and then 2 epsidoes to be bigger idiots and go apart, only to come together. Just like there was no reason for FL to leave him, nothing happens for her to come back.
They get married out of convience, falls in love, she fell first and then he realises pretty soonas well. ML's ex comes back, but she hardly had any impact on their relationship, as she had no intentions of getting in between them or any other malicious motives. FL had absolutely no reason to break the contract and lie and leave and make the ML suffer and be miserable and then come back and behave like nothing happened and as if she did no wrong.
This is just a drama about people who are overly dramatic, think way too much, and can't have conversations in simple clear words with the people they love. 3 stars to some of the bgm and ost, that was okay. Acting was subpar, with FL doing okay, ML has same zombie expressions, he can't act at all, this was the second drama I watched him in as a lead, and he managed to play 2 completely different characters with same expression, face, voice modulations. Yupp he's that bad, he is meant to be casted in roles of a human Android. Though FL is extremely pretty, she has big sparkling eyes and cute contagious smile, and she looked gorgeous even in the simplest of outfits, and acts good enough, will definitely look out for her in other dramas. The other 2 pair, had plenty of screentime, but their relationship stories were too shallow to dwell into, they existed to fill the screentime so the meaningless show with no story can be done in 16 episodes.
NOT RECOMMENDED. I rated this drama as 4/10 initially, but while writing this review it reminded me of the time I have wasted just to throw my arms and be annoyed, so I'm gonna rate it 3. Gotta vent somewhere.
Yeolnyeoparkssi Gyeyakgyeolhondyeon (2023)
Typical kdrama, filled with cliches
I started watching it due to actress playing FL, I have seen her in a couple of shows before and she does a decent job. And here as well she was the only good thing about the show, she is also central character around her the entire plot revolves, other characters including ML had nothing much to do, character or story wise.
Entire drama is 90% filled with kdrama tropes, if you are an avid kdrama fan, you can pretty much predict the next scene and the dialogues and how everything is gonna unfold. Except that grandpa part, which was a little twist I didn't expect so that made me give an extra rating as 5/10, otherwise this is 4/10 at most, ost and bgm is decent, matches the tone of the show, also the periodic part of the show wasn't boring, which usually is the case in such dramas.
ML was your very typical character in a kdrama, childhood trauma, is rude and cold for no reason, then falls for FL but denies and hides his emotions like a manchild, and then completely changes his behaviour. Completely cliched.
Other characters are the same, best friend/servant to the FL, BF/secretary to the ML, then a girl in office who pines for ML, evil stepmom, bratty/flirty younger bro to ML who'll flirt with his brother's wife/gf, a grandpa bullying his grandson to marry etc etc. Pretty much everything is cliched to the core.
If this is gonna be your first kdrama, or you are very new to the kdrama world, only then watch it. Otherwise not recommended.
Wanbyeokhan Gyeolhonui Jungseok (2023)
Quite good, but left me with a feeling of unsatisfied.
For starters, I loved that the show had 12 episodes and not the usual 16 or more. It kept the show from getting dragged out or boring. Yet I skipped a few scenes in between of side characters as I knew what the dialogues and outcome will be of those scenes. It made an even better watch for me.
Coming to the story, plot and acting. It pretty much does what the title and description says. It revolves around revenge, with splash of passionate romance. Will come back to this bit later. The plot is simple and easy to follow, you can pretty much expect the twists and turns, however that didn't make it a boring watch. Acting was okay by the side characters, not too bad or good, but at some parts the evil stepmom did overract and the evil stepsister was quite good in her part, she acted well.
Now coming to the leads, and their plot and why I felt unsatisfied. This is completely personal, so other viewers may find it differently. I absolutely loved the two leads, I won't they are exceptional actors, but these characters were played efficiently by the two actors. FL was lovable, you feel sad for her, and you also wanna cheer for her when she wants revenge, her eyes spoke a lot and she smiles pleasantly. Same for the ML, his personality and voice was perfect the character, a brooding male who knows what he wants, and will do anything for the woman he loves, and the dude loves passionately, which was amazing to see in a kdrama, not shy or awkward to express his love care and concern in a physical way. From the very first scene they meet after traveling back in past, you can see the way he looks at her that he's already fallen for her.
Actually they both do that, their chemistry was so good, merely by the way their eyes spoke.
And this is also where I was left unsatisfied with the show, they had such good chemistry, and although the plot shows them to have a good relationship, love and a happy ending. It wasn't a linear progression. He already likes her, she has had some feelings too, though she's filled with revenge and a ticking clock, so she doesn't dwell into it, but after marriage he makes his confession during their honeymoon, but later she says that she cannot reciprocate the feelings and that she shouldn't fall in love. But then they make out. And then it's never really shown that does she actually love him, because she never says it out loud, or even in her own solo thoughts, the viewer isn't made aware of that. But in later episodes we see, that she's too in love with him and they have an actual marriage.
I kept wondering as to how and when this happens, at what point etc etc. But it's never shown, as when she realises her feelings, or tell him etc.
I wish they had dedicated some screen time to that.
It's a good show, the leads are amazing with their chemistry, definitely recommended.
Ghost Doctor (2022)
Apart from Kim Bum, it's a bore fest
This was so plain boring that I just finished this show and I'm already starting to forget it.
The plot is a dud, boring and way too weak for a 16 episode show. The lead couple romance/rekindling is boring and has zero chemistry.
It would've been a much better show if the story had Kim Bum's character as the main lead. As he had much more going for him than the Rain's character which was the ML.
I understand it's a hospital drama, but they could've atleast shot more screentime on some outdoor locations, watching 98% of the show inside the same hospital walls gave me a phobia and boredom.
Apart from this, there was nothing much happening in the show, except the two male leads bickering, and poor Kim Bum's character being ridiculed throughout the show. Poor guy also didn't have any romance, while the character setup for it was right there. I also hated how Kim Bum's PTSD and trauma of 20 years was solved in a matter of 2 days, and even in those 2 nothing really happened, he just received a 1 minute ridiculous pep talk and bam, trauma gone. There are so many ploholes as well, like Kim Bum only sees ghosts in the hospital and not outside, there are also no explanations given for several things, and writers just made things up for plot convience, why Kim Bum can see ghosts, why old doctor ghost kept roaming in the hospital for 20 years, but now he leaves(because the show was ending), why he didn't approach his granddaughter for 20 years, but now he does(again bcz show was ending), why Rain's character only chose patients he wanted, what made his character do that, it's understandable that why he became arrogant and rude, but it wasn't anything patient related, so his entire character arc of him becoming a doctor who saves every life didn't have much meaning, and another point to BOREDOM. Even explaination of why Kim Bum couldn't operate was very weak, was it because of his father's death ? But he was 8 and it had nothing to do with hospital or surgery. Was it because he saw ghost of a dead body during anatomy lesson ? But it's not like he sees Ghost of every patient he works on. Him not being able to do even simple bandaging, it just another plot armour made my lousy writing to water down his character. Made no sense.
Main FL was a big bore as well, she had limited expressions and no modulations in delivering her dialogues.
But still, main issue is the story, the plot was way too weak for it to be a 16 episode drama. Nothing much happens. Not recommended at all.
Ro Gi Wan (2024)
Don't fall for low ratings. It's beautiful, emotional.
I saw this on my Netflix recommendations, and as soon as I saw Song Joong Ki, I played it immediately. Even though he isn't the best Korean actor I have seen in kdramas, but I have always found his dramas to be good, his role and screen presence to be captivating and decent expressions and voice modulations.
This was the first time I watched his movie.
And it was probably his best performance for me. The first 60% of the movie, as he struggles to survive are purely heart wrenching. The FL was quite good, she's a pretty good actress and needs more recognition. And their chemistry took off for me quite quickly. Two completely broken people falling for each other and bringing each other out from the mess, so it was very believable for me as to why they fell so deeply in love. Someone extending a hand in your darkest of days.
The story by no means is something new, but the plot is nice, script was good enough. There are some cliched elements, but for me by no means they spoiled the movie.
I have seen similar movies, and they have often ended with sad endings. The whole time I was watching this, I kept feeling that this was gonna be a sad ending as well. But I'm so so glad, that it had a happy one. The makers could have easily made it into a sad one,but I'm glad they didn't take that route in the name of "art". For all the pain they suffered, and found residence and stability in each other, leads deserved a happy ending. So a point for that.
I was shocked to see a 6.8 for this. It's definitely above 7.5 with ease. Then I read the reviews and I felt like kdrama watchers couldn't bring themselves to see it as a movie, I see complaints about leads romance etc. They forget that this is a 2 hour movie and not 16 hour drama.
The love between leads was believable, the FL could immediately relate to his mother's death, as she has suffered something similar. And ML receiving genuine help and care time and again from FL, when he was completely helpless in a strange land. So here, them falling in love works for me.
I would have probably given it an 8. But seeing such low ratings irks me a bit.
Definitely recommended.
Banjjagineun Woteomellon (2023)
Bunch of boring BS, with few interesting parts
It was so highly rated and so much talked about, but I couldn't bring myself to watch it as I didn't find the plot too exciting.
Finally I gave it a shot, as I love time traveling cinema, although I knew this was supposed to be less scifi time travel and more life emotional drama based.
But I haven't seen such overrated kdrama. It nowhere deserves an almost 9/10 rating. It's a below average show.
For starters, it is supposed to be an emotional depth drama with teenage fun and issues, and understanding our parents as teenagers. But sadly it falls flat on those parts. The two male leads, though had good chemistry and you can see them as friends, but couldn't connect on an emotional level, they hardly had any deep emotional exchange, except maybe a couple of scenes, one on the island and one in the end, but even those weren't impactful.
The two main couples, neither of them had any romantic chemistry, neither they felt like a couple, if you are hoping this to be a romantic kdrama, then it isn't by any means , so don't watch it for romance reasons.
A large core of the show is music, but I personally didn't like any of it, none of the songs made an impact and I didn't bother to even look them up to add to my music playlist, on the contrary after a while of same repetition of songs in their band practice sessions etc, I even skipped a few scenes of just same rock music playing and nothing else happening.
A whole lot of ultra slow motion scenes, sometimes so slow it feels like your screen is frozen. Again, none of such slow motion scenes had any impact or depth. Usually kdramas are good at that. Not here.
The only scenes which felt emotional, were between our ML and his now teenage mom who he meets in past, and they were introduced so late in the show, like happens around 7th episode, and the emotions and feelings were instantly visible, but they were so less, way too less. The amount of time spent on son and dad, not even 1/10 of the time was spent on son and mom, and that should have happened more, because she was in much more need of his help than anyone, learning sign language and getting bullied at school, from being a completely shut off person, to home abuse, she needed help in everything, and it would've been a lot better of a show if it was focused on these things. Instead of wasting so much time on creating band, and music and festival preparations etc.
The biggest plothole for me was the FL part. She comes back, and in trying to set up her mother with her first love instead of his father, what was that ? Like she thought if she imitates her mother, and make the second male lead fall for her, and then she disappers, her actual teen mom comes back from US, , and then she'll magically become a couple with the second ML? She obviously knew that her mom never comes back from the US till years after she was born. Even if by any chance her mom comes back, she won't be a couple with second male lead. It was so rubbish that even explaining it is bothersome. That whole part that happens in first 11-12 episodes is absolute garbage and stupi and senseless
The acting was subpar with ML being good in emotional scenes.
I won't even mention the details of how time travel happens, because that's just a tool used here without any explanation.
Also, it falters in a very important reason. Why were both leads made to time travel? I can understand FL reason, as to why she was made to time travel, and it feels justified. But problem is that hers wasn't the core of the show and not even shown in the end. Hers was like a sub sub plot.
The ML reason to time travel and then comeback wasn't impactful at all. ML and his family were already decently living, not ultra rich, but well settled. Both parents were loving, bond between brothers was great, ML wasn't having any major life altering issues, except that his dad found out about his guitar music love. And then he goes back, and then comes back to present. All he managed to do was make his family ultra rich. Their love and bonds didn't change, because there was no need for any improvement. His love for music found out by dad could've been easily resolved , as ML parents were so loving and understanding.
On the contrary FL reason to travel back in time, understand her teen mom and come back to future, what changes she made, that wasn't even shown in the end, how her bonding with mom and her father, and between her parents improved or changed, it wasn't even shown.
This show is totally messed up and plain garbage. A Time Called You, is way way way much better than this and so beautifully executed. Twinkling watermelon is the most overrated kdrama. Not at all recommended.
Itaewon Keullasseu (2020)
All 10 stars to the characters, especially FL
Let me be clear , the 10 star rating is in no way credited to the story and screenplay , script of the show. But I liked the characters so much, especially for a kdrama, that I'm forced to give it a 10/10.
I'll start with what's bad about the show.
If I had to rate it purely based on the script and story and pacing and edits. I'd give it a 5/10 at most. A lot of things goes wrong in these departments.
The time skips aren't dealt with nicely, especially the second 4 year skip.
Also the romance part of the show was very badly timed and dealt with. The FL is crazy in love with the ML, that's second core of the show, the main course is the revenge plot. So obviously the end of the show should have been majorly focused on the revenge being fulfilled, and the romance plot should have been dealt with much earlier. It would have also been nice to see the main leads romance develops, rather than fast forwarded and making it absolutely bland in the few minutes of last episode.
The FL character was crazy, and so was the ML character, and it would've been an entirely new thing to see in a kdrama, to see such unique characters being in love. But the writers completely botched and hurried it up in the last 2 episodes. Mixing it up with the core story of revenge, which should have been the only focal point in last episodes, just ruined it for me. Mixing it like this just watered down both the spicy plots of romance and revenge.
Why still a 10?
Because I absolutely loved the characters. Especially the FL, she to me is probably among my best female lead characters written out there, absolutely crazy in love with ML, would do literally anything regardless of ethics, full of herself and confident in her abilities and love. It was rare to see such FL in a kdrama, while I have encountered such crazy heads in real life.
And the actress played that part as well, she even admits several times that she loves the ML like a crazy person, and she literally acts like that and lives like that.
Now the ML, is someone you might find boring, I guess he was written like that, yet somehow you cannot stop rooting for him all the way, the way he lives by his ideals, is truly crazy, the entire show he just doesn't, not once backs down to the antagonist, never "bends the knee and begs", like they both wanted to do to each other, but the ML does that just to save FL, so even his character was crazy in the ways normal society would perceive him. I also loved how in the end he doesn't fall for the antagonist's apology, I have seen it so many times happen that the hero forgives the bad guy in the end. Here he doesn't and also gives a very understandable reason for it.
The other side characters were very well written too. The second FL, who loves the ML, but has different beliefs to build and live the life, so she can never let go off both of them until the end, her character felt real, and very believable.
The old antagonist, both his sons, the other members of Dambam pub, all were done nicely.
Even the plot is nice, except the timing of few things, and how the romance was done between leads.
But it's still a 10 for me, purely for how I loved the characters, and despite a bad second half, I wanted to see the ending of those characters.
This is one of those shows which you'll either love it or hate it. There won't be a mediocrity.
If in the initial 4 episodes you can bring yourself to love the FL, and the ML as well. Then keep watching. Otherwise stop and don't watch further.
Also, I see so many people complain about the character development here. What they completely missed is the fact that both main leads are written that way, they are crazy and they won't change no matter what, she loves him madly(literally) and he has his mind set and he never changed once that happens, and he proves that point throughout the show. This was the very basis of their characters, that they won't change. Same was for the antagonist, he was ready to do anything to save his company. I would have hated it and would have been pointless if they had shown any behaviour changes in the leads.
I hope you watch and like it.
Tou tou cang bu zhu (2023)
Leads lived the characters
It's as the title says, the lead actors literally lived the characters here.
After watching dozens of kdramas, this was my first Cdrama that I watched, had heard good things about it and trailer looked good, and despite language barriers I decided to watch it, and I'm so glad I did. It's undoubtedly one of the finest love story I have seen. So simple and realistic. The plot isn't something extraordinary. But it's the way that it was put forward, and how maturely so many things were handled.
You cannot stop falling in love with FL, it's so beautifully written and even more aptly played, she put forward the right emotions and gestures. One moment you feel how she's cute and silly as a 18-19 year old, and the very next moment her expressions changes and she becomes so serious and mature whenever she has to protect the ML, which was so heartwarming and real.
I absolutely loved how different ages of the FL were shown, as she grows up so does her feelings for the ML, from admiration to infatuation to liking to the feelings taking a backseat and then completely falling heads over heels for him, it was nicely put, because as the person matures with age, they tend to understand themselves better.
Her unrelenting feelings for the ML from the beginning is the core of the entire show, and how they just keep on growing no matter what situation she faces. This will be my most favourite female characters ever. I can go on and on about it, but won't be enough.
ML too was just as good as the FL, a total green flag, and makes it very believable to understand as to why FL is so deeply in love with him from a very tender age.
The entire show is too good, very sweet, very well acted, music and bgm were good enough. Throughout the show, both leads did so good, it felt like real, and not actors playing a character.
I'm so glad I watched this, very strongly recommended.
Minyeo Gongsimi (2016)
It was good till last episode
What on earth was that in the last episode ? Couldn't call for a year because he was studying, like no one could reach out to him? His cousin, grandma ? Or she couldn't find a way to reach out? I have never seen such dumb thing happening on screen. It was absolutely rubbish and stupid and dumb. Korean writers were just itching to do their usual year long separation trope, and then they asked for a 5 year old to write it, I apologise for insulting the intelligence of a 5 year old. Writers probably lost their marbles writing that last episode.
I had so many good things to say about this show, it was an easy 8.5/10, but then came episode 20 and ruined the whole show, and now it feels like I have wasted 20 hours of my life. I wish I could rate it in negative for pissing me off so much. Not a single thing of the last episode made any sense.
I would love to recommend this show, if you just watch till the first 20 minutes of the last episode and then stop it and just makeup your own ending in your head. If you can't do that, DO NOT WATCH THIS.
After watching dozens of kdramas. First time I have rated so low.
Dakteoseulleompeu (2024)
True to it's title, second half is a slump
I liked the show from the beginning. But it was a hit and a miss overall. I loved the FL, her character was quite good and the part was played well by her, like she always does. I disliked how ML was portrayed as a character, writer botched that up, I have seen the actor doing well in his previous shows that I have seen. But here he acted way too obnoxiously a lot of times, especially whenever he had to act silly/cute/immature, he overreacted a lot, and such scenes of him take a large part of the show. And most of the times his makeup done was too flaky and made him look weird, it drew my attention to his makeup, which shouldn't happen.
Still the first half was good, two broken people, in their own miseries, find happiness and joy in each other, which was good to see, the main story of the ML patient's table death, that was also okay, although very predictable.
But it gets resolved around mid of the show, and thus the second half starts getting dull, as lot of scenes and dialogues keep on repeating throughout the show.
With the content and story arc and character development, this should have been a 10-12 episode show. Also I disliked how ML ptsd was handled, like we see sessions of FL curing her depression, not once ML session was shown, him working on his ptsd issues, just one scene where FL shows up in his surgery and bam his ptsd is cured. I get the dramatic gesture, but this doesn't suit the tone of the show at all, where so much footage and theme and monologue is dedicated to people in depression and other mental health issues. This was done very very poorly. He also had insomnia because of same anxiety and ptsd, and he has suffered that from last 15 years, but even that isn't addressed properly, nor shown that how he is handling that.
A lot of issues for me in the way male leads character was written, because there was so much they missed or didn't consider it important enough to address.
Also, though the chemistry between leads was okay, but it wasn't what it should have been, felt like there was a severe lack of intimacy between them at times. Again, not the fault of actors, because there were like 2-3 kissing scenes, and they really did good there, passion was visible, writers and director should have used that.
I had such hopes from this show, as I have loved both the lead actors from their previous shows, but the writing here failed otherwise what could have been one of the best kdramas this year. I wouldn't recommend this show.
Namjachingoo (2018)
Probably the most simplistic and beautiful Love story I have seen
I'll start simply with the fact that if you wanna watch something simple, emotional and a love story, then DO watch this. I'm so glad I stumbled upon on this show on my Netflix recommendations and just started watching it, but once I did, I absolutely fell in love with its simplicity without many of the usual kdrama tropes.
The show follows a very simple story, two people from very different lives and backgrounds, meet and immediately start falling for each other. One seems to have everything, except happiness. The other doesn't have much materialistic things, but is all smile and happiness and calm and love. How they both come closer, loving and protecting each other, is all the show is about.
There aren't twists here.
But it's so beautiful, poetic and loving, that you'll fall in love with two leads. I absolutely adored how their love story was portrayed, how they go through all the odds, how they understood each other without even saying it aloud.
This show is something like a really beautiful novel, that you go back to reading. It'll make you believe and understand love in it's most purest form. It'll say with me for a very long time and I'll come back to watching it again someday. It'll make you cry and smile both.
I have watched the FL in two previous shows, and I could never really understand her popularity among the kdrama watchers. But this show made me fall in love with her. She absolutely nailed her character.
And in last, ost and bgm was beautiful, just like the show.
Gireumjin Mello (2018)
Lovely leads chemistry, annoying side characters and writing
I wanted to love this drama so much. The chemistry and love and understanding between the leads was exceptional, ost and bgm was nice, the brotherhood between the two male leads was lovely, all cooking and food scenes were very well done.
So many good things about the show, then why 4/10 ? Because the annoying parts are so annoying that they overshadow all the good stuff about this.
Been through 100's of shows and kdramas, and I don't remember when was the last time I was so literally pissed off by lousy writing and characters. This was the most shallow, cheap and ridiculous FL leads family in a kdrama. Hands down, nothing comes close to this. They were more evil than the actual antagonists of the show. ML gives work to 3 of her family members when they needed most, he trusts them blindly, but they lie to him throughout the show, not once they're sorry or guilty towards him, and above all they keep ridiculing him at every chance they get, they are ready to betray him at any moment, if it wasn't for the FL and constant begging and pleading of the ML, they would've faster than the particles in LHC. Everytime FL mom came on screen I wanted the earth to crack upon and swallow her. That Aunt was dating literally a thug but had the balls to ridicule ML for dating FL and not being good enough for her. I get these overbearing parents trope kdramas, but here the writer took it way too far, way too much that it can't be ignored.
The writing was so poor with these characters and sub plot. And the writers completely forgot the ex wife of ML, like not even a mention after the initial first few episodes. It's an issue because she was one of the core reason for everything that happened to ML and the main revenge plot of the show. But writers just forgot her completely.
It would have been a great show, an easy 8+. But the lousy writing ruined it. The lead pair did such amazing job and carried the show throughout. I almost gave up this show several times, but somehow managed to pull through just to see the leads ending happily.
Soundtrack #1 (2022)
Nothing new. But beautiful in every sense.
The story is nothing new, long time best friends, one loves the other, the other one realises it years later, and they get together in the end.
But I'll be downplaying it if I don't say how extremely good the two leads looked together, their connection and chemistry hits right off the first episode.
It's even more commendable that the actors were convincing enough of the love between them given how this is only 4 episodes long. The music is good, cinematography and chill winter setup throughout makes this even more romantic with garnishing of little sadness arising due to unsaid feelings.
I have seen the 2 leads in several different shows and they always do a good job, so no wonder they were brilliant here as well. They looked so good together, I could have watched them for another 10 episodes.
I'd recommend this show, it's short, beautiful and will makes you binge watch it through the night.
Dashi Mannan Segye (2017)
Dull, Boring and A Dud
I'm on episode 15 of 20. And I'm finding it hard to continue. The story is bleak and dull. Nothing much has happened between the leads since the beginning, they have zero chemistry as a couple, I'm not even sure if they are a couple, I'm assuming they are, since they've had the usual unromantic lips pecking twice, but haven't ever said anything to each other that they love each other. They're no doubt the most boring pair of leads in a kdrama I have seen.
Up until now there has been zero romance, just like the story , music is dull as well. For 15 episodes, the story so far is the dead guy has magically comeback alive with super powers, his friends and siblings welcome him, he starts to work as chef, he wasn't the assumed killer and they're looking for actual culprit. That's it, there has been zero character development, or story twists and turns.
I was expecting some really nice passionate moments between leads, but that has been a big dud, for someone who lost their best friend cum love of their life, both of the leads havent expressed those feelings.
This is my second show of the actor as ML, after Hotel Del Luna, and now I'm convinced that dude can't act anything remotely romance, his chemistry was way off with IU in that who no doubt has good enough expressions, and here as well he can't act, even his laughter is so fake it just puts me off everytime he laughs.
Also that ranch lady character is the biggest writer @$$pull, they are just using it like the writer wants, first she's someone who's driving an excavator, then she's someone owning a ranch, and now she's living in Seoul owning art galleries and moving around in designer wear and luxury brands and cars. And she behaves like she owns or knows the leads for decades.
None of the leads have right expressions and emotions here. I'm just gonna continue to see how it ends, but have zero hopes of this getting any better. Will update after I finish.
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020)
Apart from few episodes, it's a good show
I see a lot of reviews complain about the sudden illness and fake death of ML and then ending show with him alive. But it wasn't sudden at all, he had been getting nosebleeds from the very first episodes indicating he was terminally ill. And it was obvious, atleast to me, probably others missed that sign.
Apart from the episode 10-14, where show gets dull and is dragged around a bit, the show is otherwise quite good. Both the leads did their part well, and I loved their characters.
FL especially, I'd been longing to see such simple FL in kdramas for a long while, who is simple, joyous and doesn't do stupid stuff in the name of strong personality. I absolutely loved the goofiness she had, had that innocence and absent mindedness which was rather cute than annoying. The way she calls Jun-na from the very first moment she learns his name is just way too adorable and loving.
ML was probably the greenest of green flag, yes he had flaws, but for a 19 year old, he was helluva more mature and understanding than a 40 year old. And that's probably why everyone believed that he was 24 and not 19. Loved his character, the way he just loves her to the moon and back without ever burdening her is just amazing.
It would have been 10 for me, but 8 because some episodes were dull in the second half, wished they'd made it a 12 episode show and not 16.
Also the part where ML confesses his feelings to FL was very toned down, didn't feel special at all, FL doesn't even acts excited or shocked or flustered even, and doesn't even reply him back with the same, both just assume and so does the viewer that she confessed as well. And the following events as well didn't really feel special as they were dating, writing lacked there.
But this is still a show that I would go back to and watch a lot of moments between the leads and other characters as well again and again, as it was loving and very heartwarming. Definitely recommended to watch.