Switched (2018)

I think this Drama really portrays something quite important especially in today's society. It has a clear moral and message that is delivered very well to the audience by the wondrous actors and soundtracks. I feel like when we reach the end of the story, we all have something we could take from it that we can implement into our own lives. Switched kind of reminded me of one of my favourite Webtoons out there which is Lookism in regards to the perception of how people are treated differently just because of their appearance and looks. It's because of that reality that people can be driven to be greedy, jealous and can be overflowed with desire to own and be something that they are not. Switched presents that in such a fresh and deep way that resonates into our hearts and souls.

In terms of the story, it is nothing like I had seen before. It revolves around switching bodies where the personalities and minds remains the same. However, even though it is a plot that was used many times already in media, Switched is one of those stories which will certainly grip you and keep you glued to the screen the whole time, anticipating what would happen next and wondering whether they're actually going to solve the problem in the end. I like the fact that there is a whole back story in terms of Switching and that it is a global supernatural phenomenon that had affected quite a lot of people which goes to show that the world is not as black and white as it seems but rather corrupted because people have these desires such as desiring a life much different than their own. The creators and author used this occurring device and twisted it into their own way to make a suspenseful and mysterious storyline.

However, what I can say though is that I felt like the last episode was particularly rushed. Because the series only had 6 episodes, I felt like a lot of the things that happened were all squashed to fit in one single episode. This includes the solving of the conflict and the aftermath of the events. It gave me the impression that the whole conflict was in a rush to be solved before the end of the episode which I thought had the potential to be extended and explored if we had more episodes. Needless to say, I'm not particularly complaining since it is not the first time that Dramas had executed rushed and less fluidity as opposed to the rest of its episodes, but overall, I was glad that Switched had graced us with the ending I'm sure we wanted to happen and I'm really happy for that. Not to mention, I was a bit sad that it only has 6 episodes and that it is too short to my liking; we need more of these wonderful goodness ;; However, if it did get extended and it had more episodes, I would have liked to see more exploration about the Red Moon, the history behind the Switching and also the psychological effects of people who had experienced it especially Ayumi and Umine's situation.

Furthermore, I don't know about you guys but the acting was remarkable to me. It was simply fantastic. The feelings that were expressed did resonate to me as an audience and man did it impacted me quite a lot. I wouldn't have cried a few times whilst watching the series if it weren't for the powerful acting that was demonstrated consistently throughout the show. Each of the four teenagers made an impact to me in their way and man, can I say I love Kaga to death - he is such a pure angel <3 Umine had shown an outstanding performance presenting someone who had lived a horrible life and was corrupted and driven by hate and greed, someone who was unwanted in the society and was treated nothing worse than scum but then realised how to be a strong person and to tackle her problems with a positive attitude. As for Ayumi, she was someone who emphasised and sympathised with Umine after being switched to her body and developed to this caring and aware person as opposed to her naivety before. And Koushirou...he's just a whole enigma lol. You just won't expect what he would do next; quite a good manipulator as well.

Anyway, moving on, I wouldn't have enjoyed the whole series experience without the amazing soundtrack like honestly, it's wonderful to listen to. I've always been a music person so the Ost affects my viewing experience as a whole when watching a show, so when watching Switched, it just added more of the depth and atmosphere that is needed to support the acting and it made it more enjoyable to me. This reminded me of Devilman Crybaby's soundtrack actually because it pulls at your heartstrings yet some are upbeat and pleasurable to the ears. Switched has one of the soundtracks that I would listen to in a playlist and download.

To conclude, I really enjoyed watching the series. I love the themes that was explored because I feel like it is something that has the importance to be addressed especially in a society like ours. The way it was portrayed was just enthralling to the point that I was even in tears. So yes definitely would rewatch it again at some point in the future because I haven't really watched a series with that kind of approach in a while and the fact that it is quite different to the other usual Dramas out there. I may be exaggerating in some areas lolol but it just goes to show how much I've grown to be attached to it because it is something I relate to in many levels. Plus the soundtrack is worth listening to as well.

I may have loved it but it may not always be the same case for everyone but all I can say is that it is definitely worth the watch. Totally recommending it if you are looking for a series that has mature, supernatural and psychological themes :D

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Envy is a powerful force, one that can drive someone to extreme measures.

Thus, is the case in Switched, when the least popular girl steals a popular classmate’s body. A common storyline of someone who switches bodies with someone else, but with a twist. The series focuses on Ayumi Kohinata, who was the once popular student and how she must now cope with her new body, try to get back to her own, and figure out who really cared for her, and not just for her looks.

One of the aspects I found refreshing in this story was the fact that Ayumi Kohinata was NOT a mean character. Many times, in body switching type stories, the popular girl would have been cruel and would have previously bullied the unpopular girl. That was not the case in this drama. Ayumi was sweet, and truly cared for her friends and boyfriend. However, you come to find out that not everyone is that way, and many care more for appearances than what lies beneath.
This drama was in no way the BEST drama I have ever seen but it was short, addictive, and totally binge-worthy. I LOVED some of the characters, especially Kaga. And I also, like the mystery, and twists that this drama had. I went into this show having low expectations but ended up watching it all in one sitting and truly enjoying it! The acting was great, the storyline was interesting, and the characters were interesting.

If you are like me and tend to steer clear of body-swapping dramas as they tend to be overdone and lack originality, reconsider on this one. This one is a really fast watch and has a different take on the subject. It might surprise you. (I know it did for me) Definitely recommend!

Happy Drama Watching!

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