Véspera (2022)

The kind of revenge I like

Occasionally, a drama pushes me to come back here and write a review to process what I watched. This is one of them.

This is the kind of revenge story I like and want to see more of. Sadly, a lot of revenge dramas end in “John Wick”-style fashion (meaning lots of shootings, deaths, etc.), getting ridiculous or the one who seeks revenge just doesn’t care about revenge anymore because he/she found a greater good. This drama stayed true to its beginning, which is seduction, manipulation and dedication to the revenge itself.

In a lot of revenge dramas, the main character just loses himself/herself midway and kind of forgets why he/she started it in the first place even though he/she planned it or was consumed by it for years (or at least that’s how I feel). Here, the main character stays dedicated to the revenge and manipulation to the bitter end. She doesn’t get distracted and suddenly wants to life a happy life, wants to do good or something in that direction.

The main actress Seo Yea Ji does a great job and became my favourite Korean actress after “It’s okay to be not okay” and now “Eve”. And I have to say that didn’t really have any favourite Korean actors/actresses up till now to be honest. It’s just special for me if an actor/actress can play multiple moods so perfectly and smile ear to ear if needed. A lot of actors/actresses try to look “beautiful” while laughing/smiling so they look good for the camera I feel, and rarely do you see one who just smiles ear to ear in the right situations (I don’t know if people will get that, but I don’t know how to describe it better).

The rest of the cast was also great with interesting backgrounds. Sadly 16 episodes are just not enough to give every background the time it deserves, but it’s just enough to understand most characters. But I have to say, one character is a little to psycho for my taste.

All in all, it’s a mature revenge drama with no fairy tales. Seeing the other reviews here, I guess it’s a hit or miss drama for a lot of people. If the description of the drama intrigues you, definitely watch the first episode.

Leia Mais

Seo ye ji hats off.

Ra El was a girl who idolized her loving parents – a highly intelligent father and a strikingly beautiful mother. But when cruel forces beyond their control cause her father’s death, her family crumbles. Embittered by this terrible experience, she vows revenge on the super-rich people who orchestrated this terrible tragedy. Her prime target is Kang Yoon Kyum, the CEO of the lucrative LY Group business empire, and one of the ringleaders of the plot that ultimately destroyed her family.
yeji was splendid. she's just so good at playing female manipulators. she made this drama very fun to watch. every time she walked in, every entrance she made was enthralling and full of confidence. it's quite literally impossible to focus on anyone else when SYJ is in the frame. the drama itself is a fun makjang where you don't have to take things seriously. i love revenge dramas and tbh this drama was a little lacking in the revenge department (i recommend my name if you want to watch a really good revenge drama) but it didn't lack in showing human emotions and how our connections with other people could either make or break us. love is good but only if practiced in moderation. for lee rael love is karma, for SEP love is patience, for HSR love is just another game to win and for KYG love is ultimate sacrifice. whether you approve or disapprove of their different ways of loving is up to you. at the end of the day, this show is about what love makes you do and not really about the process of doing those things. tbh the dilemma of hurting the man you love or betraying your parents by falling in love with the enemy that le rael faced was very interesting and actually made me like this drama so much more. i know a lot of people were disappointed by this exact plot point but lee rael isn't a revenge extracting machine, she's a human who embraced another human for the first time in her life and fell in love. to me it makes more sense than anything else in the show. still, some things could've been done better especially during the end. the outfit and makeup choices were...... questionable and did not exactly fit the cinematography and vibe of the show.

Leia Mais

Review

In my opinion, this is one of the best dramas so far. I started watching it as soon as it was released, but to be honest, it was a big mistake. When the first episode was released, I watched it and was instantly captivated, but as the episodes were released two times in a week, I had to wait impatiently for the next episodes. And that's what I mean by saying that it was a bad decision to start watching early, because this drama makes you want to see the next episode as soon as possible.
The story was overall compelling, but sometimes a little predictable. I caught myself wanting Ra El to end up with Eun-pyung as they had immaculate chemistry, but the story had something else in mind. The story ended quite intensely.
The music, that was used in this drama, in my opinion, was very fitting. Till this day I listen to the main soundtrack by Kim Yeji.
Also, I couldn't imagine a better cast to play out these roles.
Overall, amazing!

Leia Mais

Mixed but clear feelings

So it's been a while since I wrote a review and it reflects on this. First of all, I liked the combination of genres it had, there was drama, there was romance and there was an artistic side as well. When it comes to the story itself has some holes in it, and there are some unanswered questions. Why did she try to punish Kang Yoon Gyeom when he didn't know a single thing about it when it came to the forced sign? Yes, he knew about the death of some woman I don't remember clearly name of but it was too late to save her, and let's be honest, who would report your partner for murder or abduction? Yes, he wasn't the right person, but he reflected on his behavior and died sacrificing his life for Lee La El. Another big question mark leaves the age gap between La El and Kang Yoon Gyeon because when she was fifteen 13 years ago that means that she is 28. But when she was 15 the male lead was already in his late 20. I saw somewhere on the internet that the age gap is 13 years and that he is 41 atm. Another thing that kind of doesn't feel right to me is the useless death of Kang Yoon Gyeon, his wife survived but he didn't. Like hello? Overall I liked it but some moments just didn't hit the spot.

Leia Mais

Revenge with a realistic ending

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. I have nothing to complain about how the story turned out and felt peace at the ending, especially seeing Eve's smile in the final scene. The actors were amazing, all 4 main actors did an incredible job. Yoo Sun's acting in the final episode was impressive. In parts I was reminded of Heath Ledger's Joker. My respect to the actors! Park Byeong Eun was also a scene stealer in the final episodes. Even though I am repeating myself, I really enjoyed the acting. The supporting actors were also all spot on. Thanks to everyone involved. This drama deserves to get awards.

Leia Mais

Great Cast / Beautiful Staging & Clothing

This series pulled me in with dramatic music and the decadence of attire of Lee Ra El. Her outfits, with the western symbols related to Eve were really, really well though out and added to her character. I loved the duality of love/hate with themes of forbidden love. Whoever dressed her deserves all the praise for this series.

The acting from Lee Ra El and Han So Ra carried a lot of the storyline for one. While at times the other characters felt one-dimensional, they both jumped off the screen and felt relatable, despite the over the top drama. The storyline itself is atypical with twists that are not too zany., which I really appreciated.

I highly recommend this series with the content warning that there is self harm, violence and some sex/steamy scenes.

Edit to add: Won't somebody think of the children!! I hope these kids are not traumatized.

Leia Mais

Do we dance tango or do we accomplish our revenge?

I was positively surprised by this unexpected drama, which became one of the best I have watched this year.
It is also surprising to find so many despective comments in several reviews, mentioning the actors' empathy and performances, the script - sometimes blamed as "undefined"-, the so called "unnecesary" sex scenes, and other similar comments that seem written by haters in social media. I have to confess that this is not the drama I have watched.
Well, it is a story of revenge, with a strong charge of violence, corruption and crime, and such story, to me, is perfectly narrated from the very beginning.
It is also a story of adultery, so I do not forsee how to describe it without introducing sex in the script. By the way, no scene seems to me scandalous or out of the "15 years old" official age rating of the drama.
But what I have seen above all is a story of wounds, physical and psychical, inflicted in the past to several characters: Lee Ra El / Kim Sun Bin, Kang Yoon Gyeom, Jang Moon Hee, and how they interact nowadays with the persons who caused them. By the way, the criminals feel no regret because what they did in the past, neither for their present criminal acts: they are "untouchable" because ther "belong to the elite".
And in the middle of the story, linking the revenge, the adultery and the scares, a great mistake in identifying one of the main characters as a criminal in the past.
The plot is served, sometimes we have seen similar stories in the past, but this is presented with no artifice, just advancing step by step, without making loosing the spectators interest for a story very well developed, and creating in the viewers curiosity in how the revenge will arrive at the end... because it arrives, in a painful way. It is said in another drama of this season about revenge: "if you are seeking revenge, dig to craves, one for your enemy, one for you". Principle applies in some way for this drama.
Regarding the cast, outstanding performance offered by Park Byeung Eun, maybe the best I have seen from this tallented actor with a long experience in dramas and films.
Excellent Yoo Sun as the repressed yet capricious and ruthless housewife; as well as the always effective Lee Sang Yeob.
Mention apart for Seo Yea Ji, who provides to the drama's main character enough attractive, sensuality, anger, versatility, tenderness and credibility, despite her tendence to overact sometimes. And she dances tango as a pro.
In conclusion, all I ask to a drama was in this.

Leia Mais

no rainbows, unicorns, meet cutes or over used romance tropes,

the first time I'm doing a review because the reviews I saw here after I had watched it seriously broke my heart and I'm glad I watched before reading any...

where do I start, first of all I am a huuugeeeee fangirl of Seo Yeji, huge, that being said this is no way biased.

the drama given the time of it's release was something new and unexpected and I loved it, the story was gripping emotions on point, if i met the actors who played villains i wouldn't trust them, meaning they did a phenomenal job, it is not easy to bring out that level of disgust towards your character.

Eve , Seo Yeji, did her part and she freaking slayed it, the tango, the revenge, the agony, the self-harm due to trauma,
this was an amazing comeback and a huge fu to the people who sought to slander her, after it's okay not to be okay, she gave you something real to talk about and i was here for it.

the uno reverse she pulled on her 'husband' was epic, my favourite scene was when she chose to execute her master plan on that woman's birthday....epic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i would have loved for her to give the lawyer a chance, but she wasn't ready and so she didn't string him on, real mature if ou ask me.
the chairman's wife had it coming, and i was cackling like a witch throughout her suffering, being raised wrong is not an excuse to be a shitty human being.
did the chairman deserve to die, maybe maybe not, people can change, and should be allowed too if they are remorseful enough.

the intense scenes were amazingly portrayed, they had me so close to registering for a tango class....
this was honestly the best drama i have watched this year and i would watch it again and again.

Leia Mais

Riveting, Must Watch!!

I see this too often with KDramas and the KDrama fans. When they hate someone or something, then they will hate that person or thing for life. These Eve reviews are a true testimony to that.

I absolutely loved this drama. It had me glued to my screen with each episode. I was rooting for a different character with each episode as the drama progressed, and the characters showed themselves and evolved. I was rooting for both male characters. So I'm feeling some kindaway about that ending.

I watched it in two sittings. It would have been one, but I made the mistake of starting the dram on my Graduation Day, and well I had no choice but to attend my graduation, and when I got back went straight to watching it. That is how much I enjoyed it. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised.

The soundtrack is awesome too.

Leia Mais

so far, so good.

honestly, it is too early to review this but i will give my thoughts right now and when the drama is done i will come back for another and last review.                                                                                                                           
and before i even begin— this review will not be biased, hateful, or anything simular because we are reviewing drama and not actors personal life!                                                                                                                                                                                                      
so eve, 
eve is drama that stimulates, the powerful actors performances will probably wrap up the story in a plausible way. it is a designed revenge drama with twists and turns. the secrets hidden in the revenge drama are uncovered one by one and it keeps you wanting more. the quality and content are not ordinary works. the drama has a luxurious feel and the clothes are purely amazing. they feel rich but refreshing.

rael's revenge will attract viewers, and sun's (sora's) acting which has lot of skill is in good balance with yeji who specializes in strong characters and these kind of storylines.
yeji is so devastatingly beautiful as rael in eve. her acting is so on point and her changes of facial expressions from this to that is what i love the most.  the shift of emotions on her scenes are so amazing and if you look closely rael is so dead in the eyes. she is empty, so much so that i actually don't feel any genuine emotions from the character most of the time.
when it comes to the other cast, all have amazing skills and irreplaceable charms that blend well with yeji's. her versatility is unquestionable.
her acting, her way of delivering every line, it's far different from her past characters. i am looking forward to the charismatic characters showdown between rael and sora. i think by the end of the series they will gain a lot of fans and i am surely looking forward for the next episode.

Leia Mais