2018: 52 Drama Challenge (Again...)

I really enjoyed the performances from the actors (I was a fan of Yamashita Tomohisa and Aragaki Yui, to begin with), the stories were touching, bringing me to tears several times, and I liked watching the characters deal with different situations. 

Unlike S1 and S2, S3 focused more on the characters and the people they meet. It was more human. I think this is why I prefer S3 than the previous two seasons. I could not watch S1 and S2 maybe because it focused on the medical aspect of being a doctor, which I've seen in many dramas so far. Watching the characters as experienced doctors were much more interesting than watching them as newbies. 

This is a typical medical drama but it does focus more on the people than the politics which was a very nice change. It's typical but a good medical drama. 

The only downside, for me, personally, the ending could've been different (but then again, I've never seen the perfect ending). Maybe they wanted a special, movie or season but I like to see ships sail and I hate open or ambiguous endings regarding relationships. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see my ship set sail. Maybe next time...

I enjoyed this one more so than I thought I would. I wasn't a particular fan of any of the cast and the plot sounded average. The reason I picked it up is that it was on Netflix. 

The story as I said was average but the storytelling was intriguing. It was predictable but unpredictable at the same time. One thing I noticed and liked, was the silences. The silence before a reaction, or the silence when someone finds something out, or the silence when they were just thinking was a very nice touch and it made the story and characters that much more intriguing and captivating. 

The story doesn't focus too much on the science behind the time-travelling which I enjoyed since too much explanation could lead to so many flaws. It focused on the aspect of having a second chance to make things right and the strength of human willpower. It was a little cheesy at times but I was fine with it. It focuses on building relationships, and I particularly liked the relationship between the lead and his mother. 

Overall, it was a good watch. 

Nice easy watch with some decent acting. Joe Xu is carrying the whole drama though. I wish we got to know the characters a little more though - the character development is actually pretty decent for such an episodic type of drama but there's something lacking. I can't pinpoint it. I can't see to find enough motivation to full root for the characters. I'm only halfway there...

Now, onto S2

I was bored. There was nothing to watch.

And to my expectations, this was ridiculous. The plot was all over the place. The acting was average. There were some decent characters but that's all. Nothing was really explained - how did they get stuck in the game? What about other players? 

This was hilariously not good. I wouldn't say bad. It's just not good. 

This was a over the top and unoriginal. The premise of the story has been done before so this was not anything special to watch. The acting was mediocre and over the top. 

BUT this is still a very enjoyable watch. The characters were all good people (except the villains) I loved the female character - her stupidity was amazing! The male character was handsome, manly and ever-so charming.

This was cheesy. This was fluffy. A lovely watch.

I really enjoyed first season, it was simple and easy to watch.

This season is the same but had too much talking. Too much scheming, not enough demon catching. I skipped through quite a lot of parts throughout. The story wasn't bad, just it was losing it's focus on "killing monsters". 

I do love the fact that the lead characters all returned, it makes the continuity much more easier to understand. I looooved the main villain in Season 1 but her character was practically not in this series (her alter-ego is pretty fantastic though). The other villain, he was good but his evil deeds were never explained. AND by the end of this season, we still don't know anything about Wu Xin's origins. 

This was nice and easy but should focus more on monster killing.

Actually not as terrible as I expected. The story was alright and the acting was decent. 

But...

Jet Li is Huang Fei Hung. I can't see anyone else as him. That's all.

This drama has the most confusing and ridiculous synopsis but it all makes sense when you watch it. And surprisingly, I really enjoyed this!! Yue Ying was a character that was right up my street. Without spoiling anything all I wanna say is that he's an adorable hero! <3<3<3 The female lead was also surprisingly good you'd expect the typical damsel in distress but she was a variation, an adorable one at that. Considering most of the actors and fairly fresh they did a wonderful job in portraying their characters and with more experience they'll go places.

The story was actually good. It actually took some time to figure things out - and like I said, considering the description of the plot, I was surprised. Ending-wise, well I never like endings anyways. I don't disagree with the way it ended - it was just told incorrectly.

All in all, the actors did very well to make this a very prone to disaster drama into something worth watching. It's not amazing and certainly not one of a kind but very enjoyable with great characters and story. It all worked together.

When in with zero expectations and finished as one of the best republican era dramas I've ever seen. I'm not a particular fan of Republican dramas - too many schemes and not enough romance. This drama is exactly that but executed extremely well. The story though not original was well thought out and the acting was surprising! It was actually VERY GOOD! The relationships developed are solid and you just can't help but root for the lead <3 He's just adorable!

The only gripe with this...is...*drumroll*...the ending. This time it's not my dislike for endings but this has a terrible ending in my opinion. This drama ended at ep 37 for me. Beward the paedo-tache. 

SPOILER

The romance at the end was super awkward and unnecessary! It would've been amazing just to end the leads' relationship as comrades and family but nope they had to make them get married and it was like a funeral! No one was actually that willing. They could've opted for just being single! There was literally no other couple in the organisation anyways! And that final ending was stupid. He shoots the Awakener and then END! What about the bombs? I didn't know he could difuse a bomb?!!! What about the Awakener's minions? No. You don't end the "climax" like that. So anti-climatic and pointless. The dragged the whole marriage issue for too fudging long! This drama should've ended with finding the spy, catching the Awakener and they continue serving their country. Simple and straight forward. Or Jinzhen find Shen Yu, that would've been much more satisfying than marrying Zhao Li. It was depressing! 

Rant Over.

Meh. The story and romance didn't do much for me. Maybe because the leading ladies are fairly new and inexperienced so the emotions were lacking. The only experienced actor was Vic Zhou, unfortunately he alone couldn't save the drama. The story was just weak too. Nothing I haven't seen before. 

Like most kdramas the drama started off so good. The chemsitry was sizzling, the comedy was spot on and the story was good. But by episode 10 everything fizzled out. IIt became just another typical kdrama.

Crazy, ridiculous, and slapstick. The story was meh but I enjoyed watching the characters develop. And Sol is ADORABLE.

Two words. Dugu Banruo. She is the character that carried the drama. I've never seen Ady An in action but she was f******* amazing as Dugu Banruo. Dugu Banruo is a character I will remember for a long long time. She was ruthless, determined, and ambitious - her character could've easily fallen into "I-would-sell-my-soul-to-have-power" blackhole but she didn't. She was ruthless, determined, and ambitious but she was also outstanding, loyal, perceptive. She loved her sister like no other, she would do anything to protect her family and she would not give up her philosophy, ambition and morals just achieve power. She was just the most amazing female character I've ever seen in a drama. The synopsis paints her as the villain and she is anything but. 

She stole the show. It is her show, All the other character arcs didn't matter. She was the only one that mattered. Her story was just...WOW. She achieved everything she wanted by staying true to herself. 

The other main characters...well they didn't matter. Their story was something we have all seen before. The characters just weren't as captivating and acting was mediocre. Maybe because we had such powerful "supporting" characters the leads were greatly overshadowed. Even the "evil" sister wasn't that evil. She was annoying AF but far from evil (compared to other evil sisters). 

The story itself is good, and for 50+ eps - actually very fast paced. Overall. Dugu Banruo

This is the perfect example of disappointment due to high expectations. The trailer is amazing! This drama is not. The romance could've been something but the plot was just boring. End of.

Actually, this had wonderful acting from all of the cast (except the female lead) but unfortunately, it fell short in storytelling and chemistry. There was no chemistry between the male and female lead (I blame the female lead) and because of that, I couldn't fully invest in their romance. The characters and story were too predictable - everyone did everything that was completely expected. There was a lack of depth in the characters and the story just not compelling.

There was soooo much potential - a simple plot, rivaling princes and a strong headed maiden but it became a predictable and underdeveloped plot with no character development, underutilised actors and lack of tension between the princes and a damsel in distress that did not contribute towards the plot development and became a supporting role in the prince's mission. She was just a tool to make the princes fight and it was the MOST stupid plot device in this drama. It was underdeveloped and lacked logic. 

And the only thing that kept me going was the acting. I think the actors and actresses did the best that they could with what they had.

I can't help but compare this to Rebel - it's very similar, but different at the same time, but has much more heart and soul. It made your heart wrench and flutter. It made you root for ALL of the characters and it had such a captivating villain.

good characters, mediocre acting, mediocre story. Lack of story development.

OMG Seung Ho's hands were soooooo sexy in this drama! Damn!! That was all I could focus on.

Lost interest towards the end...the "romance" was just not convincing. Meh.

Started off slow but ended up being super interesting! It's definitely not an easy watch, quite difficult to understand and grasp the world that it creates but hey worth it!

 I'm excited for the second season! 

Very typical. Nothing special.

Is this finished?

Skipped through it. Too much drama and angst for me at the time of watching.

I really enjoyed this. I loved the story, the development, and the characters. I think everyone did so well in portraying their characters. I especially love Na Moo. OMG his stare. His suffering. His pain. All of it. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I LOVE A TORTURED HERO and Na Moo is definitely one. 

Cute lead couple, great storytelling. But forgettable.

It was alright. If compared to its predecessors it's really not good. But it was cute and an easy watch.

Much better than the Korean version. Japan knows how to nail those human dramas. Damn this was good.

Very good crime drama, suspenseful and good characters. Dislike the ending...hate cliffhangers.

What was the whole point of this series?

Another disappointing drama. I need to learn my lesson. Never have expectations.

L shone so brightly in this drama, he was still mediocre in Ruler but he suited and played this Im Ba Reun so well! Go Ara is the same as always, always playing the character with an unrealistic heart of gold. She played it well this time too. Nothing much I can say. 

Really enjoyed each case as it touches on problems in society especially dealing with gender inequality. Actually it mostly focused on sexism in the workplace and de facto sexism existing in our societies. It dealt with the cases respectfully and not in your face. I like how everyone in the end, by everyone I mean those who aren't the lead characters, "changing side" or stepping out. 

Funny I watched Voice 2 before this. This is the first Jang Hyuk drama that I actually made it through. I dunno he's never been able to capture my attention and despite his good performance in this, I'm still not convinced. 

I liked the cases, the team was great but I actually think the second season did better in terms of character and story development. I like Officer Oh, if he returned for the second season that would've been the cerry on top.

And I agree with others who said that this makes the police force into completely incapable idiots. Like seriously, even Detective Conan (an anime about a kid solving crimes before the police can) doesn't do that. This show does not show the police force in a good light. Not sure if it is intentional or not, but not good. 

LOVE.LOVE.LOVE.LOVE.LOVE. THIS IS MY FAVOURITE DRAMA OF THE YEAR! I MUST USE ALL CAPS BECAUSE THE BROMANCE WAS JUST FUCKING AMAZING! IT BEATS OUT MOST AND ALMOST ALL THE CONVENTIONAL ROMANCES IN TERMS OF CHARACTER, DEVELOPMENT, ROMANCE, DEVOTION, LOYALTY, TRUST AND MORE. 

GODDAMNIT I LOVE THIS DRAMA! 

Every expression is so minute but screams out their feelings so clearly. Every action they take is for one another. They are the perfect couple. They didn't need to show skinship or open acts of love because both actors (despite the censorship) showed each and every emotion superbly and it was enough. It was more than enough. It made their relationship that much more beautiful. There's so much to say about the relationship between the two but even so it's not enough to even describe fully what the experience is like watching both characters trust and love one another. It's so deep but so simple. 

It's a sad ending, it's not the perfect ending (nor the perfect drama) but it's a beautiful bittersweet ending that came full circle. For me, it's better to have sad ending for both, than just one. To me, that's even worst. I don't know how it compares to the novel but from the general feedback of those who did read the novel, the actors did phenomenally in bringing the characters alive despite story change and the censorship. Honestly, I can't stop praising the actors! Absolutely PERFECT casting!!! Just...is there a word that's more than perfect? BY and ZYL ARE ZYL and SW. And we can't have one without the other. Usually there is a favourite of a duo/couple but with this drama they compliment each other so well, like two halves of a puzzle fitting together perfectly. Like becoming whole when they are together that we can't love one without the other. Seriously I'm done, this can go on forever if I keep going...I can talk forever about the two!! Just LOVE for these people!!

It's been about two days since I've finished watching this...now that I think about it...it's actually a really enjoyable drama! The characters are well developed, the story and plot was good (nothing special but executed well) and it was well acted. It's not a perfect drama but once again ZYL did wonderfully and made it so enjoyable. His character here is soooo similiar to Shen Wei which is the cherry on top since I wanted to see Shen Wei again. The modern era could've been better, it felt rushed but the Repulican era was very touching and nice. 

This is perfect as an post-Guardian drama, I miss Shen Wei, I wish the lead was Bai Yu...I imagined most of the scenes with the leads as Shen Wei and Zhao Yun Lan and it was so satisfying. Especically the nature of the character Lo Fu Sheng. When we was asked if it was worth it and he said "zhide" is just...it went straight through the centre of my heart. 

Very enjoyable drama. Super for post-Guardian withdrawal <3

To feed my Guardian-addiction - this did not do anything

Nope, still having withdrawal from Guardian...

This wasn't bad, good story, good characters. Acting could've been better. Still want more Guardian though.

I think the casting was great! Love Park Seo Joon - he's outstanding as usual. Park Min Young looked great and I think her character was pretty good. But for me, the chemistry was only so-so. They just seemed too perfect or stiff? They didn't feel real, couldn't really connect with them...just something human that was missing from both the leads.

After the "mystery" of their first meeting everything sizzled down - could've kept it short. The series ended at episode 12.

Cute and fluffy but not Seung Ho’s best...I want him to choose better dramas!!!

If you asked me what this drama is about...I wouldn’t be able to answer you. Unwatchable. Super boring. Zero chemistry or bromance. Boring cases. Just bad.