Enjoyable watch

Whilst this drama has a feel-good factor, which rises above the entitled, bitchy, bullying, arrogant character-loaded scenes, it lacks a certain direction.
From ep1, viewers are thrown into the action, with no lead-in or concept.
What follows are the struggles, aspirations, fears and realisations of 4 close friends; 3 in the fashion industry and 1 who is constantly dragged into it.
The industry is portrayed as it often is; full of mean, bitchy, cruel, ego-inflated nobodies, who think they are somebodies. Rumours that become fact and a very spoilt celebrity.
The worst, for me, were the "influencers". My goodness, if there are people with that much arrogance, I hope they watch this and see how pathetic their repulsive personalities are.
Stylists who are treated like poop by their 'stars', that in turn do the same to others.
Then, however, there is the camaraderie, honesty (for the most part) and support each of the 4 key characters have for each other.
There's a low-key (for 1/3 of it) love triangle, which tbh, never really felt that important. The weak element of the three's previous behaviour and reasonings were so ridiculous I felt no sympathy or otherwise.
This is a very superficial drama. I feel like the writers and director relied on glitz, sparkle and beauty (like Choi Min-ho with his shirt off), clichés and OTT gay characters, to divert from the non-existant plot and incomplete sub-stories.
So why did I enjoy it nevertheless?... because of the happy ending, the feel good factor and a cast that carried it all off as though it were... Fabulous! Glad I watched it.

Leia Mais

"Don't Call It Mystery" ~ call it quirky!

Loved it. Quirky, compelling, with mixed and intriguing characters that were so well cast. Masaki Suda was SO good. His character portrayal was my favourite and I feel he really made this drama go from "not bad" to "great".
It isn't perfect, but so very enjoyable and gripping; I loved the dry wit too.
Kept me engaged all the way through and I binged the whole series very quickly.
I really hope there is a S2, as there were a number of loose ends and unanswered questions ??
Really annoying that the minimum review characters is so high... I've written all I feel I need to, but can't post ? Try again...

Leia Mais

Sweet

It won't win awards, wasn't thrilling or outstanding, but, if you want a sweet, gentle, easy to watch romance, you cannot go wrong with this.
Nicely acted, the usual mix of small countryside village characters, with the city lover who somewhat looks down his nose at their lifestyle. Until, of course, he meets a woman who changes his view.
With the ML being a vet who's thrown from treating pampered pets to large livestock, there are some witty moments and one particularly heart wrenching scene.
There's a bit of a love ? but no nastiness.
Overall a decent, relatively short (at 12 eps), feel-good series. Worth a watch to pass the time.

Leia Mais

Refreshing

I was captivated from the get-go and became thoroughly engrossed in this series.
Out of 16 eps, only one made me cringe a bit and that's probably more about my own discomfort over certain situations than the story!

An excellent cast, especially Park Eun-bin; without her extraordinary acting, which made Attorney Woo just that, this series could have failed.

However, this is a drama. It is not a reality programme centring around an actual lawyer who lives with autism, going about her daily life and work representing those that can afford it, at a high end legal firm.

S.Korea seem to be introducing characters with disabilities more (I thought the character in Our Blues, actually played by an actress with Downs Syndrome, was really ground breaking, yet rarely got mentioned). I hope it educates people (shocking they are so far behind), that treating those who are different to the 'norm' badly and dismissing members of society with any form of disability, or looking down on them, is unacceptable and shows poor and ignorant behaviour.

I think it is highly unlikely one would see many of the scenarios in real life, however, the way in which the programme brought to the fore Young Woo's different (often enlightening) perspective on things, was a joy. It showed that whilst she struggles with understanding human emotion, that didn't mean the character has none, and also felt hurt or concerned for others, just in a different way.

There are autistic savants (I have a cousin-once-removed that is, but he is more severely affected by it at the same time), so her amazing memory is not a step too far. Her obsessions, OCD and discomfort with human contact, I thought were well represented. I also applauded the episode showing the fact not all people with same disorder will be identical ~ there are different levels and the more severe cases are nothing like Young-woo.

Incorporating a romantic element for the character was good to see as well ~ why shouldn't or can't people care about and date someone with autism, if it works? However, whilst it touched on the fact Joon Ho was going to have to work harder at the relationship, would experience discrimination toward her (and their relationship) and would definitely feel lonely and frustrated at times, that aspect was rather romanticized. I think the reality would be more difficult, but equally, if it can work, hugely rewarding for both.

Issues of abandonment were upsetting, I thought and one character was/is irredeemable and not fit to parent. Young-woo definitely gets used, very coldly.

Sometimes aspects went a step too far out of what would be possible and the legal cases did at times feel like their authenticity was secondary, but overall it is a compelling series and I look forward to the developments in S2, even though we'll be waiting for some time.

Leia Mais

Enjoyable but haphazard plot

Enjoyable and gripping; love the cast and acting, the idea, OST and pace.
All the usual sageuk plotting, scheming, jealousy, nasty characters and intrigue, peppered with humour, warmth and romance.
Cheon-ki was pretty capable and bubbly with a can-do attitude. Loved the supporting characters at the art school.
Ha Ram was quite melancholic and gentle, but with a darker side too ~ so well portrayed by Ahn Hyo-seop. His personal servant, Man Soo, was a favourite character (even though a small part), so well played by Kim Hyun-Mok ~ I just loved him ?
Icing on the cake, is the dark fantasy element, which is a genre I really like and some interesting deities.
The leads worked well together and both are favourites of mine. AHS's voice is something else too, with a unique depth to it.
The reason I couldn't give 10/10, was because of a few holes in the plot.
Fantasy is one thing, but I got irritated by how easily a supposedly blind character could navigate stuff from walking freely to asking for written documents.
Also by how stupid Cheon-ki could be at times, in relation to getting when a character was possessed or themselves (black smoke and clawed hands should be a give away, surely?!)
Some of the scenes between her and her father I found a bit too melodramatic and the number of times she shrieked "abeoji, abeoji" made me want to scream!
I also found it hard to follow why Mawang only appeared at certain times when 2 characters touched and not others.
Finally, the reviewed second version of ep.1, put right after ep.1, totally ruined the flow of the programme for me (I watched on Viki). It duplicated so much of the drama and if I'd realised, I would have left viewing it until after I'd finished. It just did not fit there and would not have ruined the drama watching it later. Bizarre really.
Glad I watched it though.

Leia Mais

Both witty and touching.

A gentle, reflective and quite tender story of opposites attracting and squabbling their way to romance.
It is pretty slow paced; some might find it dull, but personally, I didn't. It is realistic, based on their lifestyles. Some very funny and touching parts.
Great casting. Maybe it's me, but perhaps having worked together on The Witch Pt1: The Subversion, made a difference, because Choi Woo-shik (Woong) and Kim Da Mi (Yeon-soo) just clicked. It felt like a real relationship ~ very believable.
Her character could be intense and irritating, but the foundations of her personality become clearer with each episode and I went from not being keen, to really liking her. Dry, assertive and great expressions.
He was a perfect fit for the talented, humble, simple and uncomplicated loner, Woong.
Woong's parents were a delight, their relationship is definitely a couple goal!
Lots of nice supporting characters (and cast), with no real nasties, but some sad circumstances that lead to irrevocable hurt that's carried into later life.
There is a love triangle, but it doesn't exactly take centre stage and, again, is quite realistic. It doesn't make the person mean or vindictive. Friendship remains both important and intact.
Allowing others to make their own decisions, without assuming our own valuations of self-worth are shared, comes over strongly in this too.
If we are satisfied and happy personally, that is enough and should not be benchmarked by the aspirations or desires of others (peers, family or anyone).
I liked that both MCs had struggled to reach their more successful adult selves. Slowly opening up and becoming honest with one another and themselves.
The final episode was my favourite. Everything really came together and several moments had me reaching for tissues. It amusingly came full circle in many ways.
Lovely.

Leia Mais

Made me happy, made me laugh, made me anxious

The pace isn't fast, there is only mild unpleasantness, no action and the acting is sometimes short of totally natural...
But...
It is one of the best dramas of this type I've watched for quite a while. I fell in love with it.
I always moan that BL dramas out of S.Korea are not long enough and it feels like the genre isn't taken seriously, but seen as popular and therefore shows should be produced. This changed that completely.
The characters are so likeable and the actors came across as genuine friends.
Their different personalities were realistic, as were the problems some faced.
A lesson in fitting in, being different, learning to be true to ones self, taking responsibility for our own actions, forgiving and mending fences.
The cast fit their roles and I loved them. Lee Sae On played Woo Tae Kyung, so well; a loner by choice, socially awkward, disarmingly honest and (as described in one very funny scene), pretty. He was also strangely confident in who he was and I thought showed courage on several occasions.
I also thought Kang Yoo Seok made Noh Shin Woo into a character whose brusque personality was understood immediately; I liked him and wasn't put off by his behaviour.
In fact every main actor made me feel invested in the characters they portrayed so well.
My personal favourite was Namgoong Shiwoon (Go Woo Jin), whose effervescent, slightly crazy, yet actually mature outlook on things, was the glue that kept their student council group together and helped his friends to develop.
The teacher in charge of the Student Council was a model for real teachers ~ supportive, non-judgemental and frank.
Some might feel that it was too fluffy to seriously portray life in an all boys' school and tackling issues of coming out, being harassed for being gay and online bullying. However, whilst there are extreme cases of that in real life, I also believe it happens on a more low key scale too and those instances shouldn't be ignored or undermined because of it.
I laughed a lot and found scenes that were emotional and heart warming too. I also had no idea who Tae Kyung would choose to be with, until he did.
Would it win awards? No. Could it make you happy you watched? I hope so... it did me.

Leia Mais

Youth not being what it's cracked up to be...

The realities of life on a university campus, where the main characters struggle with their individual issues, misconceptions, relationships and futures.
Well acted and a strong cast. There are some very abusive and parasitic 'friends' of character Yeo Joon and I have to say, apart from their personalities, the look of them really added to the level of disgust I felt at times.
However, in some ways, that is stereotypical, as people who use and bully others do not always look the part.
Park Ji Hoon perfectly portrays his role as Yeo Joon; a wealthy background, good looks, a bright personality and model student. However, unbeknown to others, he is estranged from his family and lonely.
This character was really brought to life by PJH ~ his mannerisms and ability to shine brighter than the sun one minute and have the saddest eyes in the most hurt face, the next, was captivating.
The relationship between Yeo Joon and the anxious, unsure Kim So Bin (another worthyy performance, from Kang Min Ah) was very sweet and the actors made it believable. They take a lot of strength from each other, which was so nice to see. I also liked that even though she is a couple of years older, she is happy to be lead as well as lead, and listens to Yeo Joon.
The relationship with his polar opposite, Nam Soo Hyun, was one of my favourite things, as Joon seemed able to relate to his frostiness more easily and I felt was drawn to the fact that his cheerful exterior and money could not buy Soo Hyun's friendship.
There is one sided love, with some friendships bordering on more, but the fear of loss preventing the move forward.
Adult responsibilities having to be taken on too soon, with the onus of providing for family whilst juggling studies, also features.
Jealousy, resentment and low self esteem are in some way part of several characters, with each reacting to these unpleasant traits in different ways and affecting how they perceive and interact with others.
There are some unpleasant and painful scenes in Yeo Joon's childhood and adult life, with the problem of violence in the home being tackled and pretty well, at that.
There are some laugh out loud moments too and some very warm moments, as barriers get dismantled and characters open up.
I also like that abusers didn't always get away with stuff and had to deal with the consequences of their actions.
The title eludes to the fact that youth is supposed to be bright, fun, carefree and happy, but up close, for too many, it is anything but.
When the young are betrayed by those who are supposed to nurture them, or forced to take on far more than they are mentally capable of dealing with, youth is in fact hell.
The drama also highlighted how wealth does not necessarily equal happiness.
The only aspect I found irritating, was how slllllllowly So Bin walks in it! Honestly it drove me nuts and once noticed, I couldn't un-see it, almost every time; and, whilst I liked the pop music score, I didn't like the mismatched violin and harmonica pieces. I love both instruments, but I felt that the pieces picked were too old fashioned sounding, for a drama of this era.
All in all worth watching.

Leia Mais

I like the cast, especially Chae Jyong Heop's character portrayal.
Song Ji Hyo and Ha Do Kwon made a great team too and their characters balanced each other.
The story is a good idea and captivating.
I did, sadly, find Nam Ji Hyun's character a bit irritating, especially when she often spoke with a childish voice.
Nice twist to the tale too.
Overall not a bad watch, the stories that lead to wishes being made are varied, but often quite miserable.
The wishes come at a price, but not one that the recipients are not willing to pay. The slightly fluffy revelations around this, I found a bit disappointing to be honest. It was like a dark drama that the writer had a change of heart about.
As always, I hated the school bullying and the way in which the useless teachers seemed blind to that particular young character's suffering.
Why do K-dramas constantly portray their schools as having bullying issues, with there rarely being any recourse and with staff who don't deserve to teach; as though that's entertaining, acceptable and something to be proud of? It is actually shameful. I'm so bored and turned off by it too, now. Spoilt it for me.

Leia Mais

Traces of reality

A drama of peaks and troughs, in that there was a slower pace during scenes of plotting and vulgar celebrations while ordinary people suffered. The pace accelerated quickly during trials and action scenes. Excellent portrayal of threat, corruption and suffering in a dystopian world.
There were actually references to the realities of the inconsistent S.Korean laws and punishment for crimes, where, for example, sentences for GBH and sexual assault, are vastly different when they involve alcohol. Someone abusing, or causing grievous bodily harm to another person, whilst under the influence, is not deemed to be in their right mind and so gets a lesser sentence. Yet someone using drugs, who doesn't affect anyone else by doing so, gets a hugely inconsistent sentence in comparison. Drunks even get away with murder. It is farcical and sickening.
The dystopian society setting for this story is multi layered. There are the filthy rich and country's most powerful, who abuse the poor, their position and are covered in bribery and greed; the ordinary, blue collar, working, middle class who are largely unaware of, or unaffected by, the abuse of power (apathy); and the poor, who bear the brunt, as usual.
There are horrendous examples of what it might be like if the wealthy ended up with total control.
The ex-actor President figure, with his OTT cheap rhetoric, greed, nationalist diatribe against foreigners and zero conscience, was like a cross between Trump and Hitler. The types in society who latch on to that and use it as an excuse to maim and murder, are portrayed excellently. Cowards and thugs.
An excellent, amoral, mentally unhinged, inferiority complex ridden and purely evil female character, who is a great puppet master, is portrayed really well by Kim Min Jung. The times I wanted to climb into my TV and punch her!...
The whole cast were great, with neither Ji Sung nor Jin-young overacting, although there were times scenes of grief were stretched out too far, for me personally ~ but that's down to direction, not acting.
The pivotal story of a fire years before, is always in the background. Ji Sung's cold, menacing and detached character of Kang Yo Han is really good.
I honestly wasn't sure about him until a lot further into the drama.
The dynamic between Ji Sung and Jin-young's characters was brought to life by the actors, who I thought worked really well together.
There's a little romance, but I never felt sparks between Jin-young and Park Gyu-young ~ a kiss was decidedly mediocre, considering it was between 2 people that had avoided their attraction to one another for years, over fears of wrecking their friendship, and were no longer teenagers. Their chemistry as the closest of friends, however, was really good.
There was a scene where Elijah was alone with Soo-hyun on Ga-on's rooftop apartment terrace and when they left, I immediately wondered how the hell they got up there (never mind down again), with a wheelchair (no lift). That to me is lazy directing. There were several occasions the story veered a little too far away from what would actually be possible.
Overall I enjoyed this drama a lot though. It felt great when Yo-han found loop holes to exact punishment on criminals, that those he was ultimately after, were trying to protect.
The power of the media (but also the need for it to be independent), of spin and of how it is more than possible to frame someone by manipulating facts, should be watched with a huge dose of caution about the realities of such things, which are prevalent in today's societies throughout the world.
Dictatorships brainwash and control their citizens. Those of us lucky enough to live in democracies, should fight to ensure life stays that way and be thankful for it.
It also spotlights the realities of baying for blood, when it's others who will carry out and have responsibility for taking that person's life ~ regardless of why.
Some scenes are difficult to watch, but fit perfectly, are not done purely for effect and carry a heavy message, if looked at as more than just another action/thriller drama.
The OST is near perfect too.... Huckleberry Finn and more, were a genius choice.

Leia Mais

Undeniable chemistry.

Witty, intelligent at times and interesting.
Message I got was that people shouldn't be labelled just because their tastes may be different to our own, or seem bizarre to others.
What adults choose to do in their private lives should not be for others to judge; as long as no one is forced, hurt or worst, in the process.
Some steamy scenes where the sexual tension was palpable. I did wonder how it never prompted either to broach instigating sex. That question is actually raised.
Character Ji Hoo's ex girlfriend is a real peach and whilst I get the whole guilt around that, I couldn't understand Ji Hoo's ultimate thoughts regarding Ji Woo, at one point.
I loved the character of Ji Woo's mum ~ it's no wonder she is as assertive as she is, with her for a role model.
The issue that friend Hye Mi encountered, was probably better left out. It did nothing for the story and for me wasn't something to be treated lightly, which it was... annoyingly so.
S.Korea often seems strange to me, in terms of not seeming to mind that their dramas and film regularly portray their society as extremely judgemental, misogynistic, 30 odd years behind the times in terms of a person's basic rights and full of bullies. Women are treated like it was the norm in our society to, back in the 80s/90s, except it never seems to be questioned, labelled as inappropriate (never mind wrong), or addressed. I have tge biggest problem with the latter.
I'd like to know what Koreans think of it.
Nice cast and whilst I wouldn't watch it again, I didn't not enjoy it.

Leia Mais

I got pulled in and didn't want to leave.

I shall be honest; I watched this because I am working my way through all Nam Da Reum's dramas (almost done them all now). It's been on my list for a while and whilst I like the entire cast, for some reason I thought it would be dull or maybe even depressing.
How wrong can a person be?!
I ended up absolutely loving it.
The 2 lead characters are very naturally played by actors that feel made for their parts. Their chemistry, projection, expressions, are all excellent. I fell in love with Lee Kang-doo (a very endearing performance from Lee Jun-ho ~ such a good actor).
Supporting parts are very good and well acted too. I did feel the brother/sister company heads were a bit kind of obvious (Jung Yoo-taek's constant angry outbursts, shouting and huge inferiority complex, really got me riled up at times). Both were arrogant and haughty, although Jung Yoo-jin was the typical kind of power woman who treats a subordinate male, better than a female counterpart.
Ha Moon-soo's mother, Yoon Ok, angered me the most. Understandably, any parent who has lost their child will grieve, go through depression, anger and never really get over it. However, she wasn't the only parent to suffer at that time; her husband lost his child too and Moon-soo her sister. She appeared to be addicted to the grief though, wallowing in self-pity, living through a bottle and taking it out on any and every one. She needed a good slap, plus copious amounts of therapy.
My favourite supporting character though, was the street pharmacy Grandma. That actress made that character so real, believable and incredibly warm, even though she was cantankerous, quick tempered and tough as old boots. So wordly wise, intelligent and astute ~ I loved her.
The present day architect, Seo Joo-won, I found a little too good to be true. He carried around the baggage of bitterness and guilt, the latter being misplaced.
Everyone is linked by the one tragic event and those links, and how they have affected the various characters, are uncovered as the story unfolds.
It is not fast paced, but is well paced. The story is revealed perfectly for me.
There are some well used drama aspects, but overall it is well written and directed.
Some may feel the subject matter isn't portrayed seriously enough, but to my mind, being a drama and not a documentary, the screenwriter got it right. It's a romance for entertainment, at the end of the day, and I personally stop watching when something is too depressing or melodramatic ~ that's not escapism to me.
The final episodes did introduce a couple of plot twists that I felt were unnecessary and OTT, but it was all brought together in the end.
I mostly enjoyed the soundtrack, but some of the instrumental music I found a bit depressing sounding, which didn't fit with scenes it accompanied.
I would certainly watch this drama again and recommend it.

Leia Mais

Overly cheesy bits didn't fit

The cast and acting made this drama, more than a story that was intriguing, but peppered with scenes that made me sigh (not in a good way).
The child actors who set the stage in the early episodes, were excellent, especially Choi Myung-bin, who in effect had to play 3 different characters.
There are some very bloodthirsty scenes in amongst the saccharin and the speed with which that changes, results in the odd case of whiplash!
There are moving moments as well, two in particular, near the start, got me. I was actually shocked by some of it, especially when they go hand-in-hand with the aforementioned cheese.
The story in itself is good and pulled me in. It's hard to find a female actress who can convincingly play a young man, but I thought Park Eun-bin did well. She didn't try to be macho, instead playing it reserved, stoic and frosty. It wouldn't be impossible to believe, there are after all, effeminate men (and that does not equal gay). Back then few got close, so I chose to go with it.
What that character goes through is awful really. Dreadful royal family under the thumb of one particular member, who takes the prize for best human without a heart. Surrounding characters are a mixture of funny, scary, torn, mysterious, cowardly and barking.
What I disliked, however, were the awful slow-mo scenes of falling into arms, pulling into arms, meaningful stares and hand holds, backed with whooshing music. The terribly overdone squeezing of clothing and clenching of fists, is in there [often] too.
PEB's chemistry with Rowoon was ok, but wasn't electric.
I liked how he portrayed his character, although my 2 favourites were Nam Yoon-su as Prince Lee Hyun and Choi Byung-chan as the mysterious Kim Ga-on.
There was a lot of action, yet I didn't feel the threat that should have come across in more scenes, as there were few build-ups.
The ending fit where the story wanted to go, but I thought it a tad far fetched, even for this plot. It wasn't awful though. I did enjoy the final scenes of the last episode.
It's a mixed watch; not riveting, but by no means awful either.

Leia Mais

Tried to be a little too clever

Not a bad watch overall, but it got quite confusing at times, in terms of what was role play and the real thing.
Some interesting characters, the females weren't just eye candy and reliant on the guys, but intelligent and outspoken in their own rights. I particularly liked Kang Sol's personality, as coming from a poorer background gave her a totally different personality and perspective to her peers.
Character Joon Hwi was suited to Kim Bum's poker face, when he was up against it and his cheeky, arrogant side, when messing with people.
It is a drama and I didn't feel they were going for realism. There were some light moments in an otherwise 'whodunnit' classic format.
I didn't dislike it and thought the cast were good, but felt it got a bit convoluted and I lost concentration and interest at those times, as some aspects felt laboured.
The usual jealousy, pushy parents, cover ups by the wealthy and abuse of the poor are all in the plot.
Not one I'd watch again, but not disappointed I chose it either.

Leia Mais

Compelling

If anyone watches this gritty and hard hitting drama without feeling some kind of emotion, they are not human. Mainly because its core lies in the realities (for possibly a few, but that's still too many) of military life (not just in S.Korea).
Fear, powerlessness, helplessness, abuse, bullying, trauma and cover ups, are all presented in a tight, excellently paced and acted drama.
I feel this series is quite brave, as it doesn't pussy-foot around so many of the wrongs Koreans know exist in both their national service and culture.
Excellently written and produced, with an OST that never did anything but compliment what I was watching.
All the darkness and hurt is tempered by sublimely introduced sarcasm, wit and affection.
So many characters are pit against one another, through no fault of their own and with no choice, in an environment where seniority holds all the power and with no easily accessible recourse. Cascading down from the top of command, all the main characters are subject to being humiliated and mistreated by their immediate superior.
The closing 2 episodes are shocking and heartbreaking, as that helplessness and despair bursts out in an explosive finale.
The dialogue and story of the Series 1 closing scenes, should really make the real-life powers that be wake up, feel ashamed and strive to clean up their house.
I am so needing S2. A must watch.

Leia Mais