PurpleStream
somewhere where time is meaningless~
I was honestly just looking for another drama to binge, something simple and light with no dramatic storyline that was difficult to follow, and this drama did an excellent job of fulfilling that. Although (to my pleasant surprise) it was also so much more than that.
Right off the bat you are introduced to Deok Mi, a strong and independent female lead living a double life; part time fan page manager and part time gallery curator. I loved this unique combination and fell deeply in love with her. Park Min-Young does an exceptional job delivering the excitable emotions of a devoted fan, while not playing up the stereotype of fanatic idol fans. One thing that many other reviews have complemented is the chemistry, and I have to agree. The chemistry was AMAZING. I was smiling like an idiot for Doek Mi and Ryan's relationship because it so effortless, natural and hot.
This drama is a great watch for idol fans, you are able to connect to the main lead instantly and are able to understand the happiness she feels when she gets to take a selfie with her bias.
I have to compliment the friendship goals between Seon Joo and Deok Mi. I LOVED ALL OF THEIR SCENES TOGETHER. I also liked Seon Joo's side story that was happening, it showed a different situation in terms of romance as she had a family and I gotta say, I genuinely learned some stuff from her.
Unfortunately, one thing I REALLY wish they didn't do in this drama is have the fate trope. It was only revealed in the last 2 episodes, though foreshadowing via dreams was included in earlier episodes. When the two leads already have amazing chemistry and the audience is already sold on the fact that this is the perfect couple, shoving the fate trope down our throats felt so unnecessary and incredibly boring to watch, especially if you've seen the same thing in multiple other dramas. The only positive thing I can say is that it definitely hits you in the feels (but like in a 'you may almost cry' kinda way) and you get to see the relationship begin to form between Ryan and Deok Mi's moms, as well as the anticipated art exhibition. ALTHOUGH I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND WATCHING THE LAST 2 EPS UNLESS YOU REALLY REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW THE LOOSE STRINGS GET TIED UP.
Another thing I personally dislike in dramas is when a brother-like figure is the second male lead. It feels uncomfortable and you have to watch a period of time when the main female lead and "brother" have an awkward relationship with each other until they sort it out. Luckily the whole second male lead thing wasn't played up too much here and they fairly quickly resolve the awkwardness. Although it did feel very unnecessary (especially because as I mentioned, the chemistry between the Deok Mi and Ryan was so undeniable).
It also gave off a few of "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" Vibes but I wouldn't let that stop you from watching it, in fact I would use that as a reason to watch it. Kinda like secretary kim upgraded?
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As someone who only ever watches variety shows for idol appearances, I was quite surprised to find myself watching it all the way through. The interesting format, camaraderie between the cast/participants and wittiness of the hosts made the show so enjoyable that 13 episodes seems way to short for such a gem of a show.
To reiterate, I've never watched a variety show in its entirety nor rated one so I don't quite know where to begin this review, many veteran variety watchers may agree or disagree with some of my points.
*Things I liked:*
1. It's constantly changing format. This might be a controversial point, but I personally loved how the format and goal of the show kept changing as new episodes aired. They never stuck to one particular concept for more than 3-4 episodes, though they all revolved around finding master keys. As someone who gets bored very easily watching tv shows and a newbie to variety shows, this changing format kept me on my toes and kept the show interesting to keep watching it.
2. It's only 13 episodes. Sure, I would've loved to see more episodes and even more seasons, but because it is so short, it made it easy to binge and is perfect for someone who doesn't want to commit to 100 + episodes over the span of seven years.
3. The Cast. I love LOVE Lee Su Geun, and in many aspects he made the show as hilarious as it was. However, he wasn't the only one carrying the show - the guests always seemed to be comfortable and have loads of fun. Their camaraderie and competition with each other is a definite highlight of the show. There were so many genuine smiles and laughter. I remember specifically some of the idols explaining how comfortable and included they felt on the last episode. It may seem like a small thing, but inclusiveness can be easily overlooked in these types of shows. No one was overlooked. Additionally, if you are an idol fan, I guarantee you will find at least one episode with one of your favs, or at the very least someone you are familiar with. Much of the cast had reoccurring appearances as well, allowing us viewers to always have a familiar face or two among the twelve participants.
4. The Games. Variety shows and games go hand in hand, and that was definitely the case with this show. Each episode consisted of different games and they were hardly repeated. If they were repeated, it was because those games were just that funny and were gladly welcomed by viewers. I wish I had 11 other friends that I could play those games with!
*Things I didn't like:*
1. Okay, so I said I loved the constantly changing format. I did. I truly did. But nothing could have been better or funnier than the angel/devil concept. The intense psychological warfare combined with the competitive nature of the games made for an absolutely hilarious display. Nothing could've been better than this, and yet they changed the format once again for the last 3 episodes. Though those episodes were enjoyable, it didn't feel like I was watching Master Key anymore. There were still keys involved in the theme, but the essential competitiveness and psychological warfare was absent, which made it quite dull in comparison to the previous 10 episodes.
2. Only ever having two women in each episode at max. I suppose this is a common theme in variety shows, but it definitely annoyed me throughout my viewing. Although to be fair, most of the women participants didn't really contribute to making the show all that funny (but that's likely because they kept being coddled by the rest of the male participants). --- With the exception of Ha Ni of course! I think I found my new favorite female idol.
*I honestly wouldn't let these two last points deter you from checking it out. Give the first episode a go, perhaps you'll love it as much as I do and jump into the world of variety shows. :)*
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PREPARE TISSUES WHEN YOU WATCH. I don't cry easily when watching dramas, but along with the lovey dovey scenes, there was also raw emotion. I'm glad the writers and directors didn't just breeze past it for the sake of adding a tragic element to Hyun Jin's character. They dove fully into and gave those emotions the appropriate screen time they needed to be fully fleshed out. Do Jae's little sister (Lee Da Hee (actress)/Kang Se Ra) also stated something very true about the process of one recovering from sorrow.
I was truly awestruck by Seo Hyun Jin's acting. She made me feel her pain with her soft tears, happiness with her bright smile and continuously impressed me throughout my viewing of the drama. I'm sure a large reason for why I loved her acting so much was because of her character, who is an actress. Actors and actresses tend to be nouveau rich, and Hyun Jin did an excellent job of portraying a down to earth, yet wealthy and ambitious woman. Her leading half, Lee Min Ki also did a great job in his role as a conglomerate who came from an already wealthy family.
The only problem I had with Min Ki's character is that he was so expressionless. Even when smiling or laughing, it felt so artificial and I felt like I was watching a robot at times. What made this worse was when his character was joking around or crying. These scenes just fell flat for me because there didn't seem to be any authenticity to the character. This was a huge con for me personally. It also majorly affected their chemistry, especially in the first couple of episodes.
As well, as is with most dramas, the last few episodes were a bit laborious to get through. Most of the plot had been resolved and you already got a sense of how it was going to end. Still, it's always nice to see how it ends. I recommend skipping episode 14 however. An hour long episode felt like 5 hours; it. was. PAINFUL.
I'm always a sucker for side stories and friendships. I loved the friendship between Se Gye (Hyun Jin) and her two best friends. The bromance between Min Ki's character and his secretary was also incredible and you really got a sense that they have known each other for years. I also loved the romance between two of the secondary characters. At times (especially near the end), I wished they would show more scenes of those two getting closer. I was watching on Viki, and many people were commenting the same thing. This just serves as a reflection of how strong the cast is and the nuances in the story; it was more than just a sudden romance exclusively between an actress and rich boi. There was friendship, family, loss, discovery of love and self love.
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It's Okay for a Show to Be Overhyped
I did not start this drama right away for three reasons: (1) It was incredibly over-hyped (2) It sounded like some flimsy self-help drama with no real substance and (3) I was sick seeing romanticized psychiatric themes as plot tools.Once I actually started the show, it completely blew through any doubt I may have had for starting it. I struggled with shortening this review because I practically had written an entire essay for why this show was amazing. If you don't want to read the full review, just read the very last paragraph.
The artistry ALONE is enough to enjoy the show and I found myself sucked in within literally the first 30 seconds due to the beautiful stop motion-like animation in the beginning and the enrapturing script. They used the FL's children's books as themes for each episode and echoed messages of books she had written or common fairytales (such as The Ugly Duckling) to depict the lessons the characters were learning in that particular episode. What I loved was that those lessons weren't too in-your-face and unnecessarily repeated to emphasize the genius of the writing; they were quietly woven into the story and addressed head-on for only a few scenes. I think rewatching this show would be so rewarding to explore the motifs and goals of these messages that likely would have been missed on a first watch.
Honestly, the character development is another reason on it's own as well. Though Mun-Yeong is such a captivating character and probably everyone's favorite, the center of all of this for me was Gang-Tae. Kim Soo Hyun did such a spectacular job with this character and clearly spent a lot of time thinking about Gang-Tae’s motivations. If you check out the BTS footage, he is excitedly talking with the director about where and how he should stand, how he should say a certain line and trying his best to stay calm around Ye Ji in order to act properly (major uwus). He is the experienced actor we needed to bring life to Gang-Tae.
Seo Ye Ji was the only one who I could have ever seen as Mun-Yeong. Her lower, raspy voice with her killer visuals and beautiful yet creepy smile made me fall in love with her and her character. Make no mistake, her character is deeply messed up. I don't know if anti-social personality disorder makes you have sociopathic tendencies like she does but it makes her character all the more compelling. Think of a witch standing at the edge of a forest adorned head-to-toe in the most luxurious clothing, piercing eyes painted with makeup and a smile as sharp as a knife. The typical kind-hearted, princess that can bring out the best in people is instead pushed aside as our second lead. What. A. Power. Move. This writer understands women and what they want and has created the ideal FL character for us from that understanding. ALSO HER FASHION?!?! She and Man Wol from Hotel Del Luna could have a full on fashion battle.
I’ll be honest, when I saw the title and description, I thought it was going to be some flimsy self-help drama with romanticized psychiatry themes added for pure aesthetic. And I still do believe some of the mental disorders were breezed over or not 100% accurately portrayed, but considering it is a form of entertainment, any production with psychiatry themes is unlikely to be 100% accurate. Even the Korean title: “Psycho, but it’s okay,” doesn’t quite seem very friendly towards those with mental disorders. But we could perhaps call it a step towards the right direction.
Oh Jung Se (second ML: Sang-Tae) said that he learned a lot while playing his role and spoke in interviews about what he had learned - namely that individuals do not ‘suffer’ from autism, it is the way that they are born and they are as perceptive and deserving of respect as any other person. The writers could have used Sang-Tae's autism as an excuse to not give him character development, but they didn't and dove into making him a full-fledged character. I love Sang-Tae. I love him so much. The two brothers (Gang-Tae and Sang-Tae) are truly incomplete without each other and I would argue that the main couple of the show is also incomplete without him. If you watch the show you'll understand what I mean.
Incredible artistry and cinematography, well thought-out character development, a great plot with an unpredictable climax and oscar-worthy acting is how I would describe It's Okay Not to Be Okay. Whether you are looking for something healing, something romantic, something that takes a step towards depicting mental illness on screen in a slightly better way or just a good story, this show will deliver. Give it a go.
WARNING: Prepare Tissues
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If you want badassery delivered with refined elegance, progressive content and whole slew of characters to fall in love with, look no further.
I'll start my review off with something easy and simple: the acting. The drama already has a pool of amazing actors and it's no surprise that they all pull off their roles perfectly. You genuinely see the individuality to each character (although that may also be due to the way they were written). Ta Mi's assertiveness yet logical and empathetic individualism, Ga Gyeong's ruthless stoicism with just the faintest glimpse of pain behind her eyes and Hyeon's playful hotheadedness with a moral compass that always points straight. I fell in love with all three ladies. They each have three very different personalities that are always colliding throughout the entire show despite them having quite a few similarities as well. Their constant clashing always has a deeper issue involved which just adds to the whole suspense of whatever issue they are facing. AS WELL THE SISMANCE. The chemistry between them was so perfect and I don't think I've ever seen something like it. There were a few times however where I noticed that some of the acting seemed a little awkward, or the way certain characters reacted to a situation; an issue I believe could of easily been fixed with better direction but overall, wonderfully done.
Next, the storyline. I had gotten into a loop of watching kdramas with the typical tropes, and honestly I was getting a little sick. Search: WWW does sort of use the typical tropes we see, but then flips them on their head so that we see them in a different way. For example, the childhood love that carries over into adulthood; Hyeon and Ga Gyeong have known each other and developed a beautiful relationship since childhood. Honestly the way they introduced the relationship between the two in the beginning, I truly believed the writers were trying to hint at one of them being lesbian/bisexual, something which to my disappointment was not revisited, but regardless Hyeon still sort of has a love like fantasy about Ga Gyeong (not in a romantic way, but more like great admiration and respect). There are several other examples, but for fear of having too long of a review already, I'll end the examples here.
If you want the perfect drama to watch just to emerge into a world complete with Girl Power, get watching right away. This drama doesn't scream feminism, it doesn't need to. Ta Mi's world is what I dream about for the future. Female CEOs and directors who are in the spotlight and no one complains about them being a women. But not in a "only women rule" kind of way. There are so many men characters too who are at the top of what they do, but they aren't the focus of this story. After watching each episode I wanted to go and immediately go take charge of something. The energy being emitted was so refreshing and empowering. Each woman has such depth to them that goes beyond romantic relationships.
I need to give a shoutout to the men as well. I'm in love with Park Morgan. He's smooth, supportive and sexy. He is not the "just a nice guy." He may clean your house for you and wait by your door like a puppy, but you're going to be the one who ends up wanting more, as Ta Mi experiences for herself. I honestly love Brain too. He's like the cool dad that will let you try weed, but only if it's in front of him. He's the perfect level-headed man to deal with the polarizing debates between Ta Mi and Hyeon. When I was first introduced to Seol Ji Hwan's character, he almost seemed fake nice and I wasn't too invested in him. I regret ever having such thoughts, he's a soft puppy that needs to be protected at all costs. I respect Oh Jin Woo so so much. He goes through a very different kind of pain than Ga Gyeong, and that is having to just watch her struggle from the sidelines. I would hate to be in either their positions and the way this man changes himself and becomes so selfless truly makes me respect him. I also need to complement Alex and Joseph (as well as Ellie and Jenny!). They are the perfect side characters, each having their own personality and still serving as relevant pieces to the story.
The story is so unique and even some of the ethical debates about the internet and search engines make it so interesting. You will not find another drama with this kind of story. However, because most of the suspense lies in those ethical debates and what will happen to both Barro and Unicon (the search engines) as well as the leading ladies, if you were to rewatch it a second time, it may not be as interesting. And because the romance isn't too hot, if you were to rewatch it, going through some of scenes of the couples may also seem uninteresting. But I believe the characters themselves would perhaps serve as one reason to perhaps rewatch it, should you choose to.
Finally, the music. The music is absolutely impeccable. Opening up to a song that says "Show you a bad girl" while the three leading ladies stare you down is definitely the right way to start a drama. Other than that song, the rest of the OST was just perfect and perfectly timed as well. Nothing stood out too awkwardly and you can just tell how talented the musical directors are from their use of music and when they used a particular song.
Along with the music, there were so many scenes that were shot so beautifully and artistically well. It's hard not to notice the deliberate use of angles, positioning and editing. Mostly everything was quite smooth. I admit in the beginning of the show, some of the editing seemed forced and awkward, but for the most part, it was a win.
So why should you watch it? A Unique story with girl power done right, extremely well written characters, great acting, even better music and beautiful cinematography.
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The story is so incredibly well written, no loose ends or plot holes and even the things you think the writers may quickly sweep under the rug are tied in at the ending satisfactorily. Along with the revenge plotline, there are several others. You have the story of the ASC (BJ) Club, the personal lives of each of the members (yes, even Soo Gyum's!), and the beginnings of mini side stories of the secondary characters (but they never go too in deep with them which I liked, they focused on the main story. They gave us enough nuggets to understand the characters but not too much as to add unnecessarily to the already unfolding story). Each of the ladies struggle with their own unique issues.
(there are no spoilers since most of this info is revealed in the beginning of the drama, but if you don't want to know anything about the story before jumping into the drama, skip the next three paragraphs).
Hong Do Hee is a single mom working a low income job with two children to support. One child is bullied and the other faces issues in her workplace. Despite her difficult life, Do Hee is mentally and physically strong, doesn't take any shit and prioritizes being a good mother above all. I loved her story the most. She realizes that she can love herself too while being a good mother. At the end she clearly learns to put herself up along with those around her. It's a lesson we all can learn, but especially mothers. Take some time to love yourself too <3
Baek Mi Sook has maybe the most heartbreaking story. As a housewife, she doesn't have much power with her abusive husband and the issues her own kids are involved in; she is just spread way too thin. On the outside people keep saying how she's the perfect wife and the best mother, which further adds to her pressure and mental health. The actress does an amazing job of carrying this character; portraying a woman made of glass on the verge of shattering but still keeping herself together somehow. Just as Do Hee, Mi Sook also begins to love herself a little more by the end, but also regains some power and finally lets go of those whom are toxic and gets closer with those whom truly will support her.
Kim Jung Hye's story is the most fun to watch. As a quirky rich madam, she is the one experiencing things in the world for the first time. Though she comes from privilege, we soon learn that there is so much she has not been able to do, and as she navigates through the world, she becomes more clever, more grounded and finally uses all that power she has stored up. I loved her story with Soo Gyum and all of the complexities in their relationship. It's not just about a stepmom and illegitimate child; both Soo Gyum's and Jung Hye's histories connect in a way that is both sad but also one that adds depth to their relationship. Jung Hye has always stood up for herself in her own mind but never voiced it out loud. When Soo Gyum came and the ASC Club was formed, she gained a lot more confidence and become the badass women we all knew she secretly was all along.
My only problem with the drama is that everything is too convenient. All of the people the club is trying to vex are perfectly connected to each other. As they are planning their revenge for each person: evidence, revenge ideas and people to help carry out the plans almost literally land in their laps. The four members barely do anything but sit and chat, and then magically whatever they need comes to them. As well sometimes I feel like the writers were trying to connect EVERYTHING too much. IT'S OK IF EVERYTHING ISN'T ALL CONNECTED!! One more thing, it was only 12 episodes :(((. But it is tightly tied together and like I said, no plot holes.
As well for the music, I wasn't paying too much attention to it. I usually don't and when I do notice the OST, it is because it is either really good or really bad. For this drama, i can say that it didn't distract and was used well, but also safely. Similar to the storyline, the music and cinematography was on the safe side, which is completely fine, but it also means it was not a reason to specifically go and watch this drama.
Though it's safe, there is a beautiful and very fun story here. This drama is very funny but also heartwarming and tackles serious issues without overly romanticizing them. With something funny, fun, and heartwarming, what more do you need?
As well, though it definitely is about three badass women and one smartass boy, our gentlemen kdrama watchers would also enjoy this drama a lot!
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Fun-Natured and Carefree
I normally hate sexually explicit jokes, they just really aren't my cup of tea. BUT, I actually REALLY enjoyed them here. I don't know what the movie did right, but with the fun-natured and carefree attitude of the protagonists, I genuinely found myself laughing along to most of the jokes and comedic scenes, even the sexual ones.This movie managed to pack in how your twenties can feel vs. what they are "supposed to" feel like, genuine and hilarious friendship, love & heartbreak, sex-positivity, and a hint of social commentary. I enjoyed every bit of it and found my cheeks hurting after smiling for so long. It's honestly the perfect uplifting movie to amuse you and begin contemplating your own twenties and how they went/are going.
I got to admit, the beginning scenes made me feel like this movie was bit behind with the times with the emphasis on "losing your virginity," and other nit-picky things I noticed throughout my viewing. But as the movie went on, you really got a sense of the importance of some of these things to them and as a 22 year old myself, a lot of the themes hit hard. I found myself relating a bit to some of the characters and smiling knowingly every once in a while when I could predict what may happen.
Despite it being incredibly funny, it contains a lot of wisdom as well, which were little pleasant surprises covertly integrated into the script.
Please, please give it a go. I promise you'll get a laugh.
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Annoyed for most of it, but smiling like an idiot by the end
This drama is definitely only for an easygoing watch or a quick binge. Having been stressed out due to exams, I quickly started it and very quickly finished it (probably because I skipped through like half of it but anyways). I did almost drop it about four times, though I'm glad I held out for the end.The story is the most predictable, bland and typical plot to ever exist. Cold on the outside, warm on the outside wealthy CEO boss man + well meaning, clumsy but hardworking subordinate. But, as always, the romance just works so well. I'm a basic bitch with a craving for fluff what can I say. Though the story and characters are unoriginal, I definitely enjoyed watching their journeys unfold. The female leads in particular were what made me hold on. Yao Qing is who I want to be if I ever grow up. Though the show pushed many patriarchal ideas, the three female leads were (sometimes) steering us away from those outdated notions and voicing what they wanted and who they wanted to be. Much appreciated.
As much as I love the ladies, this is a romcom and the romance has to be at the forefront. Which it was. I had a difficult time with it in the middle as they started introducing more and more love interests for every single lead only because it was so unnecessary and you knew how it was going to play out. But watching the romances unfold was fun and they were sooooo fluffy and sweet. I felt like a 7 year old reaching into a jar of gummy bears. It was a blast. The couples also seemed to have such good chemistry with each other as romantic partners, but also as friends.
The beginning and middle were adequate at best, but by the end as all of the romances has unfolded and I saw all of the things from the first few episodes finally come to fruition, I could not stop smiling like a complete idiot. It was just so cute.
So yea, if you need a cheesy, fluffy, cavity-inducing show this is what you are looking for. I did have to skip through multiple scenes, but I don't think that lessened the quality of my viewing. Most of the stuff I skipped were the boring business-y things that barely pertained to the story anyway or the cringe ex-girlfriend/ex-boyfriend nonsense.
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Which is why I ultimately felt the need to write a review to justify my rating.
An extremely detail-oriented drama with incredible and emotional acting is how I would describe it. Each episode felt like a rollercoaster ride with new twists and turns you did not expect nor have time to anticipate. Settings, props and extra characters were used so purposely and artistically that by the end of watching this drama, I looked around my study area to see what bits of evidence and signs of my daily life I leave behind each day. Of all the police/detective dramas I have seen so far, I've never truly wanted, NO wished more for these characters to be real, to come out from my laptop screen and solve the cold cases in my world.
As other reviews have commented, the acting was phenomenal. From the main cast to the very young actors portraying difficult roles to the nearly insignificant extras, the ENTIRE cast's acting was so palpable, so tangible and so utterly perfect.
I'd be hugely mistaken to leave out the script or the writer in this review. A part of why this drama is so beloved is because of the storyline. Everything is planned out in such organized detail I cannot even begin to imagine how long it took to come up with the script and how many times they must've checked it over and over to make sure everything aligned. All of the cases investigated cover the hot issues often involved in cold cases. These hot issues in part are a reason we as the public are so enthralled by cold cases. "How on earth did ____ get away with such a horrible crime?!" The drama does a good job of sticking up for the little guy, avoid victim blaming and placing responsibility is those that need it, all the while offering us a tantalizing investigative thriller.
Where could this drama improve? A very difficult question to answer, but one place they could start with is allowing their characters to have human memory. I noticed that the characters had very good memory (for the most part, excluding the depression-serial killer arch and the surviving witness...). In fact, their memory was so good that they were able to remember infinitesimal details in their surroundings that eventually gave them clues and leads. It was just jarring enough for my suspension of disbelief to fall through occasionally. But I suppose one could argue that they are detectives and are supposed to be on the look out for these kinds of things anyway.
One other thing, and this is just coming from my feminist nit-pickiness but Cha Soo Hyun, though a notable cop in her own right, was never all that critical to the storyline. In the beginning she had a substantial role but near the end she was almost just a love interest? If they took her character out entirely, the storyline as a whole would not have changed too much. She did not help propel the story forward substantially and acted mostly as a support role despite being a main character. I just wished she had as much impact as the two male leads did. (Message me if you disagree, would love a second opinion!)
I also did not give the re-watch value a ten because often times, investigative thrillers are so thrilling because you don't know what will happen next. But I still gave it a high re-watch value because there are so many other reasons for why it would still be interesting to watch a second time through, one being that you could notice the little details planted in each scene you may not have on the first watch.
Finally the OST: the signature old-timey theme was complemented so well with the musical choices and even now, weeks after having completed the drama, I still get chills listening to the theme song.
It's funny because this is a drama I kept looking at and saving in my "plan to watch," but never actually starting. I don't know why I was so apprehensive. If you are feeling the same way, just dive in. I promise, you will not regret it.
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I appreciate all of the writer's effort in writing this story, the intricate thought and detail that was put into this storyline really adds a layer to this drama and is a reason alone to watch it. Even the characters have a depth to them that keeps you wanting to learn more about them and keep watching them grow, even after the drama ends. Kim Dan, the puppy-like and happy-go-lucky angel has to find a way to make Lee Yeon Seo, a temperamental and egotistic dancer who lives a tragic and saddening life love again. Throughout their journey you see both of their characters evolve and develop (both for better AND worse). Usually when characters develop throughout the story, they actually get "better," but by making the two leads go through moments that are not necessarily good for their character development, the writers are forcing the characters to grapple with their faith and morality in how they justify certain actions. In the end, this actually makes the characters so much stronger. It isn't just the main leads that go through this kind of development, you notice the secondary characters going through it as well.
I like the way they intertwine religion into it. Yeon Seo is not very religious whereas Kim Dan (as an angel obviously) is completely devoted. As someone who is also kind of religious, it was very relatable seeing Kim Dan struggle to keep his faith. I do wish the writers handled how the "heavens/diety" dealt with Kim Dan and Yeon Seo a little better but it was a tricky subject to maneuver anyway.
However, although each character was written with such depth, the actors/actresses were not always able to deliver that depth. Constantly throughout the drama, I wanted to feel for these characters but the acting just held me back to not be able to completely feel for them. This was one of the major reasons for why it didn't get a higher rating.
As well, the secondary characters also had an immense amount of depth to them. I know it would have been too much to see their stories through to the end as well, but I felt a little disappointed at how they were wrapped up as neatly and quickly as possible. I felt as they they all deserved much more (especially Ni Na and Jo Kang Woo). But overall, the ending was satisfactory enough.
Finally, the MUSIC. I don't really notice the OSTs as much as I'd like to, but in this drama it was impossible not to notice them. Each song was SO SO BEAUTIFUL and fit with the atmosphere of the story really well. Each song feels like it's been masterfully crafted for this drama and for each scenario that it was used in. I'm going to continue to listen to the songs in the future.
Mellow and soft, a tragic love story with a happily ever after is how I would describe Angel's Last Mission: Love.
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The story apparently took a few detours from the original webtoon that it was based on, but this also makes it stand firmly on its own. The storyline was so well crafted, manipulating the audience into cheering for the heroes of this tale and despising the villains. This is a very typical hero vs. villain saga - Saeroyi is the underdog with firm, unwavering principles and that natural born leadership that will make you a loyal follower of his in no time and CEO Jang is that bastard big man who takes advantage of the power he has. Because of this approach, and the graphics used, it does seem very comic-book like. As someone who loves comic books with a burning passion, this made the show all the more entertaining to me. For those of you who do not, it may seem a little cartooney at times, but don't worry, if you hang in there I promise it's worth it.
There was remarkable consistency in the storyline, which I greatly appreciated. Heck, even the side characters all got justice in their own way. The writers tied up every single loose end, which made watching this drama through to the end all the more worthwhile. One thing I will say about the storyline is that it deals with some very unfortunate themes (imprisonment, crime, violence, death, privilege, etc). All of these themes are delivered to us through rose-tinted glass. They are very real and the characters definitely feel the force of them, but we as viewers have the pleasure of simply watching it all from our comfortable homes on our expensive laptops/TVs/phones.
Enough about the story - the acting.
With a cast as strong as this, you can expect strong results. Park Seo Joon particularly deserves a shoutout. I'm convinced at this point this man can literally act as anything and he will pull it off with perfect precision and consistency, which is exactly what he did in the drama. The rest of the cast was remarkable too, and even if you hated the character, you couldn't help but love the acting (which was the case with Ahn Bo Hyun with me, hated his character but damn did he do a good job!).
Areas to Improve: Yi Seo. Kim Da Mi's character. I'm certain other reviews have complained about her already but I think we need to drill this in a bit more. Though I appreciated that she was supposed to be the polar opposite of Saeroyi and provide some storyline tension that way, she was such an annoying character to watch that at times I wished she would just be removed from the drama altogether. As well, something that is introduced to us about her in the very first episode is that she is a sociopath. If you keep this in mind for the whole of the drama, it is bearable. BUT, this fact was only introduced at the beginning and I don't believe it is revisited. It also wasn't really brought up at the end either nor do we ever see her go to a counsellor ever again. Some consistency with the sociopath arch would've been nice to see.
As well, Yi Seo promotes a very unhealthy message about crushes. Try, try, try again and eventually they'll fall in love with you? She kept pestering Saeroyi to the point that it made him uncomfortable and kept shoving everyone else away in a very possessive and insensitive manner. I understand that it is part of her character traits, but still, an incredibly unhealthy and immature message. (Though keep in mind, many other dramas do the same with male leads instead...)
Finally, the love square. I really appreciated the fact that this drama didn't jump into the romance right away and kept it on the backburner as Saeroyi went about accomplishing his goals. It was pushed to the sidelines in the story because it also wasn't a priority for the main character. Makes sense, right? However, the love square that was constantly dangled in front of us was so tedious, predictable and annoying to watch. Frankly, I believe that it should've been pushed to the sidelines even more.
Don't let these things deter you from watching the drama however. It truly was a gem of a show and as a bonus, was the most diverse show that I have ever seen. It did feel a bit like checking boxes at one point (got an LGBTQ+ person? check. got a coloured person? check?) but still, there is no other drama so far doing it like Itaewon Class, so props to the entire cast for making inclusivity a priority. It truly is a good example for others to follow moving forward.
And finally, I'd be horribly amiss to not mention the visuals or the OST. I never once skipped the intro theme, partly because of the music but also because of the beautiful graphic art depicting all of the characters. The aesthetic of the pub and really the whole environment around them was beautiful (truly like seeing the world through rose-tinted glass!). The OST is INCREDIBLE. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT SO MUCH. So much so, that it is my new favourite drama OST of all time.
From the story to the acting to the visuals/OST, this drama despite its flaws is a revolutionary piece that deserves a watch immediately. Truly, a 21st century show.
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