No matter how beautiful a woman is. No matter how successful she is in her work life. No matter, how good she handles her house and children. No matter how smart, considerate, kind she is. Cheating men will cheat.
And then most of the time that woman has to deal with friends and family who will tell her to forgive the man, innocently selfish children who will ask her to compromise, outsiders who will gossip and an unapologetic man who will think it is his right to cheat. She'll be left with a destroyed family, broken pride and a stamp of a woman who couldn't handle her marriage.
This drama tells the story of what happens when you mess with the wrong woman.
Sun Woo is ruthless and takes no prisoners when it comes to revenge. Giving a new meaning to "Hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned", she is obsessive, borderline psychotic, scarily intelligent, calculating and even selfish but at the same time she is incredibly strong, bearing and someone who's been hurt in the most profound manner.
Kim Hee Ae's acting is beyond phenomenal, not unexpected from a four time Daesang winner. She hits every emotion on the spectrum to the point you are fully attuned with her character. She will make you love her fiercely, frustrate you to no end, question her motives, pity her and even hate her.
The shock value in this drama is no joke. Things that you haven't imagined in your wildest dreams happen in the most iconic fashion and you're just left with your mouth hanging.
There's no passive watching this drama, for it wrenches feelings out of you. You'd be screaming at the screen, tearing at your hair and will probably think of throwing your phone at the wall once or twice.
Every aspect is exceptionally executed. Where there is emotion, you'll be crying your heart out. Where there is thrill, you'll be biting your nails to stubs. Where there is suspense, you would be sitting at the edge of your seat. Where there are makeout scenes, the entire room will feel hot.
None of the characters in this show are truly likable. The moment you start warming up to someone, they'll do something to screw you over. These people are extremely complex, selfish, vindictive, weak- human nature at its worst and that's the beauty of the show.
The music is amazing and added in just at the right moments. The writing plus dialogues are crisp (pretty loyal to the original series) but the direction and delivery by the actors takes the cake.
It's impossible to stop, once you start watching it and it maintains the tension from beginning to end with never a draggy moment.
A true masterpiece, that explores the dark waters of marriage, relationships and being human, it is not reccomended for people who can only root for righteous and wholly good characters. For this drama, leave your moral compass behind or it will explode.
Lastly, the drama beautifully succeeds in delivering its point:
Cheating is NOT ok and you don't have to forgive it. No matter how weak you get, no matter how hard it is (and it will be) no matter what the world says, no matter how much history you have, you don't have to compromise. No excuse should be enough.
The world of married is a place where there are no winners, you just have to do what's right by you. Because, before being a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a working woman: you are your own person.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
1Poetry in motion
Youth of May is definitely one of the biggest gems of 2021. It's a sweet old-school romance in the backdrop of harsh Gwangju Uprising. If you're aware of the political and social backdrop, you will probably enjoy it even more. But even without it, Youth of May is a soothing love story. It reminds you what it's like to be innocently in love. It's old-fashioned and sincere and gives you a satisfying sense of nostalgia, even if you weren't alive during that time.Lee Do Hyun has proved his versatility as an actor this year. While 18 Again is the crowd-pleaser (and for good reason), I don't know why but none of his characters can steal your heart like Hee Tae. It might be bold of me to say this but Lee Do Hyun outshined everyone on this show.
But that doesn't take away from the fact that this was one of the best cast ensembles we have had in a while. An out and out pool of talent. I have laughed and cried and ached and sympathized with all of their stories and I am going to carry them in my heart for a long time (I guess that's what happens with heavy dramas).
The couple's chemistry was amazing. The sfl nailed it. I really liked her character. The sml also held his own and had some awesome moments, The brothers were AWESOME! The kids stole the show. We had an evil father and an amazing father, both of the actors nailed it. The mums were great too. The friends. The soldiers. The friend-soldiers. It was the perfect cast.
I would say, in conclusion, that even if you're wary of the possible sad ending, go for it because this drama is worth it.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
PERFECTION
I have to admit, before watching "I Told Sunset About You" i never knew who Billkin and PP were. I did not watch "My Ambulance" and Nadao productions doesn't really make a FULL BL Series compared how frequent GMMTV makes BL Series. Thanks to MDL i saw some posts in the feeds about this show. Unfortunately this show is not on Youtube and the only way to watch this legally is either through Line TV without Subs or Vimeo which comes with a hefty price. I decided to watch the first episode in DC just to test it and if I love it, i will watch the remaining episodes in Vimeo. (which i did).After watching Episode 1, I was really amazed that I was watching a BL series. I've never experienced this kind of quality as far as cinematography, editing and direction in a BL series. When i rate shows in MDL i have my own expectations for Asian Dramas especially with Kdramas, and i have my own expectations for a BL series (which is normally a bit lower and usually try to disregard some technicalities like editing and cinematography). After watching Episode 1, I knew that this drama would be one of my favorite BL series of all time. And i was right, after finishing the 5 episodes of ITSAY, this show becomes not only my all time favorite BL series but also one of my most favorite Asian dramas of all time.
MUSICAL SCORE - I honestly believe that ITSAY has one of the best Musical Scorings in any asian drama. As they say, music stimulates our minds and hearts. The way they used different versions of the OST "SKYLINE" depending on the mood of the scene is amazing. They also have other OST which is used perfectly on other scenes which adds emotions to the scenes. Some of the memorable scenes with perfect musical scoring are the following:
- Episode 4 - in the exchange of IG stories between Teh and Oh Aew, the BGM was building up to when Teh was crying and about to open his book to review, the BGM used keeps building up which adds suspense to the scene... then once he opened the book, there's complete silence until he burst out crying, then as soon as Teh cried the instrumental version of "Can’t Translate” added sooo much emotions in the scenes which made the audience feel more for Teh. That scene was perfection.
- The Bra scene... the BGM used when Oh Aew was removing the bra and crying... that was tastefully done and made the scene more impactful. this was the musical score they used : https://youtu.be/VcjvE7xkEnU
- The musical score they used in the trailer when Teh and Oh Aew were in motorcycle, this is one of my favorites: https://youtu.be/-gaXP7rgNE4
- Uderwater scene - need i say more?
Nadao was generous enough to share most of the original musical score tracks they used in Youtube and i have to say i fell in love listening to these tracks!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCUIsYHYpxJMwSYDxRX37w3iUjibNNQc_
CINEMATOGRAPHY - Because I'm into videography and photography, I could say that cinematography is my favorite technical aspect in a movie or drama. The cinematographer or what we call the director of photography of ITSAY carefully thought every shot, considering the angle, the camera movement and placement, the shot composition, the light and used different cinematography techniques from close ups, long shots, tracking shot, crane and dolly shots, panning to name a view. The usage of light either natural or artificial to set the vibe of the entire show and to set up the mood of a scene are so meticulously done. The cinematographer was able to capture the emotions of the actors on all of their close ups and extreme close ups especially on their heavy dramatic scenes. And most of all the cinematographer was able to show how beautiful Phuket Thailand is especially the amazing sunset shots and the underwater scenes.
I found a youtube link that compiled some of the best cinematography in ITSAY and majority of the shots selected are some of my favorites. Please watch this and be mesmerized by ITSAY's cinematography.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVKrDkDLR5o&feature=youtu.be
- The underwater scene and the sunset scenes are so magical. But some of my favorite camera shots are (1) the hammock scene in ep3. The amount of light which is almost a silhouette but you can still perfectly see the sand, see and sky is just perfection. (2) the review scenes on Ep2, the camera shots from above, below, ground level, these shots made the scenes much enticing to the viewers (3) motorbike scene in Ep2. How beautiful this shot is? The colors, the lights in the streets and while the motorbike is moving, the cinematographer has the best shot of Oh Aew and Teh's happy faces , Oh Aew raising his hands while both of them are having the best time of their lives. (4) the movement of camera on Ep4 when Oh Aew walked away from Teh. The camera did not follow Teh as he walked towards Oh Aew, but the camera just keeps moving (with PP's version of Skyline as background music) and all we can see is the wall. But as soon as camera ended the shot with the wall, we saw Oh Aew & Teh under the stairs hugging each other. How beautiful and well though of camera shot is that? clap clap!
EDITING - the way each scenes are edited were done so well. Like how they explained in the documentaries, the emotions of the characters are very important and this should have continuity in every scene. You cannot just cry without any reason, or even if you do, in a drama the audience should understand where the emotions are coming from. One thing i appreciated in ITSAY editing is they do not resort to making flashback scenes for audience to understand what Teh and Oh Aew are thinking. This happens a lot in Kdramas. Even just some scenes which happened 5 seconds ago, the editor will resort to flashback of the same scene just for audience to know what the characters are thinking at that moment.
example:
- During the Bra Scene - the editor can insert some flahsbacks like the sensual scene in ep3 where Teh keeps touching Oh Aew's chest or the underwater scene on episode 4 where Teh still touched Oh Aew's breast. Even without showing those flashbacks, because the editing was done perfectly we would know already what was Oh Ae thinking.
- All of the coconut references. Every time Teh smells or eat coconut, the editor did not need to show flashbacks about the coconut... through the entirety of the show, we know how the coconut reminded Teh of Oh Aew.
- Episode 5 - during chinese new year and the pianist played "skyline" both Teh and Oh Aew were crying. We don't need to have flashbacks on their scenes when they were singing that song... we just felt their emotions and even cried with them.
SCRIPT/STORY - We've seen many coming of age dramas in BL series but i have to say, the way ITSAY delivered their story and message is very refreshing. The script was so good that it made us understood the characters and their decisions (which are stupid at times or very impulsive). We were reminded how young people can be confused, impulsive and give their all when they fall in love.
- When I rewatched this series multiple times, I can't help myself but praise the writer more and more. I just love how detailed the writers are. From the little things like Oh Aew always itching his back and sniffs most of the time when he was a kid, we would still see this when he grew up (Teh still scratching Oh Aew's back). From the purple bra of Tarn which Teh saw from her blouse in ep2, which was used again by Tarn to get Teh's attention in ep4. The contrast of red and purple hibuscus flower and what it symbolizes even the drawing that Tarn gave to Teh where Tarn still drew the purple hibiscus symbolizing that she's still hoping... these small details which made the series so perfect.
- But my most favorite parts are the underwater scene, bra scene of Oh Aew and the "play with my toy" scene of Teh and what these scenes symbolize (1) the underwater scene is so meaningful. The way they kiss all out under the water gave the meaning that their relationship needs to be hidden in order for them to fully express their feelings. Somewhere hidden, quiet and no one will see. But once they go back to land, everything goes back to normal where Teh is still not accepting their relationship. (2) the bra scene is so powerful on what the struggles of gay people. It's so emotional and PP did an excellent job on this scene (3) playing with the toy (sorry for the term). when was the last time you saw this kind of scene? P'Boss is so gutsy to include this scene but it was not done to make the scene arousing but to show Teh's struggle with his sexuality. If you remember, before he started "doing it" the last photo he saw was Oh Aew's in red bra. Then he started doing it and looked at the poster of the male actor and eventually cried. (is he imagining Oh Aew as the one in the poster? knowing that Oh Aew portrayed also this character when they were kids?) Teh really struggled and was confused on what's happening. It started with just sniffing Oh Aew's hair, then coconut, then coconut pen in paper, more sniffing of Teh and touching of Oh Aew's chest in ep 3 and finally kiss Oh Aew underwater ... Teh's sexual desires to Oh Aew has been growing and growing up to the point where he can't stop anymore..... and all he can do was cry after.
DIRECTION- Now let's talk about P'Boss. I have not watched "My Ambulance" yet but i love his previous work Project S: Side by Side. Watching the documentaries and how he explained the importance of the scenes, i have nothing but high respect to P'Boss. Much respect on reshooting many scenes because he's not satisfied with the post production. The way he motivated and get Billkin and PP into their characters were so spot on.
BILLKIN and PP: And for the last part, let's talk about my new favorite BL tandem: BKPP.... WOW! just WOW! did BKPP just elevated how BL actors should act? i mean, come on... both of them sacrificed so much and gave their all in this drama and we all can feel it. Both of them were so consistent in their characters from episode 1 up to the end.
The way Billkin showed his acting range in this series is crazy. We can feel all of his emotions from being confused, happy, jealous, sad, depressed... everything! he's that good! But we cannot disregard PP's acting chops. He portrayed Oh Aew's character flawlessly too. His best scenes are the bra scene, his lines whenever he talks to Teh especially on the last scene... that was really moving.
- the chemistry of this 2 is out of this world. We are not just talking about physical chemistry, but most especially their chemistry on acting.... They really help each other in showing their best emotions. I don't think this series won't be as good as it is if either of them are not casted on their roles. THEY ARE SO PERFECT TOGETHER! Let's claim it. Billkin and PP are Nadao's BL KINGS!
ITSAY just raised the bar on how BL series should be done. Having good script is not enough. Having good actors are not enough. Having good director is not enough. Having good cinematography and editing are not enough..... ALL of these components in making a Masterpiece should be in synced and this is what ITSAY did. It has everything we can ask for.
It may not be the cup of tea of others, but it's definitely not just a cup of tea, but also coffee, soda, soju and all other drinks to MANY! I have watched so many reaction videos and read many reviews and almost every one has all praises to this show.
Truly a Masterpiece, definitely a perfection. That's "I Told Sunset about You."
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
I am no cinema critic and I have no education in visual media or anything like that so I'm just gonna write this review as a 21-year-old gay man who was born in a heavily Catholic country and who's spent a good chunk of time in Japan, too.First, let me just get by the regular review-y things. The acting was great, not perfect, but still great. I especially loved how Kaneko Daichi played with his expressions, expressing a lot of emotion just by moving his eyes or changing his expression just enough to convey any changes in Jun's emotions. You probably won't get a 5-star-worth acting in this drama if that's what you're looking for, but it's decent enough to convey what the drama is going for so you won't be disappointed.
The music was fine, as they used a lot of Queen's songs in the making, and I especially liked the moments just before the more dramatic or sad scenes when the music swelled up, mixed with some white-noise-like sound effects, which I felt was the perfect expression of what a gay high-schooler might feel in moments of dread and sadness.
I will surely rewatch this drama someday, that's for sure, even if just to remind myself of what a lot of gay people have to go through, and that not everyone is so lucky as I am.
And now the story. Oh God, the story.
I watched all 8 episodes and I can say that it's a great description of what it is like to be gay in an unaccepting, especially high-school community. The dread of being found out, the uneasiness before coming out, the unquenched desire to end your own life – all of it resonated with me on a very personal level, so much that I had to take breaks while watching this drama so as to let myself calm down a little.
I assume that if you're reading this review, you're not afraid of spoilers so let me say it clearly: no, Jun didn't end up with a girl, and his self-introduction during his first day at University at the end of Episode 8 starting with "Nice to meet you, I'm Andou Jun from Tokyo and I am..." and cutting just at the end of the episode is a clear indication that what he intended to say was "I am gay," which means he most probably came to accept his own sexuality and Miura is now just a friend to him, a dear friend, but just a friend.
This drama brought up a lot of problems I encountered myself when growing up. Is it really impossible for me to date a girl? Will I never be able to have my own children? What will my parents say? Will they be mad at the fact that I will never be able to give them grandsons? Of course, not all gay people encounter these problems but a large chunk of them do, especially in a country like Japan which values (traditional) family a lot and has no partnership nor a same-sex marriage system, where adopting a child might prove to be a pretty tough task for same-sex couples. All of these problems were perfectly conveyed in Jun's story and I was really happy to watch all of it.
However, what I'm even more happy about is that Jun had friends, true friends like Miura and Ryouhei who accepted him as a gay man and supported him no matter what. I am very lucky to have had such friends and I wish Jun had realized that much earlier, too.
That's why I'm giving this drama 10/10. It's not exactly my kind of drama and if I followed the suggested score I would have to give it just 8.5/10. But the story felt so real to me as a gay man that I had no choice to give it an overall score of 10/10. I just feel that it's a drama that would be important for every person in the world to watch to understand gay people a little better.
If you bore with me till the end – thank you for listening to this young, gay man's rambling, and I hope you will watch this drama for yourself to find out what it really has to offer.
PS I am sorry for any mistakes I might have made – English is not my native language.
Have a very gay day,
R.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
An utterly hilarious romcom that actually respects the intelligence of its audience
This show has all the perfect ingredients for a successful romcom:1. Acting
Leads’ chemistry on crack? Check. It’s Zhao Lusi after all, who excels in this genre. Ryan ding is also surprisingly great at being devious AND also adorable. Although sometimes QQ veers ever so slightly into annoying troublemaker territory, ZLS redeems her with lots of charm and cuteness. HS doesn't lose his brains while in love and stays true to his black-bellied roots, balancing it nicely with besottedness.
Lovable side characters? Check. The main villain isn’t even that detestable and the servants are the best I’ve seen at being loyal stans of their masters. The servants' constant bickering can even count as comic bromance.
2. Storyline
Of course, the most unique setup I’ve seen that even parodies all the usual drama tropes eg “hero saving the beauty”, "death by poisoning", etc and placing a comic spin on them. This is the first female centric drama with tongue in cheek social commentary and actually deals with the gender divide really well while still maintaining that light-hearted feel.
Fast-paced and non-draggy without unnecessary conflicts or rambling? Check. Every plot line is resolved within 2 episodes and twists and turns make for an enjoyable ride. Misunderstandings are quickly resolved and serve to push the story forward, even any short period of angst is satirized into a funny and absurd lovers' spat!
3. Production
Good music is actually not really necessary, but the sets and costumes are appealing enough to make you continue watching although it’s not the usual visual spectacle of dramatic masterpieces like other genres. This is a romcom after all! We just need the production to look sufficiently pretty and the leads will shine.
This show had me laughing through every episode from start all the way to the very end!! This rollercoaster does not lose steam and delivers all the way to a happy ending that is logically satisfactory as the only acceptable ending. It even manages to include insightful analysis of male-female relationships within the drama industry and in our modern world, which is enough meta for me to appreciate the intelligence of the scriptwriters. Even my brain cells are tickled. Watch it with your eyes and mouths wide open in joy and laughter!
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
What a sweet poster! ... Fooled me. Well, I didn't even watch the trailer. I couldn't anticipate the plot, the atmosphere; nothing. Koreans have this unhealthy habit of using same-gender romance as fanservice, and personally, I'm so sick of it. They bring the sweet part of it and forget how unrealistic that is, especially in Korea, but it's trendy. So, coming from such a harsh society, it's rare to see a realistic and brave movie regarding this matter. Lately, not only in cinematography, but also music, I've noticed more support and attention in this country. Night Flight is nothing about fetishizing homosexuality and avoiding the truth. This movie manages to show a honest reality, with striking scenes and a solid plot.
It explores the relationship between three childhood friends — Yong Joo, Gi Wook and Gi Taek. Yong Joo and Gi Wook own the plot, while Gi Taek holds a meaningful role through the story. The two of them have a complicated relationship, a kind of bitter, one-sided friendship which lacks closeness and words. This already confusing relationship they have takes a new turn when Yong Joo realizes the feelings he has for Gi Wook have been romantic for a very long time. So he walks further. And everything crashes, in a very beautiful, aching way. Don't expect sweetness, there's no such thing. At least, not how it usually looks like. Let go of your affectionate dramaland and learn to see differently. The emotions can be seen only through gestures, the way the look at each other, the way they don't when they can't see each other (but they wonder about the other) and the words they always seem to share without speaking. Both cruel and kind words. Thus, the moments they speak, the dialogue is actually complex, behind its simple words. So, it's intense and much honest. I found they personalities very pure, pained and so lonely, bearing their own heavy stories, but they choose to cope with their feelings in completely opposite ways — Yong Joo is the bright, brave and sincere one, while Gi Wook is quieter, violent and doesn't know how to express himself. I thought for a moment, given their situations, it's more expected for their personalities to have been reversed, but this way it's actually more interesting, I really like that.
The acting, with more interest in the body language rather than words, was intense and surprisingly good. I could feel their pain growing under my skin, and all it took was looking into their eyes and their messy gestures. Some scenes are still haunting me.
Given how quiet and raw the movie feels, when the music starts, it speaks emotions. Not too much, really, just the right amount of sounds to make it more touching, at the right time. Visually, there are many important details; sometimes it's bright, but mostly dark. Some shoots are serene, colorful and truly artistic, matching the emotions (love), while some are simply raw, monotone and cruel, matching the reality (pain). A very creative contrast.
Do I plan on rewatching it? Of course, probably many times. I'm typing and I can feel the urge to go back and watch some parts, but I'll stay away for a while and let it sink in. Not long, though. I can't wait to see if it's going to hurt more or less (most likely, more). Profound movies always touch deeper the second time.
Yes, it's a sad, realistic movie, with sad teenagers in love. Too young to be so damaged, yet very common. And no, the actors don't look like models, their skin isn't godlike. They look human and, also, they fight for being humans, in a world full of emotionless and harmful silhouettes. This movie shouldn't be overlooked or judged before watching. Let go of any previous disappointing experience with gay-themed movies and dwell in Night Flight. It's the kind of movie that should be watched late at night, when the mind is a little tired to analyze, and the feelings are more perceptive. Because it stains, yet it doesn't feel only painful — it's also very sweet. Beautifully tragic.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
I originally decided to start this drama because I was captivated by the promotional poster - I knew nothing in particular of Jo Seung Woo or Bae Doo Na, but the poster drew me in immediately: dark, exciting, and striking - a great representation of this drama. I was sold after the first episode.
While I truly love K-Dramas, I think we can all agree that a lot of them are dumbed down to a point where you don't have to truly pay attention or think about what is happening in them - everything is explained plainly, no questions asked. Even crime and mystery dramas often times overdo it with the explanations so the viewer won't have to ask themselves 'huh? what happened? why'. You won't find this here. This is a drama that will require your attention all throughout, as missing a dialogue or a glance will confuse you later, without much explanation. This is a drama that asks for your full attention, and a drama that keeps its momentum until its last minute. There is no fizzling out, no unnecessary showdowns and car chases and fist fights, no rushed endings - no, everything progresses at a smooth pace that by the end you don't even notice that it's over because you're so used to its steady progression and flow. It feels strange and sad that in the coming weeks, I won't see Pros. Hwang Si Mok and Det. Han Yeo Jin running around and taking down corruption.
While Jo Seung Woo and Bae Doo Na are not what you might call top Hallyu stars (I'd argue about BDN but anyway), as say Park Bo Gum or Jun Ji Hyun, both are top-notch well-known experienced actors that infuse their characters with life all throughout. Not only them - the whole cast is stellar and even if I try to think of one loose performance, I can't. I could hardly believe that Jo Seung Woo is the same guy who played the main in God's Gift and that Yoo Jae Myung (Pros. Lee Chang Jun) is the same person who played Do Bong Soon's father.
And, of course, I cannot fail to mention the writer, Lee Soo Yeon, who has developed two of the most unique female protagonists in K-dramas for me. One determined to stand by justice no matter what and one determined to clear her father's name no matter the price - both executed perfectly until the end with no unnecessary fluff and delving into annoying, and quite frankly degrading, romances. Not only those two but all the pivotal characters went through such believable character development, that you will find yourself attached even to the most despicable of them - not because they're handsome and an oppa but because they're human, not innocent not evil but somewhere in between, just like all of us.
I really can't think of a reason why you wouldn't want to see this drama - it's what all crime and legal dramas should aim to be, and I'm looking forward to the day I watch something that will outdo it. While some people may think it seems boring, I urge you to challenge yourself and watch the first two episodes; your brain will thank you. To me, this was a heart-racing drama that made me laugh, cry, feel disgust, and so many more emotions.
I am so excited to see what this rookie writer will bring us in the future because if it's anything like Forest of Secrets, then we'll know we have another great drama upon us.
2021 edit: Yeah, I still have not found another drama to replace Stranger as my favorite - go watch season 2 if you have not!
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
CLOSE YOUR EYES – NOW FEEL ⏯️
DISCLAIMER: I completed this a week ago and had time to collect / sit with my thoughts so please take my opinion / review with a grain of salt as I’m not here to argue with anyone.
I also have not watched the Taiwanese version yet (but I will do so soon) It will be interesting to see if my opinion on the show will been alter / change. Anyways, this is just a my summary of the drama. I watched it completely blind with no preconceived notions.
The emotions you will experience while watching this drama cannot be replicated by reading a plot synopsis or watching a summary video on YouTube. I recommend that you watch it without looking at the spoilers or hating / comparing it to versions you've seen before. Just pretend it's a whole new drama.
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Fantasy
Tropes: Time travel, time loop, doppelgängers, friends to lovers, second chance romance ,found family, friendship, transmigration (body / soul switching), soulmates.
Likes:
This drama was interesting to say the least. The cinematography was beautiful and it felt very nostalgic because it takes you back to the 90s and 2000s. The time travel plot was very well done. I thought it would be confusing but it wasn't. It was easy to understand and found myself figuring out the plot half way through. I figured the scarred man was in fact Nam Si Heon and came up with reasons how this could be possible etc. My guesses were close enough lol. Every episode had me on the edge of my seat, thinking I had it all figured out, only to be surprised by unexpected twists and turns. I had to pay close attention because of the back-and-forth storytelling, but it was worth it.
Jeon Yeo Been's performance was outstanding, especially in how she portrayed the two different characters – she was convincing in showing us (the audience) that it was in fact two different people. The especially how she shifted her personality between the characters. The way she looked at Si Heon / Yeon Jun, laughed, walked, smiled and talked – all changed with the person and the timeline.
Ahn Hyo Seop gave me butterflies and made my heart skip whenever he was on screen, he really is very handsome and I think I developed a crush while watching. Si Heon / Yeon Jun was soooo boyfriend and just the greenest flag ever, across every single timeline. I mean he did such an amazing and convincing job as he portrayed the Si Heon / Yeon Jun who longed for his love (Jun Hee) across time and space. I thought the way he could immediately tell the difference between Min Ju and Jun Hee was precious and endearing. Min Ju could not fool him and unfortunately he would never be able to return her (or anyone else’s) affections becasue Jun Hee was his one true love.
Kang Hoon proved that even without a lot of lines, one's screen presence can be pretty impactful. Also, the way he emotes with his eyes is at another level altogether.
Rowoon's guest appearance was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed seeing him on screen even thought it was short lived.
Min Jin Woong was a very compelling villain. He nailed the psychopathic murderer / serial killer role so well. I was definitely creeped out and on the edge of my seat watching and waiting to see what his character would do next.
Dislikes:
Some aspects of the time travel phenomenon weren't entirely explained, like why there were two people with the exact same face? I also found it puzzling how Chan Yeong looked exactly like his older brother. That resemblance was truly a mystery for me but I guess it made the storytelling easier from the writers perspective. It seems like that's just how the world of 'A Time Called You' works. I did not have a problem with Si Heon / Yeon Jun and Min Ju / Jun Hee existing in the same timeline like other people. It was very understandable and if you pay close attention you won’t be confused.
What triggered me was Min-Ju’s suicide. It captured a suicidal persons thoughts perfectly but reinforced the fact that no matter what you say / do to help a suicidal person, it won’t change the fact that if someone wants to die… they will kill themselves. They have to want to live for themselves and want to heal / get better and have something to live for. I’m not saying this to be cold/heartless because I just knew a girl like Min Ju. The only difference is she'd always threaten suicide for attention (unlike Min Ju) but in actuality, being her friend was exhausting. Safe to say we're not friends anymore and she still has her depressive episodes but I’m glad I’m not around for her to trauma dump on me or act like her issues are for more important / greater than anyone else's. She used to claim other's do not understand her and that she doesn’t have the mental capacity to care about anyone but herself (at least she was self aware, but imo she was also self centered and mean spirited most of all!). I don't think it was for a lack of love or attention, because it seemed she received both, but like Min Ju she was bullied a lot in her formative years and then kept attempting to transform herself indefinitely. Unfortunately she did not realize (and still hasn't to this day) that by doing all that she was killing the person she used to be, leaving her feeling empty and full of self-hatred (much like when Min Ju claimed to be Jun Hee lol!)
Anyway, it's ironic because thorough everything I was deemed selfish and told that I just don’t understand even though I always was encouraging, reassuring and supportive much like In Gyu. Seeing such a similar occurrence in this drama brought up a flood of emotions for me, which is why I think I felt overwhelmed then slightly irked while watching it. It was insane, especially when they showed inside Min Ju’s mind, Jun Hee trying to stop her, In Gyu pouring his heart out and trying to comfort her by lending caring / supportive worlds to then hearing Min Ju claim nobody cared about her. It was even more shocking to then see her catapult / launch herself off the building, thus killing herself (bleeding to death) and In Gyu taking the blame. I had so many mixed emotions but that very intense scene left me feeling sad and disheartened most of all. I could feel the same sense of hopelessness much like how Jun Hee felt, just being a mere bystander/watcher from that cave – not being able to do anything to help or convince Min Ju her life was worth living.
Moral of the story is choose your friends wisely, try your best and be kind always. If it’s not good enough (especially to the other person) and they don’t see the value in their life then know it’s not your fault / on you. Don’t blame yourself and go to prison for someone else’s choice or twisted wishes to be fulfilled like In Gyu. As Jun Hee said it was Min Ju's own expectations of people that made her miserable and she needed to take time for herself and take care of her wellbeing.
I wish the show explained the alternate ending better, I would’ve liked to find out exactly how In Gyu saves Min Ju on time. It would also have been nice for them to tell how Min Ju gets stuck in a cave where she see through the eyes of Jun Hee and vice versa plus how they escape from it and become the main host of the body.
I’m a very emotional / sentimental person so I did tear up while watching. If you’re the same (or worse) be sure to bring some tissues.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, each of their stories was beautiful as was the ending. Even though it’s an open and some what bittersweet ending I think it gives the viewer hope and promise of what is to come between the two main characters. While watching I felt warm seeing the kind of love that was portrayed throughout the drama. It made me feel the butterflies of a first love, the comfort of a mature love, the pain of separation and the overwhelming relief of their reunion.
The ending made me hopeful and happy, but it also made my heart hurt. I think it’s more so because of the realization that so many precious memories and relationships formed across various timelines would be lost forever, as if they never existed.
This was the kind of drama that stays with you long after you finish watching it. I still feel an ache in my heart when I think about it or listen to the OST (which by the way is just as amazing!) I think everyone who enjoyed this had that moment where they played "Gather My Tears" and tried to close our eyes and dissociate pretending we were going back in time like Jun Hee.
If this drama was a quote it would be: "In a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality – I'd find you and I'd always choose you."
It truly deserves an 8.5/10 and I will definitely be sure to rewatch it in the future, whenever "a time calls me."
If you read all this ILY! 🥹
Thanks for reading & happy watching!
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
The words corporate politics put me off for a while, but then I finally picked this drama because of Gung Min. I wasn't familiar with any of the other cast. Now I can't believe I was about to pass this gem off!
Here are few of the reasons why I loved Chief Kim-
-Sometimes, it doesn't require an unique plotline to make a successful drama, but what matters is it's execution. A group of people fighting against the corruption in their organisation might not seem like anything new, but Chief Kim is executed brilliantly. Not to mention, hilariously.
-I feel like, with the given plot, there could have been a lot of crazy misunderstandings, what with him being a bad person at the beginning. But the writer chose to deal with that fact in a straightforward manner, instead of going round and round in circles. I'm really thankful for that because it made it way more enjoyable.
-I really enjoyed the pacing of this show. In a typical kdrama, things go well in the start, and then around the last 5-6 episodes, everything goes wrong horribly which doesn't get resolved until the last episode. But I felt that wasn't the case with this drama. The pacing was a bit more consistent. Good and bad happened throughout the drama, not at any specific timings/ episode.
- I legit loved every interactions between every characters in the drama. Whether it may be Chief Kim & Seo Yul, Seo Yul & Ha Gyeong, Chief Kim & Myeong Su, Chief Kim & Ga Eun and any many others, each one was immensely enjoyable.
-I'm a big fan of bromances. Well, who isn't, right? The main lead, Chief Kim, is surrounded by a lot of guys. There are number of bromances going on simultaneously. My personal favorite being TQ's Psycho & Gluttonous Sociopath. They are just sooo cute!
-The chemistry between the characters is really good. Not just with the leading characters, but also between the supporting characters.
-There might not be any romance, but you can still ship two particular characters (I'm not saying who), I know I did.
-The comedy is SPOT-ON. This drama might not keep you on the edge of your seat, but it sure will have you falling off off it- with laughter!
-Last but not the least; watch out for the some drama scenes parodies. I loved them, and I'm sure you'll too. I'm not going to say which dramas, 'cause that'll spoil the fun, but they were pretty popular ones.
I'd like to end the review by saying that I'm not a drama re-watcher, but I'd gladly re-watch any episode of Chief Kim any-day! So please, give this a chance!
Happy Watching!
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
There are so many things that I loved here, but what made the drama that enjoying were definitely our main leads Sung Deok Mi and Ryan Gold. Not only their characters were perfect for each other, but Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook's chemistry was the best. It was so natural that somewhere towards the end, it felt as if they weren't even acting anymore. I love how mature their relationship was which can't be seen very often in other rom-coms... unfortunately. The thing I loved the most about their relationship was how honest they were with each other - they cleared all misunderstanding just by talking, no pointless drama here. I loved the fact that Deok Mi was so considerate of Ryan and that was since the very beginning. And of course, Ryan was the same. Everything about their relationship was perfect and kudos to the writer for writing such a beautiful love story!
I was happy to see that fangirling was shown as a completely normal thing here. Deok Mi and Seon Joo are both in their 30s, but they are fangirls. Why not? There is nothing strange about it and I'm glad that the writer chose to show a different side of fangirling. As I fangirl myself, I'm very thankful for this. Seon Joo and Deok Mi were friendship goals honestly. Seon Joo is my favourite character here and I loved their relationship with her husband. And their child was sooo cute!
I think Eun Gi and Cindy were pretty pointless here, especially Cindy. At first, she seemed to be the antagonist, but then she became just a random character who had some funny scenes here and there. As for Eun Gi, he was sometimes annoying and his presence didn't really affect the story. I guess the writer just needed a second lead, because what is a rom-com without a second lead? And Ryan's friend was also annoying. I don't even remember her name, I couldn't get the point of her existence in the drama.
I didn't like the last two episodes. They were very boring, although there were some sweet moments with the main leads. I couldn't believe and I still can't that we had to see the same trope again..., why? Everything was good enough, so why would you ruin it? Eh, anyway, I was satisfied with the ending nevertheless.
So overall, despite being slightly disappointed by the last two episodes, I do recommed Her Private Life to all of you. It is not your usual rom-com and I believe you'll enjoy it. Oh, and while you are watching or after you finish it, don't forget to check out the bts videos that tvN uploaded, they will make you love the drama even more!
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
This movie is fucking great. I watched it twice already. Both lead characters are so amazing and talented that you could feel their emotions, happiness, sadness, or whatever feeling right in their eyes and facial expression. The storyline is super compelling. It's a kind of story that stays with you and makes you think of it even after coming out of the cinema hall for days. Despite that violence and bully, the little love between the main leads makes me feel so warm and touched. Main leads did not talk much in the movie, but they communicate through their eyes and their expressions are damn amazing.
To sum up, the story, the actors' talent, and the casting choice are perfect. This is a must-watch movie.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
So Far, Most Re-watchable JDrama BL I've Seen
I've spent at least 6 hours of my life re-watching this drama! From Michieda Shunsuke's (Aoki) amazing facial expressions, to Fukomoto Riko's (Hashimoto) charming personality (definitely a scene stealer, it's so nice to see a strong female character like her), to Meguru Ren's (Ida) handsome face, this show finds itself ranking at the top of my list for 2021 BL's. Not to mention Suzuki Jin's (Akkun) acting - seeing him go from his more 'serious' role in Given earlier this year to something more lighthearted is a little head spinning; he has amazing range!As for the plot, there are some twists and turns in the first few episodes that had me cracking up and itching for the next episode to hurry up!
All in all, so far it's been an amazing experience to watch this show!
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
I actually don't know how to summarize this one, I just believe everyone that can watch it should watch it. I haven't read the webtoon so I don't know how fans of the original material will react but, judging it on its own two feet, it far surpasses any expectations I had.
STORY
Honestly, this story almost felt like two, in the best way possible. Going into it I had this expectation of what would occur and what kind of avenues the story would take based on the teaser, but it proved me wrong. Weak Hero isn't just brilliant action, it's a deep dive into how interpersonal violence and bullying can affect and harm people long after the physical threat has disappeared. It's a case where I found every episode better than the last. The script and directing use foreshadowing masterfully, there are parallels that provoke so much thought and every moment feels deliberate. There are parallels everywhere, and the use of foreshadowing is deliberate and beautiful. Thought-provoking isn't even enough to cover it. Of course, there are issues with the script, some things are glossed over to fit the runtime, and the theme came off as confusing to some (not me) but overall I enjoyed the story it told immensely. The character motivations and progression all felt natural and understandable. It's a complete and interesting story that doesn't require additional knowledge from the webtoon to fill in the blanks and its end, though open for a second season, is satisfying and will leave you wishing you had more time with this world.
ACTING
I don't usually go to action flicks for character studies and heartbreaking emotions but the cast delivered on both and on stellar fight sequences that hurt just to watch.
So little disclaimer I am a Jihoon fan, but I will try not to be biased. Park Jihoon acting as Yeon Sieun was amazing. In the story put to screen it would've been very easy for Sieun to be one note, but Jihoons acting and eyes brought him to life.
Hong Kyung gave me the most compelling performance of the entire year. You have to watch it to know.
Choi Hyunwook brought a lovely levity to the story and his well-known ability to charm his way through the screen is at full display.
The entire supporting cast really showed out for this drama, the viciousness and vulnerability of boyhood were on full display. Special shoutout to Kim Sugyeom whose venom playing Youngbin almost burned through the screen.
MUSIC
The OSTs and music choices throughout the show helped evoke teenage listlessness and despair beautifully.
REWATCH VALUE
I considered placing this at a lower mark because some of the scenes are very hard to watch. Watching this drama inflicts a lot of emotional turmoil, but I honestly think it could only get better on rewatch. The point of the twists and turns is not to shock you, they're natural and understandable consequences of the violent world that bred them. Every choice makes sense, and the hunt for parallels in the script and directing upon rewatching would make it all the more worthwhile.
This easily falls into the top 5 dramas of the year for me. I would recommend any day! Also if you want to discuss it shoot me a friend request and a message I have so much to say.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
Press Play Immediately!
***DISCLAIMER: This is just my opinion. We don’t have to agree and I’m not here to argue with anyone.***Tropes: enemies to lovers, dystopian society, grumpy sunshine, childhood friends to lovers, forbidden love etc.
This was honestly so much fun to watch. I was smiling, giggling and kicking my feet the whole time. I can’t explain how much of a serotonin boost this drama me. Ahhh I’ve been in the biggest kdrama slump since Marry My Husband ended and I couldn’t find any airing dramas that piqued my interest but this — THIS DID IT FOR ME!
OVERVIEW:
Picture a dystopian world where the population of women to men is 9:1. Boys are essentially harvested (rounded up) and brought to a place called the farm where they are raised until they are of age and eligible to take a wife. Except this doesn’t happen organically it happens by way of a game show. So picture hunger games meets Barbie princess charm school (lotto system) meets a dating / game show. Basically 5 civilian girls are picked to join in on this exclusive game show “Ready, Set, Love” to vie for any of these chosen “gentlemen’s” hearts. Our protagonist Day wants nothing to do with this “stupid” game show as she’s quite content living her life and taking care of her sick sister. But what she doesn’t anticipate is that her sister has been buying “moo milk” and entering her name in the lottery religiously. It’s no surprise (to us viewers) when Day’s name is called as one of the contestants but Day has no idea and is totally shocked (her reaction was priceless) Initially she is upset and doesn’t intend to go as she doesn’t care for the lottery and has to take care of her sister. Out of curiosity she eventually goes under the ruse that she’s going to get Son’s autograph for her sister. She meets all the girls and guys and she’s not impressed in the slightest as she’s more focused on eating the food provided. Then she gets a phone call that her sister has gone under and is in the ER for her illness. She immediately wants to drop out but Ms. Jenny convinces her to stay as the ultimate chance of winning the game or even getting to pick a gentleman and live on the farm where she would be able to get medical care for her sister is far greater than what she’d be able to do on her own. In a turn of events, she decides to stay and give the games her best shot.
GENERAL REMARKS:
The chemistry between the leads was so damn good. Like ahhh you could feel the tension / angst through the screen and I just ate it up. I loved all the other gentlemen too… I still can’t get over how silly their names were lol (Paper and Almond especially threw me off) But other than that they were all likable characters. The second couple I loved and rooted for since the beginning was Max and Chanel. They were so cute and I’m glad she chose him in the end. I also liked the side stories of Ms Jenny and her wife as well as Jin and Chun.
I have to say though, When Son and Day were in their enemies to lovers era I low key started to root for Almond (Al) and day because he seemed like green flag. I’m so disappointed to find out he was the invisible witch / enemy hidden in sheep’s clothing. He betrayed his friends and played as a double agent of sorts even though he kept saying he was only trying to help them. I felt bad because Valentine risked everything to find him for her mom and in the end even when he found out she was his sister and had the opportunity to leave with all of them he was a coward and said he couldn’t. In my opinion he was far too brainwashed by the Farm and thought he was better off inside that glass house / glass world than on the outside. I understand he’s afraid of change etc. but he would’ve had his friends and his family. Plus now that he decided to stay he’s basically a prisoner and they are trying to get information out of him even though he’s feigning innocence.
I loved the ending. It calls for a season 2. I can’t help but think Chanel’s mom is plotting something and that the man in the photograph (the leader of City Ground resistance ie. Son's dad) is the man she fell in love with when she was younger? I feel like there's some connection between them. Also I don't understand why he wouldn't have returned to Son by now? Wouldn't Son recognize him? I need answers and I need to see more of his backstory and how he escaped. I’m so excited to see this storyline continue.
Although Day and Son + the rest of the gang were not able to achieve freedom for all civilians I feel like this was a step in the right direction. Given a few more years I believe more people will grow tired of the capitals games, manipulation / control and resist / start an uprising. Nevertheless, I am so happy that Day, Son and their child are safe and they can live in harmony. It warms my heart to see them raising their little family.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Overall I think this drama was very enjoyable. Yes I agree that the drama lacked in some areas in the sense that parts of it were slow and other parts were skipped / glossed over. However, for 6 episodes I think they did a pretty good job. Maybe if it was any longer I would’ve lost interest and gotten bored. Plus, this was my first ever Thai drama and it made me so excited to check out more.
If you’re deciding to watch this you definitely should. I promise you won’t be disappointed especially if you have no clue what to watch or you are currently in a drama slump like I was.
With all of that said I give this drama a an 8.5/10.
Ready, Set, Love is a light hearted rom-com you can’t miss.
Thanks for reading and happy watching!
❤️
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
