My review could very well end here, and you'd get the gist. Nevertheless, a simple comparison would be unfair towards this drama and decisively too flattering towards the other two.
There are at least 3 reasons to prefer Sungkyunkwan Scandal (after 4 years I've finally learnt to write this title) to other gender/bender, flowery boys scenarios:
1. The female heroine is intelligent! How refreshing. Not only she has a well working brain, but she doesn't let anyone trample all over her. Her goal in life is more edifying than simply get the guy. In this sense, SKK is way more modern than many K-dramas set in today Asia.
2. Directly related to the above, the flower boys are actually nice people! They overcome prejudice, value friendship and don't go around grabbing the girl's wrist at every turn.
3. Everyone is MUCH better dressed. I'd say colours and costumes are a huge part of this drama's charm.
This said, the drama is not flawless. I believe its main weakness lies in the way conflicts are resolved. While highly interesting and thought-provoking issues are raised - gender equality, homosexuality, eastern vs. western philosophy (Confucius vs. Socrates), the power of knowledge and others, they aren't in any way resolved and at times are very superficially concluded. Mind you, not that a tv-show could ever give us the answers to such essential questions, but even in the enclosed world of the narration some plot threads should have had a conclusion but didn't. We are left to wonder when and how the packet has been so prettily wrapped.
Also, the pace is uneven. The drama is somehow divided in groups of episodes, each developing and in a way closing: the entrance, the tournament, the scandal, the treasure hunt etc. The love story is charming in the beginning, drags in the middle and gets very charming again by the end. I wish they had shortened the angst - which works very well for the male lead who's facing a true conflict, but makes the female suddenly annoying - and given more space to their delightful romantic banter. Even the ending could have been better elaborated and conclusive, had they cut short on the middle anguish.
All in all, however, this is a lovely, funny, feel-good watch. The acting is fine enough, since it has no pretence of greatness. Don't expect stellar performances, they are all a little stony at times, but they look young and pretty, so one is ready to forgive them.
Not surprisingly, my very favourite character here - Yeorim - is also the best acted one. I've sit through the whole drama waiting to see what he would say next and what new outfit he would wear.
Music is, for me, the true sore spot. I appreciated the insertion of modern rhythm on a period setting because the drama is meant to be "timeless". The instrumental pieces are nice, albeit forgettable. The "lover song", on the other hand, got so much on my nerves, my watching partner and I retorted to muting the sound whenever it played (and it played every single time our lovey-dovey pair was together). Have you ever tried watching a kiss in complete silence? Well, don't try: it's terribly awkward, proof that the right music makes up for 50% of the emotion. Since we couldn't have romance+music at the same time, we hummed a tune ourselves.
This review comes after a second watch. I had seen this drama back in 2011, but was distracted by other things at the time and basically couldn't remember a thing. Watching it in good company was a funny and entertaining experience I am ready to recommend.
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Just the introduction prepares you for a drama steeped in mystery. I've made up a term for this genre which is banana peelers. Clues unravel with each episode and leave you guessing until the end. Dark themes intermingle with the question of human existence. Despite the mystery here, the story seems to hone in on the brother Isao the most. With good reason, a Steppen wolf like character with no clear disposition. Considering this is Dostoevsky, there's bound to be a lot of philosophic themes that make this mystery breathtaking.
However, in certain dramas, there are characters that are simply show stealers and this is undeniably the father. I would normally fault this type of character for being a villain with no back story but frankly, he doesn't quite need one. There are simple and subtle moments about his character that prevent him from being that. For one, the moment where his youngest son is massaging his shoulders and he broods over whether or not anyone would cry when he dies. Nonetheless, he remains a character that you love to hate. A vile, despicable being that gets your blood boiling but really shapes this story. Ugh, but wow, the type of character where you applaud the actor simply because you really believe his performance. Boy, did I curse that dad. Never has a character been so loathsome.
Frankly, I am not very familiar with Dostoevsky's works other than reading a portion of Notes from the Underground from my existentialist philosophy book, hence I can't say how faithful this is to the novel as I haven't read The Brothers Karamazov (sat on my booklist for three years) . What this is for me is a well executed and chilling story that keeps me guessing.
On to why this is not a perfect ten, there are times when the music intrudes on the dialogue and doesn't really lend itself to the atmosphere. Furthermore, there are some moments that are not showcased but implied leaving me to at times question events and character emotions. For instance, some characters didn't really interact for long yet it seemed like there was a really deep connection there making me wonder when that formed.
Overall, a very stellar message that thoughtfully solves the philosophic question it creates. Themes are interwoven well to present a very good drama that I recommend.
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Hwang Jung Eum is an actress that I used to hate, but she is getting better. She does well in the emotional scenes of Seo In Ae. There are times though that she falls back into that expressionless face which is so annoying. Ryu Soo Young does a passable job as Kwang Hoon. His character is a jerk. So, I guess him frowning all the time was acting. Then there is Jung Kyung Ho as Kwang Chul...OMG...he can act. I felt more for his character than anyone else in the drama. Jung Woong In is excellent as Park Yeong Tae. That creepy smile can give a person the shivers. I was disappointed that I didn't see more of Kim Joon. The other actors are good too.
The music is OK.
I won't ever rewatch this, but it is one that can be rewatched.
If you like politically motivated, period dramas, then you would probably enjoy this.
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It's like a modification story of Boys Before Flowers. First of all because Lee Min Ho plays again as a heir. But in this drama, Min Ho plays a smooth version of Gu Jun Pyo in Kim Tan's profile. But still he plays a possessive role that makes his kiss much arousing especially when Cha Eun Sang is about to be sent to abroad. Obseessive love is the theme of the story.
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I agree with some reviewers the second lead story is better and more enjoyable than the leads.
sadly a very very frustrating and irritating watch.
Cannot suggest to anyone. Sorry
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This drama had lot's of depressing moments, the only reason I continued to watch was for Kwang Chul - he was the star of the show to me (not In Ae) In Ae frustrated me several times!
I don't have much else to say since I am so disappointed by how this drama turned out in the last 10 minutes....Let's just say this drama is pointless - throughout the entire drama we hold on to this one small smidgen of hope and it basically gets kicked out the door by the end :'( I am disappointed beyond words...I wasted my time watching this drama - I'm so so so so mad at the writer >_< this drama could have been a 8.5 but with the way it ended crushing all my hopes it goes down to a 3.0
I will NEVER re-watch this drama >_<
the Title - Endless Love - turns out to be a pointless love >_<
Characters: Kwang Chul who is in love with In Ae, get's beaten probably more than is humanly realistic - in real life he probably would have died within the first 3 episodes...He has like 9 lives on this drama...
In Ae, a girl with revenge on her mind - my problem with it - she tells the people that she's after them - talk about asking for a death wish! We see her in and out of prison several times and in and out of the hospital several times - but she never learns to sharpen her knife quietly....so frustrating...
Kwang Hoon - a power hungry jerk is how I explain him best. I never liked him.
Se Kyung - the most annoying character on this drama in my opinion - I hated seeing her all the time - I seriously wanted her to disappear or at least stay FAR away from Kwang Chul - but she doesn't listen...
Villians, what can I say they are evil but not any different from other villians I have seen on other dramas.
Music: I Love You by Jo Sung Mo - my favorite song - and I will still listen to it - even though I ended up hating this drama.
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Although there were some holes in the story, I liked the approach this writer had to time travel and alternate universes. One of my favorite topics is the theory of multi-universes or parallel universes. I could see where this writer was trying to go, but some of the story wasn't laid out properly or totally thought out. OMG...I wish I could post spoilers, because there are a few things that totally bother me. If you want to know what they are then message me and I will tell you. The biggest theme regarding time travel that I have seen is related to what will happen to your future if you change the past. Not all physicists really believe that parallel universes exist. Even fewer physicists believe that it would ever be possible to contact these parallel universes. But what if they did and what if you could??? Where would you go and what would you do??? What if what you changed didn't matter at all and we will all meet the same fate no matter what choice is made??? The holes in the story are all due to the fact that the writer doesn't know the answers either. I seriously probably ranked this drama too high because I love the subject and it was thought provoking to me.Um...I thought that Gackt was a better actor? That is all I'm going to say.
The music was fine.
I will never rewatch this.
I only really recommend this as a thought provoking tool.
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The story is about our titular character forming a class with chosen students to conduct an experiment. With that we meet his students, the class 2-A and the problems caused that he and other teachers have to deal with. It takes us quite a while to find out what the experiment is about but it does add a bit of a mystery to keep your attention close to whats going on. What is most interesting in what is addressed here is trying to define maturity. Society has set up a certain age to it but from the beginning onwards we do observe how maturity varies from one person to another. Suzuki Sensei's mindset, like most teachers, is not ideal that's for sure, but what distinguishes him from others is his awareness of middle schooler's intelligence and maturity, and his ability to treat them seriously.
On the acting department, oh boy isn't it stunning. It is Hiroki Hasegawa's best role, from his expressions when we hear his thoughts, to his composure when addressing a problem. What's most impressive though are the students. Karin Ono, Honoka Miki, Kaoru Fujiwara, Takumi Kitamura, Yukito Nishii, and Tao Tsuchiya to name a few. That generation sure has a bright future if given the chance. On the teachers side Yasuko Tomita sure was impressive, but generally all did a very decent job.
This drama isn't only for those who enjoy school dramas, it's for everyone. We all can relate to it because we all went through similar phases and looked for a safe place to express our thoughts. Maybe we are all looking for a similar place even now that we grew older so we join clubs or online sites such as MDL for that reason as well. What is discussed here are things that left me thinking about even after watching each episode. It isn't preachy at all and doesn't give us a definite answer which is the beauty of it. The characters and the acting makes it most entertaining to watch.
;)
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What saves this drama from being unwatchable is its lovely cast. Oh my Kamenashi Kazuya! He is handsome, charming and has the power to suck you in. The bad boy image suits him really well and you can't help but fall for him. I loved this on-screen version of Kyohei than in anime. Sunako however falls short. Although initially funny there hardly seems to be much redeemable in her. However I like the rest of its cast- Takeru, the aunt and everyone else.
The drama isn't completely good or bad. It has its moments. While I find parts of it to my liking a few of them gave me a headache. The unnecessary melodrama in the later half and the ending were what ruined the drama. The ending was so corny that it was more LOL than anything. I find this a fizzle because Kazuya-kun and Aya-chan had such good chemistry. Plus Aya is such a beautiful actress.
In the end the drama is forgettable to me. I am struggling to remember the parts I enjoyed in it because while I might have enjoyed, it didn't leave a mark on me. I wish the nosebleeds had been included in the drama since they included so many things anyway (I am a fan of nosebleeds).
Recommended to fans of the cast, the anime or manga. The rest can skip out on it.
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Other casts wasn't really important but their story was a nice sight to see. I found their story quite meaningful but not so memorable. Ding Jia Yu was the only character that got on my nerves. She might not be the worst, but she sure a 'bad' second lead. She didn't deserve my sympathy about being a pitiful character when she didn't try to understand at all.
The music wasn't so captivating, but there's a song that i liked (i forgot the name).
For rewatch value, i give it 8.5 'cause i think i'll rewatch this often. This typical rom-com is my favorite, and it kinda helped me on healing my frustation. It's easy to watch, lovely, and cute.
Overall, this drama got 8/10. Even though the story was just so predictable, i found myself really fond of this drama. The main casts were pretty good, and the draggy scenes were not that bad. It's a typical drama which have a nice fluffy romance in it. In short, it was a cute drama that helped you on releasing your stress but not 'that' amazing.
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I enjoy fantasy and historical dramas. Nightwatchman's Journal is not a masterpiece nor is it trash. Let me begin with the bad points. The drama was repetitive, but the repetition was necessary for the growth of the team.The plot of the drama is simple. Good versus evil. Good wins.
Drama made several attempts to show the imperfections of the world such as mental illness, political greed, misusing tax money, misdirected love, and doubt. The drama ended answering a few of the imperfections.
Acting
The good points are the performance by the Kim Heung Soo and Ko Sung Hee. King Heung Soo played King Rin. His performance was exceptional. He stole every scene he was in. Now So Kung Hee played Do Ha. She was so convincing that over 90% of the viewers completely forgot she was illiterate and from the mountains.
I would rewatched this drama simply because I enjoy fantasy dramas.
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The idea is pretty hilarious. Our black prez, an eccentric CEO of a company decides to go attend university to take out his stress on stupid students. As someone who studied business and found something completely different in the real world, I can't help join him in his amusement in making fun of the system. Of course the story does get preachy at times, we didn't see much business concept and those we saw were pretty basic. Even so all this didn't bother because, again, thanks to the character and how he's being performed.
Other characters did bring things to the table and added more fun. One which is his teacher befriending his secretary, women putting their heads together trying to predict him. The students and his interactions are the most interesting and entertaining. The need of guidance and the generation gap are nicely portrayed. It is also nice to see a dorama about university, it's activities and student worries at that stage in life. Another amusing factor is his family that didn't add much to the story but did bring warmth which was cute.
The acting department doesn't disappoint but I have to admit Sawamura Ikki kinda overshadows most. That is except Kadowaki Mugi who's unusual but endearing character is charming.
To summarize it's a entertainint light drama that I think many will find something they'd enjoy.
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Lets just start off by saying that this Drama was VERY GOOD! i`m impress with the story line. The plot was very good and almost everything made sense. According to my reaserch the story line followed closely to actual evens that happened.
The Drama is basically about Goryeo told form the eyes of Empress Chun Chun. Depecting the hardship she when thru fighting to make her country prosper. Brace your self for ACTION, POLITICAL SCHEMING & INFIGHTING. It gets really emotional towards :'( i wont say more tho. You will love it if your a real Historical Drama like i.
Acting
the acting was above average and good. I wouldnt go that far to say it was awsome, but very good indeed. persons who stood out due to their acting skills.
* King Gyeongjong - The mad King, i really enjoyed his acting as a mad king lol.
* King Mokjong - like father like son, the rebelous son who didnt want to be king i must say well played. that laugh lol
*Empress Chun Chu - loved her from her younger days to her dying days. Strong woman both as a leader and mother in all aspect well played MAMA!
*King Sung Jong - Played the part of a very peace loving king, but the lengths he would go to preserve peace was too much of a price for the country to pay, Hense y Empress Chun Chu had to step in.
*Empress Moon Hwa / Lady Kim - she played the Empress for awhile, wife to King Sung Jong Empress Chun Chu brother. I mentioned her because her acting got to have an impact on me towards the end especially when her own village turned on her.
Music
It was ok especially during war and time high anticipation. i gave it a 8.5 because it aided they show in moments of happiness & sadness.
Rewatch Value
Good Drama indeed and lots of good moments i would rewatch, However the 8 was given due to its lengths and short coming in dragging out some episodes.
Some say this Drama was too dark & depessing, but all in all the era was a hard time for Goryeo with the Khitan invasions of the country. The last remaining episodes were very sad indeed i hate that chu anywayz I really enjoyed watching this for i`m real lover for Historical Dramas, Asian history and History overall
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My issue with the show is how the story basically plodded along. I could see from the outset what kind of story was aiming to tell and the tone it wanted to set. But because it was written to be heartwarming and lesson-teaching, there was little drama, and the story didn't have strong peaks and valleys. It became predictable and boring at times.
Some relationships were not properly developed, so the way the relationships played out or were resolved by the end of the show were not very convincing to me.
Joo Won is naturally the star of the show, since he plays an unconventional character in the Korean drama world. At times I was moved by his character, at others, I was frustrated. I particularly enjoyed Joo Sang Wook's character, Professor Kim. It's my first time watching Joo Sang Wook in a major role, and I think he put in a good performance. I can understand why he has previously been always cast in the CEO role.
At times, the music was quite jarring.
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