Reviews

You might be wondering why the overall rating is less than all the other criteria (except rewatch since it's rare that I rewatch to fairly value it), well the reason is because of additional criteria. I like the overall story, the concept, the cast and I love Love LOVE that ending song. My problem is with some of the directing, the way Hiji Motoko's character is written, Hirosue Ryoko's portrayal of some scenes, and finally the underwhelming last episode (or the 2nd half of the last episode).

I think this is one dorama who's concept may have been better executed if it was done in the 90s. I feel the actors being very restricted in the way they express themselves and act the characters, the pattern used in the dialog and so one. I think it's a similar to the dorama to "Ice World" but missing the "it" factor that we used to see in 90s dramas. That "it" factor is, for me it's passion expressed freely by the actors. I don't mean romantic scenes, not at all. I mean let the actors freely and passionately embody the characters so all interaction seems more instinctively, and enable chemistry to grow naturally.

It is my first drama with Nagayama Kento and I don't feel able to judge his talent based in this role. I couldn't help remember Eita every time I start watching an episode. They do have a strong resemblance and even their voices are similar. Nagayama Kento may be a bit better lookin' but I like Eita more ;). This drama also shines the light at who I think is underrated Renbutsu Misako. She was amazing in the movie "Murder of Snow White" and here though the role is less challenging giving her the spot light is nice. Lastly Hirosue Ryoko I had a lot of mixed feelings about her here. Her dramatic scenes are flawless, from crying to acting delusional. I had issued when she was acting surprised and supposedly having a poker face. Her surprise face was similar to that of a rookie actrice, as if someone telling her "now open your eyes wildly and feep them open". The standout in the cast could be the wife of one of the victims at the hospital. The rest of the cast was standard.

As for the ending, I just want to say I just didn't like it. I was okay with the final outcome but it could have been better. I just felt the ending being underwhelming.

All in all though it's a sweet short watch with a nice story.

Leia Mais

I can understand that the ending was rushed due to the cut of a few episodes, however with the episodes that were done I felt there was lots of flaws and that this drama could have had so more more potential.
The acting could have been better, with the main female (the mermaid), I felt she was acting a little.. 'over the top'. Okay she's gonna be all girly around the guy she likes, but she took it a little too far. Also, with the chef, i didn't feel much emotional response from him towards the girl he liked. This made it slightly confusing (and a little annoying) that the 'signals' were not that.. clear.
Thus, I couldn't even understand what was going on in the love side of things and the drama was supposedly focusing on love but, didn't really know where the storyline was heading.
I thought there would be more about the mermaids, maybe show flashbacks of her home underwater or struggles she's having with legs. Nothing. It barely mentioned anything about mermaids as again the drama was about love.
I don't even remember the music- obviously had no impact.
At the end of each episode, I didn't get the reaction 'omg what's going to happen next? I have to watch the next episode!' Or something would happen but doesn't follow through in the next episode.
Okay, that's a lot of negative comments I've said- I don't like saying bad things but this drama had so much more potential.
Although it was a good watch and there were lots of amusing things that did happen.

Leia Mais

A short and sweet drama. Good to watch on a boring afternoon if you have nothing else!!
Seriously, this lacked a lot of things, the story could have been a bit faster paced, considering it was such a short drama, it didnt have much substance.
The acting was quite bland and expressionless. There was absolutely no chemistry between any actor, especially the lead couple, as this was a drama based purely on romance, I was expecting some sparks!
Note the kissing scenes, so awkward and distant.
Overall, like I said watch if nothing else is there, but dont expect any fireworks.

Leia Mais

I really enjoyed this drama, I thought it was original and very well thought out and directed. I loved how each episode had a different title and how they worded things by the end of the episode to complete the titles meaning.
Cast: My favorite couple was Kang Jin Gu & Ma Se Young (Kim Young Kwang & Kyung Soo Jin) - they were the couple I was rooting for the most. I picked up the drama for Kim Young Kwang (as he has always played supporting characters in dramas I have previously watched, I thought he deserved a lead role and since this drama was giving him one, I had to watch it, and I'm ever so glad I did. This was the first drama I saw Kyung Soo Jin in but she was a great actress and I loved her scenes with Jin Gu <3 My second favorite couple would have to be Kang Min Gu & Soo Ah/Bong Sook (Yook Sung Jae & Park Cho Rong) they definitely grew along the way from not knowing each other to finding out everything about each other - they were sweet to watch. I liked all the cast/characters in this drama.
Music: Very good - indie (which I usually don't listen too, but I have heard of Standing Egg which was in this drama ;) ) if anyone knows what song it was where a male singer sang "yeppo (music) yeppo (music)..." ectra - they sang the same word - translated "pretty" over and over slowly - I loved that song but I can't find it - PM me if you know - thanks :D
Re-watch value: 7/10 - I'd probably re-watch this drama on a rainy day sometime - it's perfect for that - it's really cozy and nice <3

Leia Mais

This was a quick watch to bridge the gap between season 1 and the upcoming season 2.

I think Love in Okinawa highlights how young Miki Honoka is. A character at some point says something about thinking she was a junior high student and I think that sums it up. Miki Honoka is not a mature teen and I have hard time believing that she is supposed to be married and in the area of 20.

Furukawa Yuki was still as emotionless as he was in season 1. The real issue for him is showing any emotion when it calls for it.

I enjoyed the incognito parents and brother for the bit they were in it.

There was also a guest appearance by the cast of the Taiwanese drama, Fabulous Boys. I didn't mind it but it was just so random.

I wish that this special had just been part of the regular series. As a stand-alone, the irritating parts stood out more. It highlighted how thoughtless Naoki is and how wimpy Kotoko is. Overall, though, it was on par with the first season and I like it about the same.

Leia Mais

This drama is so great! It's sooooo much better than the typical teacher drama! There is so much more depth here. If you like psychological dramas then you'll like this, as it delves into the psyches of students and teachers. It also deals with different values and philosophies that people in society have, and it definitely doesn't shy away from serious issues that students and faculty actually face. I loved the music. I loved the way they used color. Both of those things made the show feel more creative and unique. I loved Suzuki Sensei, his rationale and his response under pressure. He has such a great way of dealing with things, but it's funny watching him sweat too, haha! The students were great also. Watching some of them snap was hilarious in a psychotic way lol. But they also came up with some impressive judgments, which makes you smile. The drama with the other faculty members and Suzuki's kanojo, Asami, were also an essential and interesting part of the show. All in all, this drama is entertaining. I would definitely recommend it.

Leia Mais

JBR is the best Makjang drama I have seen. It uses all of the Korean drama cliches/troupes from amnesia to birth secrets. The family mix is great. There are so many moms and grandmas that it is just funny. There are a few useless and somewhat lame bi-stories, but they don't take too much time. What makes this great is that the liars and schemers are never truly happy and constantly afraid they will be found out. Most everyone has a secret. It is over the top acting with a ridiculous story line at its best.

The actors are great. All of the acting is a little over the top...so don't expect it to be realistic. There are some great veteran actors in this drama. However, Lee Yoo Ri totally stole the show. She takes crazy to a new level as Min Jung. She wears this thick bright red lipstick that is just way too much which goes perfectly with her character. Her ending is better than the endings for most "bad guys". Everyone else is good in this too. Kim Ji Hoon plays a totally adorable Lee Jae Hwa that acts kind stupid, but isn't. I like that the romance between him and Jang Bo Ri (Oh Yeon Seo) is consistent once it starts. Strangely enough, Bo Ri isn't the center of the story to me although the drama is named after the character. My favorite relationship dynamic was between Moon Ji Sang (Sung Hyuk) and Bi Dan. Kim Ji Young is just the cutest little thing. I worried about Bi Dan from beginning to end.

The music is fine.

I probably won't rewatch this, but it is rewatchable.

I know some people don't like this kind of drama, but I enjoy them. If you like them, then JBR is definitely a must watch.

Leia Mais

Story: This is probably one of the fluffiest romance comedies I have ever seen. It's basically about a couple that coincidentally gets married due to some certain circumstances. Of course, along the way we have another couple who happen to be intertwined with the whole situation. It strongly focuses on the relationship of the main couple which I believe is the charm to the whole drama. Seriously... who cares about the overall plot... we're here to see this absolutely hilariously adorable couple - Wallace and Tiffany!

Acting/Cast: I love seeing Wallace and Tiffany on screen together! They made the most adorable couple ever! They were hilarious and had amazing chemistry. I enjoyed almost all their scenes together - from the hilarious bickering to the sweet lovey doveyness. Some parts were heartbreaking to watch though T_T But of course, we need all that drama - but sometimes I just can't understand how a guy can have the heart to act so cold and cruel to the girl he loves! *sigh* This couple and the way they acted kind of reminded me of Alec and Vicki in Princess Pearl - their personalities are actually both quite similar The second couple was actually a little boring for me to watch - again, very similar to Zhou Jie and Ruby in Princess Pearl. Even alot of the situations were very similar. I cringed though at Gong Mi's acting.. I'm not sure who she is but everytime she talks her eyebrows will move oddly O.o and that kind of bothered me. Thank god she wasn't on screen all that much!

Music:I loved the music in this drama. The opening theme was quite catchy and bubbly, whereas the ending theme was beautiful and and emotional. I loved the ending theme alot and I can still hear it playing in my head now. I also loved how they played the female version during the later episodes - it was a totally different feeling with the same emotions (don't really know how to explain XD) I remember a few other insert songs that were modernised with the oriental music. A type of genre I really enjoy actually. One particular song that cracks me up is the 'bouncy' background music that they play whenever they (I think it's mostly Tiffany) acts all goofy and stuff. It really adds on the comedic effect.

Rewatch Value: I don't usually have time to rewatch dramas but in this case, I would rewatch all the scenes between Wallace and Tiffany. It would be amazing if someone actually cut all their scenes and made it into one big video. I'm sure that video will bring a big smile to my face whenever I need that extra cheering up!

Overall: I know I mentioned love alot already, but I must admit, I LOVE this drama so much! I'm having some withdrawal symptoms already! The story wasn't anything spectacular, but I absolutely loved it from beginning to end. This was a very light and fluffy drama with lots of romance - and I loved that! From the very first episode I was quickly reminded of Princess Pearl and throughout the whole drama I could feel the same elements used. From the characters to the scenarios, I could see all the similarities... and since I loved Princess Pearl so SO much I couldn't help but adore this just as much - though the story was a lot weaker. Wallace and Tiffany are easily one of my biased couples now although Wallace and Joe are also my bias XD I'm torn!

Leia Mais

This is definitely one of my favorite drama specials. I've seen it at least four times now, and it just never seems to lose its charm.

The synopsis given here is a little misleading, in that it doesn't seem to be his fear of losing face that drives Duseop. Maybe there's a hint of that in the very beginning, but it soon turns to some pretty intense moments of introspection. The ghost, and his attempts to get rid of her, drive the story, but it's about much more than a fear of looking like a crazy person.

Tonally, this drama special is rather unique. It mixes funny and poignant, sometimes swinging wildly between them, and sometimes managing to do both at once. And it does it well. Lee Won Jong is fantastic here as the powerful yet psychically (and physically) wounded gangster Duseop. Park Ki Woong is reliably awesome as the diffident Yong Soo. An hour or so long drama special doesn't allow much time for character development, but both main characters are fleshed out nicely here, thanks to excellent writing and acting.

Director Kim Yong Soo (known for White Christmas, Equator Man, etc.) brings his trademark flair to the table. This drama special is an excellent example of how good his directing can be. The music is definitely non-traditional, but used very effectively in setting the mood. The screenplay is written by Park Yeon-seon, who later re-teamed with the same director for White Christmas. (If they ever work together again, I'm in, no matter what it is.)

I won't give away the ending, but I will say that it stays true to the tonal wackiness of the drama as a whole. And for me at least, it made me want to watch it again almost immediately.

So if you're a fan of the actors, or the director, or the writer, or are none of the above, but just want something interesting and different to watch for an hour of your life, try this.

Leia Mais

First, I just have to let you know that the music in PNB is excellent. It really helped make this drama. The story isn't anything new or different, but it is completely interesting to follow the lives of these boys/men. I commend the director for the ability to balance four stories without leaving the viewer confused or wanting more of any thing. There is great flow and character development.

The actors and chemistry are what makes this drama fun to watch. Oh Jung Se portrays a mature yet still naive Gu Kwang Sul. For all his success in life he is still lacking in love until he finds the beautiful Ju Da In played by Yu Da In. They aren't my favorite couple but I definitely enjoyed their story line. Kim Young Kwang is mistaken player Kang Jin Gu. Poor guy has already grown as a person when we meet him, but the director shows us what he grew from with flashbacks to how he was. I loved to watch his interaction with his love interest Ma Se Young played by Kyung Soo Jin. They are my favorite couple. Next we have teenager Kang Min Gu played by Yook Sung Jae. Surprise...he can act. I know some people don't like idols turned actors, but I think they will make an exception when watching Sung Jae as he chases his lady love, Su Ah played by Park Cho Rong. Last but not least is the cutie Choi Ro Woon as Kang Dong Gu. He is so adorable and he has two love lines...one with his mom and one with tiny cute actress Lee Chae Mi. They are so adorable and bring a light hearted feel to the drama. I enjoyed them all immensely. I think each viewer will end up picking a favorite.

Again, the music is top notch.

I may rewatch this at some point.

This is an easy to watch romance. I recommend it to everyone.

Leia Mais

I want to start off by saying that Plus Nine Boys might be the most underrated drama this year. I haven't seen a lot of attention around it, but everyone should give this one a shot. While the story itself isn't anything special, the execution of it is. Tasking the PD with finding a way to balance screen time between four separate love lines is no easy task, but the PD exceeded my expectations in this sense. However, since there are four separate relationships to juggle, the gist of each relationship's plot is standard. Despite that, the cast is where this drama truly succeeds.

What stood out to me was each couple's chemistry. Each couple was cute in their own way and the entire cast seemed to click. Everyone looked like they were having genuine fun with their roles. I originally thought I would end up watching this drama only for my darling Chorong, but I was proven wrong within the first couple episodes. I found myself picking my biases and obsessing over certain character's appearances. Not only that, but the men in the drama have dynamic personalities and are also all good-looking lads.

As for the music, I fell in love with Standing Egg because of this drama, and I found myself downloading dozens of their songs. As a matter of fact, I frequently paused episodes in order to Shazam a lot of songs or try to search for them. The soundtrack and BGM were pleasant to my ears, and I must say that I favor this drama's soundtrack second only to 'It's Okay, That's Love' and that soundtrack was a masterpiece (in terms of K-Drama OSTs).

In terms of re-watch value, I normally give low scores for this part since I never think to re-watch dramas, but I'm thinking of adding this to an eventual re-watch list because I always looked forward to weekly releases, and I was a wreck waiting for them.

Overall, what sells this drama is its amazing cast and chemistry. Each viewer will have their bias couple, but that doesn't mean the others are lacking in any way. With that being said, I must emphasize that if you love the cast, you'll definitely love this drama. However, if you aren't fully convinced by the cast and are expecting an innovative, extraordinary plot, you might be a tad disappointed. The momentum of this drama is carried depending on how one feels about the cast. In other words, if you love the cast, episodes will fly by but feel draggy if you don't. In the end, I recommend this drama for anyone needing something light and easy-going.

Leia Mais