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Reviews
Eoneu Nal Uri Jib Hyeongwaeuro Myeolmangyi Deuleowassda (2021)
Plot holes? yes, but I'm blind to them
This was such a beautiful show to watch, and was thought provoking at some points with the whole doom/God concept. It was slow at some points and sometimes I didn't care about certain character's scenes but I just skipped. There were definitely plot holes, but I had so much fun watching this show that I closed my eyes to them. It made me giggle and cry and though storyline wise it's not the best constructed kdrama I've seen, I'd recommend it. I can see why some people don't like it, but I think it just depends on what you are looking for coming into the show. I didn't come in expecting an intricate masterpiece, but a show that would move and entertain me - and that's what I got. A very subjective 8/10 for cinematography and enjoyment.
Meolriseo Bomyun Pooreun Bom (2021)
Not bad, not my favorite either
Honestly, I watched this for Park JiHoon because I just finished Weak Hero Class 1 and he was amazing in that. I'm on episode 9 of this show and I do plan to finish it. Even though it's not my favorite premise and the main character was actually a bit annoying in the beginning, the relationships in this drama were refreshing. The misunderstandings were not dragged out for episodes upon episodes (except between the male leads, but that was kind of the point so it didn't bother me) because the characters communicated with each other. This is what gets the most points from me in this drama. The lead couple is cute and actually healthy. Thus far, the family drama is really well paced and not too distracting but also good and present enough to be interested. I really want to find out about the brother. If you are looking for something lighter with an emphasis on relationships, and you also love to look at Park JoHoon's eyes, I recommend this.
But, even after saying all that, I can't make myself give it more than a 6. I've seen better acting and better plots, and more intriguing characters. Also the female lead is supposed to have anxiety but I'm tired of the stuttering FL trope and want her to stand up for herself more often as part of her character development.
Seumuldaseot Seumulhana (2022)
docked points only because of the male lead, but I would recommend this show
In short: I would recommend this show, or at least until episode 11/12. After that, I skipped a lot of scenes and still got the jist.
I generally don't prefer this genre of k-drama, but a friend recommended it because of Kim Tae-ri so I decided to give it a shot. Kim Tae-ri is definitely the highlight of this show. Her acting is phenomenal as Hee-do and she gave us such a well developed character arc.
The romance is backseat until the end of the show and by that time you are sick of it. Back Yi-jin consistently chooses his job over Hee-do and it seems that she is putting more into the relationship than he is, so I don't blame her for how she ended things. The way it ended was disappointing though. I felt that Back Yi-jin didn't have any sort of character development. He is really mopey throughout the whole show and can't reciprocate what Hee-do wants to give in a relationship and there is not a lot of development there throughout the whole show. She changes, but he doesn't really except getting involved in work.
The real highlight of this coming of age/romance story is the relationship between Ko Yu-rim and Na Hee-do. My favorite part of the show was watching as they turned from enemies to mature best friends. The two really intense fencing matches were really well filmed - they had me on the edge of my seat. Because of Hee-do and Yu-rim, I would rate the first through 10 or 11 episode a 9/10 stars. The last episodes where it is more focused on Hee-do and Yi-jin are not as interesting.
With all of the flash backs and flash forwards, and dramatic music with well-worded quotes in this show, I can see what they were trying to do and how Yi-jin and Hee-do not ending up together fits the narrative and message of the show, but I think they sold Yi-jin's character short.
Hee-do and Yu-rim are the stars here - the show is about them.
Seutateueob (2020)
Had to read through the reviews to make sure I wasn't crazy. This was bad.
This doesn't as a whole even deserve a 4. Giving it that because the first couple episodes were good and the set up gave me the impression that this would be a really great show, and because the relationship between the grandma and Han Ji-Pyeong was so lovely to watch.
Other than that though:
I've never in my life been so enraged by a male lead and female lead. I was annoyed by them before I finished the first half of the show. I watched up to episode five and then started skipping (honestly, mainly because I wanted Ji-Pyeong to have a good ending and I wanted to watch his relationship with the grandma develop amd also the relationship between the sisters) I was disappointed on all ends. Ended up googling the plot. There was some development but it was very lacking-based on all the potential there all of the character arcs were very disappointing in the end (except grandma and HJP of course)
The plot was all wrong and made me feel uncomfortable because of how much nonchalant deception there was. Usually there's deception in k-dramas, of course, but I think the reasons behind this one were very weak and the way it kept dragging on was ridiculous and uncomfortable. The writers made choices probably to make this drama "different" but it ended up being nonsensical.
I realize that not all good shows have to be "satisfying" but I've watched dramas in which the ending was bittersweet and not satisfying like I'd want it to be, but they pulled it off in a way that didn't cause so many plot holes and unlikeable character developments.
Anyway.
Don't watch this. It was bad.
Haechi (2019)
Great beginning, end was repetitive and dragged a little. I still finished and enjoyed it though!
Several others have mentioned this, but the light and colors were disappointing. It gets better but so many of the episodes in the first half of the show are so dark you have to turn your screen brightness all the way up. There's also a lot of distractingly shaky camera work. Visually, not great. However, the first half of the show had me bingeing. I loved the characters and plot. The actor who played Prince Milpoong was especially impressive- I will never be able to watch him in anything else. Also, (MINOR SPOILER) a minister has character development and isn't just pure evil, which is so rare it became one of my favorite plot points.
Unfortunately, after the characters overcome the first two or three big issues the show starts to drag. It seemed like the writers had to get to 48 episodes so they had to make up a bunch of roadblocks for the leads. It ended up feeling repetitive and the prince and moon soo were yelling for half the script. Additionally, Go Ara's character disappears halfway through the show due to an injury. She comes back after 8 episodes or so as a completely different character. The romance suffered because of it and felt awkward and not very well developed.
So - I'm giving it a seven because I liked it enough to recommend to my sister and I LOVED the acting and all of the leads. It's unfortunate that Go Ara was injured - I think it affected the plot a lot. I skipped through a lot of the last episodes.
I'll be doing a lot of research on King Jeongjo now and I'm now watching Dong Yi :)