shiverpunt
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First off the synopsis for this show needs to be re-written, It's not accurate. As for the show, some characters I like, but most of them get tedious quickly. The father-in-law and husband of the main female lead are amazingly obtuse and self centered and get boring and predictable with their reactions and dialogue. The sister-in-law and her student's father have a cute relationship, but there's no passion or romance, it's just "nice". I also find the whole show dragging a lot. Between episodes 3 to 20 almost nothing changes, it's just the same issues in different settings. Not sure I'll make it past 20. Only got this far through sheer will. This is not a must see. It falls short compared to many other shows.
Go Ah Ra is able to play a plucky spirited girl that we want to watch. Yoon Kye Sang does a really nice job displaying two separate personalities, three if you include his gradual transformation due to love. Story line is okay but no surprises. All the characters are fairly predictable in their actions. The main drawback in this drama is Kang Nam Gil. I've never liked his acting and this drama reinforces my reasons why. The father is a character that should be lovable but foolish, someone who we ultimately root for. Nam Gil portrays him as an idiot who blunders through the afterlife. Scenes with him crying are just repulsive to watch and his shouting is a constant irritant. Sounds harsh, but he is my least favorite actor out of Korea.
Pretty standard drama. Don't expect any surprises or sudden twists. Everything unfolds just as you would imagine. The acting is fine, and chemistry between the characters is believable. Some poor choices in editing make the story choppy in places. I found it especially irritating when they would waste time showing preliminary judo matches then cut out the crucial final matches in the 3rd qualifying tournament and in the Asia games. One second Gyu Woon is getting ready for his final match, the next scene is a week later with So Yeon at the airport. Also, a little too heavy with the life threatening injuries and diseases. I understand it's a drama, but they used the threat of a career ending too often. It lost potency after the fourth time. This was a really unhealthy group of athletes. Not a must see, but it won't hurt to watch, either.
This drama is one of the few where characters are written as real people. Every single one has moments where they show a different side. Kim Nam Joo and Jung Joon Ho are by turns selfish, loving, insecure, successful, spiteful and giving. All the characters show moments of strength and weakness. Even the main villainess has moments where we can feel pity for her. The story's constantly changing, and things don't always go as expected. Great show that really showcases the talent of actors.
Absolutely loved this show. The story was fun and the folk lore gave it a nice fresh vibe. Shin Min Ah was adorable and watching her character evolve from a fairy tale creature into humanity was moving and entertaining. Lee Seung Gi played his role well and has a good grasp of comedic acting. The story has a playful innocence to it that Min Ah brings out well and their are no characters that are just two dimensional. A lot of fun and a good ending that didn't feel forced.
A fun story, no real surprises but Moon Geun Young is always fun and talented. She plays the sweet girl torn between love and obedience to her father well. Jang Geun Suk has the market cornered on the arrogant brooding musician and performs well. The story isn't ground shaking but delivers what a romantic comedy should. The only major complaint I have was the father of Moon Geun Young. He was a distinctly selfish, hypocritical character and painfully stupid. The actor tried to make him seem lovable in parts but failed to succeed leaving just an annoying man trying to sell his daughter to pay his debts which was unpleasant to watch. Good series, otherwise.
No surprises in this story but that doesn't take away from it's entertainment. Gong Hyo Jin is always adorable to watch and Cha Seung Won creates a very amusing egotist that you can't help but love and laugh at. The story has the standard elements of a Hong Sisters tale. The ending is no surprise, but pays off well and satisfies. All the actors do great jobs (I absolutely loathe Hyo Jin's ex-manager, good actor) and the comedy was solid.
This is a nice sweet drama with romance that doesn't follow the standard rules. The story is fun and for a change there aren't the typical K-drama archetypes trying to block the characters, ie no hateful mothers, father trying to sell their daughters to get a company, scheming women doing anything to steal a man. Ham Eun Jung is delightful, giving a performance that is fresh and bubbly. Kang Ji Hwan is equally entertaining as the eccentric author who loves to torment his assistant in amusing ways. All in all, good story, just wanted more for one of the characters than what she got.
Kim Sun Ah is a genius at creating strong vibrant characters that you love to root for. Here she builds the model under appreciated good girl who is taken for granted and used before finding her feet and true inner strength. Great comedy, nice romantic chemistry with co-star Cha Seung Won, compelling story and many moment that gave tears, but not just sad ones. City Hall is probably tied for my favorite Sun Ah drama. Definitely watch this. It doesn't disappoint.
Easily one of the best performances I've seen from Moon Geun Young. She is one of the most talented actresses in Korea and constantly surprises me with her versatility. She brings great credibility to her character and is able to balance the cruel hard exterior of her character with the wounded hurt girl she tries to hide. Seo Woo gives an equally amazing performance as the angelic sister, bringing her from a spoiled princess to a girl struggling to find her own identity as she loses her people she loves most. The story is well written and holds the record for the most times I've cried in a single drama. And the ending is very moving and satisfying. Loved this. A lot!
This story is about people trapped in social expectations and hypocrisy. Chae Rim and Uhm Ki Joon both give strong performances. The problem is the writing. The story is so suffocating that one episode is all you can handle at a time. One moment a character is someone persecuted for their love then they flip and throw the same irrational judgment on someone else. They change their positions so often it's hard to take any of them seriously. Kim Seung Soo's character as the returning ex-boyfriend is especially ridiculous and irrational. The intolerance towards single mothers that this drama suggests is embarrassing and frustrating. Every episode is so heavy and discouraging that even the characters we should be rooting for start doing such stupid things. In the end, this series is an exercise in frustration that makes pulling gum out of your hair seem relaxing. Give it a pass unless you're into extremely self punishing characters who slap each other at the drop of a hat.
This was the first K-drama I'd ever watched. It remains one of the best I've ever seen. Incredible acting by Ha Ji Won. She creates a character with so many layers, strong yet vulnerable, sad with moments of humour, and a very natural and compelling beauty. Hyun Bin is equally amazing and layered. His character is a great mix of arrogance and uncertainty, devotion and selfishness and damned funny as well. The story seems to lead one direction then takes a wild twist in the middle. The concept is one that looks ridiculous on paper but the writers, director and actors all manage to make it work very well. The comedy is solid and well timed, the drama is moving and tear jerking, the villain (namely Hyun Bin's mother) is amazingly played and the side stories are all interesting. And the ending stays true to all the characters in the story and pays off huge dividends. This drama is one that I measure other romantic comedies to and it is a must to see if you want to get hooked on the genre.
Nam Sang Mi gives a very nice performance, creating a lovable character that we can root for. Dennis Oh was kind of flat. Mediocre acting, combined with a problematic inability to speak Korean made an unconvincing character. The story starts out well and develops nicely until the final two episodes. As others have commented, I suspect the series was cut from going to 24 episodes to just 20. Not much of a payoff as far as endings go but the build up was enjoyable. Really want to see more of Sang Mi, though. Very capable actress with a good look.
Give it a watch:)
Getting REALLY tired of the old rich elders thinking no one is good enough for their child if they don't have money plot line. Other than that tired story mechanism, like the drama for the most part. Funny, absurd in the right places, moving when it needs to be. All in all a good little drama. Worth watching!