This review may contain spoilers
Don't watch or not watch based on an OPINION. Use it as a small base or guideline. Try out a few ep and see if it clicks. I usually just skim the opinions....I was hesitant to watch it because of the "public opinions". Eh ....she can't kiss...heir. ....she suck....blaah...blaah. I took it as a grain of salt but it linger and sway me a little to put this off.
Reading ppl hate has taught me many things...
A great scene is when an interviewing intern was gossiping and using it as a FACT. She claim that the FL didn't get nor deserve her job or reward. That only got the job because she's pretty.
...they asked...
Did you check the fact? The source? Are you here to report news or tabloid gossip.
I feel reviews can be like that. You need to check/try it for yourself to :check:
Any reviews I write is solely based on how I feel. I mostly have interest to write reviews on dramas that I've enjoyed. If it gives the feels while watching it did it's job.
I barely Ffw scenes. It had me laughing and crying. The family dynamic is awesome. The growth and support of characters. They challenge each other's views.
1 of the best line for me is them questioning which news is more important/ better. News ppl want to hear or need to know.
ML asked.
Do you want the good news or bad news?
-good news
You got concert tickets to Pink
- awesome. What's the bad news?
You got pancreatic cancer
-Whaat? Huh? asshole why didn't you tell me earlier?!
So tell me which news do you want. A news you NEED or want?
He schooled the jaded adults.
The Leads pushed each other to be better. I cried like a baby for the characters. My heart couldn't take it and I ffw so I can get to the point/reveal
Music was ok. Nothing stood out for me to add to my playlist.
Characters were awesome. Even the minor supports. Villian was good. We didn't get soo much that it was overbearing.
Rewatchable
Yes but it's tooo long for me to wait again....lol I'm allergic to 16+ but occasionally make an exception or lots of FFW
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Pinocchio portrays the dark undertones of media coverage through the lens of a reporter. It shows how much politics is involved in media and makes the audience second doubt the legitimacy of the news itself. In particular, it brilliantly shows how obtaining the truth is an impossible and difficult task. The truth-seeking journey provokes so many thoughts and illustrates how there is so much ambiguity in certain circumstances. I found that this message was prevalent in LJS’s “I Hear Your Voice” as well.
In Pinocchio, I like how the conflict was central around characters with familial relations which made it even harder to digress right and wrong of each action because the protagonists get to analyze situations from a bird’s eye view (and also bringing about so much emotional turmoil) instead of being stubborn, mixing up the endeavour for justice even more. The characters undergo huge development and maturation while being faced with the realities of truth and realize how much grey there is in their initial worldview of black and white. Despite the never-ending journey for the truth, the truth is subjective and truth can be twisted to cause harm--this was portrayed through the quirky, supernatural element called “Pinocchio syndrome” which I found creative and effective at reinforcing the joys and dangers of handling the truth.
I enjoyed the conflict that Choi Dal Po had between following the ethics of a reporter or following his own moral code. (Although ethics and moral codes both refer to principles in which one follows, one is external that is socially accepted and one is internal such as personal belief) But what I found well done was that the drama portrayed the human condition in a way that was realistic. No one is inherently evil and everyone has their own means of justification. The way this was gradually portrayed was well paced. Naive and emotionally driven Choi Dal Po juxtaposes the collected and rational Cha Sun Ok. Throughout the story, they gradually reveal the emotional side of Cha Sun Ok as Choi Dal Po learns to approach situations through a more reason-based and objective lens. The reason/emotion conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist reinforced that the path to truth is contingent on both reason and emotion to keep each other in check. The side characters weren’t just side characters: they all had a purpose in portraying the message (save for like two which were there for some added cuteness) and everyone had a backstory that kept up the intrigue or contributed to the emotional and mental development of the protagonists in some way. I feel like I went on such a journey as I reflect on who the characters were in the beginning to the end, and how much happened in between. The plot was action-packed and properly placed in a way that kept tension but revealed enough to satisfy our demands.
As much as I enjoyed the plot, I felt like the most lacking part of the drama was the romance. I suppose for Choi Dal Po to love Choi In Ha would be a step in forgiving and letting go of the grudge he had on her mother. But it felt so unnecessary and insignificant in the midst of the action. In this regard, the romance was just too conventional to be considered unforgettable. It is there because there has to be a romance, but the focus of this drama was more on the message behind new reporting and character development. I couldn’t feel the chemistry between the leads, especially because I was not a particular fan of Park Shin Hye in the first place, and I felt as though LJS, Yoon Gyun Sang, and Jin Kyung were who made it great. Simply, there was no emotional connection for me between the couple, there were no heart-wrenching scenes between them, and it felt like it was more about having a romance in the drama and looking like a couple. The level of romance appealed more to teenagers because of its predictability and lack of tension.
Overall, the main plot is what is worth watching in the show and it definitely got me hooked. For the most part, I disregarded the romance aspect of it, but Pinocchio has everything--some amazing characters, an intellectually stimulating plot and a sprinkle of romance. It’s something that I’m glad I checked out and invested my time in. I recommend this if you’re a first-time LJS watcher, if you’re an old LJS fan, if you like a great plot, and if you want a good watch!
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As for park shin hye - i did not really find her beauty appealing and rather bland and typical - but she actually is gorgeous in this drama and acts well.
Lee jung suk (oh i have seen secret garden prior this but i skipped all of his scenese there so technically this is my first of him) on the other hand can easily catch attention bec of his looks and and smile - he is good at crying - cold hearted - playful and romantic scenes too - just lacking on eyes expression in showing sarcasm/mysterious in our language “angas” (ie- lee seung gi in hwayugi - when he looks scary in a good way)
Although ki Ha myeong family story is really a tragic - it didn’t make me cry - what made me shed tears is whenever Cho dal po adoptive family can’t hide how they care for him and how they adore him. The warmth in their house and the chemistry amongst them is soothing. (I love the younger gi ha myeong too - such a handsome boy)
The arguements were satisying til the end. The only thing off for me is weight between media and police/detectives - it is at times off - but i can say acceptable - so id let that slide.
Overall a good drama which reminds us the difference between lie and truth and that there is nothing in between.
I might not re watch this but I definetely recommend it!
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This review may contain spoilers
To quickly summaries the way I feel about this drama all I can say is.... I have rewatched this an unhealthy amount of times. I specifically remeber getting into Asian dramas and seeing “Pinnochio” as a new series. It first caught my eye due to the otherworldly sort of cover because I thought it was a fantasy drama, which I hadn’t watched any of at the time. So I decided to give it a try and forgot everything I thought about it beforehand within the first few minutes.
From the first episode until the last you never know what’s going to be thrown at you and no matter what it is you’ll keep watching. The frustrating parts will fuel you to finish the series, and the warmhearted parts will hold you in place, reminding you of the good things within all the choas.
A “quick” note on the actors. Of course five years later I am now familiar with nearly every actor and actress in this drama however when I first watched Pinnochio that was not the case at all. Now I’ve watched so many other shows with each actor/actress I can say, each and everyone of them are just amazing. Lee Jong suk is great at every role he plays, it’s like he has a sixth sense for great roles. His character Dal Pol is very complex and gets pulled and pushed around in every conflict but he still powers through it. Every emotion is perfectly reflected in his eyes, body language and facial expression. The love for his “dad” and restrained love for his “niece” as well as his heartbreak when he finally connects with his brother are all so well done. I could list a hundred scenes that just blew me away but that’ll take a while. Each actor/actress bounced off of each other perfectly, creating great conflicts, humorous pairs and great family dynamics. Each character is unique and are driven by different things which the actors/actresses do very good to make clear.
In all honestly I can’t remember the OST at all but that’s because it’s been a while since my last rewatch and most of the time the music falls on deaf ears haha! Beside goblin and School 2015: Who Are You I cant remember any songs from anything I’ve watched so my opinion on the music will stay neutral :)
Overwall, this is an absolute classic and a must watch. I dont think it’s suitable for new kdrama fans as it’ll probably become boring to some however it is definitely crazy to not give it a go at some point!
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15/03/2023
Am so glad this wasn't 70% romance, 20% fillers and 10% story.
Won't go into any details except to say that it is true that one unjustified word or one malicious act from someone can cause irreparable damage to a single person or an entire family - for life.
I enjoyed this K DRAMA for about 10 to 17 episodes although at times the crying scenes were a bit too much and I felt the main female actor over acted her role quite a bit. Also, the same dyed hair colour for all leads by the end seemed unnatural and superficial.
For me, 16 episodes would have been enough with less emotional drama and angst - especially the last few episodes.
This series would have been excellent if the focus had remained on the main story line of two young brothers seeking revenge, separately, for the injustice done to their family by a ruthless female reporter. No romance or 10% would have sufficed.
Overall, it is a fantastic story, it has a great cast, perfect music and there are moments that are truly heartfelt and tissue worthy.
I actually came to write about something quite trivial, but it was what I noticed over time and just had to say something about it...
The Piggy Banks.
The piggy banks in Dai Po's room (family apartment) went from a group of piggy banks to about two over some episodes after his "dad" kept raiding them for the money inside.
Hilarious! To me that seemed quite funny.
Not sure why that stood out above everything else with it not really being a funny drama 90% of the time, but maybe for me through the seriousness of it all that provided some comic relief or a bit of needed diversion.
A KDrama worth watching despite the angst or if you can tolerate it!
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Good acting
I really like Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk. The whole Pinocchio thing seemed to have been put on the back burner for the last half of the series -it was so front-and-center at the beginning, and then suddenly, they moved on. I think Lee Jong Suk cries better than any other Korean actor, and he did a lot of it in this series. I really liked the second male lead and how he wanted her happiness over everything. So many times the people are only interested in themselves which makes them very selfish and not someone you'd want to love anyway. Good storyline, happy ending.Was this review helpful to you?
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20 eps?
I’m slowly adding the shows I watched over my life and this is the next one. I watched this maybe like 3-4 years ago. I have them rated on my phone from when I barely watched it, I’m just now adding them here. I’d say that I had completely forgotten that there was 20 eps. when I looked, I was FLOORED. I think that’s why I rated it lower, it could have probably been done in way less, but they ways prioritize money over making a masterpiece. whatever. I think the acting was fine, maybe just slightly uncomfortable. The ml face is almost not real lol. super proud of park shin hye and where she is now with judge from m hell and her acting has improved it seems. Over all, better than mid.Was this review helpful to you?
AT LAST I FOUND AN AMAZING DRAMA FOR JONG SUK
i liked this drama alot
strong plot
connected smooth events
no exaggeration
there were balance between cute and villain characters
if it's from 200 and i should divide into spaces it would be
20 romance
60 cute characters
40 comedy
80 about reporters life and corruption
the romance was cute but it wasn't the main in this drama
but the feelings between family were the main
young kwang and the Fl's family were the cutest characters ever
highly recommended one ^_^
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A MUST WATCH!!!
This is another classic Kdrama that I think everyone should watch.It's such a great, unique storyline that's not super cliche (although it does have a few thrown in there).
However, the twists and turns brought about are written wonderfully even though some are predictable it's performed in a way that still surprises you.
It brings to light real-life issues of the media and cover-ups. This aspect really hits home, and I love how real it is.
The acting is incredible and the chemistry between everyone is great and believable. The cinematics is great, the ost is wonderful. I certainly recommend it.
I will state that the rewatch value is low; I think it loses most of its magic and entertainment if you rewatch it and already know everything that's going to happen. However, I think it's still enjoyable to rewatch because the acting is great.
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This review may contain spoilers
I really didn't like the story as whole.But I really liked the character settings
It's not a review but what I liked in the drama.
Better read at own risk
For me it varies from 7.5- 9.5 the news attack on firefighter were too much ofcourse we know y that happened later. I think I have seen the first eo before and decided not to watch as I had so many doubt like y about fire, MLS fight, the father's look, and the sences were too zoomed in YouTube. But now after reading the summary and not having any other things to watch. I gave it a try. It was good. I was praying it should be this and that and it didn't.. even if some thing happened like help by bum jo it was explained by then to make the viewer believe if not this there's another way so it's ok after all it's a drama. Il jo with director yun was good because if everyone other than the main villan was good, that don't make sense. So for me it is a 9. My favourite was the nitpicker. I watched it twice at a stretch. My favourite line.. u r crying for 2 hrs, I will die consolidating you in ep8/9. 15,16,17-2 is the fav of nitpicker and jawhee with iljo. And the 16 also has the grp dinner the other grp dinner was in 8/9 I think before dopal say he is hamynug to his brother(in9). I liked jae even though.. he did a big mistake and corrected it himself I liked that.. I didn't want him to kill anyone but it was too late to think that.. sad and my fav character was director of ygn news... He is great.. ofcourse we r human after all we do make mistakes. But the thing is we should correct it even it's late and no use anymore, it's emprassing or whatever.. a good drama. It had its flaw like jae interview I don't think that was live.. it's fine if so and I wanted to know what is punishment got for jae... After all it's not too good not bad either but really something for me. I hate it when they just concentrate on one case but there r many in between and the one was on and off just like what happens in reality. I do hate drama with reality but it was my type ... If u r good... U surly will have pain.. but if u r still good (not the submissive or I don't care type ) I just knew it one I don't wana write. So it's my type Have happy even though there r things going on. We have to live after all . But don't be cold hearted... Blah blah I don't know I just wanted to save the things that I got in my head after watching it. Or the things it reminded me or confirmed... There is always what if and if not. But whatever it depends on u whether u r happy or sad.. I better stop here
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Female Lead Drove Me Insane
I liked this drama and that it included some thriller/suspense stuff as well as comedy but the main female lead was insufferable. I know she's meant to be in the beginning and that's the point, but even after she "learns the truth" she's still narcissistic and kind of an AH.I stayed for Lee Jong Suk, the story, and the chemistry the rest of the cast had. If they'd written her a little different or maybe if she'd acted a little different, it would've been a great drama. Also of note was how dirty they did teenage Choi Dal Po (Lee Jong Suk) with that hair. lol I'm well aware that during the 2010's in Korea, K drama actors and K-pop idols had some interesting hairstyles, but his was ridiculous and funny. It also went on much longer than I expected it to. The hairstyle I mean, not the drama. Haha
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