This review may contain spoilers
Draggy and sometimes outright ridiculous
It had a strong start, I loved the characters and the initial story, I was able to ignore some silly things... up until around episode 10 when it just got too much. The fast paced plot that went from their childhood to teen years and then adulthood suddenly stopped when they became eternal journalist trainees.The plot relied on coincidences and weird notions(why the hell would every student but one be able to afford 1,000 dollars backpacks, why would someone be fired over 60 cents, the fact that in-ha is not creeped out by the stalker that is supposed to be the second lead, the main leads' romance moving quickly for them to suddenly separate because of god knows what)
The characters always ended up bumping into each other conveniently for the plot, in one episode there were always three or four really unrealistic coincidences.
All the main plot points were already resolved by like episode 8 (the male lead's identity, his adoptive father's disease, the brothers meeting, the brother's revenge and imprisonment, the romance). I felt no reason to keep watching
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The evil people were evil good too and yoon yoo rae was annoying at first but it just fit her character to be obnoxious, it had several eye candys. LSH, seo bum jo, cap hwang. I need an extended scene btwn cap and yoo rae, theres something cute going on. Wanjon great show MUST SEE
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This review may contain spoilers
I have been going through the works of Lee Jong Suk and I had previously thought that nothing could top W for me but this might just have done it. I will attempt to remain as spoiler free as possible in my review.The plot is really interesting and keeps you on the tips of your toes. While the focus on the Pinocchio syndrome and the importance of truth is a large part of the plot, the title of this show does not do justice to the true driving point of this plot. Brilliantly mentioned offhand at the start of the show, the six degrees of Kevin Bacon and the idea that you may not be so far removed from a stranger as you thought is what provides a beautiful tension in this show and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The acting is fantastic and really lets you get to know what these characters are thinking and feeling. Lee Jong Suk is once again playing the role of man whose family died under unexplained circumstances who is searching for answers (such a specific type cast) but this doesn't mean that he doesn't bring anything new to the character. On the contrary, I found myself most drawn to his character in this show over his others, partially because he felt the most human to me. The main female lead is as equally well done and shows that it is possible to be a strong and brave character while still having vulnerabilities. All the supporting cast was fantastic and were never treated as fodder. Each character was well developed. The main villains of the show were astounding. Kudos for providing villains that still maintained human traits and flaws.
My one complaint is that I didn't particularly find any of the OST that exciting. Compared to W or I Hear Your Voice which I had just watched (I told you, I'm going through all his shows) none of the songs got stuck in my head the same way. So, that is a little disappointing. But, its not enough to majorly detract from the show. And, I plan on rewatching it many times. :)
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Nice Surprise
Pinocchio was definitely a nice surprise, and if I hadn't found the last few episodes a tad underwhelming, could have scored a 9.5 or even perhaps a 10 as a final rating. The story was easy to follow, made sense, and had the right amount of characters to keep the interest going. The chemistry between the two main leads was definitely there, and while I did lose the connection with Pinocchio when it came to the final few episodes, I still have to admit that the two main leads here are one of my favourite on-screen couples I've witnessed to date. I also really liked the OST and acting and chemistry of nearly all the other cast members.Pinocchio was definitely a nice surprise and I am sad now that I have finished it. There were a few cast members that I were unfamiliar with before watching this, and now since watching Pinocchio, I am interested in watching their other work. I recommend this drama to anyone and everyone.
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I have to admit that at first I had to get used to things a little bit but from the moment it happened I did nothing but enjoy the show. The characters were amazing and interesting. Some of them are still very high on my list of characters that i like the most. The characters were given some pretty nice development which I'm very greatful for. The story was amazing as well. Although It didn't explain everything that I'd have wanted to know but aside from that I can't really complain.
Not long after I finished it, I made a friend watch it with me. It was her first korean drama too so thanks to Pinocchio, both me and my friend became huge kdrama fans. I'd sincerely recommend this drama to anyone who finds the summary even a little bit interesting.
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Starting off, Pinocchio had such a fantastic story. I honestly don't know how it's possible to not marathon this drama. Even when I picked back up on this drama (I started at ep 11 yesterday), I marathoned those eps in one night. Just completed it now. This is a story about a boy's family who was destroyed due to news' reporters untrue reporting, turning the country against them. That same boy (Dal Po/Ha Myung) grows up despising reporters, but decides to become one because of In Ha. In Ha grew up wanting to become a reporter just like her mother (who abandoned her). Together, they learn how to become excellent reporters while dealing with their feelings for one another. There's much more to it, but you have to watch to find out. I also think this drama is so original with the "Pinocchio syndrome" which is when you hiccup whenever you lie. In Ha has it so it makes her the blunt type of character I love.
Every single actor did an amazing job at bringing these character to life. My favorite character was In Ha, it's very rare for me to come across a female character who never annoys me (not once) and who I genuinely root for 100% of the time. I respect In Ha so much, she never disappointed me once. She's the type of character whose values I admire, and that's probably the reason I'm so drawn to her. I feel like she made the right choice in every situation, and I can't help but to love her. Park Shin Hye did an excellent job portraying her. Now Dal Po/Ha Myung, played by Lee Jong Suk, was absolutely fantastic! Such a smart and intuitive character he is. I went through all the emotions with him.
Besides the excellent cast and acting, this drama has excellent excellent excellent writing. I really and truly mean it. If you want to hear the best character monologues, watch this drama. I get shivers just thinking about it. The truth these characters spit is chilling, and man oh man will you be rooting for them when they do so. The music is also very good.
As much as I loved Pinocchio, I don't think I'd rewatch it. It's not like it would be a chore, but I just tend to not rewatch kdramas in general because their too long. But if I feel reminiscent, I don't think I'd mind rewatching it. As I said before, this is an excellent drama. It never drags or gets boring. The love story is sweet, but it's not even that which makes me enjoy this drama so much. It's the characters' growth as reporters, what it means to be one, how to get to the bottom of a story. Oh, how I love it so much. If there's anything I'm not too fond of in this drama, it's the way it tries to make us sympathize with In Ha's mother. I'm okay with it, and it by no means ruins the story, but I wouldn't have minded if they didn't make her sympathetic. Anyways, I really really really loved this drama, it's a good one, and I highly recommend it. There aren't a lot of kdramas that mean something to me, but this one has made the list. Pinocchio is definitely worth the watch, and I guarantee you won't walk away empty-hearted.
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I liked the main couple. They're both great actors and had good chemistry. A lot of the supporting characters were quite fun, too. Huge cast in this one.
The OST, which tends to be a huge part of dramas, was completely unmemorable. So, if the same song playing each and every episode is something you find annoying, this is the drama for you! I don't even know if this show has a specific OST (though I assume it does).
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I laughed a lot of at the YGN's riporter who worn headband :DD And I liked Yoon Yoo Rae in the end. It's not a bad drama, I offer for everybody. Riporters' life in South-Korea is very interesting. Oh...and the music enjoyable for my soul. :)
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Great cast and acting. A very nice story line. Unique. Interesting. Fun. Lovely.
The story was well-written! There is a balance in everything from family to romance to politics to media manipulation to violence to criminality to weirdness.
A MUST WATCH!
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The things that I like the most about the dramas that Park Hye Ryun writer is how easy and fun they are to watch and how great I feel when I watch them. They are all a feel-good shows for me. They all manage to be both funny, entertaining and dramatic and emotional at the same time and there is a great balance between all of these things in this drama, as well as in Dream High or I Heart Your Voice.
I was just so pleased with this drama, it is well written and for me it hit all the rights spots, since I got emotional and I smiled etc. so I was very much in love with it. It is also very easy to watch and I tend to not get bored over her dramas or at least those who I have seen.
The story isn’t necessarily not that new but I feel like I haven’t seen that many dramas like Pinocchio and Park Hye Ryun does tell a good character story well in my opinion. The story is very well paces and I didn’t feel like it ever dragged along ether and I liked how she wrote it. It was like she had a plan and she didn’t just write something in for no reason and I like that. I also liked how the new reporter theme was used in this drama.
The character have always been quite good in those Park Hye Ryun dramas that I have seen and for the most part they are quite well rounded in this drama as well. I especially like how she writes female characters and they get to do more than just be the love interest or the mean bitch.
The secondary characters could have been a bit more developed in my opinion and I felt like she has done a better job with the second female lead in the past, which was a shame. Yoon Yoo Rae could have been a much more interesting character but she was just the cute comic relief to me. The second male lead Seo Bum Jo got so much more to do in this drama, as well as In Ha’s mom.
Maybe it helps the plot to go along smoothly and swiftly that the main character can’t lie and she has to tell the truth and can’t hide her feelings or anything. I did have my concerns around the middle of the series that it was going too fast and there wasn’t enough story left to tell, but I was gladly proved wrong on that.
I also liked the main couple a lot and it could have ended up being super creepy since they were raised as niece and uncle but it totally wasn’t creepy at all and very well done and felt realistic.
This is one of the better dramas that I have seen Park Shin Hye act in and I think this drama has helped some people realize that she doesn’t totally suck and maybe they will stop hating on her now because of Heirs or for other things. I liked PSH and I find it very comfortable watching her act and I am a fan so I am super happy that she got a role that I like.
In my humble opinion Pinocchio is one of the better dramas that came out in 2014 (most of the drama aired last year) and it was, like I said before, a very nice and sort of feel-good watch that I enjoyed a lot and therefore I have not many bad things to say about it. I am a huge fan of Park Hye Ryun now and I liked how she crafts her stories. They are meaningful and entertaining, both light and dramatic and I liked very twist and turn along the way.
Overall I liked this drama more than I liked I Hear Your Voice but not as much as Dream High. But like I did with Dream High I felt so nice and comfortable watching this drama, but I was maybe just a bit more emotionally invested in Dream High. I will miss watching Pinocchio every week and I can’t wait for Park Hye Ryun’s next drama.
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