From episode 2 onwards this drama was so engaging and its charm and unique take along with a brilliant cast quickly becomes addictive. Initially you find plain Hae Young to be quite pitiful. You find Do Kyeong to be cold and even a little hateful. But as the story unfolds and the push pull between them as well as fate throwing them together you start to care about them as individuals learning to heal and then rooting them as a couple.
Hae Young goes down in K drama history as one of the best female character, not because shes strong or badass but because of her fearless and even shamelessly adorkable way she throws herself wholeheartedly in love. Despite being burn after being dumped a day before her wedding, she promised the next time she will love wholeheartedly. Needless to say wearing ones heart on the sleeves means embarrassment, sometimes disappointment and more heartache. But these are also the qualities that attracted Do Kyung who although initially guilt ridden becomes fascinated and even disarmed by Hae Young's frank and direct nature.
Along with this romance, we have bromance between Do Kyung and bestfriend Jin Sang, Do Kyung and brother Park Hoon and Do Kyung and his sound team workers. All generated good vibes and laughs. Then theres the family love of Hae Young and her wonderful parents who make you cry and feels the warmth of family like you've been hugged. Finally you get a second romance of noona Soo Kyung and Jin Sang. So this drama is full of heart.
What further separates this drama is the out of this world chemistry between Hyo Jin and Eric.They share shy smiles, lover's embrace and sweet to sizzling kisses. Most of all they look really comfortable and believable. I enjoy all the simple moments of them together like walks on the beach, cuddle in front of the tv watch movies and cooking for each other. Theres some cheesiness but it wasnt too bad.
By the end of this drama i still have the warm fuzzies. The biggest take away message is to live with no regrets, like today is your last day. The impeding death visions allowed Do Kyung to open up and learn to love. His character has the most growth.
Honestly after episode 11 and the extension decision, the drama did lose some of its groove and spark. But episode 17 and 18 really lifts it back up along with my spirits.
In terms of ost theres quite a few tracks that are memorable, touching and suit the scenes.
In terms of picture this drama had some of the most beautiful cinematography. Spring is captured in full beauty.
In terms of sound because Do Kyeong is a sound director (what an awesome job) it also makes me appreciate that element.
In terms of clothing, i thought Hae Young's wardrobe kept improving. And like she says love makes her prettier.
In terms of hair, finally Do kyung gel up his hair in the last scene. He looks hotter that way instead of bangs
Rewatch value is high and thats a big plus in my book since i seldom rewatch but theres too many wonderful scenes in this drama. The plot is not without flaws and the characters aren't perfect but then is life ever perfect. This drama just push alot of the right buttons for me. Its a matter of taste but to me theres really a good balance of many things but still emphasizing the beauty of love. Sometimes its that simple: make your loved ones happyn and you are happy.
Was this review helpful to you?
What should be a "nothing special" TV series, is in fact a very well done drama about people in love, personal relationships and emotional development. Excellent acting, brilliant directing and good paced script. The final episode has the BEST END CREDIT SCENE EVER! ??
Was this review helpful to you?
The Kiss Of The Century
Let me start right out by saying I loved this show. It had drama, comedy, and a romance to remember. Seo Hyun Jin and Eric Mun were fantastic together. The romance grew as the show progressed leading up to a moment I will never forget. In episode 9 the first kiss was show-stopping. Maybe the most emotional, raw kiss I’ve ever seen in a K-Drama. I was holding my breath while it was happening. Seo Hyun Jin kisses with her whole essence. I’ve never, ever seen a kiss that displayed so much emotion on screen. I was happy to see it again at the start of the next episode. Seo Hyun Jin has mastered the art of kissing to a point it’s almost mind-boggling. The second kiss was every bit as good.The story itself had its ups and downs. A 32-year-old woman being hounded by her mother is a little foreign to me, but I see it in a lot of shows so I just accept it. Smacking her on the head about 20 times in the show is not cool. But I love Kim Mi Kyung as an actress, and she did a good job playing Hae Young’s mother. I also liked Kim Ji Suk who usually plays “the other guy” in shows. Even though he was a little flaky for a lawyer the comedy was funny.
The music was nice, and it blended with the scenes setting the mood perfectly. I couldn’t understand the words, but the sound and the tones carried it all. I would have liked to have seen subtitles with the music.
The concept was unique and kept me interested. The twists and turns were non-stop. The emotional flow battered you to a point of anger. Which of course it is intended to do. They didn’t quite sell the pretty one versus the ordinary one. To me, Seo Hyun Jin is gorgeous and stood out even when they were trying to make her look ordinary. As the show went on she of course glowed, especially after that first kiss.
Please watch this if you haven’t seen it. Let me know what you think.
Was this review helpful to you?
the plot was relateable, real, funny, sad, but most of all FUN!!
it gave me feels like I haven't had since my first drama.
Its worth a watch.
that is all.
Was this review helpful to you?
The story is simple but engaging, at least until the episode 10 or so when it becomes draggy. The 2-episode extension didn't bring anything new to the drama but only stretched it and added to the boring aspects. The director does a great job pinpointing every character's pain and happiness, there is a lot of beautiful scenery and cinematography is superb. But unfortunately, the movie-like aspects soon become boring and slow down the drama a lot. It this was a 10 episode drama it would have deserved 10 points in all aspects but there are too many repetitive scenes and a lot of crying in almost every episode. The first half was amazing and kept me totally hooked, it was hard to wait for the next episodes.
The acting is very good, every part is played well and all characters have their own place.
The ending was a bit disappointing because, even though all characters got their closure, I feel like the two main side characters were pushed aside. They didn't have much screen time during the drama obviously because they were "a thing of the past", but they still played a big role in the main characters' life and would have deserved more. Especially Tae Jin who had truly loved Hae Jin and whom she had loved too, but she often acted like it meant nothing to her. It would have been nice if pretty Hae Young had more to her as well, not through Do Kyung but genuinely to herself. Also, that "revenge" part felt really forced.
All in all, this is a good drama with a very high rewatch value but it's a bit bland and not very memorable. It stands out a but not in a way that you'd remember it forever as one of the most amazing shows. Rather, this is a calm and slow ride, filled with pastel colors and lots of emotions. Slice of life.
Was this review helpful to you?
Just as a note, all the leads in this drama are completely new to me except for Kim Mi Kyung (loved her in Healer and here she is a completely different character) I like the characters so much. They feel like real people I would really meet in life. I admire Seo Hyun Jin's character, our Oh Hae Young. She has so much tenacity and willingness to throw herself out there, both in her wrecked love life and difficult work life. Her humorous antics are also hilarious. She gave this drama life. Of course, Eric was stellar at portraying his brooding character that is actually warm inside but SHJ's multifaceted character and her way of portraying our OHY is what made this drama. From being down in the dumps to easily happy, SHJ acting as our OHY, made me fall for this drama.
On the surface, the plot isn't really that new but DK and our OHY's relationship is what makes this drama what it is, regardless of the flaws because that's a part of it as well. Family love, dealing with abandonment, self-exploring, and more are all something this drama touches on and deal with well. Sometimes I hate Do Kyeong so much for his selfish actions, but then I can't help but love him later on again. Aiya, basically he made me a mess of emotions. Thanks Eric. And yet, I find myself rooting for them despite Do Kyeoung's mistakes, despite all he has done. It's amazing what some raw, sizzling chemistry can do.
Speaking of the chemistry..wow, just wow. For their relationship, it isn't just the feels-it's completely heartbreakingly realistic. Whether it be an ecstatically happy scene or an agonizing, tearful scene that is making me bawl- it all hurts and in a good way. Often times, I feel like I'm on a train that will eventually crash. I know that and yet I keep watching anyways even though it hurts so much. Their tug and pull relationship was overwhelmingly hard to watch, seriously, and every time they're together, the charged atmosphere and tension between them is so tangible. They shouldn't even be together given they need to heal themselves and get the secrets out of the way first, but regardless of all that, I still want to root for the impossible to turn into the possible. I have to give it to the writer for making me feel all these emotions.
On a completely superficial side note, I love Eric's voice. I love how sound was incorporated in this drama. So ingenious, and so essential to the story. The importance of sound, emphasized through Do Kyeong's job, is beautifully expressed and creates some awesome scenes with gorgeous cinematography to top it off.
I know some viewers were in a controversy about the 'cop out'. In all honestly, when it happened, I sighed in relief. Up to then, I couldn't completely justify rooting for the OTP because it seemed wrong, in a way.
Now, side characters. If anything, I feel like the office scenes were too long, as well the drunken scenes. Less is really more. Bromance is serious in this drama. I loved it so much. The duckling squad always has DK's back no matter what. In terms of the other storylines, I really liked them. No character seemed one-dimensional; for the most part, all the characters had purpose and was fleshed out, and given a chance for redemption, to have a fresh start if they chose to take it. I appreciated that the second leads weren't purely vindictive. Circumstance made them who they are and maybe some incorrect choices took them on their path. So in that sense, I liked all the characters. Even for those that I didn't like, I didn't want them gone from this drama either because it didn't feel justified. In their own way, they added to the drama.
The songs are so appropriately fitting to the drama. Like the theme of this drama, the songs (sound) perfectly complement each and every scene. AOHY really made me fully appreciate the importance of sound (and sound directors) in dramas to enhance the whole drama experience and just in everyday life in general as well. I love this whole soundtrack- every single song! If I have to choose one, though, it's definitely 'If it is you' by Jung Seung-Hwan.
If there is one themeI learned from this drama, it is: We should live life to the fullest; pride really isn't everything. If you don't try throwing yourself out there, you might never be reciprocated. If you don't give, why do you expect to receive?
I recommend if...
-you want to see some fireworks chemistry
-you want to see some of the best kiss scenes I've ever seen in a drama
-you're ok with lots of revenge and raw, unfiltered emotion
-you like hardcore bromance and heartwarming love between family
-you're a huge romance lover (like me!) and wants to see something different and surprisingly new
If you're still on the fence about whether to watch this or not, just watch it! Don't be afraid of throwing yourself out there! (Did you get the pun? LOL) Okay, seriously, give it 4 episodes then decide whether you like it or not.
This drama has so much heart, so much depth, and just so much love. In the end, the raw emotion this drama provokes as a whole overrides the flaws this drama did have. I love you, show, and you'll stay in a heart for a while!
Was this review helpful to you?
I found the story to be interesting at first. It was different. But after a while it seemed to have lost it's charm for me. This makes me sad, because I was anticipating Eric's return to the screen. That is not to say I didn't enjoy the drama, but it isn't one I would watch again.
As for the music, I am torn. The main song is catchy but annoying. Roy Kim's song is lovely. The two balanced out to a 6.5 for me.
Overall, I rated this drama a 7.5, which about averages the other scores. That is almost exclusively due to Seo Hyun Jin. The side characters were also fun to watch, and their stories were light-hearted interruptions to the main plot, which at times became a little heavy.
I do recommend seeing this drama, even with it's short-comings. If for no other reason than to experience acting that will literally make your heart hurt in your chest.
Was this review helpful to you?
I especially love the way the characters were made in the drama. There really was no clear cut "good" or "bad" characters and it's one of the reasons why I enjoyed the drama so much. In life, few people aren't as easy to clarify as good or bad and this is depicted very well in the drama. The good people do bad things and the bad are sometimes good. The characters were frustrating and sometimes even to the point that it was hard to understand them but that's what made them much more interesting and even more lovable because they're just like real people who make mistakes and do the wrong things even with the best intentions. It's because of the wonderfully, well written, and realistic characters that made Oh Hae Young Again a wonderful drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
STORY - This isn't your typical chaebol/poor girl romcom story. Yes, the male lead is "rich" and the female lead "poor", but the essence is completely different. The way their relationship develops is pure magic. The two last episodes that were "fillers", as the drama was supposed to be 16 episodes, not 18, didn't have that "filler" feeling. They used them wisely to extend this excellent story. The other couples were so unique in their own way too. The other couples' scenes were entertaining, not boring like in other dramas. Also the second leads didn't finish the story like the "bad" ones. There was good character development in them. And, the ending. What a beautiful ending that was. It was so well written. Congrats to the writers, they did really well!
ACTING/CAST - Perfect. The lead couple's chemistry was so real. All their scenes portrayed the feelings incredibly well. The cheesy ones, were cheesy but not overly cheesy. The arguing ones felt real. And the hot scenes, were HOT. The passion in them was unbelievable. The other actors did really well too. My favorite was Ye Ji Won as Park Do Kyung's sister. All her scenes were funny and/or touching.
MUSIC - I've downloaded them all on my phone. As I'm more of a balladeer, my favorite song is "If It's You", but all the other ones were excellent and fitted nicely with their scenes.
REWATCH - I don't usually rewatch dramas, but this one is so good that I see myself rewatching this soon.
OVERALL - As I said above, I think this is my favorite drama from all time. It had everything, even the psychological part that I like so much and it's usually non-existent in romcoms. Also the moral of the story for me is that we should try everything we want to do, so that we don't regret it later. That touched me and changed my way to see life. To end this review, the phrase in the ending: "Please live. We are grateful that you're alive" touched me so much.
Everyone who's thinking of giving this a go or not, do it! You won't regret it. :)
Was this review helpful to you?
Original storyline & epic romance
I really liked the originality of this story. It starts out with the male lead seeing brief glimpses into his future. They all revolve around the same woman who just so happens to have the same exact name as his ex girlfriend who left him at the alter. I’ve never seen a story quite like this. And the reason for his seeing the future is both unique and touching.The acting in this drama is excellent. The main leads, their family members, and even the side couples all do a great job. You can just feel the pain of the main leads over their past lover’s betrayal. And there are such rich entertaining side characters that bring great comedy to the table at just the right moment to keep things from getting too sad. The male leads sisters ordeal with the toilet just cracked me up.
The romance is really good and one of the most endearing parts of this drama. It’s very realistic and not cheesy at all. There are real kisses, piggy back rides, and lots of skinship. They have amazing chemistry.
The character growth is what really stands out in this drama. The female leads journey of seeing her self worth and stepping out of the other “Miss Oh’s” shadow was a joy to watch. And when the male lead let’s go of his past and decides to fight for his future I wanted to stand up and applaud.
There wasn’t too much I disliked about this drama. But the female lead forgiving her terrible ex was a disappointment. I can’t imagine forgiving and even dating a man that dumped me the day before our wedding. NO reason would be good enough for the pain and embarrassment he caused. Thankfully her bad decision only lasted briefly. But it did detract from an otherwise wonderful drama. That and the really annoying selfish mother of the male lead (and her poor acting) kept it from a perfect rating.
That being said, it’s a great drama definitely worth watching. In fact, I’ve watched it twice myself!
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This story is about choosing love over fear, loving someone unreservedly, living without regrets, how ones perspective can impact one in ways you don't even realize, and how the decisions made can change your fate The layers of perspective make it meaningful, and the writer was able to tie in things that you would not have thought important at first look. I experienced the emotions of the characters with them and felt all the heartbreak, tension, and giddiness along with them. Despite any shortcomings this drama may have had, the characters were its strongest draw. The main couple had intensity and and passion. My advice would be to not judge the characters motivations and actions too quickly on this one. (Perspective, remember!) What you see at the beginning may not be a full picture, so you need to watch it unfold. Also, because Do Kyung's job was to do sound for movies and such, I started to become hyper-aware of the sounds in the show. It was pretty cool actually. It was a pretty interesting addition to the storyline to see a little BTS magic, but was also relevant to the story. The cinematography was also beautiful. I thought that there was a good closure at the end and lots of good resolution that the characters needed.
While so many drama characters are black and white, good or bad, hero or villain - the characters here are more shades of gray, imperfect, messy, a little dysfunctional, and sometimes selfish. They were interesting and against type. This is not just a romance, but a little slice of life as well. You almost feel like a voyeur peeping in on their developing relationship because they have an off the charts chemistry and hold the tension so well. The characters (nearly all of them) experienced growth throughout the show. The main romance was not the only love relationship either. There was a 2nd and 3rd romance, as well as family love. They were all realistic and raw and make mistakes. Our Oh Hae Young was emotional and honest. She can also be petty, jealous, and quick tempered, but is quick to admit when she has been wrong. She cut right through to Do Kyung's core and took down his walls brick by brick and unlocked his heart. (And I would just like to say that our leads should give kissing lessons to the rest of dramaland because WOWZA! That's how you kiss!) Do Kyung is thoughtful, but so reserved and introspective. His feelings come out in his actions long before he allows himself to express them in words.
The secondary characters are also well done. Do Kyung's sister, Soo Kyung, is such a strange character when you first meet her. At first you will believe she is just there simply for comedic effect, but you soon learn what motivates her as well. She became one of my favorite characters next to the main leads. In fact I loved every one of DK's family, save his mother (who was pretty much the worst mother ever. She barely had a shred of anything resembling maternal in her). Speaking of secondary characters, I have to say that OHY's parents may be my favorite drama parents ever. Mama Oh especially is like a mama bear with her cub, OHY. She may seem harsh and quick tempered, but she loves her daughter so much and always does the right thing for her in the end. And Papa Oh is a quiet support for them both. He doesn't say a lot, but he always knows when to jump in with his support. In fact, OHY's parents characterizations seem to parallel OHY and DK. The 2nd leads aren't even really 2nd leads, though, and their impact on the story does not equate with their portion of screen time. But honestly, I didn't really want to know more about them.
The casting was well done, and I felt that each part was done believably. I was swept up into their world.
The music went very well with each scene as if they were written for it, and the main theme was cute, if a little overplayed. I think it was very well done even though I don't always notice the music so much.
Would I re-watch this? I think I would. I think the layering of the story makes a great re-watch because you catch even more the 2nd or 3rd watch-through.
Overall, I was thoroughly entertained by this show. I do not expect my characters to always act realistic and the way that you would expect people to act in real life. But they do still manage to make them feel real and relatable. If you dropped this drama before the back half, you really have missed out and I think you should give it a second chance. While this was a romance that maybe should "never have been", at the same time you feel like it's the only way it could have been.
Was this review helpful to you?
