The character arcs are extremely well written and are backed by a strong cast. I empathized so much with Im Sang Mi throughout her struggles with Guseonwon. As well as the antagonists were so interesting with all of their different motives and power plays. Woo Do Hwan in his role of Seok Dong Cheul was transfixing. He really is everything you want in an underdog. This rookie performance will forever be a stand out for him. The only performance I was completely underwhelmed with was Ok Taec Yeon’s Han Sang Hwan. His character is pretty flat and lack luster.
I strongly recommend watching this drama. If you are looking for something different, a little spooky with good writing and story-telling, pick this ONE! Even if this doesn’t seem like your thing, still try this one on for size! It is quite a ride!!!
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It is a plot that has absorbed me completely. I have strongly experienced the story of Im Sang-mi. I also felt a great regret (and anger) about the situation that Woo Do-hwan's character found himself in.
And here I would like to mention one of my favorite actors - Woo Do-hwan - because, as usual, his acting convinces me. I like the fact that I can meet him in different roles. I'm counting on further productions with him.
I also liked Ok Taec-yeon because he gave the impression of being a man to feel safe with. Even through the screen.
The music has a special effect on the viewer's emotional perception. I cannot get rid of my head the melody from the song "Hallucination" by The Vane. It is a song that I will certainly remember for a long time. It made this drama one of those I will recommend to my friends.
The ending is as you could have planned. And well, it is good.
I fully recommend the drama. You can't miss it!
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I loved this drama. The story-line was so good. It was so good that sometimes it gave me anxiety for being so invested in the characters and the story. I think the length of the drama was perfect and most (if not all) of the plot lines were tied up by the end of the show.
Acting/Cast:
They were so beautiful. Seo Ye Ji was perfect for the lead role, I genuinely felt for her character and was super invested in her. Ok Taec Yeon's character was good, not my favorite but he definitely pulled off the role. I'm glad he wasn't your typical rich guy character. Jo Sung Ha was an amazing villain but in my opinion my favorite of the villains was Jo Jae Yun's character. Jo Jae Yun surprised me this time around, I've seen him a lot in supporting roles but this is one of my favorite of his. Woo Do Hwan stole the show away. In my opinion I liked his character more than Taec Yeon's. Dong Chul (Do Hwan) went through so much and yet still was a good person. Lastly I wanted to talk about Lee David and Park Ji Young. I've only seen him (David) once or twice other than in Save Me and his character was a perfect comic relief but still had a serious side. I'm so glad Ji Young was chosen as one of the cast members, she never fails. She portrayed the character brilliantly.
(Also a shout out to the actors/actresses who played Sang Mi's family, they were amazing!)
Music:
The music was ominous and not annoying like in most dramas. I'm glad the music was like this.
Rewatch Value:
I've already rewatched it once and I'll probably rewatch it again some day. I also got my family to watch it with me and they liked it a lot!
Overall:
I definitely suggest checking this drama out if you haven't already! It's one of the best dramas of 2017. Go watch it!
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...Because apparently women cant't do anything except get hit in the face...
This drama has a dark atmosphere and will make you feel frustration and helplessness. It's like screaming when no one's listening.
For the sensitive viewers:
It does not contain any grotesque scenes to be honest. The worst you will encounter is insanity. Other than that, sharp objects or other unpleasant things will be blurred out. (Of course, this is South Korean television were talking about. People are sent to the army but are not allowed to see sharp objects or dead animals... dead humans are fine though... )
I did not cry one single time!
The plus side:
The acting was very good. I think they all did a very good job. Considering how difficult the characters must have been to portray I think everyone did it perfectly.
It was well executed. The pace was comfortable and it was filmed in a very creepy way.
The minus side:
The women drove me a bit crazy. For some reason the after taste of this drama, tasted like WEAK WOMEN. I felt like all women in this drama were so fragile. Even a little push would break them. The men though, they were punching and kicking like animals...
I would have wanted some romance. The focus was in the right place but giving the audience one emotion for all 16 episodes is like chewing gum. It loses taste. I would have wanted the writers to fit in some physical contact between Sang Mi and Dong Cheol (Don't get me wrong. I mean a hug or something). If you watch this drama you will understand how much it would help. It wouldn't have to be a big deal. Just show a different kind of weakness. The one where you take a second to borrow strength, then recharge.
All in all, it was executed perfectly and it had a great story. I'm Just crabby cause I'm picky
This is the "forced into a cult with your family and being the only sane one, while society is too corrupt to save you" drama.
ENJOY!
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traumatic but really good
Omg this drama is so good, like the acting, the story, production, EVERYTHING.yes, it's a really deep drama with real story and strong topics, so be careful if you're sensitive to those things.
There were scenes that made me feel goosebumps because the acting was so good that you'll feel it in your skin.
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What I loved: 1.) wow! The beginning of this show hits you like a punch! I was hooked emotionally so quickly, crying like a baby for nearly 4 eps straight lolol the storyline continued to be amazing as it developed and I was continually impressed. 2.) the characters, even the side characters, were very well fleshed out. It's not common that you find that in tv shows. very well done here.
3.) omg the soundtrack is outstanding. Melancholic, moody, dark.
4.) excellent acting! For one character, for example, I've never hated someone so much. Honestly, I wanted to reach through the screen and strangle him!
5.) I think from a psychological standpoint, cults are fascinating. They eased you into their world and as a viewer, really made you question what is happening. I wish more shows were like Save Me. Feel like I can always rely on OCN to deliver what I crave, a dark show that hooks me into the story within the first episode.
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The plot was well done. It started out slow at first but the pace added to the mysteriousness of the whole plot. Everything was all written in a way to let the readers join in the ride of how everything will unfold. Every episode you will be asking yourself what they would do next, how are they going to salvage the situation and or is someone going to die? This keeps the viewers enough curiosity to see the whole story through.
The characters are all commendable. Every single one did an outstanding job, although in my opinion Taec Yeon did less good in acting in this drama. He was outshone by Do Hwan and his character Dong Cheol. In all honesty at some point in the drama I did not care what Sang Hwan was going to do because I was so focused on Dong Cheol. The way he portrayed his character was spot on. It was satisfying to watch. Aside from that I can feel Sang Mi and Dong Cheol's chemistry way more than Do Hwan (but then again this is no romance drama). I also like Seo Ye Ji and her character. The way she portrayed a beautiful, cold, brave and fragile character deserves and applause. The characters who deserved a standing ovation in my opinion was Sang Mi's mother and the Spiritual Father. Their characters were two crazies in this drama you can't help but cringe and commend at the same time. The character who changed the most in this drama was Sang Mi's father. You would hardly recognize him before and after he entered Goosunwon. He was still like a father with the added sinister aura that was not there before he was converted. Every viewer probably felt that too and that made him a good actor.
The songs on this drama were really good. It complimented the theme of the story so well and might I say some of them are quite addictive to listen to. I just know some of you will be asking what song playing.
The re-watch value of this drama for me is 7. Like I said it's not something that many people can stomach, especially if religion is a very sensitive topic for you. I know the practice of Christians very well because I am one too and I would just say that they hit close to home. Although the drama had already made a precaution that everything was just written and made for the drama, you should also know that they are basing it with at least one religion and their practices. What I am saying is that you should not judge it for being too close and watch it with an open mind, or if you really can't help it, just don't compare it to something you know and watch the drama for its amazing plot line and roaster of characters.
Overall I enjoyed this drama and thankful that I stumbled on it one day. You won't regret this one for sure.
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This really happened in the United States I remember this very well. "The members of the group in 1997, identified by the authorities as Heaven's Gate, referred to themselves as angels, dressed alike in androgynous black clothes and buzz haircuts, and ran a business, Higher Source, that designed commercial home pages for the Internet. The co-founder of the cult, Marshall Herff Applewhite, 65, was among the dead, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office said".
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A lot more hype than what it really was...
Perhaps I am a little biased with my review... I went into watching this with a lot of expectations. And could you reeeally blame me though? Casting looked great, interesting premise, interesting genres, and a pretty good trailer as well. It seemed like a foolproof recipe for success. But... It kind of wasn't. For me, at least.STORY: It definitely started off being interesting. And don't get me wrong, overall, it was. However, what missed the mark for me was that they could've gone further with the backstory of the apostles and spiritual father. In my opinion, that really lost me. I could forget that the pacing was so bad, it took til like episode 9 to finally start picking up, I could forget that they stretched 8 episodes out senselessly (when it really could've been like 4 episodes), aaanD that it took til like episode 14-15 to get the FULL picture of the backstory of the apostles and the spiritual father...
I could forget ALL of that.
But to not at least give us what we really wanted, the backstory of how these characters came to be.... Well, that was absolutely unforgivable in my books.
CASTING: Cannot complain, casting was good.
MUSIC: Did the job right, made me feel anxious, in suspense of what's to come. It wasn't particularly memorable tbh.
REWATCH: Verry unlikely to rewatch.
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So why the low rewatch value? Well, the answer to that is simple, it's just too intense. This was possibly the most intense drama I've ever watched. It was a rollercoaster of emotions but the suspense was MAD. Every episode I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I shared the anxiety of the characters. It really does get terrifying at some points, though it's not a horror, the events are just so suffocating and horrific but realistic at the same time. Cults like this do actually exist. It such a unique drama. I'm usually someone who loves some romance in my dramas, and although I would've liked something to happen between her and Dong Cheol, I don't even mind that it didn't. The powerful storyline overcomes that.
I definitely would recommend this to anyone who can handle it's brutal and spine chilling storyline.
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This review may contain spoilers
Prior to this, I had the misfortune of watching a couple of average dramas which were disappointing overall. So this one was a breath of fresh air and very welcome. THINGS I LOVED:
>Story: The idea of a girl and her family getting trapped in a creepy cult is not something often seen in kdrama land. It was very interesting. The pacing was good and the cliffhangers were well-placed. I also loved that there was a strong female lead. I'm also glad that there was little to no romance since that would've been completely out of place. I also like how the drama shows the gritty gruesome reality of bullying among males in particular and what it leads to. The story is also very realistic in the sense that the cult followers don't just snap out of a spell when their cult is exposed, but they hold on to their beliefs much more strongly when confronted with the reality.
>Acting: Seo Ye Ji's acting is amazing. Her fear, her outrage, her doubts, her mental breakdowns were all too real and very believable. She made the character come alive and turned into Sang Mi. Another actor who wowed me was Woo Do Hwan, who completely fits the bad boy-but-soft-inside vibe with his looks as well as his expressions. And his expressions were so on point! When he cried, he cried with his face and his whole body. He completely stole every scene he was in. I also loved the supporting characters, and the main villain was very good at making me hate him.
>Characters: I loved the strength of the main female lead. She fights for her brother, and then fights to keep her family hold on after his death, and then she fights against the cult till the very end. She's sharp-eyed and quick in reacting. She can keep a poker face and her wits when faced with life-threatening moments. She has her tender moments when she cares for Jeong Goo and mourns his death. Even when asking others to save her, she does more than half the saving by herself. The friendship of the male characters was nicely portrayed, and the few scenes containing humor were well-done though I'm glad there wasn't too much of that.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
>Loose/Incomplete Plot Elements and Details:
(1) I wish the drama had shown a little more backstory to the main villain, Baek Jung Ki, and his relationship with Jo Wan Tae. There should've been a few flashbacks to show that they'd done this cult thing in other towns as well, and how they'd wrapped up and gotten away before being convicted. Baek Jung Ki's mental state is not pursued fully, and there was potential in that. They could've shown him as a person suffering from DID or a plain psychopath.
(2) The mystery behind the holy water blessed by the cult leader wasn't taken to it's end. Was it drugged as well? Was it just a placebo? I mean it worked instantly on Sang Mi's father so I'm assuming at least some kind of hallucinogen was involved?
(3) The dead female reporter's body was never found, nor was Sang Mi very grieved to hear of her disappearance. I mean, she was a super strong ally, even though she was not very close to Sang Mi as a friend. Her boss's reaction to her death wasn't shown either. It made the whole reporter plotline seem very irrelevant. She didn't get any concrete evidence and Deong Cheol was way better at spying and ferreting out evidence than she was. She was careless enough to get caught as well. So I guess I didn't get the point of her being included.
(4) I didn't really get the point of the plotline with the ex-convicts/thugs and what their motives were. Also, the scenes involving one thug taking on dozens of armed men was just too cliche.
(5) The last episode was a bit of a let down. Sang Mi's mother meeting Sang Hwan's mother by chance when the latter was brought to Guseonwon, and the sudden immolation of Baek Jung Ki (although ironic and apt) was a bit hard to swallow.
(6) I'm surprised Sang Mi's dad didn't go along with Apostle Kang in her new cult. Rather than a loner, he seemed like an eager-to-serve slave who likes to remain in the shadows of the leader and become his arms. It would've made so much sense for him to latch onto Apostle Kang and do her dirty work in the new cult.
(7) Sang Hwan's mom regains control of her body in the nick of time. Now you're stretching my suspension of disbelief.
>Acting:
I don't know if I'm the only one, but Taecyeon's acting in this drama sucked. He had the exact same face when shocked, grieved, disappointed, thoughtful, heartbroken, or angry. It was the same face. It was disappointing.
>Character:
Again, Taecyeon's character, Sang Hwan was dull and naive, especially when compared to Sang Mi's. He was too trusting of his father, he kept making mistake after mistake, and he seemed to rely too much on his friends. If Sang Mi was sharp and quick-witted, Sang Hwan was the opposite. I guess you can say it was like a gender role reversal, with the male being naive and slow to act and the female being a bold character. But Sang Hwan often seemed a little childish.
So yeah, I enjoyed it but there was definitely room for improvement.
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very dark drama
I'm afraid if I finish this I'll have a mental breakdown cuz it's so sad and tragic I can't imagine how the characters feel when they filmed this ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Was this review helpful to you?
