ACTING/CHARACTERS
Lee jun ho was perfect for the role of Gang Doo. The way he portrayed this flawed and tortured character was on-point. i feel that no one could have portrayed Gang Doo better. Gang Doo is a great guy that's been too so much but still keeps on going, you'll fall in love with him when you watch this.
Like Jun Ho, Woo jin ah was an excellent ha moon soo. Moon soo was perhaps the only person who could have made Gang soo's life better.
There wasn't any really antagonist in this drama even the supposed baddie we're introduced to in the first episode isn't all bad. Each character has their reasons for behaving a certain way.
STORY
I love the story line of this drama. There were no unnecessary moments or characters and nothing felt out of place. There are no moments where you'll feel that something in the drama was no needed. There realism in this drama is also something that needs to be appreciated.
MUSIC
The music for each scene suited so well. Sad scenes were sadder by the background music.
This drama deserves an award or awards.
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These characters felt incredibly real. With a lot of shows, even if you like the acting and never doubt that the actor is their character, it remains that they are playing a character. The people in this drama felt like people. The events that happened could actually happen. Anyone here could be someone you meet on the street. And I think that feeling, like these could be people you know, really lent itself to how emotional this drama was. This drama was equal parts heart-wrenching and heart-warming.
The relationships in this drama are also noteworthy, and I'm not talking just about the romance. Our main male lead has a 'found family' of so many different, odd, beautiful people. The way people care for each other throughout this show was wonderful.
Just Between Lovers is a marvel. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind heartache and likes emotional connection with their shows.
I do NOT recommend this show to people who have been through traumatic experiences similar to being trapped underground or having a building collapse and suffered PTSD, because this show does not hold back in that regard and I would hate if it triggered their PTSD and/or made them panic.
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However, I cannot emphasise how much this drama means to me; it is absolutely beautiful and a bit haunting too. Just like the music, actually. The cinematography is also really good.
But I feel like I should warn others before watching it: If you have depression, please be careful. This drama will affect you emotionally and it is the only drama where I have cried for the majority of episodes.
In saying that, though, there are happy, cute, heartwarming and funny moments in this too. It is a slow paced drama, something I usually avoid, but there's something about it that just keeps drawing me back to it. I have watched it multiple times since it came out. I have the soundtrack. I often rewatch scenes just for the cute or funny moments.
I highly, highly recommend this drama.
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From the outside, it seems like your regular drama. To be very honest, it was on the heavy side. I am not a super fan of melodramas, but this one got me hooked from the start. I was emotionally invested in Gang Doo and Moon Soo. I wanted to know how everything will unfold before them and how their reactions are going to be. The writers never failed to surprise me. They plucked every string of my heart. I was laughing with them, crying with them, getting mad with them.
All the main characters, side characters, and supporting roles contributed to the storyline. There was no scene that I felt the need to skip. I even had to rewind a lot of scenes. The character growth for every individual was incredible. I felt the importance that their stories were also shown in this Korean drama.
Overall, “Just Between Lovers” should be on your top list to watch! You will feel all kinds of emotions when watching this drama. Prepare lots of tissues because you will cry buckets of tears, but at the same time, you will rally for their successes.
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The storyline was perfect. It was simple but at the same time it is painful, very realistic. It was more than just a romance, it was also about family, friends and even self. Both the leads had gone through such a devastating incident and even after more than a decade, they are haunted. Two broken souls fixed each other. Even if it means lending broken parts to the each other. The story was sad, but that's the reality of life. People come and go, trauma happens, illness arrives.. and that's life. We may think we're at worst, but we have no idea others may have it worse.
The acting was superb! Especially the one who portrayed Lee Kang Doo! I heard he's an idol and he's underappreciated but I admit he's really good. I felt all the emotions, I felt the character. Lee Kang Doo's character was written perfectly. At first he was just a troublemaker, but as the story goes on he made me realized how good of a person he is. His life was never easy. He had gone through a lot. But despite the hardships, he was really strong, thoughtful, kind, loving and all the positive attitude I can elaborate! As for Ha Moon Soo's character, she was played really well by the actress. I also felt the pain and the emotion. I liked that her character is not fragile considering she's been through a lot. She never gave up despite everything.
I also liked all the supporting role. Jin Wan Unni, Jin Wan's boyfriend, Sang Man, Sang Man's mom, So Mi, Grandma, Mari, Team Leader and all the side casts I forgot to mention. I felt sad for the CEO (the 2nd lead guy) because hello second lead syndrome. Even for Jeong Yoo Jin, I taught she was going to be just a typical 2nd lead we all will hate but guess what, she's not. I liked her character so much and she was really outstanding, but sadly her lovestory didn't end well.
The music fits the drama really well! It was so good and it's perfect for the drama.
For rewatch, I will definitely watch it all again even if it means feeling the pain over again.
And.. am I the only one who cried the whole last episode? I don't usually cry but this drama hit me!
P.S. If you are considering watching this, get your tissues ready.
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At first when I was in confusion whether to see it or not when I doesn't seen the drama yet , I thought it wont be good to watch cause from the trailers and all it doesn't made me eager to watch it. . But when I just watched the first episode it made me regret what I thought. Am really regretting why I hadnt seen it yet.
It has a unique plot that we had never seen yet .and the chemistry between the main leads it was so amazing as they both are meant to each other. It's not our typical Korean love story, it's just unique and the most cute love story I have ever seen. It gives u so much to ur heart ones u watch it. The cast is so so perfect to portray the amazing characters in this drama.
It's such a wonderful and amazing drama which gives you more happiness and so much good feelings ,movements ,memories to ur life which so memorable. It's gives us so much human values and we will smile from our hearts while watching it. It's hard to express in words how the drama is. The story is just cute. And is more realistic than any dramas .no drama can ever compare to it. It has a unique spot. Such a mind blowing and cute love story about friendship and many more things. If u hadn't watched this drama yet, please don't wait, don't think anything just go and watch it, even if u don't like love story as I do u will definitely love this one, trust me. So don't think what others are saying about this drama just give it a try, am pretty sure that it will catch ur mind and make u watch it full and when u finish u can't get over it never. Such an amazing one. May be u may think that it's boring or something at first episode or second. Sometimes third episode too. But trust me after that it will make u watch it and will be ur one ur favorite drama forever. Just give it a try. It's really an heart warming story
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Story - This story was unique and unlike many I’ve seen. The beginning immediately grasped my attention and it went up from there. Elaborating on the relationship; both fit very well together and you can expect some danger along with fluff in their romance. You can really see the chemistry. You mix in a little bit of DANG WE’RE SCREWED and AWW into one and that’s what you get with this. Each cliffhanger in each episode made me never want to stop. It was to the point where I looked at the clock and realized it was 2am. I know, relatable right?
Acting/Cast - These 2 main leads did a terrific job at portraying their characters. They made it very realistic in each of their situations. You won’t get any of that weird cliche tension in this drama. Some of the supporting character roles were a bit cringe, I gotta admit, but the majority was great. The male lead, Junho, is in a kpop group called 2PM if you didn’t know, so if you come out of this experience liking him, you can see more of him!
Music - The music had a slow, dazing feeling, almost like you were going to bed. On the site I watched this drama on, they unfortunately had to mute some of the song audio because of copyright issues, but I was to lazy to visit another site. The only nit picky thing I’d have to say is that the majority of songs keep playing repeatedly.
Rewatch Value - To put it straightforward, I don’t usually rewatch the dramas that I’ve already seen. But I had to give this rate an 8 or else the overll rate would be lower and I DON’T WANT THAT!
Overall - It was honestly such a refreshing drama and I’m excited to see what’s in store next. Until we meet again!
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I can't even begin to express how much I appreciated and enjoyed this drama.
Story:
It is nothing I have ever seen. As seen in the description, it revolves around two people still experiencing the trauma and after effects of a shopping mall collapse. Not only that, it is precisely just that. First of all, I must thank the scriptwriter because he or she did an amazing job planning how the characters and plot line would be portrayed. Instead of making the collapse an absolute tragedy for the characters, they also made it so the characters would grow and connect more with other characters in the story. From all the dramas I've watched, it has been so long since I've seen such character development.
Not only that, instead of the characters moving on from the tragedy and forgetting it, they moved on while remembering the event and who was affected. They healed while keeping the event in heart because, in a way, remembering healed them. The romance story, which is the main focus of the drama, is definitely not to be missed. There was so much support from both sides that it was such a true and trusting relationship. There was so much chemistry between Ha Moon Soo and Lee Gang Doo that it pushed the two leads forward and matured them. That is not something that happens often between two people.
Throughout the drama I was so captured and stunned by the storyline, that I thought, "Wow, this is one of a kind."
Acting/Cast:
To start off with, round of applause to the actors. The acting is absolutely something that cannot be described. It's phenomenon. The characters and the intentions of the characters have never been so successfully played by actors. Often, when I watch a drama, I often think of what the actor must be thinking or how the actor was portraying the character being played. However, when watching Just Between Lovers, nothing related to the actor came to mind. I was too focused on the characters themselves that they blended into the actors. The characters just seemed so real that I didn't think about who the actors were.
This especially happened with Lee Gang Doo. Never has this happened to me, where I was sincerely thinking and trying to understand what the character was going through. As a teenager and adult, he had gone through so much that I couldn't even begin to explain, that I really wanted him to finally find his happiness with Ha Moon Soo; which was obtained with her love and support for him.
Music:
Let me just start with saying, I hated the music. Just when I thought things were bad with how sad the storyline was, the music suddenly flips on and makes it so sad, to the point I didn't even have the heart to cry. Compared to other dramas, Just Between Lovers didn't have that many songs. However, the songs went so well with the drama's scenes that I believed it didn't need anymore. But, still, the music broke my heart numerous times. That's the only reason why I'm not giving a full on 10 stars. I want to, but every time I listen to the music my heart just immediately shatters. It was so good, yet so sad.
Rewatch Value:
1 word: ABSOLUTELY. This is my first drama that I'm actually willingly watching again, without hesitation. Take my word for it. This drama had taught me so much and reminded a lot of things that strayed from my mind. Support is the key. Your past is something that shaped you, use it to grow even more. Etc. I do not regret spending multiple hours on this drama and will definitely watch it again (when I'm ready to have my heart shattered again with this drama's vibes).
Overall:
Standing audience ovation for this drama's plot line, music, acting and characters, and its rewatch value. When I was on the episode 16 and its last scene, I was sobbing. However, I wasn't sobbing because I was sad, I was crying from relief. After everything that had happened, I was worn out FOR the characters. They had gone through so much, only to be faced with more tragedy, that I was lost as to how they were going to get through it. Then, when I saw how it was beginning to move behind them, I was overjoyed and finally at ease.
It's definitely not something to be missed in your drama watching career!
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This review may contain spoilers
Lengthy thoughts. I just wanted to keep an archive of how this drama made me feel :-)Up to date, I've already re-watched this drama twice. This means 3 times watching this drama, and all 3 times I'd managed to learn something from it. This is the kind of drama that makes you clutch your heart as if it'd shattered into pieces. Never have I not cry buckets when watching this.
Okay, first up: the plot. I would say it's a fairly cliche plot-line to be honest. The thing about a tragedy, followed by the trauma that the main leads face: it's a pretty common plot used in dramas. But here's the thing: this drama wholly focuses on how this tragedy affected not only the main leads, but the various other people involved in this, from their past, to their present, and then their future. And I love it. We get to see how the same tragedy affected the victims (dead or alive), the victims' family, the construction contractors, architects, and many others not mentioned but could be inferred. We get to see the trauma, the survivor's guilt, the lack of consideration or empathy to some extent. All these different perspectives shone through the different characters and the stories they brought along with them.
The cast and acting. I have absolutely no problems with them. Our main leads aren't the most amazing, groundbreaking actors out there, but they acted with so much sincerity and that made their characters shine. All the little flaws in their acting made their characters seem so much more real and human. Their characters aren't heroes, they are just as normal as any human is; beautiful, raw, broken yet strong. I loved how realistic the characters are, they all have their fair share of problems, and they all deal with their problems in their own ways and keep fighting to go on in their lives. It's such a wonderful process to see the characters' growth, especially in our main leads; how they slowly came together, understood, embraced and motivated each other to head towards a brighter life ahead. How beautiful is that? Just two humans, two lovers finding themselves in the process of finding each other. I cannot imagine a love story more beautiful and pure than this.
I especially loved the little moments between Kang Doo and Granny. How Granny would impart her little bits of wisdom, encouraging Kang Doo to let down his burdens and start opening up and live life more courageously and with purpose, not just recklessly. One line from Granny stuck with me long after watching this drama: "Be happy with all your might."
The little moments where our characters are simply just content with the peace in their lives? The drama made me appreciate that too. The feeling of "when today is becoming tomorrow and not much is going on", yeah, I really like it too.
The OST is just breathtakingly amazing. It is the only drama so far where I love every single song, no kidding. Every single song and its lyrics can be related to moments in the drama, especially so for Jun Ho's "True Love" as well as Chang Min's "With Me". Every lyric in these songs revolves around our main leads and their relationship, and it is truly beautiful.
To end off: with any tragedy that happened, it's never "only 48 people died", but rather, "as much as 48 people died".
This is a drama that makes me think long after every single time I watch it, it's a drama that made a lasting impact on me and makes me want to be a better version of myself. And every time I come out from watching a drama or movie feeling this way, I know it's definitely one that will remain special to me in many years to come.
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Real melodrama. I cried a lot. But I ended up incredibly in love.
Whoever you imagined would not sympathize at all, ended up liking ~ ~ even without wanting to admit ~, and you understand the feelings of each character,
where everyone suffers for something and has the marks of a tragedy.
At first I thought, "What a crazy story this is, oh my God, all them with a broken soul, and that never improves," but the evolution is very beautiful.
Some songs made me even more emotional, and the lyrics also very sentimental.
Very good performances, Jin Ah did well for his first drama, and Junho really impressed me.
I was very marked and the message that has remained in me is that we should always tell people close to us how much we like them, and that it can always be the last time, besides that even if a hurricane of bad things happens, you can rebuild, even without forgetting, and even carrying your marks of war.
I'm delighted, admired and don't know what to watch to overcome this.
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