About the acting I must say Jun Ho (I didn't know him before) was spectacular. The female lead, Won Jin Ah, was great too, but Jun Ho's role seemed more difficult. He somehow managed to play a character who was strong and vulnerable at the same time. I must say I'm not a fan of those overly dramatic series where PTSD plays a big role. It becomes cheesy and unrealistic pretty fast. But Jun Ho did a really good job.
Enough praise. I would rate this series with a solid 10 if I only had to rate the first 9-10 episodes. But later on it became so cheesy suddenly. I know, other people may like this, but I felt it became so slow. Even Jun Ho's acting couldn't save this anymore. Don't get me wrong, it was still a good series, but they just dragged it out and made the character too emotional for me. Still the end was great and the series overall was just very well told. It was one of those series where I didn't feel like skipping parts (at least until episode 9-10).
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this is a story about pain and loneliness...
Just Between Lovers tells the stories of people who struggle but persevere in order to make something of their lives. Ten years ago, a mall that collapsed due to bad construction killed many people and altered the lives of the survivors. A man (Junho) lost his father as well as severely injured his leg and a woman (Won Jin Ah) lost her little sister. As they work on a new building project, they struggle to heal old wounds as they fall in love.Junho plays Lee Kang Doo. Kang Doo lost everything because of the mall collapse. His father, his dreams, and the chance at a normal life. Now he struggles to get by while living in debt. His situation is just bleak. He also deals with some severe Post Traumatic Stress from the accident. He’s a very rough around the edges and straight forward guy. But watching him deal with traumatic memories that brought him so much pain and so many tears ripped my heart out.
Won Jin Ah is Ha Moon Soo. After her little sister was killed in the accident, her family never fully recovered. And she deals with survivors guilt for living when her sister didn’t. The accident also led her down a career path building models for new buildings to identify any problems. This ultimately leads her to cross paths with Kang Doo.
Then we have Lee Ki Woo as Seo Joo Won. Joo Won’s life was also changed by the mall collapse. As an architect at the company Moon Soo works for, he’s always working to prevent a similar tragedy to the one in the past. On the outside, he seems to have everything, but underneath that he is a lonely man who also struggles with the past.
Just Between Lovers is a sad but beautiful story. The script was well thought out with all scenes and character interactions having importance. The cinematography is gorgeous in this drama. So many shots beautifully depict the landscape as well as the emotional weight of the character’s interactions. The wonderful soundtrack also enhances this. The songs create a hauntingly bittersweet tone that really tugged at my heartstrings.
Just Between Lovers is sort of a slow burn kind of drama. It takes a few episodes to really get everything set up and then it carefully makes it’s way through the story. Despite having a slower feel to it, it was paced really well. There were some times during the latter third that I found a bit draggy, but overall the drama is very engaging.
These are two people that are in immense pain, and they feel alone in their struggles. But connecting with each allows them to explore their shared connection and understand that they are not alone in their pain. They each have a lot of issues to work through both personally and as a couple, but their relationship is the definition of a healing one. Now almost everyone in this drama is experiencing varying levels of misery. Everyone has problems and most are struggling to get through them. Something I really appreciated with this drama was how it handled the topic of past trauma. It doesn’t sugar coat things. Many people expect victims of trauma to just get over it and move on. But this drama shows that these experiences have lifelong effects.
Losing a loved one will always leave a hole in your heart. Traumatic memories of pain and suffering can haunt you and cause you physical pain throughout your life. You also never fully understand someone else’s pain. And even when people do begin to heal, things will never be completely okay again. But for the characters in the drama, it meant that they needed to work even harder to be happy. It was all portrayed so achingly true to life.
Just Between Lovers told it’s story beautifully. It’s depiction of trauma and healing was heartachingly real. But even in the midst of tragedy, life does goes on. And those struggling need others to reach out to them and show them that they are not alone. They may not be able to heal all their wounds, but it’s better to have someone to share that pain with and to ease the burden if only by a small amount. Knowing you are not alone can make all the difference.
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My biggest gripe is...
They work on this memorial through out most of the drama. We get to see some of the stories of the families of the victims and survivors. They even send out announcements to attend the unveiling. Guess what? We never get to see the friggin' memorial!!! I thought we would get to see the families gather and heal.
Instead we get episodes of the female lead blaming herself for crap she had no control over. To some degree I can understand the writer because the mother basically blamed the female lead for her involvement in her sister's death so it is kind of expected that she would blame herself for other things too. Still, it is annoying. Also, the stupid disease for the male lead is just too much. It is borderline ridiculous. I enjoyed the first 8 to 10 episodes and if the writer had kept to the vein of the leads supporting each other as they built this memorial, then it would have been a better story. The writer could have even put in more stories of those in the accident. I get it is a melo and I love melos, but this kind of went in circles at one point. I will say that I like the fact that there wasn't really a love triangle and there was no vindictive second male or female lead. The side stories were pretty good. The highlights of the drama is Kim Kang Hyun as Sang Man and Park Hee Bon as Kim Wan Jin. They are outstanding friends to the lead characters. I felt some of the stories weren't resolved or too easily resolved and some were rushed, because the writer concentrated too much on that stupid disease instead of giving me closure.
Lee Jun Ho surprised me. He is a good actor and pulled out all his emotions for Lee Kang Doo. I think he had pretty descent chemistry with Woo Jin Ah (Ha Moon Soo). The kissing scenes left a little to be desired, but she will probably get better. I think she did well pulling out the emotions expected of her. It isn't her fault the writer messed her character up some. The other actors are good also.
The music is well done.
I will never rewatch this.
This is a good drama, but don't get your expectations up too high reading all those 9 and 10 reviews. I do recommend it to people who like melos.
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The Will To Move Forward
This melodrama a.k.a. "Rain or Shine" has good reviews, but I waited a long time before seeing it, because I usually like tv shows that cheer me up after working hours. Now I'm glad I did it. Just Between Lovers is heavy stuff, but also a touching story about a tragic event, its devastating impact on everybody involved, and the will to move forward.Summary
The drama begins with the quarreling teenager Ha Moon Soo. Her mother wants her to babysit her younger sister. Moon Soo has other plans for the day, she likes to meet her boyfriend at the local shopping mall. Moon Soo decides to bring her sister along, leaving her at the escalators, speeding towards her date meanwhile observed, and secretly admired by another schoolboy, the 15 year old Lee Gang Doo.
Suddenly, the whole shopping mall collapses due to a construction failure, taking the life of 48 people, including Ha Moon Soo’s sister and boyfriend.
Moon Soo and Gang Doo both survive the catastrophe, but their life and dreams are shattered. She is living with guilt towards her parents who aren’t able to cope with their grief. Moon Soo’s mother is a drunk, her father abandons them. Gang Doo spends his days as a lone wolf, fighting through physical and emotional pain, struggling to support his sister and pay back a hefty debt.
Ten years later they meet again as they both work for the same company led by the off spring of the managers who were once responsible for the disastrous shopping mall. Everybody wants to atone for the past by planning a better construction this time at the accident site. Will they be able to move forward and embrace the future?
The Good
This drama is unique, unlike any other k-drama I’ve seen. The male lead isn’t the usual rich, nasty tempered, or cold man. He is very intense, a tragic anti hero, disturbed by heavy melancholy. The female lead isn’t the typical poor, bubbly girl. She’s a total introvert. Perhaps she was once a sassy teenager, now she’s a Plain Jane suffering from parentification.
It’s wonderful to see how damaged people manage to develop feelings, let alone romantic feelings for each other. The romance and human relationships are so beautiful in this drama.
Every character is well written, not good, not bad, with uncertainties and flaws. The story is based on a real disaster in 1995 when the Sampoong Departmental Store in Seoul collapsed, killing 501 people, but the focus is on the aftermath, and the will to move on.
The Bad
Some storylines minimize the huge impact of the first episodes, making it less realistic. The story arc of Moon Soo's parents is very depressing, if not dull. They don't show any character development.
Gang Doo encounters every problem possible, this was really too much for me to behold, but his mental illness, a Post Traumatic Syndrome, is downsized like he has the flew, simply cured by a cuddle from Moon Soo.
Verdict
All in all this drama is superb and a MUST SEE. The casting is perfect, the chemistry on point. Kudos for Lee Jun Ho’s screen appeal. I fell for his character, not only as a romantic interest, but also as a lonely boy who takes life lessons from an old medicine woman played by veteran actress Na Moon Hee. I loved their interaction.
All actors did a good job. They gave the story an authentic feel. The beautiful cinematography and soundtrack added to the look and feel of a high budget movie. So if you're ready for some heartfelt sorrow besides intense romance, this is for you.
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The beauty of this show: Moon-soo is outwardly quiet and shy and Kang-doo loud and reckless. They look like two characters from completely different dramas that lost their way.. And yet, by the end, they are at such ease with each other.
The actor playing Kang-doo especially shines at having an outwardly aggressive personality but hiding a responsible and conscientious heart. He is a great physical actor and he's just electric (even with that extremely ugly haircut)
The actress playing Moon-soo holds her own as someone who has a hidden darkness, recklessness and stubbornness underneath her mousy exterior.
The one drawback to the show is that it's a little long, and all the PTSD flashbacks loose their impact over time. The first time it fills you with horror, but they go back to it again and again and it looses its emotional hold.
As with all the best shows - I wish I could have stayed with the characters longer, and I was really crossing my fingers that they would figure things out.
I grade on other criteria:
Complex Themes - 10
On corruption and passing blame, survivor's guilt, learning how to heal and forgive, on when it's good to be stubborn, when it's good to be sacrificing v. protecting yourself, family dysfunctions, poverty, and coping with illness, death and disability
Character Growth - 8
It's more that each episode reveals one more level/layer to the two characters. Both help each other slowly integrate their outer identity with their inner self.
Female Relationships/Friendships - 9
Moon-soo herself is a great character - someone who is using great willpower everyday to be responsible and keep her head down, yet having this really stubborn, dark more difficult streak underneath. Moon-soo has a really good, supportive female friendship (with someone who is disabled, and a creative, and just a cool character). Moon-soo's dysfunctional relationship with her mother is shown in all its complexity.
Cinematography/Production Values - 9
The mall collapse/construction site scenes were really well done, everything felt a bit grimy and lived in and worn down in a very realistic way. There were also interesting uses of light, music, and camera angles that gave a more 'film/movie' type feel.
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Trauma =/= good drama
I've watched a couple a k-dramas over the last weeks and apparently I've forgot to say something about them.So, about this one. I've watched this drama 7 days ago I think and I've already forgot a lot about it but here it goes.
One of the few dramas with a consistent plot. Usually you get a story that can happen no matter the background story. Here, it kinda needs this particular one, so that's a big plus. For the most part, obviously. A couple of things don't make sense and exist only to add drama and such.
Next, the acting. Amazing acting for the Male Lead. At the opposite pole, Female Lead sucks big time. Thinking a bit more, almost any other actress did a decent to phenomenal job, except the Lead one. The fact that she got maybe 2 scenes done ok, doesn't mean she's good. Yeah, sometimes (only sometimes) she looks kinda cute, but I prefer acting over looks.
Lets see, what next? Soundtrack. I don't remember exactly but I think it was something lousy/annoying.
I don't know what more to say. This drama will try and hit you at the feels. Its about trauma, how someone is affected and how they deal with it. Some reviewers think that trauma = carte blanche and they praise it and gave it top notes. I don't do that. I'm interested in the story and the acting, as one should be, no matter the subject. But I will say that you can go for this one. Mostly because the main Lead Actor carries this whose drama by itself as he's charismatic and his acting skills are quite good. Plus the second lead and a couple of supporting ones. Next to them, some of the ladies. Except for the Main Lead Actress.
I guess thats it. Have a lovely evening.
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First half is worth it
I really thought this drama is going to be something different and special, and it was... until it wasn't. Others have gone into that, so I won't, but suffice to say, it went from a solid 9 in the first half to completely unwatchable for me in the last few episodes.The soundtrack became annoyingly repetitive as well.
As for the acting, I think it was great, nothing mind-blowing but nothing bad either. I don't get why some people disliked the female lead, I thought she did great with what she was given to work with.
Both characters had their annoying moments but ultimately it was the need for more and more drama that killed this series for me.
I also found the other characters plot lines quite boring, despite the characters themselves being interesting.
Overall I'd still recommend and praise the first part for its impact and execution, but I advise against wasting your time with the rest unless you don't mind the shortcomings.
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Let me review this title after 4 years
This was my first ever drama back in 2019, I rewatched it recently for the second time. Of all dramas I’ve watched, this is the most realistic. Actors play their roles perfectly, the plot is creative, the storyline is simple, yet with a lot of conflicts that are realistic and really tugs at your heart. Everything is flowing at a perfect pace. This drama deserves an endless amount of awards. This drama really holds a unique charm like no other. In terms of cinematography I can confidently say I have never, in my years of watching k- dramas, seen anything quite like it. Every shot has an amazing authenticity to it and the palette for each frame is stunning, it feels just like a movie. It’s good at focusing on the details that create a view of life seen through the eyes of those living it. It strays from the widespread use of commercial lighting and taking one shot from 20+ angles and instead focuses on the brilliant visual storytelling and the raw emotion between characters.Was this review helpful to you?
An Emotional Rollercoaster
What the Heck! I’m sitting here in the dark sobbing my axx off! I went into this drama completely unaware of anything about it. I heard it was a good show about how all the characters are connected with their past and their present. And I recognized the lead female and was like okay, let’s do it….When I get ahold of the girl that recommended this show to me….. MANNNN This show put me through it! I was not prepared to be this invested into it, I was looking for a filler, something different and calm,, No. THE TEARS IVE CRIED!!!!!! But it was so dang good! This Story is heartbreaking and it will absolutely have you in a chokehold. This male lead makes you feel, he did such a wonderful job with his character. This was my first time watching a drama with him, He’s not your typical male lead. This guy works his azz off and tries so hard to keep everything together and to look out for everyone dear to him. He is grouchy, with a heart of gold, I was hook line and sinker for him. My heart absolutely broke for him and everything he has had to endure, but through it all he never broke or gave up. Our Female lead was another beautifully written character, you got to see inside the brokenness of the aftermath from the tragedy. You feel her pain and her family’s, all the families. Gosh the emotional is so raw and real. The Love ties are all so well played out and you can’t help but root for each relationship. The only reason I didn’t give this a 10 was because I just kinda felt like we needed more the ending with the tragedy was quickly over shadowed with Kang-Do and kinda just wrapped up too nicely. I was so busy feeling the grief and then the relief of the ending that once it ended I realized it was done too quickly and easily. I highly recommend it! But definitely be ready with the tissue!Was this review helpful to you?
