Imagine you are sold a book with the cover of a travel guide and on reading discover that in fact it contains a romantic novel. You are captivated by the story and read it to the end, but you'll have to go out again to buy that travel book you didn't get in the first place.
That's exactly what happens when you start watching Scent of a Woman. You prepare yourself for a romantic comedy and find out that there isn't even a hint of comedy. The scenes which are meant to elicit a laugh range from painfully embarrassing to bitter-sweet.
But I loved it nonetheless. If the definition existed, I'd call this drama an "urgent passion". Urgency is the undercurrent of the whole show, to the point as a viewer I found myself praying for more time along the main female character. And passion for life is the glue that keeps all plot lines together.
The actors are amazing. All of them. I can safely say this is the best acted drama I've seen in a while. If you want to feel true empathy, cry, smile, grit your teeth or fall in love, watch this. The chemistry between the leads is tangible, and it grows so subtly and gradually it becomes a natural process in their story. I understood why they loved each other and not because the writer wanted me to, but because they were so incredibly believable.
The same applies to all the secondary characters. You'll grow to love them or hate them, they are not bi-dimensional people. They stay consistent to their nature and when/if they change they do so without pomp or unbelievable u-turns.
And I love that the message of this show is not a simple "live your life to the fullest". There's so much more. As I see it, the main theme of Scent of a Woman is: we are not alone here; everything we do, and the way we do it, effects the lives of those around us in a huge domino effect.
Message subtly told and beautifully executed.
Photography and attention to details are spotless.
I didn't really care for the music, but this is just me. It was chosen with sense and I appreciated the fact that it was in line with the show: elegant. I'm glad they didn't go for any lalala pop song, which would have ruined the mood.
Without spoiling the end of it, I need to say the last episode was simply perfect and beautiful, one of the reasons why I'm giving the drama a full 10.
Therefore, I'm going out now to buy that travel guide book I wanted, but I'll keep this beautiful love story bought by mistake on my shelf, for future re-reading/watching.
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Are you sure you want to watch this drama? Chongmalyo?
Kure.
Then you need a few things: a mind that understands, a heart that feels and loads upon loads of tissue paper.
As any Korean drama, Scent of a Woman starts of with the cliches: an indifferent chaebol (Kang Ji Wook) falls for a poor spinster (Lee Yeon Jae--who looks like she's in desperate need of a make-over) who turns out to have a terminal illness. The supporting male lead (Dr. Cha Eun Suk) has eyes for the heroine but could not confess his feelings, and there's the secondary female lead (Im Sae Kyung) who is a b*tchy daughter of a rich businessman and is arranged to marry the chaebol.
However what makes this drama special is how it successfully weaved its exceptional story to the growth of the characters episode by episode.
Yeon Jae develops a determined outlook in life to fulfill the things she had only dreamed of as a lowly desk employee of a touring agency and starts a bucket list of 20 things she wants to accomplish before she dies of gall bladder cancer. From her meek and docile character she learns how to appreciate herself and live life in search of her happiness. She develops a romantic relationship with Ji Wook and tries to stay away to prevent him from heartache in the future, but soon realizes that his love runs deep.
Kang Ji Wook, for his part, was painted as a mature and understanding person. From the meaningless and routinary life that he led, Ji Wook learns to appreciate life and to live life diligently. For all his worth, Ji Wook became Yeon Jae's pillar of strength and the most stable source of love she is able to draw from.
Secondary contradictions and side-stories also developed well in the drama--this makes for an air-tight storyline, with each side-story supporting the main one. Best parts are Hee Joo and her mom (this convinces Yeon Jae to confess to her mom), Ji Wook and his dad (he fights for his love and the right to be with Yeon Jae), Dr. Cha Eun Suk's character development (from a cold, detached doctor to a person who feels), Yeon Jae's mom and seongsangnim Kim Dong Min (she says sorry and lets her mom re-marry).
Prepare to cry your eyes out by the latter episodes from heartaches. However these heartaches are necessary to drive at resolutions at the end. I found the heaviest part when Yeon Jae finally confesses to her mom of her condition. Her mother's wail, tears and 'Eottoke' lines delivered like she was going crazy drove ME crazy. Interestingly, I felt this was the climax, not scenes with Ji Wook as their reconciliation was resolved earlier.
I could not have asked for a better ending. Like many others I was cringing at the end because I knew from the start that it was a tragedy and death was inevitable. And yet, Scent of a Woman chose not to end with a tragic note. It provided closure to unresolved relations, uplifts us and leaves us with a strong desire to do the same with life. Fighting and living it to the fullest.
Great writing, great cast, awesome soundtrack although I can't say I'd like to watch and go through this pain all over again.
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Watching a story about a spinster who is told she only has a few months to live may be a turn off to some viewers, but this drama offers much more than scenes set up to make you cry. There's definitely humor, and at the heart of this drama is a great romance. Though the premise of the romance is pretty standard, Lee Dong Wook & Kim Sun Ah have amazing chemistry. There's one tango scene in particular that I would call one of the hottest scenes I've seen in any drama. Lee Dong Wook really is a talented actor, and it doesn't hurt that he looks really good in a shower.
I only have a few criticisms. I hated a couple of the main songs, which killed the mood at times, and I was unimpressed by the love theme sung by the two leads, which was the only romantic moment that felt forced/cheesy to me. The biggest criticism I have is that way too much time was spent on Seo Hyo Rim's character. Though she played her character well, she was too one-dimensional to need that much focus. Some of the scenes revolving around her plot seemed like they were put there just to fill up the time. Time could have been better spent on Uhm Ki Joon's character, who turned out to be one of my favorites.
I definitely recommend buying a few extra boxes of tissue, and watching this drama. About halfway through the tone of the drama starts to change, and I wasn't sure If watching such a tearjerker was a good idea, but the ending was so well done that it was absolutely worth it. I could see myself rewatching this for the great romantic moments, to be inspired to live life to the fullest, and because it was so beautifully shot. There's some really gorgeous cinematography that made me long to go on a vacation asap… and possibly learn to tango.
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All around, I think that acting was stellar. Kim Sun Ah was wonderful as Yeon Jae. I loved the progression of her character. She went from a frumpy office punching bag to a woman awakening to life to a serious, proud, sad woman, determined to live her life the way she wanted. There were countless moments while watching this where her emotions came across and just blew me away. Lee Dong Wook; he was rather stiff at first and that stiffness was obviously more than his character's chaebol, "all dead inside" persona. But I expected that because the man has been away for two years. As time went on, that stiffness went away and I breathed a little sigh of relief. Uhm Ki Joon (Dr. Poopy Suk) was probably one of my very favorite characters in this drama. Watching his character growth, watching his steadfast friendship as Yeon Jae's doctor was joyful and heart wrenching. All of the side characters, Yeon Jae's mom, her best friend Hye Won, the Tango class crew...Her friend Hee Joo...They all had meaning to her life and to the plot. Well done.
My only nitpick is Im Sae Kyung. I'm not sure if it was Seo Hyo Rim, the writer or both, but her character was a one dimensional terror of a witch. I wish they would have helped me have sympathy for her. I know they tried to give her that in telling her history but for me at least, they mostly failed.
This plot completely revolves around her diagnosis of fatal cancer so I'm not giving anything away. Knowing that is your starting point challenges the writer to fill in the questions of what now? What will and must your character go through? This show had some very heavy moments, and it should have. They were dealing with death. But those heavy times made the small triumphs, the happy moments and the love connections, both romantic and familial that much deeper. The writing of this was so smart. It seemed so realistic that this is what a person would go through when told they have cancer and not long to live: The denial, hope, determination, heartbreak, panic, desperation and anger; Yeon Jae and those whose lives she touched felt them all. Every phase of Yeon Jae's journey felt right to me. It was hard to go through with the characters in points but necessary and didn't drag out too long.
The cinematography was beautiful. I loved the music; the love theme for Yeon Jae and Ji Wook was lovely. I liked the light "French inspired" soundtrack during happy times and many other songs too. They all seemed to fit well with the story. I loved the color palet and design of the sets especially Yeon Jae and Ji Wook's homes. I want to hang out at the Tango place. Also, I want Yeon Jae's wardrobe! She had some awesome clothes.
The message of this drama is simple: To live your life to fullest and to be true to yourself. To find happiness for yourself and those you love and most of all; finding hope, even in the face of death.
I recommend this! You will laugh. You will love the passionate moments between the two leads as well as the light comedic moments. But you MUST have tissues handy!!
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And it also great to see the handsome Lee Dong Wook, although i didn't think that he acted well but who cares, he got the face hehehe and the character that will melt you down..
The story is not like any other drama i had watched, the woman was older than the man so maybe that's what make it interesting but other than that the story is quite the same that a rich man in love with poor woman who grateful for her life. I love the ending it is quite unexpected but so happy about it.
If you like being drag with tears then here is the one for you! Totally recommended :)
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This drama was superb. Just from the acting itself was amazing. The chemistry between the two main leads was very good and so believable. Kim Sun Ah is a very beautiful actress and she is one of my favorites. I really loved her in this drama. Heck I love her in every drama. This drama is Lee Dong Wook's comeback after returning from the military and he did such a good job in this drama. The actors/actresses were very well picked for the drama and their acting was superb. When they cried, heck yes I cried. When they got mad, I just wanted to kill the person that got them angry. When they laugh, of course I laughed. You get the point....
This drama always had me crying from the very first episode and I hated that part. I hate crying in dramas so much it's such a pain in the butt. I normally wouldn't watch dramas like this but I couldn't help myself. It's just so good. Even when it was just the first 2 minutes of the episode you would already start crying like crazy. At the end of every episode would always leave me hanging and wondering about what would happen next. Not only was the drama good the ending was just perfect! It was a perfect ending that I never expected ever! This drama is really good and I'm sure that whoever watches this will enjoy it from the beginning 'til the end :)
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But then I caught the scent of Scent of a Woman. The main leads were two of the actors I thoroughly enjoyed watching- Kim Sun Ah from My Name is Kim Sam Soon and Lee Dong Wook from My Girl.
Also, the tag says “comedy” and like all romcom addicts, I’m forever searching for the sweet and fluffy stuff, which will make me roll up and down on the carpet in absolute glee…
This drama was incredibly filled me with bittersweet ache that seems to linger beyond the moments on the screen the screen. I didn’t expect to cry soooo much!! I didn’t think I’d ever be so wrapped up in a series that I too would be praying for a miracle, that it would last forever, that nothing would happen, that they’d have more moments together, that even if there is no grand wedding at the end, that they’d just be able to live well and be happy… It was like Yoon Jae and Ji Wook were close friends/family of mine and my hear twisted and turned at each episode.
The two leads made this a worthwhile drama for me although I suppose that, since I watched My name is Kim Sam Soon, I was a bit frustrated with Yoon Jae’s reluctance, but stepping back and putting her character first, I can understand why she would make certain decisions. I was especially HAPPY with LDW’s character, Ji Wook. He was firm, steadfast, devoted and had this air of innocence about him. I loved loved loved how he showed his love for Yoon Jae. He reaffirmed, for me, that love is beyond measure.
Their love/romance was the loyal/last forever kind, it was steady and heartbreakingly sweet- it didn’t speed up into something that I couldn’t relate too, or drag too much that made me want to give up on them. I enjoyed their moments together and watching how each episode made their bond deeper.
Having said that, I feel the other characters were just a touch too much. I wanted to see them less and less, and see more and more of the moments between the main couple. There was soo much more that could have been done/shared between them, but then again, if there was more, I’d be wringing out my pillow and paying tissue bills.
Should you watch this? Yes, definitely. If you’re a true romantic, or even if you’re not. This tugs at your heart and is a soothing balm on your soul. I too have started my “Bucket List”.
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I only have myself to blame, but I hate to admit that I went into this drama expecting it to be a funny romantic comedy that just happened to involve a sad topic.
I have a good reason, though! There is an American movie called Last Holiday that deals with the same idea of a woman finding out that she has a brain tumor and is going to die. Then come to find out, it was all a big mistake and the CT Scan was broken. She has made all of these positive changes in her life and snagged the boy of her dreams and gets to live happily ever after. I legitimately though that this is what Scent of Woman was going to be. That the cancer was going to be a huge joke!
OK, I lied, it wasn't a GOOD reason, per se. But hey, we all make mistakes! You figure out pretty early on in the drama that the cancer was not a joke, that Yeon Jae is really sick. I could have turned it off at that point; in fact, I am shocked that I didn't. But that is the beauty of this drama. It draws you in. I could no sooner have turned away from Yeon Jae's story than I could have turned away from an actual friend with cancer. The actress did an amazing job of portraying someone with a short time live who has so many regrets in her life.
In fact, the entire cast was amazing! Yeon Jae's mom absolutely ripped my heart to shreds when she discovered her daughter's condition. I actually had to call my own mother after I pulled myself together, it affected me so much. The two male leads also were phenomenal, and you just wanted to hug them both throughout the whole thing and tell them it would all be OK.
So, if I liked all of these elements so much, why did I only rate it a 7? There was A LOT of extraneous stuff going on that I just didn't care about. Anything to do with Ji Wook's dad or the bratty girl he was engaged to was just mind numbingly awful. I understand that the writers wanted to give extra conflict to the story, but it was just too much. If they had cut out a lot of that aspect of the story, it would have been a solid 8 or 9, easy.
The music in this drama reminded me a lot of Shining Inheritance. In fact, there was a lot from Scent of a Woman that reminded me of Shining Inheritance. They both had the same feel to them.
All in all, I am not disappointed that I stuck with this drama in the least. The actors did an amazing job with their roles, and the chemistry between the two leads was palpable. There is a tango scene between Ji Wook and Yeon Jae that was one of the hottest scenes I've ever seen in a drama. The moment he takes his jacket off, I die! As for the ending, I don't want to spoil what happens of course, but I was surprised at just how much I liked the ending. While it wasn't as happy as I was anticipating, what with my whole expecting her to not really be sick, but it fit so well with the drama. There is nothing I would have changed about it!
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This review may contain spoilers
Wow...to think that this drama is already over makes me sad. This was one drama that I looked forward to every weekend to watch - it's an excellent drama! Lee Yeon Jae, she lived her life doing the same thing everyday, working, getting paid and not living happily. When she's told she has cancer she suddenly changes and takes on a new meaning to life. She starts living her life and doing what she wants. I loved this drama because it makes you think of how precious life is, and maybe sometimes you just need a wake-up call to start living your life.The acting was terrific! Every emotion was felt, every heart aching, heart breaking moment. And then the happy moments were filled with so much joy. I've never seen the actors in any other dramas, but they were all great! Kim Sun Ah as Yeon Jae, Lee Dong Wook as Ji Wook, and Uhm Ki Joon as the main characters were all wonderful! Their characters were ones that you could easily relate to and love. The other actors were great, too!
The only character that I didn't really care for, and still didn't even at the end - was Sae Kyung. You'll see why when you watch the drama.
The music is another wonderful thing about this drama. Kim Junsu's "You Are So Beautiful" and MBLAQ "You & I" are 2 of my favorite songs! And the other songs they played throughout the drama were great as well!
Will I rewatch this drama? Probably sometime down the road. I really enjoyed it!
Overall - I think this is a must watch of 2O11! Life is precious, and this drama really makes you wonder what you would do if you were given such news - would you choose to live as Yeon Jae did? I highly recommend this drama, although be warned there are parts that make you want to cry, or start crying. The ending...without giving spoilers - is something that makes this drama even more perfect. So watch it!!
Also, I agree with everyone that made comments on her wardrobe - she always had the best clothes!
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Would recommend.
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All in all, if you are doubting whether to see this drama, dont hesitate. you wont regret it.
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