This review may contain spoilers
Simple Storyline well told
The story line of this drama is typical. But I found little flaw in the way the story was told and filmed.What impressed me most was that when I was expecting an action to take place,.. it happened.
I wish the story behind the last 3 episodes was different. It was obvious that Jin Hyuk mom had a "self-worth" issue and she was powerful enough to bring it out in our FL. But I wish Cha Soo Hyun awakening from dark to light was more profound. After all, Cha Soo Hyun is the heroine of the drama. She is the one who transforms the most. Jin Hyuk was her main support but really he didn't have many lessons to learn in life.
I give this drama 8.5 in this category because I think the story was told very nicely and made sense.
It was worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful Encounter
I love this drama for various reasons. This drama tells the story of a young man who traveled to Cuba on vacation. Also, the daughter of a politician and business owner went on a business trip. One day, while on a business trip in Cuba, she meets Kim Jin-hyuk (Park Bo-gum), a free-spirited guy. They spend time together. After they return to South Korea, he meets her again as an employee in the Donghwa Hotel, which she received as alimony. They are attracted to each other, yet only their fate will decide whether they can be together.*I can’t get enough of it; I wish it were longer than 16. Overall fantastic. If you love, love, then this is for you.
You will cry, laugh, cry some more, and fall in love again.
This drama makes you want to visit Cuba and enjoy and appreciate its culture and people.
I love it. Happy Watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
This is a must-watch.
I liked this drama from the very first scene to the last.I don't know why it is categorised as a melodrama, because I could not find that. I am writting this review after watching it third time because it's really worth of writing a review.It is a romcom, smoothly going, sweet drama.. The chemistry between the main leads is really awesome and kind of immersing. Whether it is charming handsome park bo gum, beautiful, pleasant song hye kyo or the side character's real-like-acting one reason to watch the drama can not be pin pointed.
I really can't understand how can this drama get such a low and disappointing ratings where the lame story dramas are getting above 8.5 rating.
I shall not add spoiler, but if you want to rest from thriller, horror, blood, conspiracy, then you must watch ENCOUNTER.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Noona romance with serious mood
This is my first Park Bo Gum drama that I watched. Park Bo Gum in long, wavy hair in episode 1 was mesmerising especially when he smiled.What I liked:
1) The first episode was magical perhaps due to "beach holiday" vibe of Havanna.
2) Jin-hyuk characterisation - I am not sure if it's because of Bo Gum's youthful look but Jin-hyuk has this charming, nice guy aura. He's personable but don't underestimate his tenacity and quick thinking.
3) The hotel - I liked plot surrounding the work at the hotel group.
4) Public figure storyline - I also liked this storyline because I got to see challenges faced by public figures. Pity that their personal life is scrutinised, often time unfairly, by media and the public.
5) Romance - This series is good at highlighting challenges faced by older woman-younger man couple especially when one of the pair is financially successful.
What I disliked:
1) Soo-hyun characterisation - It's great that she's a girl boss but she's giving this misery vibe whenever the camera is on her. I noticed that Song Hye-kyo has played several older woman characters but all these characters are so serious and gloomy. I wish there were more scenes of lightness especially when Soo-hyun and Jin-hyuk met in private.
2) Soo-hyun's overbearing mum
3) Jin-hyuk's mum when she asked Soo-hyun to break up behind Jin-hyuk's back. That's not cool
Favourite scene
When Jin-hyuk met Soo-hyun after she was conned. Such a romantic scene with Bo Gum's hair blowing in the wind.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Perfect Reversed Cinderella Story
Encounter is like a warm blanket. It allows the audience to rest while they watch it because of its warm feeling and the pacing is not rushed at all.I honestly love everything about it. The directing is great. The cinematography is top notch. I love the opening and closing arts, how it gives summary of the story that unfolds in the episode. The epilogues too give us more understanding on how certain things happens and what we don’t see on the main screen. The dialogues are also perfect. With the poetry and books citation, it gives more arts into this drama.
The chemistry between the leads is something that you would love too. Park BoGum and Song HyeKyo immersed themselves that I can only see JinHyuk and SooHyun. Their individual acting is also amazing. Both of them are equally great in showcasing their emotions that no one is being pushed back. The line delivery, especially from the male lead, is great too. He says such cheesy lines with so much sincerity that I never find it cringey at all. That, sincerity, is the key on why this drama touched my heart with so much intensity.
The reversal of usual rich male-poor female tropes is fresh too. Not only the character, but each elements is a complete reversal of cinderella story. You will understand it when you watch the drama. Especially on episode 8. The message of the drama is also the reversal of cinderella. While cinderella finds happiness in glory, this drama shows happiness in ordinary things.
Music is a great aspect that gives a big plus in this drama. I often find bgm distracting, or not suitable with the scenes. But you won’t find it here. Each bgm and osts compliments the story. Makes it more enjoyable and add feelings into it.
What I quite not fond of is the angst that comes late and makes the happy ending part in the last episode to be so short. But it’s not a major turn off. Just some minor aspect.
Overall, it’s a great drama in its category. Do not expect something that’s not the characteristics of a melodrama. This is a drama that stays true to its genre with huge focus on the characters instead of the plots. Recommend ?
Was this review helpful to you?
Some scenes, dialogues, expressions and situations were just so heart touching.
It took me a while to get adjusted to the "real life Vs reel life" pairing, and I honestly couldn't enjoy their kiss scenes BUT, this drama was solid as a complete story, good depth of character, generous pinches of fairytale elements, great spring cast, logical and peaceful conflicts and over and above all, masterpieces of acting from everyone involved.
The music just tugs your at right places and you can't stop humming along with it.
A must watch if you enjoy good cinematography, meaningful dialogues, subtle expressions, great acting and peaceful paced dramas.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
We all want an Encounter like this!
This is a review of a re-watch of Encounter, which allowed me to notice things I did not the first time around. The scenery and cinematography are out standing. The scenes shot in Cuba, paired with fabulous songs created a canvas my imagination could build on. I was captivated at all the sights and sounds. It was like a mini vacation for me. The story line that was developed in episode one became a central theme that was used masterfully to recreate romance in almost every episode. Park Gum Bo shone as Kim Jin Hyuk who was strikingly contrasted by the typical uptight role played by Song Hye Kyo. Her character, Cha Soo Hyun, appeared to be more mature on the surface but in reality , it was she that needed guidance of how to have a relationship in the end. There were many familiar stereotypical undertones of false guilt, parental control, over reacting to society, and social mishaps that brought tension. I will have to say that I found the role that was developed for Kim Jin Hyuk's mother extremely irritating. She definitely over steps her boundaries and is forgiven, of course, in the end. The OST is wonderful! I highly recommend this drama to anyone who needs a break from the heavier dramas. There is plenty of drama in this one but it is a lighter fare than most.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I rate this 15/10. Best K-Drama I've ever seen!
This story is so beautifully written. The actors performances make you feel every emotion. The music OST is a masterpiece. The story is a bit of a slow burn and well worth the wait. Small details in the story are woven together like a fine tapestry and the directors capture so much vibrancy of Cuba and Korea.The stylists are absolutely genius. I love the outfits the FL and her secretary wear the entire drama. The angst is real and I cried watching the sad scenes. Some of the characters are annoying and some are down right despicable. The writers definitely created believable villains.
This drama actually influenced me to plan a vacation visit to Sokcho (sp?) lol. I am rewatching it for the 3rd time. I highly recommend!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I wouldn't know if anyone told me the plot and general preview of the story, for it to be kdrama. When you Think of romance genre in kdrama, you'd Think of puppy love or hard core plotting. This has a Little of both, which makes this drama mature, yet not too mature for it to be hard to follow...OST
I wouldn't per say listen to it separately, but i like the mixture of Spanish, English and Korean. IT's nice to hear that type of songs, and they were well picked, to kind of tell the story of scene without having to make characters emphasize that's silently going on.
ACTING
I don't know much drames that Park Bo Gum acted in, but i loved how he potrayed the character in this one. You couldn't help but fall in love with him. I also loved the chemistry between him and Song Hye Kyo. She Oslo did an amazing job, and im not surprised since she's quite popular for good acting. Both actors made the characters réal, and made the audience feel their émotion. The side actors did well too, none of them did a bad job, and complimented the drama well.
PLOT
It would feel boring when told, but you'll find yourself loving it and being invested in it.
It basically tells the story of a lonely woman who's a CEO of a well known hôtel company. She goes to Cuba, and finds herself wanting to see a sunset from a picture she saw, in réal life. She has trouble sleeping so she takes sleeping pills but still goes, she gets lost and pickpocketed, but find the place where the sunset was shot, she there meets a man who saves her from falling, and they go around Havana... When she gets back, they both find out that the man is the employée of her company. They face hardships, and develop slowly but neatly, with other characters.
_________
I LOVED the romance, it's slow but it still makes you blush and smileys from their cute interactions. But at the same time it can take a mature turn, and make you worry. The romance, isn't dépendend on plotting, but the hardship of a famous and rich person, who's quite older, dating her employée. there are many romance side plots, and even a plot of her ex that makes him develop from trying to get her forcefully, to mathurins into someone that wants to protect his family.
It's a show, for someone who wants a bit more of slower romance, and romance that doesn't have cute and funny interactions.
Was this review helpful to you?
slow, serious show about romance/love
This is not a rom-com (which is what I normally look for), but a slow and serious (but not melodramatic) show about love. Song Hye Kyo and Park Bo Gum both did an excellent job. In most of the things I've seen Park Bo Gum in, there's always been something a little "off" to me about his acting. This role changed my mind. His acting in this was perfectly on point. When he was happy, you wanted to smile with him, and when he was unhappy it was heartbreaking. There was a slow buildup in their romance/love, and it made sense. His patience, and constant love for her was so wonderful to watch. I felt really drawn in to their relationship, sometimes I felt like I was a voyeur in their lives.Park Bo Gum's character was open and innocent. He seemed to look at life with joie de vivre, and that was an infectious thing. I couldn't help but smile, watching him. His love for her was so apparent, even though they were so different. Song Hye Kyo's character, on the other hand, was very repressed. Her life had been decided and planned for her, and she had never deviated from that plan. I enjoyed watching him bring her out of herself, opening her to new experiences, and living the way she wanted to.
I did feel that the breakup, though necessary to keep the story moving, was a little lame, especially since it was uncalled for and none of the circumstances that she was concerned about changed, so the breakup made even less sense. I felt that Song Hye Kyo's character was a little too weak in standing up to her family (the moms in this were all nightmares!). I also felt that, because of her reasoning for the breakup, her love for him wasn't as strong, and that was disappointing.
The cinematography and the OST were both amazing as well. This show was beautiful to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
A beautiful Encounter
This is not one of those average cutesy romance dramas. It captures true romance. The leisurely pacing of Encounter allows the viewer to linger in that splendid feeling of love. The music, poetry, artwork and sincerity of communication bring you into those lovely feelings.The casting was fairly well done, but I wavered back and forth on whether I liked the ML actor for that role. I felt the FL was perfectly cast.
Please be patient and keep watching past the first episode. It lacks a connection somehow in the beginning. It progresses better after that.
By the end of this drama I’m a little emotionally tired, but it was a fulfilling ride. Hope you enjoy it too.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Tale of 3 children
A divorcee successfully revives and expands a dying hotel business which offends the previous owners - her ex in-law. For having the cheek to succeed, said ex in-law decides to punish and put the FL back in her place as a meek housewife. Colluding with the FLs ambitious mother, said in-laws attempts a hostile takeover of the hotel.This is a tale of 3 children
- a son who cannot escape his tyrant mother
- a daughter married off for the sake of power and prestige
- a mama's boy
All mothers portrayed had their own definition of what their children are only good for and took action to achieve such belief.
The kdrama trope of parents prostituting their children in order to achieve or maintain their social status always disgusts me. But the FL being able to obtain a second chance at making her own decisions made me want to root for her.
As a fan of noona romance, this series fits the bill and checks all the boxes. I loved how the story did not only focus on one person or one family.
- Unfortunately, I feel like the main leads didn't have enough chemistry. The ML looked like an ejjit smiling and grinning all the time it was creepy. Well I guess any boy would be if they met a noona like the FL.
- I also loved the OST and consider this to be a good example of a contemplative and atmospheric type of drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
