I was watching this parallel to Dream High 2, and the difference in the standards caught my eye more...
First of all, about the story. The bromance, love, friendship, family, these themes are very central in the drama, and are done perfectly. The characters are so perfectly constructed, that you'll start feeling for them after the 1st episode you watch.
The thing that amazes me in dramas like this, is that the characters are like brought to life, they became real for me, as they were not trying to be perfect, they were not perfect, and while absolutely loving every character of this drama, I could get angry with them, shout at my screen, and the next moment swoon because of cuteness, their friendship, romance...
Every episode has a story to tell, not like in some dramas, that just drag on, to get to the 16th episode... I have yet to find a scene I'd like to skip here (don't look for it :P).
I discovered several actors here, that I'm going to follow to other dramas, whatever role they take :P
First, Sung Joon, I'd seen him in Lie to Me, and impressing he was in the beginning of the series, but as the romance advanced between the leads, his character faded away, so to say honestly, when I saw him in the first episode here, I didn't know I knew him :P Though his rough voice was reminding me, I didn't catch the signals... Honestly, now I'm very much in love with his down to earth portrayal of Ji-Hyuk, I loved his caring for his friends, his shyness with Su-Ah, his mess ups as a leader, but at the same time honesty and not giving up... (I can't believe he's just 2 months older than me Y_Y)
Jo Bo-Ah, as Soo-Ah! Fantastic girl :) When I saw she's a newcomer, I automatically started searching flaws in her acting... guess what... didn't find... She did better than great, her acting sometimes reminded me of Inoue Mao's portrayal of Makino Tsukushi in Hana Yori Dango, well to think of it, her character really had similarities to Makino. Love her brave and caring character. (THANK YOU FOR NOT LEAVING!!!)
Becuse of MyungSoo (L), now I'm a fan of INFINITE :P Though sometimes he was trying to hard with his icy stare, he's a cute guy and I think he did great, his character was in the end the balance the band needed (speaking about balance...) Do-Il... I can day, this guy... we're seeing him in more dramas from now on, he's gonna become SO popular with his unusual looks (especially eyes..)
Not even going to mention Lee Min-Ki's character, oops, I did... ok... His character just glued me to this drama... an unforgettable character, like a firework, brilliant in the night, and even when it already out, it leaves an unforgettable impression...
If you think this drama is going to blow up your mind by something super new and undiscovered, you're wrong, it's actually a very old story... 'friendship or love'?
Well, guess what, the script writers did great, the main point becoming, it can be both, only you have to be honest with both parties and most importantly with yourself.
I have enjoyed every second of this drama, and can't imagine that I won't be waiting for it next Monday and Tuesday... At least I can keep the songs and rewatch the episodes, by the way, the music is also very-very good, immersing you into the boys world in the moment it starts...
I'm gonna miss Eye Candy! (who;s gonna read a review THIS long?... I had to speak up, haha~)
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'Shut Up' is not about music or a band, though. The friendship, rather brotherhood, between the main characters is the driving force and is what makes this drama so enjoyable. Bromance between hot guys is fun to watch no matter what, sure, but the writing and overall development of the story made everything even stronger.
About L: I'll admit, I had issues with watching this at first because sticking idols into dramas never really turns out well. He is a really fantastic actor though. At the risk of giving too much away, I'll just say that even though I'm not a fan of his, I was very pleasantly surprised by this performance. He has real talent.
The music is so good. Crappy music can really break a decent drama, but 'Shut Up's music really made everything better.
Everyone says this is an emotional, heart-wrenching show, but it's also one of the only dramas to make me actually laugh out loud at my screen. Everything was crafted so nicely from beginning to end.
If anyone else is on the fence about giving this a shot, just go for it. (Rewatch is a 9 only because I rarely rewatch dramas). I watched this in 2 days because I literally could not pull myself away. Give it a shot!
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No doubt it's the best music related drama I've seen. It is so in terms of execution, direction, acting and, last but not least, music. I'm writing this review while listening to "Wake up" full volume.
What makes Shut up flower boy band stand out in the forest of decent to mediocre music dramas, is the incredibly heart-warming portrayal of friendship.
The story is not built upon a particularly eventful plot and I'd go as far as to say that the plot is irrelevant. It is so because what truly captured me as a viewer isn't the storyline, but the collection of unforgettable moments among friends, so perfectly caught by the cameras. There is an alchemy among these young people that is palpable and powerful, sweet and touching, unique and memorable. This is a love story through and through: love for music and romantic love too, but most of all love for friends.
It's also a glimpse on how the music business works, and the picture isn't pretty. Emblematic of its inconsistencies, is the fact that the moment the members of eye candy are given a new, more polished look, is the same moment the seeds of their division are planted. Make rock conform to the business rules and you destroy its intrinsic nature.
Much credit goes to direction and acting. The first is… daring. I appreciated the lack of gloss very much: this is a story about 6 eye candies - in name and fact - however the direction does little to make them look so, focusing on the picture of them as one "body", moving swiftly from one to the other and standing still on tiny details. The result is surprising, as it makes the viewer truly feel for them, instead of being simply captivated by their looks.
The acting is admirable: artless and believable. The last time I've watched such a display of genuine friendship and chemistry among a group of people was in Coffee Prince.
Let me add how adorable the female heroine is. Soo Ah is brave, sweet and honest, without becoming the saint victim I've learned to dislike in so many dramas. She adds a touch of feminine delicacy the drama would otherwise lack.
The music? Brilliant. After so much pop, of which I am no fan, hearing a rock ost was a breath of fresh air. Incredibly well chosen, perfectly executed and just as well used throughout the show.
Highly recommended.
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The best thing about this drama are the characters. The cast makes this drama. Now everybody did not have the best acting skills but this did not matter to me. The drama's story and the chemistry between the cast was still great. The boys are great. You end up bonding with them. The chemistry with the boys is perfect to me. I loved watching them together on screen. I usually root for romance but the bromance was adorable and raw. These boys had my heart from the very beginning. I just loved those moments between them. I love Su Ah's character and I have to say I was quite surprised by her. I was excepting her to be weak but she proved me wrong.
The next best thing about this drama is the story line. I was excepting a typical drama about music. A group of hot boys make it big and debut. I was so wrong. This drama is more than just music. This drama is about friendship and coming of age. As I stated before the bromance is what makes this drama. Their friendship had me from the first episode. I like how SUFBB did not just focus on their music like I thought it would. I wanted to know about characters like Ji Hyuk and Hyun Soo. I wanted to know what their life is like and how all of them can really be able to remain friends. Friendship is they key word for this drama.
The music is the best. When I first heard Jaywalking I could not stop listening to it. Their music is perfect to me. Ji Hyuk's voice makes me want to smile. I love Eye Candy and wish they were actually a band.
The ending was a beast. I have watched some great dramas before. They all started off perfect in the beginning but in those last two or three episodes the writers fall off. They never know how to wrap it up quite right or they leave many questions unanswered. I thought the same would happen with this drama but they did well. Not even quite well they did GREAT. They wrapped everything up in a real raw realistic way.
Overall, I fell in love with this drama from the very first episode. The story and the cast reels you into the drama and you can't help but put your heart into it. You can't help but get close to the characters. My emotions were all over the place watching this. I love watching the boys be free and having fun. I wanted to have fun with them. The whole vibe they gave off made me love them and want to listen to them. I felt like a little fan girl for Eye Candy.
I'll finish this review by saying SHUT UP!!! and WATCH!
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When you think about the plot, it is just about a band of boys. One might think there could be nothing more to it than just a bunch of pretty boys strutting around and showing off. However, this is so NOT true. I cannot believe how well this story was woven. And it had such amazing depths. Every single character has been paid attention to and redeemed by the end. There were some characters I wanted to throw shoes at but I grew to love every single one of them. I simply cannot suggest anything to improve upon in it. The only thing is that in order to understand and appreciate it fully, one might need to watch it till the end. And I am sure, anybody who loves dramas with a good cast, great music and amazing story lines must watch this.
I believe this is the best drama that I have seen till date. Every other drama feels dragged and turns out to be full of nonsense during the last few episodes, but here is one which makes sense every single way. And I am overwhelmed at the character development of Ji Hyuk. I think this show is a masterpiece. I don't know why I didn't decide to watch it sooner.
What I loved most about it was that every single issue was addressed. These boys are all messed up, but we get to know each boy's backstory and then they grow up. Even the meanie turns out to be a guy I empathized with. I also liked Su Ah. She is very different from other female protagonists I often come across in stories. She fights and stays there calmly. She is not a cry baby and I love that about her. Most of all, she knows her priorities. I think the teenage essence of the characters is depicted and captured perfectly. Every single move and decision they made was understandable.
I honestly, sincerely recommend this show to every one.
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The cast was absolutely beautiful. The characters were all portrayed well and the best thing was it wasn't just believable, but it actually felt real. I've laughed with these characters, cried with these characters, and even got pissed with these characters. It's an instant connection - Honestly I haven't met/talked to ONE person who isn't head over heels in love with this drama. What the actual heck are you doing with your life if you haven't watched this drama yet?
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This drama was a surprise, surprisingly insightful and realistic, not the fairytale I thought it would turn out to be. Watch it, you'll be glad you did.
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Definitely my current top Asian dramas.
Every moment from the music, acting, and storyline was just captivating.
STORY: 10
From the beginning i was drawn in by Lee Min Ki's character so when they killed him off i struggled to carry on. His character was so centre of each episode so briefly but left such a mark on my senses for the rest of the drama. But then Sung Joon's storyline managed to keep me glued on. Having to step up as leader and the choices he had to make broke my heart. Every time you thought he finally found happiness he had to give it up.
It pulled on every emotion within me each episode which totally surprised me. At times I was in tears, shock, laughing or just numb from the grace and beauty of the scene. No episode felt the same and each episode left such an imprint that you have to keep going.
MUSIC: 10
At first I was reluctant on having to hear a song per episode but then each song was placed perfectly within scenes that I could not help but smile and sing along. All i can say is that the music is so great that i plan to purchase the soundtrack
ACTORING: 10
Every actor did their characters justice and portrayed them with such exact abilities that you totally understood their emotions when they were joyed, sad, angry and happy.
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The story was enjoyable quite predictable (except the first 3 eps, I won't specify. Just watch and brace for it). It mostly focused about friendship, a little of romance (little but, ahm, I should say, cute and powerful scenes). I enjoyed how this drama depict how a band pursued their love for music while facing their individual problems, keeping their friendship bond and seeking for their real dreams. I also loved it 'cause of the different couples. They did not just focused on one love story. The individual love stories are really cute and sweet!
Actors! They are really EYE CANDIES! (STILL Kim Myung Soo is my bias, haha, I really fall easily for "cold" guys). And I really find Jo Bo Ah really pretty. Hmmm, the couples, it was just right and in my own POV, each couple were overflowing with chemistry. I enjoyed how the pairings ended up. Furthermore, the boys had really made a great job in portraying what "FRIENDSHIP" is.
Music was COOL, ear candy (is this term existing? hehe)... It speaks about the band and their story. Rewatch value, an 8, I guess... Overall this was a great drama. You'll gonna enjoy most of the scenes. (^-^). A must-watch!
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The characters are so lovable (seriously, this has got to be the best bromance EVER) and the leading lady is wonderful. She isn't stupid or annoying. The actors do such a great job with these characters.
Another great thing about this show is that they don't drag out conflicts. You know how some dramas take one conflict and stretch it out for , like, 6 episodes? And the conflict could (and should) have been solve in 2? Yeah, this show doesn't do that. It's great!
If you're looking for something to stir your heart and remember what its like to be young, please watch this.
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