This review may contain spoilers
My heart has been stolen!
“If you give up on waiting, the pain of loss will kill you. That’s why I wait.” —Captain Ri.This quote will stick with me for a long long time. It's such a meaningful quote that hits my heart hard and doesn't fail to make me think a lot. I usually don't find many quotes from dramas that stick to me like superglue, but this one does, it's engraved in my brain.
Onto the review of the drama itself!
I've heard a lot about this drama, good and bad alike, and I procrastinated on watching it for such a long time honestly. Funny side-story, but my French teacher is actually the one who motivated me to FINALLY watch it, and when I did start it, I binged it all the way through! (It was that good!!) I'll start off by talking about the acting in this drama because CLOY has some powerful actors in my opinion.
The acting style throughout this drama was amazing, and each character held up their own, I felt as if I could feel the emotions that the characters were experiencing most of the time I was watching the drama. I fell in love with the main leads instantly, and they played their characters brilliantly.
The story was never really boring while I watched it, there was something interesting, or funny, or nerve-racking scenes all throughout the show that keeps you on your feet and keeps you engaged. I love the fact that the female lead isn't some "helpless" and "weak" woman, it's different from a lot of romance dramas and I love the empowering feeling that Seri gave off. At first, you'd think "Oh, she's just a spoiled main lead." but no, that's really not the case with CLOY. She worked for everything she has and she's a powerful female lead, she's headstrong and she's confident. I love her. I also like the shyness and care that Junghyuk displayed, it wasn't over the top and it really goes to show that the small things matter and the little things that someone does for you can make such a big difference in how you see someone.
Another thing I really love about CLOY (besides the brilliant story and beautiful acting,) is the support characters, more specifically, the comrades. The comrades brought a lot to the show and never failed to make me laugh, they really made things come together and make everyone feel more like a family, which my heart grow so full, they were such a cute little group, I honestly got a bit attached to them.
The last thing I'll touch on is the OST. I love the OST lots, and I listen to it almost daily, it's absolutely stunning!
Overall, CLOY is an amazing drama, and if you've been pondering whether you should watch it or not, I highly recommend watching it!! You won't regret it!
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the plotline was almost good but in between it is not the best because it starts to get confusing. Eventually though you will start to fall in love with this drama. I wish they went deeper into the love line but that is still ok. Even some of the actors don't look the best they will start to grow on you.
the music for this drama is very good. if you have heard Iu made the ost for this drama after like eight years. she is making her comback for her ost and it was amazing. the music to this dram was very professianal. the music puts in the elment for this drama.
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Funny, Heartwarming, Suspenseful: A Blend of Sucess
I don't think I can perfectly express what was it like to watch it for the first time after having rewatched it four times already. At first, I just thought it'd be interested to see a drama to portray a North-South Korea plot. However, it was way more than just that: I laughed a lot, got curious to watch the next chapter, had my heart racing out my mouth with such a fast pace, was shocked on how gorgeous these actors are... Also, about the music, all of CLOY's tracklist is just beautiful, from the rhythm to its lyrics. Everything just seems to fit!What made me write this so much later is that I recommended it to a friend, and she expressed to me the same reactions I did before, really made my go back in time – but the main thing to get my attention and give a 10 star rating for Crash Landing on You is that it makes you think about real things in real life. It's not just some ordinary series you watch just to kill time, but instead a real lesson. I learned how real is that money doesn't buy you happiness, just take a look at our protagonist. Also, you need someone that's by your side because they enjoy your companion, other than just because. I even got emotional when our main couple's first-meeting story was revealed – and I never do!
To say the least, it changed me, from the way I see life, to my personal beliefs. As I was just 11 years old the first time I had contact with the drama, it also brings me so much happiness to rewatch it, as I can travel back in time to how life was back then. Simply put, you'll not regret it – I just wish I could erase my memory so I could watch it as it was the first time again!
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Full of surprises!
I absolutely adore our leads for being so strong yet humane. Our ML is shown to be strong and tough but they also showed that he is a human who bleeds, cries, and cares. Our FL showed bravery, independence, and seemed to have it all but they also showed how much she cared, cried, and depended. They were so cute and funny together, if it were from the plot then I'm sure this k drama is going to be all fluff. There are a lot of moments where they just slapped me in all languages about how single I am but hey at least I still experience butterflies in the stomach because of them.The storyline is an absolute masterpiece. It's a beautiful rollercoaster that made sense. It wasn't too fast or slow for me. Our main story combined with the second couple is good too. The friends are so funny, they absolutely made my day. I would recommend this for everyone and for those who want something that would pick their interest from the very beginning,
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This is hands down without a doubt the best kdrama of 2019-20 <3. I simply LOVE LOVE LOOOOVE every aspect of it, every angle so beautifully done. Not to mention the fact that the female lead is NOT DIRT POOR AND HELPLESS as is typical in most kdramas. She's actually very intelligent and holds her own in various situations.
The music/OST fits perfectly with the heart wrenching moments, as well as the comedy entwined into the more serious scenes.
The acting from the whole cast is absolutely top notch! The emotions, thoughts, feelings, everything is conveyed so well. It’s brought me to tears on so many occasions, or left me in stitches clutching my sides unable to stop laughing :D
Another remarkable thing about this drama is how it’s able to shift so effortlessly from the more serious moments to the comedy, it’s so smoothly done and feels so natural. Love
it!
One of the most beautiful themes of this drama is how it illustrates all the different types of love and relationships, ranging from true love/romance, mother-daughter/familial bonds, comradeship/friendship, and how it brings people together uniting them no matter the physical separation or hardship they are going through. It so preciously shines through <3.
This will always remain a fave of mine, and undoubtedly so difficult to topple…ahhh that void left behind as you try to find another beautiful drama :’(
Ps. Hyun Bin oppa and Son Ye-Jin so perfect together, their chemistry off the charts.
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I must say, this drama had it all. I think there are several factors that made it as good as it was. For me, my main points are:
- the element of North and South Korea. It almost feels like a parallel world (maybe just because I’m watching ‘The King: Eternal Monarch’ right now) but they are both so different, and the North gave it that element of danger but also innocence (since they don’t have access to much and it’s very backward)
- the brotherhood with the 4 soldiers, each with their own personality (hello 'found family' trope because se-ri's biological brothers are human garbage)
- the age of the leads: in their mid-late 30s rather than in most dramas it’s 20s, gives it a more mature feel
- stunning cinematography and soundtrack
- star-crossed lovers trope
- the plot is v good
+ one of my favourite intros ever.
But I must say, one thing I found so funny in this were these Trucks of Doom™. Like why did the villains have to go through All. That. Trouble. every time they needed someone killed. There are so many other methods to make it look like an ‘accident’ why do they do they same M.O. every time???
And even 'I' think that this show has too many coincidences, even for kdrama standards. The amount of times they had a ‘chance encounter’ in the past is crazy lol
Even so, this drama is such high quality. So glad I finally got around to watching it.
P.S: Ri Jeong Hyeok has set the standard impossibly high, sucks for all the guys who aren’t him because he has just raised all our expectations by 847%
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synchronicity comes full circle
This drama is outstanding and has earned its place as one of the greats. It is incredibly rich, incredibly layered and ultimately incredibly satisfying.It showcased all the typical kdrama tropes while still remaining fresh and addictive; the tropes I identified are: impossible love, chaebol family, cohabitation, a past, barely remembered meeting between the leads, arranged marriage, fake engagement, truck of death, riches to rags, adopted love child, sibling succession wars, fate or destiny; I'm sure there are many others.
This is a story about love in all its different facets, romantic love, familial love, love between friends, love between co-workers, love of your immediate community, love for your country and finally love for oneself. On the flip side the drama also explores destructive love for example the love of money, power or revenge.
Ultimately the drama strives to portray a love that is protective, selfless, healing, enduring, patient and a love that seeks to build it's object up rather than tear it down.
Jung Hyuk and Se ri's love and to a certain extent Seo Dan and Gu Sung Jun's love shows that as long as your heart is open and you're looking outward toward the object of your affection and putting them first, then your love will be rewarded, it will continue to grow and your life will be enriched as a result. I also particularly loved how Gu Sung Jun found his humanity in North Korea and I applaud the writer for not romanticising him by allowing Seo Dan to fall in love with him just as he was.
The cast and acting are what makes this drama special, not just the leads ( who are truly outstanding) but the entire cast kept this drama exciting, relatable and so heartwarming to watch; there is a commitment to the narrative that is evident in this show, each actor is so diligently and charmingly immersed in their role that as a viewer you cannot fail to be captivated.
The village ahjummas and the lovingly dubbed 'ducklings' literally steal this show with their sometimes hilarious and other times poignant and heart tugging performances, I truly adored this aspect of the drama and was never impatient to get these characters off the screen.
The treatment of the North Korea aspect was handled in a very sensitive manner, I appreciate that the writer depicted North Koreans as normal people who live their lives working hard and loving their friends and families just like any other people on this planet, this is important because oftentimes North Korea is caricatured and stripped of any normal commonplace attributes.
I also enjoyed this drama because I could always make sense of what I was watching, and all the nods to other kdramas and kdrama characters in the form of cameos, guest appearances or references were truly appreciated.
Although this is a drama with many goodbyes, each goodbye led to another level of love where the characters discovered more of themselves and what they are capable of enduring.
I do have a small criticism to make, I personally think that the synchronicity of the main couple's story regarding their first meeting in Switzerland and how this plays out throughout the drama is a little too neat and pat in the way it all just falls into place at the perfect moment. I don't know that's just me, kdramas love their fated love stories.
A lot of people have expressed some dissatisfaction with the ending, but in my opinion the writer and production team were probably very conscious of giving us a politically correct resolution which didn't appear to advocate anything illegal or insensitive. I think as viewers we are free to flesh out how our main couple navigated the rest of their lives.
The music is great in this drama, I think the placement of the music improved as the drama went on, especially with regard to the tracks with lyrics, not the instrumental pieces.
Overall 9.5 out of 10
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This review may contain spoilers
A masterpiece
I don’t know what I was expecting, really, but I can confidently say this exceeded my expectations.At first, I tought I was just watching an overrated romance with a hot military man (that, tbh, was the reason I started), but wow. Just, wow.
I’m horrible at writing reviews, but CLOY deserves it. Not a single thing about this kdrama bothered me. Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed watching this show. The chemistry between the characters, even the secondary couple, was top notch. I cried, laughed and smiled so much watching.
I know it’s a short review, but I’m so overwhelmed with emotions that I cant even express them properly.
Thank you, CLOY ❤️
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First, I would like to say that before watching it I was slightly apprehensive of the way North Korea was going to be portrayed. I feared it would be too cliché and without nuance. Now that I have finished it I am glad to report that it did not feel that way to me. The inequalities between Pyongyang and the countryside, the instricacies of power in the society and every day life were portrayed in a believable way. Rather than provoking pity for the North Korean it shows them as ordinary humans evolving in a society that is vastly different from what we know.
The appeal of this drama rests on its cast and the characters. Every actor did a great job but especially Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin. I liked Ri Jung Hyuk's subtle expressions of amusement and love throughout the episodes. I felt that Se Ri was really relatable even as she went through improbable situations (that tornado...).
The female characters were also something that I loved, I liked that Se Ri was strong and brave but sometimes unsure. I liked the mothers : often in dramas they are either too nice or absolutely horrible. Here, they feel real : they love their child without smothering them; they want to help them without deciding every details of their lifes.
I loved how the relationship between the second leads evolved and even how it ended (obviously I wasn't super happy but felt that it somehow made it more beautiful and meaningful) and how Seo Dan grew because of it.
I loved the camaraderie between Ri Jung Hyuk, his subordinates and Se Ri but also the friendship between the women in the village. They brought the funny moments.
And finally, I really really liked the ending. I haven't been so moved watching the end of a drama for a long time. The fact that it is not a simple happily ever after is refreshing and keeps it more real.
If you want a drama with heartwarming love stories and frienships, a bit of sadness but lots of laughs, great scenery and acting, this one is for you.
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This review may contain spoilers
I watched "Descendants of the Sun" and wondered if I'd see another series that could match it. Then, I watched "Mr. Sunshine," and thought, "there's no way I'll ever see another series like this." Imagine the joy of being wrong twice! Along comes, "Crash Landing on You," which may end up being my favorite of all of them. It's a toss-up between this and Mr. Sunshine. In short, this is one of the best series I've ever seen, and for me, the Korean Dramas I've watched have not disappointed at all as most are character and plot driven. In fact, overall, I've seen better quality shows out of Korea and Japan in the last several years than I have with American shows.The writing, and especially, the editing is some of the best I've ever seen. The plot is intricately weaved, not using some of the typical cliches and devices as some shows do when trying to get the two main characters together. In this case, we're given the beautiful wise lesson on screen: happiness is in the journey. Not the destination.
Seri is a woman who owns her own company and is part of an extremely rich family. Her world, despite the money and success, is cold and empty. She sits alone in a massive penthouse. She has all of the luxuries that one could ask for. However, she has a family, especially her half-siblings, who are about as cut-throat as anyone could imagine. She doesn't realize what is missing in her life until a storm, while para-gliding, blows her across the border into North Korea.
Ri Jeong-Hyeok is a North Korean captain who comes across Seri. At first, he and his unit of men aren't sure who Seri is and why she's there. Ri Jeong-Hyeok was a master pianist before joining the military, and intent on solving the mystery of his older brother's death. At first, he seems very straight-forward and unassuming, while underneath is a man full of life, passion, and love.
The first set of episodes of Seri trying to adapt to life in a North Korean village are especially hilarious. Imagine a pampered woman suddenly having to go without electricity? How to take a bath...how to cook, etc. As a former Peace Corps volunteer, I know full well what this adaptation feels like!
Perhaps for the first time in her life, Seri not only finds a connection with Ri Jeong-Hyeok, but also with the village women and also with the members of Ri Jeong-Hyeok's unit. It's ironic that she had to cross the border to find a group of people who were more like family for her than her real family back home!
The best plots are ones that aren't forced or contrived, and this one doesn't use either one. We are taken effortlessly from North Korea into South Korea as Seri and Ri Jeong-Hyeok find themselves at the center of two sinister plots, each one contrived by people on either side (North and South Korea).
Of course, the biggest question is: despite the situations they must survive and unravel, can they spend a life together? Is it feasible for two people, from the only divided country in the world, be able to have a relationship? North Korea might as well be the darkside of the moon, as communications between the people of the two countries is non-existent. Finding the answer to this question is the beauty of the journey of this series.
The entire cast is simply terrific. They meticulously and effortlessly give us endearing characters who are absolutely hilarious at times and heartfelt at others. All are also able to deftly convey a range of emotions, especially the two leads in Hyun Bin and Ye-Jin Soon whose chemistry is much of what makes this series so incredible.
The editing is some of the best I've ever seen in a movie or series as we are given scenes in one episode, only to realize that we were only given a partial look at the whole. Each time, we are given a joyful surprise and many, "Ah-ha" moments when we realize what really happened!
Apparently North Korean defectors served as consultants on this series to try and make life in North Korea depicted as accurately as possible.
Some might feel that the ending isn't the most ideal, but that's why I like it. It's realistic. They end up making the absolute most of the time that they have. These contrived, formulaic "happy endings" simply do not reflect life or relationships themselves.
I have been watching movies and television series for over 45 years, and frankly, this series absolutely blew me away. It captured my imagination and my heart as I see a veritable "Romeo and Juliet" struggling to find ways to connect, love, and protect each other. They are such a short distance away from each other across the border, but as I stated before, the distance might as well be from the earth to the moon. I love stories about relationships, where the two people have to find a way to overcome the obstacles and pitfalls laid out before them. Two people with enough love and determination will always find a way. And that is why the joy of watching this series is in the journey and not the destination! And this journey was simply sweet, magical, and joyful. What more could you ask for in a great series?
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"even if i go back in the past, i will still choose to meet you."
absolutely perfect. there isn't a single thing i would change about this drama. the acting, the story, everything won me over in a surprising way. i've watched it with my mother-in-law, with my boyfriend, and i've seen it a total of three times alone. is about not only romantic love, but also about the love of friendship, and that was what i liked most, the delving into the stories of all the characters (not just the main characters). anyway, i'm still looking for some drama that makes me feel the way Crash Landing on You did.Was this review helpful to you?
It was so hard to get over from this drama!
This drama has a different aspect and it makes u blind to the plot...I was so addicted to this drama and no lie, the day I watched the first episode of this drama, I ended up on finish watching the whole drama within one day.. This drama lets u believe in true love and the comedy in this drama also significant... Mostly as a military lover.. this would give u butterflies in ur stomach or makes u scream with joy and excitement... Also, the pure friendship also conveyed this drama.... also the beauty of nature!! Music is also good ..... No more words to describe how much I love this drama... It's unbelievable that how amazing the plot is.... Watching this drama is worthy... but so hard to get over it... suffering is soo bad.Was this review helpful to you?
