Really dull, sadly
I am not gonna lie, the low ratings for this drama definitely alarmed me when I first decided to watch it. The second red flag was probably the fact that this drama was cut short due to said low ratings. When I read that this drama was definitely on a much slower side than what I’m used to, I thought, “pshhh… I can handle a slow drama. I don’t have the attention span of a child, after all, so I should still enjoy this.” Yeah, I was wrong. This drama is the dullest thing I have ever watched since The Walking Dead season 2. I am not ashamed to admit that I have stanned Chae Soo Bin for quite a bit now, so I had hopes that the cast would pull through and make the drama worth watching for me. Wrong again. I still love Soo Bin, but the drama completely failed to touch my heart and I felt like it was trying too hard to create a dreamlike, melancholy mood. That is to say, I got really depressed when I watched the drama, and not in a good way. The plot was essentially nonexistent, so I don’t even really know what to talk about in this review at all. The idea behind this drama was definitely one I hadn’t ever encountered, and the pacing of the romance itself was beautifully well done. I appreciate the fact that the characters focused more on developing a platonic emotional connection before getting romantic, and they were a joy to watch on screen together despite the snail-like pace of the drama. Otherwise, nothing was out of the ordinary in this drama and it was just… okay I guess. None of the characters were particularly memorable, nor did I feel compelled to find out what happens next. As many have said, the ending was quite underwhelming because, although all the side characters got their closure and their stories were beautifully wrapped up, the same cannot be said for the leads, which is incredibly frustrating. All in all, I would look elsewhere if you’re looking for a drama to tug at your heartstrings, as I didn’t feel much at all watching this. And trust me, it’s quite rare for me not to cry when watching a kdrama.Was this review helpful to you?
A Piece of Your Mind was sweet, warm, and healing and I liked the pacing until tvn decided to cut off four episodes which kind of messed up the last two to be honest.
For the plot, I like how watching the first episode is enough to give you a hint on the overall vibe of this drama without pretense. You'll already know whether this show is your thing or not. The show does not try to sugarcoat itself for popularity views but rather tell you how this drama is slow paced, warm, and beautiful. The story began with Ha Won's device not working because it was looking for its point of reaction, which I think has two meanings behind it (for the device, and for himself) and then suddenly two complete strangers met. Ha Won walked into a room after following the music he heard from outside a building, and met a complete stranger who is about to pack her things. Then slowly from there, their world has become interconnected, and they discover more about each other, about the pain and sadness of the other, become each other's comfort and healing. While accompanying each other, a slow blossoming, sweet, spring-like love has formed.
What made me really stick to this drama were the actors. I am a huge fan of both Chae Soo Bin and Jung Hae In so i really looked forward to this and they didn't disappoint! They were both cute and innocent looking and their chemistry was just fantastic! Plus they were able to deliver the emotions very well! The show talked about coping loneliness, depression, regret, loss, and love, and although I couldn't really relate to those matters I was able to feel it while looking at the actors deliver their lines. I hope that they could act together in another drama someday.
Another good thing about this drama was the cinematography! The angles, scenery, color, temperature were just perfect! This definitely covered up the simplicity of the plot and setting and made it extra special. The OST was able to help give us a vibe and feel of the whole plot and setting too! It gave us the overall healing and warm spring vibe which i love!
The show was definitely flawed, and we can all see that with the limited setting, the unelaborated job of our ML, the sometimes horrible outfit, and the rushed ending and closure for all the four main characters, but despite that, it was still the beautiful budding romance, cinematography, and soundtrack made up for it. How i wish we could get those four episodes back!
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Detail:
This one was cut short from 16 episodes to 12 due to low viewer numbers I was afraid it would have a rushed or just outright poor ending - but it doesn't. If anything, cutting it to 12 may have done it some favours, it's a fairly slow paced drama that deals with the scars and emotional pain that the characters have locked away.
The ML is a tech developer and is working on an Artificial Intelligence project that lets him bring a person to life in a small device so you can talk to them as if they were really there. Yes, this bit is a bit nonsense, and yes the science of it is... drama-full... but let's just skip over that and enjoy it as if it were true, because that's more fun :)
The FL is a sound engineer, working in a studio with various musicians.
Without going into any detail, the AI element is really good and gives you this feeling of being able to talk to those who have passed away.
Both characters have scars from their pasts, emotional damage that they are papering over to live on with their lives but this story pokes and prods and pushes those scars and forces the characters to deal with it. Theres numerous things going on here that are somewhat intertwined, not just with the two leads but with other characters as well.
Through the story we see the characters who are not aware of how closely they are linked in some cases, resolve their issues in a really nice fashion, there's no magic reset buttons in this story. It's almost a little slice of therapy.
I especially liked the ending though it was a tad abrupt, it would have been so easy to say "all is great" and re-paper over the remaining cracks, but they didn't, even in the last episode the characters are resolving their pains. I felt it was abrupt because I honestly just like to bask in the final bits of a story once it reaches its conclusion - whatever that is - you've spent the entire show getting here, let's stop and just rest a bit and take in the feels before we hit the credits eh? Still, a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things.
Lots of Piano in this which I especially liked as it's my favourite instrument. I can listen to the Piano for hours :)
Overall really enjoyed. Music was really good too.
It's a shame it wasn't watched by enough viewers, but I think there's been a lot of the slow, arty, therapy style shows this year so far so it's probably more bad timing than anything else. It'll probably find a better place as people watch it later.
Jung Hae In is playing a fairly similar role to ones he's done before, the melancholy loner who finds love - but for Chae Soo Bin this was somewhat different to her normal role and I think she aced it (but i'm a fan so... take that with a pinch of salt I guess :) )
Lastly, special call out for Park Joo Hyun who plays Kim Ji-Soo, this was her first drama and she only had a movie before this so a newcomer and I thought a very strong entry too (particularly given the unusual nature of this role), definitely will be looking out for more from Joo Hyun.
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The characters are very relatable to some aspects of real life. The way they deal with the situations is very realistic. Their emotions will leave you to waver. The four main characters all have fears and struggles that they have to deal with but because of those problems, they are able to meet and have connections with each other. They rely on each other to conquer and overcome their fears. Because someone is staying beside you, support you, and help you face those problems. you were able to move on and live a better life beside them. It is exactly what the drama is about but in a deeper way. The way Ha Won look at Seo Woo every time just makes my heart fluttered. I KNOW EXACTLY HOW SHE FEELS!
MUSIC: The music is the kind of genre that I like a lot. I have to say, I keep looping all of the OSTs because it's considered an addiction to my thirst for this drama because it ended so early. The slow calming songs are usually my type and most of the OSTs in this dramas are like that which fits my style so much. The music also fits really well with the drama because it expresses the emotions within the lyrics. When the music played at a specific part of the episode, it just makes you become more emotional. JUST JJANG!
LACKING: IN EPISODES OF COURSE! TVN just had to cut the drama short. Everything just suddenly feels rushed and unfulfilled. Personally, I wanted more interactions between the two main lead but everything is just jammed together when the last episode was released, but it still expresses the purpose of the drama.
REWATCH: DEFINITELY! I'm about to watch this drama again because I couldn't stand how short it was. TVN really makes me mad because I could have seen more scenes of Ha Won and Seo Woo together but NO, they just HAD to cut it short. I feel really empty when this drama end, so I have to rewatch it again to fulfill my satisfaction with this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
A very cruel drama
Highly spoilersThis is the first Korean drama I saw so many cruel/ or trashy main characters. (1st FL, both ML, ML’s niece etc). In this the most cruel or worst character is 1st FL.
1. Even though she knew very well that she is the only family the ML has, she dumped him for her own happiness and the reason what she gave for liking the 2nd ML is totally bull shit.
2. From first to last episode she acted very cruelly with the ML.
3. Even after knowing ML’s mother’s death she hid it from the ML yet he deserved to know that truth.
4. She made the ML as a stalker.
5. Without proper breaking up with the ML she confessed to ML that she was with the 2nd ML.
6. In overall she didn’t deserved love and affection of any people at all.
ML-Even after he got dumped very cruelly he was still obsessed (even after nine years) with the 1st ML. He creates a virtual world in order to stay with her. The main good thing of ML is, he is fully committed to what he says and what he do.
Even though I have written so many negative points yet I given good rating(except story) because I can see the efforts from the direction team, production team, cast and cinematography. One thing I can assure you that, even though this drama is having so many negative points and felt little draggy but definitely you will not skip any scenes or plots because each and every plot is related to previous and future scenes(plots), this is the only reason I finished this drama without forwarding a single scene, and acting is very good by all the characters.
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Most Beautiful Drama I've ever watched!
This is the first time I'm writing a review for a drama - I feel so sad because the drama was cut off because some people couldn't enjoy it. I usually don't watch slow dramas and also though of dropping it when I heard people were not liking it because of its pace. But I'm glad I watched it even if it was becuase I knew how great of an actor Jung Hae In is.The drama is so heart warming and in my opinion it's not even THAT slow. The story has a great pace and every character story was potrayed so beautifully I'm heart broken that it had to end so soon.
I just found the list of OST and as soon I started listening all the memories flooded in and almost made me cry. The OSTs are as beautiful as the drama.
Honestly, I wish everyone could have at least given the drama a try even if in their opinion it was too slow. It's so beautiful and one of my favourites now.
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Simply beautiful story
Such a believable story, understated acting, superb characters. Moving, emotional and funny at times. All aspects of relationships and human frailties and strengths are explored. Just perfect.Jung Hae-in is a wonderful, natural actor.
The entire cast were perfect and give the viewer wonderfully varied, 'real' characters. A joy.
With 12 episodes, this is shorter than most dramas, but the story never felt rushed or packed in and neither was it dragged out. I felt the pace was perfect.
The locations were unusual too and it made me want to visit the coffee shop, buy a eucalyptus plant and a ticket to Oslo!
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This review may contain spoilers
Slow but intriguing show
The pace of the drama was slow but that didn't stop this title to be any less amazing.After just watching the pilot episode, I really wondered as if it was possible to have a such a beautiful episode. And that first episode assured me this will be one amazing show, and it didn't let me down.
If I have to say about the 1 thing for which I was disappointed for was that In Wook never received a proper hit from Ha Won. But what followed that just showed how well the character of Ha Won was.
I fell in love with almost every character in this drama, be it the lead or the side. And though this is the first drama for Park Joo Hyun, she played her role really well and so did the other characters.
Overall, I'm grateful I didn't keep this drama on the sideline for too long. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
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There's not a lot of tension or misunderstandings going on, no corporate villain or spiteful mother-in-law, no annoyingly over-persistent second lead... Just regular people going through hardships of life, trying to find answers and do the best they can to move on. It felt almost therapeutic, in a way, watching these people finally accept the reality of things and learn to grow from it.
The story really plays on your emotions, and you feel for every single character. No one is black or white, they're all just different shades of faulty human beings. The AI device doesn't really make sense, but it was never intended to and the story doesn't try to make you understand it; there's no scientific lingo to rationalize its existence - it's a fait accompli, we're now living in a world where this exists, and all that's left is to see how it plays out.
My favourite thing, though, was probably the interactions between the main characters. You can tell they really understand and support each other. They follow each other's pace perfectly, and with no unnecessary jealousy or fighting (a few arguments here and there, but reasonable) their relationship simply flows.
Perfectly wrapped up with a bow in 12 episodes, with gorgeous piano tracks throughout.
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This review may contain spoilers
If I had to say something straightway after finishing this drama, I would say I regret watching it so quickly. I wish I took my time slowly and digested the show slowly. This might be the first show I’ve watched to where I cried at the end in happiness and also sadness at the same time because I won’t be able to watch this drama anymore. I want to say I wish it had more episodes but that’s just my selfish greed, this show having 12 episode were just perfect in my opinion. From the end of episode 2 when Ji Soo died, from that moment on I knew I had to write a review for this show when I finish it.First off I want to talk about the overall genre and message the show conveys. It’s basically a show of healing and development by meeting new people and forming new bonds. The relationship between Ha Won and Seo Woo was so therapeutic to watch as they grew closer together gradually and didn’t rush anything, also their chemistry were just perfect. This drama only had a few characters so there were a lot of scenes for Ha Won and Seo Woo and that worked in the shows favour as it doesn’t delve into pointless story arcs and just focuses on its main characters.
With Ha Won Jung Hae In never disappoints, I’ve watched many of his dramas and I honestly love all his roles at this point. Ha Won as a character was very pitiful at first since he was in pain a lot and didn’t in particularly have anyone there for him since Ji Soo didn’t reciprocate his feelings back and also wouldn’t talk to him due to her guilt. When Ha Won meets Seo Woo his whole world changed you could say, his slow developing relationship with her saved him and healed his wounds per say. Ha Won as a character, we didn’t really see him cry that much, I probably cried more than him watching the drama. When Ji Soo died he didn’t even have a massive cry until a lot later down the line in which just shows that as a person he likes to suppress himself and act strong.
Chae Soo Bin did just perfect with Seo Woo, I really like the way they portrayed her throughout the show. She was the opposite of Ha Won in the fact that she is so open about her feelings and tells them straight out. There was honestly not a time to where I didn’t not like a decision she made in the show. Just like Ha Won, she was hurting from her past trauma because of the fire that killed her parents. She was able to confront that trauma because she knew that she had someone besides her which was Ha Won and they both relied on each other a lot through out the show.
The thing I liked the best about this show was honestly the relationship between Ha Won and Seo Woo. The way they slowly began to like each other and became each other’s bandage was amazing to watch. Out of all the melodramas I have watched I liked this couple the best when it comes to the theme of healing and self worth. You could see how much they loved each other just from how affectionate they were, they didn’t need to kiss all the time like in some other dramas. In this one all they needed was to be in each other’s presence and support each other when they needed it.
The device that Ha Won made actually has quite a lot of meaning to it once you realise what the response feature it. The way to get it to have a response feature was to say the thing in which saved that person from their rock bottom. With Ha Won, it was thunder because every time it would be thunder and lightning his mum would play the piano to calm him down and that’s what saved him. For Ji Soo it was the fact of a one sided love, In Wook’s one sided love saved her. With Seo Woo it was Mr.Dawn which was Ha Woo, they first met without knowing that Ha Woo was Ha Woo. She simply knew him as Mr.Dawn and his presence saved him and once Mr.Dawn become Ha Won, they’re relationship started there.
The OST in this drama was pretty standard like nothing stood out but they were good enough to create an atmosphere in scenes enough to make me cry. Honestly when Ji Soo died, it broke my heart because I honestly supported Ji Soo and Ha Won but it was the wrong choice after seeing the whole story and knowing who’s best for who.
If you looking for a drama about healing and character development this show is for you. I’m saying this right now but I will 100% rewatch this show one day because I simply found it a pleasure to watch and I want to see more scenes between Ha Won and Seo Woo so I will deeply miss this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Tbh, I was not really planning on watching this, however, due to the news of this drama being reduced into twelve episodes instead of the slated sixteen that viewers were left baffled, I got so curious. Warmth. Yes, that is the best word in the dictionary to describe how I felt seeing the journey of not only Seo Woo’s and Ha Won’s characters but everyone. As what I have shared on my SNS, A Piece of Your Mind is a drama which showcased the humaneness of every character in it. Humans are fragile. We easily get hurt. We stumble, we fall. We experience numerous heartbreaks and loss. Humans feel defeated and feel as if the world has turned its back on you. But at the end of the day, we stand as we fall, we overcome these demons—we move on.
There was no romance on the get-go. There was a process. Seo Woo and Ha Won found comfort on each other’s existence brought by Ji Soo’s passing. Prior to Ji Soo’s passing, both of them have their own baggages; with Seo Woo’s parents death that goes the same with Ha Won’s mom’s death and Ji Soo marrying another man. They became each other’s confidante, and through time, their feelings blossomed. Just like the season when the drama was filmed, they are each other’s spring.
The other side stories also brought warmth: A husband who has not yet moved on from his wife’s passing met another person who was committed to lift everyone whom she thought needed help; a woman in her 50s who has lost her one and only daughter went back to relive the life she had during her early 20s in a homestay where she lived for a brief moment; a friend who has been the pillar of your strength for a long period of time.
The drama did not try to make the relationships of the characters complicated (unlike to what we have been acquainted for several kdramas). I felt the rawness in this. Because for me, I think they portrayed a good depiction of what happens in real life—in a person’s life.
All in all, I enjoyed watching this drama. My personal favorite is the scene where you could feel the comfort best between the two main characters. Yes, I am talking about that scene where Ha Won put his hand on Seo Woo’s nape when he saw her feeling uncomfortable thus kept on scratching. This is a slap to my single lady ass. Lol.
Even more, I was opting not to include this in my review but the cinematography of this drama really needs a commendation. Also, 10/10 for the music.
I am praying for a Soo Bin x Hae In drama reunion because one can’t deny how strong their chemistry is.
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You should watch this one (YES! )
You would recommend this to others. (YES!)
You could watch this again. (CAN!)
Ending: Happy
Warning: for those who like fast-paced dramas, this one is not for you. It’s start is v v slow, you want to tear your hair out wondering when the story will start or whether the pace will pick up and then wham! It hooks you in and you get involved in the characters and their pain.
It’s a story about relationships and pain and how the main protagonists overcome their pain and convert it into love for each other. The performances are very good. The lead pair are excellent in their respective roles. The dialogues are so deep. I normally don’t like such slow-paced dramas but this one hooked me and like how. It grows on you as you see it. The best thing they have done is to restrict it to 12 episodes which are appropriate to appreciate it. I would suggest giving it at least 2 episodes before you decide whether you want to watch it or no. It’s a personal choice completely. You may want to chuck it and then come back to it later depending on your mood. Sometimes one just needs to view such dramas to slow down our pace too. Give it a try. You will end up feeling good!
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