A much needed lighthearted series
I've seen the Chinese version and liked it. But for me, I prefer the Korean version. In terms of acting and story pacing, it's better.I like how the male lead in this version was portrayed. Yes, he can be cold but you could also see emotions underneath his exterior. He's not as robotic as with the original. Also, the cast has great chemistry with each other. I can totally see them as a close group of friends. And since the episodes are a bit short, there was no draggy moments/storyline.
Overall it's a fun watch if you want something light and fun.
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I tried...
Let me start this faithful and very late review. The college has been trolling me and so time is of the essence.Before you ask, yes, I will discuss which of the two versions I like better but LATER. For now, I shall appreciate it as its own thing.
Let me start with the story. It really is a story of life, youth, and time. Things happen to the main character that changes her world view whether it is realizing that it can't always revolve around a boy or that certain things take responsibility and she needs to be held accountable. As for being a remake, I love some changes and I thought some others were better left alone. Some scenes kept did not have as much impact as the original and some scenes changed both fell flat and brought the bomb. There was variety :) The beginning was especially rushed and fast-paced due to the difference in episode count but I did feel that they could have done a better job. After around ep 3-5, the story worked itself out and got back on pace. True to the original but able to make it its own :) got to love it.
The Acting and Cast? I loved it. There was no moment where I thought :/ or really wished someone else took the roles. What else is there to say? I felt that I could tell by looking at the character and the way they all spoke which their Chinese counterpart was. I feel that is one of the greatest compliments to a cast for a remake. I also enjoyed the dynamic and watching them really dawned on me new possibilities because I couldn't really imagine a new cast up until that point.
The OST? I will be singing it all day. It was actually what initially attracted me to watch the show other than the original. Whenever the song came up I was tapping my feat, humming along and my head swayed without my knowledge at times. This one song alone probably had more impact than most things. It was very enticing and really kept me watching. I still listen to it. I actually can't pick between this version or the original version of the song but it was a nice throwback surprise.
uhhh as for rewatching value...I actually gave it a 7 because it seems like a rewatch friendly show but I haven't rewatched it soo I can't really judge it quite ye. I haven't done a review for the original so I might rewatch both at one point to have a better opinion.
Overall, as a stand-alone it was great.
Now, THE STATEMENT of which I liked better.
It doesn't matter because I like both!! Like or dislike is a preference that has no bounds, if you want to discuss which one is objectively better as a critic, go ahead but preference is a number of things. There is really no winning no matter which one you liked more. I get flamed for liking the new one and I get flamed for liking the original because people think I am biased. Nostalgia is a factor, my dudes. Don't flame someone cause they liked whichever one more for whatever reason. Doesn't devalue or opinion or anything so why does it matter. It is not like you are gonna agree with them and turn a new leaf. haha, I apologize, a bit too charged for my taste but I needed to say it.
Which one would I watch again first? The original. Does that mean I like the original more? I don't know. If you really want an opinion, just watch it and form your own. It was a good show on its own and it managed to be a good remake as well. The original will always hold a place somewhere on the popular drama wall and people liking this remake more won't change that.
My opinion on what was better for each category :
OST: Korean
Story: Chinese
Actors: Tie
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cute and short but maybe not the best remake
Honestly I've never written a review but I thought I should write one for this drama.I first watched the korean version before I watched the original, but so far I've rewatched both of them more than two times. The korean version lacked the depth in characters and in story-telling, and overall I feel like the plot was just cut down. You can barely see the development in the relationship between the ML and the FL, their moments together literally go by so fast. Where as in the c-drama, you can see their feelings grow and change.
Moreover the actor for the FL just looks older than the character should. No matter how they tried to make her appear younger, whether that was through her short hair or making her behaviour so-child like and immature, I felt like the actress didn't really connect with the role and she wasn't really able to bring out her character until the end of the show. (no shade to the actress though shes gorgeous but its just a case of bad casting lols)
And the thing that bothered me the most was how she would forgive the ML so easily. When he told her she was a loser, or when he was caught with Heeji. He would never directly apologize. Like how does playing the piano and telling her 'dont go' when she's thinking of transferring equivalent to an apology? LMAO like okay he could be bad with words and displaying what he feels but this literally makes no sense. You get a sense of his true feelings and some of the reasons behind his actions in the last episode but thats practically it. Overall I feel like this could've been better but its cute for what it is.
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A Love So Beautiful (2020)
The show's a little unrefined, rough around the edges, and at times iffy at best but its got the spirit and that's what counts.I always felt that the coming-of-age genre is a cheat code in writing since many can easily relate to its thematic values. So essentially the show was playing with house money but doesn't quite act like it. The story progression and pacing is a bit of a mess and uncoordinated. It makes safe but bland choices which, when paired with the fact that secondary characters shined a bit brighter than their primary counterparts, resulted in a safe but bland experience.
Still, the show is easy on the eyes, easy on the mind, and easy for viewers to digest as we watch a love blossom into something so beautiful.
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Disappointing ending
This was a very cute and comforting drama. I liked the cast and the characters. The supporting characters were great.Everything was good but the ending vas extremely disappointing. The relationship between Cha Heon and Shin Soli as adults felt rushed. I wish they wrapped up their story instead of spending 17 minutes (out of 25) retelling their love story but from his perspective. It didn't add anything new and just wasted time. Even the second couple got a better wrap up that the main couple.
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A Love So Incredibly Frustrating
For a teen rom-com, the romance was dead. Not to mention, incredibly unhealthy and bordering on toxic for every single pairing. Both Heon and Dae-sung were way too possessive over Sol-i. ESPECIALLY Heon. I do not understand how his love for Sol-i was supposed to be perceived as pure. He toys with Sol-i for YEARS to see how far she'll go for him. Dae-sung is better in some aspects, thinking more about Sol-i's happiness than his own. However, his love borders on obsession, and I seriously dislike how many years he waits for Sol-i just to be rejected all over again. It is just insane for him to have waited fifteen years and not move on. Ha-young and Jin-hwan's relationship is also a mess. Ha-young was practically in love with someone else, and then she switches feelings within a day?Also, the kisses in this show were to faint over, in the wrong way. None of the couples had any real chemistry. Heon and Sol-i's dead-fish kisses made me squirm uncomfortably and all the horrible "we had sex teehee" jokes made me cringe my eyes out. This show would probably be better if ANY of the leads had any chemistry together.
It may also have been better if the female lead, Shin Sol-i, was not SO incredibly bubbly. It's a shame because I like the actress who plays her, but her voice as Sol-i hurts my ears. Her aegyo and constant jumping were just purely annoying, especially when they contrasted too hard with Kim Yohan's total emotionless acting (let's just say he got MUCH better in School 2021). Also, all of them acted the same at 30 as at 17. This was insane. No way a 30-year-old woman whines and pouts the way a child does to act cute.
Speaking of, 15 years was an unrealistic time gap. I get that the original Chinese story took place over that long, but it's just unbelievable that these characters went from teenagers to their 30s with barely any stylistic change. Especially with the runtime being so short, a decade passes by too quickly. It would've been much better if it had taken place over six or seven years. Not to mention more realistic. Is Cha Heon supposed to be perceived as a senior doctor when he looks like a 20-year-old? Come on...
And get this! Somehow, I still enjoyed it!?!?! This show took me YEARS to finish. I tried watching it when it first came out on Netflix, and I dropped it after 8 episodes; I used to agonize over pressing play. Three years later, I decided to pick it up again, and something just hit differently this time; perhaps it was the fact that I realized how foolish a lot of these problems were and could laugh at them. The show was cute and something to entertain me when I was bored. I would not necessarily recommend it as a story. But if it has been on your radar for a while and you happen to love horrible love triangles, this will be a hoot!
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Oh a Dream Puppy Love
Shin Soli really said that her imagination keeps her afloat. Anyone must have their moments to smile in between these high school life stories. I have mine too. How every episode brings the plot into the light watch is the charm of this drama, but also what it lacks because I tend to lose my will to anticipate what happened. Cha Heon is a tsundere, but the formula of him showing Soli his back and smiles to himself has turned repetitive. His figure is too sweet to be 'mean' enough. Also, can we talk about how the ost repeat itself inside the story too much as if the drama doesn't have enough songs to be featured. All songs are great! Please use all of them consecutively. I think Woo Daesung deserves a slight subplot too, right? He is the second lead but Jinhwan and Hayoung a complete history until the drama ends but we only have subtle view about how Daesung's future look like. I enjoy this drama between my lunch. It's quite heartwarming to remember about how love grows (though this drama still fall into half realistic in a way).Was this review helpful to you?
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Loved it
Although I’ve never seen the Cdrama version (and probably never will) I have to disagree with most of the reviewers here. Could be my personal preference but I loved how the drama unfolded and the chemistry between the actors was there. It’s definitely a lighter drama and fluffy feelings abound but the fact that they hit troubled waters and manage to navigate through them - in the end. I appreciated it. I will probably rewatch this one for sure. Nice and light and feel good. I love the innocence in it too.Was this review helpful to you?
Light-hearted youth romance
There's nothing outstanding on the plot itself, it's a typical high school story of friendship, crushes, romance, love triangle and such but still it sends butterflies on my stomach as I'm watching it. I love the journey of them getting older. I felt like I was growing with them. I saw a lot of negative comments regarding the 'remake' however I wasn't able to watch the original version yet so I can't really compare it to that.If there's one thing that left a mark on my mind, it was how pure is the second lead's feelings towards the main lead to the point that he even set his feelings aside just to make SolYi happy. That was so touching for me. The casts chemistry is superb and I just feel energized watching them.
I love that they used Kim JongKook's song 'Lovable' as the OST. I am definitely singing it on my mind most of the time.
If you just want a chill series to watch that will bring you back to your high school days, this is definitely a must watch. It's just a nice stress reliever after a long day.
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Cute and simple high school romance
Just your basic high school romance, but something about it sets it apart. Characters have an adorable relationship with eachother. Sure togive you second-lead syndrome.Love the way they showed how the characters grew up, and how the plot taps into the theme of first love. Yohan is an amazing actor - the perfect fit for the role! Sol-i is such an adorable character, and the chemistry between her and Heon is very well portrayed, both played by amazing actors. Certainly did the orginal justice. Definitely worth watching!
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In conclusion: second male lead makes it worth watching and is the best aspect of the series (in my opinion)
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
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HEARTWARMING 100%
Just... ahhhhh Thinking about this drama makes me feel warm and happy! Kim Yo Han and Seo Yoo Yeon were amazing. I liked that the lenght of the episodes was not more than 25 minutes because it meant I could binge watch it easily and really invest in the characters! I do not know if I would rewatch it simply because I now know the ending. I always enjoy watching Korean high school dramas because it seems to be really different to the school system in my country. And of course the OST is the star (thank you Kim Jong Kook for this gem and SinBi for covering the song)!Was this review helpful to you?
