It has been a very long time since I enjoyed a drama so much. It made me wait eagerly every week so as to find out what could happen next. The romance is absolutely cute and the story, brilliant.
It is usually annoying when the leads lack chemistry especially, if they female lead is older. Here Park Soo Ha and Lawyer Jang make you gush, blush and want to hide in embarrassment. There are times when I wished they would get longer screen time instead of being cut into the next scene, but never-mind that. Even Lawyer Cha has a charm that will leave you in moments of awwww.
The main story with Min Joong Gok continues as other court cases carry on and climaxes in the best possible way. His motive may have been silly but I can forgive that as the plot is established well.
I Hear Your Voice is one the first dramas (in a long time) where the ending hasn't been disappointing. It wasn't hurried but written and directed carefully which gave the series a smooth finish. I can only remember one episode dragging a little bit. Just a teeny tiny bit.
The series does not disappoint in terms of chemistry, story, plot, music, characters, directing, acting, dialogues or anything else. Watch it, enjoy it, cry and blush with it. You will miss its voice and long wish to hear it again.
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Firstly, if you have any knowledge of a real legal system, please suspend all belief. As a law graduate myself, I initially found it hard to sit through court proceedings in the show and discussions about legal issues, because I couldn't stop ranting at the screen about how unrealistic it was.
The 2 lead characters are fabulously crafted. I especially appreciate Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young). She doesn't fit the conventional female lead in a drama - she is feisty, honest, and doesn't stand for any BS. We have waited so long for a lady who can do things for herself, knows what she wants, and says what she wants (well most of the time).
This show not only has a compelling lead couple - its supporting characters have stories of their own to tell and they really shine. Those worth mentioning are Kwan Woo (Yoon Sang Hyun), Doyeon (Lee Da Hee) and Hye Sung's mum (Kim Hae Sook). Not only do they each stand for certain principles and characteristics that are essential to the two lead characters' growth; by the end of the show, Kwan Woo and Doyeon, in particular, evolve as human beings and legal officers to become better people.
There are several funny moments throughout the show, and tear-jerking ones too. The ending is satisfying and full of hope for the future for all the characters. Very importantly, NO MOMENTS OF NOBLE IDIOCY.
The only flaw is the show sometimes spent too much time in court, with our characters going through their legal arguments, which we are already familiar with, and that sometimes made me turn off for a bit.
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I feel like I learned the same lessons that Soo Ha did in the show, and this drama was really touching to me. I felt so moved by it that I could not stop watching and my heart just throbbed constantly throughout the series. I really took a lot of it to heart and I honestly think it helped me to see the world a little differently...
The story was just absolutely brilliant. I wasn't sure what to expect when reading the synopsis, but it definitely wasn't what I had originally thought, it was MUCH better.
The acting was flawless, I saw absolutely no problems with any of the characters and I completely adored the entire cast, they all did a great job.
The music was wonderful and fit each scene perfectly. It wasn't as obnoxious as songs can get in dramas where you know whats coming and you never want to hear that song again by the end of the drama....It was nothing like that, and I will probably continue to listen to the soundtrack.
I will most probably rewatch this drama in the future....and that's extremely rare for me, I have only ever rewatched 2 dramas out of the 50+ I've seen, but this is definitely worth it.
I suggest you drop whatever you're watching now and start this! It is NOT something you want to miss out on, trust me!
Romance, Action, Thriller, Comedy, it has EVERYTHING! GO WATCH IT!
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The story can be said is average, the characters learn about truths and humanity through court cases and thus grow as human beings. But what really interested me was the supernatural element that was perfectly incorporated into the storyline. I loved the talent that Soo Ha had it fitted well with the story and it worked. It didn't seem out of place and it was consistent. His mind reading wasn't the main focus and thats what I love about it even more. It also made the voiceover justifiable and enjoyable as we get to understand his mind as well as the depth of other people's minds. The story had elements of everything without being overwhelming and confusing. Supernatural power, court cases, personal scars and fears along with a light but solid romantic development this drama balanced it all out well. Really well.
I loved the development of the romance as it was just so sweet and honest - none of the typical kdrama setout. The legal aspect of it also impressed me a lot! Sometimes the main story can overshadow court cases but this didn't happen - whilst there wasn't a great deal of time focused on the court cases and the characters it did however focus on the process behind each case as well as incorporating some humanity into the justice system.
I don't want to reveal too much of the story but it definitely isn't stereotypical. The characters surprised me in many ways and I absolutely loved watching their interactions and their subtly and believable grow and development. It showed me that people aren't robots, personalities can change, hearts can change. Enemies can become friends, one-sided love can be heard and not every drama needs an evil backstabbing second female lead.
The acting was incredibly from all of the cast. There is not one that I can criticise. The perfect leads and supporting cast. When I first heard Lee Jong Suk, Lee Bo Young and Yoon Sang Hyun I thought it would be awkward and lack chemistry. Boy was I wrong! There was not one moment that I doubted the love the characters had for each other - it all made sense, it was realistic, hence without such a talented casts this would've have worked. Lee Bo Young who impressed me as the rude, strong and somewhat heartless Public Defender. Her character is comedy gold - her antics are just the funniest and I enjoyed watching her become a better person. I never noticed her before but now she's definitely on my radar. Her acting is definitely one of the best I've seen.
Lee Jong Suk, well his name says it all. He ain't the hottest actor in South Korea for no reason and damn right he deserves that, he made that character come to life. I can't see anyone else who could've done a better job or him doing a better job it really was done well. He made me smile so much and cry so much too that bad man! I love Yoon Sang Hyun as the loud, naive and trusting lawyer his character brought light into the drama and he made me smile (not as much as Lee Jong Suk though) with his awesome persuasion skills and definitely brought much laughter to the audience I'm sure.
The supporting casts are just as amazing as the leads. The most impressive was Lee Da Hee. This might have been how awesome her character was (surprisingly so!) but I thought she played her role as the Prosecutor so well. She's on my radar too!
The music was great the perfect companion to the emotions that this series showed. Now that this drama is finished it's the perfect medication to stop me from missing this so much. reliving the memories.
Yes I will be rewatching this because it's not sooo heavy that it's burdensome but not so light that it makes no connection with the audience (i.e. me) so I plan to rewatch it. Not soon but I will.
Overall, this is a well executed and written drama that continuously impressed me with the plot and character development. All the characters were unexpected and I loved every moment. I try to be as objective as I can, although it doesn't sound it this review is me being objective. The story and side stories were great. There is not much I can criticise about this drama. For me it had the perfect balance of everything. It made me smile, envious, cry, learn and grow essentially to be more understanding of people. All in all I loved and enjoyed this series so much. A must watch!
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Cast: freaking loved lee jong suk and lee Bo young. This is the couple of the year for me. Really likeable cast, and hateful villains. Acting was perfection. Character development for all the cast members were great.
Music: great ost, but I couldn't remember any significant songs I really loved.
Overall: this is definately the drama of the year for me, and one of my favourite dramas of all time. It incorporates everything, sweet romantic scenes, revenge and vengeance, action, betrayal, trust and loyalty, and teaches one how to forgive and make amends.
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Never has a show taught me so much, and I'm not saying that these teachings have been profoundly philosophical or deep inner-soul hoo-ha. The basic things like being honest, compassionate and responsible. At the same time, being a good judge of situations and analyzing your actions before doing them. It also taught me that I should never feel ashamed to accept my mistakes and learn from whomever I can. These things may seem like everyday stuff but, for me, I'm not sure that I always go by all them diligently, even though I know I should. This show has, somehow, compelled me to. Suddenly I'm thinking, hey, maybe being honest about what I think wouldn't be so bad; but at the same time, being prudent about the truth wouldn't hurt either. I think it's suffice to say that along with the characters of the show who learned tons of things from each other, I learned a helluva lot from them.
The consistency in the show, along with the nature of the characters that only evolved for the better despite being same at the core, was commendable. It made me stick with it right till the end. The emotions portrayed by all the actors (brilliant work by them btw, another reason to watch the show) strikes the right heartstrings, without ever giving the feeling that it's deliberate on their part. You relate with them, their feelings, their predicaments, everything.
I think I should especially mention the praiseworthy performances by Lee Jong Suk and Lee Bo Young. Not that the rest of the cast doesn't deserve commendations, but for me, these two were just absolutely terrific. Surprisingly, there's this one character in this show that I adored beyond measure - Hye Sung's mom. In all the dramas that I've watched so far, I've never come across such a strong mother. She was just.. great, I have no words really. She's definitely going to stay in my heart for a long, long time.
On an ending note, I'd recommend this drama to anyone who wants to watch something worth their time. This show totally deserves all the hype and appraisal it has received. Go for it :)
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Lee Bo Young and Lee Jong Suk have real chemistry going on; their romance is extremely cute and believeable, undoubtedly due to their fantastic acting. This was also the first time in a drama that I rooted for both the love interests, with Yoon Sang Hyun 's character being painfully honest and genuinely kind- hearted. Lee Bo Young as Jang Hye Sung is the prime example of what I like to call a 'human' character; Hye Sung has believable failings and tries to turn these around in the best way possible, while also accepting that not everything can turn out the way she would like. The latter also goes for Soo Ha, whose motives at a point coincide with Hye Sung's.
Regarding the storyline, I absolutely loved it! A courtroom drama juxtaposed against a personal quest for revenge is an excellent way to develop conflicts, and of course solutions to those conflicts that arise naturally from character action.
Some aspects of the plot may seem a bit forced, but this being a very character-driven drama I'm sure that you will not be bothered by that.
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The big star of this drama was of course Lee Jung Suk, who went from being Oska's musical rival in "Secret Garden" to the main contender for Attorney Jang's affections, with Sang Hyun's character Attorney Cha as his rival. From this drama, it seems like Lee Jung Suk will continue on in more meaty roles as he matures both as a man and an actor.
And what would a drama be without a good bad guy? Jung Woong In as Min Joon Kook was the blast from the past that brought all the characters together and the catalyst for the plot and it's backstory.
This drama was originally slated for 16 episodes, and two more were added early on, most likely due to phenomenal ratings that were in the low to mid 20 percents. Fortunately, the additional episodes did not result in adding crazy plot twists nor a sloppy ending just for the sake of extending the drama's run. The story remains cohesive throughout, with the usual quantity of kdrama flashbacks, brooding, and reminiscing. Still, a great story with a great cast.
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In conclusion, people who are a little skeptical about watching it because of the older cast or the law theme, you guys have nothing to fear. This drama is cute and hilarious, and at the same time it's exciting and the makers really know their cards and when to pull them out.
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This review may contain spoilers
I am still in awe of this drama. How is it possible to cram so many good things into one short series? IHYV will not only make you come back to it, but it will stay with you to think about it a long while after you finish watching it.The main plot is just so well done and the minor cases that the main heroes solve are not self serving like in many dramas of this genre, but tell a consistent story a give you food for thought. IHYV also centres around a few very interesting tropes and small character/relationship details that keep you emotionally involved.
When it comes to characters, this is the way I imagine a strong female lead. Lawyer Jang is so gutsy, follows through even if she might be wrong and gives her everything to things she deems worthy. Lee Bo Young portrays her in such a lovable and charming way, it's a joy to watch. She also clicks with both of the main male leads and let me tell you - this is a love triangle that truly hurts. Both Park Soo Ha and Lawyer Cha are so fleshed out, strong contenders and both have such unique qualities that you root for them both in everything. I also think, having seen quite a lot of Lee Jong Suk's performances, that this is one of his best ones. Same goes for Yoon Sang Hyun who can pull such different characters in every drama in a totally believable way and his (in this case subtle) comedic ability is simply amazing.
And this is not all there is. IHYV does not centre only on love stories, it's true charm lies in developed relationship all around. The love-hate "friendship" between lawyer Jang and prosecutor Seo feels so real, as well as the relationship between lawyer Jang and her mother. And part of this is also in the way the dialogues are written - they all feel like being led between real people, with common emotions that you yourself go through in your everyday life and the drama emphasises things like honesty, fighting for the right things and truth (plus the "use" of it in the law).
Also, you just freaking hate the main antagonist. Phenomenal performance by Jung Woong In. His conflict with each of the main leads is so different, it kept me on my toes.
I would also like to praise the aspect of a coming of age perspective that is represented by Park Soo Ha. The development of the character is such a journey. The creators also throw in some little elements such as confronting your idea of someone with reality, keeping of promises despite of what you want and learning to leave certain approaches behind. These are all things that we experienced in our reality and the contrast of Park Soo Ha, who is very special because of his ability, and goes through the same is a genius move.
If I had to point out some negatives, it would definitely be the extension of the drama. This makes the very last episode sort of unnecessary and disturbs the flow of the last couple of them. There is also a few cliches used and the typical trope of kdrama timing, which are a bit of a sore spot. Other than that, there is really nothing else that I found lacking.
Overall, this is one of the best dramas out there, a good representative of it's genre and solidly written. It's also worth coming back to and notice all the little hints you might have missed during the first viewing. You should stop hesitating and just go for it. It really is that good.
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