Dope Web Series - Leaves An Impression
Goosebumps through and through - For anyone who likes noir teen dramas with a dark concept. The story is quite tormenting and not easy to watch - still addicting ...Production / Music >> 9.0
Hope or Dope consists of a heavy and dark plotline that is undermined by a capable filming and editing crew. Several closeups enable the audience to get a set image of emotions and mental states, which are worsening as the story carries on. On one hand, the lighting consists of mostly warm colours during the night and is used as another tool to set the mood which contrasts with the cold and dark vibes, on the other hand, some moments during the daytime are giving off a more cold coloured vibe.
Plot >> 8.5
Generally said, the plot is extremely thrilling and emotional, clarified by how pathetic and miserable each character is and how natural and not exaggerated their situation seems because they almost have no unrealistic turns/ twists. I also found their in-character behaviours quite appealing since they never really acted OOC.
Cast >> 9.0
There is nothing that irritated me while watching, rather the opposite, I kept admiring Wo Ji An for her portrayal of such a complicated and bitter character like Kyung Da Jung. The two brothers Gong Yoon Tak and Gong Yoon Jae, portrayed by Yoon Chan Young and Yoon Hyun Soo, also left a positive impression on me. All appearances in this drama were solid.
Rewatch Value >> 6.0
Eventhough this drama is quite good and I really enjoyed the story and kept admiring the crew and cast behind it, it´s still sometimes heavy to watch. Therefore my second run might take some time but who knows, I´ll eventually be back since 25 - 35 minutes per episode is not dragging to watch.
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Dark themes in a light way
What I liked?1. Plot
It was something new and refreshing. We get to see a lot of different people, from different backgrounds, dealing with different stuff. This drama was pretty much fast-paced, so I absolutely wasn't bored, while watching
2. Character portraying
Also not typical. Almost all of the main characters (maybe beside crazy mum) are morally grey. Their characters are very realistic - they don't have a lot of luck, sometimes they are acting very emotionally, just as we all do.
3. Production (graphic)
As for web series, I was really impressed. The colors were amazing, my fav of it all was the top floor in the motel. Besides that, whole show was giving this special "youth" vibe, but not in this standard, highschool and a bit cliche way (it has to be said, I am not a fan of highschool drama), but more serious (still not very dark)
4. Format
Sometimes, especially when I am tired by the day, watching long dramas can be even more tiring. I also don't like a lot of filler scenes. Here, we have 10 eps, which was for me ideal for this kind of drama
What I didn't like?
1. Lack of romance
Don't get me wrong - I really enjoy no-romance dramas and I watch them a lot. But as for series, which genre is romance, I would expect something more. Chemistry between main leads was pretty much okay, but I am kinda disapointed, as I expected something more
2. Untapped potential/ plot holes
I know there will be a season 2, so I am hoping for explanation. There was a few unexplained things, which for now doesn't make sense, but we will see how they are gonna to solve this, But also I am not a big fan of more then one season (this is one of the reasons I stopped watching most of the Western shows)
3. Why did they all hate that one character?! I completely didn't understand how could they could hate character for what they parent did..?
Overal, I pretty much liked this series. It was good, nothing special and won't be in my mind for a long time, but fun to watch. If you want something quick to watch, with cool vibe, but not boring - I reccomend!
If you reading this, I hope you will have an amazing day/ night! <3
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Not For Me …
Hope or Dope was definitely not what I was expecting. I thought the premise sounded interesting and especially the issue of the female lead going on a downwards slope of delinquency would bring up some interesting issues. Instead a lot of the issues felt preachy and what could’ve been a good series with strong characters turned weak by character writing and mixed acting. I liked the side characters a lot more than a female lead if I’m honest.Overall a strong 6.5/10. Could’ve been a LOT better in my opinion but did still touch on some interesting issues.
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An okayish watch
I was very excited when i first saw the trailer for this .The trailer made me expect another "Extracurricular" ."extracurricular " was truly one of the best dramas I've watched .I've always wanted a season 2 for it which never happened.so i was really excited when i saw another drama with the similar exciting style .i was disappointed that it was not as intense as the trailer promised.unlike extracurricular this was much more light hearted with little humour sprinkled here and there between the serious storyline.This was not very thrilling to watch.i feel like the show kinda lost its charm after the first 2 episode.it did pick up the pace a bit in episode 9 to finally end in a small cliff hanger .
The acting was good .and it was well cast .the music was also good.the re-watch value is not much in my opinion .
Will I be watching the next season ? Yes, obviously.but i feel they do need to make it more exciting and thrilling to watch.these kind of dramas are made to be watched on the edge of the seat .i hope they'll improve in the next season
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Well-paced.
It is a web drama with a mature topic but still in the high school genre. Unlike most web in that genre, they try too hard to be mature; giving unnecessary depth to overlooked topics. It is paced well. I wouldn't say that it deserves to be a 16-ep drama as that would be a stretch. I like how fast-paced it is. Its pacing makes you doubt if it is a web drama of 10 ep instead of 16.It is still very different, drugs are not a huge topic in k-dramas yet and I want to see more of it. The characters are well picked out with a good back story behind each of them. And with the second season coming, the characters will get more dept which I can't wait to see. We need a second season as they are so many unanswered questions left from the first season. I am rooting for the fml and want to see more from her. I find her incredibly pretty and her acting is so natural to me. The mml, I almost all have known him from All of Us are Dead and obviously want more from him. For me, the fml's story is the main focus. As a drug dealer daughter is less known to me. But I know the story of sons that treated their mom like shit and then turned into househusbands.
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This review may contain spoilers
Mixed feeling about this one.
I want to start by saying the show overall is really great. It depicts the story of a struggling teenager with an abusive mother who deals drugs. The acting was very good even though Won Ji An sometimes came off as bland and unimpressive. The slowly evolving relationship with Yong Yoon Tak felt natural and very well-made.However, I have a few things to say about the overall plot: While the synopsis tells you that the story is about Da Jung growing and harvesting a field of marijuana, the field is found out almost halfway through the first season and shown and discussed only in bits to the point it feels like the subplot. The main plot, if you didn't read the synopsis, would be Da Jung running away from her abusive mother after being accused of stealing drugs from her, the whole marijuana field would be irrelevant. At the same time, during the show, police in Seoul investigate Da Jung's friend's death - which is heavily covered in the first few episodes and then stops being mentioned almost completely until the last episode.
Overall, the actual plot of the show felt different from what is advertised in the show's description. Yes, she did find a field of marijuana and decided to harvest it to earn money, but during the show, that becomes almost irrelevant.
I still recommend it and think the drama is a good one. Just don't have really high expectations.
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Wannabe Delinquents!
It started strong with a gripping premise but kind of lost its footing pretty quickly. I was expecting it to go deeper with its theme, given the +18 rating, but it remained super surface-level throughout, and the rating seemed to be there just because the plot included cannabis. It feels like a big wasted plot to something that could've been actually good. There were all these random side stories thrown in that were just bland and irrelevant. The attempts at emotional depth felt forced and artificial, as if the writer was more concerned with eliciting sympathy than giving a better portrayal of its theme. In the end, the drama will likely end up being a forgettable one.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
They got me a bit emotional and then they ruined it allThis was a sort of nitty gritty abandoned kids bonding and finding comfort in each other sort of a thing but in the end they were extremely hypocrites
I thought blue hair girl was involved in the bus accident so it made me sad
Like if she drove infront of the bus or tried to commit suicide then the bus accident would be tragic
But her dad was the driver and he was on drugs so basically they died because of those weeds they were trying to sell, hypocrisy much??? And they were still angry at her?
I liked the ending tbh cuz that girl was the real victim
Tho everyone, fl included, were idiots. Fl’s friend directed her to that town, a drug dealer sent her to a drug farm
And no one was sus? Especially the motel weeds, no one thought that thing had an owner? With cameras or ppl that’d take them away?
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Intriguing first season.
I will make it short. This series lacked appeal, the script was lackluster. The dialogues aren't insane and even the scenes aren't used to their potential but I think what saved all of that is the characters. Not that they have incredible lines or acting, but they have humanity, and you can't help but empathize with them.They suffer, they are treated poorly, they lie and were lied to, they were betrayed, but they get out of it by helping each other.
I wonder how season 2 is going to be as the reviews generally say it's better.
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U should give a try.
The story is about all the teen High school kids are suffering from their family problems but still their is huge difference between their problems...And how they stand with each other their chemistry.. In short every thing is so perfect about the drama. I love it. Wish for season 3 soon.
Must watch drama!!!
Easy to finish!!!
And good for chill time!!
???
Why the heck, dramalist review have to be of 500..? It's so freaking annoying... It Sucks about the website tbh.
Ignore-
Just a nonsense.
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This review may contain spoilers
Original story and a really different side of Korean Youth Dramas
The vibe was very different but the story was interesting and I started to like the characters very quickly. It shows a very different side of ''careless'' youth and at the same time rough fates of teenagers without being too depressive or dark.Even though the topic is pretty serious I think the show does a great job of keeping the youthful spirit without getting too intense but it also doesn't get boring.
One thing disappointed me a little.
But overall a really nice show and I am really excited that it seems that there will be a season 2. The show definitely deserves it.
SMALL SPOILER!!!
It was a revelation in the last episode that made some of the characters look like hypocrites and I thought it didn't really give much to the story instead it actually made me a little disappointed with some of the characters but it wasn't that big.
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FINDING THIS SONG
I just wanted to know the song that is included in epi6 and epi8 which is actually a poem written by Christina Rossetti which is Up hill. Why the hell make sing it into a song then not release it in youtube whoever sing that :<<<please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please let me know
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