This review may contain spoilers
I have absolutely no idea why there are so many negative reviews about this drama
Listen.I'd like to begin with the fact that yes, many people have different tastes and this might not suit some but it truly wasn't THAT bad as the majority comments say.
I, for one, enjoyed it IMMENSELY. In fact I came out, feeling sad that it ended.
Let's start with the storyline, shall we? There's not much spoilers in this little review but i tagged it just in case.
So it begins in a fantasy realm where our mc Rembrary is a very powerful healing figure. Then he transports to the actual human realm & switches places with a washed up idol Yeonwoo. Min gue did that drastic change in plot really well. You could FEEL Rembrary's confusion and anguish so really kudos to him.
I liked the corny parts too, the comedic bits didn't seem too overwhelming & out of place. It made me laugh out loud many times.
What I don't get is how people expected an aspect of realism when it's purely fictional, even a fantasy genre at that.
It started off good, the premise was promising and with only minor hits in between, it generally delivered well.
For one: i liked that the romance component was kept lowkey so we could focus on Rembrary AND the gigantic pile of tasks he had to accomplish to go back to his own realm. It also gave time and room for better development. Had the romance been early on, I really don't think I'd buy into it. Esp in the later episodes, where they have to MEAN alot to each other in order to take steps that they did to protect each other. Yall will know when you watch it. I think the transition from fan to friend to helper to lover was just fine.
So yes, a slow romance is better than a shallow one.
If I talk about the characters, I liked the mc, i could see him struggle and learn and care and bond. So yes. That made me root for him. Mingue really did the double roles well, i could distinguish between the two just by the look in their eyes.
FL, tho started off a bit shady (that saesang bit i got irked a little but they explain it later so idk but it gets better i promise), and i do feel like her backstory needed more weight perhaps? But she was actually smart and added to the resolution of conflicts rather than just being there as a place holder in the series. She's a capable woman who knows how to utilize her resources for the benefit of the team she manages. If not for her, Rembrary wouldn't have solved half the shit xD
The band members were enjoyable to watch. I wanted more depth to their stories but then again I realized it wasn't their story to tell and we had to focus on our mc. Still I would've liked to see more of them.
One complain i have is: NOT ONCE DID WE GET TO SEE WILD ANIMAL PERFORM IN THOSE GORGEOUS FITS PLS I WAS CRYING AND SCREAMING EVERYTIME THEY GOT INTERRUPTED JFKSKDKSKS
Anyways, the supporting characters were alright. Samjae was so cute and comedic, that man had nothing up there in the head except vibes and air.
Moving onto quite a few important topics that were talked about in the series which I haven't seen anyone acknowledge yet: the talks about mental health, the overall toxic environment that goes in the showbiz, how unpopular ppl are treated, how idols are reduced to nothing but dirt if they don't bring anything to the table, how hard it is to stay steaddfast when chances don't work in your favor, how taxing it is to keep hoping despite knowing it's going nowhere. Plus, there were a few discussions about human nature, selfishness, desires, greediness and goodness. The balance between the two.
So yeah. That was something to watch and think about.
I would say overall it wrapped everything up nicely. I did want the Evil One to actually do something, you know, evil but he was just a man desperate to be loved back.
The last few eps get slightlyyyy draggy what with the Redrin wind up and I thought her reasons didn't add up but like. meh. I didn't care enough about her. I just wanted my boy Rem to unite with the people he's come to care about.
The few plot twists that it DID have left me SHOOK. I did not see those coming at ALL. So kudos to the writer for getting some OOOOs and gasps out of me. That was something.
All in all, it was a good watch and i will definitely rewatch it. It's that light kdrama you search for after you're done watching something heavy. Shits and giggles, a bit plot, fun characters, cute dynamics, weird squads that no one saw coming AND REMBRARY HAVING GAY SCANDALS LMAOOO
I REQUEST you not to go in searching for something mind boggling or life changing (that I've seen ppl expect in the reviews here) bcs it's not. It's a simple plot, simple characters trying to navigate plot conflicts to the best of their capabilities. The good thing is it doesn't get boring. Atleast it didn't to me. It kept things dynamic and that made me not drop it and mind yall, im a very notorious dropper. If I don't like it, I drop it. So extra accolades to this series for that.
I would recommend everyone to atleast give the first 3 eps a chance. If it's up your alley, you'll have a blast and if it's not, well there's plenty of fish to pick from.
That's all I could write bcs i couldn't just watch it get absolutely shit on. It really isn't THAT bad. Kudos to the whole staff for pulling it off.
Hope this hot mess of a review helps someone discover their new fav drama. Happy watching everyone!!!
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the dumbest kdrama I have ever watched
I’ve anticipated this drama since I heard Kim Min Gue would be playing the male lead. So far this drama is very funny and I’m enjoying it.The fish out of water story can either go right or wrong for me. And with the approach being more of a comedy than anything else I’m really enjoying that. I need a good feel good drama that isn’t taking itself too seriously and with the first two episodes it does that. This drama isn’t anything too spectacular, not saying it can’t though.
The thing I don’t like is the female leads character Kim Dal. She is kind of a sasaeng with the following of this male idol. I don’t really buy into the romance if there is one between the two. It’s sort of hinted but I don’t think I’d like it and it wouldn’t make sense since this guy is completely different than the idol she’s been well.. idolizing. Hopefully she’s more of a helper than a lover. This guy so far is the least interested in the world he’s put in so I really hope they don’t get together like that.
The whole backstory of her character is iffy for me.. hopefully they don’t make it offensive but there is only so much I can say. I don’t buy into the whole idea of a romance forming, that makes this show more dumb. I don’t like how she hinders his success by telling him what to do, it’s her image of the perfect idol. Instead I wish the show would do more of the fish out of water, but in all honesty I think that mind wear itself thin. I like the content of him going about idol life but doing it in his own unaware way. Kim Dal sucks the fun out of that, and overall sucks the fun from this drama. That’s how it is for me at least.
I haven’t read the webtoon so this is coming from that sort of perspective.
Kim Min Gue does a really good job with his role(s). The concept of him being some heavenly figure being put into the real world is working now because of the reactions of other people. It’s hilarious this guy Rembrary working his way around not only being a guy in the real world but an idol that is expected to be someone he just isn’t. I like his nonchalant attitude and how he doesn’t at all know the concept of the idol and also many things about the human world. And that’s the most interesting part for me. So if this drama keeps up with these funny scenarios I’d really like it all the way through.
The whole plot is so out there so I wish that the writing went all the way with that. Sometimes it takes itself too seriously and that’s when I start to get really bored. I REALLY don’t want a romance from this drama with the two leads but I guess I’m expecting it. The plot with the devil is so boring. Shows can be engaging in all parts of it, this show isn’t engaging with its subplots. I want more of the idol doing promotions, etc. and the reactions of other characters to that. I don’t need devil plot being shown as much as it is because I don’t understand it nor care because I do not understand it. It’s one dimensional villian and I’m not watching this show for that much cheap tension. I’m watching because of the over the top plot.. maybe I should watch Welcome to Waikiki instead ..
Let me emphasize. That if the plot is stupid, at least be funny. It is a funny show without the whole ‘other world’ plot. The female lead kills the fun, it’s just getting old after each episode with her draining and draining.
The whole plot threads about self hate and suicide or so wrongly interpreted. Especially when you have the ‘devil’ giving a character depression.. the representation there is used as a plot device and I find it offensive how it’s done. I hate the Rizzle sub plot, I hate the devil sun plot, I hate the other world sub plot, the cult, I only like the idol fun happy things going on because that’s why I started the show in the first place. The mental illnesses aren’t treated like that
, they are to move the plot along and are cheap ways to try and get sympathy.
Down to the whole idol life it gets dull. The interesting one was the singing competition and after that it became unbelievably unrealistic yet so cheap and unoriginal. Especially the awards show, there was hardly any build up and it just seemed to happen all at once.
I’m really impressed by the other idol characters and the writing there with them. The dorm life scenes are fun and his members also play off this new character really well. I can put myself in their perspective because the writing is done with me knowing that they all were a group with the real Woo Yeon Woo.
Each episode takes more and more years off my life. This drama is just plain stupid. I can’t :(
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I’ve been going through a bit of a long dry spell when it comes to kdramas for the last year or so, and I don’t exactly want to say that The Heavenly Idol cured it, but even as stupid and silly as this drama was I was always excited to watch the next episode. I looked forward to Wednesdays and Thursdays, because that meant the next episodes of The Heavenly Idol were about to come out, and I was going to have a lot of fun with it. And I have to give the drama some points for that. That’s how tv should be, in a way.
The Heavenly Idol doesn’t shy away from its ridiculous premise. In fact, it seems to just drive straight into the ridiculousness at full speed. It’s so silly and it knows it. And more importantly the drama seems to enjoy it, and I enjoyed that, even if it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense sometimes. But it will make you laugh and smile and feel for the characters. And that’s something.
There’s a certain simplicity and softness and gentleness to the male lead that we don’t get to see in a lot of kdramas, which I found refreshing and really charming. There seems to be a genuine friendship between some of the characters throughout this bumbling, odd plot that is just full of plot-holes and it’s almost like this story has just no sense of time. Things just happen, there is a different variety shows that the main character is on every other episode and things are not explained well enough, and you just have to take it as it is. It doesn’t really have a pacing issue, just a direction issue almost.
But then there is also this sincere attempt at theme with it’s critique of the kpop idol industry as a certain idol worship of these idols by fans with like gifts and such that the main character gains his powers from these odd tributes to him and other idols around him. It’s all a bit hastily done and I would have love to see it go deeper, but still does the job that it’s meant to do.
I do always appreciate sincerity in stories, and I love stories that even if they are not the best they feel like they, or the people behind them, are aware that they’re not that good but there is just a lot of heart put into it to bring people entertainment. I actually find it very charming, but I also love the silly but sincere stories. They are fun, if done right.
This drama is small, it’s low-key and doesn’t feel like it has a lot of money behind it. It’s not trying to be anything other than it is; a fanfiction on steroids. The characters are fun and sincere, but also so incredibly exaggerated. The plot makes no sense; things just happen that way because things have to work out somehow for whatever plot reasons there is. It just takes you on a mindless spectacle every week, which is just good entertainment if you are in the mood for that.
There’s a lot going on in this little drama, and I’m not so sure it managed to really do all the random narratives it threw at us justice, or built up the romance that wasn’t needed in this drama, but also why it feels like a self-insert fanfiction. But this was still something that was just pure entertainment. It was serving fun. At least in my livingroom. And sometimes that’s just enough. Sometimes that’s all you need. Something brainless and fun.
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SILLY AND NONSENSICAL [SIDE NOTE- what the hell happened???]
The saddest thing about this is that it actually started of really good and i had high expectations for it!!!
After all i am sure i want the only one excited to see out 'MR-SEXY-TAKE-MY-SPECKS-OFF-BEFORE-KISSING" from business proposal!
But unfortunately this kdrama did him and us DIRTY!!! I am seeing this and not DNFing this just for him and cuz of him. Kim Mingue has been fantastic though. He’s doing his thing and carrying this drama on his back for sure.
Everything IS JUST CRINGE. As the episodes pass the little cringe and embarrassing things just increase. The story like is getting cheesier, the characters more brat like and intolerable. The so called "HUMOUR" nothing but cringe moments. Plus the group members were corny. I love with grim reaper though.
The acting is well done by the side charters. BUT i feel the FL acing it lacking as well as that of the devil [he doesn't give off devil vibes to me] and our ML [the priest] honestly i am frustrated, don't get me wrong he acts very well but so many times i just want him to fully open his eyes wile speaking, i mean sometimes when he speaks he kind half closes his eyes and it just so frustrating and creepy!!!
AND I see NO, absolutely NO chemistry between the ML and FL!! And the FL lead being literally a stalker and obsessed fan of a kpop ideal makes it even a big NO-NO for me. The female lead's character is boring. She has no aura of authority and always appears insecure and scared, like a victim. Their romantic scenes don't give me bubbles or butterflies or flowers as they should but make me wanna skip them.
The chemistry of WYW with his members and when he makes a mistakes and how overcomes, those parts are interesting to watch though. The casting is great but something still doesn't sit well with me.
Seeing the CGI makes me want to cry, I mean whattttt??? those CGI monsters make me wanna laugh, i swear what were they thinking while making them!
I feel the plot is going astray in between and sometimes everything feels like a mess. i mean i liked the first 2 episodes but then BAAM!!! My expectations go down the drain with each passing episode.
I'll give you my honest opinion. I think the plot had the potential but the writing seems to be sloppy and the dialogues sometimes overexaggerated as well.
OVERALL, don't really recommend this drama if you want something of substance, but if you want a good laugh and don’t get second hand embarrassment then this drama is for you.
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it's funny and sad at the same time
I think I can really watch it without the trailer cuz where ever I watch the trailer it's makes me want to forward time cuz I can't wait for the next episode to be out. because the main character the new manager make it funnier for me so I'm looking forward to the next episode to be out next week so that I can do more reviews about it.And also wide animal boys I really love lady how he believe in woo Yoo woon that makes me want to watch more of heavenly idol I really love this k-drama and I can't wait anymore but I got to have patient and it's will literally come out episode by episodeWas this review helpful to you?
the fact that its actually interesting
I usually don't really like these type of fantasy-esk kdramas and what not. I've never been hooked on something more than this before. I've never waited for a kdrama episode to be released to badly but I truly think everyone should give this one a go and patiently wait with the rest of us for it to finish.more on to say is that the casts are 10/10, I wouldn't have asked for better and more interesting cast members to be in a kdramam but hey here they are. Let's hope this kdrama goes in a really good route and for it to continue being interesting
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I recently completed it and first I would like to stare my experience with you. the start was very good. A light cheesy comedy in fantasy genre to fill up my time. it as around episode 6-7 when it started to get boring. For some reason the script writers decided to focus on this power struggle of good/ evil which kinda ruined it for me. Remberary/ yeon woo cant catch a break. he is constantly fighting against devil's schemes and there isn't much time left for singing, dancing, practicing and other idol problems which made the comedy part in the first place. This drama started the first episode a very funny and hilarious start, even the fantasy part was like a part of a fantasy game.
Honestly at first I was really excited to start this because of Kim Minkyu but this show was such a drag. Episodes were so hard to get through because they never seemed to have a clear goal or whatever the goal was it was poorly executed. I understand that this is a fantasy drama however Idol storyline of the male lead becomes too unrealistic.
When I watched The Heavenly Idol I saw nothing but the land of missed opportunities. It looks like the creators don't have the concept of the world they're making, no wonder the worldbuilding contradicts itself all the time.
Chemistry and Acting:
It was very funny to see Rembrary become an idol. The acting was very good. The female lead did a great job too. The romance was cute! But the romance was very, very underwhelming. I don't feel like the leads had any chemistry at all, especially considering Kim Min-Gue's previous role in Business Proposal and how dynamic his chemistry was with that actress. The acting was well-done but they couldn't help what they had to work with. Wild Animal's members should had have more time to develop their characters to make the story stronger and I'd like to have the chance to see more cute moments between the main couple. Their chemistry tries to rise along the drama but fails to fully bloom.
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This review may contain spoilers
What even is this!?
this drama start good, light and with so much potential but its just keep looking meh, list of things that really annoyed me1. Where is wild animal full performance? its always being ruin by bluberry ?
2. I seriously doesnt get why in the end they manage to snatch an award, its not realistic looking at how big of a scandal YW gets
3. YW manage to won actor award? for what? at least they have to show a bit of his "acting" bcs all i watch is him busy with those evil boys
4. grim reaper is weaker than i thought
5. bluberry is weak while the devil is so overpower its annoying
6. the props, cgi and overall sets in this drama just looking so cheap like...is this web drama? the quality is just drop every episode
7. SPIRIT OF SEAWEED?! what in the holy spirit is going on!? is this lazy writing!? ?
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Should have dropped it
PROS:◇The leads
◇The acting was okay
◇Some funny moments
CONS:
◇Poor Writting
◇Everything dragged
◇For a ROM COM The romance got there a little late into the show
◇Info Dump in the last 2 episodes
Honestly should have dropped it but kept watching because I had hope it would get better. Sadly it didn't the idea was fun but it didn't work for me personally.
One day I'll find a good idol drama
If you want an idol drama one with great music Let Me Be Your Knight. Not a perfect show but the best Idol one I have seen so far but the MUSIC is beautiful.
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Surprisingly Divine...
The Heavenly Idol ( alternatively known as The High Priest Rembrary, Holy Idol) has gained a lot of mixed reception from watchers due to its over-the-top plot and narrative. A mixture of personal responsibilities over the past year and drama titles which have yet to appeal has made me slightly disengaged from watching Korean dramas. However, though certainly not without considerable flaws, My Heavenly Idol was a surprisingly engaging and sweet drama at its heart.The tvN drama was written by Lee Chun Geum and directed by Lee So Yoon ( otherwise known for his involvement with the drama special tvN O'PENing: XX+XY). My Heavenly Idol focuses on Pontifex Rembrary ( Kim Min Gue), a divine worshipper in another land. To protect his people, Pontifex has been caught up in fighting The Evil One, who is determined to create havoc and unrest. However, when Pontifex is caught up in conflict, he is transmigrated into the body of an idol singer Woo Yeon Woo. Yeon Woo is a member of an unpopular idol group called Wild Animal. As Pontifex attempts to navigate his newfound situation, he soon finds himself coming face to face with his archenemy ( Lee Jang Woo). With the help of his bandmates and Yeon Woo's long-term fan Kim Dal ( Go Bo Gyeol ), Pontifex is determined to finally bring down The Evil One, once and for all.
The Heavenly Idol has a surprisingly exciting setup for a twelve-episode drama; a fantasy world and lore of magical powers, demonic entities and effectively multiverses where viewers learn different deities exist. One of the biggest problems with the series was how myth and worldbuilding were explored. While there were some fascinating ideas, there were a lot of moments and concepts which could have been more fleshed out further or investigated further. ( Without significant spoilers, two central characters are introduced halfway through the show. While interesting, their existence raises many questions about their relevance in the storyline and what that truly means for other multiverses. In addition, the show takes a lazy approach, with the main lead being able to understand and speak Korean already. Although not out of the question, this would have been interesting to have explored a little more.) Additionally, it became apparent in later episodes that the show was influenced heavily by some well-known fantasy dramas. While not out of the question nor particularly odd considering the show's genre, it did seem a little disappointing because some of the plot's more exciting and original fantasy elements were left unexplored.
The drama series mediates between fantasy, comedy and melodrama. For the most part, the series could interweave these genres reasonably well in the first- half of the series. The final part struggled a little to maintain this balance and often shifted heavily between melodrama and fantasy with little respite or middle ground in later episodes. Surprisingly, the comic relief worked quite well in this series. It was slapstick and reasonably mundane for the most part, but it will likely generate a few genuine chuckles here and there. ( These moments would often consist of the male lead struggling to understand social etiquette or being honest and direct to the point of being perceived as false by others.)
The acting was decent, if not a little wooden in parts. Kim Min Gue is known for his roles in Perfume, Backstreet Rookie and A Business Proposal and for offering one of the series's best performances. He played the role of Pontifex with a reasonably innocent edge, adding to some golden opportunities for comic relief. Another surprisingly fun performance came through Ye Ji Won's ( Thirty But Seventeen, Never Twice and Brain Works)'s performance as Im Sun-ja. It could have been easy for Ye Ji Won's performance to have become grating as the CEO of LLL Entertainment, but her humorous edge and her character's romance added to her charm.
As a character, Pontifex is odd to describe. He is sincere, honest and kindhearted, though his stubbornness and obtuseness can often lead him into trouble. One major weakness of Pontifex's character came from his backstory and beliefs. We learn a few elements of this backstory through passing references. Still, considering one of the significant and most earth-shattering revelations for his character, it seemed odd we ( as viewers) did not get to see this being explored further.
Another major part of Pontifex's character is his relationships with his newfound bandmates and his potential love interest, Kim Dal. For the most part, both connections are lighthearted and sweet. There are moments of tribulation and trouble in both, though where weaknesses lie occurs mainly as a result of writing decisions.
Adding to this, several characters in the show could have been explored a lot more onscreen, Kim Dal being one of the most apparent. Kim Dal has a fascinating backstory, teased in early episodes, though rarely questioned or extended further. It would have been interesting for Kim Dal's past to have been used more to indicate her parallel relationship with Pontifex, which was rarely explored in the series beyond its initial usage. Many of Wild Animal's bandmates were left as background characters rather than building further on the relationship between the main lead and his fellow members. Youngest member Cha Hae-Gyeol ( Shin Kyu Hyun-Cramped Love) and lead vocalist Kasy ( Choi Jae Hyun- Love with Flaws, Dalgona and Peach of Time) had lots of potential to be explored further in parts of the series. The show hinted at both characters having their fair share of character depth and backstory, but this was rarely carried out or delved into further. Fellow bandmates Choi Jeong-seo (Hong Seung-Bum- Show Me the Ghost, Judge vs Judge and My Strange Hero) and Hwang Tae-In (Shin Myung Sung- Extracurricular and Duty After School) as well as antagonist Shin Jo Woon had a lot of potential but were rarely well developed.
The execution of the series varied greatly. The first part of the series introduced an intriguing premise and an array of characters. The plot premise was established early on in the series, and it was apparent from the outset when the plot narrative would be. The second half of the series admittedly struggled to carry the storyline further. Although the series had a reasonably sweet conclusion, it was apparent the drama was rushed in this final part. Significant parts of this storyline in these last episodes were left rushed and somewhat anti-climatic, including how some of the relationships between characters and their fates played out further.
The cinematography of The Heavenly Idol was pretty decent. It was glossy and well-defined for the most part, and the CGI was decent, though the palettes and styling were lacking. The OST of the drama was pretty decent. Some of the songs were admittedly a little forgettable, but there were a few catchy songs, such as "Suddenly (문득 내게 와)" and "Suddenly You Come to Me (문득 넌 내게와)" to name just a few.
The Heavenly Idol was a reasonably engaging show. The writing could have been handled better, especially regarding characters and direction, but the comic relief and fantasy elements were pretty fun. Overall, the series was worth it during a binge-watching session.
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The worst drama can be made in 2023
I still can't believe this drama was made in 2023. I can definitely say its story was not written in a sane mind. But the worst is its visual effects. Such a low budget CG has not been seen in a decade.Story - Written on expired Marijuana.
Acting - Terrible.
The production looks like it's a fan fiction. Someone made it as a hobby to pass the time.
The VFX looks like some under 20's made it on a low budget PC to learn real work.
There is no character development in the entire drama. I have never seen such a frustrating male lead in my life. There is no spark between the main leads.
This drama is the biggest joke of 2023.
I have never wasted my time so badly in my entire life as I did watching this.
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This review may contain spoilers
What happened?
This drama had so much potential given that this is Kim Min Gue and Ko Bo-Gyeol's first leading role and the two of them are known for their amazing acting chops.The plot was very promising, The idea of a high priest that got his body switched to a K-Pop Idol was interesting and fun, and Kim Min Gue really delivered on his performance as Yeon Woo / Rembrary. But the story became stale quickly and it got to a point where it became too dark and unbearable to watch.
I understand that this is a fantasy drama however Idol storyline of the male lead becomes too unrealistic, In Korea, once an Idol becomes involved with a lot of controversies they will be viewed as problematic and it will basically lead them to stardoom. So with the main character suffering from controversies left and right it's impossible that he always manages to make a comeback every time. It's also annoying that the male lead had to suffer multiple times only to get what ??? get betrayed by his people ??? The story doesn't make sense.
I also had high hopes for the female lead as I have seen her performance in Hi Bye! Mama. She really had great potential but I don't know what happened to her in this drama ??? There were moments where the acting was so stale that it almost seem like she is an amateur actress. Did she get too pressured because this is her first lead role??? I mean what happened?
All in all, I would say that this is a case of a drama that has a good premise but weak execution.
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