I'm posting this comment for some friends from BOD.
NOTE: this review was used as a thread while watching the drama with friends. So, you can get our live reactions to the drama in the comments zone.
Production: cheap. The direction looks between weekly and daily drama. Which is nothing to be ashamed of, as the visual quality of these dramas has definitely improved in recent years. I just assume that the budget is limited. As for the actors, I dont see them often, and some of them are more regular of the sitcom/makjang with 50+ episodes. A few familiar faces and names used to support roles. Especially Jin Ji Hee (from Penthouse). Anyway, there are still good actors.
Episode 1.
First ~20 minutes. Disparate. Avalanche of scenes and characters, difficult to link. Lines of exposition under your nose and worst: people talking about other people you've never seen, and about situations that still don't mean anything. Impossible to memorize or concentrate.
And to nail this in a coffin: no catchy or dramatic scene; apart from the gallery director's shout-out to her assistant Madame Oh and Yu Ra looking at Se Hyeok cam. I had the impression that I hadn't watched anything, that my mind was elsewhere, and that it was so painful that I didn't feel like watching again to take down the information I could only miss.
An incomprehensible misstep coming from the writer of "Feel Good to die", whose exposition was good, and the first scene excellent. By the way, I rec this drama in the comedy-fantasy genre (no romance).
However, things quickly work out like a miracle. The writer insists on repeating names and links. Normally this would be cumbersome and annoying, but here I really needed it. Good scenes appear: people looking at the heroine's painting, their acerbic comments, then the meeting between FL and ML.
It's done, the drama is on track, and the rest of the episode gets better and better. Auction scene, accident, hospital. Funny wink with the big white truck. Like to say the drama will subvert or parody makjang tropes.
Episode 2.
The heroine's change of attitude is not credible. She changes completely.
But hey... I'm not picky, I'll accept that and see what happens.
The rest is a straightforward story, obstacle after obstacle. All focused on the main character. So, of course, it works very well. Everything is crystal-clear, and there's no difficulty in situating the characters as there was at the beginning. The pace is fast, and scenes enough dramatics. It's OK!!
A few clichés with the ML, but again, it all works. It seems naive, but even the romantic scenes are good. It's ultra-easy to watch and understand. No mining, even the flashbacks are laid out naturally. I hardly see any hidden tricks. It's classic, popular storytelling with the aim of giving pleasure to the audience. If you like the drama, thank the screenwriter first!
Episode 3+.
The drama is fun to watch. It focus on the main story without loosing time on side-plots, what I like a lot.
It's 12 episodes but 1h15 each. What is a 15h drama, close to the regular x16 one hours ones.
The attitude of the FL becomes more credible, as she's struggling more with her old-self.
Even with low budget, the director can sometimes paint beautiful scenes and aesthetic:
For example the scene in the night bar with very vivid colors, magic lights, reflection in mirror, blurry effects.
It's not a drama we can take too seriously (and I guess it's not the intention of the writer).
But I find myself involved regularly when it's enough dramatic. A bit like in The Penthouse.
Production: cheap. The direction looks between weekly and daily drama. Which is nothing to be ashamed of, as the visual quality of these dramas has definitely improved in recent years. I just assume that the budget is limited. As for the actors, I dont see them often, and some of them are more regular of the sitcom/makjang with 50+ episodes. A few familiar faces and names used to support roles. Especially Jin Ji Hee (from Penthouse). Anyway, there are still good actors.
Episode 1.
First ~20 minutes. Disparate. Avalanche of scenes and characters, difficult to link. Lines of exposition under your nose and worst: people talking about other people you've never seen, and about situations that still don't mean anything. Impossible to memorize or concentrate.
And to nail this in a coffin: no catchy or dramatic scene; apart from the gallery director's shout-out to her assistant Madame Oh and Yu Ra looking at Se Hyeok cam. I had the impression that I hadn't watched anything, that my mind was elsewhere, and that it was so painful that I didn't feel like watching again to take down the information I could only miss.
An incomprehensible misstep coming from the writer of "Feel Good to die", whose exposition was good, and the first scene excellent. By the way, I rec this drama in the comedy-fantasy genre (no romance).
However, things quickly work out like a miracle. The writer insists on repeating names and links. Normally this would be cumbersome and annoying, but here I really needed it. Good scenes appear: people looking at the heroine's painting, their acerbic comments, then the meeting between FL and ML.
It's done, the drama is on track, and the rest of the episode gets better and better. Auction scene, accident, hospital. Funny wink with the big white truck. Like to say the drama will subvert or parody makjang tropes.
Episode 2.
The heroine's change of attitude is not credible. She changes completely.
But hey... I'm not picky, I'll accept that and see what happens.
The rest is a straightforward story, obstacle after obstacle. All focused on the main character. So, of course, it works very well. Everything is crystal-clear, and there's no difficulty in situating the characters as there was at the beginning. The pace is fast, and scenes enough dramatics. It's OK!!
A few clichés with the ML, but again, it all works. It seems naive, but even the romantic scenes are good. It's ultra-easy to watch and understand. No mining, even the flashbacks are laid out naturally. I hardly see any hidden tricks. It's classic, popular storytelling with the aim of giving pleasure to the audience. If you like the drama, thank the screenwriter first!
Episode 3+.
The drama is fun to watch. It focus on the main story without loosing time on side-plots, what I like a lot.
It's 12 episodes but 1h15 each. What is a 15h drama, close to the regular x16 one hours ones.
The attitude of the FL becomes more credible, as she's struggling more with her old-self.
Even with low budget, the director can sometimes paint beautiful scenes and aesthetic:
For example the scene in the night bar with very vivid colors, magic lights, reflection in mirror, blurry effects.
It's not a drama we can take too seriously (and I guess it's not the intention of the writer).
But I find myself involved regularly when it's enough dramatic. A bit like in The Penthouse.
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