|| OVERALL ||

Let me preface this by saying that I prefer watching rom-coms, and that I watched Crash Landing on You (experiencing its accompanying post-drama blues) while watching earlier episodes of Itaewon Class which inadvertently affects my review.

To put it bluntly, throughout the drama’s run I didn’t get too absorbed into the plot or any of the characters. The weekly wait for new episodes wasn't too difficult and there weren’t a lot of scenes I would rewind and rewatch. That is not to say the drama was terrible as there definitely were scenes every couple of episodes that would be touching, heart-wrenching, lovely, cute, or funny. My main complaint is probably that I didn't feel much of a climax in the story or a comparatively more significant scene until the last few episodes. There were scenes that intended to be intense but I just felt it was poorly built up or dragged on. Character-wise I felt some could be more three-dimensional and those that do show development lack a smooth transition (simply stating many years passed is insufficient) hence changes seemed rather abrupt. As such, I found it difficult to fully root for any character or relationship. Regarding acting, most were good although chemistry was a bit lacking. Something commendable about the drama are the messages about society and people scattered here and there, although it is unfortunate that the drama only scrapes the surface of many important topics. Ultimately, this was a decent drama, hence the decent score.

**I recommend this drama to those that like underdog stories, or when people from different walks of life come together to achieve a common goal to help each other change for the better. Some viewers prefer a more visually appealing cast when picking dramas, but for this drama the focus is more on their personalities.


|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - Mainly just a group of “misfits” fighting for the same goal (main protagonist’s goal really) to take down a major corporation. Simple and not particularly unique.
*Genre - There were some elements of various genres but not enough to be categorized under any of them. In other words, there was some romance but not enough to cause heart fluttering, there were some funny scenes but not enough to trigger more than a chuckle, a bit melodramatic but not enough to be tear-jerking.
*Plot - As it was straightforward and simple, I expected more depth but it felt as if every time there seemed to be more to the story I get pulled back and realize the characters’ motives and justification to the story’s progression was quite shallow still. Though the plot could be seen as rather repetitive or dragged out, I won’t go as far as saying it was boring. It was entertaining to see their business grow and improve despite the setbacks, but I just didn’t feel that there was a major turning point or climax that would leave me curious as to what would happen next. The time jumps do justify a lot of the plot developments but because the foundation wasn't that strong, after the time jump the plot progression still felt somewhat sudden. Side plots were well executed in that they added some colour to the main plot and wasn’t too overpowering. There were themes of gender identity, racial discrimination, psychological disorders, and abuse, just to name a few. It is commendable that the story touches on these important topics but felt more like a flaw as the story could only scrape the surface of each of these topics making it seem like they were included just for the sake of representation. Somehow I just felt like the story had opinions on society and humans that were deep but these opinions were just thrown in which made it a bit cliché and extra.
*Characters - I liked how each character was significantly different from each other and had different reasons for why they were doing what they were. However, that’s as far as it goes. Focusing on the slightly more three-dimensional characters, initially almost all characters were so one track minded that it got a bit annoying to watch. The stubbornness made it extremely difficult to fully root for any character or relationship, and so I didn't find any character particularly outstanding or likeable. As the drama aimed to reflect real life struggles and conflicts, the characters also seemed a bit too extreme for my taste. The “evilness” of the antagonist was a bit exaggerated, and the sense of justice of the protagonist was also a bit ridiculous. Perhaps this could be favourable in another light as it’s the first time I felt annoyed with the protagonist, which is quite different. Character development was rather lacking in that there either was none or that the development felt rushed and random at times. It felt as if by stating numerous years passed, the abrupt change in character was justified. My recommendation would be to show more hints of change prior to the time jump so there is a smoother transition. There was definitely potential, just weak execution. For the character relationships, the main love line is unique but again difficult to fully root for. I flip-flopped too much between rooting for the two female leads that it got a bit tiresome. Near the end, I decided that the protagonist didn't deserve either female lead so didn't really care much about who he ended up with. The strong friendship between the Dan Bam crew was decently executed and explained though.
*Ending - An extremely predictable ending with all loose ends tied. I hit the fast forward button multiple times throughout the episode as it was dragging on, and the happily ever after aspect was a bit forced and try hard, but I suppose a plain ending is better than a bad ending. Simply put, my opinion on the ending was compatible with my opinion on the drama. There was nothing added, nothing lost. In the end, a decent ending for a decent drama. Unlikely to have post-drama blues for this one.

= Cast =
*Acting - For the most part, the actors / actresses portrayed the characters well, though I didn't feel that anyone in particular stole the spotlight. One of the actors I thought was a bit lacking regardless of the character design was Kim Dong Hee (Jang Geun Soo). Given his character’s experience I felt like he could’ve shown it more with his expressions (his go-to expression is the mild pursing of lips or just slightly raising his eyebrows) or his actions, as it seemed a bit mundane throughout the drama. However given he is still a new and young actor there’s plenty of time for him to improve.
*Chemistry - Didn’t feel that there were any perfect matches or overwhelmingly good chemistry that was exuded. Perhaps that’s what the story was going for as the Dan Bam crew were misfits after all.

= OST =
Decent soundtrack which was quite unique. There were a variety of songs including uplifting motivational ones and also sentimental songs. As a whole, not really the type of music I enjoy, however the songs were a great pick and did match the drama well.


|| A LESSON ABOUT POWER ||

True power comes not from materialistic possessions but from those around you. With the right people, everything impossible suddenly seems possible.

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|| OVERALL ||

Started off strong, then gradually lost its way and started to drag during the course of the drama. For me, what kept me watching every week was the romance of the two main leads. I enjoyed watching the romantic scenes, and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of intimate scenes they had. The light-hearted scenes were a great watch, but was unfortunately always sandwiched by melodramatic and supposedly heart-wrenching scenes which got a bit frustrating as it started to feel forced. The plot was decent overall but certain parts that felt important were just brushed past whereas some less important parts just dragged on and on. I found myself fast-forwarding more and more of the episode near the end. Also can I just say, it's ridiculous how fast their wounds heal. Other than Lee Hwi's injury that Ji-un attended to which had a more realistic time frame, I found it absurd how it takes one scene for the males to go from slashed up at the brink of death to suddenly up and running as if nothing happened. Anyways, this is the first Park Eun Bin drama I watched and not to say the others are bad at acting, but she was clearly the star of the drama. A good romance drama nevertheless with a unique and interesting premise.

**I recommend this drama to those that like historical romance dramas. The romance was well executed with plenty of heart-fluttering scenes. I wouldn't categorize this as comedy despite there being more light-hearted scenes, as I generally felt it was more somber than happy for the most part.


|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - Explores the aftermath of the birth of twins, one of which is the heir to the throne. Unique and rather interesting as it is based on the belief that the heir to the throne sharing the same womb with a twin let alone it being of the female gender is an ominous sign. Just as there cannot be two emperors, it is frowned upon for the heir to be a twin.
*Genre - A historical romance drama with well executed romantic scenes. A bit too melodramatic at times, otherwise not much comedy and the action scenes were rather mediocre.
*Main plot / love line - The main leads' romance was the highlight of the drama. From them meeting and falling in love as children, separating then meeting again, falling in love again, overcoming hardships, the general love story was great to watch. Additionally I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of intimate scenes we saw, despite some of them being the cliché getting jealous of each other and treating each others' battle wounds (I enjoyed those too). Honestly though, I did cringe every time the title of the drama was mentioned. The reveal that Lee Hwi is a woman felt a bit rushed as it took an episode or two for many people to either expose they knew all along or realize she is a woman. The affection between the two were well executed, though, as I did feel they really loved each other. The politics on the other hand was a bit boring, as I was still able to get the gist of it despite fastforwarding most of it. Action scenes were mediocre and it was very unrealistic how they kept getting slashed but in the next scene they are fine again, except that one wound Lee Hwi sustained which Ji-un tended to for a whole episode. The healing time is just crazy fast. It was nice to have alternating happy and somber scenes / episodes, but somehow those sad parts seemed forced close to the end and dragged for too long which got a little annoying. In the end, though, because I did enjoy the romantic scenes, they made up for it.
*Supporting characters - Understandably there needs to be other love interests for the main leads, but I found it a bit redundant for there to be three. I feel the drama could have done without Lee Hyun's unrequited love as it was so superficially explored and nothing happened in the end anyways. He could've just been a good friend and loyal subject, and it would've just been the same for me. I felt that the characters Kim Ga On and Shin So Eun were rather unfortunate as they seemed like decorations and just placed there for brief periods of times when the plot needed some fillers. Shin So Eun didn't even appear in the last episode. The antagonists did well though, they were rather annoying to watch. Court Lady Kim and Eunuch Hong were also great additions to the plot.
*Symbols / Motifs - I felt like the symbol of the lotus flower and the wooden cubes could've been used more to add more flavour to the drama. The drama made it sound so important in the earlier episodes, but neglected to mention it at all and seemingly forgot about it in the latter episodes.
*Ending - To be honest, I was very pleased with the ending scene as it was simple and did it's job in concluding the drama. However, the ending as a whole, especially the events of the battle, it felt very random and some parts didn't really make sense to me. I can overlook it though, as the ending scene is usually more important for me as it's the last thing I watch from the drama.

= Cast =
*Acting - Park Eun Bin really stole the spotlight for this one with her stellar acting. Her subtle reactions when there was no dialogue spoke volumes. I also really liked her contagious smile. Kim Seo ha (Prince Changwoon, Lee Hwi's uncle) was also quite good as he really did get on my nerves. Otherwise, the other actors did not stand out too much for me.
*Chemistry - Park Eun Bin and Rowoon had good chemistry, and their acting did make me believe that Lee Hwi / Dam-i and Jung Ji-un loved each other. Their romantic scenes were swoon-worthy.

= OST =
There weren't that many songs so certain songs were repeated quite a few times. Despite this, I didn't find the background music repetitive. I'd have to say that the OST was quite good, especially the light-hearted songs which I particularly liked.


|| A LESSON ABOUT INDIVIDUALITY ||

Be the lotus flower, sparklingly clean and blooming despite being surrounded by mud. Inevitably there will be times we are surrounded by undesirable circumstances or situations that urges us to compromise our values and beliefs. To stand strong even if you may be alone and believe that your individuality is something to be cherished rather than just being swayed by others is the true challenge.

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|| OVERALL ||

A very well-rounded drama that made me feel wholesome by the end of it. The reason it deserves a high rating is the fantastic acting, excellent OST, and interesting plot premise. My main complaint is that the main plot could have more depth or be explored more instead of spending so much time on the side plots. However the chemistry between main and supporting characters enabled flaws to be overlooked so I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The drama deserved the high viewership ratings it got which I couldn't say the same about some other highly rated dramas I watched.

**I recommend this drama to those that enjoy a wide variety of drama genres. Also to those that could appreciate the director’s / writer’s choices in seemingly trivial details. Certain phrases that are repeated, props that are chosen, among other details show the depth of the relationships, so if you were to pick up on that the drama will be much more enjoyable. There are parts that are unrealistic but needed to move the story along so not being too nitpicky on those can also improve the viewing experience.


|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - Given the inaccessibility of North Korea, the general idea of the drama to begin with is quite interesting as we get a glimpse of what their lifestyle is like. There is also an even split of showing how South and North Koreans cope in each others’ cultures which was interesting.
*Genre – Excellent balance of romance, comedy, action, melodrama in each episode. Whatever drama you like, each episode will have at least one scene that caters to your tastes. Even in the most serious and sad episodes there are still elements of comedy. However, this could also be seen as a flaw as scenes in the genre you prefer less may seem boring, so you might enjoy the drama less if you have very specific preferences.
*Main Plot / Love Line – To enjoy the drama, it is important to realize and accept that there will be unrealistic parts. Otherwise, the main plot was quite good. The romance exhibited was very mature and straightforward which was very fitting. Each episode had a romance scene that was touching / cute which catered to what I like in a drama. The only comment I have would be that the main plot could be explored or explained more, as some parts seemed rather shallow and progressed way too quickly just to give time to side plots.
*Side Plot / Love Line(s) – The main plot was shared with quite a lot of other characters (second love line, JH’s infantry, North Korean villagers, SR’s family, among others) which could be good and bad. Good in the sense that in certain scenes they really add to the main plot whether it be humour or just to move the plot along. A flaw in the sense that there were times when I wanted to just skip the side plots. Personally, I’d prefer less scenes of the second love line, North Korean villagers, and SD’s family after JH went to South Korea as I think it took away from the main plot.
*Additional features – Haven’t seen this in other dramas but the epilogues were excellent as it gave sort of a behind the scenes to the character’s life. If you are an analytical viewer, you would also really enjoy this drama as there are many small details that allows you to appreciate the relationships a lot more. When rewatching scenes, you could pick up on details you didn't notice before which added flavor to the plot.
*Ending - Dramas could be excellent throughout but if the ending is not well justified, that single episode could drop the rating of the whole drama. Not a lot of dramas achieve this but the final episode was very well executed, reflecting the quality of this drama from the beginning until the end. Each decision or plot progression whether it was a happy or sad resolution was justified and made sense to me.

= Cast =
*Acting – I personally felt Son Ye Jin’s acting was the best followed by Hyun Bin. They both were able to show a lot even when they were just looking at each other in certain scenes. Their acting made me feel as if they were together for real on multiple occasions. For supporting cast, Yang Kyung Won (Pyo Chi Su), Oh Man Seok (Cho Cheol Gang), Kim Sun Young (Na Wol Suk), and Kim Jung Nan (Ma Young Ae) stood out for me. I haven’t actually watched Korean dramas that much to know lots of actors / actresses but I think the abundant cameos also added a lot of buzz to the drama.
*Chemistry – Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin had great chemistry, I don’t think I need to elaborate further. For the supporting characters, the different groups had a different vibe from each other which was very refreshing. Even within each of the groups, each supporting character had their own personality which added a lot to the colour of the drama. In other words, chemistry between the supporting characters and between the supporting cast with the main actors / actresses were excellent. However, in all honesty, I wasn’t too absorbed in the Seo Ji Hye and Kim Jung Hyun relationship (though I quite liked Seo Ji Hye’s character), maybe because Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin’s chemistry was too overpowering.

= OST =
My favourite soundtrack so far. There was great variety and the songs were very fitting. The OST is suited for those that enjoy mellow and slower music that portrays deep feelings which is the type of music I enjoy.


|| A LESSON ABOUT FATE ||

Perhaps we are only fated to love one person. Some date around wondering why they never work out, some long to be in love, some have given up on love, some might not have ever planned to be in love. However, this might just be part of waiting for the fated one to show up. When they do, everything you thought you knew about love changes. You would be willing to do drop everything and do anything for them. In the end, the fated one may or may not be by your side, but either way, there is beauty in dedicating your life to that one person no matter how brief your paths cross.

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|| OVERALL ||

A well executed textbook romantic comedy. I usually prefer when there is one main couple as I feel too many other storylines will take away from fully exploring the main couple's relationship. However, despite there being two prominent couples the second couple was well explored and did not take away from the main couple given they all know each other. The pace was faster as there are only 12 episodes, and I felt there were just enough of everything - humour, romance, steam, family bonding, work life. Among the cast, Kim Se Jeong was the highlight - her reactions and expressions are very funny and realistic.

**I recommend this drama to those that like light-hearted romantic comedies. It has all the components of a good romantic comedy and I felt it was interesting from beginning to end. I didn't fast forward much for this drama.


|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - To be honest the plot is nothing too unique. Mainly just a blind date that ended up being a happy mistake.
*Genre - A textbook romantic comedy that was well executed and definitely above average.
*Main plot - As the drama is only 12 episodes, I do like the faster pace and the less time wasted approach. There were just enough funny scenes and just enough romantic scenes of various intensities which I enjoyed. Also I found over the course of the drama there were multiple points in which I was surprised at the maturity of the romance and the funny twist to scenes that I anticipated cliché responses. It was also a nice touch to have the drama in a drama. That is not to say, typical of rom-coms there are over the top and ridiculous scenes, but already anticipating that before I start any rom-com, it didn't take much away from my enjoyment of the drama.
*Love lines - I didn't really care much for the main couple initially as there character seemed a bit too over the top, but they slowly grew on me, which I feel is exactly the aim. Usually they portray characters as very one dimensional then as the drama progresses viewers see that there is more to them i.e. why they act the way they do. Also I usually get annoyed with the secondary love line and want to skip their scenes, but I truly enjoyed this one. They were close friends and had their own funny and steamy scenes. It was clear they were secondary but they had a good amount of screentime too. I realized I enjoy the jealousy scenes much more when they are with insignificant characters as having them with second leads would drag the story too much.
*Ending - Simple ending, but in all honesty I found it rather abrupt. The whole episode felt slow until the very end when everything suddenly just ended or got wrapped up.


= Cast =
*Acting - I would have to say Kim Se Jeong was the best at acting. I think of all the dramas I have seen, among the younger actors and actresses her acting is so far the most realistic - the reactions , facial expressions, body language, and comedic timing are on point. The best acting is when the actor / actress can let go of their "celebrity baggage" and just be free and I feel she does that. Seol In Ha also does a great job. In contrast the guys didn't stand out as much in my eyes and were flatter, perhaps also due to their character profile. I couldn't help but compare the main couple to What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, and despite doing well, Ahn Hyo Seop was a bit lacking as a chaebol compared to Park Seo Joon. Otherwise, the supporting actors and actresses contributed well to the plot.
*Chemistry - Again, I couldn't help but compare with What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, and though they had good chemistry it felt a little lacking somehow.


= OST =
I enjoyed the music - there were multiple renditions to "Love, Maybe" and I liked all of them.


|| A LESSON ABOUT OPTIMISM ||

Many unexpected situations happen in life. Shin Ha Ri's life has not been easy - giving up on her true passion due to her family's financial situation, having a crush on someone who she thought didn't reciprocate her feelings, falling in love with someone she knows she shouldn't, being gossiped about at work, being disapproved of by her boyfriend's family. However, one thing that seems to guide her through it all was her optimism and in the end it paid off. Not only does her optimism help herself get through difficult situations, she is also able to positively affect those around her.

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|| OVERALL ||

A unique historical drama with a competent queen that takes matters into her own hands. As such, the story could get quite unrealistic as it defies the usual perceptions of what a queen embodies, but nonetheless an entertaining drama to watch.

**I recommend this drama to those that like unorthodox historical dramas. A mixture of lighthearted scenes and the usual political turmoil in palace dramas.


|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - The story of how a competent queen navigates the usual palace politics, reveals hidden truths, and takes care of her sons.
*Genre - A historical drama with some focus on comedy and romance.
*Main plot - The main plot of deciding the heir, the king's legitimacy and the palace politics was nothing special as most historical dramas have that type of thing. The highlight of the story was really the queen not being the usual quiet, reserved, minds her own business, gets taken advantage of type of person. To be honest it was quite satisfying to have a queen this competent that can sleuth and scheme, while being so caring and wholesome. However, her flawlessness and invincibility felt like she was just smoothly sailing through everything. She always had countermeasures and always seemed to have the upperhand, which just didn't seem too realistic. I guess it had to be this way to save plot time for other story arches. Either way, I was entertained throughout and really liked the character of the queen. Another part of the plot I enjoyed was the competition for the grand princes which was fun to watch. On another note, it is very rare that both the king and queen are reasonable righteous people, not to mention majority of the secondary characters are "good" compared to "bad". Those that are meant to be antagonists just seemed very inadequate - as if after enthroning the current king the way they did, they lost their ability to do effective bad deeds. It's quite new and fresh, but again, unrealistic.
*Side plot - There are lots of side plots with the concubines and their sons, each of the grand princes' problems, and the whole Consort Hwang situation. It was a bit here and there, each taking part of an episode. It was nice to give them screen time but I felt like it didn't add much to the plot, and some might've even taken away from the story of the crown prince and crown princess which I'm sure the audience wanted to see more of. The whole Consort Hwang love situation and son plotting treason was a bit random, as it was just mentioned and nothing really came of it.
*Ending - Just like how everything seemed to go smoothly for the queen, everyone in the end just seemed happy, and everything seemed solved. Summarized the drama cleanly.

= Cast =
*Acting - Kim Hye Soo. That's basically it.
*Chemistry - Nobody can beat the chemistry between the queen and her thoughts. She just overpowers everyone and everything it seems. Joking aside, for the supposed main love line between the crown prince and crown princess I felt like it could've been a lot more if there were more scenes, also if the crown prince had more expression (sorry but his acting fell a bit short and was a bit dead).

= OST =
There weren't many songs, nothing really stood out.


|| A LESSON ABOUT GROWING UP ||

For children with loving parents / guardians, it feels safe and sheltered to be cared for. However, there comes a time when you move away from the umbrella and let the rain fall on you. That way, you can learn how to prevent the raindrops yourself. At some point, you grab the handle and can then shelter your parents / guardian or your own children. Alternatively, there also comes a time to let go of the handle and let the one you've always cared for learn to care for themselves or let them care for you.

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|| OVERALL ||

I was rather entertained throughout given that I don't watch a lot of action kdramas. Interesting plot with cool CGI. Straightforward love story without the boring clichés. Great acting from the main leads.

**I recommend this drama to those that like a fantasy kdrama with well-rounded genres of romance, comedy, action.

|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - Interesting plot set in a fictional place in which mages, magic, and spells exist. Tells the story of how a group of young mages deal with the consequences of their ancestors' actions.
*Genre - There was romance, comedy, and action. All quite well done.
*Plot - Most weekends I found Saturday a bit less interesting but Sunday would usually make up for it. As the premise is quite unique already, the CGI and fight scenes are enough to make the kdrama interesting. The main leads' romantic comedy did add a lot to making this drama one of my favourite dramas this year so far. It seemed to have a push-and-pull feel with the audience - the romance scenes are so straightforward and satisfying, then when it almost reach the climax it pulls back making me want to see more, so when the climax was later reached it was extra satisfying. I felt the jealousy scenes were just enough as I do like to see at least a couple of those scenes. I really enjoyed the minimal clichés in the romance portion which enabled the audience to appreciate that this is not a typical romantic comedy as there are elements of family, friendship, and master-pupil relationship. Some parts were a bit random and sudden, though - I think the story could make do without some of the romances as it was a bit too much (Park Dang Gu and Jin Cho Yeon, Crown Prince and Mudeok, So-i and Seo Yul), and also the sudden appearance and outcome of Jang Gang, the sudden demise of certain villains that seemed to yield so much power but died so easily just to name a few.
*Characters - Each character was very well designed with something they excelled at and a funny fatal flaw. The mages are all quite cool when they are doing spells and such but they all have a goofy side whether it be losing sense of direction when startled, being slow-witted, or being very straightforward with their feelings. There were just enough supporting characters not to make it seem overwhelming, and they were all important to the story or had some underlying connection which made them all relevant to the progression of the plot.
*Ending - When the final events occurred (which happened a bit too quickly), I kept checking how many minutes were left of the episode, getting anxious how they could wrap it up with so little time. I was very eager to see Jang Uk and Naksu in Mudeok use the bird egg gems at least once and see Jang Uk fly to the top of the tree with Jung So Min's Naksu / Mudeok, but unfortunately it will have to just be in my imagination. The ending, watching Jang Uk Danaerys Targaryen out of the fire was not pleasing due to the lack of resolution as with all cliffhangers, but I guess that was the aim as it would make the audience look forward to part 2.

= Cast =
*Acting - Jung So Min stole the show, she played all the characters and personalities very well. The highlight had to be the multitude of emotions she portrayed when walking towards the soul-shifter in the secret chamber thinking that Jang Uk had died. No dialogue but her facial expressions had so many layers. I'm really going to miss her in part 2. Lee Jae Wook also did exceptional as the male lead, matching Jung So Min well as the carefree young mage who also has a serious side. The supporting characters were also good, especially Oh Na Ra, of all the supporting characters I loved her scenes the most.
*Chemistry - The main leads had good chemistry. Not to the point I wished they would get together in real life, but good chemistry while knowing they are both acting their characters very well.

= OST =
A good soundtrack that matched the drama well.


|| A LESSON ABOUT SACRIFICE ||

With everything one gains, sacrifices must be made. When someone is worth fighting for, all sacrifices will seem trivial.

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|| OVERALL ||

Compared to the first season I felt this season lacked a bit of the action and thrilling aspect as they had to explain a bit about the political situation, but still enjoyable nonetheless. It was interesting watching the characters discover more secrets behind the zombies' behaviour, how they convert, and how to prevent conversion. I did want more epic scenes from the drama but given the limited number of episodes, the plot progression was good enough.

**I recommend this drama to those that like zombie-related plots especially since this drama goes more in depth into the nature of zombies which is unique and refreshing. Also those that enjoy action and suspense, some politics, and basically no romance. Definitely watch the first season before this one though.


|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - As revealed by the ending of the previous season, this is more than just a typical zombie drama in which zombies are usually thought to only attack at a certain time during the day. The justification for the unique characteristics of the zombies are further explored this season, which is intriguing indeed.
*Genre - Not as action packed and thrilling as the first season, but enough to be classified under these genres. This time there was also more of a focus on the political aspect which I felt was important but did inevitably take away from the zombie action.
*Plot - What I enjoyed most this season were the action scenes and scenes that allowed us to gain more insight into how zombies convert and how to prevent bitten people from converting. The justification is really what sets this zombie story apart from all the others as it definitely adds depth to the general premise of the drama. Compared to the first season, though, I found this season a bit slow initially. Some earlier events were underwhelming in that I felt some characters should have a bigger contribution to the plot. There was an overall decrease in overall intensity this season as I wished there were more action and thrilling scenes, but I suppose this was necessary to explain a bit about the political situation. Otherwise, given the limited number of episodes, the plot was still good.
*Ending - An interesting ending that implied there is still more to the story. I wouldn't go as far as saying the ending was such a cliffhanger that I can't wait for the next season to know what other secrets will be revealed, but I'm definitely intrigued.

= Cast =
Given the limited episodes, other than the main characters, I must say I didn't recognize a handful of the actors / actresses that played minor roles. As a whole the acting was good.

= Music ==
There isn't much of a OST, mainly just suspenseful music so there's not much to comment on it. I do recall one moment (less than 10 seconds) when I thought the music didn't match and sounded a bit too modern but otherwise no complaints.

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|| OVERALL ||

For K-dramas, having a season 2 / part 2 is always hard as it has to live up to the usually better season 1. Given there were only 10 episodes, I think part 2 did do Alchemy of Souls justice. Certain bits seemed a bit slow and unnecessary, some bits seemed very last episode of Game of Thrones (i.e. "what...that's it...?"), but all in all I was pleased.

**I recommend this drama to those that like a fantasy kdrama with well-rounded genres of romance, comedy, and a bit of light action.

|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - A continuation of the previous story unravelling the unanswered questions, but also kind of like a new story of its own. Again, set in Daeho a place mages, soul shifters, and magic exist.
*Genre - More of romance and comedy, a little bit of action. The heart-wrenching scenes were well done.
*Plot - The 10 episodes could be split in two parts. First part focused on the love story of the main couple. Second part saving Daeho (the nation they live in). I really have to praise the scenes with the main couple because there were just too many heart fluttering moments. It's really difficult to follow part 1 as the audience already have a main couple in mind and to bring someone else brought mixed reactions, however personally I was very convinced with this new couple. Flaws of the plot, though, were the scenes they dedicated to certain side stories instead of exploring other more important side stories. There are only 10 episodes and not a lot of time, so was it really necessary to give so many scenes (sometimes even a whole episode) to side stories that don't really progress the main plot. For example, sorry Seo Yul, but the whole thing with him, So-Yi, and the bloodworm...good riddance. Maybe more scenes could be spent on elaborating Jin Mu. He's the main antagonist, but extremely not convincing. He caused so much trouble for so long, but he isn't really a strong mage to be honest, and both his demises were so quick and easy. Same with the firebird...something that can cause so much destruction but a bit useless. That is why it gave me the death of the night king vibes (Game of Thrones reference). Anyways, this season is less focused on the action scenes so with that in mind and the fact that they had only 10 episodes to cover everything, despite the flaws, I'm pleased with the plot.
*Characters - Well, we already know most if not all the characters from the previous season. They all had new troubles, and the way the matured and solved each of their problems were nice. Generally the side stories did not take away from the main couple which was nice.
*Ending - Got a little greedy and thought we would be in for another kiss. I liked the ending. To be very honest, despite reading audience's comments on how the Hong Sisters' dramas usually ended, I was quite sure about the direction the plot would end with, and I wasn't wrong.

= Cast =
*Acting - In part 1, Jung So Min really stole the show. In part 2, I rarely say this, but both Lee Jae Wook and Go Youn Jung did exceptionally well. Their characters are the most complex and layered, and they showed that very well.
*Chemistry - I personally think Lee Jae Wook and Go Youn Jung's chemistry was better than with Jung So Min. They seemed more like a couple and it extended off-screen. Those kiss scenes....damn. It's crazy to think that it's the first time Go Youn Jung had kiss scenes in dramas. The way they fed off each other's energies was crazy. They both were great, in contrast to the previous season in which I felt Jung So Min was the stronger actor.

= OST =
Great songs, especially Ailee's "I'm Sorry". Fantastic.


|| A LESSON ABOUT BALANCE ||

In a place too dark, light brings warmth. In a place too bright, shadow brings coldness. Like Yin and Yang, a balance is required in many things in life.

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|| OVERALL ||

After watching the last episode I wanted to give a much lower rating but I felt I wouldn't be doing the cast and crew, also the people behind making the OST justice. This drama was really saved by the phenomenal acting. There are multiple individual scenes that were fantastic and evoked the emotion that it intended, but the plot overall was just suboptimal and a bit of an overkill. During the drama's run, though, I did look forward to the next episode and didn't fast forward too much like I do with other dramas so the drama wasn't bad...it's just a lot of wasted potential. That said…I think overall I liked this drama more than CLOY.

**I recommend this drama to those that like a wide variety of genres but also have high tolerance to and able to overlook plot holes and sometimes absurdity. Watch the drama for the acting and for the romantic comedy scenes. The drama will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions - heartwarming, anger, frustration, sadness, etc. all at random.


|| DETAILS ||

= Story =
*Premise - Should be quite simple really...the story of how a chaebol heiress and a legal director fell in then out of love, then how they will repair their marriage. If focusing on that alone, the drama was great but because there were so many side quests and obstacles that got randomly and unnecessarily added into this central concept it really downgraded the drama.
*Genre - Truly an overkill as it included romance, comedy, action, melodrama, thriller, crime. Multiple genres is not a problem as Crash Landing on You also had that, but as this drama attempted to focus on all of them equally it became too much. For this drama I think it would benefit if it cut down on the thriller and crime aspect and resolve it 1-2 episodes earlier, then focus more on the relationship portion more. The amount of action was adequate and just right though. The rom-com scenes were well written and weaved into the story given the circumstances.
*Main Plot – I liked the way we learnt how the main leads met in that it wasn't given chronologically and we could piece it together ourselves. The romantic comedy scenes were indeed very sweet, cute, and funny. I am a sucker for romantic comedies so I didn't mind and actually enjoyed the clichés - destined to be together since childhood, getting injured and treating each other's wounds, getting drunk and acting cute, getting jealous of each other, in awe of each others' glow up. The melodrama scenes were also well written, especially the two scenes in episode 14...I even shed a tear. However one thing I realized was that I only enjoyed those certain scenes on their own but when looking at the big picture the plot was just so absurd. The premise made it seem like the drama would be more on the realistic side as the couple is married and explores how relationships can be mended. So...why were there so many simultaneous plots going on? Just pick one and focus more on it! The whole cancer situation was a bit much. The whole situation with the antagonists was a bit too much. There are too many plot twists and it just got too ambitious. The writing was sloppy in the swaying between protagonists and antagonists winning. When the writer wanted the antagonists to get their way everything just seemed to go smoothly for them, then the next episode the writer wanted the protagonists to win so all of a sudden they have all this evidence fall onto their laps and everything goes smoothly for them. It didn't feel like a natural progression but instead an omniscient force that keeps flip flopping between the two groups deciding who wins. All in all, if I just focus on the rom-com and melodrama parts i.e. just how they met and fell in love then fall out of love then fall back in love, the plot is great.
*Side Plot – This is the one thing I thought improved from Crash Landing on You. My complaint for CLOY was that I wanted to see more of the main couple and less of the other people from the ensemble cast. QOT had an ensemble cast again but the way they were weaved into the main plot was well done. It didn't take away from the main plot and I didn't find the other characters' stories taking away from the main plot. The side plots were also much better than that of CLOY so I didn't skip much of them as they also helped progress the story.
*Additional features – As with other dramas by this writer, the epilogues....really love them. I even started guessing which part the epilogue would be about. The epilogues are one of the best parts of each episode.
*Ending - Actually I enjoyed watching QOT throughout its run more so than CLOY...but the ending made me question this. There were many speculations on whether it would be a happy or sad ending. I anticipated the direction the ending would head towards and as expected it went there, but didn't expect that it would leave me with such a bitter feeling. CLOY's ending was well executed and it matched the subtle intensity of the love between the two until the end but I really can't say the same about this. I wanted more! They were so lovely together before they fell out of love, the extent of their love was so much stronger and showed more blatantly than CLOY. After the turmoil and rollercoaster the writer put the leads through...put the viewers through...what kind of subtle soft ending is this? At least give us some more lovey dovey scenes before ending like that. I mean they only properly kissed once, what a major letdown. It’s more than okay to reference the scene of them visiting the cemetery during the honeymoon at the final scenes, but give me more rom-com vibes before ending like this...it felt so rushed…I don't know...am I the only one thinking that? How frustrating.

= Cast =
*Acting – Phenomenal acting. I really don't know what to say. Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun carried so hard. The subtle expressions and gestures...just wow. I became a fan of both of them (more so Kim Ji Won) after this. I watched their previous works but I think the acting range they showcased in this drama made me see them in another light. I guess we have the writer to thank for that because with such a crazy plot (really too many twists and turns) the way they portrayed their characters enduring all that was as realistic as they could have possibly made it. Also...honest opinion...news that IU was supposed to play Hong Hae In, I'm almost certain that she could not have done it anywhere near as good as Kim Ji Won. I just had to say it. Supporting cast were all great with special mention to Park Sung Hoon who is really so good at being an antagonist, Kwak Dong Yeon, and Kim Jung Nan. The acting was really what saved this drama and gave it the high ratings.
*Chemistry – The lovey dovey scenes between Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun are just so heart-fluttering and cute. They had great chemistry. Visually actually I think Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji matched more but I think personality wise and shipping wise I felt KJW and KSH matched more. They were just too lovely in the pre-wedding scenes and both honeymoon period scenes. Chemistry between the supporting cast and the main characters were also very natural. They all had their own time in the spotlight and I didn't find any of them too overpowering or taking away from the main leads.

= OST =
A great soundtrack with many good songs. Very fitting.


|| A LESSON ABOUT LOYALTY ||

It is extremely rare for a relationship to be harmonious all of the time. It is about enduring the tough times together and staying by each other's side through thick and thin. Sometimes staying together might not mean you will be happier, instead it will just be less painful. So gather all the happy memories whenever you can in your jars and when goings get tough, take them out and reminisce the good days. Tough times will pass and they will pass much easier when surrounded by people you love and that love you.

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