Kotori
Singapore
This review may contain spoilers
Great first half, ok second half
I really enjoyed this drama but won't be able to give this drama a 10. Here are my reasons.
What I love about this drama:
The story in the first half of the drama. The story is original and captivating. North Korea, a place at which everything can happen, is the perfect incubator for the kind of romance between Ri Jung Hyuk and Yoon Se Ri. The story is infused with really funny and heartwarming that makes the audience fall in love with the leads and supporting characters soon. The pace was good and the sequel of events is logical (at least for us who know nothing about North Korea...). The romance is sweet and the 'goodbyes' are painful - my heart went up and down along with the story flow.
The chemistry between the two main leads is just great. I know Hyun Bin in one type of character: the rich bad boy who turns to be softie after falling in love with the unlikely heroine (not sure why he is always casted in this type of role). Therefore it was extremely refreshing to see HB playing this soft-hearted, almost nerdy army boy who at the same time can fight like Jet Li. To my surprise, he did a great job. Some say that his acting can be improved, but I find it to be exactly right to reflect RJH's introverted character. Needless to say that So Ye Jin's performance is outstanding. She perfectly depicts the arrogant and successful heiress who in reality has a heart made of glass and is deprived of love. I also applaud the second leads who are very sweet together. These two and all supporting actors displayed great acting performance and contributed to a lot of laughter and tears throughout the drama.
The realistic display of life in North Korea: I have watched many Korean dramas and this is my first drama that is set in North Korea. I appreciate that I was able to get to know North Korea as not only a dark and hopeless place but hosts warm people with comradeship. I can see that the writer wants us to realize that material wealth often does not contribute to happiness (e.g. the fight between the Se Ri and her siblings) but a simple life in harmony and solidarity can provide much more.
Finally, the cinematography is beautiful. The shots just leave the audience in awe: the crystal blue sea and the snow-covered mountain of Switzerland, the sprinkling white first snow and the sunlight gleaming through the woods... the director just knows how to shoot beautiful scenes. The OST is great and underlies the emotions well (through I have heard better ones).
Now a few points why I deduct two points for this drama:
I found the second half of the drama only ok. To me, I felt all the emotions in the first half already and left me feeling a little "less emotionally engaged". I don't blame the writer - it is very hard to make the incidents in South Korea more exciting than what has happened in North Korea - in order to do so writer imported all the bad and good guys into Seoul to create the excitement and that felt too forced. The villain and his followers become too instrumental and act illogically to create hurdles for the main leads. YSR becomes a little crying mess thus her tears are also not as effective anymore. As a viewer, you know that the director does it on purpose to create certain emotions with the audience. This is good, as long as the audience does not realize this. But when one does realize this (at least I did...) you know, the drama has fallen short.
Another short-coming of this drama is how they depict Yoon Se Ri's family. It still puzzles me of whether YSR's mom actually loves YSR or hate her when she was little - and why but does she suddenly realize she loves her again? And did YSR really made up with her? Also again, her second brother, and his wife were really functional and 2D which is a shame, given that many other supporting characters are well written.
Overall, I found the second half quiet draggy, almost repetitive in certain episodes though I enjoy seeing how the relationship of the second couple unfolds or how the group of soldiers survive in South Korea. I think the entire drama could have cut down to 10-12 episodes focusing mainly on happenings and the escape from NK with a reunion in SK (I know it would have been unrealistic but the current ending is unrealistic too!).
But I have to say, I still overall enjoy this drama and would still recommend everyone to watch it for the wonderful first half, the beautiful cinematography and the romance and acting of the leads.
What I love about this drama:
The story in the first half of the drama. The story is original and captivating. North Korea, a place at which everything can happen, is the perfect incubator for the kind of romance between Ri Jung Hyuk and Yoon Se Ri. The story is infused with really funny and heartwarming that makes the audience fall in love with the leads and supporting characters soon. The pace was good and the sequel of events is logical (at least for us who know nothing about North Korea...). The romance is sweet and the 'goodbyes' are painful - my heart went up and down along with the story flow.
The chemistry between the two main leads is just great. I know Hyun Bin in one type of character: the rich bad boy who turns to be softie after falling in love with the unlikely heroine (not sure why he is always casted in this type of role). Therefore it was extremely refreshing to see HB playing this soft-hearted, almost nerdy army boy who at the same time can fight like Jet Li. To my surprise, he did a great job. Some say that his acting can be improved, but I find it to be exactly right to reflect RJH's introverted character. Needless to say that So Ye Jin's performance is outstanding. She perfectly depicts the arrogant and successful heiress who in reality has a heart made of glass and is deprived of love. I also applaud the second leads who are very sweet together. These two and all supporting actors displayed great acting performance and contributed to a lot of laughter and tears throughout the drama.
The realistic display of life in North Korea: I have watched many Korean dramas and this is my first drama that is set in North Korea. I appreciate that I was able to get to know North Korea as not only a dark and hopeless place but hosts warm people with comradeship. I can see that the writer wants us to realize that material wealth often does not contribute to happiness (e.g. the fight between the Se Ri and her siblings) but a simple life in harmony and solidarity can provide much more.
Finally, the cinematography is beautiful. The shots just leave the audience in awe: the crystal blue sea and the snow-covered mountain of Switzerland, the sprinkling white first snow and the sunlight gleaming through the woods... the director just knows how to shoot beautiful scenes. The OST is great and underlies the emotions well (through I have heard better ones).
Now a few points why I deduct two points for this drama:
I found the second half of the drama only ok. To me, I felt all the emotions in the first half already and left me feeling a little "less emotionally engaged". I don't blame the writer - it is very hard to make the incidents in South Korea more exciting than what has happened in North Korea - in order to do so writer imported all the bad and good guys into Seoul to create the excitement and that felt too forced. The villain and his followers become too instrumental and act illogically to create hurdles for the main leads. YSR becomes a little crying mess thus her tears are also not as effective anymore. As a viewer, you know that the director does it on purpose to create certain emotions with the audience. This is good, as long as the audience does not realize this. But when one does realize this (at least I did...) you know, the drama has fallen short.
Another short-coming of this drama is how they depict Yoon Se Ri's family. It still puzzles me of whether YSR's mom actually loves YSR or hate her when she was little - and why but does she suddenly realize she loves her again? And did YSR really made up with her? Also again, her second brother, and his wife were really functional and 2D which is a shame, given that many other supporting characters are well written.
Overall, I found the second half quiet draggy, almost repetitive in certain episodes though I enjoy seeing how the relationship of the second couple unfolds or how the group of soldiers survive in South Korea. I think the entire drama could have cut down to 10-12 episodes focusing mainly on happenings and the escape from NK with a reunion in SK (I know it would have been unrealistic but the current ending is unrealistic too!).
But I have to say, I still overall enjoy this drama and would still recommend everyone to watch it for the wonderful first half, the beautiful cinematography and the romance and acting of the leads.
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