Short filler drama if idol/ceo/kid dramas are your thing
I honestly have no idea why I enjoyed this so much, but I did. It’s absolutely ridiculous to be honest. Each episode is 10 minutes (30 episodes total) which doesn’t even seem like enough time to get acquainted with the characters yet at the same time I was invested in the story. Speaking of the story, the plot is all over the place. From the time traveling kid to the domineering CEO/idol thing the main couple has going on, to the grandfather showing up randomly half way in, I don’t really know why I kept watching it besides the fact that it was entertaining. It also might have helped that I had read the webtoon beforehand so I knew the storyline to some extent ahead of time. The acting really depends on the “episode” you are watching, some of it is good, some of it is okay, some of it is meh. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if we see some of the leads in bigger dramas in the future.Overall, it’s nothing revolutionary. The plot is not something you will end up having a length conversation about with fellow drama watchers or even remember a few dramas later, but I will say it’s cute in a completely ridiculous way and it’s a fairly easy watch since it’s so short. Great filler drama if idol/CEO/kid dramas are your thing.
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Did I enjoy watching it? Yes. Is it problematic? Possibly.
Listen- this is exactly what it claims to be at its core. A reality survival show. Mnet definitely edited some of the cast very strangely (I'm looking at you Matthew in that one episode where you suddenly get painted as the villain only to sunshine edit you three seconds later). Why were some people completely edited out? I have no idea. On one hand I'm going to assume it was just impossible for everyone to be shown all of the time, on the other hand was their some shady decisions behind the scenes (possibly). I do think certain people were pushed much more than others. You can argue all you want in the comments. At the end of the day though their were some cute friendships formed, some incredible progress (in my opinion) as far as singing and dancing, and a high entertainment level (I laughed a lot which I didn't expect). I normally don't watch survival shows, I hate becoming invested and then watching as the ones I really cheered for don't get picked. In this case, I will admit I was lucky (the 3 I absolutely adored the entire time made it into our debut line). I will say I am incredibly invested in all of the members of ZB1 and I only wish the best for their successes in the future, especially Han Bin. I am curious to see whether they will win ROTY and how the next 2.5 years play out.Was this review helpful to you?
I won't recover from this probably
I watched this because Netflix would not stop recommending it to me. And let me tell you, weeks later I am still thinking about this drama (and listening to the OST from it). The acting is superb, the story is entertaining, and the theme of the show really hits home. Also can we talk about the FL's outfits...iconic. I think what I really appreciated about this drama though was it's uniqueness. Yes, it's a romance. But beyond that it brings into discussion so many other topics surrounding mental health and the importance of family and it's done in a way that feels both interesting and almost a little edgy but also comforting. I realize that doesn't exactly make sense since it implies a contrast, but I think this show manages to do just that. As a viewer I was invested in all the characters (not just there for the main couple like I sometimes am). Also it's a surprisingly pretty show visually to watch, weaving animation into the storyline. However, this show is not like other dramas. It is deep and it does feel a little dark sometimes. It's one of those shows you watch and end up thinking about beyond "wow that was cute". It's kind of a masterpiece, but I think you need to be in the right mood to watch it and appreciate it.Would I rewatch? Probably
Would I recommend? Definitely
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This review may contain spoilers
Was it worth it? Yes
I don't usually write reviews, but I felt inclined to for this one. I want to start by saying I have not seen the Japanese or Korean version of this show so none of my review is a comparison to that (though I plan to watch those at some point). The first half of this drama I found very entertaining. Was the storyline a bit silly? Sure. But the acting was decent and the ML and FL had good enough chemistry to keep me watching. It even made me cry during episode 24 (one of the few dramas to do that). However the second half of the drama does seem to drag, especially when her and Dylan go abroad. I found myself skipping through the episodes more trying to reach a happy conclusion. I found the Grandma delightful and Dylan was a decent second ML though I'm not really sure how much chemistry he had with the FL honestly. Anna was fine at the beginning, but by the end I was really over her. Overall, was it worth watching? Yes. Is it revolutionary? Not particularly.Rating for 1st half: 9/10
Rating 2nd half: 7.5/10
Would I rewatch? Probably
Would I recommend? Yes, if you have time and don't mind a slower romance.
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