Enjoyable and Refreshing
After bombarded by so many crappy C-Drama, this one was like a breath of fresh air. I'm being dramatic, I know. But it was really nice to finally have a drama that focused more on telling a good story. Most drama produced these days were just so poorly made. For a low budget project, this was very well made. Everything penny invested in the right place. The plotline was good, even though the cases were quite simple, it's entertaining and the story building up to the last episode was not rushed and flowed quite nicely.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best in 2023
Drama started very solid, good paced, good script... It's very rare CDrama to have so many characters written properly. I love the development of the characters, especially the growth of little naive princess, so so good, the actress also very good. I also love Alen Fang's character, I think this is his best performance to date. FL is also very good, stay true to it's character although out the series, (unlike every other ones that turned into a confused little damsel once the romance started, I really hate those). But it's still not as good as I hoped. I'm a very disappointed on the progress of the last 8 episodes, the drama kind of lost it's pace. Instead focusing to built a climax to the story, it felt like they're lost. I mean, couples that happily joked and tease each other and being lovey dovey in the midst of impending invasion/war, without a care, not even mourning the death their love ones , really?? Another ridiculous scene is when ML able to forged a new sword in a blink of an eye, what magic did he use ?Was this review helpful to you?
Not what I expected (in a good way)
I've never read the original novel, so I thought it's going to be a romance drama between FL & ML with some palace politics here and there. I never imagine that in the 27 episodes, is more about family conflict, FL-ML close interaction (romance) is almost non existent LOL. But what surprised me more, is how much I enjoy this drama. I like how the story focused on the development of the FL and her interaction with her family, the mother-daughter conflict, surprisingly, quite realistic. I love all the elders character, the senior actors are all very good, especially the grandmother, LOL, the grandmother is really something, so funny. I like how the FL slowly learn about relationships and grow to be more mature. Nothing is rushed, just the right pace. The director really make good story flow. Can't wait for the second part of the series.Was this review helpful to you?
Where is the Witch's story?
Watching the first 2 episodes really excites me. It seems to be different from other recent k-drama releases. Refreshing new storyline. Even more excites me it's length, only 8 episodes, so i expect it to be fast paced, no filler scenes, no slow motion. But, after the 4th episode, which is half way, i start to wonder, when will the story about this mysterious witch start to unfold? Why is the story going no where? Totally lost my interest by the 5th episode. Why is this drama focusing on Jin and her bad judgement in life? Why giving this drama the title Witch's Diner, if you're not gonna focus the story on the witch? I forced my self to watch the 6th episode, yet still no development on the witch story. With only 2 episodes to go, I don't think it's worth watching anymore. Even if they start moving on the witch's story, I don't want to watch, because they're just gonna rush everything.Was this review helpful to you?
Only good at first
Didn't expect anything from idol drama like this, but I was pleasantly surprised. First 10 episodes were entertaining, storyline was interesting. I binge all 10 episodes in a day. But then I don't understand why, suddenly I feel something changed afterwards. Was the writer/director changed? Anyway, I completely lost interest after episode 17. What I like about this drama were the characters. They were all really complex people, appear tough and strong but with many emotional struggle inside, not just some simple black or white labeled. Unfortunately I feel that the actors didn't convey that well either. It could've been good, so disappointedWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not my cup of tea
Like most C-drama in recent years, disappointing. I feel sorry for the actor & actress. The story is just, I'm so sorry to say this, so crappy. I really tried to watch each episodes, I mean REALLY tried. Ended up fast forward through so many scenes, because it's just draggy, too much filler scenes, unnecessary slow motion and flashbacks, not to mention, how some scenes are just so strange and stupid. Example, the grandpa was poisoned, ML & FL knew who did it, instead of rescuing the grandpa and arrest the perpetrator, they decide to leave grandpa in the perpetrator care, and just give a bow to grandpa, because they're afraid grandpa will not lived long enough until their marriage ceremony. Who would do that?Was this review helpful to you?
bad writing
it's a dark hole alright. True to it's title, watching this drama felt like plunging into a bottomless hole of boring badly written script. I feel bad for the actors, truly. The acting is actually quite good, so sad that they had to follow a script that really insulting human logic. The way the character respon to the whole thing is just stupid. Some character does bad things for no reason other than just because they have to be the bad people that add more problem to the story. If you like zombie movie, go watch Kingdom, it's 100x better, don't waste your time on this.Was this review helpful to you?
it's just a huge mess
I have no complain about the acting, the actors done nothing wrong. It's the writing, director and casting. OMG... Here a few example why I can't continue watching this drama. There's a scene that shows the big age difference between the ML and FL (an early teen FL meeting the already adult ML). But somehow, now when they meet again, the FL suddenly became the same age as the ML.. The forever young villain, the female villain took in a child (male villain) some 30 years ago, fast forward to now when the story is happening, the male villain now look like an uncle, while the female villain look even younger than the FL.. The ML best friend, how can a man think and act like a 5 yo kid be an ex-cop?. The forced romance storyline between ML-FL, ML & FL don't even have chemistry to make it convincing enough.If you can ignore that much, I think you can enjoy the comedy aspect of it, but I just can't anymore, too much that I don't find it entertaining.
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writer need to do their job better
FL supposed to be badass, very calculating and intelligent, she's THE lawyer of the firm, she's the youngest managing partner to be elected. She doesn't even have proper education, yet she's able to climb to the top in just a few years. She survived among the wolves for years.. I mean years.. and even able stood on top of them, beat them in their game. But what the heck was this?! Her IQ & EQ suddenly plummeted after meeting the ML. She's been doing very stupid things for a woman that smart. For a woman, who have years of experience dealing with criminals, that is so smart and cunning, even her very powerful boss fear her, be so easily fall into a trap, clumsily got her self into trouble, was stupid enough to go alone to meet a thug/suspect murderer in a remote area in the middle of the night. She suddenly became a regular damsel in distress, that needs her knight to save her, like what?!!! I understand that it was necessary for the romance plot, but please writer-nim, do your job better, at least be consistent with the character you're trying to potray, she doesn't need to suddenly be stupid just to have "romance". The writer is the problem in this one. The actress on the other hand, is amazing, her acting is top notch. I hope the next half of the drama gets better, finger crossed.Was this review helpful to you?
one of the better ones in 2024
I like it because each character was reasonable normal people, they had their own motives, their own thoughts, and their actions portrayed it. They were their own person. Not something made up randomly for the plot. Something very rare in CDrama. My favorite would be the MFL and SML's mother. When I started this series, I didn't expect that I'd be watching till finished. Not because anything wrong in the first few episodes, but it's just petty me LOL.. I can't relate to ML description as the most beautiful man in the capital with the actor, another actor's face kept on popping in my head LOL... But hey... the actors ability and storyline in the end wins against my pettiness.. I finished the whole 40 episodes hehe .... Please give this Drama a try ?Was this review helpful to you?
enjoyable and entertaining
i mainly watch this because there's so much hype over this drama. overall it's a good drama, have enough suspense to keep you interested. all the actors did a very good job portraying their character. the story line however is not as good as the acting. There's so much backstory for each characters that's not being explain very well. I would give it better rating, if they cut unnecessary slow motion repetitive scene, and give better indepth explanation on each characters story. But as it was adapted from a comic, what can you expect.Was this review helpful to you?
a must watch series
After a long year of crappy wuxia drama, finally a c-drama worth watching. The chemistry between the two main leads are really good. Both of the actors acting are just so natural and enjoyable to watch. Simon Gong Jun really shines in this one, never notice his acting before Word of Honor. Well actually, almost every characters played well in this drama. Very entertaining and satisfying to watch. The story is very well written. The fighting scenes are beautiful and well executed. Last but not least, no annoying stupid damsel in distressed, no unnecessary draggy filler scenes.Was this review helpful to you?
Dry but Relatable
It's probably a flat boring story for some people, but I find it enjoyable ☺️ I prefer this kind of drama than those lovey-doey badly written ones (which I think most C-Drama these days were pretty much crap.. ? sorry) I found it amusing how a Ming dynasty problems were similar to how things worked today. That somethings never change after hundreds of years. How corrupted government officials are. How complicated it is to get through bureaucracy. How hard, if not impossible it is to have justice. How easy it is for influential/rich people to have things go their way on the cost of others sufferingWas this review helpful to you?
Enjoyable Light Rom-Com
This drama have all the cliche done right, nothing are too cringy. Some is a little bit over done, but I guess it's for the comedy purpose. It's really well paced, the story flow is good, characters are fine. Very enjoyable to watch. Gives you a lot of smile. It's good entertainment. Some people complain about 12 episodes are too short. But imo 12 episodes is just right, maybe adding 1 more episode is okay. But definitely not the regular 16 episodes drama, it's gonna be too draggy. I don't understand all the hype though. I mean, it's good, but not that good. There're definitely so many better dramas than this.Was this review helpful to you?
Not a Zombie Movie
I love Kingdom. So as a fan, I have high expectations for the spin off. And.. it didn't disappoint. Even though this is just a 1 episode spin off, that's only about an hour+ long, the quality of the story telling, the cinematography, the acting are all as good as the previous 2 seasons. Within that short episode, the backstory of Ashin is very clearly told. The emotions, the pain and suffering of Ashin is perfectly portrayed by Jun Ji Hyun. Amazing acting. Really recommend to watch this drama. Did i say drama? Yes, to me this is gear more towards a drama than a horror genre. I think this is very enjoyable to watch, just don't expect to see a lot of crazy zombies scenes.Was this review helpful to you?