Hyelia
France
This review may contain spoilers
Meh. This drama just didn't do for me. If I compare it to the two other dramas by the same writer (A love so beautiful and Put your head on my shoulder), the plot is just plenty weak. It was all over the place with too many elements never fully developed.STORY
The first part of the drama is very cute and fluffy. I liked that the guy was the first to fall in love and was so obvious with his feelings. So much that you actually wonder if Zhou Xiao is really the president of a detective club, baby girl you're so oblivious. They are in the Uni so they are more mature and not too timid about their feelings and relationship.
However, the pace of the drama is off. It's too slow at first and too rushed in the end. The mother's problem could have been better -- the conflict is just a pretext. Even the characters are not fully developed, some of them disappear for several episodes and reappear just to create problems or resolve them. Especially the "love rivals": Cai Yasi was great but went MIA for several episodes, he was only heartbreak and support. So far, the best part of the drama for me was the girls' friendship but we don't get many scenes after the main couple starts dating.
ACTING/CAST
The actors do a decent job but no one is outstanding.
I liked the second couple, they were cute and the actors had great chemistry.
MUSIC & EDITING
A few things really bothered me in the drama and prevented me from fully enjoying it.
1) The image is bright, too bright, almost like in a giant advert.
2) The editing not necessarily great -- plenty bad in the last episode.
3) The sound effects were not good. I like it when they play with sounds and music in crucial scenes, it never happened here and it was a pity.
To sum up, it is a fresh romance drama but nothing new and memorable.
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Original and meaningful at the same time, this drama could be divided into 4 parts.
Part 1 - Training camp and teamwork: how to create a team with 2 groups of people who apparently don't share any similarity.
Part 2 - Marriage or not marriage?: A very great part as heartwrenching as heartwarming
Part 3 - Club M & betrayal: The drama goes dark & more political, like really. This is by far the cruelest villains I've seen.
Part 4 - Resolution?: It gets a bit draggy there with events that should have never happened. (Baby Boring Guy forever)
Acting/cast
Lee Seung Gi is incredible. He starts arrogant and snob as many of his other roles but becomes so mature and strong from ep.8. He fits the role perfectly and I can't imagine anyone else as Lee Jae Ha.
Ha Ji Won is queen. She learnt the North Korean dialect and intonation. She's cute, naive but also strong and badass.
Jo Jung Suk is soooo underrated, loved him from the minute he appeared. Eun Shi Kyung is the perfect blend of innocence and responsibility. The perfect friend: LOVED HIM.
Lee Yoon Ji is also perfect, I wished they could focus a bit more on Jae Shin & Shi Kyung relationship.
Overall, the characters seem strong and impenetrable but show so many weaknesses and fragility. It's a good insight in the life of royal personalities whose image must be strong for people to feel safe but in the end, they are only humans too.
Music
I liked it but won't be remembered.
Rewatch value
Definitely yes.
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Story
This is basically the story of broken people who try to heal each other. The trauma they had in their childhood still have vivid consequences in their adult life. It's not only a romance, it's not only a medical drama, it's both and so much more. The dialogues are so well-written and life-changing (and I don't even exaggerate).
Acting/Cast
The relationships between the characters are perfectly led. Mother-daughter/mother-sons/brothers/lovers/friends/colleagues every relationship is relevant and show the importance of social interaction on the way to overcome a trauma.
Heads down for the whole cast. Gong Hyo Jin & Jo In Sung are incredible but let's not forget the other actors who give a great dimension to their characters. Everyone is endearing and you just want more of them.
Music
Meaningful -- the songs fit the story and you will probably tear up listening to it later.
Rewatch value
I watched this drama in 2014 when it was released and again last month, it never gets old. I liked it even more this time because despite knowing all the plot twists, I still get surprised. I am 6 years older and mental health is much more meaningful today for me than it was back then.
Give it a try !!
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STORY
I absolutely adored the fact that we knew beforehand that the main couple would end up together, it makes everything easier and more mature. It's basically the story of "how we met in high school and ended up getting married". The process is amazing, their infallible bound is enviable. I got butterflies when they did and wanted to cry when they did. This is one of the purest love stories I've ever seen, it's not only a first love or a high school puppy love, you get the feeling that the other is the only person they will ever love. The fact that it's actually based on the author's real love story with her husband makes it even more enjoyable. It's an extract from QiaoYi's novel I don't Like this world, I only like you and I think it sums up perfectly their relationship:
"Come to think of it, when I decided to break off our friendship I didn’t quarrel with him, and when we amended our relationship I didn’t cry. When we decided to be together he didn’t confess to me, and when we decided to marry he didn’t officially propose to me– everything just happened naturally on its own accord… It was as though both of us knew that these events would happen, and that both of us were simply waiting for the right time to arrive."
CAST/ACTING
I wasn't sure at first but I loved every character and their depiction.
There are three couples and I can assure you, you will love each one of them.
The actors did an amazing job, the chemistry is great, the kisses too. Loved the dynamic of the cast.
Special shoutout to the parents, extremely supportive and caring. The relationships were perfectly written, parents-children, brother-sisters, friends, lovers.
REWATCH VALUE
I pressed the replay button for a whole weekend on my favorite scenes, that's how much I love it.
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STORY
The only original part of the story is the fact that the girl dressed as a boy is part of a Kpop Group. It's well-written by the Hong sisters and the only weak point for me, as always with their dramas, is the ending. They know how to create a story and how to create problems but never really know how to resolve the said-problems and finish the story, the ending was just meh.
CHARACTERS/CAST
Loved the characters and their dynamic.
Jang Geun Suk is perfect as Hwang TaeKyung, this actor is so underrated for some reason and it's a pity. His character is hilarious and endearing, touching as well and I loved it.
Not gonna lie, I'm not a Park Shin Hye fan but I find her tolerable in this drama considering the very (very very) naive and innocent character she plays.
As a big FT Island & CN Blue fan I just cannot express enough my love for Lee Hongki & Jung Yonghwa.
It's Yonghwa's first role so of course it's not flawless but it's acceptable. His character is pretty much gazing much of the time.
Hongki as Jeremy is the highlight, the comic-relief. His character is the most tolerant, a pity he's not more developed. The "chuka-party" are cult & he made me laugh so many times.
Gotta hate Yoo HeYi and love UEE.
MUSIC
I'm pretty sure ANJELL was many fans' first kpop group aha. With two main vocals in the cast, the music couldn't get any better.
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You know how many characters I hate in this drama? Zero.
Story
The story starts very simply almost too fluffy and cute and gets even better with time. Loved the twists, loved the characters' reactions to them which were not too extreme. It's a heartwarming drama where you just wish you would be part of this family. The relationship are well-written and make sense from beginning to end, you don't even hate the in-laws.
Acting/Cast
Loved all the characters and the relationships. Heads down to Lee Yoo Ri (family melo queen) and Lee Joon who are literally the light-stealers of this drama. You like every character and all the cast but cannot deny that they definitely shine.
I definitely recommend!
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The story is at the same time cliché and original (do I even make sense?). It's supposed to be your typical romance drama with an unexpected and fateful encounter leading to a hate-love relationship. However it's better than this, the boys are in their 40s and cannot act innocent anymore, well not really. I dare to sum up this story as "all the forms of heterosexual love stories".
The 1st love, the unrequited love, the budding love, the spiritual love (a widower), the "scared of commitment" love, the end of love with a couple at the edge of a divorce... it's all in one drama.
Acting/cast
The strong point of this drama is definitely the 4 men, their friendship and their interaction. You fall in love with them, you hate them, you want to be in their group, you laugh with and at them. You gotta love these boys. They are hilarious and perfectly played by the different actors.
The story tries (sometimes succeed, sometimes fail) to create the same atmosphere between the women. The feminine characters are a bit blander which is a pity. Though, I absolutely loved the character of Park Min Sook.
Loved also the students, especially Dong Hyup & his friendship with Colin.
Music
Juniel & Lee JongHyun and you cannot go wrong.
Rewatch Value
It's still totally modern and worth another watch.
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STORY
It starts very well and finishes being only a succession of clichés. As a spectator, you keep asking yourself "Wow, If you react like this now, what will happen when the real drama comes?" and this is the real problem. Everything is out of proportion from the beginning, especially the in-laws' rejection of DoRan. So it's basically a drama in which for 102 episodes the reactions are always the same, no character development for anyone, except maybe the stepmother.
ACTING/CAST
As said, no character development so it's very difficult to really grow attached to them. DaeRyuk starts very strong but is just an empty shell, very pitiful from ep.50. The actors do a good job but no one is very memorable except for the duo Choi Soo Jung (Driver Kim) & Jin Kyung (queeeeen). Park Sung Hoon also steals the light, loved how sincere and just very humble his character was.
Overall, if you are looking for a makjang where you'll hate the villains and feel pity for the good ones, this is for you.
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This review may contain spoilers
StoryIt's more than just housemates who enter a loveless marriage, it's all about the meaning of marriage today. Would you get married just to secure a position or not feel social pressure anymore? Would you get married to an almost stranger just because you need a place to stay? The story really makes you think about marriage. The relationship between JiHo & SeHee is meaningful and their conversations very deep.
Acting/cast
Loved all of them. The relationships are very well-done. The cast is great and perfectly balanced !
The friendship between the girls and their undefeatable support despite their personal & discutable decisions.
I also absolutely loved the character of SooJi, this strong woman who must bend at work because she's the only woman and her colleagues see her as a sexual object or an employee who only does unimportant tasks. She is just great on every aspects.
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