Make sure you are in the right mood

Spoilers ahead.

I feel conflicted about this series. It was recommended to me after 18 again, bizarrely. I think this was due to the fantasy element. On this vein, I was enjoying it as fantasy drama, including and up to when the FML accidentally ages herself. From here in started to go downhill for me. The plot seemed to drag with the FML spending most of her time moping around. Even Nam Joo-hyuk's visuals couldn't keep me engaged. The emotional scenes were well acted but the story felt very dreary.

Part of this I will blame on myself. Normally I like to watch dramas because they are uplifting and funny. Occasionally though, a series like Youth of May will demonstrate that they don't have to be tropey or fluffy. Unfortunately I don't feel like this series got the balance right. The romance didn't feel fleshed out and I struggled to root for the characters.

By the time the big reveal came I was already pretty exhausted with this series. The promise of a big twist kept me going but when it finally I arrived I was disappointed. It just seemed to add more dreariness rather than shock factor. I will guiltily confess that I was enjoying the fantasy escape from the care home.

I don't want to sound too harsh though. I think prior to watching this series it's important to manage your expectations. It's not a particularly happy or thrilling watch. It does however deal with a timely issue that many will face. The acting is solid, particularly from Nam Joo-hyuk and Kim Hye-ja. It's also unlike any other k-dramas I've watched.

Read More

Average

Short and simplistic. I saw the 8 rating and thought I would give it a go but it didn't work for me.

The good
On the face of it, this a story about a young man overcoming his insecurities and finding love. The setting of a university film class is also interesting. I'm sure the anxieties of being handsome and popular is something most people can relate to. It was refreshing to see the role reversal of a ML lead in this situation and is reflective of modern life.
Kang Eun Bin does a good job of showing the facade put on by Si Won and the anxious person beneath it all.
As other reviewers have said, it's positive to see an LGBT romance that is not immediately shunned by the other characters. However, this series seems to skirt around the issue altogether, with all the romantic scenes separated from the rest of the cast. I won't complain too much though because there is a decent amount of intimacy between the two leads.

The bad
Far too short to have a developed plot or characters. Unfortunately, this is often the restraint of this genre but 12 minute episodes really did not work for me. I could understand and appreciate Si Won's character but there wasn't much time for anyone else. This wasn't helped by the fact that there was limited dialogue.
Da Un felt very wooden as a character. We get glimpse at his backstory but it is never fully explained. He spends most of the latter episodes looking solemn and not saying much. I found the apology scene in the final episode particularly unconvincing.
All in all, it lacked the subtlety and chemistry of leading genre dramas such as To My Star. Perhaps if the episodes were 20 min they might have been able to do more.

Read More

Game changer

I was really impressed with this. Extended run time and clever plot tackling themes of homophobia and mental health. Lead actors who show a convincing range of emotions and intimacy. People might claim the MDL rating is over-inflated but in the context of LGBT+ representation and the limited budget, this is one of the best. I didn't see the plot twist at the end coming, so that is testament to the story. It gets better as each episode goes on.

I saw some reviews that criticised the fantasy plot-line and found it a distraction. I disagree. I think it is refreshing to watch an LGBT+ series with a developed and distinctive plot. Representation is important but I want to see both: LGBT+ romance and a clever, engaging drama that does not skirt around important issues. This series delivers on both fronts. Hopefully this will encourage studios to consider a 12 episode, 1 hour format.

Read More

Quality series that is both a bittersweet and nostalgic

Very much a homage to the highs and lows of growing up

The good:
The fencing storyline feels realistic in capturing the dedication and single-mindedness it takes to make it in elite sport. You get to see the injuries, rivalries and external pressures that Yu-rim and Hee-do face.
All the leads characters have their own distinctive personalities and back-stories. You feel invested in each of their journeys and it's an addictive watch.
The balance between humour and seriousness in each episode is for the most part, just right. There plenty of laugh out-loud moments.
The 90s setting is hard to resist complete with pagers, oxford shirts and curtain haircuts.
The romance between the two leads is tender and genuine. The story is about how it develops and grows. Unlike other reviewers I was not as affected by the age gap because I felt it was handled carefully and appropriately.
All the lead actors were great but stand out performance has to be Kim Tae-ri as Hee-do who goes from stroppy and adorable teenager to thoughtful and world-weary adult. Kim Hye-eun is also great as the gruff but caring fencing coach.
The ending, although sad, is reflective of real life. Friends and partners do sometimes drift away and it takes time to accept it.

The bad:
This quite a long critique only because until ep14, this one of the best series I have watched. The issue was not due to the ending but the fact that the final two episodes felt rushed and unfinished. All the comedic moments and romantic nuances suddenly vanished. Baek Yi-jin spent most of his screen time looking depressed but it wasn't articulated in the dialogue.
Present day Hee-do remained vacant and regretful. As the audience it's unclear exactly what the message is. Personally I think this could have been resolved by either:
A) Giving more screen time to present day Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin - show how they have moved on and grown as adults
B) Scrapping this story line entirely and ending with 2009 interview as a cliffhanger

Read More

Hidden gem

This series delivers on all fronts - time travel, body-swaps, romance, love-triangle, friendships and comedy. This is testament to the to plot and actors. I am not surprised there will be a Korean remake, given its widespread acclaim.

The good
Compared to big budget k-dramas it feels a lot more indie and subtle. Straightaway the intro gives off these vibes. Rather than this being a limiting factor, it actually helps deliver the fantasy plot-line. The cast and locations quickly feel authentic and familiar. The OST isn't overbearing and you will definitely either learn to love or hate Wu Bai's Last Dance!
The pacing keeps you invested with plenty of twists along the way. After the first couple of episodes I was hooked.
One of the best romances I have seen in a series. It's very much an insight into a relationship rather than just intimacy.
The two leads are very good. Alice Ko convincingly plays two different characters and captures the pain of losing someone you love. Greg Hsu delivers as leading man material who is both the carefree teenager and jaded adult.
The ending is bittersweet but falls on the sweet end of the spectrum.

The bad
Very little. If I had to nitpick, I found that the immediate willingness of the Uncle to believe in time travel was unrealistic. Although this was probably necessary to move the plot forward. It's also apparent that the budget was a limiting factor. The scenes where Chen Yun-Ru is stuck inside Huang Yu-Hsuan head do feel a little like a school theatre production. Lastly, the plot can get confusing so I would recommend using Google to recap each episode if you are unsure.

In summary, well worth a watch.

Read More

Worth a watch

Solid but not spectacular. If you like time travel dramas I would give it a go.

The good:
The story is interesting and keeps you entertained. This probably the strongest aspect of this series. The short running time of each episode moves the plot along quickly. I liked how we got to see the link between past and present timelines play out.
Standout cast for me were Yeri a Ha Rin and Kim Yi Seo as Hye Min.
The friendship between the leads is very sweet and adds so much needed comedy at times.

The bad:
It's definitely from a smaller studio, evident from the OST, script and acting. This is not a direct criticism per-say but worth bearing in mind if your viewing time is limited! I didn't find the OST memorable, some of the dialogue is pretty basic and there's a few crocodile tears. Also you get the feeling with a bigger budget they could have done a lot more.
The kiss between the two leads was a very poor effort.

Read More

One of the best

A stonking series but very sad!

The pacing is perfect and the romance feels sweet and natural. The historical backdrop is not overdone and the plot keeps you engaged throughout. Both Go Min-si and Lee Do Hyun do a great job balancing drama and humour in their exchanges. They are quickly becoming some of my favourite k-drama actors. This series is refreshing because it feels more adult than most. It does not rely on typical k-drama tropes and the element of danger feels genuine. The script is tight with less convoluted side plots and filler. It's also subtle and foregoes the usual 'I'm narrating what I'm thinking'. Hint to script writers - adult themes and 12 episodes are the way forward. It's no surprise that the ending is a tear-jerker but I think that is testament to the plot and actors. One of the best K-dramas I have watched yet.

Read More

Overall solid series

So, to start with, the positive aspects of the show -the first episode is fantastic and immediately you feel emotionally invested. The OST, locations and cinematography are also top notch. You can see the high production value and the whole Sandbox location is very immersive.

Spoilers below
------------------

I know some people have criticised the business story-line as being too basic. I can understand when it's your field of expertise however as an outsider I wasn't overly bothered. Plus I was more interested in the romance and relationships anyway.

Shout-out to my favourite character - Dal-mi's grandmother - who is definitely the beating heart of the story. I was also impressed by Kim Joo-hun and Nam Da-reum in their brief appearances. The lead actors do a very good job although I wasn't entirely convinced by the romance.

Part of the reason is that Kim Seon-ho does such as a good job as the SML. Yes he is the dashing and successful but also flawed. The first episode sets up his background nicely and you can understand why he is emotionally unavailable. Ultimately I feel like the beginning of story supports Ji-pyeong and Dal-mi ending up as a couple. They have an emotional connection.

On that note, Nam Joo-hyuk is very solid as Do-san but I feel that he was miscast. He can clearly pull his weight in emotional scenes but I'm not sure he embodies the role of a geeky tech wiz. Full credit to Joo-hyuk for trying something different but I think he is too handsome and straight laced to nail the role. It would have been better served by someone like Choi Woo-shik.

For me, the plot started to stall around episode 11/12, after the reveal. The time lapse felt a bit clunky and the pacing was slowed down. I also started to lose interest in the side plots - Dal-mi's dispute with In-jae and In-jae dispute with her adopted father. Like many series I have watched, perhaps 12 episodes would have been better or if they had showed more of lead characters growing up.

Read More

Tropey af but hilarious

Having just finished twenty one twenty five this exactly what I needed. There's nothing particularly original about the premise but the execution is spot on. As a romantic comedy it is light, breezy and very watchable.

The good
An easy, feel-good show after a busy week. Standout for me is the humour which only gets better as the episodes go on. Plenty of laugh out loud moments, particularly from the supporting cast. The dynamite drink scene and archaeopteryx are comedy gold.
The SFL and SML have a romance which is just as good, if not better than the two leads. In fact, all the cast clearly have good off-screen chemistry. Waiting for a K-drama with Seol In-ah and Kim Min-kyu as leads now!
Ha-ri is so likeable because she is determined and pragmatic. Her and Young-seo are the ultimate chaotic duo.
While I found Hyo-seop as Tae-mu a bit wooden at times, he succeeds in being the lovable dork who takes himself too seriously.
The Grandpa spends a lot of time huffing and scheming but I'm all for it.

The bad
Literally every K-drama trope. Not gonna win any awards but that's not why we're all watching it.
The first few episodes didn't exactly wow me but it's almost like the writers listened and cranked up the humour. At first I thought 12 episodes would be the right length but the ending did feel rushed. Personally not a fan of the long distance/time skips when they are shoved into one episode. Would have been nice to see more of them as a fully fledged couple and Grandpa giving them his blessing.

Read More