This review may contain spoilers
Cute, cliche, & cheesy
Likes: Darren Chen looks super cute and did a really great job at making a cheesy script a lot less so. It's a breeze to watch.Dislikes: Do you like xtra cheese in your dramas cuz you're gonna get it in this one. The FL. She was miscast IMO.
Every cliche romcom scenario you can think of will be in this drama with plenty of cheese and corn, and yet...I still finished all episodes. ..and it's because of Darren Chen. I remembered him from Meteor Garden, but wasn't a fan or anything until now. Honestly, this drama had so many lame cringeworthy scenarios that made me either laugh at the stupidity or gag from the cheesiness, but it would have been a lot worse had it not been for DC. He somehow made most of the cheesy lines charming and cute and oh man, those gazes! Tingles. hahahaha. And he was able to create that underlying tension with the FL who in my opinion was as bland as they come.
The main problem I had with this drama was with the FL. She was entirely miscast. It was so obvious that she can't skate and can barely lift a hockey stick, yet we're supposed to believe she's this skilled hockey player that can magically get into a hockey team? I can overlook a lot of things, but when the central theme is about hockey...you need to make sure you cast someone who can sell it. And she doesn't. She also adds nothing to her character. Like no personality whatsoever. I could see any other actress playing this role.
But these two did have some chemistry and there were a lot of scenes with just the two of them so I did enjoy that aspect. Also the side stories weren't that bad either. There were a lot of things that didn't make sense to me, but that may be contributed to the fact the the subs weren't that great. Overall though, it's a light hearted drama that is easy to watch mainly due to DC, but be prepared to overlook the major flaws.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Botched remake
Unfortunately, this remake failed to deliver the sweet cute chemistry and heart that the original C version did.I loved the C version and was so excited that they were going to remake it in Korea, but I think they really miscast this. And the director did a poor job of giving the story some heart instead of the typical cringeworthy deliveries.
The main problem was the FL. She was trying too hard to appear young. If you ask your parents to give you an impression of a 3 year old, I bet it would be the same as the FL's acting. No idea why they casted her as there are a lot of other actresses who have natural aeygo that could have played this role. And then there's the problem with the ML. He looked too young and did not make me believe he was the smart studious type. And together, frankly it was clear that she was the nuna and he was the dongsaeng which makes it hard to believe in their characters. They pretty much had zero, if not almost uncomfortable chemistry for most of the drama. It wasn't until the very end that it got a little better and I think a large part of that is because the FL dropped the whole toddler act. To be fair, I do see potential in both of them...I just think they need to take baby steps instead of leaping to fill shoes that are too big.
I also thought the 2nd ML did not have any charm. I didn't find him very likeable where in the Cdrama, I would go back and forth between the male leads. Even if I didn't compare to the original, I would not have liked this drama. It's way too cringeworthy. I had to skip a lot of the scenes that made me want to vomit. It's interesting though because the script is almost the same and I did not feel that way at all with the Cdrama which I've watched a few times. Amazing what miscasting and bad direction can do.
Was this review helpful to you?
Slice of Life medical drama with funny moments
Likes: The great ensemble cast and their easy chemistry. The funny momentsDislikes: It was a bit forgettable.
I usually don't like medical dramas, but this one was easy to watch because of Director Shin Won ho's distinct style of using an ensemble cast and creating a nostalgic vibe with bits of humor. Just like with his previous works in the Reply series and Prison Playbook, there's a sort of subdued tone to his dramas that focuses on community rather than plot.
The ensemble cast was great particularly Jo Jung Suk who again shows that he's capable of great comedic and dramatic acting and Shin Hyun-bin who does such a great job making the aloof expressionless chief resident so likeable. The chemistry between the cast felt so organic that it was fun watching the banter and the friendships play out.
There were plenty of moments that made me laugh, but there were also many moments where I was bored. While I found the drama overall an enjoyable watch, it was also one that was forgettable. I wasn't dying to watch the next episode...more like there was nothing else to watch, but if you enjoy these types of dramas then I think it won't disappoint.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
When two sweet horndogs meet...
....they create this little drama free of substance, emotion, character development, or story. But hey, you do get some contrived chemistry, kisses, and bed scenes in almost every episode. That should be enough, right? Yeah....not so much.I've watched a LOT of superficial dramas and enjoyed them too, but this one was too much. There's just no real context to anything. They are strangers that sign a marriage contract and then the next second, they are in love. No real interactions or conversations, and boom, love. Also instead of showing or making the audience feel the characters, it felt like they were just telling you. Like "Hi, I'm supposed to be a sadist." or "Hi, I'm supposed to be cute and crafty" so believe it. Yeah....didn't happen, at least for me. Luckily, this was a short 7 eps so I didn't feel like it was a complete waste of time.
If you like your cute to be on overkill, don't mind if the writing is horrible as long as the leads are good looking, and looking for some non apologetic skinship, then this drama might be up your alley. I often feel like dramas are too long and need to trim out the excess fat, but this one trimmed out too much. It def made me realize that I need some sort of context to enjoy my dramas.
Was this review helpful to you?
Small town vibe
Likes: Seo Kang Joon's insane visuals. His sweet shyness. Kim Hwan Hee's hilarious cheerful spirit as his younger sister. Lee Jae Wook's comic timingDislikes: I didn't feel the sparks between the OTP nor did I really care for the story. The pace was too slow for me.
I think I'm just not a huge fan of these quiet type dramas like Something in the Rain or One Spring Night where the quietness fills the room. The pace is just too slow and I wind up getting bored. I only hung on because A) quite frankly, there wasn't much else to watch and B) Seo Kang Joon finally picked a role that he was suited for where I can finally indulge in watching his sweet shyness play out.
Unfortunately, I didn't really feel that cracklin chemistry between him and Park Min Young. It felt like acting. I usually only live for the OTP in dramas, but here I found myself more interested in Kim Hwan Hee's lively shenanigans or Lee Jae wook's funny situations. The drama has a small town vibe so if you don't mind things just sort of moseying along, then this might be up your alley.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Like lighting a firecracker only to see a weak spark
1st half was awesome. Riveting and filled with so many twists that you are constantly guessing at who the serial killer is.The middle felt a bit stupid and seemed like filler episodes showcasing the serial killer of the day.
The latter half started to get good again as it came back to the main story and we get to try to connect all the dots, but the ending was anti-climatic. They rushed to try and explain everything and it ended up becoming a bit too "easy" in wrapping everything up.
The main problem with this drama was there was just too much going on, too many people/relationships and it got very hard trying to keep everything straight. I felt like I had to take notes. Plus the timeline was really messy and confusing (I still don't understand when in the timeline, PD Hong Ju had her baby and why no one would notice that she was pregnant).
But for the most part I was engrossed at finding out who the serial killer was and how it all played out. Acting was great from the entire cast. I am a fan of Seung-gi so I mainly watched this for him. I'm not sure I would have stuck this out if he wasn't in it.
If you are a fan of thrillers or a fan of Seung-gi, then you may enjoy this drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
What a letdown!
The story sucked. The CG sucked. The casting sucked. The english was bad and poorly dubbed. The acting was just so-so.I was a huge fan of the first movie and was waiting soooo long for the sequel, but it just doesn't live up to the first one at all. Not even close.
No one had any presence. In the 1st film, Kim Da Mi and Woo Shik shined and left an impression,, but here, everyone was so boring. That is probably mostly due to the fact that the story was too simple. To be honest, it doesn't even feel like there was a story. Also the action scenes felt so fake that it came off stupid. Sorely disappointed.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Infuriating characters & plot holes, but entertaining all the same
Likes: Park Hyung Sik and Han Hyo Joo. I'm fans of both. I think they did a great job with the acting and convinced me that they are both tough characters that could take down zombies and criminals. Doesn't hurt that they are both pretty to look at. I thought they had a very cute chemistry. The doctor was also pretty standout in making his character so despicable. I thought the zombie production and actions scenes were also nicely done.Dislikes: (SPOILERS AHEAD): The HUGE and obvious plot holes that took a lot away from the story because it made the characters look a bit stupid. For instance, the huge one...Why go through all this manipulation and trouble when you could have just asked Saebom for her blood. Everything about her character would have suggested she would do this freely with no objection. That's just lazy writing imo. The writer should have found some reason why they thought Saebom would be resistant to giving her blood. Then the story would have made more sense. Next problem were the infuriating side characters. They were incredibly frustrating mostly because I couldn't understand their actions. I don't have to agree with it, but I should understand why a character is driven to their point in stupidity. There should be a tiny basis of realism in their motivation. Too many actions were just too inconsistent. For instance, the fear level. One minute they are scared to death because they see a zombie turn, then the next they are walking around like nothing is amiss, I mean wouldn't they try to carry something for a weapon or wear some sort of makeshift protection, esp since they don't know who is infected? That goes for the leads as well. They walk around too cavaliery like they are invincible. Sometimes they carry a weapon, sometimes they don't That's just poor direction, The director should have maintained a certain level of fear and caution throughout.
There were so many plot holes that I can't even count, but yet, I still found myself entertained and waiting in anticipation for the next episode. A large part of that has to do with me being fans of PHS and HHJ. I really looked forward to their interaction with each other. It carried a lot of the drama for me. I enjoyed seeing them be all tough. I also have a love for zombies or disaster type stories too so that also played a part. There was also enough tension to keep me tuned in to see how this would all end. If you're like me, then I would suggest checking this drama out. But if you need a well executed story that makes complete sense, then you may not enjoy this one,
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Sisterhood caught up in a conspiracy
Likes:1) Kim Go Eun and Nam Ji Hyun being in the same drama - When I heard that 2 of my favorite actresses were going to star in the same kdrama, I was elated with excitement because that rarely ever happens. I absolutely loved watching the sisterhood or womance between them and their natural acting continues to shine in my eyes.
2) Wi Ha Joon - this guy is so hot! Not only is he great at acting, but he's also so versatile and he's good at action. I thought he perfectly portrayed his character. You never knew which side he was on. I look forward to seeing him showcase more of his abilities in the future (Maybe a bigger role in Squid games 2?)
3) The interactions between In Joo and Choi Do Il. Although the romance is light as this is a conspiracy mystery, I was completely hooked on the question of will they or won't they.
4) All the twists. I really enjoyed not knowing where the story would end up...that is until I found out who the villain was which brings me to:
Dislikes:
1) Once the Villain is revealed in the latter half, the story becomes a bit too over the top. You will def have to suspend your belief and overlook some ridiculous loopholes at the very end.
2) Having the title Little Women, you would expect more similarities to Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, but I didn't find that to be the case, but it has been awhile since I've read that book.
3) The character development could have been better. There were a handful of times where the character was doing something that seemed "out of" character. We weren't shown enough to understand why they were acting a certain way.
But overall, I enjoyed 75% of this drama. I liked all the twists and cliffhangers leading up to the villain reveal, but especially loved seeing 3 of my fav people in a drama together.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not so thrilling zombie flick
Likes: Acting was good. Zombie production was goodDislikes: Not much happens in my opinion. The story centered more on the isolation and loneliness that comes with a zombie apocalypse rather than trying to survive.
Eh, this movie was just alright for me. Like half the movie centered on Yoo Ah In's mental state dealing with the isolation from being in a zombie apocalypse. There weren't many confrontations with the zombies compared to other movies and when there were, I didn't find it that thrilling.
Both Yoo Ah In and Park Shin Hye acted well, but I just thought the story was a bit of a let down.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Funny and a tad corny. Based on the American movie 17 again
For me, there are only 2 reasons to watch this drama: Lee Do Hyun and Lee Mi Do.Lee Do Hyun for his really good performance as a 37 year old miserable father trapped inside his handsome 18yr old self. I totally believed he was this ajusshi which is why the age gap with Kim Ha Neul didn't bother me one bit. I thought they had great chemistry and he nailed the yearning which made me want them to get back together so bad. I also thought Do Hyun's interactions with his daughter were so funny as I totally could see Yoon Sang Hyun in Do hyun's acting which is why I think he did such a good job.
As for Lee Mi Do, she was just the side BFF, but she just stole every scene that she was in. She was so funny and I love her confidence. The elevator scene where she can't give CPR to Kim Gang Hyun because he grosses her out cracked me up! Or the bar scene where she tried to seduce him was even funnier. Her looks of disgust make me laugh out loud and just speaks to my sense of humor.
The script has a lot of problems though especially making most of the characters change their dispositions suddenly so that they are redeemed. It's really predictable too and tends to cross the line into sappy and corny at times, but it had just enough comedy and romance that made this more enjoyable than not, especially when these two actors were on.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Better than Season 1!
Likes:1) They really upped the ante for the CGI. It was a little fake for me in S1, but now it's high quality and believable. Easy now to get immersed into the world of monsters and humans.
2) Faster pace: S2 was edited well and I never got bored unlike S1
3) The addition of all the military scenes: I don't know if it's because I'm such a fan of the IRON SQUAD, but I really liked all the military scenes esp since some of my fav UDT guys from Iron Squad played minor roles. It added more action and intensity imo plus all the soldiers had such manly charisma that I admit I'm guilty of sometimes focusing more on their broad shoulders and sexy arms as opposed to the story ( 미안해 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ) .
4) Better acting: Every single character was believable. Go Min Si did really well with reflecting her toughness and longing pain for her brother. Jin Young did a great job showing the duality of toughness and tenderness with his character. Oh Jung Se nailed his role as the weird crazy scientist. Choi Go was impressive for someone so young being able to reflect devastation and bitterness so well. Lee Si Young 's agony looked so real. The military guys all delivered.
5) Jin Young's bulked up body. Those shoulders! Don't pretend you didn't notice!
6) A whole lotta naked butts
7) The world building: S1 felt a bit stagnant at times being in one apt building, but here we get to see more of the outside world. Glimpses of the monsters and nature. The movement helps the flow of the story imo
MINOR DISLIKES:
1) Too little screen time for Song Kang. I wanted to see more of his character as he was so central in S1. This season focused more on the other characters which I didn't mind as Min Si, Jin Young , and the military guys were fun to watch, but I wished there was a bit more time focused on the character of Hyun Soo.
2) Too little screen time for Lee Si Young. I just love her. I mean who can forget that back scene in S1 when she lifted herself up in the vent. She's the only actress that can literally fight and go head to head with guys. So I was kind of disappointed that she didn't have a bigger part in S2, esp in regards to action. She does have a memorable ending scene, but it wasn't enough for me. I wanted to see more!
3) I have to say that not a lot of answers were given and everything is still unresolved. You get a lot of new characters, but don't really understand their deal yet. Even so, I got hooked on the whole mysteriousness of it all. I'm assuming S3 will explain a lot of things so I can't wait!
Was this review helpful to you?
Confidential Assignment 2: International
6 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
Fun Action Comedy!
Equally entertaining as the first one, this fun action comedy did not disappoint! Hyun Bin delivered on the action scenes and Yoo Hae Jin stole the show with his comedic timing. I absolutely loved the dynamic of Hae Jin's family, specifically with Yoona. I kept bursting out laughing at their reactions to Yoona's flirting tactics. I'm not a fan of Daniel Henney's acting, but his character did add to the comedy and gave an excuse to show Hyun Bin's cute jealousy.. Jin Seon Kyu did a great job as the villain too. I'm always amazed at how these soft spoken kind actors transform themselves into such great villains.On the story side, I will say it was weaker than the 1st movie and you'll have to overlook some of the flaws in logic, but honestly I didn't care too much because the action and comedy were strong. This was such a breeze to watch. And if you are a fan of Hyun Bin or Yoo Hae Jin like I am, then this will not disappoint.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Loved this! Loved the flawed characters in this seductive slow modern romance
Seems like this drama is getting a lot of hate, but I personally really loved seeing this more realistic approach to modern relationships. Instead of "toxic", what I saw were two flawed characters who had emotionally unavailable parents. Two people who struggle with emotional intimacy. Two people who in their own way, were too afraid to open themselves up to love. Two people who were insanely attracted to each other.You would think that people who have emotionally unavailable parents would seek out partners who are the opposite, but often times, there are these patterns that emerge where they are attracted to the same in their partners because they are trying to subconsciously "fix" that previous relationship. And I could be reading way more into it than it is, but I felt like that's what happened in this drama.
The FL has a mother who was never really there for her. She's been burned in a relationship before so she's very cautious not to get hurt again. She hides her true emotions and basically has a wall up with one foot always out the door. What she needs is someone who will be there for her and stay by her side.
The ML has parents that have sort of abandoned him. He only does casual relationships because he doesn't want the responsibility that comes with commitment. By toying with emotions, that puts him in control to "test" people. What he needs is someone who will keep coming back despite his flaws, someone who won't abandon him.
So what happens when these two meet and do a dance of seduction? Hot chemistry! I don't care if these two might be bad for each other because this is a drama, not real life. I'm in it for the chemistry. I don't want to see perfect people in a perfect relationship because that would be boring. I also don't want to see the same formula that we see all the time in dramas.
I liked that the characters were really flawed. I liked the natural skinship. I liked the music and tone of the drama. I liked that this was different and had more depth than the typical romance. I liked the acting and how the director didn't take the typical cliched route and showed us the realistic insecurities of wanting more from your partner, but too afraid to be the first to admit it. The only thing I didn't like was maybe the last episode....it felt a bit rushed.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Entertaining enough, but no real likeable characters
Likes: As a fan of the zombie genre, I thought the production was pretty good. The action scenes were tense and nicely done. It was entertaining enough that I don't regret watching this.Dislikes:
- There were no real likeable characters. No one stood out. And because the characters weren't fleshed out enough, I didn't feel a connection with any of them so I wasn't really rooting for anyone that strongly. Nobody really left an impression.
- I especially didn't like the character of Ohn Jo. She was so dull (as with most of the female characters for most of the drama) Having one of the main characters be so dull was a wrong move.
-Lack of clear leads. I wasn't sure half the time who were supposed to be the main leads. Is it Cheong San/Ohn Jo? Or is it Nam ra/Soo Hyuk? I think if the drama had focused on the Nam ra/ Soo Hyuk arc , fleshed that out a bit more and also the hybrid changes that Nam ra was going through, the drama would have been more interesting.
-Lack of depth in the story arcs. Like what was the purpose of the detective, his partner, the baby, and little girl? They added no value to the story. And the whole arc of Ohn Jo and her father was kind of a let down. And the purpose of introducing the arrow shooting nuna so late in the game?
-Draggy moments. Not gonna lie. I did FF a little in the draggy parts.
Overall disappointing? Yes, but I was still entertained enough mainly due to my love for the zombie chase. Would I watch this again? No. Would I watch another season? Yes, esp if they concentrated on the zombie hybrids and have cool action scenes.
Was this review helpful to you?