alon-luna
This review may contain spoilers
WARNING: major spoilers below
I’m really glad I watched this; it’s definitely one of the better dramas and I can see why people like it so much. It’s not for everyone though, because it’s incredibly conversation heavy - about 70 to 80 percent of what takes place/exposition are conversations between the characters. The rest are action scenes and in one case, a military fight. This is fine with me because I am also a fan of mystery dramas and those are conversation heavy too, but this might not be for everyone.
What I liked:
I think the actor playing the main lead, as well as the entire cast did a great job in portraying their characters. I like the overall story arc as well as the smaller cases in between where they had to get rid of two princes and some corrupt officials one by one before getting to the emperor. I normally don’t like sad endings but this one fit and was satisfactory.
male centricity: This is one of the things that worried me at first. I thought this would be one of those male centric dramas that had mostly male MLs with only a handful of token strong female leads thrown in every now and then, ala Lord of the Rings. Thankfully it wasn’t like that. While there were more male characters, there were also plenty of diverse and strong female characters and they had a lot* of screen time, significantly influenced the plot and in some cases, were just as smart as the main lead.
character relationships: All the characters working with the lead were great and they seemed like one big family (regardless of whether they were related or not) who supported him. The strongest relationships in this drama were the filial ones. The relationship between Mei Chang Su and Fei Liu was like that of a father and son. He also seemed like a father figure to two of his younger friends JinRui and Yujin, who were much younger than him. It also has a strong focus on mother and son relationships such as the ones between the palace consorts and the crown princes- I really liked the relationship between Prince Jingyan and his mother Consort Jing. There is also a bit of romance although it is subtle. Mei Chang Su’s relationship with Nihuang reminded me a lot of Li Mu Bai’s relationship with Yu Shu Lien (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), except that they had far more screen time together. It also explores toxic filial relationships such as the relationship between the emperor and his sons.
What I felt undecided about:
Prince Jing. I think the actor did a great job but his role but could be very frustrating at times. He doesn’t have that many scenes until episode thirty something, and there is an entire arc where the ML gets into trouble because of him because he reacts in a way that causes a lot of trouble; this is in spite of everyone telling him otherwise. There were times when all the characters seemed smarter than him, from his foot soldier to even his mother. He is also the last to realize the main lead’s true identity in spite of supposedly being best friends with him and yet so many people, from the war general to the love interest and even (yes) his mother, figures this out earlier on. The good thing is that he redeems himself at the very end* of the drama, so I was glad to see him get a happy ending.
What I didn’t like:
There are some boring episodes…not many, but a few. I personally found the first episode hard to watch and this is the reason it took me awhile to get to this.
There were some events that were incredibly hyped but never shown. There’s one arc where they hype this debate among scholars and the appearance of a master scholar who was so wise he could end the debate…but they never show this debate. You see the master scholar arriving with melodramatic bg music…and then it cuts to after the event where they say he won and all is well now.
There’s also a major battle where they play up Prince Jing’s role as a Gandalf type figure who goes off to get some reinforcements. You don’t see him do anything at all while the rest of the characters are fighting. You get this scene were he is about to challenge his brother to a duel and then it cuts off again. The only good thing about this is that it is princess Nihuang who gets to defeat the enemy general.
Poison of the bitter flame: It’s not the illness I disliked but there is a character who reveals symptoms I found completely unbelievable…if this was a fantasy or xianxia drama it would be acceptable, but it doesn’t work here, IMHO.
I also don’t like ‘the ending’ of one of the female characters; it was too ambiguous and I feel that we deserved to know what happened to her.
Is this drama like Game of Thrones? Overall no, but I can see some similarities in the wide range of diverse characters, scheming/one-upmanship ( the main lead is very good at this) and a kind of fight for the throne, in a way. But NIF is much smaller in scope. It focuses on only one kingdom, getting rid of corruption (it doesn’t really have morally gray characters/views like GOT) and has a slight ‘Count of Monte Cristo’ theme. Also, it doesn’t have magical elements in it. It’s a pretty good drama but it’s its own thing.
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This review may contain spoilers
*heavy spoilers below!I really enjoyed this drama. Why did it take me so long to watch this?!! :) It has exactly what I like where half the plot is romance focused, and the other half is focused on the ‘career’ aspect of the leads. It was similar to I Hear Your Voice (made by the same scriptwriter, bless her) where half the story focused on the legal court cases which I found a lot of fun. It not only gave me a good insight into the characters but also helped develop them.
Same thing happened here in Pinocchio. It had similar beats to IHYV but it was also different as it focused on the challenges of journalism...I kind of got some Healer vibes from it but this was a good thing for me. I think Lee Jong Suk does a pretty good job playing this kind of tortured ML. He’s not the most versatile actor as he tends to go for similar roles but what he does, he does well, IMHO. I felt a lot for his character. There was a point where I was angry with him. The issues he had in his past- while I understood why he reacted in certain ways, they made him take it out on the FL which got me pretty angry. However, the story actually calls out his behavior and makes him realize his mistakes, his prejudices and how his suffering made him act exactly like the people he hated.
The FL was pretty awesome...I actually love* Park Shin Hye in this role! She was an adorable heroine who was an interesting mix of both strong and weak. She even made hiccuping look cool. The only issue I had was that her character did not have as much scenes or development as the ML. Whatever scenes she does have, however, are pretty satisfying and she does* grow as a character apart from the ML. For the typical, cheerful and innocent FL one usually sees in dramas, I felt there was something unique about ‘Choi In-Ha.’ She was a breath of fresh air. She was basically living out the ‘break the cutie’ trope (the ML’s arc was more revenge focused) but she managed to do it without being broken and coming out stronger and wiser at the end. While I wishLee Jong Suk would play a different kind of role, I feel the opposite and wish Shin Hye would play more roles like this.
The couple’s chemistry was also pretty good. I would say it was better than in IHYV because they were of a similar age. Really hope these two get paired up again.
The rest of the supporting cast did a pretty good job as well. Jin Kyung’s star reporter Song Cha Ok is another example of a character you love to hate in the beginning..but slowly grow to love much later. The character deconstruction here is pretty well done and she was one of my favorite characters at the end. Loved her scenes with the FL.
One other issue I had though, is that they portrayed the ML’s brother as too much of a hero. I get that he suffered, but the guy killed 3 people. These people, while cowardly and selfish for framing the ML’s father- did not actually kill the father. If the ML’s brother had kidnapped them and tried to force a confession from them to exonerate their father- I would actually understand this action a bit more even if I wouldn’t excuse the kidnapping. But no...the ML’s brother outright kills all three. True, he went to jail for it but it doesn’t make me comfortable how the story continues to frame him as a hero by showing multiple heartwarming scenes of him and the ML bonding as brothers after this. These three victims did NOT kill their father. They deserve to be put to prison for framing him, maybe even smacked around...but they didn’t deserve to die. :/
Overall, Pinocchio is one of the best kdramas I have seen in awhile and it will probably take some time to find something that I can enjoy just as much. It’s a pretty good mix of everything...a romance that (while not as thrilling as Healer’s or Eternal Love’s) is just as amazing in it’s own way, a heartwarming family drama and a career based story involving journalism. A really nice package.
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I made an exception for this though, and I'm glad I did. Its Netflix title is 'Empresses in the Palace' but this is inaccurate. There is only one empress at the start of the story and several concubines of different rankings. It's about the difficult lives of women in the harem. It's about survival, backstabbing and making your way to the top. This was interesting enough to watch (I'm a huge Game of Thrones fan!) as I liked the palace intrigue and maneuverings. The main female character Zhen Huan, starts of as a clever innocent but ends up as a ruthless Empress Dowager - this is not a spoiler since the very first episode already shows her as an old woman. The story is told in flashbacks which may take away a bit of the suspense as you already know she's going to end up fine.
Also, while she does end up ruthless and cynical in the end of the drama, I don't think she ever acted cruelly or unfairly. She never did anyone wrong...unless it was in revenge for a wrong done to her.
The drama is successful in showing how the most manipulative, backstabbing person can actually have a sad backstory...and while you don't justify or make excuses for their actions...when you find out how and why they turned out like that... you actually feel sorry for them O.o It also shows the exact opposite story arc. It shows how characters who appear meek or kindly or honorable are actually cruel or cunning in reality.
Overall, I like it because of the strong female lead (Betty Sun/Sun Li has that Betty Davis thing going on with her eyes) and the good performances given by the entire cast. The costumes looked great, the palace looked grand and the story was fascinating yet depressing at the same time. Looking at these women's lives made me think how horrible it was amidst the grandeur and luxury. They were like pretty animals in cages. This kind of story really isn't my thing (hence the imperfect rating) but it's a really good drama and worth a shot if you want to see a historical based on Chinese dynasties and harems.
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I wanted to give this a higher rating because it is a good drama but I couldn't due to certain flaws.
- I found the heroine too stupid (even for drama land!); normally in these Asian dramas a lot of the female leads are depicted as naive and innocent. Eun Sung IS a likable heroine- she's cheerful, hardworking and resilient. But I have a personal limit as to how ignorant I am willing for my leads to be and unfortunately, Eun Sung went beyond it. Not only did she make the same mistake once or even twice (my limit) she made it around three or four times. It was frustrating for her to make the same mistakes, for these mistakes to blow up in her face, and for her not to learn a thing from the experience and just do it all over again. I wasn't sure what was wrong with her. Even the most naive person would not have made the same error. It made her mentally handicapped brother seem even more intelligent than her at times. I liked her overall, but her characterization was disappointing. If she had at least learned from her first few mistakes and shown some improvement, I would have forgiven her initial stupidity- I have a pretty high tolerance for erring characters who take awhile to grow into better people. I can be patient enough when these characters get better as the show goes on. But in most cases, Eun Sung was saved by plot armor or the characters around her were there to save her from her mistakes. I wasn't even expecting her to be this badass heroine (although I have my favorites for this type as well) just someone who got better after being exposed to harsh realities.
-Her dad was just as dumb as she was. I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree. It's funny how similar these characters are. Well meaning and kind but with no common sense or foresight.
-Her kid brother had only one purpose in the story. To get lost. I guess I can't consider this as a flaw since this is typical makjang. The actor playing the mentally handicapped Eun Woo does a very good job.
- Moon Chae Won is a much better actress than Hyo Joo IMHO, but the way her second female lead was written was a letdown. Since her character was one of the more interesting ones (being the daughter of a wicked witch isn't easy) I had higher expectations for her...I spent most of the drama wishing that Seung Mi would go from merely feeling guilty about what was happening to Eun Sung/Eun Woo, to taking an actual step in doing the right thing. But she never did. In fact, she takes a turn for the worse.. Seung Mi's characterization makes me think of how unfairly female characters are written at times. Often, when a story shows two men fighting for the affections of one woman, the man who loses out is still depicted as noble, good hearted and even willing to help out. But more often than not, a different approach is taken when it comes to two women fighting for one man. Back stabbing, dishonorable behavior (especially on the part of the second female lead/other woman)...while I am aware of the sexism in writing that brings about these differences...the fact that this sexism exists DOES NOT justify any of the resulting actions anyway. Knowing that Seung Mi was depicted unfairly DID NOT make her likeable all of a sudden for me. Nor did I excuse her behavior. True to form- second male lead Jun Se does not get the girl (as expected) but comparatively speaking, he still makes very different decisions at some point in the drama.
- racist comment in the very first episode. I wish they could remove this.
Despite all that, there were a lot of good things I loved about Brilliant Legacy. I normally don't like to watch dramas with more than 20 episodes but this one was enjoyable and fast paced. No boring or dragging moments. No slowing down of the plot midway. It's not everyday I am able to finish a 20 something drama in just a couple of days.
I think what I really loved about this was the relationship of the Grandmother character with the rest of the other characters. I just loved Granny. She was the boss and at the same time, she was what tied everything and everyone together. Brilliant Legacy, Shining Inheritance isn't just about the romance that develops between the leads- it's about how something (in this case, Granny's will/inheritance) brings people together and makes them better. Hwan (the male lead) becomes a much better person -not just because he falls in love with Eun Sung, but because he wants to prove to his grandmother that he is capable of caring for her legacy. He starts out as the most frustrating character at first (I wanted to strangle him) but later on, he goes through one of the most believable character developments I've seen. I wondered at first how on earth Eun Sung could choose him over Jun Se (played very well by Bae Soo Bin, who I know does a fantastic villain in Secret- it was wonderful to see him so good at playing good for once!) but by the end of the show I thought it all made sense. Hwan was probably my second favorite character, after Granny. The growth and realizations he went through were truly inspiring. They were not abrupt in that they did not seem like they came out of nowhere. The way he fell in love with Eun Sung and the good effect she had on his character was a natural progression of that.
The side characters were enjoyable to watch. The butler, Hwan's airheaded mother and sister and even the restaurant staff and manager were all endearing. As for the main villainess...Kim Mi Sook is really good playing the evil stepmother. She is caricature like but this is the norm for a lot of kdramas with villainesses OR villains. No double standards there. They are truly despicable and you love to hate them.
Overall, this was a fun watch with a lot of life lessons. I wouldn't watch it again, but I'm really glad I took the chance to get into something longer than I am used to.
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Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas
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Overall, I'm glad I did but it really wasn't as exciting or suspenseful as some of the reviews made it out to be. The first half of the series dragged and was quite boring. The second half picked up and got better. I wouldn't say it wasn't worth the watch and there were things I liked about it. But I can't give it a much higher score due to the 1) slow, dragging pace of practically half the show and 2) there is a glaring plot hole that stretches my suspension of disbelief a little too much. Let's say that in these type of shows, the police/authorities are usually portrayed as somewhat inept in order for the leads shine in the detective/issue solving. In this case, the error was over the top- I couldn't even imagine a rookie cop making such a mistake. I know they wrote it this way so that the leads could have a needed showdown with the antagonist but I had to take away major points since the flaw is inexcusable.
There are good things about White Christmas. All of the teen leads did a good job with the acting and were able to potray the differences in their characters, as well as represent their character issues well. I also liked how each of them (with the exception of Cho Chi Hoon/Cho Ji Hoon) got some character arc focus at some point in the drama. Park Mo Yul was clearly the MVP, but each of them had their moment to 'shine' or something like that. Their interactions with each other, and with the adult characters, were the highlights of the show for me.
I think White Christmas was trying to achieve something unique with the crime/mystery genre but I'm not sure if it succeeded. I will say that it had significant differences compared to the run of the mill whodunnit murder mystery, police procedural or even Battle Royal/Hunger Games type of show where the leads are pit against each other...but did those differences amount to a cohesive plot where all loose ends are tied up in a way that is credible? I'm not so sure. The drama goes on and on about whether or not 'monsters are made or born?' but it doesn't really resolve it (or even leave an open ended question) in a way that made sense.
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Signal may not be the best murder mystery series but it is certainly one of my favorites. What's more, it manages to add a supernatural element where characters from the past and present communicate to solve crimes, which gives things a unique twist. I undersand this sort of thing has been done before (see Hollywood movie "Frequency") but Signal ups the ante, makes the theme all its own and gives it a Korean flavor that I can't help but applaud the writer for putting it all together.
The experience is like watching a crime drama, with mystery after mystery being solved by veteran detective Cho So Yun (refreshingly strong but vulnerable- can't help but compare her with the inefficient female counterpart from Galileo) and profiler Park Hae Young, with the help of a character from the past - detective Lee Jae Han (who is now one of my favorite kdrama characters); the result is fun, exciting and a bit tragic.
The series does a good job of letting you know when the scenes are from modern time vs. past time and the scenes from the late 80's and early 90's looked genuine and authentic. I wouldn't say that Signal is a scary show, but it certainly had its fair share of atmospheric, eerie moments. All the characters had good chemistry and I liked every member working in the 'unresolved cases' crime unit. The main villain was despicable but I find that kdramas do a good job in making you hate the villains/antagonists. This one was no different in that I wanted to reach out and slap him in the face, repeatedly.
My only complaint was that there were times when both Park Hae Young and (to a lesser extent) Cho So Yun would take too long to react to a shocking piece of news when they'd hear it. It would usually happen at a suspensful moment when it was critical for them to react quickly, so it got on my nerves a bit since I was worried for their characters at those times! This wasn't a deal breaker for me, and I thing Signals advantages far outweigh whatever flaws it has. I think the difference between asian crime drama (using Signal here as the reference point) and the American/English ones I've seen is that the former tends to be overemotional. It works in context though, and I like the fact that I know I'm watching a korean melodrama* as well as a murder mystery.
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This review may contain spoilers
*heavy spoilers below!There is no question that the ML’s actions (big reveal in episode 10) were inexcusable. The problem I had with it though, is that it seemed extremely out of character for him to do what he did. Why on earth would someone like him go to such lengths when he could have just introduced himself and maybe asked her out? He was not written as a shy person. He was confident, authoritative go-getter businessman type of person. He was written as a pretty tough player in the business world. The plot didn’t adequately explain why this character, who had pretty much everything (even women throwing themselves at his feet) would suddenly act like the villain of the drama. The only conclusion I can make is that it was a stupid plot point to add unwanted angst.
I have seen this sort of thing before. In one movie whose name I forget and in another drama (Love Now)... only in the latter the stupid trick is done by the FL’s ‘loving family’ and the plot treats it as a joke. A pretty horrible joke.
To be fair, the plot in this one does NOT excuse the MLs actions. Pretty much every character (including his biased best friend) calls him out and even beats him up for it. The FL also does not take it sitting down and outright leaves him. I don’t think it was right or realistic for her to take him back but I also felt that it was unrealistic for him to act the way he did in the first place. He was pretty much in love with her throughout the entire thing. If you remove episodes 10-13, his behavior is pretty consistent throughout. I did like how it took awhile for the FL to forgive him, and that when she decided to, it was her own choice and she was not forced into it.
Other than that, this is pretty much your standard, run of the mill romcom. I think the first half is stronger than the second but they somehow had to extend to 20 episodes to tie up lose ends and characters. This drama also has the ‘brother vs evil brother’ trope that I have seen in another drama.
What did I like here? I actually like the way the ML looks at the FL. Also, some of the skinship moments were good (if only they removed eps 10-13) and they actually had chemistry. They also included the dreaded amnesia trope which I also hate...but surprisingly, I found the FL’s actions (including the SML’s) hilarious during this time.
I also like the FL’s ‘bromance’ with the SML. I am not sure I can use this word because she’s a woman but I find it refreshing when men and women can be depicted as really good friends without anything else added. Bromance doesn’t have to be just for guys lol.
I don’t recommend this for impressionable younger viewers. Older viewers who like a devoted ML will be able to assess this better, I think. They may either like or hate it. For me, it was nothing special but I did like some parts of it. At the end of the day we have to make our own decisions about what to watch and what we think of them.
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This review may contain spoilers
---Warning: SPOILERS---I’ve watched a sageuk drama before but this is the first one I’ve seen that effortlessly combines comedy, fantasy and transmigration. The main thing I liked about Mr. Queen was how funny it was. Shin Hye Sun played the FL and she was really good in the role. She was able to act like two different characters, made every one of her scenes a delight to watch and basically carried the whole drama on her shoulders. The other characters were pretty entertaining, too. There were many funny side characters here (the ladies in waiting, the cook, the king’s friends, etc) and their interactions with each other and especially with the FL were adorable! Mr. Queen actually makes crying scenes pretty funny. I also enjoyed watching the scenes where the FL would cook something new or invent something for the kitchen. It reminded a bit of Dae Jang Gum.
I think I would’ve rated this higher if not for the romance and political intrigue.
The ML (King Cheoljong) and the FL (“Mr. Queen”) had some cute scenes together but it was clear from the start that it was Bong Hwan’s (the chef who transmigrated) personality the king fell in love with, not So Yong’s. Would the king have fallen in love with Bong Hwan if he was in his original body? We don’t know. Would the king have fallen in love with So Yong if Bong Hwan didn’t take over her body in the first place? Probably not. So why is it that, at the very end of the drama, he didn’t seem to notice the extreme change in personality when Bong Hwan left? They all acted like it was nothing.
I am not against the idea of Bong Hwan ending up with a modern day Cheoljong, or letting him stay in So Yong’s body but I wanted the writers to make his feelings and the changes he went through more understandable. Was he actually bi and in denial, only to have the experience make him finally accept who he was? The show should’ve indicated it before he body swapped. Was he actually in love with Cheoljong at the end or did he just care about him because of the baby and because he had to, given the circumstances he was forced into? It was not his choice to enter So Yong’s body, after all. In the beginning of the drama, he had a bit of a double standard where he hated the idea of So Yong in his body flirting with guys, but it was perfectly okay for him in her body to flirt with the court ladies. I got the impression that he changed in the end but I wasn’t sure how.
Also, why exactly did So Yong love the king? They had that moment by the well when they were kids but he was mean to her after that. Yes, he had good reasons but the point is, she didn’t know that…so why did she care so much for him before she entered the palace and became queen? Now, I don’t care what trope a story has, whether it’s love at first sight, slow burn or enemies to whatever…I just want it to be believable.
Cheoljong himself was supposedly love with Hwa Jin at first but when another woman with a ‘cooler personality’ came along, it was all over for her. Now, I don’t believe that every character should end up with who they start with, but I wish they didn’t play up his loving Hwa Jin so much to the point he’d sacrifice his life for her, because it makes him seem really flakey.
The political parts were also a let down. The retaking of the palace and throne at the end should have been on a bigger scale ala Nirvana in Fire. I was also disappointed when Cheoljeong just inexplicably left Mr. Queen alone and defenseless. And why did Byeong In (one of the second male leads) suddenly turn evil…only to turn good again? It would’ve made sense if he were an ass like Gaston but he wasn’t. Was he bipolar?
There were just too many why's for me, so I just enjoyed this for the comedy and the performances.
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I would say that pretty much all the cast members did well with their roles and that the chemistry between the main couple was believable, despite their rocky start. I wasn't sure how exactly the ML could ever love the FL, given the context of how they met...but somehow they convinced me once it was over. The last episode had some of the cutest romantic scenes in drama- it was a complete 180 degree change from all the hostility and antagonism they showed each other in the earlier episodes.
But there were several things which prevented me from giving this a higher score, despite the enjoyment I got out of watching it.
When penning a hate-to-love scenario between characters, it's hardly a good idea to rush the situation and I'm glad they did not do it here. My personal opinion is that - with this sort of thing, it works best to have the relationship develop from dislike, to tolerance, to friendship, then finally to love. And the starting point for the change in the relationship should be midway in the drama. Kluen Cheewit does this well -the island scenes in episode 7/8 are the most exciting ones and they showcase the MLs vulnerability, and the FLs empathy towards him in a perfect way. The problem is that after this turning point, something else happens in the end of episode 11 that breaks down the trust between them (all over again! -_-) where the sweet moments built up from 9-11 turns into a type of love/hate in 11-12. Granted, there is good tension between them (a lot of sexy scenes that showcase their good chemistry) in 11-12, the kind of going back and forth did not flow well, IMHO. Why not just have it so that the sweet moments in 9-11 are switched with 11-12? That way, the development from hate to love would progress more naturally.
The way it was written seemed like they were back to square one and having to start over again. Given that the drama only has a short time frame of 15 episodes made it a bit of a mess. It was only in the very LAST episode where all the misunderstandings were cleared and the ML and FL finally got together...because episodes 13-14 were wasted on secondary characters. And while it's okay to develop a romance between the supporting cast, it should never affect the one between the main couple and that's exactly what happened here. Instead of the ML and FL reconciling by episode 13 and giving us viewers (at the very least) the last three episodes to witness them actually be a couple...we are left with only one episode to witness their happiness. Granted, episode 15 is one of my favorites, the thought that we could have had so much more scenes between the main leads and instead, are force-fed with the secondary romance between annoying secondary leads, was a disappointment.
At the end, I am left with a drama that I enjoyed in parts. I loved Kluen Cheewit for its amazing female lead/character, the good acting (from all the cast members) and for the chemistry between the main couple. Would I recommend this to a fan? Sure, if they were into melodrama and didn't mind all the angst. The genre itself is a hit or miss for most people. This one is flawed, but it's one of the better ones of its kind. I just kind of wish we had more of those squee worthy moments to make up for the turmoil in the earlier episodes.
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This review may contain spoilers
***SPOILERS***I thought this wasn’t a bad sci-fi spin-off, but one’s liking of it would depend on how much he/she compared it to the anime…which is kind of inevitable if they watched both. The special effects and fight scenes here are entertaining enough, even if not Hollywood level. They basically took the premise from the anime and explored what would have happened to an entirely different set of characters in a different country. One good point of this version is that it is very female-centric. The main alien character Heidi was strong and interesting. The main antagonist Joon Kyung could be frustrating at times but surprisingly made the right decisions when needed- which showed that she experienced some kind of growth and wasn’t as stubborn in her beliefs as to be close minded or inflexible. It also explored themes outside the anime, not just of how aliens could be good, but of how people could be just as evil and corrupt.
One thing that I preferred in the anime were the fight scenes, which had better choreography and more tension. I felt like you could sense the danger for the main character Shinichi Izumi more when he encountered one of the parasite hosts and had to fight it out. They were able to explain the traits (advantages and disadvantages) of each host better depending on how he/she was taken over.
Also, I preferred how, in the anime, Shinichi got stronger as a person and grew through his interactions with ‘Migi’ the parasite. In the live action Korean adaptation, the main host Soo In was dormant when Heidi was awake, and vice versa. So they didn’t get to interact directly or learn from each other on the same level. I don’t have a problem with shy characters like Soo In, but for this kind of show, I kind of wished that she grew in bravery or confidence just a little, much like her male counterpart.
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This review may contain spoilers
Short, sweet and easy to watch. All the characters are likable here and so are the relationships. The male lead Tae Moo and female lead Ha Ri have this adorable chemistry and I like how both of them are not just foodies but also work in the food industry...the parts where they would come up with fusion recipes for Korean cuisine, from the brainstorming to the food tasting, were pretty entertaining. The sismance between Ha Ri and her best friend Young Seon, the second female lead, was also another highlight- they had a great friendship and a lot of hilarious* scenes together.
It’s funny how this show manages to be self-aware and poke fun at itself. The grandpa character actually watches a drama called Be Brave Shin Gumi which is filled with all these rom-com/kdrama cliches and tropes, and then later on a lot of the events in that drama would happen to the characters outside* the show…only that they would handle themselves a lot better than expected.
The characters and relationships aren’t perfect but they are very communicative and understanding of each other. Ha Ri starts off with a false identity in the beginning and Tae Moo is naturally very upset when he finds out, but she apologizes to him without any hesitation. Tae Moo unreasonably asks his assistant Seung Hoon (the second male lead) to go an a blind date when the latter is already dating Young Seon…but when realizing his mistake, Tae Moo not only apologizes to Seung Hoon, but to the both of them.
The only things I didn’t like were how the grandpa became antagonistic towards the main couple when he found out about them, because I was expecting him to go against the stereotype (given how he criticized Be Brave Shin Gumi!) but he disappointingly didn’t - at least, not until the very end. The second male lead Seung Hoon was also a bit weak willed and inconsistent, although his relationship with Young Seon works out later. A third party comes in between them in some of the episodes but refreshingly, she also turns out to be a likable and supportive character.
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The male lead (Pha) is kidnapped when he is a child and forced to live as a bandit. When he tries to be different and educate himself, he is punished and one of the people closest to him is violently killed. From that point on, he doesn’t really go against his evil stepfather (Seua Phan, the head bandit) anymore. In fact, his kidnapping of the female lead (Nampeung) is basically him carrying out orders. Pha is a pretty good fighter and even has superpowers…but unfortunately, he cannot, and does not go against the established power hierarchy in his ‘bandit village’; he doesn’t go against or speak against his evil stepfather until the very end of the series. Seua Phan is the most powerful character here because he dabbles in dark magic…it’s what he uses to keep the village hidden from the police, to teleport and to even to win a fight. I’m not sure why, for all his powers, he couldn’t have the bullet wound in his leg cured, but I let that slide.I get that a traumatic experience can affect one for life, but it’s normal to hope that that the main heroes and heroines of these stories can somehow overcome and conquer them. At some point much later, Pha indicates that he wants to work with the police, but he doesn’t really do much to bring it about. Despite the fact that Nampeung is forced to be there against her will, she still falls in love with him, but she doesn’t have much choice- he is after all, one of the few good men left in that place and doesn’t touch her or force her to do anything even though he pretends (has to pretend) to. It is disturbing that, if a woman in that village is unmarried/unclaimed, she is sold off to rival gangs and treated like an object.
The hero and heroine do get along and like each other for the most part, but there were times they had these frustrating conflicts because once Nampeung realized that Pha was the same as her (meaning, forced into the same situation as her) she would try to convince him that they could escape, but he simply wouldn't hear of it.
He took care of the people under him but his delusion of being a caring Robin Hood protecting his people forever and ever, was a false one. The people under him may have been safe, but the ones under his evil stepbrother and stepfather certainly weren’t. It took a lot of convincing from his dumbest, most annoying underling that he couldn't live like that forever that finally made him relent, reunite the heroine with her parents and try to work with the police and surrender.
There were things that I liked in this drama. The main couple were brought together in an objectionable way, but they got along and had a good relationship for the most part. The actors playing them (Mike and Mookda) had a good and natural chemistry. Mike does well in these physical, macho roles whereas Mookda is very charismatic, spirited and reminded me a lot of a Disney princess. There was a lot of good sismance, too. I like Nampeung’s friendship’s with Namking and Phikun.
This is one of the few dramas were I grew to like the female antagonist. The only thing I didn’t like about Grachao was how she tried to attack Nampeung…but other than that, I really felt sorry for her. She suffered a lot and had no one to protect her. It’s actually a little unbelievable that she didn’t die after all that happened, but I’m glad the story developed her further and gave her a happy ending.
The special effects and fight choreography weren’t much (think early 1990s standards) but they were entertaining and fast paced. I like how they incorporated powers and a bit of Thai folklore here and there. The forest ‘monsters/zombies’ were well rendered and they reminded me of the mythical creatures in a lot of SouthEast Asian tales.
The second male lead (Lieutenant Praothep) started out as very useless but turned out to be a strong character.
The story had a lot of potential. If I were to rewrite it, I would make it so that both Pha and Nampung were undercover and worked together instead of Pha trying to do everything by himself and being very uncommunicative and untrusting of everyone.
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Overall, this was a pretty entertaining watch. I thought it would be just another Squid Game or Battle Royal knock off, but it wasn't. What I found interesting was that even if there were many similarities between these shows, Alice in Borderland was definitely its own thing. I loved the puzzle games and the variety of challenges; I am not a gamer and I don’t play cards but they explained the rules in a way that could be understood by anyone. The show also used different areas of an abandoned cityscape very effectively for its background. It was refreshing how the game backgrounds would switch from an abandoned building to a hotel to even a beach resort.
The male lead was pretty smart and capable; it was a lot of fun watching him come up with last minute solutions when it seemed that he would lose. Despite being a very good and pure character, he also knew how to trick people, which came as a surprise but very handy for survival. At first, I didn’t like how he seemed to be the only smart character but it turned out that there were other characters (like the mysterious Chisaya) who were just as intelligent and could come up with their own ways to win.
I heard somewhere that the female characters were shallow in comparison but I didn’t think so. All FLs here were very strong, likable and had different capabilities. The parallels between the main FL Usagi and the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland was represented well, in that they made her a mountain climber who was very good at parkour; she also provided a very good motivation for the ML. Kuina, who gave the initial impression of being a beach bum, turned out to be a very capable fighter while Ann was not just the Mad Hatter's henchman but an intelligent forensic researcher.
One of the things I didn’t like is how the characters would sometimes have these overly long, philosophical discussions which really didn’t serve any purpose, It made some of the episodes (and the game that was ongoing) boring. I liked the challenge with the King of Clubs for example, but it could have been more exciting if they trimmed down these overly long conversations between ML Arisu and the king. I am not sure why they did it, it was as if they were trying to make the plot deeper than it had to be and I felt it was unnecessary.
Another thing is that, while I don’t mind the violence, the level of injuries the characters got (particularly in the last episode) was too much that I really could not understand how they survived. While I am happy that they did make it, it seemed impossible, given how brutal the fight scene was.
I am also not sure about the final challenge with the Queen of Hearts and how she was able to make the ML lose hope at first. Even at the very end, I wasn’t sure what the whole point of Borderland was…was it created to punish people who did wrong things in the real world? Two seasons have already passed but many important points weren't cleared yet. I heard there was going to be a third season but to be honest, I kind of worry that they will stretch the plot out too much and ruin it. It was exciting to see the joker card at the very end but there is a danger of ruining a good thing when it takes too long to come up with a proper conclusion.
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The English title for this drama is misleading. The male lead is not a bad person; it just so happens that the female lead’s family disapproves of him because of his background/status. This is basically a reverse Cinderella story with a poor ML and rich FL and a lot of the conflict stems from it. That said, this is a melodrama, so it has the usual tropes and makjang elements one can expect; I only recommend this if one likes watching this type of show in the first place.It is pretty good for its genre. The best thing about this is the chemistry between the ML and FL, which is very intense and heartfelt. It’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time and it doesn’t matter whether the ML or FL are having a romantic moment or a scene of heightened conflict. Mario and Yaya really sold it; they got along so well that there were plenty of times when they didn’t even seem to be acting. They were very natural when they were together.
I am not surprised about Yaya’s performance since I’m familiar with her work. In her last melo lakorn, she efficiently played a very fierce and strong FL. In Keu Teur, her character is gentler and more subdued, which also works since this means that she gets to play a different type of role. She really nailed the role of Saikhim, a character who loves her father in spite of the fact that he bullied her since childhood. Saikhim comes from a wealthy, but very toxic family and yet she doesn’t lose her goodness throughout. Yaya does facial expressions very well; one example is the scene in the beginning of the second episode where the ML’s ex discovers them together in the garage and the FL tries to flee. FL doesn’t say anything at all in this scene but you can feel her panic just looking at her face.
Mario was a pleasant surprise. It’s the first time I’ve watched him and he plays a very strong, devoted and yet vulnerable ML. At first, I thought he was too baby faced to play this character but he was very fierce when defending himself and going against other characters like the FL’s dad or even his evil ‘stepmom.’ The circumstances of his life put him at a disadvantage many times and yet he was no pushover. I love how he could speak out for himself, was single minded and not wishy washy about the FL and also that he was generous about helping people.
Another thing I really liked was that, unlike in previous dramas, the main misunderstanding between the leads was cleared up way before the last episode. Normally, the writers drag it out until the very last (or second to the last) episode, so the viewers only get to see good moments between the leads at the finale. Not so here. It was a very good decision to clear up the misunderstanding several episodes before the show ended and what’s more- I really liked how, even if the ML came back for revenge, it never went out of line (this is one of the few shows where he is actually justified and only acted out of self defense); also, it was clear that he still loved FL even before* the misunderstanding was cleared, which is another thing I liked.
There are only two flaws that bothered me. One is that both the FL and ML are too forgiving. The FL’s father’s actions were inexcusable; even if he supposedly turned good at the end, it was a little unbelievable. The FL’s friend (the second FL) did something very wrong which led to the leads separating. I could understand why she did it and liked her in general, but the way she looked down on the ML’s background was a bit hypocritical and snobbish, given that she also came from the same humble origins. It’s a good thing she redeemed herself later.
The character who bothered me the most was the ML’s friend, Khem. What he did to land the ML in jail was completely unforgivable. It frustrated me a lot to see him (and everyone else) brush this off at the end and worse, to see him angry at the FL’s father and act like he had no part in what happened to the ML.
There is also a very unpleasant reveal about one of the ML’s relationships at the end that was very uncomfortable and may turn off many viewers, but I saw the ML as a victim in there and not at fault for what happened.
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Most of the Thai dramas I watch are spicy melodramas. Every now and then, I find something I enjoy that makes an impression on me, such as Kluen Cheewit. I wouldn't list The Girl from Nowhere as one of my favorites, but this is definitely one of the lakorns I like because I feel that the over-the-top behavior of the characters actually works here. I don't think the stories are meant to be realistic but that they are supposed to show an exaggerated version of human depravity in extreme situations. Something about the atmosphere in these stories, along with the main character, reminded me of a horror manga by Junji Ito. I thought Nanno was very charismatic and that the actress playing her (Chicha Amatayakul) was very entertaining. She reminded me a little bit of the Joker or Harley Quinn, only that her character mostly toys with those who are in the side of wrong. I don't think she's meant to be a good character either, but maybe a chaotic neutral.
I also like how the cast of supporting characters, from Claudia Chakrabandhu (Thank You Teacher) to Teeradon Supapunpinyo (Pregnant), performed well to the point that I didn't mind when Nanno was offscreen. Another thing that worked in this type of drama is that each episode had a different story and sometimes one story would take up two or three episodes, so they didn't have to be watched in order. The whole experience for me was like watching a horror anthology comic come to life and I don't even like horror.
There were certain plot points which dragged some of the stories down a notch. I liked Wonderwall for instance, but I could easily find a solution to the problem which didn't involve one of the characters wishing everything away. Some episodes in the second season were also boring and repetitive. Overall, the first season seemed better than the second...although there were some good episodes in the latter, like Minnie and the Four Bodies. I don't mind the introduction of Yuri as a rival for Nanno in the second season but I got kind of annoyed that it had to end in a cliff hanger!
Another thing I dislike is the series' old-fashioned attitude towards cheating in relationships. I felt that the writing would often blame the women involved but put the guy-in-between (the one who actually cheated) on a pedestal. There were some situations, like in the BFF episode- where a guy would send flowers to two girls at the same time and in the same room (his girlfriend and the girl he was cheating with), but the story seemed to blame the women involved without questioning his behavior.
Other than that, I think this is one of the better lakorns. I feel pleasantly surprised that Thailand decided to make something like this because I feel that Japan ought to be the one doing it, given all the content they have in their manga to base it on.
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