Jasmine
USA
I came for a romance and that's what I got with Doctors. I think many expected it to also be a great medical drama on top of the romance. Honestly, you can take them out of a hospital setting and the story wouldn't be that different.
I don't think the drama was as bad as many made it out to be but yes, plot-wise the story wasn't strong. It had a promising beginning with the potential for the story to really branch out well, especially with the revenge plot. In that area, the story wavered: it wasn't vengeful enough to go the revenge route, and it wasn't medical enough to create a compelling medical suspense drama.
I loved the cast though. Fun cast? Check. Eye candy? Huge check. Park Shin Hye as Hye Jung was such a fiercely awesome with her martial arts in the beginning and that was what attracted me. Unfortunately, it did die down as the drama went on but she still had her uniquely strong willed spirit that never gave up. Personally, I just didn't completely feel PSH and KRW's chemistry but not because of their past teacher-student relationship. If anything, I felt like even after they are both doctors, Ji Hong still cared for Hye Jung and looked out for her, as a teacher, more than lovers. Thankfully, the chemistry did get more convincing near the end but don't expect passionate sparks. Nonetheless, they were still adorable together and PSH's kissing scenes were well-done!
The supporting cast was hilarious, the residents, the nurses, Soon Hee, etc: everyone just made Doctors a lot of fun to watch! As I said earlier, the revenge/hospital politics plot fell flat so that made Doctors not as suspenseful as it could have been and it took up a lot of time with little progression between episodes.
I'm a little disappointed with Yoon Gyun Sang's storyline though- they could've done so much more with him! And Lee Sung Kyung, I actually really enjoyed her character, she came a long way and had tremendous character growth.
Doctors did follow a episodic patient storyline (well more like every 2 episodes) and some of the patient stories were in fact really heart breaking to watch, and wasn't filler. Nam Gung Min's cameo stood out to me the most as the single dad and that sub-plot had me in tears. So, as a whole I liked the interweaving main plot with patient sub-plot. Some of them even taught the main characters a lesson that moved the plot forward in the right direction.
The OST did its job in the emotional scenes but they didn't stand out to me that much-some songs felt a bit overplayed at times.
I don't think I would re-watch this as a whole. I did go back to some scenes though so that counts right?
I recommend this drama if you want to watch a fluffy, sometimes heart-warming romance drama with a dose of comedic relief and camaraderie from the rest of the hospital cast members, with some side effects of annoyance from the slow revenge plot progression.
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Just as a note, all the leads in this drama are completely new to me except for Kim Mi Kyung (loved her in Healer and here she is a completely different character) I like the characters so much. They feel like real people I would really meet in life. I admire Seo Hyun Jin's character, our Oh Hae Young. She has so much tenacity and willingness to throw herself out there, both in her wrecked love life and difficult work life. Her humorous antics are also hilarious. She gave this drama life. Of course, Eric was stellar at portraying his brooding character that is actually warm inside but SHJ's multifaceted character and her way of portraying our OHY is what made this drama. From being down in the dumps to easily happy, SHJ acting as our OHY, made me fall for this drama.
On the surface, the plot isn't really that new but DK and our OHY's relationship is what makes this drama what it is, regardless of the flaws because that's a part of it as well. Family love, dealing with abandonment, self-exploring, and more are all something this drama touches on and deal with well. Sometimes I hate Do Kyeong so much for his selfish actions, but then I can't help but love him later on again. Aiya, basically he made me a mess of emotions. Thanks Eric. And yet, I find myself rooting for them despite Do Kyeoung's mistakes, despite all he has done. It's amazing what some raw, sizzling chemistry can do.
Speaking of the chemistry..wow, just wow. For their relationship, it isn't just the feels-it's completely heartbreakingly realistic. Whether it be an ecstatically happy scene or an agonizing, tearful scene that is making me bawl- it all hurts and in a good way. Often times, I feel like I'm on a train that will eventually crash. I know that and yet I keep watching anyways even though it hurts so much. Their tug and pull relationship was overwhelmingly hard to watch, seriously, and every time they're together, the charged atmosphere and tension between them is so tangible. They shouldn't even be together given they need to heal themselves and get the secrets out of the way first, but regardless of all that, I still want to root for the impossible to turn into the possible. I have to give it to the writer for making me feel all these emotions.
On a completely superficial side note, I love Eric's voice. I love how sound was incorporated in this drama. So ingenious, and so essential to the story. The importance of sound, emphasized through Do Kyeong's job, is beautifully expressed and creates some awesome scenes with gorgeous cinematography to top it off.
I know some viewers were in a controversy about the 'cop out'. In all honestly, when it happened, I sighed in relief. Up to then, I couldn't completely justify rooting for the OTP because it seemed wrong, in a way.
Now, side characters. If anything, I feel like the office scenes were too long, as well the drunken scenes. Less is really more. Bromance is serious in this drama. I loved it so much. The duckling squad always has DK's back no matter what. In terms of the other storylines, I really liked them. No character seemed one-dimensional; for the most part, all the characters had purpose and was fleshed out, and given a chance for redemption, to have a fresh start if they chose to take it. I appreciated that the second leads weren't purely vindictive. Circumstance made them who they are and maybe some incorrect choices took them on their path. So in that sense, I liked all the characters. Even for those that I didn't like, I didn't want them gone from this drama either because it didn't feel justified. In their own way, they added to the drama.
The songs are so appropriately fitting to the drama. Like the theme of this drama, the songs (sound) perfectly complement each and every scene. AOHY really made me fully appreciate the importance of sound (and sound directors) in dramas to enhance the whole drama experience and just in everyday life in general as well. I love this whole soundtrack- every single song! If I have to choose one, though, it's definitely 'If it is you' by Jung Seung-Hwan.
If there is one themeI learned from this drama, it is: We should live life to the fullest; pride really isn't everything. If you don't try throwing yourself out there, you might never be reciprocated. If you don't give, why do you expect to receive?
I recommend if...
-you want to see some fireworks chemistry
-you want to see some of the best kiss scenes I've ever seen in a drama
-you're ok with lots of revenge and raw, unfiltered emotion
-you like hardcore bromance and heartwarming love between family
-you're a huge romance lover (like me!) and wants to see something different and surprisingly new
If you're still on the fence about whether to watch this or not, just watch it! Don't be afraid of throwing yourself out there! (Did you get the pun? LOL) Okay, seriously, give it 4 episodes then decide whether you like it or not.
This drama has so much heart, so much depth, and just so much love. In the end, the raw emotion this drama provokes as a whole overrides the flaws this drama did have. I love you, show, and you'll stay in a heart for a while!
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At the heart of it, 'I Remember You' is about healing from long abused wounds. Does being a psychopath equal being a murderer and vice versa? Not necessarily and that's what I meant by saying this drama wades in a morally gray area. The vibe of the drama as a whole is: eerie. That's the best word to describe it. Every dialogue between the characters has multitudes of layered complexity and meaning behind the seemingly harmless, lighthearted words. Some of the best cryptic scripts I have ever seen in a drama. It's all due to Seo In Guk and Park Bo Gum since they both did a splendid job of emoting those emotions.
I genuinely enjoyed the low-key romance. Lee Hyun and Cha Ji An have an unbreakable connection between them. They start out disliking each other of course, but more out of suspicion than anything. Their relationship is organic, they first become tentative acquaintances, then co-workers, then friends, then finally lovers. It's a relationship that's built on trust and understanding, and it culminated with each episode, with each situation that allowed them to get to know one another deeper. They didn't need passionate sparks for it to convince me. Their slow-burning connection felt sincere and each simple gesture, like a hug, was very telling of their chemistry.
Jang Na Ra really sold me on her character. I just loved Cha Ji An; her fierceness and unshakable spirit were what made Ji An stand out.I love it when the heroine can stand her own and also has the ability to save the hero, both physically and emotionally.
The second romance, well bromance, between brothers Lee Hyun and Min was done so well: from their childhood, to their adult life, to their eventual reconciliation, it was all built up wonderfully. I had chills then tears then chills then tears, and repeat with the Lee Hyun and Min scenes. The bromance just had so much emotional baggage that I hurt for them so much. I want to mention the wolf story that was mentioned in the drama. It talks of an old Cherokee legend about two wolves inside of you, evil and good. Do you feed the good or evil wolf? It's your choice, you don't have a pre-destined fate.
The writer did a wonderful job of connecting each case with the main story. In fact, they all fit in seamlessly so it didn't feel like a case per episode type of drama.
OST fit the scenes wonderfully, especially Remember by Dear Cloud. The lyrics captured the bromance perfectly.
I highly recommend this drama. I recommend it even more if you want to take a dive into an exploration of the human psyche, layered with some meaningful romance, and a heartbreaking bromance. "I Remember You' is a heavy drama that works your brain (and your heart) because it goes deeply into sensitive topics like abuse, abandonment, and murder. It isn't an easy watch by any means but it really made me contemplate on what our society as a whole.
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The drama also keeps us engaged as if we're in the drama along with the characters by revealing things to us at the same time as when the characters find out themselves. The story deals with many complicated societal and emotional issues like having to deal with traditional parents, parents that abandoned their children, the list goes on. Even with all the issues, the plot feels concise and not too draggy or too rushed. This drama is extremely realistic and faces the issues head on, nothing held back, and nothing is sugar coated.
Chris Wu has an overwhelming stage presence. Whenever he's on the screen, he steals it effortlessly. His acting ability is phenomenal, and it just keeps getting better, drama after drama. His character, initially very stubborn and seemingly harsh, warms up to become vulnerable, gentle, and just a sweetheart to the female lead Xiao En (Huang Pei Jia). They never kissed (skinship :/) but their romance was so touching to watch. The supporting characters were all there for a reason. The growth of all of them was amazing to see and a dramatic change from the beginning. I loved seeing them overcome their differences and eventually become a family within their funeral parlor.
Music didn't stand out to me which is why the score isn't that high. The theme song is pretty fitting to the overall theme (lyrics-wise) the drama is trying to convey though.
I couldn't give the drama a full score because some of the clients' cases felt cut off and the transitions between the episodes weren't the best. Nevertheless, as someone who usually likes rom-coms, this drama still managed to capture my heart in the weirdest ways possible! I resorted to reading the Chinese subtitles because I don't understand the Hakka dialect. If you're in the mood for crying and laughing simultaneously, don't miss out on this meaningful drama. (9/9.25)
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I really liked all the relationships portrayed in the drama. So there are four couples. My favorite one was Mao Mao (Guo Shu Yao) and Dao Yuan (Lego Lee). I really like the reunited love storylines so of course I thought their high school flashbacks were just completely adorable. No, I haven't watched In a Good Way yet because I heard about the open ending and it's set in the 90's so I don't know how great Liu Chuan is so that can't influence my view on this drama. Anyways, I'm probably biased because of Lego but I really liked his character, regardless of the mistakes he made because it was very human. Their chemistry was spectacular, in my opinion. They look compatible and their interactions were so natural on screen. The main couple, Yi Fen and Qi Feng are pretty cute too. I liked the journey they experienced together more than their romance because their romance was kind of bland. The other two couples were cute and definitely added to the overall cuteness of the drama. The confessions, dates, and make-up scenes were all really creative, even for dramaland and I loved that. And as usual, there is a disapproving mother, and supportive parents, so be prepared for that. And did I mention James Wen played a small part here? I was so excited when he showed up because he was phenomenal in the drama, The Fierce Wife and he's just an awesome actor.
Aside from the romance, I loved their sisterhood. The four of them are like sisters and they always support each other and work through fights. I loved their friendship and how it contributed to the drama overall. The journey to reach their dreams did seem more like a side note than the main theme, which is how it's supposed to be. Nevertheless, this drama did portray the struggles of work, and materialistic values very well. It showed me the hardships of going out into society and how different people face those challenges. Yes, some of the follow your dream speeches were very cliche and corny but that's what this drama is about! I think they were appropriate and not overdone at all.
Music was great! Love the OST and I already downloaded them all. There were a few emotional songs that made me teary-eyed in combination with the scene. I especially love Missing You All the Time by Vianz & Shan, which is beautifully sung and I Want You by Dom. T, which is super catchy and a fun beat.
On a side note, one big reason why I fell in love with this drama was because I could identify with Mao Mao. In a way, I saw myself in her and I believe that for many drama viewers out there, being able to identify with a character is a huge aspect in starting to become emotionally attached to a drama. I could relate with her stubbornness and her resilience in always being the emotionally stronger one.
Overall, I already re-watched almost all the Mao Mao+Dao Yuan scenes so the re-watch value is high! I loved this drama and marathoned all of it in a week so I think I would re-watch it sometime in the future. I don't know how great Lego was in In a Good Way yet but I watched this first because I didn't want his performance there to influence me on what could have been a great drama. And Aim High was really a great drama! In the end, I definitely recommend this drama for those drama fans out there that like a lot of romance, like me! (9.75/9.25)
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The plot was just all over the place. The premise was very promising and different from drama norms. I wanted to see the mafia storyline play a big part. Not only did the drama water down the mafia, it wasn't really utilized consistently through out the story. When it was used, it felt extremely unrealistic.
The saving grace was definitely the actors. I appreciated how the director/writer wanted to show how love can surpass society expectations and gender restrictions. Baron and Megan's chemistry was definitely capable of portraying their love. Like wow, seriously off the charts sparks flying between them. And the make out scenes in this drama are some of the most intense I've ever seen in a drama. Definitely very hot and heavy for drama level. However...the choppiness of the plot and the dragging still made my drama experience with Bromance less enjoyable than it could've been.
This is Bii's first huge role in a drama. Though I like him as a singer, his acting skills still need some sharpening. He's cute but his expression is very singular throughout the drama. I wanted to like his relationship with Nana because visually they were gorgeous together. However, the love/attraction the drama was trying to show us between them just didn't come through effectively. Katie Chen (Nana) is trying her best to show her love for Qing Yang (Bii) but she's countered by Bii's cool expression. It just didn't work for me- as much as I wanted to love them. I think Bii just needs some more practice then he'll be a more emotional actor.
The other actors were pretty well cast as well. I actually really wanted to see more interactions between Zi Han (Mandy Tao) and Guang Chao (Ming Wei); they're really cute together. Shout out to Edison Wang, who plays main protagonist. He has improved tremendously from Be With You and he is super convincing as the bad guy.
As usual, Bii's soundtracks are lovely and the songs were emotional.
I wouldn't re-watch this, hence the low re-watch value rating. Regardless, I still recommend this drama if just to see Baron and Megan flirt HARD and their amazing chemistry behind the scenes as well. (8/9)
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The story is basically a big, intricate spider web where everything is connected. What seems to be individual cases, slowly all begins to be pieced together into a large puzzle. It was fun watching that happen and trying to guess the criminals along with the characters. I also have to mention the incredible cinematography. The first few episodes really impressed me in that regard because it almost seemed like I was watching a movie. And at the short length of 30 minutes an episode, it went by quickly.
There's definitely less romance in WASFIL in comparison to LMIYD but the chemistry between Wang Kai and Olivia Wang is still palpable. It's definitely a more emotional and intellectual connection, rather than physical. Nevertheless, they worked extremely well as a team and the few moments where they did have romantic moments were thoroughly satisfying.
Music didn't really stand out to me other than the theme song and end song; they're fitting to the drama.
The reason why I couldn't give a 10 was because I felt like some areas were rushed. The drama could've been longer and more fleshed out. (I read the novel) Though the novel was more detailed, Wang Kai and Olivia really brought Ji Bai and Xu Xu to life, exactly how I imagined the characters to be.
I recommend this drama. It's a twisty, mysterious, suspenseful, and romantic drama that keeps you on your toes. The twists are unexpected too!
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The cast is amazing. Like many people, I love Bae Yong Jun. His acting was just spot on. Seriously, this drama was so angsty! Be prepared with tissues when watching this! All the actors portrayed their parts very well but of course I loved the OTP the most. Their high schools scenes were completely adorable with breathtaking winter scenery in the background complemented with lovely songs that made me feel like I was right there with them. Their little actions/gestures are so romantic and touching. Even after they are adults, their scenes continue to be captivating to watch. I lived with them in every scene.
I fell in love with the music, especially "From the Beginning Until Now", "My Memory", and "Only You". The soundtrack was really touching and fitting for the scenes.
I completely recommend this drama. It's definitely a classic. Don't be turned off by the drama because it doesn't have HD quality since it's relatively old. Like Autumn's Concerto (t-drama), this is a classic (but k-drama) so it's seriously a must watch! (10/9)
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Though the music was repetitive, it was light and captured the mood when necessary. I liked the songs and it gets stuck in my head.
That said, because this drama was so long, I skipped some parts I deemed unnecessary to the plot development, and I was still able to enjoy the drama fully. The drama was a bit draggy, being 72 episodes, but I thought it was still worth it because the OTP is very cute, and the cast are all enjoyable to watch. I skipped many parts with the grandmother because it was just very repetitive and it wasn't an essential part of the drama, in my opinion.
I would for sure rewatch some of my favorite scenes, but I wouldn't re watch the whole drama from start to finish. And yup, George Hu is really attractive as the cold businessman turn caring husband. (9.25/8.25)
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I can tell that the writer in a way was inspired by QIHM for W because some of the twists felt familiar, execution wise. The magical time travel element felt very realistic to me-the rules were established and the drama stayed consistent, both with the characters and the plot.
I'm admittedly a softie when it comes to an epic romance and QIHM had that in spades. It was realistic and genuine, so much so that the palpable longing could be felt across a humongous gap of 300 years. I just loved the soft yet passionate chemistry between Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo In Na. Their relationship was built slowly but truthfully and didn't have any trivial misunderstandings. After all, their biggest obstacle was time itself! Thus, I was sold by the second episode. And can we please give some love to our male lead Boong Do? He's honestly one of the best male leads I have ever seen. He doesn't do noble idiocy, he isn't a jerk at first-he's just honest, kind, intelligent, and logical. He's like a typical second male lead but instead he's a male lead here.
I didn't like Yoo In Ha in The Greatest Love because she was the annoying second lead. Here, however, she was bubbly and wore her heart on her sleeve- very endearing. As I said, JHW and YIN have a great chemistry and In Na's sobbing scenes were so on point for me that I cried along with her.
The drama never slowed down for me; from beginning to end, it was a rollercoaster of emotions and twists. The transitions between modern and sageuk were seamlessly done and the stylistic directing completely added to the overall drama feels. The angst didn't feel draggy. If anything, it felt authentic and the payoff was just oh so gratifying.
So much love for this fabulous fusion drama that I wish I found it earlier! The OST tugged on my heartstrings, especially when the sageuk traditional song came on, played by the Erhu.
However, I can see that supporting characters weren't as important, or weren't used well enough and that's the only tiny complaint that I had while watching this drama. The heart and soul of this drama is carried by the lovely romance between the star-crossed lovers and the obstacles they overcome together. Everything else kind of blurred into the sidelines for me.
I recommend wholeheartedly for those that are suckers for a great romance, as I am. I heart you, show.
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Many dislike the female lead, Lin Wei Zhen, and to be honest I didn't like her that much either. Kimi is a great actress but she is seriously just too naive and clueless at times for me to really like her character; even at the end, where her character seemingly develops, I still think Zhou Shu Yu is completely carrying the relationship. I can't spoil it, but I do not like the ending. Don't worry, it's a happy ending, but I thought it was not satisfying. Zhou Shu Yu's character development captivated my attention. He changed the most throughout the drama, and watching his growth was an essential part of the drama. Chris Wu definitely excelled in his role.
The music was amazing. Being a show about the music industry, the music had to be great. Granted, the dubbing was a bit awkward at times, but I still loved the music by Mayday and Jia Jia. They really captured the emotions. Chris Wu also sings! I didn't know that. He sang in two scenes and I loved it!
I actually think the rewatch value is pretty high because although this drama portrays a journey, I would want to go through the journey again with them. And of course, if you love Chris Wu and Zhou Shu Yu, you would definitely want to see them again. I would have given this drama a 10 if it not for the ending. Of course, that is my personal preference. Don't miss out on this drama; it's a diamond in the rough.
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The cast was great. I really liked all of the characters. Most characters were understandable and the drama plays out class differences pretty well. The leads (ShanShan and FengTeng) were just so adorable! They had great chemistry and whenever FengTeng pinched ShanShan's cheek I was like "aww". I actually liked the eating food together scenes a lot because the dishes were pretty common but they made it look delicious!
OST of this drama was just ok. Usually after a drama, I keep humming the songs, but I don't remember any songs right now.
Overall, I would probably re-watch some scenes and maybe re-watch the whole thing if I have time. I recommend this drama if you like a slow romance with lots of character growth and overcoming class differences. (8.5/8.75)
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Oh my, Danson Tang. Thank you for coming back to T-dramas. His acting as improved a lot, and I could feel the emotions he was portraying. After loving him in Fabulous 30, I think his character in this drama was even better. I never seen Ivelyn (GuanXiaoTong) in T-dramas before but I thought she was a good female lead, and was paired well with Danson though her character was a bit annoying/indecisive towards the end. The supporting characters were likable. I liked Jia Wei's office staff, as well as Xiao Tong's co-workers. They were evenly matched, and some brought comedic relief while others added the friendship aspect. It was cute, and felt like a family. The second male lead wasn't that obnoxious, and the second female lead was annoying at first, but did get much better. For those of you who hate the cliche evil second female lead, this drama doesn't have that. :)
The music was so catchy! There were a few really good emotional songs played at the crucial scenes; I liked that a lot. The music was used to its advantage; it added to the drama tremendously.
I'm going to rewatch the drama soon to see if some of the plot adds up as well as rewatch the very romantic scenes between the leads. I do have to say though; the second half ruined it a lot. I mean, yes, I liked the ending but the ending wasn't enough to completely pull the drama back. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this drama a lot and the ending was semi-satisfying even though it could have been longer.
I would definitely recommend this drama if you can stand a bit of dragging near the end. Suffer through the dragging ( like 3 episodes) to see awesome chemistry and a refreshing first half storyline. If you have a similar taste in dramas as me, you will like this drama too! (9/8)
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This review may contain spoilers
I'm super torn about W. The first 10 episodes were everything I ever hoped in a drama done well; romance and suspense, perfectly existing side by side. After episode 10, however, the magic died a bit for me because the romance, especially, lost its touch. This is the review I wrote before watching episodes 10 and beyond:
Cracktastic. Heart-wrenching. W is my crack drama of the year. I'm sure there were some plot holes somewhere but I don't see them right now. I just see the beauty that is W. W a little bit of everything: action, mystery, heart stopping romance, suspense, intrigue, magic, etc. The last drama that got me like this was Healer.
The manhwa-reality two worlds trans-universe was done brilliantly. The unpredictability of W had me in knots each week but it was completely worth it. Now, if you want rigid 'magical' rules you won't get them here. The unpredictability IS the rules here.You want romance? W has it in spades and it's one of the best 'fated to be, star crossed lovers' I have ever seen. I laughed, cried, and repeat for this couple. LJS and HHJ had amazing, sparkling chemistry. Passionate when needed, and caring at other times. I was on a bumpy rollercoaster right with them throughout W. Mystery and action? Of course! So many unexpected twists along the way. I came up with so many theories that were destroyed by the writer each week.
Supporting cast first place goes to Soo Bong. He's hilarious and a great friend. He's also the voice of all us drama watchers. In short, he's one of my favorite side drama characters ever.
I'll address some of the reasons viewers didn't like W. Admittedly, W, in a way, is a fantastical fairytale story. So yes, it does satisfy us romance buffs in that respect. But I find it unfair to just call W that because it's so much more. Sure, Kang Chul is supposed to be a character in a manga so does that make him a mere one-dimensional caricature? No- W, while formatted to be inside a manhwa, deals with genuine issues like existential crises and the creator vs creation argument. Does creator have the power, the right to decide what to do with his creation? LJS made Kang Chul feel very real to me; he is a human being, he has literally been fighting throughout his whole life, to break through his Pinocchio mold and become a real boy. At the core of it though, W is a fantasy drama so the writer has liberty to create her own world.
I wanted to keep this review short because W doesn't need it. Flat out, W is just amazing and so uniquely different from other dramas I have seen. Just watch it.
Now, my edited review continued after watching episode 10:
I still agree with what I wrote previously above but I wanted to add some reservations now that I watched the whole series. Take it with a grain of salt as I know many disagree with me.
I still think that since W is a fantasy drama, the rules can be dictated by the writer. Nevertheless, I think we had one too many twists that it became a bit convoluted. It's not that we viewers can't follow the plot, it's that it lost some of its consistency from the previous episodes. Those who watched it, without giving away spoilers, will know what I mean. I'm also quite disappointed in the latter part of the romance. With the length of the drama and so much plot development needed, something had to be give and the romance was what was sacrificed in the last third of the drama. Not to say that's a bad thing because this IS a thriller drama as well at its core but it was rather disappointing since the romance was focused on and developed beautifully in the first part of the drama.
The side characters aren't really prominent in W... besides from the villains, Kang Chul, and Yeon Joo- none played a crucial role. Like Queen In Hyun's Man, the heart and soul of W is the OTP. The OTP is what carried both dramas. The fundamental difference, however, is that the OTP here doesn't sell W enough because W is trying to be too many things at once: romance, suspense, mystery, action, etc. QIHM is also by W's writer, Song Jae Jung so I saw some integral similarities.
I think W is a better watch marathoned because everything will add up easier, when watched in a row instead of waiting week after week. In the end, I think W was wrapped up as reasonably and logically as it could be. I still recommend W but please don't go in with all the high expectations from the hype.
The OST is really, really good though. I loved the variety of songs that were included in the drama and they all heightened the emotions of each scene.
I'm not saying that I didn't love W. Trust me, I really did. I just had super high expectations that kept growing week after week, episode after episode, so I'm a little deflated right now. Ultimately, W is still an unique drama that deserves a watch (or two! I might re-watch again to see if it does work better as a marathon watch) Give W a go and decide for yourself!
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WFKBJ doesn't have a spectacular, thrilling plot. Instead, I felt like I was on the sidelines, watching Bok Joo's real life story, following along the her journey. Watching the characters mature and go through relatable hardships really hit me because it's just too identifiable to my own life! If the sporty theme turns you off (and it did to me initially), it's not the focus of the drama in the sense that the sports are a part of their life in college but it could've been anything else: film, arts, leaderships, etc, and the drama would've still been good because ultimately the drama is about the growth of these young people in college (and sports just happened to be their specific focus/love/hobby in college)
I laughed and cried along with the Bok Joo, with Joon Hyeong, with everyone honestly. I've always liked Sung Kyung after watching her in Doctors and It's Okay, That's Love. I think she's a very versatile actress and seeing her portrayal of Bok Joo just blew me away, from her mannerisms to the warmth she brought to Bok Joo. The romance is low key and well developed because it's built up from friendship and support to finally a relationship, and when the romance finally happened, it was just the cutest thing ever and really made me yearn to have a romance like Bok Joo's and Joon Hyeong's.
I loved how Bok Joo never sacrificed her friends for her boyfriend because besties over boyfriends always. The three musketeers are the cutest and they always have each others' backs.
With all that said, I do think the drama started out a tad slow and I didn't really become invested until around a quarter in. However, WFKBJ is one of the rarer dramas that end extremely well versus starting well but slowly going down the drain near the end. I love the ending of this drama; it just makes me feel complete and left me with a smile at what's to come in Bok Joo's future, and also made me look forward to my future in college as well! I definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a fulfilling and relatable youth drama. After all, as Bok Joo would say, WFKBJ is SWAG!
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