miskat
Canada
This review may contain spoilers
Things to Love about You Who Came from Another Star
I've been watching Asian dramas for more than 15 years, but Man from Another Star is the best romantic comedy I have seen from the time it was released until now (2021). I'm not saying it's perfect, but here are the reasons why you should watch it:
1. The storyline is awesome. It's not your typical Korean drama about an ordinary girl and a chaebol guy who fall in love; this one has aliens, movie stars, Joseon people, and a whole lot more -- a perfect mixture of elements without being too preposterous. It's definitely fresh! (At least when it came out in 2014).
2. Our alien guy is one of the coolest in dramaland. He's smart, handsome, rich, has superpowers and has lived as a doctor, lawyer, professor, and whatnot. He can even sing!
3. The female lead is one of the most memorable characters I've watched in dramas. From being a dumb, arrogant, selfish diva, she becomes pathetic but charming and hilarious (though a little overacting at times).
4. The romance is delightful. Every episode makes your heart flutter -- it is abundant with "skinship" and kissing scenes while staying wholesome.
5. It's not just one of the most romantic but also the funniest dramas ever! There are many unexpectedly amusing situations. Even scenes that you think will be sad can manage to bring laughs.
6. A single episode is able to make you experience different emotions -- bliss, surprise, worry, sadness and relief. One moment you're rolling from laughter, the next, you're weeping.
7. Each episode gets better and better. Just when you thought the current one is the best, the next one beats it. I suppose it could have been shorter, but I never felt bored watching any episode.
8. Need I say that the cast is perfect? The powerhouse couple Kim Soo Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun, two of the most attractive and talented K stars, have amazing chemistry. The other actors, though less known, are also very well-suited for their roles.
9. The soundtrack is charming. Some of its songs made it to the top charts in Korea! It's also a plus that a couple of the songs were sung by the main lead. Although there were a few songs that I didn't exactly like, the music is generally appropriate.
10. The supporting characters are dynamic and lovable -- the female lead's adorable younger brother; her unlikely best friend; the devoted second male lead; and finally, the ever-faithful lawyer.
11. This is the first drama where the male lead's best friend is a 60-year-old man, and their friendship is a very touching one.
12. You'll learn Korean archaic expressions from it.
13. The parodies are a nice touch. It's refreshing to see it make fun of other dramas/movies.
14. The epilogues/end credits -- the first show I've seen that uses an epilogue for every episode to show something unexpected. They'll either make you laugh or break your heart. At the time this series came out, end credits were not common in Korean dramas. However, now they're not uncommon anymore.
15. The rewatch value is very high. Needless to say, it's so good that you can watch it over and over (especially the romantic scenes)!
Mild spoilers ahead
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.
.
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16. The ending. You may not agree with me on this as you might be hoping for a happier one. However, given the circumstances of the characters, this ending was satisfying and poignant. It was not predictable which makes it special.
This series may not be perfect and there there were many questions that it left unanswered. However, there are so many things to love about it that its flaws can be overlooked.
I've been watching Asian dramas for more than 15 years, but Man from Another Star is the best romantic comedy I have seen from the time it was released until now (2021). I'm not saying it's perfect, but here are the reasons why you should watch it:
1. The storyline is awesome. It's not your typical Korean drama about an ordinary girl and a chaebol guy who fall in love; this one has aliens, movie stars, Joseon people, and a whole lot more -- a perfect mixture of elements without being too preposterous. It's definitely fresh! (At least when it came out in 2014).
2. Our alien guy is one of the coolest in dramaland. He's smart, handsome, rich, has superpowers and has lived as a doctor, lawyer, professor, and whatnot. He can even sing!
3. The female lead is one of the most memorable characters I've watched in dramas. From being a dumb, arrogant, selfish diva, she becomes pathetic but charming and hilarious (though a little overacting at times).
4. The romance is delightful. Every episode makes your heart flutter -- it is abundant with "skinship" and kissing scenes while staying wholesome.
5. It's not just one of the most romantic but also the funniest dramas ever! There are many unexpectedly amusing situations. Even scenes that you think will be sad can manage to bring laughs.
6. A single episode is able to make you experience different emotions -- bliss, surprise, worry, sadness and relief. One moment you're rolling from laughter, the next, you're weeping.
7. Each episode gets better and better. Just when you thought the current one is the best, the next one beats it. I suppose it could have been shorter, but I never felt bored watching any episode.
8. Need I say that the cast is perfect? The powerhouse couple Kim Soo Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun, two of the most attractive and talented K stars, have amazing chemistry. The other actors, though less known, are also very well-suited for their roles.
9. The soundtrack is charming. Some of its songs made it to the top charts in Korea! It's also a plus that a couple of the songs were sung by the main lead. Although there were a few songs that I didn't exactly like, the music is generally appropriate.
10. The supporting characters are dynamic and lovable -- the female lead's adorable younger brother; her unlikely best friend; the devoted second male lead; and finally, the ever-faithful lawyer.
11. This is the first drama where the male lead's best friend is a 60-year-old man, and their friendship is a very touching one.
12. You'll learn Korean archaic expressions from it.
13. The parodies are a nice touch. It's refreshing to see it make fun of other dramas/movies.
14. The epilogues/end credits -- the first show I've seen that uses an epilogue for every episode to show something unexpected. They'll either make you laugh or break your heart. At the time this series came out, end credits were not common in Korean dramas. However, now they're not uncommon anymore.
15. The rewatch value is very high. Needless to say, it's so good that you can watch it over and over (especially the romantic scenes)!
Mild spoilers ahead
.
.
.
.
16. The ending. You may not agree with me on this as you might be hoping for a happier one. However, given the circumstances of the characters, this ending was satisfying and poignant. It was not predictable which makes it special.
This series may not be perfect and there there were many questions that it left unanswered. However, there are so many things to love about it that its flaws can be overlooked.
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