Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
It was so hard to rate Just Between Lovers because there were characters and storylines that I absolutely loved and then ones that I could not have cared less about. I ultimately did give it a pretty high rating because the best parts of the show made it so worth watching. The main reason to watch this is Lee Jun-ho. The acting range that he has in this show is astounding. He perfectly captured the heartbreak, anger, charm, and recklessness of Gang-doo. Even without knowing his backstory, I immediately felt connected to this character. It really is Jun-ho’s show and no one else can really match his performance, but I did still like the female lead. The chemistry between the two of them was captivating and they really showed their emotions every time they looked at each other. Their characters and the romance was what kept me watching.
Going into this show, I thought it was going to be a lot more focused on healing and it was a bit of a disappointment that they barely go into that. The characters, especially the two leads, are deeply traumatized people. Highlighting the impact of trauma can be an important message but it didn’t seem like the characters got any kind of help and just were better. The show continued to dump more and more trauma onto Gang-doo’s character all the way until the very end of the show. It would’ve felt a lot less bleak if they didn’t add in all health issues at the end and instead just focused on him getting the help he needed and realizing how loved he really was. It was actually very hard to watch by the end because this kid could not catch a single break.
The second male lead was one of my least favorite parts of the show. He crossed a lot of boundaries and made it impossible to root for him. As her boss, it was very uncomfortable that he asked her out knowing she didn’t like him and then reacted poorly when she rejected him.
The side storyline with Ma-ri was also one of the weakest parts of the show and it was confusing why they were giving her relationship with Yoo-taek so much screen time. I had to skip most of their scenes. Moon-soo’s friend and her romance also felt really distasteful because of how they’d met.
Just Between Lovers brought attention to the real-life tragedy and addressed the importance of honoring those lost but also the emotional and physical scars that survivors and families have forever. There were so many characters that all had different connections to the event and it was interesting to see not only their own reactions but also how they all interacted with each other.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
Hm, feeling quite poetic here. Hold your snaps
What is a track without a destination?What is a car without it’s fuel?
A woman drained of determination.
An incomplete canvas in lost of it’s tools.
Struggling back stripped of it’s spine.
Unspoken thoughts echoing inside the mind.
In time i think we’ve all realized something, without a doubt.
This poet has no clue what the hell he’s talking about.
Well if you’re still here I don’t know rather to congratulate you or question your attention span towards goofiness, but hey, here’s a payoff.
Just Between Lovers is quite the unique drama in the entirety of all kdramas that are out there. In such ways that from the outside looking in, it shouldn’t be. You’re immediately pulled into this mesmerizing and grounded world with it’s rambunctious style of storytelling surrounded by a brilliant ost. This kind of writing i find to be at it’s greatest at the very beginning, aand slowly fizzles itself out the longer it progresses. BUT HERE?? Yeah, it kinda falls under that category still. Yes this is unfortunately one of those dramas that slightly overstayed their welcome and fills its blanks out with repetitive issues that in the real world would’ve been settled long before they decided to do so here.
Now dare i say these are some of the greatest characters I’ve dived into yet of any drama! Mai-, main characters that is. We are spoiled in such mature developments and subtly handled representation that the “they’re aight” doesn’t quite fit in well here. Cinematography work so stunning that you let off a soft sigh when a select few gets to shine in it. Now I won’t address any of this directly, i feel as though we all know those that I’m speaking on because that’s just how big the differences are in terms of the effort put in. To put it simply, the leads and a select few of the supporting characters were received polished depth while the others look like their scenes were handled by an intern’s first time writing.
I’m a gargantuan fan of airtight, subtle, realistic writing. Don’t get me wrong, it excels here no doubt. You won’t be disappointed overall with what this drama brings to the table if that’s also what you’re in for, just partly. You know what? Ima just come right out and say it, GROW A F#CKING PAIR Ha Moon So, this man shouldn’t have to climb over barbed wire fences and trudge through swamps for some understanding and effort. Sit your mother down, the hell has she been babbling about for 3/4ths of the drama anyway besides the constant whining? And for crying out loud do you have to look that damn lost when you’re curious? Kang Han Na... no not you Yoo Jin take a breather. Han Na, hun, losen up. Whatever or however those directors and agency is over there telling you to act, look, stand, breathe? Stop it, i feel slightly strangled every second I’ve seen you on screen, dial the stiffness back a bit. Kim Wan Jin... I’ve been thinking-.. right? As rare as it is I’ve come to the conclusion they had no idea what the hell to do with you after sitting you up in the car. As forgettable as any of your scenes were i have to repeatedly remind myself they didn’t just leave you there.
Alright alright, trust me i loved this series so don’t take any of my negative criticisms as a sign you shouldn’t try this series out, in fact make it as a sign that you DEFINITELY should give it a shot since I’m very rarely this critical with anything i just dislike or find meh. The ost was truly uploaded from the heavens, the cinematography is such a pleasure to the eyes of fellow raw, gritty lovers. What more can be said of the writing? Well, alot lol. But I don’t want give anything else away to express my enjoyment of this drama all around. Give it a go and see the high praise ,awards, and ratings were no facade.
Okay... hey uh, Yoo Jin , stay after for me rq. Quick matters to discuss, promise.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Watch this for its realistic yet sweet depiction of love and life!
Reasons to watch this show:1. Realistic: There is no dramatization or flair. It's like watching two people from real life fall in love. The pacing is just right and basically mimics life - slow at times and fast at times - in the best way possible!
2. Strong female characters: 3/4 of the people closest to the male lead (excluding his love interest) are female. It's so refreshing to see this, because people of the opposite gender are usually shown as love interests / potential love interests. All these females, and other females in the show too, have great depth and character arcs.
3. Great supporting characters: Generally speaking, supporting characters are written to be part of love triangles or act as the comedic relief. Rain or Shine doesn't do that. All of its supporting characters are engaging, with a significant part in the plot. They bring in beautiful moments to the show that teach us important lessons. I especially liked the granny, she's such a mood!
4. Beautiful OST: The songs in this show are so pretty and expressive. Each of them has a different core emotion and tone but all of them are fitting and well composed. I still listen to a lot of the tracks despite having finished the show :)
5. Acting: Everyone did well with their roles. I especially enjoyed the acting of the two leads - they expressed different emotions very well while also staying true to their characters. Special mention to the actor that played the granny! I also really liked the acting of the second female lead - her expressions were subtle but conveyed much deeper feelings!
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Lee Junho is an amazing actor
I admit that I did watch this drama just because of 2PM's Junho. I'm currently obessed with Junho after their recent comeback MUST and digging his previous works so I happened to start watching this drama. But soon after I started watching, I forgot Junho and I was immersed in his character Lee Gang Doo. I felt his pain. I felt his struggle both the tragedy and for his living. Sometimes, tears came out for poor yet warmhearted Lee Gang Doo so I had to think how rich and successful Junho to lessen my emotions. He portrayed his character damn so well. In addition to this, the drama becomes so emotional because of co-actors and supporting actors. The chemistries between the leads are so amazing and the relation between Gang Doo and Mama, Ma Ri and San Man is so heartwarming. The story itself is just emotional yet enjoyable. I fall in love with Junho more and more after watching this drama.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Seriously! this drama made me cry. It's hard to endure the pain of losing your loved ones. When someone close to your heart leaves for their last journey, you starts to feel like that a part of your is gone and that feeling of losing your part kills you deep inside.
I think Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.....
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
High Caliber, unique drama
I already knew I loved this drama, but upon rewatching it I realize that this is truly one of my favourites. It's getting knocked down from being a perfect 10 because there are a few moments when the plot gets a bit too melo for me, but on the whole it's a minor quibble. This drama is wonderful.Where to begin? I love the tone. It can be bitter and dark, but also hopeful and fun. I think that dramas like that get the closest to describing life how it really is. Even though it is heavier than the average romantic drama, it doesn't feel oppressively grim like it could have under different direction. The drama focuses on overcoming trauma, and all the suffering and joy that can come from that.
It's also interested in the real world -- I love how much is set in dockyards, back alleys, and on the construction site. This drama is so unglamorous. Its characters wear regular clothes and live in regular houses, and the leads are rough around the edges even at the end. I love when dramas that do this! There are so many dramas where everyone feels like they're living in some kind of dream world, whereas this feels so grounded and it makes me more invested.
The leads are also fantastic. There are few couples that I feel more passionately about than these two. They both feel like real people, and are flawed and three dimensional. I can understand why they fall in love because I was falling in love with both of them while watching! Their relationship is a real slow burn, but I think that makes it even more worthwhile. It builds over time in a really natural way and the obstacles they face and overcome feel earned. On top of all that, they have great chemistry and they have great conversations. I love how open and frank they are with each other.
Overall, what a great drama. So balanced, so heartfelt, so moving and so well paced. I feel like this makes me emotional in the same way Reply 1988 does -- I am so attached to the characters and their journey. I can't recommend it enough.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
WOW AMAZING!
All you have to do is read the first review by @hardpliers and that's exactly what I think!Although Netflix (in America) names the series "Rain or Shine" and others call it "Just Between Lovers" it's the same series.
I have to say I came close to dropping it a few episodes before the end because I was worried about the ending, but it all came together in a happy way, I was doubtful of that!
But it touches LOVE in an awesome way and really makes you think about what's important in life.
Still a little too emotional for my taste, but still loved it, and was a huge roller coaster ride for sure!
I must say, Lee-Jun-Ho was fabulous (he looked totally different from the series "Kind the Land" which was wild).
I'm truly a fan of his now, great actor! And Won Jin-ah played a great part, such a sweet adorable actress.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
I loved the script, not too much nonsense going on and the characters don't really talk much most of them, there are few talkative ones, few serious ones, few depressed ones, few carefree ones, There is no Evil [erson in this show, just some people who are way too selfish with more flaws than the others.
The Soundtrack is insanely good, hypnotizing, quiet, thoughtful and touching without big ballads or forced emotions, loved the genre they used and how long the song is played whenever it comes on the show, never too much, just a few seconds to set the mood right. I am in LOVE with all the songs.
I gave it 9/10 because there was a lot of flashbacks in the first few episodes, and the lead actress was the only one who fell short as EVERYONE WAS SUPERB that she, unfortunately, paled in comparison, despite her good portrait of Min-soo and the fact it's her first Drama ever! Jun hoo was GREAT! Loved him in all his previous support roles but this time I can say they cast him right despite him being an idol, he deserves it fully. and the fact that e is not the obvious choice (from marketing point of view) nor the lead actress, gave the show much more depth and humanity
They hose veteran actors to play the older people, the Grandma, Min soo mom and dad, and so on. and boy didn't they do a superb job experience s really fascinating.
I strongly recommend this show, it couches you and you get connected to the characters without being too painful o tear-jerker, I will be certainly watching it again!
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Slow burn
I am a Lee Jun Ho fan so obviously i am going to watch it. Story is based on the traumatic experience of ML and FL. This is very much a slow burn and the pacing is very slow but good plot with good acting cast. All the actors did wonderful job in this drama. All the characters had such strong and powerful presence that it didn't feel like they are supporting cast except of course less screen time.Character development for ML from violent to taking care of himself has been very slow but it happens. FL is strong with good head on those shoulders. Story is very emotional so get ready with tissue box and it is heart breaking at the same time. Just hang in there it is a good one. As usual i binged watched it but i hardly fast forwarded any scenes. I loved the value of relationship for ML and how human values are important no matter what.
It kind of instill a good faith in new though you are going to experience range of emotions while watching this show but at the end of it's still worth it.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Demasiado drama para mí gusto
HistoriaQuería un drama y fue demasiado drama para mí gusto. Me aburrió y fue predecible en varios aspectos. Creo que si hubiera sido más corto, lo hubiera aguantado más, pero aunque el tema a tratar fue interesante, era muy dramático de ritmo lento. No quiero criticar totalmente la historia, en parte es porque no fue mí taza de te.
Actuación/elenco
Nada especial a destacar, la verdad no sentí química. Creo que eso influyó aunque se sintiera pesada la historia.
Musica
Hubo una canción que me gusto y hacia remover mis fibras sensibles. (Savina y Drones -Aurora)
Valor de repetición
Queda a decision de uno mismo.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
This show is totally different from the other dramas, it's a really sad drama but the way they made the show, including plot, couple dynamics and characters is very interesting. Starting by the plot, is something I've never seen before for a k-drama, and considering the other dramas I've watched, this one had the best rollout for a couple who have met when they were kids/teenagers, like it had a purpose and consequences in the drama. What I liked the most about the show was the main couple dynamics, the female lead was actually the one pushing for the relationship and she wasn't afraid to show she was interested on the male lead, but also he always cared for her and he was actually the one to be more affectionate when they started dating. The only thing I have to complain about the show is how they handled the last episodes, they didn't show how the memorial which the main characters were working on during the whole show turned out and they came with a whole disease for the male lead that it felt like an excuse for him to get back with Moon Soo. It's still one of my favorite dramas because the story was great and the couple had a great chemistry Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
One of the greatest dramas that could have been even better than it was
Just getting it out there that I love this drama. It's one of my favorites, and I've even rewatched it. It has lots of pros, such as:- Amazing acting. Junho quite literally carries this show on his back with his acting chops. This is his best performance to date IMO. Watch it for that reason alone.
- Great story that blends a true tragic event seamlessly and respectfully with a beautiful and tension-filled romance.
- Beautiful cinematography.
- Quality writing and direction. A lot of good qualities and obvious talent went into this drama.
Cons:
- Pacing. Although the story flows exceptionally well, I felt it did struggle with slowness.
- The OST here didn't do it for me. There were 1 or 2 songs I liked, but for the most part, I felt the music and instrumentals didn't match the vibe and quality of the rest of the drama.
- The special effects of the disaster could have been better, but they weren't bad for 2017.
Definitely watch it, especially if you're looking for a low-key melodrama.
Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
