Soula
Mi Yeong and Jung Hee were okay (and I know Jung Hee's story was super important to the overall plot) I just didn't love their romance all too much.
Overall, a very heartwarming, emotionally packed family drama. I would definitely watch if you value and understand living in large extended family households and enjoy a little bit of romance and mystery mixed in.
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Go Back Couple will speak true to those people who have been with their significant other for many years, like I have. Where you forget to be tender with each other, to communicate with each other, and why you love each other. It communicates how life's struggles and troubles can really cloud your true personality, emotions, and feelings, creating space and walls between yourself and others you never intended to create.
Go Back Couple starts out very sad. It starts with a divorce - a place we never thought we would end up 15 years ago, but here we are. You see the inner thoughts of each character and find out what really went through their heads during those detrimental moments that ultimately ended their marriage.
What made this drama so amazing for me was how they were forced back in time, forced to interact with each other (to their chagrin) because their friends were in similar social circles and forced to really communicate. What they discovered about each other really moved me as a viewer and as a wife.
The ending was perfect and the pace and humor (their friends were HILARIOUS) were in perfect balance so you wouldn't be dragged down by a melodrama (which, Go Back Couple was NOT).
If you have been in a romantic relationship with someone for 10 years or more, this is a must watch. It will humble you and remind you as to why you love that person and where you hope to never see your relationship go (before you have to go back in time to fix it, that is ;D ).
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Great first half, horrible plot twist
I'm dropping this after only watching 13 episodes, mostly because it became too ridiculous for me to continue investing time in.The amnesia, while cliche, was tolerable. The large secret the husband kept from the wife felt really wrong and kind of silly when you consider his postion, wealth, and power. The "killing" of a side character for plot progression *rolls eyes*. Plainly put, the villians felt juvenille and the plot twist was super dumb and borderline creepy, cultural diffrrences aside.
I wouldn't recommend this drama, even if the first half of the drama was enjoyable.
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7.75 Stars...so close to 8 Stars!
There are so many mixed reviews and opinions of The Legend of Xiao Chuo. Despite all of the mixed reviews (there are some seriously strong *negative* reviews/comments), I decided to give this one a shot - there was something about the OST MVs that just had me tantalized - I had to know the whole story behind those snapshots in the MVs in detail. And while The Legend of Xiao Chuo isn't 100% perfect, I found that I was thinking about it when I went to bed and when I woke up and I wasn't bored while watching the 48, 45 minute episodes!I remember when I was a child that I would wish that TV shows would just skip to the important stuff so we would fast-forward the boring stuff and get to the stuff that matters. Well, The Legend of Xiao Chuo does just this! It was odd, I will admit, because most dramas (excluding family and longer, war-themed dramas) only span a couple months, tops. TLOXC really covers 20+ years in pretty decent detail with a good epilogue in the final episode, documenting the final chapter (deaths) of our MCs. So, yes, odd that the pacing of this drama utilized time-jumps often, but I appreciated that the plot wasn't dragged out or bored with trivial details. Which brings me to my next point...
TLOXC really isn't a *romantic* romance. Yes, the story starts out with sweet(-ish) romances, but by the time episode 25 rolls around, the story is all about politics. Plain and simple. It's about duty, responsibility, conflicts, alliances. I personally found it riveting and couldn't stop watching. It was like watching juicy gossip acted out. Now, I grew up in a Puerto Rican household, so I am no stranger to *chisme* or telenovelas, so to clarify: it's not on *that* level of drama and politics, but I found it interesting to watch an ancient culture play out with the beautiful costumes and decent acting (it was way more engaging and enjoyable than watching a documentary, that is!).
Anyways, I say all this to warn: if you are considering TLOXC because of the romance, you will likely find yourself bored and/or infuriated by the way our MCs are broken apart. It is truly heartbreaking...
Which leads into my next point: There is nothing wrong with being infuriated on behalf of people (*ahem* characters) who are slighted or wronged. BUT, it is not appropriate to apply your own ideals from the society we currently live in today with our current privileges (especially when looking at women's status) to that of ancient times. Don't get me wrong - some of the events that take place in the story are absolutely wrong! BUT, you cannot fault the storywriters for writing the story "wrong" when in reality, that *is* reality from those times.
For example, aside from the obvious splitting up of Yanyan and Han Derang, Mingyi falls in-love near the end of his life AND GETS TO BE HAPPY WITH HER. That really upset me considering what he did to his brother-like-bestfriend. BUT, I had to keep reminding myself that that's how it was in those days - emperor's could be with whomever they wanted, whenever they wanted because *they were* the law (and men, but I digress LOL).
It's very sobering, but also humbling to come to this realization. Once I had this conversation with myself, I was able to move past the tragedies our MCs endured to appreciate the story being told and reflect on the privileges and safeties we are afforded in our modern society.
Now to move onto the characters:
While Yanyan and Han Derang were the main romantic pairing in TLOXC whom I was happy for in the end, my favorite pairing was actually Hunian and Yansage. Hunian was actually my favorite character (aside from Han Derang's amazing mother - she called it how it was and I loved every second of it!). Hunian was someone I could identify with in the sense that being the eldest sibling, you have this sense of responsibility to your parents, to your siblings, to your "clan", that outweighs your own desires and comforts. And as most eldest siblings will likely also identify with, Hunian did not begrudge her place and role in her family. She accepted her responsibility and got through it. Her relationship with Yansage was the most interesting and intriguing dynamic in the entire drama for me. Yansage was my favorite antagonist in the entire drama because he was so multilayered! He wasn't strictly black-and-white; he adored Hunian and was truly in agony when they lost their baby and the risk to Hunian's life (the only true moment of despair we ever really see in Yansage), but he was also extremely intelligent and always scheming for the throne. His character was so complex. I truly could not get enough of Hunian and Yansage as a couple. Even after reading spoilers, I HAD to see how things played out for myself.
What made me sad was the conclusion to Hunian in the end of the drama. So many horrible things happened to Hunian throughout the entire drama, but she always got herself back up, dusted herself off, and kept going. I was so happy that even after Yansage's death (and other tragedies in the plot) that Hunian was able to finally find happiness. But it was short-lived. Her ending just leaves me so sad for her. She is bitter and angry and it hurts to see her that way. I wish, as the viewer who adored her character, that Hunian had had a truly happy ending.
I have read a lot of hate against Xiyin and Wuguli. While they were my least favorite couple in the entire drama, they went well together. The character progression for both Xiyin and Wuguli are logical, even if it *is* distasteful for us viewers.
Some things that really stood out to me that I appreciated:
--I really liked how the death scenes were captured. The acting, music, angles, and lines were impactful, specifically in regard to Yansage's and Xiyin's deaths. The way these death scenes were captured and executed really elevated the entire moment.
--I really appreciated the way the final conversation was handled between Mingyi, Yanyan, their eldest son (the future emperor), and Han Derang. It settled something in my heart. Even though I had logically come to terms with Mingyi's treachery against Yanyan and Han Derang nearly 20 years prior, Mingyi acknowledging that he betrayed their brotherhood and trust settled me. The way he rested their hands on top of each other in his final breathes was poetic irony and foreshadowing. Well done!
--I also LOVED that Mingyi's Minor Consort was just the woman he loved with not extra dramatics or malicious intents to distract or spoil the plot. That was so very refreshing!
--Additionally, on the same note, I was super worried that Mingyi's younger (biological) brother would try to plot against his own brother, which would have been a tough pill to swallow, but again, refreshing - HE DOESN'T! He actually sincerely protects Mingyi in the end! A much welcomed deviation from expected tropes.
--I loved how Yanyan's son, the new emperor, and Han Derang's mother both encouraged Yanyan and Han Derang, respectively, to satisfy their hearts and be with their chosen love after they have been widowed. There was something in the dynamics between mother and son in those conversations that just made my heart mush.
Acting:
Meh. It wasn't bad acting, but....don't hate me....but I just don't feel that Chinese acting compares to Korean actors. I think it might have something to do with the voiceovers (dubbing) that throws it off for me. The dubbing wasn't terribly distracting, which is a win! And the acting was good for a majority of the drama. Really, you just need to get to know the characters to get invested to look past the awkward misalignment of sound vs. lip movement. Trust me, the acting was decent enough for me to stick with the entire drama - the story really makes up for it by keeping you interested the whole time!
So - after finishing all 48 episodes, overall, I am left feeling kind of crestfallen, but satisfied at the same time. TLOXC was just one of those dramas I had to watch for myself, regardless of the negative feedback I was reading. It really wasn't anywhere nearly as bad as many negative comments portray it. It was actually quite good and I think deserves some more recognition as a *historical* story. I am glad to have watched it to be able to witness the above mentioned wins with this drama. I wouldn't recommend TLOXC, but I would definitely defend it!
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Once we meet the FMC, things really pick up. Their interactions were nice and the way the story evolves with them working together was cool.
The last 30 minutes had me on the edge of my seat - I wasn't sure if they'd make it or not (after Train to Busan, I have trust issues XD). I loved the ending, even if it's unlikely. I don't care! It was a great way to finish the story.
Overall, if you like zombie movies, I'd say, obviously watch it. If you're a chicken like me when it comes to scary stuff, this isn't scary really, just gory. It's not terribly intense and the ending is satisfying. I'd recommend giving it a shot, but it's not a "must see".
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The romance between MCs was decent, but it wasn't epic or steamy or particularly romantic. It was a pretty realistic build up, I just wanted more depth and tension. The actors were decent, but I didn't find that the MCs had a lot of chemistry (and they did NOT look great kissing - I disagree with that common opinion).
The plot itself was a bit slow and drawn out, which wasn't too bad, but not great either. Just kind of had me "meh."
***MILD SPOILERS BELOW***
What I really liked about this drama was the ending. The way the FMC's ex realizes how his greed caused him to lose his future of happiness as a father and husband was so well portrayed. The entire scene when he fell apart gave me goosebumps!
I also really liked how the FMC was consistent with her character by the end - she was such a good mother to her son up until the end by not insisting on ripping him away from his adoptive mother even though she was devastated and desperate to get him back. Yes, it was sad that the FMC didn't get to be with her son again as mother-son, but it was a good resolution that fit the story and characters.
***MILD SPOILERS ABOVE***
The soundtrack was decent - while none of the songs bothered me, none of them particularly stood out. *shrugs*
Overall, this drama was alright. I don't think I'd recommend it or dissuade anyone from watching it. It wasn't awful but it wasn't intense or remarkable either. I don't understand all of the hype in the reviews for this drama, but I can respect it.
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The Most Ordinary Romance
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I think maybe I have a very different opinion about this movie than a lot of other people. My biggest dislike about this movie is how many characters are cheaters. I just find it very distasteful (the significant other who is cheating and the person the significant other is cheating with are both equally disgusting to me). With that being said, cheating and lying between characters is what the plot is built on to propel the story, so I wasn't crazy about the overall movie by the end. BUT the movie was good for it's entertainment factor. There were quite a few humorous moments when watching interactions between characters during specific scenes. The ending was also happily-ever-after so that was good. I also found that the 2 MCs had good chemistry and the supporting cast were well selected and just as entertaining to witness.
Honestly, there's not a lot of plot progression - everyone is simply getting drunk/unwinding after work and trying to get over their ex/significant others in their own ways. It's a pretty chill plot, so if people don't mind the cheater sub-plot then I suppose it would be much more entertaining. *shrugs*
Personally, I don't think I would recommend this movie to anyone - it wasn't a bad movie, but it wasn't particularly good for it to stand out to be recommendable against other amazing-er movies. XD
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So I must confess that I didn't even watch the trailer of this movie until AFTER watching the movie; the synopsis was interesting enough to convince me to watch it without needing to watch the trailer! Watching the trailer now, it truly is a great representation of the overall movie - it's fast paced, action packed, and funny! Miss & Mrs. Cop is so funny! And so inappropriate! But so funny!This movie focuses on a particular group of female victims who have been drugged, raped, and video taped, to be broadcast on the internet so that the assailants can gain illicit drug-interested customers. Our 2 main leads fight these horrific crimes head-on and they absolutely kick ass. It was really nice to see 2 main leads who are both female team up, and then they are triumphant in their endeavors in the end. Very refreshing to witness such kick ass female characters who are also funny in such a fast paced, action packed movie.
Now, as it can be seen across numerous societies around the world, crimes against women tend to be brushed off and minimized, which is depicted here by the peers/coworkers of the 2 MCs. But thankfully, with their persistence (and expressed disgust/outrage), the MCs remind their peers of their responsibilities to do their job with diligence. I appreciate how this movie acknowledged the biases against women and therefore acknowledging, the impacts on women when they are threatened, violated, and/or assaulted. The resolution to the story was impeccably satisfying and full-circle.
I would highly recommend this K-movie and definitely watch it again in the future!
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FMV's made this drama look pretty intense and steamy, which you kinda get in the drama, but that's not really the overall tone. So I'd say the music videos might be a bit misleading as to what to expect.
The drama was interesting to watch in the beginning while the 3 main friends were building their mission to get revenge and to stop the marriage between their parents, but once Kwon Shi Hyun falls for Eun Tae Hee, things got a bit repetitive and boring. There was this constant, repetitive push and pull between these two - they would have a wonderful couple of days and then they'd find something out they didn't like and "break up" and ignore or hate each other for a couple of days and then they'd reconcile. And REPEAT. It got old. It happened at least 4 times, which made the drama dragggg. And get annoying. After a certain point, you just kinda of go, "oh wtf. Come ON."
In regards to actors/characters:
I enjoyed Woo Do Hwan's performance - I much prefer him in My Country and Mad Dog, but he wasn't bad.
Joy wasn't as bad as everyone bashes her to be. I didn't have any qualms with her performance and I can't blame the actress for her character's role, which I think many viewers forget - the characters are written by someone else, the actors portray them. *shrugs* I wouldn't mind watching her again in the future.
I've enjoyed Kim Min Jae's acting in everything I've seen him in and he was equally as good here. His character was pretty tragic - his family/home life was pretty awful and he had an unrequited love with his best friend. Nonetheless, he took things in stride and was the most entertaining throughout the drama. BUT what I couldn't forgive his character for was backstabbing Kwon Shi Hyun toward the end of the story. It was out of character and really didn't sit well with me. This ruined him for me...
Which brings me to Choi Soo Ji - I didn't have an issue with the actress, she was just fulfilling her role, but OMG I hated her character. I don't see what made her so desirable aside from her money and physique. She was shallow, wishy-washy, manipulative, deceitful, and spoiled. She was used to getting whatever she wanted and if anyone inconveniences her or takes what she wants (even if she wasn't clear about what she wants), she feels the entitlement to take revenge or throw a fit. It was immature and annoying. No redeeming qualities.
Now, ALL of these things *could* have been looked past had the ending not sucked so bad. I continued watching till the end because I was hoping for a really thorough, steamy, happy ending. But alas, the ending was really rushed and had a crap-ton of loose ends. For example, what happened to the bastard Lee Ki Yeong or Hye Jung and her boyfriend? What was the purpose in Se Joo disappearing and what happens now that he and Soo Ji are reunited? What happened with Myung Mi Ri, specifically with her confession? These were things that needed more resolution and not such a generalized, skimmed over ending. Instead of repeating the on-again, off-again relationship between Kwon Shi Hyun and Eun Tae Hee, they could have utilized that time to create a more complete, well-rounded and satisfying ending. And honestly, the way Kwon Shi Hyun and Eun Tae Hee separated and got back together in the ending was dumb and unsatisfying.
So, I will not be rewatching this drama nor would I recommend it to other drama fans. And even though I bashed the crap out of this drama above, it overall wasn't awful. It was simply "okay" for me. The biggest issue was that the ending was so weak, it made the overall drama exasperating. Even if the beginning is fun and entertaining, if the middle is super messy and then the ending isn't at all satisfying, why invest the time?
Oh, and the OST was decent. I didn't dislike it, but there was no specific soundtrack that stuck out to me or was particularly memorable.
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Lovely romance that keeps you smiling through to the epilogue!
Live Up To Your Name has been on my PTW on Netflix for wayyyy too long XD. I'm not sure why I didn't watch it sooner, but after finishing it, I'm mad at my past-self for not watching it sooner! Haha! It *did* take between 4-6 episodes for me to get really invested in the story, but after that, I was thoroughly hooked!Being a daughter of immigrants, the way the MMC, Heo Im, struggled with the modern day culture and language made me giggle often as I could easily identify with the struggles he encountered while adjusted to the foreign modern world! His many moments of adjustment while in the modern world sincerely helped maintain a balanced tone and mood - it never got too dark or sad!
The comedy, time spent in each world, practiced medicine, and romance are really well balanced throughout this entire drama, even weaving some historical facts in there to give context. The ending was very good too, which I was happy about (I was worried there for a second, "I thought this was a happy ending!" 'XD).
I really liked that they go back and forth between worlds - the time spent in the past was personally very meaningful to me, and especially humbling to the FMC, Yeon Kyung.
My favorite arc of the story was when interacting with the Japanese General, General Sayaka, especially when saving the children!
Live Up To Your Name is a lovely romance - I would 100% recommend it! The main actors, Kim Nam Gil and Kim Ah Joong have great chemistry, which makes their romance and tension all the spicier! It's got great comedy, not bogged down by too much corporate business politics, and a smashing OST (the instrumentals especially are fantastic - "Fate" by Yoo Jonghyun is my favorite!).
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Unexpectedly wholesome and enjoyable
The biggest selling point of this drama for me was it's length - 3 episodes is a PERFECT drama length when you don't know what you want to watch and just want to fill in the void until you find that one drama to dedicate yourself to a good binge watch.I really enjoyed how wholesome this story was - each of the main characters had a nice, relatable story and evolution, which I ate up. I appreciated all of their struggles and how they each overcame them.
While the story did not have romance, the story was still overall satisfying, even for someone like me who enjoys a nice romantic sub-plot. The only plot improvement I would have really loved for the ending to have included was a bit more in the ending/conclusion of the story (like, a more inclusive epilogue).
I loved the soundtrack, both the OST and the selected piano pieces.
The actors were well-suited to their roles.
I will likely rewatch this for a number of reasons: it's quick and short to watch, the good feels in the end, the piano genre (I like instrumental music), and the unique plot device of blindness. Stories like this one make me want to go find similar ones to enjoy the feels again. :}
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I wasn't a huge fan of Im Ye Eun's love interest - he was too immature and it felt superficial considering she has a daughter; any man who is interested in her would need to really prove that he's there for the long haul for both mother and daughter.
I really liked Baek Chan Mi's love interest and I was really glad they got their happily-ever-after, even if it was kinda rushed in the end. I wanted more!
The beginning of the drama was really strong - the tragedy from the beginning was devastating and goosebump-inducing. But I just didn't feel like the conclusion packed a strong enough punch in the end from all the buildup. And what was the point in killing off a character in the last episode?! *inner rage* XD Also, the identity of Michael wasn't a spectacular reveal and anticlimactic, which was really disappointing.
The fighting sequences were fantastically choregraphed! So cool and awesome to watch! Especially the female fighters!
I've never seen Choi Kang Hee in anything, but I really liked her voice AND her acting.
Yoo In Young has usually played the antagonist in previous dramas, so it was really nice seeing her as the good character. I'd really like to see her in another drama, again as the protagonist, but a little less meek.
I really loved Lee Sang Yeob - he's played a mix of bad and good characters in the past, but this drama just kinda sealed the deal for me. He's someone I will definitely give a drama a chance for! The way he portrays emotions and his chemistry with other actors is great!
OST was nice - I enjoyed some of the songs, didn't care for other songs. The music was well placed though, and didn't bother me overall.
I likely won't rewatch this entire drama, but I'd probably happily watch F/MVs of this drama, especially to get some of Chan Mi and Seok Ho.
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Fast paced & fantastic fight scene choreography!
Player is a very well written and well execute drama. The plot is not convoluted, it's straightforward, and I really appreciate that the drama wasn't dragged out (it's only 14 episodes rather than 16 or more). The story isn't terribly complicated to figure out and there's no big revelation, but the story is fast paced and the action was on point. The choreography for all the fight scenes was FANTASTIC.The comedy was sparse, but the relationships between all 4 con men was envy-worthy. The 3 men, Ha Ri, Byung Min, and Jin Woong were like brothers. I was skeptical about adding Ah Ryung, but was very happy with her addition once they established her relationship with the 3 *brothers*; the way they all came crashing in to protect her and fight for her as her older brothers was beautiful and gave me goosebumps and envy! Even further, I love how the 4 con men worked together to protect Prosecutor Jang - he too was a wonderful character!
I really enjoyed and adore this OST - Player by Dok2 was fabulous. The placement of this theme song had me perking up EVERY time.
Player isn't necessarily for everyone, especially since it doesn't have romance. BUT if you like revenge plots, con men, and action, this is a drama you don't want to miss out on. If you enjoyed Switch: Change the World, Miss & Mrs. Cop, and/or The Dude in Me, this drama will be your speed.
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I liked the drama alright. The characters were cute and the high school drama was consistent and predicable (not necessarily in a bad way though). The idea of "revenge note" was fresh, which I appreciated, but by episode 6 or 7, I had seen enough of the concept to be ready for a wrap-up because nothing new was really happening after that point.
What I am kind of bummed about is Cha Eun Woo. I adore his character, but he basically disappeared around episode 8. I know he was just the second lead, but man he was adorable - he really needed to be present for the remainder of the drama for at least consistency's sake! And yes, obviously, I have SLS (even though there was nothing wrong with Ji Hoon).
Anyways, I enjoyed the fact that this was a mindless and quick watch with little to no commitment. Very casual for when you're bored.
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