littlebluemonster
Straightforward plot, Action sequences were lit, Amazing cast
Finished the series in 2 days. Not sure why the ratings here suddenly dropped so much. IMO, it was an exciting series filled with action and some gore (heads up for those who can't stand it). I appreciate how the writer did not over-complicate the plot because it was already action-packed. A complicated plot really wasn't necessary since they only had 9 episodes. Still, I won't say that the plot was very simple. It was rather straightforward and had some layers.Acting-wise, it was top-notch. Especially loved the scenes with Kim Nam Gil, Cha Jung Hwa, and Lee Ho Jung. The three of them are my favorite characters in this series. They really gave off three-siblings vibes. Loved how chaotic they were. Even the Dojeok squad was very chaotic itself and fun to watch.
Cinematography was very captivating. The pace and the editing were all very smooth. Fighting sequences (be it guns, fists, swords, arrow, axe) were thrilling and well-choreographed in my opinion. One of the scenes with Eon Nyeonyi, played by Lee Ho Jung, reminded me of Kill Bill with the whole silhouette and blood splatter. She really impressed me with her acting in both action and non-action scenes. She had many scenes (including fighting scenes) with Kim Nam Gil alone and she wasn't overshadowed at all. Her appearance in this series is definitely worth a watch.
Not sure if many were expecting a lot of romance, but I know I wasn't. Lol. So I wasn't disappointed in that aspect at all. It had just enough to add a little bit more sentimental aspect, but I like that it was more like a side plot because the focus was still on fighting for their country and protecting their people. With action taking up most of the plot, I was not disappointed at all.
The ending definitely left an opening for season 2 and I REALLY hope we get it!!! Seo Hyun's character, Hee Shin, felt a bit overshadowed by the others. Maybe because she didn't have many scenes, or her character just somehow didn't leave a strong impact. Not to say that what Hee Shin did wasn't important, in fact, it was. But we didn't get to see her do much? IDK. I can't really put my finger on it. But with season 1's ending, things have certainly gotten more interesting. And we'll probably get to see more of Hee Shin in action. Her chemistry with Kim Nam Gil was subtle but quite nice. Curious to see what will happen to them.
Song of the Bandits was overall an enjoyable series and I will definitely rewatch it sometime for the action and Kim Nam Gil. Though the only thing I didn't like much was the choice of OST, because it felt too Western and modern. Not just due to the English lyrics, but the melody was a bit too....bright? Perhaps it was to match the Western genre or they wanted to appeal to international audiences. But IMO, someone really made a bad call on that coz both songs just didn't fit at all. They were alright when played during the opening and ending credits, but when it was used during the episode, it just felt odd and out of place. Maybe if they used Korean lyrics instead of English, it would have captured the emotions of the characters and the tone of the series better. Other than the OST, though, I've got no other complaints and I really hope we will get season 2!!!!
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A thrilling crime drama that's a breath of fresh air
I've got so much to say about this drama. I wish there's a second season (though it seems unlikely). This drama isn't your typical crime thriller drama, if that's what you're expecting. This drama focuses a lot on the mental of the criminals and also the profiler while trying to figure out these evil minds. What I found truly interesting about this drama is that it shows how much criminal profiling can take a toll on the Criminal Behavioral Analysis Team, especially the profiler himself. It shows how profilers also struggle facing these ruthless serial killers who show no remorse for their crimes and speak of their crimes like it's their achievements or their entertainment.I always have respect for the people who truly pour their heart and soul into their jobs to catch criminals. But after watching this drama, I feel that I could understand them a little bit more and have more empathy for them.
This drama also doesn't just focus on the criminals and the profiler, it also shows the pain of the victims. Not just the ones that are killed, but also the ones that are left behind. I think this drama executed this part with a lot of empathy and respect. It was beautifully done.
The approach of this drama is seriously a breath of fresh air. It has the k-drama essence, but not the usual execution. I've got to give it to the director and the writers of TTD. For each case, they didn't drag it out. They only focused on the parts that were relevant to the drama, which is the profiling. They were always clear with that they were going to show, no time wasted. So you get to see Song Ha-Young (played by Kim Nam-Gil) figuring out the minds of the criminals--how they plan their crimes, how they evolve, how they choose their victims, etc. And the interrogation scenes and criminal interviewing scenes were absolutely phenomenal. Kudos to the scriptwriter for the dialogues. Song Ha-Young has such a way with words, making criminals crack and falling into their own trap without even realizing it. And when the criminals get arrogant, he puts them back in their places. It was SUCH a delight to watch. And if you are a Kim Nam-Gil fan, you will love the interrogation scenes.
And because this was a time where technology wasn't as advanced yet and people were skeptical about criminal profiling, the CBAT faced a lot of challenges to prove their worth. It gives you a glimpse of how hard they had to fight to work on a case. And by the end, you will see how far they have come and I tell you, it was SO satisfying.
This drama had such an amazing cast, and I'm not just talking about the 3 leads. Even the actors who played the roles of the 3 main serial killers did such an outstanding performance. You'd be wondering if they needed any counseling after playing those roles. Everyone played their characters to a T. And it was really nice seeing Kim So-Jin playing this no BS character. I really admire her character because she doesn't shy away from her mistakes, she has high EQ, she also keeps an open-mind but always raises relevant questions. A lot of people may have hated her character because she was skeptical about the CBAT at first, but I think that's normal. Because EVERYONE was skeptical about them. But she actually slowly saw what they could do instead of shooting them down without even trying to get to know more first, which was what most of her subordinates and her a-hole team leader did.
Not a single minute felt slow or boring for me, to be honest. I enjoyed each episode tremendously and I would definitely rewatch this. Maybe after I recharge with something less......psychotic and inhuman first. Lol. The drama uses famous serial cases that happened and I think they followed it pretty closely. The attention to detail was also commendable, not just for the props and procedures and stuff, but even the way the CBAT acts at the crime scene. That's because the production team had Prof. Kwon Il-Yong supervising on set, which I seriously appreciate.
Overall, I say it's a drama that is absolutely worth watching and you'd be missing out big time if you don't. But this may also not be your cup of tea coz it's not like your usual crime k-drama. It's kinda slow burn and the suspense isn't on the detectives chasing after criminals, but on the profilers trying to figure out how to find the killer based on data. For me, it was really interesting and I think Kim Nam-Gil definitely deserves another Daesang for this role.
P.s. Kim Nam-Gil and Jin Seon-gyu also had such great and adorable chemistry! Wish we get to see them both starring as leads in a comedy some day. Lol
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Short, fun, and simple plot (the stock investment-talks were not simple at all though. lol)
Just finished this series and wish it was longer so that we got to see the process of the characters' growth. But even within 12 episodes, I think all the characters had development of their own by the end and it was very fulfilling to watch. Since it's a short series, the final episode did feel a bit rushed, but it was expected and acceptable. It did not affect the series negatively.The story wrapped up well, there weren't loose ends with major characters, and it was all very enjoyable from the first episode until the last. I like that the pace was fast too since we only had 12 episodes. The major characters were all very interesting too. Jung Moon Sung definitely stole the show quite often, but none of the other characters were overshadowed.
Though the stock investment parts were kinda confusing most of the time, it did not make the series less enjoyable. I tried understanding the whole stock market thing, but it was just too much for me to keep up, so I gave up halfway through. Hahahha. (Well, at least the numbers were easy to understand. Lol) Nonetheless, you could still learn a life lesson or two by watching even if you don't understand those investment-talk. As it also shows how it impacts a person's life, positively and negatively, and what is the right way to start investing.
Kudos to the writer as well. Loved the humor in the plot. It wasn't overdone, but just enough to lighten the mood. The characters also made the stock investment theme more fun and interesting, at the same time, stressing on the seriousness of it too.
Overall, I think it was definitely a fun watch and would recommend it to those who want to watch something fun and short.
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More time-travel focused, but main message wasn't as strong as Leap Day
For me, this sequel was a little underwhelming compared to Leap Day. The message about memories being an important part of life was nice, but the message somehow felt rather weak compared to "sacrifice" in Leap Day. "940920" just felt like a continuation from Leap Day without having a solid theme of its own. At times, the message felt quite scattered and you had to keep being reminded. Otherwise, it just feels like a drama that's purely about time-travel, which I feel that it isn't what the drama is supposed to be about. Hence, with Leap Day carrying a strong message and reason behind the time-travel, 940920 lacked those. Or maybe due to time-constraints, they had to ax that, idk.Though, I have to admit that the time-travel and parallel universe-crossing parts were brilliantly done. Minor plot holes here and there, but you probably won't notice it unless you really try to look for it. Not sure if this sequel/prequel was supposed to be time-travel/timeline-crossing packed, but after watching it, all I remember was how busy every episode felt and the plot moved in a fast pace. So it's best to binge watch it, otherwise you might forget what happened in the previous episode (coz A LOT is happening). The transitions between past and present were done quite well though, as it was easy to differentiate.
As there's a lot going on in the past and present, the sentimental moments felt rushed, hence, not as memorable. A lot of the emotional sequences just flew by quickly, moving on to the next scene. It lacked those quiet moments like in Leap Day that allowed viewers to take it in. But it's also nice that both seasons are kinda different, as the plot in 940920 moves very quickly compared to Leap Day.
Personally, I really enjoyed Leap Day because of its uniqueness and mysteriousness. But I didn't find these two traits in 940920. So if slow burn is your cup of tea, and you are expecting this to be like Leap Day just like I did, then keep in mind that this sequel/prequel feels different. But if you like more complicated storyline and fast-paced plot, then this is right up your alley. Also, I think the summary is kinda misleading coz it makes you think 940920 is still focused on Yeesa. It isn't. Yeesa is more like a 2nd female lead here and her scenes felt lesser than some of the other supporting characters like Ka Chung's mom, or the villain Yuet. I'd say 940920 revolves more around Ka Chung both in the past and present, and also Chor Ying in the distant past and more recent past. I was misled by the summary and got disappointed coz I was grown attached to Yeesa's character in Leap Day and was looking forward to see more of her. Sadly, Chor Ying and Ka Chung are more of the leads in this. Makes sense though, coz 940920 carries a special meaning to Ka Chung.
I read an article that mentioned how this plot wasn't what the director and writer initially planned. Part of the story was supposed to take place in Taiwan and it was supposed to be more focused on Yu Ka Chung's past (from his childhood to before he met Yeesa), and also him looking for Chor Ying. So the villain wasn't part of it at first. But due to the pandemic, they couldn't fly to Taiwan to film it, hence a huge part of the script was changed. Considering all that, I think the team still did a pretty good job in the end. Though I'd be lying if I said 940920 lived up to expectations after watching Leap Day. It's hard not to compare since both series are connected, and it's more satisfying watching Leap Day first before watching this. Coz then you get a better understanding of things and it makes more sense. You get to see the full picture as everything comes full circle, leading back to the beginning of Leap Day. 940920 would bring your closure to what happened in Leap Day, but I personally still enjoyed Leap Day more.
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National Death Penalty Vote
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Had potential but execution fell short
It started off pretty interesting and the suspense was there.. I felt that the characters needed some time to grow on viewers coz a lot of them were still kinda annoying every now and then. However, the motivation of each character was pretty messy. You have no idea what each character is truly after. But maybe that's supposed to be the charm of the show because the plot and characters are supposed to keep viewers guessing until the very end--who is with Gaetal and who isn't? Who is the REAL Gaetal?The police in this series were definitely really sloppy in the way they worked. Even if they are quick to take action, the way it appeared felt more like they were just scrambling to do stuff. Also, A LOT of yelling. Characters, especially the mains, were very hot tempered and impatient characters, so they yell very often when things don't go their way. The FL and her sister were kinda annoying at times too because they tend to babble a lot and butt in a lot. I have nothing against the actresses though. I love the cast for this show that's why I watched it until the end. But the characters were all very flawed to the point where they come off as annoying. But It was still bearable. The yelling and nagging of the sisters, Mu-chan (male lead) being impulsive and constantly yelling especially in the first half of the series, Mu-chan making decisions that viewers would find frustrating, the police's incompetence. Phew, glad it's over now.
Pace of the drama was good after the half way mark, but for us who watched it while it was still being broadcasted, the momentum just kept getting cut off because of the postponement of episodes. But now that it's over, maybe binge watching it would give you a better experience.
The ending was really anticlimatic for me. But perhaps that's the message of the series. Injustice will carry on forever. Those in power will never be punished. Victims will still live knowing that justice wasn't served. Or they are the ones who end up sacrificing themselves in search of revenge and justice. And even if one Gaetal is gone, there will always be another.
It's sad to say that The Killing Vote was rather disappointing overall to me. It had a lot of potential as a vigilante drama, but it definitely fell short in terms of execution. I wouldn't say it wasn't enjoyable at all because I did enjoy it. But the ending for some characters (not just talking about the final episode) wasn't really satisfying. In a way, I guess this is a different kind of vigilante drama where the main vigilantes barely got any justice and they were mostly given an unfair ending while the real bad guys barely got the punishment they deserved.
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Here Comes a Female Student at Guo Zijian
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Really fun drama for light-watching. Simple plot, meaningful message.
This was a really enjoyable and satisfying drama overall. Not too serious, but enough to keep you interested and entertained as a lighthearted drama. Well, at least for me. Loved all the characters, from the leads to the supporting roles. Even the protagonists and antagonists. All of them contributed to the story until the very end. No one was left out.The message of this drama is really nice. Besides the cute romance, there's also a lot about personal growth, friendship, and fighting for justice and equality. Seeing them fighting for people to receive education and opportunities regardless of gender was really meaningful. Absolutely love the character arcs for these characters. You see them grow and become a better person (or worse), and learn to fight for what they think is right. It's rare to see even supporting characters get their own character arc, and the writer did it really well in this. Each character was used to its full potential instead of just being a foil.
Personally, I think that their romance wasn't the major plot (not that I mind it), but what's really nice is that their love for each other solidified their trust and they became each other's support while getting through those hardships. I like that there weren't overused misunderstandings when there are love triangles. The leads had a happy, healthy, respectful, and supportive relationship. Very mischievous too, lol. Which brings lots of laughter.
None of the characters were dumbed down for dramatic purpose (Yes, not even the female characters). Female lead also wasn't the kind who waits for a knight in shining armour. She is just as intelligent and capable as the male lead, which is SO NICE! Rosy Zhao played this role so, so well. I love it when she plays characters like that. Male lead also wasn't the toxic and disrespectful type. He's probably one of the most respectful, open-minded, and supportive male leads ever. I haven't watched much of Xu Kai Cheng's dramas as I have Lusi's, but I personally think Xu Kai Cheng looks really nice in this drama with the long hair and I like the way he portrayed the role of Yan Yun Zhi.
Overall, I think this is a drama that is worth watching, especially for the laughs (Look out for Sang Qi and Yan Yan's shenanigans!). Though it gets a little more serious in the last few episodes, you'll still find yourself smiling at the very end. I'll definitely rewatch this whenever I need a pick-me-up drama. Great chemistry between the lead couple and second lead couple. Great dynamics between all characters. The plot was simple yet engaging and meaningful. Love the funny and sweet moments, and all the sword fights! I also like that they didn't forget any characters for the ending.
If you're looking for a complicated plot and more mature content and characters, then maybe this isn't your cup of tea. But if you want a light-hearted and fun drama with a little bit of mystery, then you might like this underrated gem.
P.s. I enjoyed this drama so much that I decided to create an MDL account just to leave a review because I felt so bad that this drama received quite some criticism especially from the Chinese audience.
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Simple but mysterious time-travel drama
Watched this without expecting much, but it was a pleasant surprise. As someone who isn't a big fan of romance or love triangles being the main plot device, I was glad that romance wasn't a big part in this. Just hints of it here and there made it more fun to watch, to be honest.The time-travel concepts that this drama used are fairly easy to follow. If you're used to watching time-travel dramas or movies, this should be a piece of cake. To me, what really impressed be was exactly how simple it was, yet it was mysterious enough to keep me interested. The fact that quite a huge portion of it took place in Sapporo really gave it a unique and mysterious vibe. Props to the director and his team for this. The snowy backdrop really gave the drama a mysterious and subtle romantic feeling. I also like that we got to hear a foreign language, because it makes the plot more interesting, like how Yeesa felt lost and helpless at first because she didn't know the language. It was easier to empathize with her because the Japanese language is a foreign language to most viewers too.
This drama is more about character growth, especially the three main leads--Yeesa, Ryan, Yu Ka Chung. The three of them have grown individually since the first episode and you feel attached to their characters. Yeesa and Ryan are more of an open book, while Yu Ka Chung's character still remained a little mysterious coz he doesn't talk much about himself. But that would be answered in the sequel "940920". Despite all that, each character is still pretty fun to watch because they all grow, and you feel for them easily, even the supporting characters, like Yeesa's father. I like that it focused more on family and the message behind it, as it gave the time-traveling some meaning which I thought was a brilliant touch. It wasn't just time-traveling for the sake of time-traveling (which was how I felt about "940920"--it lacked a clear and solid meaning and reason for the time-travel). For example, in Leap Day, the main goal was to find out the reason Yeesa can time-travel back to a specific time and why. The revelation in the end was moving and added meaning to it, which was really satisfying to watch. The ending might not be that pleasing to everyone though. But that's exactly the point, as it makes you crave for more, hence the sequel.
I used to watch HK dramas growing up and really enjoyed them. But I have ditched HK dramas for close to 10 years now because the plots kept getting repeated despite the genre and it gets cheesier the more you watch it. Leap Day broke all of that bad impression and I truly enjoyed it. I also liked that it only had 10 episodes because that meant less fillers and the story wasn't dragged out. As they stuck to a simpler time-travel concept, that also meant lesser plot holes. Instead of a complicated plot that ends up getting messing, I think going with less-is-more and nailing it is way better. And Leap Day did exactly that. They kept it simple and it might be a bit of a slow-burn, but it was beautiful, interesting, mysterious, and meaningful. It's a HK drama that I'd definitely recommend.
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Dear My Friends is a beautiful drama that's also very realistic, telling the stories of old folks
I've put off watching this drama since 2017 because I know I'd be a crying mess watching it and I usually avoid melodramas. But this was about old folks and I really wanted to watch it. I take a long time to recover from tearjerker films so I was waiting until I felt ready to watch Dear My Friends. But just like how is it in life, you are NEVER ready.This drama got me real hard. It broke me more than I expected. It is truly a gem and it's no wonder it won Best Drama and Best Screenplay. Love how the character of Wan narrates the story and watches the old folks as a third person, but also joins them in their fun. She represents the younger audiences watching this.
Definitely a drama worth watching. The script isn't flawless, but it is truly beautiful and indeed a masterpiece. The way it tells the stories of these old people, their struggles, their life, their thoughts, their regrets, their dreams. It makes you smile, breaks your heart, leaves you in tears, reminds you that life can be so cruel and that you should live life to the fullest. The cast delivered flawless acting and I'm surprised none of them won awards for their roles in this drama.
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