A perfect blend of thriller, crime, action, romance and drama, all wrapped up in a nice, philosophical theme. Don't think about it, just watch it.
THE STORY
So…just when I’d finally gotten over the scare of White Christmas, I had to fall onto I Remember You / Hello Monster. The theme at the core of the show, Nature VS Nurture, is the same, this time taken to higher levels (partly because it’s a lengthier drama, partly because of great writing and directing). Characters are complex, especially the ones on the dark side. The main female lead is how I like to see them – independent, smart, to-the-point style – and the love story is, without being central to the show, well-developed and innovative (a relationship based on mutual support instead of romance). There is quite a bit of suspense in an unexpected way (because the viewer knows everything that’s going on sooner than the protagonists), deep messages, brilliant dialogues and gripping crime stories that are all kind of connected and leading to the root of the plot. I absolutely have nothing bad to say about this show, other than that the last episode did feel just a tiny, a very tiny, bit rushed, and the beginning was maybe a little awkward at times. The ending was brilliant and 100% coherent with the entire show though. I want season 2!!!
THE ACTING
I’ve always believed that the best way to see if an actor is skilled is to see him (or her) play a complex villain. In this drama, the two actors that stood out, tremendously, were the two villains. They sent chills down my spine. A-ma-zing. But I have to say, all the actors were very good. The child actors were so talented.
THE MUSIC
Awsome! The instrumental tracks kind of felt like Sherlock’s (the British TV show) but fitted perfectly with the mood of the drama. And then the OST *swoon*. I’ve been listening to Dear Cloud’s Remember and Baechigi’s Shower of tears (feat. Ailee) almost daily for weeks now.
REWATCH VALUE
Rewatching as we speak, with my parents. I don't even care if I can't sleep well at night. Definitely high!
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So, why do I love this drama and more importantly love it enough to review it, which I don't do that often?
Reasons 1, 2 and 3 FRESH PLOT / GREAT WRITING! Based on the original synopsis for this drama which was vague and sounded like a bit of mismash, this should have been a total trainwreck at worst and average at best. But this is one of the most original and well thought out dramas I've ever seen (and at this time I've watched 191 Kdramas to completion). This writer knew from the start exactly how every little detail would play out and NEVER deviated from it. It is so obvious in the small touches that are added throughout the show that if you blink you might miss. It all builds to something and every detail has a purpose.
So often dramas start out with this kind of attention to detail just to start dropping balls all over the place in the second half, but not IRY. And this fact is made extra surprising and noteworthy because of the live shoot system that I know had them filming part of final episode the day of its airing and because this show had such low ratings. Too often with low rated shows in SK, the plot goes haywire as they make changes to try and get viewership back. This NEVER works, btw and the results are always TERRIBLE! But IRY was too cohesive, too well thought out. It just felt like such a nice whole beginning to end. The pace NEVER flagged. They never did the around the wheel mess so many dramas do to stretch it out (actually, I think this drama would not have been hurt by one more episode).
And then as if the plot itself didn't make it enjoyable enough, the writer throws in these deep philosophical themes that you have to peel back like an onion because you think you know what the theme is until the very last episode actually reveals the most important theme (and message) to be something else, which you then realize was hinted at all along if you weren't so caught up in all the other greatness.
Finally, I love how unpredictable the plot was. Just when you thought it would go one way it went another. It was seemingly predictable but then you realize that was a feint. There were big reveals to be had that really weren't and you could think the writer messed it up, but then you realize that was never the point and the writer was totally above the big reveal gimmick that so many dramas stake their plot on. So great not falling into that trope trap.
Reason 4 this drama is so great: CHARACTERS! So I guess that is actually 3b since really this is also great writing. Cha Ji An is one of the best female Kdrama characters of all time. Seriously. And by far the best female cop character ever. She is real; she is good, but not a supergenius. She is capable, but not unbelievably so, rather realistically so. She is honest with her feelings and her thoughts. She is emotional when it is appropriate but can rein it in when she needs to be logical. She makes decisions and behaves like a real human being. I never found myself yelling at her for being an overemotional idiot or a noble idiot or any other kind of idiot. I love her! I love her sooooo much!
My love for Ji An, though, doesn't mean I also didn't love our male lead because oh boy did I! It's just great male leads are a lot more common in Kdramas where great female leads are like emeralds in Minecraft. Everything I said about Ji An in a way also applies to Hyun. Even though we get the set up of Hyun being a geeeeeeeenius, he still feels very real. He is honest when he should be even though he does hide things from other characters, I always felt like there were good reasons (or at least good within the context of the character). His character was always true to himself, even when he was conflicted as heck and well should have been.
And all the other characters are wonderful too, especially Min!
#5: ACTING! I never thought much of Jang Nara before this drama. I thought was was a cute, perfectly serviceable although not even remotely interesting or charismatic actress. But, you know what, she freaking kills it in this! I guess that is what great writing will do for you! I have been a Seo In Guk fan since Reply and he certainly did not let me down here. He is his always awesome self! Park Bo Geom was incredible. He embodied his very difficult character perfectly. There wasn't a weak link in the bunch.
#6: THE ROMANCE. Or, more to the point, the lack thereof - sort of. And if you are confused, let me explain. Kdramas are all about the romance - right? Usually anyhow. It's what they do so well that keeps the ahjummas swooning and tuning in. But the problem with all of that focus on romance in Kdramas is that it usually becomes a caricature of itself. Case in point, the currently airing Scholar Who Walks the Night where they pushed the romance so hard and fast that it sucked all the life and logic out of it. Romance in Kdramas is fun, but it also is often ridiculous. The OTP will just die if they are not together. Everything in their lives becomes about their true love to the sacrifice of logic and story. Then you throw in forceful male leads that grab and pull their lady loves around and it all gets a bit ridiculous.
IRY does romance in a realistic way that never feels forced and where the leads never let romance get in the way of logic or the other aspects of their lives and jobs (thus the writer doesn't let it get in the way of plot). And best of all, they are always considerate of each others' space - physically and emotionally. And that makes it swoon-worthy to me. Screw wrist grabs and forced kisses, I'll take Lee Hyun and Cha Ji An!
#7 Soundtrack: I don't normally mention the soundtrack to a drama, but I really liked how this one set the mood and was never overbearing. The instrumentals were just right, especially the Erik Satie-like piece that was played during dark scenes. (Or maybe it was Erik Satie - I haven't checked yet.)
Well, that's it. This is a great drama and the most underrated of 2015.
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I spent the first half of the series suspecting everyone....lol even when they made it pretty clear.
This is an interesting series that shows its hand way before the last act, and you get into the interesting part of what do you do when you know who the killer is.
The drama didn't hold back on the suspense, thrilling scenes, and the looks that definitely gave me the heebie jeebies. However as afraid of horror movies, and the drawn out thriller grabs I loved every minute of this drama.
I love that while it did have romance, that wasn't what drove the vehicle of this drama. It was all about the action, and finding the clues to put everything together.
What good was it if you know who it is, if you don't know how it ended up this way. The characters all play their parts well, especially the villains of each case that come the teams way. The acting was spectacular, and more than once will you be horrified, shocked, and just a little bit teary.
The main characters are a decent match, and while I think Seo in Guk's character was a little too stiff, there are a lot of things to justify that. Jang Nara is a strong female lead, and a complete 360 from her baby faced beauty character, which made me sight in loud and obvious relief.
The story progresses steadily, and there are almost no loose ends, however I have to say the questions you are left with are ones that obviously the director and producers never plan on answering.
If you want the genius, teamwork, crime, suspense, and thrill this is the series to watch. I would say romance, but since it's more back burner I lean to the main themes.
This is a must watch....during the day :)
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First of all, I didn't plan to watch the drama, because I am not a fan of Jang Nara (and before I watched this I wasn't a fan from Seo In Guk either). After I watched the first Episode I dropped it, but then I read a lot positive things about the drama and about Park Bogum. So I decided to watch it at this weekend. And I don''t regret it!Story: The Story sounds good, but it wasn't the main reason I decided to watch it. Usually, I don't like criminal Dramas. The story have to be very good and interesting so I watch them. But how I said, the story wasn't my main reason for watching this drama.
Acting: Hm, with who should I start? I think I begin with the Actor who surprised me a lot. Seo In Guk. I watched him in Reply 1997, but I wasn't a fan of his acting skills. So after Reply 1997 I didn't watch dramas in which he acted. But he suprised me in the role of 'Lee Hyun' who searches for his long lost brother and a killer. I know SIG as a singer and I like his voice, but in this drama, it were the emotions and his acting with his eyes, which made me to a fan of him. Jang Nara was okay. I didn't expect too much because I don't like her very much. I don't know why, but I watched her in School 2013 and there I didn't like her, too. So her Acting was okay.
My lovely Park Bogum (I am in love with him since his Acting in this drama) was excellent. I don't know why I love his character (I shouldn't like him, I know...). But his acting is so...real. I didn't have high expectations, because I didn't know him very well before this drama. So it was Love at first sight and I am so excited too see him in Reply 1988.
Choi Wonyoung surprised me a lot. I saw him in 'The Heirs' and 'Kill me, heal me', but in a role like this, I didn't see him before. His acting was wonderful and sometimes I was afraid of him.
Fazit of the Actors: Seo In Guk was a big Surprise, Jang Nara was okay, Park Bogum was excellent and Choi Wonyoung was wonderful in his role.
Music: The Music was good, but not excellent. Sometimes I wanted to cry because of the Music, but all in all it was okay. It suits the theme and most of the time the music suited the scenes.
Rewatch Value: I will watch it Again, when I have more time and when *SPOILER* I get over the ending *SPOILER ENDING*
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great story, great lessons and great acting!
A genius profiler Lee Hyun (Seo In Guk) returns to South Korea after an anonymous email about a criminal case triggers memories of his childhood trauma. One of his team members, Detective Cha Ji An (Jang Nara) has “stalked” him since childhood and is suspicious of him as her life was also turned upside down by the same criminal. As they investigate the case, they realize that the truth is not far from the unresolved mysteries of their past.This drama is a good combination if you want a crime drama shrouded with intriguing mysteries around genius characters, without a lot of stress. It was suspenseful at times, but the romance and quirky sound effects lightens the mood. Personally, I did not like the music, but it's not a big deal as I'm invested already. The storytelling was great, as in character's backstories were established well, without revealing too much and as the story goes, it fleshes out the complexity of each character. The twists was paced equally, keeping the momentum alive to the end.
Beyond the crime-thriller aspect, I love how it covers friendships, family love and such a heartwarming brotherhood. The other highlight is Park Bo Gum's character, I've only seen him in romantic roles, and here he was very complex and his expressiveness was outstanding! Seo In Guk and Jang Nara were great too, good chemistry and good teamwork. all in all, great story and acting. Another one I recommend!
- Yovita, Mar 2024
I'm on instagram: @kdramajudge
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Good acting, good story I didn't notice the music so it must have been OK.
There's enough suspense and the story was engaging enough to keep from dragging for the entire 16 episodes.
Even though the story is about serial killers and is quite heavy, there's enough comedy to stop it becoming too sad or too heavy.
I cared about every character, good or bad, by the end, so, great characters and great character development.
Seo In Guk was excellent as Lee Hyun, I first saw him in Love Rain, and thought he was quite a good comedic actor, then I saw him in The Kings Face and thought he was quite good as a romantic lead, and now I've seen him in this and I think he's good as a "serious" actor. He really is good. I think after this I'd watch anything he's in.
I've never seen Jang Na Ra in anything before, and now I want to go and watch everything she's ever been in. She's great at both comedic and dramatic scenes. I really enjoyed her. Her character was great and she had a lot to work with and did it well.
The rest of the cast were great everyone did a good job, there were no hangers on.
To the writers: I'm only rating this 7.5 because of the crappy ending. Look, the last episode is not bad enough to ruin the whole drama, it's just lazy and if you're going to do do one of those endings that ties up all the loose ends, don't leave more loose ends (unless you're planning a sequel - please plan a sequel, because then I will take this back and give it an 8.5)
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The basic story: How people become monsters is awesome! Like really really cool concept so I loved it, a lot at that! I loved how the story started but it got kind of boring after eight or ninth episode? I kept waiting for the climax which never came and just like that it ended! The end was pretty speedy, I was super confused so I had to read different discussions of the viewers to know what actually happened though it wasn't that bad =D.
Acting was SUPERB! We all know about Seo In Guk who was awesome in this but for me, someone else surpassed him in this drama and that was Park Bo Gum! Seriously, this guy rocked the show with his complex character and PERFECT expressions! Looking forward to his work in the future dramas! Its been so long since I actually felt what the character was feeling, for me he was that good!
Jang Na Ra as usual was super sweet with her cheerful and somewhat dumb personality? But it was perfect for the story and I LOVED her =3
Other than these three main leads, lets not forget Team Leader =p and others! They were really good, the investigation team was love =3
Overall it was a good drama, I couldn't sit still until I finished it! Watched it like crazy!
If you are a fan of crime-like dramas and root for bromance rather than romance than give it a shot!!
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I’m not really a huge fan of crime dramas, I started it because of the main cast and because the plot seemed interesting. And I absolutely loved it. I think you’re going to like this drama, whether you’re a fan of the genre or not.
You will be constantly asking yourself questions, trying to understand what had happened, what is missing, who is who, how are the characters connected and always looking forward to the next episode.
Story: The story in itself is really interesting. Different kinds of murder cases that the team had to solve, each of them eventually bringing the main leads and the viewers closer to the truth. The episodes are suspenseful, in my opinion this drama never dragged on, instead I think most of the episodes ended with huge cliffhangers, and I couldn’t wait for next weeks’ episodes. And although, because of the genre, there are bound to be a lot of scary and sad scenes, there were always some really funny and amusing scenes in each episode. Romance doesn’t really play a huge part in this, don’t expect romantic cheesy scenes or heroic acts of love etc etc. However you can see how their feelings slowly develop and the interactions between the main couple are really clever, funny, and cute.
Acting/Cast: The cast for this drama was really on point. Each actor suited their role, and the acting was really good, from the cute little young siblings, to all the guest stars and, of course, the main actors. I am a fan both of Jang Na Ra and Seo In Guk, and their acting definitively lived up to my expectations and their characters suited them. The young actor Park Bo Gum (playing lawyer Jung Seon Ho) did an amazing job, as his role was really demanding, proving that he is definitely worth keeping an eye on. I look forward to seeing him in more main roles.
To the fans of the actors in the drama, you are not going to be disappointed by their characters and their acting, and to the non fans – well, this drama may as well mess up your bias list just a little bit.
Music: Lovely OST! My favorites are Remember by Dear Cloud and It Shows (????) by Hong Dae Kwang, which really suited the drama and had me singing out loud every time.
Rewatch value: This drama is definitely worth rewatching over and over again.
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Why should you watch this drama?
1. As I've mentioned earlier, the overall plot is great. It's complicated but the story-telling makes it easy to follow. Sometimes, it's spoonfed but only if you pay enough attention. Also, this is one of the few dramas where all side characters actually matter to the story. 2. The pacing is good, most esp with the first two episodes. There were times it lagged a little, there were also times it got a little too rushed, but it's all tolerable.
3. I loved the drama's honest-to-goodness portrayal of three perspectives in a crime: the victim's, the criminal's, and the police's. It gives a broader view of each crime case, instead of just having a plain "good vs. bad" storyline. Hence, it also opens the mind of the viewers regarding evil-doers. It did not defend criminals, but it made them look a little more human despite their inhumane deeds, evoking more humane sentiments from the viewers towards the three (victim, criminal, and police).
3. This drama is also a must-watch if you want to see some solid acting. The three geniuses' actors, Seo Inguk, Park Bogeum, and Choi Wonyoung all delivered excellently. I loved the three of them from start to end.
4. If you love some good bromance this is definitely for you. The times drama touched brotherhood and family were the best. It felt so heartwarming, makes you want to care more for your family.
5. Lastly, I loved the OST. I fell in love with Dear Cloud's Remember (it was on repeat for almost a week), and the two other ballad OSTs released subsequently.
The next things I'll mention aren't really reasons not to watch the drama, because honestly, there isn't. More like things I wished drama would have done better.
1. The investigating team casts' acting, except Lee Chunhee and the actor of Eunbok's character. I really love Jang Nara (she was one of the main reasons why I watched this) but I found her a little awkward at some scenes. It's ironic bcs she does so well in heavy scenes, like crying or the teary-eyed expressions, or the fight scenes, but she seemed a little awkward with simple scenes. The rest of the team's acting, though tolerable, could have been better.
2. The fighting scenes. I found it funny when I saw how they had them fast forwarded so they wouldn't look staged, but it was too obvious. At least for me. I guess the director was too lazy to have the actors be choreographed a little more. It didn't ruin the suspense, but it did kind of spoil a little bit of the watching experience.
3. The editing as the drama progressed was getting sloppy. I loved the camera shots in the early episodes but the later episodes' editing looked a little bit lazy.
4. The ending. I had the "bring it on" kind of mentality abt the drama's ending and didn't predict an ending bcs I trusted the drama would do good and I guess not expecting a lot was beneficial and made me enjoy the last episode because it was refreshingly simple, something you wouldn't expect from a drama that made you feel like you're on a rollercoaster ride all throughout. But inasmuch as I don't have any dissatisfaction with how the story ended, I didn't like the how the ending of the story was told, at least not as much as I loved the story-telling from beginning to middle. The voice over narratives of the characters in the last episode were giving everything away, the complete opposite of how it was so secretive at the start which made the drama fun to watch in the first place. Because of this, I get the feeling that the drama was rushed. I feel sad because had the drama had high viewer ratings, there would have been a big chance they would have extended it to 20 episodes and it would be fine, if not better.
But despite these dissatisfactions, the drama was a really good watch and it doesn't make you regret spending approximately 16 hours of your life watching it. Have fun watching!!
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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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Story
The plot is fairly simple; a genius criminal profiler teams up with a female badass cop in order to solve crimes together. The story is somewhat common so when I first picked up this drama, I wasn't expecting too much since I've seen quite a few crime-based drama which did not exceed my expectations. Why? Because I am a huge fan of crime-based series.
This drama started off with a Sherlock vibe and a mystery which was to be expected- hooking me right away. This story really makes us wonder, How do we define monsters in our society and whether are monsters born that way or did our society create them. The plotline was suspenseful as the mysteries from their past are brought up which leads to a web of more mysteries.
Although this drama didn't have too much violence shown compared to other series, the one thing that stood out the most to me was the fact that this drama incorporated a psychological like aspect to it, as it makes you question society's morals and views on 'monsters'. The drama was paced well without any boring parts or major plotholes; however I would say that the ending could be improved on since it didn't give me a huge sense of closure.
Acting
The acting in this drama was superb; how Seo In Guk managed to convey his pain and emotions so easily made me fall in love with his character. The kid actors in this drama deserve an award as well since they portrayed their sadness and agony so well that it made me cry for them and their situation.
Jang Na Ra who played the female lead was amazing; I've seen her in several other dramas and she always had the same soft easy-going character, so when I saw that her role in this was completely different- I was excited! She portrayed her character amazingly as I loved how she was able to stand up for herself! Her chemistry with In Guk was amazing as well! Although she is older than him by a few years, I think their chemistry together was really cute!
Another actor I want to mention is Park Bo Gum (Jung Seon Ho). His acting and portrayal of a 'monster' character was beautifully done as it really makes you wonder and realize that 'monsters' or psychopaths you would call them really do not understand their actions.
Music
The music was really enjoyable; as it reminds you easily of a Sherlock vibe. It really gave you a mysterious detective kind of feeling and the other soundtracks were equally enjoyable!
Rewatch
This deserves a rewatch! Especially when you are able to rewatch it, you might be able to pick up on new details you may have missed before!
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Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
One thing about this drama: You can't really hate anyone, even the evilest monsters here you can't really hate them. Because they are so good at being evil and their personalities and thoughts are so deep that one can only slow clap and admire such cleverness. The writer tries to make us -in some way- understand them and understand the reasons of their actions. The drama sets the premise that there's no evil or good action that isn't justified, whether it's right or wrong doing that, there's still a "valid" reason to do that in someone's point of view. We literally get into the mind of a psychopath.The interactions between every character (mainly the main lead and his enemy) are pure gold. Each one of their scenes is so cleverly done that you just want more and more scenes of them talking or interacting in some way.
The characters, my god! Every character is important, every character is multidimensional and necessary for the plot development. It feels that they are not just simply fictional characters but real human beings living their lives, struggling and bonding.
The acting is superb! I have 0 complaints about the actors job. It was PERFECT.
Spoilery part, BE CAREFUL!!
The only reason I didn't give this drama a perfect 10 is that I wasn't surprised at all about the main mistery. The drama sets some "misteries" about who is the lost brother or the evil serial killer but I already knew who was who since episode 4, so I felt kinda disappointed because I wanted to be surprised, is probably not the drama's fault, maybe is my fault haha but I wanted to be surprised by this and I just wasn't. But the rest of the drama was perfect.
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