Uma Odisseia Coreana (2017)

For me: This is quite good drama despite of the worst CG effect

This is the 1st time i'm writing a review (sorry for my bad english)
I think this drama is QUITE GOOD and have great potential to be top drama but lost the steam when reaching the final episode.
STORYLINE is GOOD and i love it. (Although, there's a lot of people say that, this is a copycat of Goblin. Not at all, its totally different.) The thing that i HATE is the unnecessary scene, the drama duration is too long, so they add too much of unnecessary story.
ACTING is 10/10. Lee Seung Gi, Oh YeonSeo, Cha Seungwon & all other characters really save the show. I watched until the final episode because of their great acting skills.
MUSIC/OST: The OST IS GREAT. If you don't plan to watch this drama, i PREFER you to listen to all of the OSTs (Seriously, its Gold but very underrated, idk why)

WEAKNESS/LACKING:
1. Too much unnecessary scene (Might be because of long duration)
2. WORST Cinematography/CG EFFECT
3. The finale episode is slow

My advice is don't compare this to other fantasy drama, watch first then judge

Leia Mais

This Drama Gave Me Something That Made Me Want to Forgive its Flaws

I may be too late for a review but this I want to say what I have to say. I badly want to watch it when it was on-going but I'm so busy in my study back then that I stop watching dramas.

This drama started of fun and is really intriguing. They open up the variables little by little and open up many loopholes for each character and feature new characters (plus the side stories) as the story progress that slows it until everything turns out devastating as you became aware of what tragedy might happen yet having a little hope that things will turn up differently. But it was indeed tragic that I ended up crying straight the last two episodes. I don't really expect a happy ending, like happy- happy ending since I don't expect much of that in genres like this but this is just too tragic and disappointing because things turn out just the way it really is, like you expect from the characters they build whilst the story process only to end up like all of those progress don't made sense. Another thing, a lot of loopholes still are left open that it just left you hanging

Acting was great! Lee Seung Gi and Cha Seung Won really pulled this one really hard. I'm getting curious why a lot don't like Oh Yeon Seo but I think she just build the character perfectly for it. The supporting characters are good, even though some of them needs improving. The romance line seems new to me but the tension between them is exciting and they don't fail to bring up the chemistry anyway.

OSTs are bomb it will end up playing in your mind. The cinematography, effects, etc. are good except for the CGI in the finale.

All in all this drama is really something that you can enjoy but don't expect much on the ending.

Leia Mais

Twisted Story from Original Chinese Journey to The West

A Korean Odyssey is a twisted rewritten story from it's origin story about Sun Wo Gong (The Monkey King). Growing up with the original Chinese story, this Korean so called adaption is really far from the original story. It twisted the original story about the journey of Sun Wo Gong with Priest Tang San Zang and other disciplines to find the sutras into a merely love story between Wu Gong and Sam Jang.
I admire the creativity of the writer to twisted the story so much until lost the original meaning of the story, but on the same time it also make it lost the meaning of the story. TBH, if only want to write a love story, no need to take big name / character from ancient history.

On the original story the so called Sam Jang in Korean Odyssey is supposed to be a monk / priest, whom all evils / demons want to eat, as his meat can make them have eternal life. Well overall this drama still watchable, quite boring from episode 1-5, but picking up after with some funny scenes. And the thing that make me can continue watch this is the great acting from almost all of the casts!

My first impression: The story setting is similar with Cronicles of Narnia / Alice in Wonderland, when Sam Jang was a kid releasing Wu Gong.
Afterwards is just a RomCom Drama with some mystic factors. The most hilarious part to me was when the East Dragon prince sold in the fish market! And that Jonathan reminds me of Severus Snape on Harry Potter.
The ending is not really satisfying, maybe they wanted to have a 2nd season?
Conclusion: If you are not into the original Journey to the West story and watch this, I think you will find this drama entertaining. For those have watched the original Chinese story and not fans of any of the actors /actress, then maybe this drama will not be so satisfying.

Leia Mais

my one [big] issue.

this obviously has a LOT of issues but i actually had fun watching it so i don’t mind most of them, i finish it in less than a week and i enjoyed most of the time.
however there is something that bothers me specifically and it’s that i just can’t be 100% on board with this romance when we know that his feelings were forced that way. like i do believe he felt some sort of remorse/guilt (and that’s a stretch) before the geumganggo because he abandoned her when she was a kid so he definitely does threat her differently (like him fixing the umbrella) but that’s still not love.
and it’s not that i don’t like her character (though she is so badly written, like she truly had the worst character writing). i wanted her to be safe and that’s why i understand that at the beginning she had to give him the bracelet, but she should have taking it off of him a couple of episodes later and simply go with the original deal they made in ep1 and afterwards he could had still fell in love her, it would have feel natural and more deserving of him feeling heartbroken.
or if they wanted to go with the whole “its necessary to use the geumganggo in order to protect her and save the world” they could have made someone else to put the spell/bracelet on him and make it so he would start loving her and therefore having to protect her, and also making so in a way that she can’t take the bracelet off even if she wants to, that way at least it means that she is not the one who has the control of the geumganggo.
but we instead have to watch how she doubts all the time whether or not his feelings are real yet we already know they are not real, at the end he simply gave up and the show wanted to sell us this as if it was true love. we are told several time how the bracelet can actually harm him or even kill him yet in every moment she refuses to take it off.
there is a time when he tells her that she must not love him enough because she doesn’t want to remove the bracelet and that for him the geumganggo is actually a prison, i’m sorry but after those lines how can i believe this a real love story?

Leia Mais

Son Goku

One of the main reasons why I watch this drama is because of the original story of the Monkey King. This drama does have a lot of extra elements but it does stay loyal to the original story. It's also very funny especially Wang Ma moments. The relationship between Wang Ma and Son is really genuine; even though they seem to be against each other they are always looking out for another drama. I really their bromance over the main romance between ML and FL. Maybe, because I saw many good actresses in the past, I found Sam Jang [Oh Yeon Seo] acting skills to be lacking particularly her facial expression which didn't fit some of the scenes. Otherwise, she did a fair job. I like the zombie girl [Lee Se Young] better as she really plays the role of innocent girl and evil concurrently to its potential. All other characters were very unique as well like Pk and Yoon Dae Shik which made it more fun to fun. This drama also seems to play heaven as the "bad guy" because of love but then again the heaven is meant to carry out destinies to balance the force between peoples' free will and the universe. Aso, not the typically happy ending but it was understandable because Son and Wanf seem be more expressive of one another at the end and Wang also found his son. Wang and Son are one of the best duos in K-drama. I really feel like there could be a season two for this as there were a lot of unanswered questions or reunions.

Leia Mais

An Epic Journey of Enchantment and Stumbles

As an ardent devotee of Korean dramas, I embarked upon the enthralling odyssey presented in "A Korean Odyssey" with eager anticipation. Released in 2017 and also known as "Hwayugi," this drama promised a contemporary reimagining of the revered Chinese novel, "Journey to the West." While it possessed moments of brilliance and charm, it also encountered stumbling blocks along the way.

The crux of "A Korean Odyssey" revolves around Jin Sun-mi (portrayed by the spirited Oh Yeon-seo), a vivacious young woman blessed with the uncanny ability to perceive supernatural entities. Her destiny becomes entwined in a perilous prophecy involving Son Oh-gong (masterfully embodied by the charismatic Lee Seung-gi), a playful and enigmatic deity seeking redemption. The drama commenced with a robust start, harmoniously blending elements of fantasy, humor, and romance. Its contemporary setting breathed new life into the familiar tale, and the initial episodes brimmed with promise.

However, as the narrative unfolded, it became evident that the writing lacked a coherent trajectory. The plot meandered at times, introducing numerous subplots and characters without fully exploring their potential. Regrettably, this meandering approach impeded the story's pacing, resulting in certain storylines feeling rushed, while others languished unnecessarily. Although it showcased captivating moments, the overall story development proved to be a somewhat unfulfilled promise.

The drama's salvation lay in the exceptional ensemble cast. Oh Yeon-seo delivered a commendable performance as Jin Sun-mi, skillfully portraying her vulnerability and resilience. Lee Seung-gi's portrayal of Son Oh-gong was a captivating blend of charm, wit, and depth. The undeniable chemistry between the two leads drew viewers into their intricate relationship, while the supporting cast, including Cha Seung-won as the bullish deity Woo Hwi-chul, contributed their own unique flair to the drama's tapestry.

In terms of production, "A Korean Odyssey" boasted superlative visuals and impressive special effects. The fantastical elements were brought to life through vibrant colors and imaginative set designs, fashioning an enchanting world for viewers to immerse themselves in. The seamless integration of CGI and practical effects further augmented the drama's immersive quality. However, there were sporadic instances where the visual effects fell short, appearing lackluster or inconsistent, detracting from the overall production value.

The drama's original soundtrack (OST) presented a mixed repertoire. While it featured noteworthy tracks that aptly captured the emotional essence of pivotal moments, there were others that regrettably veered into generic territory, failing to leave a lasting imprint. The OST, while supportive in heightening certain scenes, lacked the cohesive impact desired.

Now, let us address the drama's shortcomings. As aforementioned, the storyline suffered from a lack of direction and occasional pacing issues. It failed to fully explore the potential of certain characters and subplots, leaving loose ends and unresolved conflicts in its wake. Additionally, there were instances where forced or misplaced humor disrupted the drama's overall tonal balance. Considering these factors, I would bestow a rating of 7 out of 10 upon the story of "A Korean Odyssey." While it possessed a strong premise and captivating moments, the overall execution fell short of its potential.

Regarding the actors and actresses, they merit a solid 9 out of 10. Oh Yeon-seo and Lee Seung-gi delivered commendable performances, their onscreen chemistry proving undeniable. The supporting cast equally contributed to the drama's allure, showcasing their talent and versatility.

Taking all facets into account, I would assign "A Korean Odyssey" an overall rating of 8 out of 10. While it possessed noteworthy strengths, particularly in terms of cast performances and visual production, the shortcomings in story development and pacing impede its full realization. Nevertheless, it remains a noteworthy drama within the fantasy genre, deserving of attention from fans of modern adaptations and captivating character dynamics.

Leia Mais

Am now a LSG pankha

I am writing this when am at episode 3, coz it hooked me up with its brilliant story. I wonder why it isnt in top 10 dramas of MDL.
Am hell addicted to this drama. Well i heard this of jinx that when an actor comes back from military his drama dosent gain much popularity..
Even if that a true or false i pray this sdrama gets its recognition.
●Lee Seung Gi has made me his fan at last. I had watched his other dramas before but now am head over heels fallen for LSG.
Finished this after a marathon bingewatch am a bit sad the drama finished.but Hell yeahhh am now a proud fan of LSG.What a master of acting, with each expression and dialogue you made me laugh and cry thoughout the drama. Am next gonna checkout his other dramas.
●The story was fantastic, I hate spoilers and when I thought that that this drama has already revealed what will be happening, I came to know am totally wrong. It has all the twist I couldnt resist. It maintained my wntusisasm till the very end.
●The ost are just mind settlers. They all have ran to my playlist. Let me out, am always behind you, when i saw you these arent just lines of the song these actually built the best BGM for the show. It also had some great pieces of BGM with piano.
●I loved the lee se young as zombie character, she played 3 character was very well. From being simple Bu Ja to notorious ahn se nyeo she was performed very well. Ma Wang and Son Oh Gong bromance was very entertaining.
It was the icing on the cake for me. Because cherry is Music.
● Am already ready with popcorn to have another marathon session of Hwayugi. For me its a must rewatch 10/10

Note_ have read this somewhere now i dont remember
Its the Post Military First drama jinx
That when an artist completes his Military service and returna back. The very first drama aftwe that doesnt do well. True or not i wish this drama gains popularity in future.

Leia Mais

Love Hate Relationship

After a few months of off and on watching - I finally finished and I not sure what to think about it.

It was a love-hate relationship. I loved how the drama started off with relationship building between Oh Gong and Seon Mi when they teamed up to go on demon hunting missions. I loved the creepiness of all the demons and the bantering between the two mains, but that is where that ends. I honestly disliked the relationship between the mains in the first 18 eps because of all the back and forth. Every time they took a step forward in their relationship, they would immediately take 3 back. But then the drama did a 180, and the last 2 episodes were extremely emotional and I was 100% in it to win it!

I think that is why I had a love-hate relationship with this drama, I loved the drama itself, but I disliked the characters. At first, I liked Seon Mi and admired that after having such a rough childhood and upbringing, she was this boss woman who used her powers to create this real estate business, but once she and Oh Gong were back in one another's lives, it was like she was this lost puppy dog and forgot her self worth and all the strength that she built over the years, just vanished. Then somewhere in the middle, I was just done with her. I also really didn't like how Woo Ma Wang was this comic relief character, but because of his selfishness, a lot of the issues that came to be at the end could have been avoided. It is weird though because I am not a fan of actress Lee El, but her character as Secretary Ma was my favorite in this drama - even though she was loyal to Ma Wang through all of his mischief, she was one of the only characters in this drama that stayed true to herself and never acted on selfishness. I didn't like most of the characters because they kept going back and forth with their actions and had no loyalty or communication with one another. Such as, I loved the relationship General Winter had with each character, but he had no problem throwing those relationships in the trash in order to gain something personally. But I must say, I really respected Sung Hyuk, Yoon Bora, and Lee Se Young for playing multiple characters in this drama. To be honest, I had no idea Sung Hyuk played both General Winter and The Summer Fairy until they literally said it in the drama about sharing bodies.

I am happy I watched this drama at least once. I finally got to watch something with Lee Seung Gi in it and I did love how this drama was, in a way, this ode to the god of mischief and his journey of retribution and I loved that his relationship with Seon Mi didn't change who he was, but it made him into a bigger person. And I understand why some comments say a season 2 is needed, and I would honestly love to watch a season 2 now that a lot of the cringyness of unknown feelings are now not an issue, but, I really liked how this ended. We got to see the god of mischief creating a plan to be mischievous, but we also see that he does have a heart of gold.

Not sure if I will rewatch this - but maybe for the first few episodes with their missions and not their complicated relationship.

Leia Mais

Les Dieux enpunition chez les humains...

Nous sommes constamment entre deux univers, les demi-dieux, démons et autres génies ont tous une apparence et un rôle dans le monde des Humains, mais bien sûr leur qualité divine entraîne pas mal d’effets secondaires. Ce ne sont pas vraiment de bons génies, ils se détestent entre eux, se jouent des tours pendables, ne se gênent pas pour se servir des humains sans trop les ménager. mais ils sont là pour avoir plus ou moins déplu et contrarié le Monde des Esprits ils n’ont plus tous leurs pouvoirs. Quelques humains vont se trouver mêlés à ce monde sans rien en savoir (sauf l’héroïne, qui connaît et voit les Esprits) .Il est impossible de résumer l’histoire tissée de nombreux fils qui donnent au final une tapisserie haute en couleur et très captivante.
Ce que j’ai vraiment aimé, ce sont les personnages, leur psychologie complexe, leur évolution, leur lutte contre leur destin, qui devient au fur et à mesure plus difficile et dangereuse. Mais par moment j’ai bien rigolé quand même, le personnage de Cha Seung Won en Roi des Diables/Directeur d’agence artistique est inénarrable et l’acteur est excellent dans un comique qui frôle le burlesque, mais peut aussi passer en mode « émotion » avec finesse et sensibilité, de temps en temps égoïste et cruel, puis généreux et amical. Son compère et ennemi déclaré (quelle bromance !! ) c’est Lee Seung Ki, le Grand Sage, lui aussi égoïste et cruel, (et l’acteur est au sommet de son talent, quelle évolution depuis Brillant legacy !) et lui aussi capable du meilleur et du pire. Mais bien sûr la retrouvaille avec Jin Sun Mi va lui apprendre que l’amour (nous y voilà !! ) possède une force que la magie ne peut égaler. Eh oui ! il y a bien une romance, à vrai dire )il y en a même plusieurs, la plus improbable étant entre une zombie en sursis et un Cochon/idol !) mais elle sont vraiment très bien faite, avec des moments très doux, puis touchants, puis très drôles, puis émouvants, puis déchirants…
La fin ? Elle est très belle, très bien écrite et construite, pas malheureuse, mais pas bisounours ni guimauve… Je l’aime autant que celle de Gu family book…
L’OST est excellente, pas mal de chansons mais elles ne m’ont pas gênées, pour moi c’est un compliment !
En résumé, drama très distrayant, plutôt addictif, qui m’a fait découvrir Lee Seung Ki, pour ma perdition !!

Leia Mais

CLASSICAL LEGEND SUN GO KONG

I love this drama, a Chinese classical legend Sun Go Kong in Korean modern setting. Rather the regular boring story line, this one here recovering old legend in many different modern twists and turns. 1995 Stephen Chow's movie 'a Chinese Odyssey part 1 & 2: Pandora Box and Cinderella' is a good referral for Sun Go Kong legend, how unruly monkey king refused to take in his fate but has fallen in love with a dainty ZiXia. At the end though, Sun Go Kong realized he couldn't defy his fate and ZiXia died from loving him. Not exactly similar with Stephen's movies which has countless similar remakes...I love the character of Devil King Woo and his faithful dog companion Ms. Ma - they are enrich the character of O Gong and Seon Mi (Samjang). The Zombie girl Richie is a beautiful girl...her character build up overtime...she isn't a rotten smelly zombie but into a devious long hatred ambitious evil spirit priestess Asanyeo to the king 1,000 years ago, and now seeks to marry Son Oh-gong for power and love. I also like the character of brother/sister Summer fiery/Winter General...they are contradiction of sweet and gentle, kind and considerate, sibling love and friendship. I give credit to Lee Han-joo: A real estate employee who works under Jin Seon-mi - he put up alot of s**t from irregularity, Yoon Dae-sik / Sa Oh-jeong: CEO of MSUN, a mobile phone manufacturing company - who would love to take care of all the group - cooking, cleaning, pay the bills, taking care of their worldly businesses.

I can understand the doubt Seon Mi has for O Gong's love...as he said casually...it's also Geumganggo, a magical bracelet that will ensure the obedience of anyone who wears it through the power of love, whenever O Gong feels the love it will squeeze his heart out. The original Geumganggo wore as a crown, whenever the feeling of deep love - it will tighten Sun Go Kong head to crucifying pain so he gave up his love to ZiXia. Of course, this drama didn't end up like that...

Leia Mais

Hong Sisters did it again

The pain was worth it. This drama was so good.

Story: I loved the story. It was well- written. Especially the romance part. It would have given it 10 but it seemed a bit dragged in the middle so 9.5.

Acting: Lee Seungi's acting really amazed me. This is my first time watching him and I have become his fan. None could play Son Oh Gong better than him. The comedy that the bromance served was awesome. Cha Seung Won's comedic scenes were the best. The supporting characters were all awesome, I especially liked Le Se Young acting. She pulled off two opposite characters in a wonderful way.

I do remember feeling irritated at Oh Yeon Seo's character a couple of times because i wanted to see a more stronger woman but the makers literally turned her into a damsel in distress, which annoyed me a bit.

But the lead's chemistry compensated for that. I am in love with this couple. The romance was beautiful and well acted. I, especially liked the tension between them in the starting episodes and hoped it remained like that for some more episodes. Nevertheless, its a perfect 10/10 from me for the Romance.

Music: the Music was bop. I still listen to "If we were destined" and "when i saw you"

Rewatch Value: i am already planning to re watch it. Its definitely gonna be in my top 10 kdrama list.

Leia Mais

Overall this drama shook me both mentally and emotionally, the storyline was so unique and interesting and new! the fact that I felt so pulled into this drama surprised me, the cast were perfect for their characters and each emotion portrayed on screen I felt myself.
The ending hit me most and without posting a spoiler I'm going to tell you I cried a lot and I think thats why this drama felt so good from my own perspective.
The Plot was great and each episode was interesting and I didn't feel at any point that the drama dragged, with funny and serious scenes and amazing characters and acting this drama as a whole was amazing.

Leia Mais