Trilha Sonora #2 (2023)

Nice short length drama we should try it

The thing about sequels is that you would expect to see the magic of its predecessor reflect somewhere. There are certain expectations of the sequel from the viewers. Soundtrack #1 was an instant favourite due to the breezy chemistry between South Korean actors Park Hyung Sik and Han So Hee. They were paired up for the first time on-screen. Similar expectations were levied onto its sequel Soundtrack #2 which premiered earlier this month. Noh Sang Hyun aka Steve Noh and Geum Sae Rok star as the leads in the anthology sequel. Taking the idea of Soundtrack #1 ahead, Soundtrack #2, a six-episode short story, also features a story of love and heartache backed by melodious tunes. Ji Su Ho [Noh Sang Hyun] and Do Hyeon Seo [Geum Sae Rok] were college lovers but broke up because of their differences and contrasting ideologies. Neither of them fully moved on from the past, but they carried on with their lives. Now, four years later, the two coincidentally crossed paths. However, even in different spaces in their lives, the unresolved issues creep up as they spend time together in the present time.
Ji Su Ho is now the CEO of an entertainment company which backs creators and Do Hyeon Seo used to play the piano but had to hit pause on her career. Now, she works several part-time jobs to pay her bills and keep her piano studio afloat. Demian stars as K, an aspiring musician. As fate would have it, K, Su Ho and Hyeon Seo came together for a music project. As they spend time together working on the project, they find resolutions for their past and present dilemmas. K grows feelings for Hyeon Seo but she does not reciprocate them. The two remain friends. Hyeon Seo and Su Ho give a second chance to their relationship, but unresolved emotions surface as they navigate their current lives.

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Cliché, so what?

I guess, I watched this at the right moment for me: I needed something light, fluffy, with minimal angst and drama. And I got exactly what I asked for. And liked it a lot finding it almost perfect until they hit us with the last episode. This is a story of second chances at love, rectifying past mistakes, repeating the same errors, learning from others, growing as a person, accepting one's flaws, getting better.

Four years ago, they were poor but in love, he had big dreams, she worried a lot. Until she could not stand it any more and she broke up with him. He went on to become a successful internet producer while she stayed down in the doldrums, trying to find a way out and failing, repeatedly. She has a big chip on her shoulder, huge inferiority complex and refuses to accept kindness and help from others. They meet again, sparks fly and in spite of past unresolved conflicts they start dating again. But it is, again, a disaster! Until she finally realizes the error of her ways and mends herself and her relationship. He is a saint basically! He loves her and forgives her all her mistakes and wrong judgements while she holds him responsible for making her feel inferior. All he wants is to help her achieve her dreams, be there for her. She gets it wrong every time. He asks to talk everything out, while she keeps saying he does not understand her without explaining anything. Talk to him so he can understand you, you idiot!

I liked the story. It is nothing new or groundbreaking just a story of second and third chances at love. The first five episodes were extremely well paced and the story flowed nicely with them bickering and fighting, him trying to push out gently the other man in the picture, nice and caring friends (who of course crush on each other!). And then they almost ruined everything with the last episode which was rushed, illogical and unnecessary! So halfway through another one of her depressions, she has an epiphany, gets aware of all her errors and gets back with him! She definitely needs therapy! This is where dramas go so wrong: being in love cures all ills! No! She was traumatized by her injury which stopped her from playing the piano professionally but she never addressed the problem!

This is more of a disappointed rant than a review. I still enjoyed it but it could have been much better!

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Unsatisfying Second-Chance Romance with a handsome Steven Noh

Soundtrack #2 is another short series with music in the backdrop. This time, the drama focuses on a second-chance romance, which is a trope that I like. Unfortunately, and as other reviewers have said, it’s not a satisfying drama. I don’t quite remember what happened in Soundtrack #1 aside from the friends-to-lovers theme. So this review is based solely on this drama.

Although the acting is fine and everyone is nice to look at (did you see Steven Noh’s chiseled and masculine face? ? ), the writing is lacking. I am missing the longing, the angst and the sizzling chemistry from the leads. The first part of the drama is more interesting with the supposedly love triangle and a jealous ML. Kei is cute and sweet, but we know he’s never a contender. I do enjoy the music he was making with FL, but the song was played so much that I got a little bored.

The drama did not do a good job in resolving the problems from the past. As much as I love the kisses, the lingering problems are still present. It tries to resolve that by showing us FL’s enlightenment of her problem but was done unconvincingly and too late. Viewers don’t see FL’s point of view until very late in the drama and by that point, I don’t think she deserves ML anymore. The ending also doesn’t quite make sense when ML showed up. They need to either break up or temporarily separate before meeting again. FL needs to work on herself before rushing into another relationship.

I will only recommend this drama if you want to look at the handsome Steven Noh, or want something really short to kill time.

Completed: 12/23/2023 - Review #385

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Reuniting

A bittersweet drama about reuniting with each other. Their relationship was soo honest they had such different lives but attracted one another in other ways. They found what made them happy but had to let go of each other more than once to make it work in the end ? The ML has such a strong personality and never gives up on his dreams and proves everyone wrong but when he comes to love he’s such a softie, the FL is a hardworking character that doesn’t want to get in people way but really loves people dearly just doesn’t know how to express them.

- I’m shocked why this drama how lower rating compared to #1 but this is such a bittersweet drama that makes you cry.

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How about the journey?

I hate how kdramas depict capitalist struggles and the stoicism they attach to it. Suddenly the struggle gets 100 times harder than it already is without the stoicism.
I hope, as a global community, we can all go to the root of the problem so we can move forward as a healthier and more humane society. We're not made for capitalism and we're social animals, we need community, we strive in community.

I don't believe the FL had low self-esteem. Not relying on other people is usually a symptom of trauma. It's usually experienced by people who have, throughout their lives, found out they don't have anyone they can rely on. Having to pay back every help you were offered, means you have had many people let you down and know there are no free lunches. Failing to build trust and friendships as a result is what she would have to overcome. It doesn't make much sense that she can't seem to rely on anyone since she has a very supportive mother and she had received help from a friend. She doesn't seem to know how friendships work. It would have been better to end at episode 5 instead of painting the issues with the relationship in such superficial terms.

The male lead suffered from something very typical of heterosexual men. They don't listen or pay attention and do as they please. Not listening to something someone with trust issues says or goes through furthers the trust gap. Where there's no trust, there can't be a healthy relationship.

Capitalism in action, where your worth is dictated by what you do and how much money you have, will certainly interfer with a normal relationship. A fragile relationship will certainly suffer even more. But, all the money in the world can't get a man to start listening and paying attention. He did, however, show maturity when he proposed to communicate instead of ignoring the issue.

Camiño de Santiago is seen as a spiritual journey and a journey of faith, very closely linked to the Catholic religion and the spiritual struggles of being a Catholic. It felt like they treated the journey as a vacation, we didn't get to see the impact, we saw all the problems solved but we don't even know to which extent. Did she relent all control? Did he start to listen?

It seems weird that she goes on a journey of self discovery with company. I honestly don't understand the message. Is there a message?

Anyway, it made more sense than the first one. I know shorter dramas can be challenging to adequately portray a story. It was a good and fun, at times, drama to watch.

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I understand her...

I am actually stopping to think about the FL's POV. Right? I am also acknowledging that some of this is steeped in Korean culture regarding 'owing others'. However, if you step outside of that and instead think of her as an independent woman, you can see where she's coming from. Especially if you're very concerned about people calling you a gold digger for loving a rich man. Its definitely something to worry about.

This does bring up the question of - does she take it a step too far? Show me an independent woman who doesn't want an independent man. One who has loved you through and through? She needs a conversation with a therapist first before she enters into another long term relationship. This is why the end is not satisfying to me.

Watch this drama with a discerning eye. I trust the filmmakers and am recommending this series. Its short and quick on the binge. Also the visuals are great!

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Good vibes, bad pacing of character development

I think this drama had a very good start and I didn't mind that there would be another guy to pressure our leads, even though we all knew he had no chance. Just overall, I really loved the vibe of the show as well; the music and soft cinematography were really comforting, not to mention how the chemistry between our leads was off the charts.

The ending felt a little rushed, however. I'd say that the show was decently paced until the last episode, where the main leads went through getting back together, breaking up, some individual character development, and then getting back together again.

I feel like the contents of the entire last episode should've been distributed more evenly throughout all the previous episodes and the amount of love-triangle scenes could've been lessened (and I'm saying that as a love triangle enjoyer).

Hyunseo's insecurity problem should've prevented them from getting back together in the first place, and the ensuing episodes could have been spent on communication and her trying to work on that, rather than having them get back together first and THEN bringing back the insecurity issue to break them up again. With so much being stuffed in the last episode, there also just wasn't enough time to have the leads communicate more, and it made their final reunion feel abrupt and unearned. If we'd seen more character development outside of the romance it would've helped as well — like seeing Hyunseo's journey with the piano and Suho's journey with trying to find happiness in the little things again after working so hard the past few years.

Overall, I still think this was a light watch; Steve Noh is fantastic and I would love to see him in more melodrama/romcoms because he was great at both emotional and comedic scenes. I've loved the softness of both this series and the prequel Soundtrack #1, and I hope they follow this up with another miniseries.

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Change is bad. And not changing is also bad.

Soundtrack #1 was a delightful, short, sweet drama. And while churning out another drama just like it would have been a bad idea and recreating something entirely new wholly unlike Soundtrack #1 wouldn't have made any sense, the creators of Soundtrack #2 kept the core elements the same - a production focused almost entirely on the romance between the leads and a backdrop occupied by the music industry. A few other elements seem familiar too. There's a facade of a love triangle, but it's clear from the moment that it appears that the late appearing third corner is a distant third wheel.

There's not a terribly prodigious amount of material to review. The episodes are short. There are only six of them. The supporting cast is capable but they are more props than characters - existing to prod a bit of dialogue out of a lead during the moments when the other lead isn't present. The music is a bit livelier than the usual drama ballad and it's pleasant, but it's not the stuff that is going to light up the charts and fill an arena. It's more suited to busking in a park.

Is the plot credible? There's no ghosts or time travel or generation-repeating curse so points there. A music prodigy ends up washing out and teaching music after school to kids? Easy sell. Probably happens all the time. Is a guy who churns out YouTube material and winds up crazy wealthy and driving every luxury car brand on the planet believable? Well, it doesn't violate the laws of physics as we know them so it's possible. Is it possible that THIS GUY did that? Less likely.

And that's where #2 lives up to it's own moniker as not number one. THIS GUY is not Park Hyung Sik. And while Steve Noh, even to a viewer who has no physical attraction to the male gender, objectively by scientific means of measurement is very, very physically attractive. But he is not anywhere near the talent as an actor that Park Hyung Sik is. And casting Steve Noh as the successor to Park Hyung Sik's lead role does not work. Not even a little. Part of it is that the character is so insecure. But the frenetic, try-so-hard-all-the-time, suffocate-everything-he-touches approach overwhelms all the other aspects that were meant to humanize the character. In short, where the previous lead was always cool and natural all the time, this lead tries too hard to be cool all the time. It's change and it's a bad change.

Meanwhile, Geum Sae Rok's Hyun Seo is too much like Han So Hee's predecessor. Musical talent? Check. Struggling in her career? Check. Has a musical white knight come along that recognizes her talent? Check. Unsure of her own feelings for the male lead? Check. In short, it's not change and while it's not as bad as what did change, it's still bad.

Points for being short and well-shot and having lots of pretty stuff to look at. But with so much riding on how good the leads are, these lead characters and the actors playing them just don't measure up.

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Not Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Soundtrack #2 '' is a romantic comedy with a music essence.

The drama has indeed good music and all the pieces were enjoyable and fit the drama nicely.

On the other hand, and even though there were some parts that were indeed interesting, the love story was boring. It mainly suffered from the drama's length, which was too short and, therefore, didn't allow the story to breathe. Rather, everything was rushed, and nothing was properly and organically developed. Otherwise, it would have been an actual realistic love drama.

The aesthetics, on the other hand, were spot on, and the performances were smooth and enjoyable.

So, overall, four out of ten.

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Literally sobbing at the HEA

I was so surprised that it actually ended happily bc I wouldn't put it past the writers to give us a "realistic" ending. Anyways, I loved the fact that you could tell that the MML had definite golden retriever energy while the female lead was colder, yet still super nice. I'll admit, the break-up past portion could've been done differently IMO but it wasn't too bad. It was understandable why they broke up in the past and when all else fails, you can always use the excuse that they were too young to know any better. Either way, both characters made mistakes and deserved to be with each other in the end.

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Don't give up trying.

I started watching these series when I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep, and since so many people commented it was boring, I thought it would be perfect to help me. On the contrary! I ended up watching it all night and was nearly late for work in the morning. And still I couldn't bring myself to watch the last episode and was putting it off for a few days, because I expected some serious drama. Summaries that say this is two exes getting back together are wrong - it is so much more! This is not your typical K-drama where you expect a pretty female lead to act childlike while two rich and handsome men fight for her and solve all her problems. This is deep and serious, and filled with doubts and petty things and emotions we all deal with sometimes. Inferiority complex is real, feeling of failure in terms of financial success is very much girls' problem too. It's so refreshing to see a talented woman who is not obsessed with the idea of finding a rich husband and have kids for a change! She is doing her best at the very verge of physical effort. This is the first time in Korean series that I see a woman who's hair isn't perfectly styled or even washed (although she is beautiful of course). I would dare say that 3 female characters are rather feminist, because their life isn't orbiting around the idea of a family. They don't give up after failed relationships or businesses. I was especially touched by the story of origami artist. I know maybe most missed her character at all, but this is a character who has a passion in life, something that she loves and finds deep meaning in, and literally everyone around her just don't get it. This is a story of true loneliness and great love that she harbors, but it doesn't even involve another person, it is ultimate loneliness of someone who has so much to share and no one to share it with, no support. When she was making Buddha faces I almost cried. Sometimes there is nothing you can do, so you try to find support in the face of a paper god. This touched me so deeply... Girl, I FEEL YOU. Whoever wrote this, hear me - I FEEL YOU! And this vacuum of loneliness between so many people, who aren't even mean or bad to you, they just don't get you, they look at you, but just don't really see you. For all the lonely creators out there - you are not alone even though sometimes it might feel that way. Or most of the time. The main storyline is also great story of two adults that have their own insecurities, and love. The petty jealousy of the main lead is hilarious to watch but also veery relatable. The friend who cared enough to almost beat his best friend up so he would stop damaging his health is so touching too - everyone deserves a best friend like that! And they all exhaust themselves in their work, despite very different results.
This line towards a video channel "thank you for being a dear friend to me all these lonely nights when I had hard time"... I am totally quoting this wrong, but oh... Thank you all content creators that help me to not stay alone in the screaming silence of my thoughts during those sad and lonely moments. Thank you for your support and moments of shared friendship that you offer even though we will never know each other's names or even faces. This very series was exactly that for me! This story is mood! How inspiring this is to do your thing despite failure, despite the lack of support from your family, partners, friends, or anyone at all. I loved it so much it made me cry, but you know, a good cry, very touching. I will absolutely recommend to watch it to everyone, even though I know not many people will get it.
And I must confess that main male lead... he is so gorgeous he looks regal! I have a crush and I hope someone stars him in a costume fantasy drama where he would play a deeply troubled emperor, duke of someone aristocratic, but like evil with a great backside story, and of course there needs to be a great love storyline with a lot of drama too. I have so many ideas I think I should start writing it.
Thank you for this jewel of cinema everyone who made it!

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