Reviews

I LOVE this drama. I don't know what it is about it but it has stayed with me even though it was the 5th drama I EVER watched. I loved Minho (From Shinee) and I even liked Sulli (from f(x)) who surprisingly cut off nearly 3 ft of hair (one of her crowning glories mind you) for this role. Admittedly I will warn you the end is not my favorite and Sulli's English (much less ability to act like she lived in the US) is lacking but the rest of the story is fun. I like FUN dramas that keep me watching and make me feel warm and fuzzy and this drama did that for me.

When I think back over the dramas I have watched so far this one always comes to mind. All of the characters balanced out well and it left me feeling happy. :)

Leia Mais

Fun, Dramatic, Suspenseful, Tearjerker with a little bit of magic and history thrown in. That is this drama in a nutshell. I joke around that its a good precursor to a real sageuk because while it touches on history and is 24 episodes long, it is at its core a good old love story. This drama had me fainting over Lee Min Ho more than most of his other roles (I like the long hair) and crying through all the highs and lows.

The key thing with this drama is to take it for what it is, no its not historically accurate at all points. No its not a true sageuk (historical drama). No its not just action. But its like reading a good historical romance novel. It is a fantasy so don't take it too seriously but instead enjoy it for what it is.

Plus the action and magic is a fun twist.

Leia Mais

I don't need to write a review because there are 18 reviews already. However, I like to tell my future self why I rated a drama the way I did. So, here it goes.

Scarlet Heart is seriously addictive. I think I watched most of it in a weekend. I just couldn't stop. Historical dramas are not my favorite, because I hate politics. SH has politics, but it is a love story. A great love story. First, the costumes, settings, and overall cinematography is outstanding. It is beautiful and easily will transports the watcher to a different time. It is love from every angle in a variety of relationships. No one is perfect and the character development and dialog between the characters is meaningful. Ruoxi is a great female lead. She is strong and caring. Crazy that the thought of suppressing your emotions can kill you, but it can. I love her character. When you watch this, I am sure you will pick a favorite prince. I have my favorite also. From favorite to least favorite is 13th, 14th, 10th, 4th , 8th, and I hated the 9th prince. The 8th and 4th princes are fools. I sympathize with them and I get that they are ambitious and there is nothing wrong with that, but they gave up so much happiness for power. In the end I felt they got what they deserved. If someone had taught them how to love, then maybe it wouldn't have turned out this way. I get that the Emperor had a lot on his plate, but he created the mess. I had a problem with the cruelty of the Emperor and the 4th prince. I was emotionally invested in this drama from start to finish.

I don't know anything about the actors. I don't usually watch Chinese dramas, but I thought they all did a fabulous job. Liu Cecilia is beautiful and I was totally engrossed in her character. Ye Zu Xin is too cute.

I like the music a lot although a few times I wish it was just them talking.

I won't rewatch this but it is rewatchable.

I recommend this drama to everyone. I don't even like historical dramas and I loved this.

Leia Mais

I loooove the drama, until I watch the two last episodes. I think the two last episodes are so in hurry to complete the story. I don't know if it is the way they edit the scenes or they just want to resolve all conflict in the drama.

However, I really enjoyed watching Pinocchio. I extremely love Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk's chemistry. I even dream of they'll date in a real world. Hahhaa #shippermodeON

At first I thought it's be kind of weird story, a love story between the uncle and the niece. But I fell in love at the first episode. I enjoy interactions between Choi In Ha, Choi Dal Po, her fhater and grandfather. That bathing scene? Nobody expect that kind of bathing scene.

I also enjoy enjoy side characters loveline. And I like all characters in YGN tv. It's always entertaining watching their stories.

I think all avid k-drama watchers should watch Pinnochio. And I appreciate Jong Suk and Shin Hye's acting. I hope to see them again in other production. And, please, just date! I really love them both! XD

Leia Mais

This is another tvN drama that I've watched which leave a delighful feeling on me. I know there are still cliches here and there but I can forgive them because of the interesting plot and entertaining characters.

I like the female lead, Jang Mi, who'd like to marry someone meanwhile the male lead, Gi Tae, wants to stay single. At first I think the marriage scheme would so boring because this is not the first time when k-drama tells this theme. But after some episodes, I know this is different.

And I especially love the ending. It's kind of happy ending but not in oh-so-perfect-everyone-so-happy.

Leia Mais

Okay if you look at my rating it might confuse you on my opinion of this drama. Like other reviews have noted this drama started strong (hooks you good in the first few episodes) but then crashes and burns into a pile of smoldering s*#@. I was not happy with this drama, it was actually a real let down. The characters were so interesting at first but then they just keep making the same choices, the same moves and the same stupid mistakes with no real redemption of their character flaws. It is infuriating to watch as the show just seems to drag on.

As mentioned in some of my other reviews, I DO NOT EVER DROP A DRAMA- but this one came real close.

Redeeming qualities- the acting is good, I liked the father character, the male lead and even the second male lead. The girls were all strong and but they were each pathetic in their own way, it gave an interesting twist on the story.

BEST THING ABOUT THIS DRAMA IS ITS OST- "It has to be you" by YESUNG which is why I watched the drama in the first place.

I would not recommend this drama to anyone UNLESS you want to watch a few episodes drop it and imagine your own ending :)

Leia Mais

I will probably make some people mad with my review but it needs to be said. I watched this drama because of Kim Hyun Joong and because of positive reviews- this drama seemed to have a following like BOF- but despite Hyun Joong's ability to pull off his aloof character masterfully this drama was frustrating to say the least. I like to yell at characters from time to time (its just part of the experience like watching football- yeah they can't hear you but it makes you fell better) BUT in this drama I just wanted to SLAP Oh Ha Ni (played by Jung So Min). She was just pathetic and submissive and had no substance of her own. I feel like she could have been omitted from the story and it wouldn't have mattered. It was a romance and yet her pathetic nature did not make her enduring like it was intended too, it just made the character pathetic. Additionally some characters seemed to come and go as the series went on and they added no real substance to the story. To the point where I felt I had missed some important part of the story line. Mom and brother were also irritating at times; I mean really if your mom is that involved then she should have just made him get married right out. Brother was a little annoying only because he was continually rude.

I would not suggest this drama to anyone unless they just wanted to watch Hyun Joong be cute.

I am sorry to any fans who loved this drama, but I just found so little redeeming about this drama. If I didn't believe in finishing every drama I start this would have been one of the few I dropped.

Leia Mais

I read a few of the other reviews before I decided to post and I don't fully agree with them. Yes this is a sageuk (historical k drama) and yes it is long. 51 episodes may seem like a long show to watch but it is well worth it. There are of course artistic liberties taken with the story but the traditional story line is still there and this drama also does a good job with costumes and period accurate details. It keeps you on your toes and its not just a happy go lucky show, there is real drama and real suspense. If you can find the time for the whole drama you will not regret it, the characters good and bad make you love them. The lead female is powerful and impressive while being elegant. Leading men both pull off their characters well and while you will most definitely find your self screaming at the screen during this drama, its ability to frustrate and suprize its audience is one of the keys that kept me watching.

On another note if you are interested in history or in Asian culture this drama is intriguing and can give you new insight without being opressive.

I don't want to add any spoilers so I am going to have to stop here but as a last word this is my favorite sageuk and I recommend it to everyone.


***re-watch value is only low because it is long.

Leia Mais

Like someone else already wrote in their review, this drama was a nice breath of fresh air!

Totally unlike other Kdrama with the fake illnesses, the screaming mother inlaw, the lips touching but not moving kisses, the chaebol, the poor girl, the no talk of sex......basically all the fake-ness and overly dramatic-ness. This drama was a great combination of Korean culture mixed in with a hint of western.
Not to say this drama didn't have it's cliches but it was more bearable and realistic than what other kdrama portrays.

I really liked the character Joo Jang Mi and Han Yeo Reum. Jang Mi was a sincere and honest girl, always true to her feelings and never wavered. She's super caring and understanding of others, she's also independent and hilarious. Yeo Reum was mysterious but also really honest and sincere. He was a loving, fair and honorable guy.

I also liked the moral of the story. If you love someone and want to be with that someone, you have to love or at least understand their relationships and accept their past. The drama was realistic in the sense that they aspire for a "forever love" but they also knew that it doesn't exist but you strive for it anyways when you love someone. AND shit happens ALL the time, the murphy law, you just have to be prepared to deal with it and your relationship needs to be strong enough to survive.

Leia Mais

Pinocchio was one of the most anticipated dramas of 2014 ,and he sure didn't fail on impressing us .
First , one of the things that attracted me to this show was the cast . All of them were actual actors . Sorry if i offend anyone , but i liked that there was no idols-turned-into-actor . I aint saying that idols can't act , there are really great ones such as Yoochun or I.U . Well , let's not get out of the subject . A great cast , although i was worried about Park Shin Hye's performance . But this girl improved a lot and this drama made me like her a lot .
Second , here comes the plot and the storyline . God bless the writers . This drama didn't get boring at any point ! The relationships between the actors where mastered , we had the suspens , the thrilling scenes , well this drama gave us the feels . It was original , we didnt have the casual kind of romance , neither the usual drama . The events were original and the concept too .We had family love , mother care for her child , bromance , our darling couple , great kisses . We had everything we wanted .
Last but not least , The characters !!!!!!! I loved all of them , i swear all of them even the one who looked as the bad ones of the story . I melted for Dal Po's mature and lovely side , Yoo rae's cuteness ; In Ha's obligated honesty and Bum Jo's softness , without forgetting the MSC nd YGN Caps and the reporters , all the characters were beautifully structured. I can also garantie that the mai couple had such an amazing chemistry , one of the best i've ever seen ( and i watched over 150 dramas sooo.. ) .

So if you didn't watch this drama yet , i highly recommend it to you !!

Leia Mais

Just like I Hear Your Voice, I love how the writer teach us something after watching Pinocchio - No matter how many lies you have said, in the end, you will still need to face the truth, no matter how painful it can be.
THE STORY: HATS OFF TO THE WRITER, REALLY. The plot was really written very beautifully well. And I actually love how every single scene is like a piece of puzzle, piecing up to form the big puzzle, and there we go, we finally solved the mystery. Every single episode is just so intense, and there isn't a single part where I'd find it draggy or boring or whatsoever. It seems like the production team has already planned out carefully what scenes to be added in.

THE CASTS: I really want to rate 10/10 for this part!!! Every cast portrayed their role very well and it just makes the whole show so enjoyable, so exciting that it can give you goosebumps! However, I do like to compliment Seo Bum Jo and Sung Cha Ok's characters. Both of them gave me a great impression, because I get to see how both of them grow and become more mature since episode 1. I am actually awed by how Manager Sung is the one who learnt something from Dal Po instead. In other words, I am glad that I didn't have to hate her all the way in this show. (:

THE MUSIC: I didn't really hear much of the OSTs in background, only intense background sounds, so I don't have a real OST that I can really remember.

REWATCH VALUE: Sadly, I have to rate it as 7. I will rank it higher if there are more intimate scenes between the main couple. Honestly, I do not have any feels for this OTP, rather than OTP in I Hear Your Voice. Probably this show is targeted more towards the "revenge" part instead of the love story. Nonetheless, I will still rewatch if I have the feel to watch some intense scenes. (;

Leia Mais

STORY
I found the first half of the show fresh on its own merit. The conflict of the first arc got me hooked that I even found myself thinking about it before I sleep. I ask myself questions how, why, what will happen next? It was a thrilling ride for me because of its fast pace. Until the second half/arc comes in. I could care less about the evil moms lurking around than the poor tragic brother Dal Po has. I nearly dropped the show because of the plot and the constant "i must tell the evil truth about this some because i care". It slowed down on the second half. Good thing the cute was still there, but it was less angst. I love the family's bonding and love for each other. That's the best thing.

ACTING/CAST
The actors in this drama should be given a standing ovation. The drama's execution kind of cured some of the plot holes and "not so incidental" information gathering.
Park Shin Hye's character was refreshing. A heroine who was honest (because she has no other choice that is), and understanding is a nice project for PSH.
Lee Jong Seok's acting was superb as always. An acting which gets you right through your heart. Kim Hae Sook is another notable actress though her character here undermines her acting ability. She could have done more in the earlier episodes.
Beom Joo's character was a little inconsistent. Though it was a nice resolution for him.
Yoo Rae! All she did was pout. That's kinda sad.

REWATCH VALUE
With the story laden at hand, the twists would give a lesser effect already. But maybe I'll rewatch it. If I miss Dal Po's finger guns. HA.

Leia Mais

I find it impossible to write a review of this drama without comparing it to I Hear Your Voice. After all, like others before me pointed out, Pinocchio comes out of the same pen, same cameras, same musical instruments and even part of the same cast that created I Hear Your Voice. I couldn't get rid of the impression I was watching a remake of this last, just with a different setting and a male protagonist who can't read the mind.

Pinocchio's story is intriguing, very captivating, well written and highly thought-provoking. It's also very well executed, in terms of acting, camera work and plot development. I enjoyed all episodes and was eager to watch the next.
So why have I given I Hear Your Voice a full 10, and bestowed this one a "mere" 8,5?
In rating a drama I always try to be as objective as I can be - try being the key word. A show that awakens the intellect deserves high scores, but it's the emotional share which earns it a perfect score. I was intellectually very engaged by Pinocchio, but I felt slightly detached when it came to the heart. Among other things, the romance didn't make my heart flutter, not even once. Honestly, I can't even pinpoint a reason for this: Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk are both beautiful, very sweet in a puppy-like way, their respective characters lovable and their love story believable. And yet, it seems to me it lacked romantic tension, it was like watching two cute people in a commercial for shoes, or coats.
The moment they stopped being on screen, in my mind they also stopped being a couple.
On the contrary, I think Hye Song and Soo Ha are still dating, overcoming their differences and being happy together. I could mention many other drama couples that, to me, are still a reality somewhere in that evanescent world created by fantasy and therefore linger in my heart. Dal Po and In Ha are not among them.

Nobody's fault, mind you. The acting of all was above average and I was positively impressed by Park Shin Hye's performance. It must not be easy to interrupt every other sentence with a hiccup and make it sound believable. Her character isn't a champion of resolution, but she's very sweet and I liked her a lot. Lee Jong Suk is clearly a rising star in the drama world and can play this kind of role better and better. I loved the supporting cast, villain(s) included.

The music didn't make much of an impact on me either.

To explain my re-watch score, I'm going to confess a weak spot of mine: when a particular scene has a strong impact on me, I can't help but watch it again as soon as the episode is over. I haven't done so with any of Pinocchio's scenes. I may re-watch the entire show one day, but for now this ride, as much as it was enjoyable, is over.

Leia Mais