Reviews

“If there’s a chance that I’ll be reborn, I’ll make sure I”ll be healthy in my next life and I will love you much more and much longer than I did in this life. Then I’ll be the one who’ll protect you.”
Finally got around to watching dramas again. Real life is so demanding sometimes, however I’m so pleased that I chose to continue and finish this drama. I had watched a few episodes while it was airing but like I said real life had gotten in my way and I wasn’t able to finish it till now. If you have read my reviews before, you know that I’m a huge melodrama fan, and though this isn’t strictly a melodrama..it had all the aspects I love about melodramatic dramas. I found myself crying in almost every episodes, and I love that. I love the fact that the writing in this drama actually made me care about the characters, all of them, and worry about what would happen in the end. I must say though, that I was a little worried about watching this drama in the first place. It seems I’m always a little cautious about drama with idols in them. I had never watched any other dramas where SNSD’s Sooyoung was the main female, so I was a little hesitant to say the least, since many of the SNSD girls have kind of disappointed me in their dramas.

Cellular Memory, the thought that maybe the organs donated by people may retain the memories and feelings of those who have passed, will be passed on to those who receive the transplant is a really interesting concept. I am no stranger to this, and have seen many movies, and read up on the subject. It is an interesting theory, and it depends on who you ask when they come to believe this. A drama set somewhat around this premise was something that really drew me to it. However, the drama is more about love, life, and death, and how donating can change a person’s life since it was stated in this drama that Korea has one of the lowest percentages of donors in the world. Though the drama starts with the nation of Cellular Memory and some hints of medical, we do stray away from those theories and medical related content for most of the drama, in my opinion. This drama leans way towards the romance aspect of its genre and there isn’t anything wrong with that. Romance between large age gaps, can sometimes be a complicated thing to film, and show especially since Sooyoung is a idol, but I thought they did it justice. They didn’t nee to me physical to show the love and emotions they had for each other, and it showed how they were connected on a much deeper level than just that, and I think it worked out so well for this drama.

I thought the acting in this drama was so good. I really appreciated the cast in this drama. They gave it their all, for the level they were up to acting wise, and I never thought to myself that they seemed awkward or out of place in the drama, which can happen from time to time in many dramas (even those that are good). Kam Woo Sung did a great job as the leading male, he was charming and he played the character well. I could see why someone would fall in love with him, his rustic charms came through perfectly in his portrayal of the character and he seemed realistic, and not fake and that could come from both his acting skills and the writing. Sooyoung surprised me a lot in this drama. I didn’t know how I would feel about her, but I think she fit the role perfectly. Is her acting mind-blowing, no, but she did the role justice and that’s all I can really ask of her for right now. She hasn’t been the MAIN in a drama that many times, and I think she did a great job for the character she was portraying. It was great to see Lee Jun Hyuk again, though he is second leading male and that makes me sad. I want him to be leading male so bad, because I think he is such a great actor and deserves it. I haven’t seen him in a drama where he was, so that kind of bothers me..not saying I have seen all his work..but from what I have seen he does a really good job and this drama is no exception. Though many people may not be on board with his actions, as a character, I think he had good intentions and he does actually care for Bom Yi..maybe not in a romantic way per-say but he does care for her. I thought he put on rather great emotional scene and he made me feel for him. I thought he fit perfectly in this role and I love seeing him in dramas. I may be a little bit of a fangirl..forgive me. I would love to talk more about the cast, however this review is getting a little long, but I thought the cast was amazing. They had some really talented actors and actresses in this drama that spans many ages and I enjoyed them all!

Overall I thought this drama was great. It really hit my heartstrings hard and tried to pull me apart. The OST and cinematography in this drama was beautiful and helped elevate the great writing and acting in this drama as well. The ending however, is up for debate on what actually happens. It is an open-ending and I know many people do not like that, however I do enjoy them. It is up to you to maybe put the pieces together and figure out what really happens in the end. However the answer is not set in stone, and many people like to point in a certain direction and say yes THIS IS what happened however, unless the write comes out and says “well this is actually what happened” I think its fair to say that you may interpret it however you want, just be aware that the ending may not satisfy everyone, though I was very much okay with it. I think this drama was beautiful and it had me in tears through most of it. If you enjoy romances, which this is such a sweet one, and melodrama (which are my life) I think you would most likely enjoy this drama. It may not be an outstanding melodramatic drama, no, but it gets the job done and I cant fault it for that because it did take me on a emotional journey and I will definitely remember it for that.

Leia Mais

"Love can happen when you least expect it, and you can lose love just like that too. That’s why you should seize love, not wait for it."

Once again a tvN drama steals my heart, Plus Nine Boys, a drama about four men in a family that ages all end in 9..which according to Korean superstition is bad luck or something along those line, I wont go into full detail about it. But as we follow these men’s lives we discover that maybe it’s not just bad luck but life that is in their way. This drama overall is about the life and year of these boys as they live in their plus nine year, as they journey through both romantic and friendly relationships and just plain old every day lives and the future that is ahead of them. At first I thought this would be a drama that would be all about bad luck, that bad things would happen left and right to these four guys, but I was wrong. This is more of just every day types of situations, that could happen to anyone and how they go along with it.

The drama had a lot to do with romance/relationships which was a huge part of this drama and I personally loved every moment of it. It’s strange that this is a romantic comedy and I loved it so much, knowing me..I’m usually not up for those types of dramas but for some reason tvN knows how to produce dramas that I just fall for. Their writers or whoever come up with stories and characters I just connect with and , the comedy aspect fits with more realistic and every day situations, nothing over the top and cheesy about it and I really like that about this drama and many other tvN dramas I have seen. Its just realistic, and even when it comes to the end of the drama..its realistic. Yes some may have love and move on and marry, some may end their loves and some will just stay the same..it didn’t give up a oh well they are first loves so they HAVE to stay together, or that a relationship is perfect and it doesn’t effect anyone else, or just because you were in love with someone doesn’t mean that they want you back necessarily and they have baggage too. However, there was something that kind of bothered me about this drama and that it was too short..but I’m just complaining because I didn’t want it to end. I think it probably was the perfect length for it, nothing was dragged out of long amounts of time and we didn’t just drag our feet each episode. Each episode had its point and it kept me entertained from start to finish.

The acting in this drama was great. My little model baby Kim Young Kwang has stuck me again and I feel so proud of him every time he comes out with a drama. He did a great job in this role, and I thought he portrayed his character so well. He made me laugh and he even made me feel emotions..though I didn’t cry. I only cried twice during this drama, and it was in episodes near the end of the series. However that being said, I still really enjoyed it and the performances given. Like I was saying..Kim Young Kwang was great and handsome as ever, him and his character were both charming and I feel my mother type proud-ness towards him. Oh Jung Se was fantastic as well, he made me laugh so many times during this drama, and somehow came from being goofy to really making me see him as a man at time. Now many people may not of liked his character or the choices he made or the way he went around to getting is romance..and I didn’t agree with him 100%, but I did support him. I could understand where he was coming from, and I think the writers get a thumbs up for that, and Oh Jung Se for being able to pull off the role. Yook Sung Jae, I was surprised..I don’t know if this was his first drama or not, but for an idol (because I guess I might discriminating against idols sometimes) I thought he did a great job. I was extremely invested in him and Park Cho Rong’s story line. They really made me feel, and both of them did a great job with their characters..I even got some squeals from their adorable moments which is rare for me..so props to them.I was really surprised to see Kyung Soo Jin in this drama, I never realized how old she really is, since she played the younger high school self of the main character in Shark…I just assumed she was a teenager, but obviously not. Damn is all I can really say. I really liked her in this drama as well, she is one of my favorite female characters of 2014, because for some reason I can just relate to her and how she is guarding herself because of hurt. And some people may be angry at her for thinking its her fault, and feeling annoyed, but its just her character and it fits her personality well, and I thought she played it well. The rest of the cast I would love to talk about like, Choi Ro Woon, You Da In, Kim Hun Joon, Minha and so on but this is getting to be pretty long. Overall I thought the acting in this was great, and that goes along with the writing, because without such strong and distinct characteristics for each character it may of been difficult for them to actually portray these characters that I grew to love.

Overall from the amazing soundtrack (which was top..soo much good indie music that makes my soul happy) to the cinematography to the acting/writing in this drama..I really enjoyed all aspects of it. I think its a really great romantic comedy and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t really do romantic comedies. There are characters in this drama that you just cant help but love and want to root for till the end, and the at the same time you feel bad for rooting for them because it may hurt someone in the end. Its a complicated roller coaster of emotions while watching this, but I had fun none-the-less and I think it’s totally worth anyone’s time if they are searching for a new drama to watch and for those looking for a new romantic comedy in their life, I personally think this hits the spot.

Leia Mais

"According to the rules of the game, everything has to move forward… even if hell is at the end."
This has to be one of the most enjoyable and emotional experience with a drama I have had in 2014. I had been so excited to watch this drama, since the day it came out..but knowing me and the stupid life I live, I didn’t have the time or the effort to watch it as it aired, but sometimes watching a drama when it’s over is the best. I got to watch as far as I wanted, as long as I wanted, and when I wanted and that is always a pretty great deal. It took me so long to finish this drama, not because of the drama itself, but the Holidays…I finished 16 episodes in 2 days then Christmas and family things came up, but now that I’m done with it…I feel sad. This drama was such an amazing roller coaster ride of emotions, every single episode had me in tears.
You may think watching a drama about people working in a office building would be boring, but it was far from it. I had some of the most suspenseful and nail biting feelings from this drama, than I have had in some of the action/mystery dramas I have watched. I have had more emotional connections to characters than I can say I have with any other character in 2014 thus far, and that is saying a lot since there have been a lot of dramas that I have been emotionally invested in. But the writing of these character got me, because they are normal people trying to live their lives and not sink, I just felt like I understood the main character so well, since I’m pretty much going through what he is, and we are around the same age. I understand how he feels like he has wasted his life, and I just had such a strong connection to him, and wanted him to succeed no matter what. However, this drama is for the most part, extremely realistic and sometimes we can’t always be winner, and things don’t always turn out how we plan and I really like that about this drama. It shows us how life really is, and that it’s not just always sunshine and roses, and that even though our main character is down in the dumps and isn’t living this best life, just because it’s a drama doesn’t mean he is going to suddenly become the coolest kid on the block or live a fabulous life like all these other dramas out there. Its realistic, we cant always turn into Cinderella, because that’s just not life.
They gave each character so much depth and personality that it was hard not to root for them, even when at times you may of wanted to slap them across the face. Some people never change, and didn’t have much character development as a person, but that too is also like life…sometimes being an asshole, you stay that way forever (even if you get what you deserve), however many characters did develop wonderfully. It was amazing to see our four little new employees develop so well, and to see how they changed from immature to more mature, or to more understanding and more intellectual. I really enjoyed that.
The acting in this drama was just off the charts. I really enjoyed everyone’s performances, and I wish I could talk about every single character, however I can’t because this review has already become extremely long. Siwan did an amazing job, and I didn’t expect any less from him. Coming off his great performance in another one of my favorite dramas of 2014, Triangle, it was good to see him in a staring role. He did such a good job as our main character Geu Rae, that I was really in awe. I hope that in time he will be placed in more and more dramas because he is such a good actor. He is one of those idols, I don’t even consider idol actors anymore, he does such a good job. He is in the category of just plain actor, no idol attached, because he can out act many professional already and with time and more experience I can just see him going far in the acting business. Lee Sung Min never disappoints, it was great to see him in this drama. I haven’t seen him in anything since Golden Time, where he shined so brightly, and this year he did it again for me. He is such a great actor, I truly have no words for him. He played his character so well, and it made you feel so many emotions and even without having to shed tears you could tell how emotionally invested he was in scenes. He really out did himself, and I praise him to heaven and back for that. Kang So Ra did a great job well, coming off of Doctor Stranger which was a pretty weak drama in my opinion, she shined in this. Her character was inspirational and she played it so well, I really loved everything about her and its hard for me to say that because at times many female actresses dont live up to my expectations or to their male co-stars but she really did shine brightly!
I’m going to be honest, this is the first time I’ve seen Kan Han Neul in a drama where he can shine, the only other drama he has been in that I’ve actually half enjoyed was Monstar, all the others were dramas where I couldn’t even focus on him or care to because of how terrible they were. It’s about time he got a role in a drama that had amazing writing, because he shined as well. He showed how good of an actor he is, and how he doesn’t need to be in those fluffy over the top cheesy romance dramas because he can be a serious actor, he can act his butt of and I would really like to see him in an extremely well written melodrama because I think he would do a fantastic job. This was Byun Yo Han’s first drama, and boy did he do a fantastic job, lord I cant take it! I am super impressed by him and I will be putting him on my list of must watch as he grows list such as my babies from White Christmas (seeing how amazing most of them turned out and how well they are doing) so I’m really excited to see him in more things! I think he will do well, and he played such a lovable character, that grew on you when you weren’t so sure about him, and he played it off well. I think that he has a real career in the drama industry ahead of him and I’m eager to see what 2015 hold for him! And lastly Kim Dare Myung, this was also his first drama, though he has been in many movies (and Byung Yo Han has been in movies as well) he really did a fantastic job in this drama as well. I really enjoyed his character and he had some the best parts as well, and I really want to see him in more..I was disappointed to learn this was the only drama he was in. I think from how well this drama did that both him and Byun Yo Han will be seeing more dramas in their near future and I am really excited to see them!
Overall this drama was amazing, I’m just going to put that out there. From start to finish I found myself entertained and emotionally invested in the story and characters. The OST and the cinematography were also on point and it was great to see so much character development throughout this drama, not only from our main cast but also side characters as well, and though there was technically no love lines in this drama..it really didn’t matter. I was happy there was no romance, because most likely it would have taken away from the impact that this drama has. This drama, about the lives of ordinary people and how they deal with it, was one of the best dramas of 2014, and is now one of my favorite dramas of all time. I couldn’t recommend this drama enough if you payed because this is just a drama that you need to sit down and watch because it is worth all 20 episodes, because this drama has it all..it has a beautifully written script, amazing music, beautiful camera work and an outstanding/amazing/brilliant cast…I can’t recommend it enough!

Leia Mais

This is one of my favorite historical dramas of all times. I love The Princess' man, Legend of Lu Zhen, and many other historical dramas but King's Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang tops all of them.

Seol Nan(Soo Baek Hyang) is my favorite heroine of all time. And that's saying something because I've seen a lot of kick-ass heroines. Her character growth was stunning and after I finished the drama, I was left sitting there, gaping at the screen, because I couldn't believe how much Seol Nan had grown. In the beginning, she was a kindhearted, carefree girl who was an angel. She doesn't take the easy way and act as a maid when she enters the palace. Oh, no. Instead, she joins the nation's most special elite military force. And no, she doesn't just walk in and demand she be part of it. She gets put through trial after trial, constantly kicked, punched, and doesn't receive special attention because she's a woman. She's not afraid of being dirty. She's always covered in her own blood and bruises. She's always tested, and almost dies in many of the tests. She hardens and learns that not everyone can be trusted. But, at the same time, she gains the respect of the men in the military force. She gains many life-long friends who are loyal to her. She's sent on numerous, highly dangerous, undercover missions because she's the only one who can do it. She's beaten, tortured, betrayed, and ridiculed, but she never gives up. Ever. She remains loyal to her nation. She is the reason why her nation has become so strong. She is the key person responsible for the success of the nation. She is a warrior princess. She fights in the front in wars, goes undercover, and not afraid of death. At the end, I can barely recognize her. The woman I see at the end is infinitely times more mature, strategic, calculating, but still kind. She's not afraid to get revenge, and to destroy anyone who threatens her country. As she says, "Don't push me. Otherwise, you won't even recognize me, as I will be a terrifying beast."

Seol Hee. I don't know how to describe the hate/love relationship I have with this girl. She's evil and manipulative but at the same time immature and ignorant. In the beginning, Seol Nan and Seol Hee have a sweet sisterly relationship but that relationship changes, drastically. By the end of the drama, I was crying for them because they once had the sweetest relationship in the world. But, everything changed. They can not go back to what they originally were like. You'll love her. You'll hate her. You'll want to strangle her. And you'll want to hug her. She's a character that makes the audience goes through a mix of emotions.

The romance: the romance was funny, sweet, emotional, and heart-breaking. It's a 108 episode drama so there's bound to be a lot of conflicts. In the beginning, they were mere acquaintances. That developed into friendship. Then, a budding romance. No instant love. They slowly trusted each other. Then lovers. I love their romance, a lot. There's a lot of heart-breaking towards the end as the truth is revealed.

The acting was amazing. Especially Seo Hyun Jin who acts as Seol Nan and Seo Woo as Seol Hee. Both of these two actresses made me cry, angry, and get extremely emotional. Seo Hyun Jin's portrayal of Seol Nan's growth was stunning. She can be extremely kind one second and turn into a cold, calculating woman the next (when necessary if she's threatened). Seo Woo gave an outstanding performance of Seol Hee. She understood her character completely and she was basically her character. I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Seol Hee.

This was an amazing drama and I encourage everyone who loves stunning character growth to watch it.

Leia Mais

Sequel? NC was so much fun to watch. I'm not into historical dramas, but this was interesting. The story line was full developed. It takes place during a "warring" period, butt Nobunaga wants peace. I like how he changes the thinking of the people. However, this drama is driven by the characters rather than the actual story. I enjoyed most of the characters. The ending is open. I hope that means there will be another series.

I know almost nothing about Japanese actors. However, I absolutely fell for Oguri Shun as Nobunaga. His comic timing is great and he is also good at melodrama.

The music is appropriate.

I won't rewatch this, but it is rewatchable.

I recommend this drama regardless of the genre you prefer.

Leia Mais

What did I just watch? The story line is basically a revenge drama which is one of my favorite genres, but then there is mental and physical abuse that I just hate. This was a guilt watch. I hate the idea that boarder line abuse is okay if the guy "really loves" the girl. Are you kidding me? That kind of thinking sets back human kind to the dark ages.

So, why do I find Lau Hawick as Shaoquin so attractive? He is the only reason I watched this entire drama. His character is horrible and pitiful all wrapped in this attractive package. I honestly don't understand myself. His character is usually the kind I hate. The female lead character is just too self-sacrificing and naive/stupid for me. Plus, Ying Er isn't that great of an actress to me. I felt almost nothing for her character. I just wanted to shake her. So, maybe it wasn't so much the acting as the character. The crazy "wife" was fun to watch. Also, Zhen Fai played by Zhao Chu Lun was also a great character. The rest do not matter.

The music started to get on my nerves.

I will never rewatch this.

I don't recommend this drama.

Leia Mais

Do not let the opinions of others sway you. See Pretty Man for yourself and YOU DECIDE because one man's trash is another man's treasure. IMO, this drama is largely a victim of poor marketing, beginning with the title. I mean, who wants to see a drama about some guy whose favorite past time is looking at himself in the mirror, second only to having smitten women tell him how handsome he is all day? Not very appealing, but Pretty Man is SO much better than that, so much deeper! It's about destiny and finding who you are..literally. It's about love, loyalty, friendship, loss, pain, revenge, and even a little magic, but mostly it's about personal growth. This is a sometimes heartbreaking tale of a boy overcoming obstacles to become a man. Loved it!

Leia Mais

Anyone who says Bi (Rain) is not a great actor is out of their freaking mind. This story and Rain's range of emotion are powerful and unforgettable. It's rare for a drama to hook me within its opening scene (Empress Ki and The Legend Four Gods are the two others), but the cinematography and music pull you in and you just know you're in for an emotional ride. A Love to Kill is soooooo special because it had the stones to really 'go there'. Rain really 'went there' as an actor. No pride, no shame, no vanity. This is why his performance is just epic. I am a firm believer that many people do not give A Love to Kill the 10+ rating it deserves because of the ending, which I loved. IMO, the ending was like a fairy tale and completely true to the previous 15 episodes of this drama. Anything else would have been a cop out. A Love to Kill is bittersweet love and raw emotion done 100% right. It is the first drama that I FELT to the bone and remains one of my top 5 dramas of all time. Truly one of the greats.

Leia Mais

The show started out really cute...I loved the fantasy and the comedy.
Then it started lagging, and I ended up fast forwarding a bit. Lots of fillers which got boring at times.
There is romance, but it gets overweighed by the father son relationship. That seemed the most interesting part of the drama. It transitioned from hatred to pure love, and the process was really heartwarming.
Overall: Not bad, but not great either. It was a good watch especially as I was in the process of waiting for all the other dramas to finish, as I usually watch when they finish airing.

Leia Mais