Wikipedia’s entry on Gye Baek is brief but harrowing. In fact, you’ll think Gye Baek a demon, a monster, a psychopath. The drama will convince you otherwise.
Fighting for an ideal will always end in tragedy and that’s what Gye Baek is, a life spent in the service of his country at the expense of a woman’s love, personal happiness, domestic bliss, etc. The irony of it all is that Gye Baek is brought up by a father who tries his darnedest to steer the boy clear of honor, patriotism, and all “those big words which make us so unhappy,” to quote James Joyce.
Tragedy is a word thrown around rather loosely. It should be reserved for deaths that inspire awe and that stir us to act regardless of added pressure to do so. Gye Baek will be on my mind for a very long time and will be especially pertinent whenever heroism and/or tragedy are gratuitously mentioned.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Since first episode , I knew this drama will be a Master piece, a total 10 ., the Leads, the acing , the music , the cinematography , the pure , heart felt dialogue, even the faint touch of humor were all sending this sign..
Yet , the main reason I fell in love with this drama – Yes I kept all the episodes on my mobile to watch daily – was it how beautifully reflected the meaning of hope, struggle and success ..
Now moment of truth…I know that the last message of organ donation was main message from the writers , yet should it have been reflected with such depressing ending?
I believe every writer – before giving a tragic ending to any drama – should ask himself , what would be the strongest message to viewer regarding my cause in this drama..
A happy ending reflecting triumph of hope and life for who we knew deserved it?..
Or a Tragic ending with glimpse of light (Hope for Others) ?
Who am I kidding!!.. of course this drama is a 9 only because of the ending , it really annoys me that I am not giving it a 10, Yet still , fair to say one of the best drams of 2014 , it was really a good drama year ..
It will be a real challenge to re watch the drama still , but I know someday I will definitely check my PC to re watch the lovely story ..
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
The acting is excellent. Unexpectedly the chemistry between Kam Woo Sung as Dong Ha and Choi Soo Young as Bom Yi is palpable. The age difference between them in the drama is 18 years and in real life is 20 years. I think some people might have a problem with it. However, Bom Yi is the kind of person in whom everyone would fall in love. Bom Yi's personality is well written and portrayed. Choi Soo Young is beautiful and seamlessly kept balance between optimism and depression I have totally fallen for Kam Woo Sung. His portrayal of loving strength is perfect. I would definitely want to be in a relationship with that kind of person. I am now going to find time to watch every thing he has done. The other actors are good too, but I came to not care much about anyone other than the main leads and the children,
The music is beautiful.
I won't rewatch this, but I can see someone might want to rewatch it.
I highly recommend this drama.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Everyone of us goes out everyday, carries the risk that we are unable to go back home. If you think of it that way, knowing you do not have much time left to live is a blessing, given you can overcome the fear of leaving your loved ones. Having a heavy philosophical content, the drama manages to deliver the growth of each characters and valuable lessons without preaching.
As everyone is connected, one's significant life event does not affect that person alone but everyone around them. The same thing happened to successful single mother Han Seung Hee. Her health situation urges her to reflect on her life and widen her social circle as she realises her old way of living cannot give her son another mother. As a consequences, She makes her choices that impacts all those around her. Whether her choices were right or wrong, I believe each one of us has their own judgements however it is undeniable that everything she did was out of love for her son. The most important thing is that she is a mother. She grows as a mother and everyone else also grows.
The beautiful thing about the drama is that it is realistic though the plot exaggerates at some parts to highlight the moral lessons to be learnt. Life goes on, everyone has to part and everything changes. That is the reality. As much as the story is about Han Seung Hee who is a dying mother, it is also about other people and how they prepare to move on with their life after she dies. I love the ending because it shows life continues and even though it may be incomplete, love and forgiveness fill up the space.
Overall the casts deliver solid and convincing acting, especially Song Yoon Ah. I truly lived in their world. Yoon Chang Young and Hong Jun Hyun did a great job as sons, gave audiences the alternatives and outcomes of different choices made by mothers. Other actors performed well though I believe there are room for improvements for supporting actors.
It was a fun rides with lessons to learn on the way. I recommend anyone who are looking for a slice a life kind of story. For people who are scared of the sadness, personally the reason I cried while watching was because it is touching, not because it is sad.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
It was delightful. The acting, I've learned I to expect nothing but the best from Gong Hyo Jin and So Ji-sub. I felt like I was watching a movie and I didn't want it to end. I really don't have words to describe all that was. All I can say is that, there needs to be more dramas like this one. All stereotypes need not apply. Thank you for making this. It never gets boring from start to finish, this was a well told story.
Beautifully done. Epic. It's not your grandma's drama baby.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
Thanks to Netflix I watched Season 2 before season 1. (I really thought it was season 1. The pic they had up was from season 1.) Anyway, I was hooked from the start and when I watched season 1 I treated it like a pre-qual. I ENJOYED every bit of this drama. SEXY & THRILLING describe season 2. Man.It's unique and was a bit unexpected since I had either watched Action Movies or KRomance/Melodramma dramas before this. It was refreshing and I wanted more. The visual effects, the gritty scenes and the mystery keeps you glued to your seat. I did think at one point, the storyline got a bit overdrawn with the Coroner, however, I also liked that he becomes part of the mystery. (trying to keep spoilers out) Some themes were recycled in the episodes but it was still completely watchable.
The sizzle...
The tension between the prosecutors has built very nicely from season 1 into season 2. One item to note, if it was even possible, Mr. Prosecutor is even sexier in season 2. The special effects also got cleaner/crisper. I found myself humming the theme song. Yes, I am soo hooked. I need the holes filled by a season 3! Will there be a season 3? That's the mystery. I WANT MORE.
So dear viewers, if you want something that picks up the pace and will keep your pulse racing...you should definitely watch this!
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Every episode gets better as you try to figure out the underlying story of why Mr. Prosecutor is a vampire. There are a few holes here and there but I figured this was intentional and would get filled in as the series keeps going. There are a couple of episodes where they could have built out the story a little better. They did a good job with the supporting casts' back stories which added some mystery and surprise. This gave the characters and the show more depth. It certainly kept the sidekicks from being too stereotypical. The chemistry between the actors is also just right and I'm intrigued by the minnie sizzle building between...well you'll just have to watch it to see it. It's unique and like a good book you won't want to stop until you get to the end or endish... I really can't wait for more.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Chun Jung Myung is an excellent actor. He really should be in more dramas. I worried that Prosecutor Cha would go crazy. I remember Kim So Hyun from Missing You. I thought she was great in that and she doesn't fail to deliver as Eun Bi. I hope she stays as good. The other actors are good also.
The music is appropriate.
I might rewatch this in the future.
If you like psychological thriller dramas, then this is definitely one to watch.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Story (1 out of 10):
Where to begin with this mess...and that's putting it nicely. The story was barely coherent, it was episodic and most things didn't do much to further the plot. It really felt like the writers thought this sounded great on paper but it failed on screen, like they thought if they combined all the drama tropes they could think of there was no way this could fail. A lot of times, things just happened for no good reason, people said and did things without ANY build up so emotions and meaning fell flat. The ending was horribly anti-climatic and gave a sense that the writers thought they were clever, when really, they just provided one of the most infuriating pieces of drivel... I think I actually feel the migraine of Nail Shop Paris Past come to haunt me this Halloween Night (how appropriate to be writing this now). This series starts off slow, trudges along for 6 episodes and just ends. You could literally watch the first two episodes and the last two and never watch anything in between and you would be missing very little. It was a miracle I made it through all 10 episodes with my sanity.
Acting/Cast (2.0 out of 10... only because I feel bad for Song Jae Rim):
Though the writing was arguably the biggest fault of this series, the acting was mediocre at best from everyone but Song Jae Rim. He literally became the only reason to continue with this series at one point. I felt bad for him for being stuck in this drama because he had so little to work with. This was my first time seeing Park Gyu Ri in action, I was thoroughly unimpressed. She's a good example of an idol trying to turn actor gone wrong. She was so stiff and nearly emotionless. I felt any deep emotions were so forced and fake. I never was able to warm up to her character AT ALL. You can only blame bad writing so much. The other two guys and side characters just faded into the background and were just there to look pretty I guess.
Music (1.0 out of 10): Unmemorable. Meh.
Rewatch Value ( -(2^(N-1)) <= google it): I'm sure it goes without saying, but I'd rather do just about ANYTHING else than EVER re-watch this abomination.
Overall (- out of 10): I would never recommend this to anyone ever. In fact, if I knew some poor soul was even thinking of watching it I'd strongly recommend them to not waste their time... unless of course they like gouging their eyes and ears with a rusty pair of scissors... I mean, I don't know what that's like obviously, but I'm sure it's probably pretty on par with this monstrosity.
On top of all this, how can you call your place of business "Nail Shop Paris" and provide people with the most hideous looking nails in existence?!? *Flips table*
-Fin.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
For one, I believe there is one specific moment that makes viewers uncomfortable but really is a moment that also makes you re-evaluate your beliefs. Is he wrong? Is having a fantasy without acting on it a flaw? It also shows you that Suzuki sensei isn't perfect. This drama opens up room for debate about different topics. For instance, Is the fantasy wrong if you don't act on it? These are opinions though that I rarely publicize because as the drama portrays constantly, people are so rooted in their beliefs they leave very little leeway for discussion. Yet at the same time, you have to acknowledge that you are also one of those people rooted in their own beliefs and values.
Hence, this proved a quirky and thought provoking drama with one of the freshest approaches to teaching. Furthermore, it really requires a certain type of maturity from the viewer to really absorb the discussion. Did Suzuki sensei creep me out at times? Yes and that is a testament to my values. Well, to get down to this review.
This story centers around Suzuki sensei. A teacher with a very unconventional teaching method. He must tackle difficult issues that surround his middle school class all while encouraging them to grow. The story is loaded with mature topics that provoke the viewer. It might make you uncomfortable yet also change you. The acting is also strongly believable and while there are some slight exaggerations in regards to the characters and topics, the show retains a rather mundane theme. There are no excessive speeches and exaggerated acting for the most part, which creates a slice of life type of atmosphere that makes it easier to absorb the content. I strongly recommend this, definitely one of the best.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Cast: Cha U Jin - a righteous prosecutor who has erased a painful memory from 15yrs ago when his former girlfriend died. He meets Eun Bi who is nothing like his girlfriend besides the fact that she looks exactly like her. When he meets her events keep happening that bring him back to the case of his dead girlfriend - what really happened and why did she die? Who is this person called X? Eun Bi - a head-strong and very willful rebellious teenager - she meets Cha U Jin and his partners and starts to change. The prosecutor team were wonderful supporting characters - who devote their time and trust to Cha U Jin.
Music: I only know one song sung by the leading actress I believe. It was pretty and went well with the drama but isn't something I'd listen to outside of this drama.
Re-watch Value: 8/10 - I'll be picking this up again someday - it's a great watch!
I'd write more but then I'd be spoiling things for you. ;)
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Honestly, I had no idea what to expect when going into this drama. No one I know had watched it, so I hadn't really heard much about it and I was unsure of whether I wanted to start it or not at first. I didn't know anyone from the cast except some minor players and the whole 1997 aspect of it was throwing me off. Despite all of this, I was desperate for a new drama so I gave it a shot. And I am exceedingly glad that I did.
Before I get into anything else about the drama, I want to dispel any hesitation you might have about the 1997 aspect. One of my friends says she refuses to watch it because it was set in the past, and another one was also hesitant because they didn't like Reply 1997. Other than some minor points, like Kim Hyung Joon using a beeper and there being an abundance of payphones and some other out of date technology, it is almost impossible to differentiate between this drama and a drama set in the present. So if that is one of the reasons that you haven't watched this drama, at least give the first episode a shot and see if it's something you can get over.
It's hard to really pinpoint just what exactly makes this drama so amazing. The actors were brilliant, and the characters were so well-written and nuanced, that it was always interesting to watch them come together to face their challenges. I think my favorite character would have to be Jung Teacher, hands down. He was a crass, boorish thug and in the beginning, you just want to punch him in the face a couple times til he gets his act together. But then this amazing thing happens, and we are treated some pretty amazing character growth along the way.
The two bumbling, maladroit buddies on Team Oh Ji Young were adorable for the most part, even if they didn't have much of an impact on the story line over all. Our male lead, Kim Hyung Joon was so many things; pathetic, conniving, hardworking, desperate, selfless, sweet, understanding, difficult. His character runs the gambit of personality traits, but in a way that doesn't seem schizophrenic in the least. Along with Jung Teacher, he does a lot of growing up an maturing along the way as well.
The women in this drama were just incredible, absolutely so. Oh Ji Young knows how to take care of herself, even if she doesn't have the best qualifications or background. She is a fighter and she doesn't put up with other people treating her or her loved one's poorly. This is probably due to the fact that she grew up surrounded by four men (who were adorable and so funny!). Hwa Jung was also a very strong female character. She fought so hard to help Hyun Joong save the company, and she had no problem letting them know when she disagreed with something they wanted to do.
And if two strong main female characters wasn't enough, we also have the President of Queen Salon, Ma Ae Ri. She was the epitome of strength and class. It's interesting, because most dramas would have done something entirely different with her character, made her into an evil villain who would stab everyone in the back so that she could win. But she was so kind, even if she didn't show it, and she loved her girls so much. I especially loved her relationship with Choon Ja, and even Choon Ja herself. She was more of a caricature than a real character, but that is what made her so great.
Character-wise, my only complaint would have to be Yoon. His character made absolutely zero sense. I never once understood him, or his motivations. His feelings for Oh Ji Young never once felt genuine, and his plans regarding Vivi were just nonsensical and contrary to what his endgame was. I was extremely disappointed that they wasted Lee Ki Woo on that role.
The story line was just flawless. It was neither extremely predictable nor too unpredictable. It managed to walk the fine line between the two with ease. I will admit that it did drag a little in the beginning, but once we get our team established and we have something root for, this drama really shines. The heart of this drama, I think, is that when people come together, there is nothing they can't achieve.
The music in this drama was really great! Though, there were songs in there that were done by the same band who did some of the songs from I Hear Your Voice, and they sounded very similar. So every time a song came on, I would have to war with myself to not stop and watch I Hear Your Voice for the 100th time.
I do want to mention, I had really expected this drama to be written by the same person who wrote King of Dramas. I was shocked when I saw that it was the same writer for Romance Town, a drama I really didn't enjoy. Thematically, the stories in MK and The King of Dramas were very similar. A boy who has wronged a girl in the past now needs her help to save himself and his dreams, while also trying to help her fulfill her own dreams. Trust issues abound, but they both pull you into their struggles and have you cheering at the TV for every win they get.
All in all, this is one of the better dramas of 2014, in my opinion. Maybe not the absolute best, but certainly in the top 10.
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
-People say that you can do anything if you try hard enough, but the truth is that there are some things you can't do no matter how hard you try. But they do happen. The only thing we can do in those cases is pray. We can only pray, for miracles.
For now, let me tell you about the beautiful miracle that happened to us-
The quote was from the first episode and I pretty much fell in love with the drama after reading this. From start to end, everything was just done beautifully. The acting is just so good, I was able to relate to all characters. I was surprised about how things seemed natural. Everything just felt real. Didn't hate anyone, but loved everyone so much.
I have never watched Kam Woo Sung or Choi Soo Young in any dramas before and they were a revelation here. KWS' understated acting just blew me away. He can channel his feelings thru his eyes. I felt his every emotion. When he cried, I cried, too. I became happy when he was happy.
All praises for his co-star as well. Choi Soo Young held her own against the veteran actors and actresses in the drama. I can't believe this is her first lead role. She was amazing here!
Aside from the OTP, I fell in love with the whole family. I also absolutely adored the father-daughter relationship here. It's just so real, and so good. It made me feel warm all over. The young actress who played the daughter has been wonderful.
The script is pretty solid, and cinematography is gorgeous.
No birth secrets, no jerk chaebol, or no Cinderella in need of rescuing. This is one of the most refreshing dramas I have watched, definitely different from the usual melodramas we've seen so far. What I also really like about the drama was that everyone just dressed simply. We don't see the heroine wearing fancy dresses or lots of make up. We don't see the CEO with a flashy sports car.
I got warm and fuzzy feelings all over while watching the drama. But I cried buckets, too. Overall, I feel that this is one of the most beautiful dramas I have ever watched.
I recommend it to everyone who wants to love and be loved.
Another favorite quote from the drama:
- To keep you in my eyes and in my heart...
So I can engrave you there... (Dong Ha)
Esta resenha foi útil para você?
