Plot was okay to me, don't know much about trot music. I feel like it had a good start but somehow after it was all finished, I felt as if a few pieces from the story were still missing. As a whole, it was good. But if you stop and think about certain aspects of this drama, you'll realize a lot was left out.
Cast wise, loved them. Eunji is perfect. Has that innocent look but can be strong at the same time. She wasn't an overpowering strong female lead but she didn't need to be and I'm glad she wasn't. This is the first drama I've watched with Hyun Woo and he isn't hard on the eyes that's for sure. His acting was perfect to me. Emotional scenes, comical scenes and all that in between were great. And them together made for a perfect couple with great chemistry! As for Sung Rok, I loved his carefree attitude in the beginning, was a great second male lead. Everyone else was great too, the coach, loan sharks, evil mothers, Byul, managers etc they were all perfect ~
Music, like i said, I don't know much about trot but boy did I fall in love with it with this drama. Sad that their OSTs don't have actual trot but listening to Eunji sing all those songs she did was so soothing.
I'd say the only down point was how the last episode was handled. I felt they spent too much time with (insert kdrama cliche) that by the time the last episode came, they were spending too much time with other drama instead of focusing on the "happy ending" and I'm not going to lie, I wanted more for the ending. It was cute and could make on smile, but I was hoping for more.
Overall, it's a good drama. Glad I watched it and I'll probably come back just to listen to Eunji sing the trot songs ~
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In terms of acting and cast, I knew no one coming into the drama, but I managed to connect myself with the cast. Casting, in my opinion, was good, but acting consistency severely hurt this crew. Each cast member had long strides of weak performances, from not believable expressions to lack of enthusiasm, but then they had nice spurts of above average acting. This acting/cast portion of rating is sort of a mixed bag of emotions for me, but it definitely isn't as bad as I've seen a lot of people saying it is (nor is it as great as others have said, either).
Music throughout the drama was standard. I heard tracks replayed often and that goes for the BGM as well. While the OST was standard and not much stood out to me, the BGM was very fitting, just overly used, so it lost its sparkle as the drama progressed.
As for re-watch value, I know for a fact that I won't be The Night Watchman. After a while, I felt like I was forcing myself to watch it because I already invested a lot of time into its weekly releases, so I figured I would finish all 24 episodes.
Overall, my stance toward this drama is neutral. I don't regret finishing it since the finale week was that great, but at the same time, the journey to reach this awesome ending was somewhat hellish. I completely understand why watchers dropped this drama by the mass, but I feel if you as a viewer have a stronger tolerance for slow-paced dramas, you might be pleasantly surprised by what The Night Watchman can give you.
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But I did enjoy the side stories. That was way more interesting to me. It's about Sakura's two friends. One is in a troubled marriage, and the other is a sex addict. I'm not gonna summarize, but trust me, their stories are much more interesting than Sakura's. Sakura herself is a likable character, I just don't agree with her decisions. The ending of this drama was highly disappointing (to me at least). And don't get me wrong, I love Miura Haruma to bits and pieces, but I didn't really enjoy his character here. Hiroto is not a bad guy, in fact, I do like him, but he has absolutely zero chemistry with Sakura (played by Shinohara Ryoko). There kissing/sex scenes were hot, because Miura Haruma is hot, but thts it. Not intriguing at all. And Hiroto's sister is hella annoying. Thts all I gotta say about this drama. Just meh. If ur a fan of Miura Haruma, and thts ur motive for watching this drama, then go ahead, but other than that I see no real reason to watch this. I guess if ur super bored, but there are plenty of better dramas out there. This was just meh.
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The story may have had the rich boy meet poor girl, but what I love about it is, the poor girl was independent who has a dream and working hard in making it a reality without shame or whining about it or expecting anything from anyone. It's in line with her personality in keeping a low profile, from the way she dresses up to her interactions and the way she expresses her dream. She meets Zi Qi who's the total opposite in extravagance and spoil. The drama (I. e. his father) puts him in the same level as her in terms of wealth, and this sets their relationship off to a great start. At this point the drama becomes really the story of a bunch of employees working at the same firm. There is the annoying second lead girl, the bore to death second lead guy but somehow they just don't matter. Second lead guy was just written in such a boring way they they just resolved his issues fast and wrote him off. Second lead girl stayed to be the hated one but it doesn't frustrate me the way kdramas do, mainly because our lead's maturity with always facing reality and talking about what bothers them. Other characters I liked was the manager who at first came off as annoying but really grew on me. I specially loved his relationship with Zi Qi. They stay constantly hilarious throughout the whole drama. Another is Le Le who, at times may be annoying, but I love how upfront she was about everything. She didn't care who you were, she'll talk right back at you if you look down at her. The parents were kinda too perfect but the relationships felt genuine.
The story isn't perfect that'st for sure. There were some mistakes that we see Xing Ren do that I found unacceptable with her experience and how she was place in the beginning of the drama as hard working. Zi Qi becoming was too perfect in the last few episodes. His mother magically changing suddenly, and I felt there was a backstory about her that they kinda dropped and decided not to follow.
Acting wise, to no one's surprise Roy Qiu is the star here. From comedy to growth to subtle romance, he's got full control on all. Patrick Li was also amazing in comedy I would laugh in every scene he's at. It's my first time seeing Alice Ke but she did her role justice to say the least. The actrice that plays the role of Mandi was also funny. This drama is maybe Tia Li's best role. She's not great here, but I think being evil suits her more than being good :P
I loved some of the songs used in there specially the song Wanna Fly in Free Fall the guitar playing in that song is addicting :D
Overall a very enjoyable drama.
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I found myself routing for the "bad" guy. I couldn't help it. Kim Sung Oh was the best actor in the entire drama. He has more charisma in his pinky than all of the other actors combined. His portrayal of Sadam is excellent. I'm a fan of Jung Il Woo and he does fine as Rin. There was just something missing. I think it is because there was a lack of chemistry between him and the other actors. I don't know who Kim Sung Oh is, but she is a sucky actress. It is part story line and partly her acting as Do Ha. I could have cared less about what happened to her by the end. She should be ashamed that Yunho (who is a mediocre actor at best) had more chemistry with the prince than she did with either of them. The rest of the actors are fine. Oh but the crazy girl, Soo Ryeon, played by See Ye Ji also was just horrible. Do these actresses really think the same expression is good for every emotion? They just widen their eyes a little and they think that is enough. Blah. I only gave the acting a higher score because of Kim Sung Oh.
The music is annoying at times. For crying out loud...if they are going to sing English words then they should make sense.
I will never rewatch this.
I don't recommend this drama. It isn't horrible, but it isn't the greatest either. Watch at your own risk.
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WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS DRAMA: Firstly, the casts of course. Both main leads really portray their characters very very very well like in the manga. Ariel Lin could actually act really like a stupid and annoying girl, yet made each and everyone of us love her alot and ache for her whenever she cried, because her crying scenes are always -thumbs up-. Which is why she really deserve this Best Female Lead award in Golden Bells that year.
Secondly, how the characters have grown in every single episode. I really love watching how Zhi Shu change because of Xiang Qin, from a cold guy who just hide his emotions, to a gentle and romantic guy who really pour all his feelings out especially to his wife. I still remember in first few episodes, he is someone who gets annoyed when Xiang Qin tries to stick with him and do some romantic-stupid-stuffs with him, and wowwww the last few episodes, he just became so open with his wife. Not only Zhi Shu, but I can even see how Xiang Qin becoming more and more matured. Yes she may be annoying at times, but I can see the way of her thinking gradually changes, and how she really think of her husband's feelings more.
Thirdly, this drama is just so hilarious and I still can remember how many times I laughed like mad. At the same time, I can remember how many times I cried like hell whenever Xiang Qin cried too. I also love the endless skinship between the two leads which always give me squeals because their skinship is just so natural so real.
WHAT I DISLIKE ABOUT THIS DRAMA: Practically nothing I can say. Well or probably the plot also focus on other characters rather more on main leads too? But I don't really mind though because even the scenes of other characters are also quite interesting too.
Overall, one of the top Taiwanese dramas I have ever watched. You won't regret watching because you know what? You will end up rewatching it again and again and every single scene of the main leads will just give you butterflies because their skinship and chemistry is just so WOW. And and and, if you really love watching dramas with a extremely cold male lead. :D
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My Rating: 9.5
In Short: This drama was a really entertaining and suspenseful story of an unconventional hero. I thought after the first few episodes that Kang To was pretty much irredeemable, but the character development and acting was spot on for our complicated hero (and his equally complicated nemesis/bro).
Pros: Joo Won was a revelation in this. He really sold this complicated character and I look forward to seeing him in other things in the future. Also, the 30s is a very interesting era for a historical drama like this. I do not like sageuks very much, but this was right up my alley, with great sets and fabulous fashion.
Cons: Torture. Lots of torture. Some of this was hard to stomach. The female lead was a bit bland at times, but that fit the story well. I was also a bit apprehensive concerning the anti-japanese feel to the drama. Since I am not Korean, I do not carry a grudge against Japan, but I guess it can be compared to Germany in WWII, they sure are portrayed as evil in WWII movies, but I do not consider Germans today to be evil in any way.
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My Rating: 7.0
In Short: I somewhat regret watching this drama all the way through. I especially disliked the female lead character and the overall dishonesty of all the main characters. Cuties Yoon Sol and Do Joon Ho was its saving grace.
Pros: The cast was fine, I really like the male leads and the side characters. I liked the flashbacks as a way of getting insight into Tae Ha and Yeo Reum's past, as well as the interview structure.
Cons: This whole plot was built around lies, which annoyed me to no end. I also struggled with Jung Yu Mi's appearance. I don't often dislike the looks of k-drama actresses, but I had serious problems understanding why all these men liked her (character personality was not helping). She looked way too skinny and a little too old in this drama.
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My Rating: 9.0
In Short: Gong Hyo Jin never disappoints me, and neither did anyone else involved in this drama. I really liked the unconventional way it handled mental disorders.
Pros: The cast was great, the music was fantastic and the drama was well written and did not have the classic "second leads". I did not miss them!
Cons: Hae Soo's anxiety disorder was a bit too "easily cured" in relation to how big a deal she made of it. It would have made no difference if she had just been a little prickly.
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My Rating: 9.0
In Short: I really liked the cold open structure of this show, along with its fun and realistic characters. This drama made me wish Han Groo was the female lead in all dramas.
Pros: I often have trouble relating/sympathizing with female leads in dramas, but Jang Mi completely won me over. The pacing of the drama was also positive aspect for me. I also really liked the complexity of the parents.
Cons: I would have liked a little more depth to our secondary characters. Especially Kang Se Ah lacked depth, because I sincerely doubt that she was meant to be that malicious and nonsensical.
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I think the writer sensed the low ratings and decided to stop there, anyways........
the best part of the show was the two guys best friends. They were so ridiculous with their women theory and they were hilarious too.
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Suna no Utsuwa (Vessel of Sand) spins a tale of unavoidable fate, embodying this sort of transient beauty with dark resonance. We follow pianist Waga Eiryo, a secretive man running from his past…and the cruel destiny he believes might also shape his future. Just when it appears he has shed both, a face from his troubled childhood resurfaces to torment him once again. One moment lost to passion and a sharp shove is all it takes—in rush the waves ready to destroy his new life. So begins our tale of murder and mystery, tragedy and deception, of happiness which crumbles like so much sand.
This series will haunt me for a long time to come. Understated as it is, Suna no Utsuwa nonetheless delivers an elegant atmosphere with serious impact. Each of its elements folds together with an artistic flourish that must be marveled at. In all my experience with Asian television, no other example has so impressed me with its visual beauty—what stunning cinematography and evocative scene composition! Time has not diminished one bit of the vibrant aesthetic. All one could further wish for are stirring themes, unique plots, and powerful performances; here one receives all three and more besides.
Our mystery is unveiled via a masterful combination of fragile character interactions and clever police investigation. Do not expect any resemblance to your regular detective drama. As powerfully constructed as the puzzle is, this is not a crime series but a character study. No guessing remains to be done; viewers are meant to witness the desperate battle of a man against fate. Who is Waga Eiryo and why? I loved how the two story aspects were tied together, often serving to create parallels between pianist and detective. One example may be seen in the counterpoint between interrogation sessions and those featuring musical composition/performance sequences. Please also note the tremendous ending undertaken over two episodes. The result left me trembling with so much emotion it was difficult to properly compile this review.
An idol was asked to play Waga Eiryo: SMAP’s Nakai Masahiro. Could anyone have better portrayed this extremely complex figure? Not on your life. Nakai-san’s excellence begins with the eyes; his are large and dark with suspicion, the sort which might remind one of a hunted animal. For the most part Waga sinks beneath an icy facade, a disdainful and haughty mask. But as Suna no Utsuwa continues, this mask chips away piece by piece. We are made confidants of his vulnerability and fear, tenderness and anguish. Undoubtedly the role of a lifetime, Nakai strikes every chord without stumbling. Next is incomparable Ken Watanabe, an utter gift to the small screen. He presents Imanishi with gentle normalcy, a believable brilliance stemming from hard work and consideration rather than trumped up genius. If only we could see such effortless acting in dramas more often! Let us not forget the wonderful Matsuyuki Yasuko either. Her Naruse is the clinch-pin of fate for Waga Eiryo, and few actresses could sell it as well as she did. No matter what the role, Matsuyuki-san’s passionate beauty and exquisite expressions must always be appreciated.
But above all else, music is where Suna no Utsuwa most excels. Just as it offers visual delights, this drama must be nothing if not pure auditory bliss. Not one track has been left awkward or misplaced by the passage of years. Some masterful touch seems laid on the compositions, which are so crucial in elevating scenes and construction of emotional atmosphere. Most memorable must be what is represented as Waga Eiryo’s devastating magnum opus, “Shukumei,” an embodiment of the fate he longs to escape. Also exceptional is the romantic vocal theme in “Yasashii Kisu no Shite (Kiss Me Gently)” provided by Dreams Come True. The first to catch my ear, however, is the choral piece played only at pivotal moments; if you want goose bumps, this one should do the trick.
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Jae Min feels like In Wook is taking all his women.
In Wook feels like Jae Min is getting his women.
Young Joo feels like Soo Jung is taking all her men.
Soo Jung? She just has to choose but is having a hard time.
But choose between what?
And so the show goes on in small circles, again and again and again. The force what drives life and moves the world is money and it dictates the laws of darkness. There is no love, no happiness, nothing meaningful in money but everyone needs it. One doesn't have it, second has too much and third experienced both situations. No one became happy. That's life folks.
The whole drama is boring and drags on like your feet after walking 100 miles but... BUT! The beauty of the show comes to light after you have finished it! This dark show is not to be taken too lightly, you have to analyze everything and you will understand the beauty within!
The cast is wonderful and acting super good. The main girl, of course, super annoying. She is miserable but at the same time hateful. Then there is Young-joo the nasty girl. I liked her pretty much. She is bad and desperate but well... everything makes sense in the end.
I am sure many people will find this drama hard to like and easy to loathe but give it a chance and dive into it as deep as possible. This one show is deep and needs devotion, you won't get anything out of it without analyzing the psychology behind every action. It's going to be a depressing and miserable ride but that's what life is about sometimes.
What happened in Bali?
Happiness.
Complaints? Well, backgrounds of some characters could have been explained better and there were some questions left unanswered. And there could have been less episodes. And it's a bit unsatisfying that instead of getting over their problems these people... well... yeah.
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