Reviews

After keeping Two Weeks on-hold for the longest time, I finally watched it, and I must say, it was one hell of a ride. The greatest thing about this melodrama is that it throws a lot of dense plot at the viewer early on but doesn't resolve it until it needs to. This allows the drama to keep a steady pace all throughout and keeps the viewer wanting to find out how everything is resolved, whereas a lot of other dramas I've seen rush the plot and leave a lot of unnecessary fluff somewhere in the middle or the end, thus making the story feel draggy. While the story is stellar, what it does well at is also where it slips a tad due to the fact that it's story line includes supporting characters that are absolutely narrow minded.

On the other hand, the cast was great. While the supporting cast did as the script demanded fairly well, the show excels primarily because the leading cast members were strong actors. From Jang Tae San all the way to Soo Jin, everyone's acting was superb. What makes it even better is that the supporting cast knew their job and didn't clash with the leads in terms of standing out.

Music wise, BGM was awesome. It changed the atmosphere and brought emotion to already emotion-filled scenes. My biggest complaint about the music is that one track in the OST stood out the most to me and that was the song by Nell played at the end of every episode though even that isn't that much of a big deal because it's a great song.

As we get to the topic of Re-watch Value, I must say that despite how great this show was, it doesn't have much Re-watch Value. My reason for this is because of the narrow-mindedness. It was overwhelmingly frustrating as a viewer (even though that's the whole point). Ironically though, it's funny that such intelligent people could be so blind about something.

Overall, Two Weeks is great. I was definitely in love with its pacing because sometimes I can't stand shows that fluctuate in terms of momentum, but this one kept it going at a nice pace. Even more so, the lead female was beautiful and her in-show daughter was absolutely adorable, and for that, I felt more compelled to get to the end game of the story in hopes that everything will end up okay for all of them. With that being said, my biggest problem with the show is that it's a watch-it-once kind of show but that shouldn't stop anyone from watching this great drama (at least once, haha).

Leia Mais

Well THAT was certainly an adventure. City Hall is definitely a politically driven drama, but because it keeps its focus to the social impacts of politics, rather than just running like a Korean version of CSPAN, the story was awesome! I was absolutely drawn into the plot points and all the adorable shennanigans of the characters.

That said, as far as the romantic element of the drama was concerned, while I did enjoy the ship of the two leads and I believed their emotional development, at the end of the day their relationship kind of felt a bit spasmodic. This is especially true when considering the drama in its entirety. It also didn't help matters that this series takes several episodes to finally get under way, but this adds realism to the nature of the plot.

Leia Mais

While I have not watched any other incarnation of this drama, I was aware of the basic plot before going into it. It's generally one of the types of plots that I like in romantic comedies and I haven't really watched a lot of Japanese ones so I decided to give it a shot. It ended up taking me over a year to finish.

I did enjoy it mostly but I would find myself in the groove of watching and suddenly Kotoko did something ridiculous and embarrassing. I would have to turn it off. Towards the middle, it just got to be too much. But I've been trying to finish dramas that I've started so I decided to push through. Once the show reached the last 4 or 5 episodes, it lost some of the silliness and I liked it more.

Miki Honoka is really young compared to the rest of the main cast and it showed quite often. Even the girls that were her friends, who are only slightly older, felt more mature than she did. Maybe that's because she made strange, dramatic faces throughout most of the show. It seemed like she was someone's younger sister rather than their classmate. Still, she managed to portray the obsessive one-sided love of a dim girl very well.

Furukawa Yuki did a good job with the emotionless Naoki.

I really liked Yamada Yuki as Kinnosuke, though I didn't really feel for him as the second lead until more than halfway through. I did like that he didn't sit around pining in secret but he was also pushy and that sometimes got annoying.

The music was kind of blah to me. I didn't love the opening or closing songs and I can't recall any music during the episodes.

I don't really see myself watching this drama again. If I was so inclined, I might watch the last 2 or 3 episodes only.

Overall, I didn't love this drama. It had way too much embarrassment going on for me to truly get into it. But I ended up liking it well enough and do plan of watching the sequel.

Leia Mais

Despite all the frustration that this drama has brought me due to the main character loving people like loving food today this kind, tomorrow that kind,i have one word DONG FANG BU BAI, if every character was as strong willed and dint need saving all the time like her umm.. him? her? okay her. dramas would be miles away, she had charisma,my god she was awesome, she is the only reason i kept on watching,well her and the cool kung fu, the actress who portrayed dong fang bu bai is really good seriously she had me hooked in the very first episode little did i know of the disappointment to come, the story was fine, just that the ending was too rushed but i highly recommend this drama , half of it at least.

Leia Mais

I must admit, I waited quite a few hours after completing the show to write a review, because, for lack of a better phrase, I had "many feels" upon the ending of the show.

Having watched Reply 1997, I couldn't help myself from comparing 1994 to the first one. Some aspects of it are similar, like the love triangle, the parents and the pseudo-familial bonds. But this ensemble has a story of its own to tell and its own lessons to pass on, which is where the rewatch value lies.

First, the story. I am too young to understand many of the pop culture references and trends referenced in the show. However, the show continues what it did so well in "1997" - appealing to universal themes of youth, moving away from home and your parents, sibling relationships, first loves, family and, growing up. Some important news events that occurred during that time period were nicely woven into the characters' storylines. Another thing this writer does well, which I find unique from other dramas, is the way each episode has a theme, a lesson, and often focuses on certain relationships and characters. This gives the supporting characters equal opportunities to tell their stories and shine.

However, after the halfway mark, the episodes got too long for their own good. I found myself groaning towards the finish line.

I found this love triangle a lot tighter than the one in "1997", which was a dead giveaway to me halfway through the show. It was hard to ally myself with an OTP. I did have my suspicions who the husband would be, and while I'm glad my guess was right, both male leads won my heart over and I still ache for the one that was denied.

Next, the cast. The show has done it again - making superstars out of its cast. I'm pleasantly surprised by the makeover that Go Ara went through for her character. I would never be as endeared to Oppa Trash if Jung Woo was not portraying him, and Yoo Yeon Seok plays Chilbong with such earnestness and sincerity. Without going into all the supporting characters, the strength of this show does lie in the ensemble and I'm glad they were all very appropriately cast.

Finally, the music. I love the use of different songs as themes for the various relationships. The revival of hit songs from the early 90s was a big bonus.

I will miss this camaraderie in this alternate universe created in the show!

Leia Mais

So far, HANDS DOWN THE BEST KOREAN DRAMA I'VE EVER WATCHED. I've never cried so much for a Korean drama and honestly when I finished this drama, other dramas seem a little dull in comparison. Even when I know I should't compare, I just couldn't help it. My mind keeps wandering to this drama even when it has ended.

I have never felt this way to a drama before because most dramas seem like it would just belong in la la land. But, this is different. There is enough reality, enough humour, enough love (obviously), enough knowledge about the world of psychology between the characters, enough chemistry between the actors and it is one perfect love story filled with pain and the understanding between the characters and of course, sincere love.

I started to watch this drama because of Gong Hyo Jin. She's a talented actress, getting to know her through Master's Sun. Then when I watched her acting with Jo In Sung, they are perfect, talented actors. I ship Jae Yul and Hae Soo so much!

To those who have doubts about watching this drama, I highly recommend you this drama if you want something new (psychology) to learn, with bits of love and humour here and there. They are funny! Honestly, it has opened up my mind more about psychology and what can I say? I understand enough to empathise. So, I'll end here, and Happy Watching!^^ :D

Leia Mais

Reviewing this drama is quite tough. It was one of those dramas where I feel like a lot of people found fault in it but at the same time, A drama that had me going "I get it." It's a drama for me that has some very clever details that I really appreciated. There's actually some symbolism here that either I'm reading too much into it or that many people missed.

One is the theatrical scenes. I don't mean in the sense of ludicrosity because there were those but there were elements of theatre here that I really liked. Especially the ending. I think a lot of people focused on the face value presentations that they missed out this odd little things that actually make me rate this far higher than the story deserves.

The story in dramatic fashion is a stockholm syndromed girl vs total arsehole turned mildly decent guy. Jun Kai is a character that had it not been for the director and stellar script (at very few moments that mattered), I would have gritted my teeth through this whole ordeal but alas, he is somewhat saved by some very decent directing moments. His abuse towards the female lead is something I really tolerate but her response towards him was even more intolerable. Nonetheless, the climax of the movie saves them both. It could have been done better but I actually liked it.

It goes all Enrique Eglesias in Hero where Le Jun Kai finds his girl in a predicament and he has to save her. However, there's actually a lot of symbolism in here. The ending was actually very well done for me. A lot of people finished this and immediately ranted about how ridiculous it was but for me it turned into a cinematic stage where you have to understand what's happening. This is so annoying to state without giving spoilers. Peter ho also makes this ending very good for me and I find he for the most part, delivers decent acting. Ugh, okay my review sucked but this is a drama I need to go on a long discussion about.

Leia Mais

I marathoned this dorama on a rainy weekend and I have to say I really enjoyed it. It had many elements come together in harmony. It is a passionate romantic story (that we don't get anymore in the japanese dorama scene) that you get absorbed into and fascinated by while following a mystery that arouses your curiosity every step of the way.

You watch most of the drama without knowing who's telling the truth and who's truly innocent. Every episode makes other people more suspicious without writing off the first person you were suspecting. Other than Eiki and inspector Ujou, I was suspecting everyone else of being suspicious, even dead characters. In that sense I loved the buildup of the mystery.

The romance department did not disappoint. The more you think that in Eiki's place you'll run away as fast as possible from our main suspect, the more you understand his fascination of her and get taken by it. Their scenes together were electrifying and their clashes and confrontations were exciting. Leads had so much chemistry from their first scenes together you can just feel it right away.

So when I have so much good to say about the drama, why didn't I rate it higher? Well to tell you the truth, up until episode 10, I had decided on a rating no less than 8.5-9 however episode 11 made me think otherwise. I won't spoil anything I'll just say the final reveal was a let down. The ending itself I like, but the revelation left me wanting something more. You can say it felt it took the safe route but as a result I just didn't care.

But all in all, I don't regret marathoning it. I love 90s dorama, they sure had the passion that we seem to lack in today's dramas. Also The buildup of the mystery was nicely done so as a mystery lover, its definitely is an enjoyable watch. Also watching Takenouchi Yutaka and Matsushima Nanako in their younger days is a pleasure itself.

Leia Mais

The Quickie: The feels! So many feels! Excellent drama without the stereotypes, over used plot devices, evil exes or monster in laws. My computer practically combusted from the chemistry. I shipped so hard. Any time Chris Wu's mug filled my screen I had a mini heart attack. I spent the final episode biting my nails at two in the morning and bawling my head off. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with this show. Show, you complete me.

Full Review:

Generally, I don't get into Taiwanese dramas as much as I do Korean dramas. The length of most well known Taiwanese dramas is too long for me. The use of multiple romances going on as at once is interesting, but also distracting. I have my favorite Taiwanese dramas but not many.

What is Love changed that. I fell so hard for this show. I watched it day and night, squeezing it in between work and sleep. I wanted the drama to never end. It is now one of my all time favorites. Funny that for the first two episodes I felt like barfing.

In the beginning I thought all the people in the show were either on happy mushrooms or so desperately lonely that they would fall for ANYTHING. The main lead was a 32 year old Wholesome Woman (Li Yi Hau) surrounded by loving family and friends, whose one goal in life is to get married (ugh). She then falls for the Big Bad Wolf (Bai Zong You), a dashing playboy, whose one goal in life is to play the game of love and win- with multiple women. Love was battlefield. For Li Yi Hau the game of love is won when she stands at the altar. For Bai Zong You, the game of love is won when he gets laid. Li Yi Hau finds out the truth of her relationship with Bai Zong You fairly quickly (Thank God) And things get much more interesting. She gets revenge for her broken heart and the hundred's of girl's before her. That should have been the end of their ill fated relationship. Of course, Bai Zong You has to have revenge for what Li Yi Hau did to him. He makes a bet that she will fall in love with him first and when she does she has to admit that she is a loser in love.

The premise of this drama sounds horribly cliche. It's been done a hundred times before. For me, this drama is the best bad boy gets the good girl story I have ever seen. The strength of this show is in it's execution. The acting was phenomenal. The balance between breezy romance, heartbreak, growth, family, and love appeared effortlessly. The writers answered sincerely, without plot devices and evil second leads, what love is. In this case, love not only changed the "bad boy" but also the "good girl". You can see a progressive growth in all the characters of this drama. Chris Wu (who plays Bai Zong You) is a FANTASTIC actor. I have to watch all the dramas he is in because of the raw emotion that sizzles on the screen.

The moment I knew I would love this drama for life was during the finale. Most dramas tapper off towards the end, wrapping things up in a pretty bow with a cute happily ever after. This show did not. It was grounded in realism. There is a happy ending, but it was so much sweeter because of the final conflict.

Show, I love you.

Leia Mais

I don't have words to describe this drama. It made me wanna jump over because of all the feels I got there (specially in the end). That kind of drama that makes you wanna scream of happiness and cry like a baby at the same time.What I can say is that whoever wrote this are geniouses and made a very very good job. I have to say I never thought I would enjoy so much an action type of drama but everything was perfectly wrote and thought since the sequence, the minimum details to the stories behind and the ost. It messed up with my days because I couldn't handle not watching it speacially because of that countdown it gives us at the end of each episode, that creeps you out and it's amazing.

I really love the way thing fit in this drama and how they didnt do such a cliché and was always catching you. There's the whole melodrama thing, you never know what is going to happen, it's not predicable and this isnt a romantic based story. Of course, there is romance but that's not what they are focusing and they managed it all so well. Oh, I think they deserve a prize.

The actions scenes and the special effects were great but the thing I loved more was that in one minute you were super high on that moves and the story, you have the urge of fight and run, the other you were fearing for someone or in deep love and then you were almost dying of crying. It really shows every side of human beings and the circunstances and how you can be totally smart for some moment and then do such a terrible mistake that ruins it all. I think the ones who can do this and work well in a drama plus ending like that can only deserve a space in the drama sky.

Just to add something: I saw some comments about the ost saying that it wasnt quite good and everything but I liked and also I love when I hear non Korean songs playing on the cafes or other places. There's even one song that reminds me of Sherlock Holmes theme, so yeah, I really enjoyed and thought it had to do with the drama. You know, the music makes you feel something and their choice of ost was just what I would put to feel everything there.

Leia Mais

GTO 2012 has to be my favorite drama, so when I found out there was a new season I almost died of pure excitement.

The class and school is new, but our beloved Onizuka is still there, along with a few others from the first season. I was skeptical, having fallen in love with the cast from the first season, but I ended up caring about this class all the same. The storylines were sometimes lacking premise and reality, but it was still very entertaining to watch them play out. The main plot of the season being Onizukas dark past at the school, and the loss of his high school friend.
Yusuke is still his crazy self, I think we can all agree he basically plays different variations of the same character but we love him!
We also get to see a lot more of Kurosawas acting this time around, and his performance in episode 10 made me cry! (No spoilers but grab a box of tissues)
No member of the class cast really stuck our to me, they were all good, but didn't blow me away.
The music score was the same as last season, and I LOVE it, I find myself humming along. Also, they use E-girls High School Love in every episode.

Anyone who is a fan of the first season, or loves a good high school drama, should DEFINITELY give this a watch. I loved it. Left something to be desired, but still a very good drama and I will be re watching it as soon as I get the DVD.

Leia Mais

I just finished Empress Ki. As im a saguk fan, I had to watch it, and I must say Im glad I did. atleast in the beginning. It did tend to get boring during the last episodes. I would have prefered it to be 40 or something episodes.
I simply loved the young innocent King. So loyal and loving, just unconditionally. Wang yu I didnt care much about and the empress Ki, although ambitious is quite heartless and cruel at times.
Well the drama is all about greed for power and how it corrupts people. Like the saying goes, "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts completely" sad but true.
My final thoughts: watch it if you are a saguk fan, but personally I loved Queen Seon Duk, princess man, Jumong etc much more.

Leia Mais

I have watched this drama over and over again and it never gets boring! I love this drama and the special makes it even better. The casts were incredible, especially the main leads. They had great chemistry and it was intriguing to watch all the characters and their relationships develop, not just the main leads! It's not hardcore romance between the two leads but you can't help but scream when they have moments together cos they are sooooooo cute!!!
The actors were amazing. Oguri Shun being amazing as always, played his role perfectly well. Ishihara Satomi did great as well. I did find her character a bit annoying in the beginning but she grew on me. They were great together more so than I had expected.
The music was superb! Incredibly amazing, especially in the special~ I could not stop listening to it. Probably one of the reasons why I keep watching this drama over and over!
It's just simply amazing and cute. I like the fact that it wasn't too dramatic or frustrating to watch and it was just refreshing! I recommend this drama 100%~ Watch the special afterwards. You'll be screaming *internally* ~~~ (FANGIRLING like crazy)!!!! :D

Leia Mais