This review may contain spoilers
A majestic show of two parts
I can't describe my feelings about this show without a deep lingering sense of confusion. It is simultaneously one of the greatest Korean dramas I've ever watched and one that undermines its own magic at times. It is a show with an incredibly beautiful set of personalities, moments, dialogue set against wonderful music. It explores with thoughtfulness and care, and shows Son-Yeji at her absolute glorious best.The story across the first ten episodes or so is wonderfully warm and with tension. You find yourself engaged with every character. Everyone has some sort of a story. CLY tells this well. It makes you fall for the chemistry, makes you think that it's all real, that perhaps this is a documentary of a real life incident where a South Korean woman parachuted into dangerous terrains and was saved by a stout soldier. The acting is powerful enough to make you think that. The music is gorgeously appropriate.
Whilst set in North Korea, this show in the first half moves from amazing episode to amazing episode. But then afterwards, everything feels rushed. The magic of the show wasn't in what would happen when she finally reached South Korea. It was if she would reach. Understandably you couldn't drag this out for 16 episodes, but once they brought her back and she was no longer in North Korea, the main premise of the show had been solved. Everything after that felt a little anticlimatic.
Overall, the show finished strongly and remains one of the best I've ever watched.
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Pretty good, not great drama.
Very well done premiseThey didn't make any north Koreans look like fools or anything.
They treated everyone with respect.
Plus it was a very nice recreation of north Korea.
The two leads have great chemistry as well and no wonder they got married lol
I don't really have any issue with the drama just surprised it is over 9.0
Funny enough my rating is also over 9.0 only because I loved the cast and how well everyone played their roles.
My rating is 9.0 because I don't wanna bring this down lol
But I'd give it around 7.5
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Amazing!! Brilliantly Written ❤
What to say, before watching this KRAMA i had no idea how its going to be. But boy, i was not disappointed at all!! I loved every bit of it - the story, acting, romance, laughter n all.... Specially the chemistry between the lead actor n actress.... it was amazing!! I also loved how they focused on every character in this series, not just the leads....I will definitely recommend it to everyone who are looking to watch something brilliant n amazing art! The only thing that I think was lacking was the OST, i really wish they had also focused more on the OST, because they were only couple of background music that I know. Overall, I give this 9/10 & you cant miss this!!!Was this review helpful to you?
What's special about "Crash Landing on You"?
Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) is a successful business woman who anyone would want to be: a billionaire entrepreneur with a clothing and skincare line called "Seri's Choice". Se-ri's father, recently released from prison on probation, can no longer run the "Queen's Group" (the family's *chaebol) and wants Se-ri to take his place, because her siblings cannot compete with her business acumen. As the "Queen's Group" prepares to make the official announcement, Se-ri decides to personally test the new sports suits of her brand by paragliding, but something goes wrong, and she's caught by a sudden tornado, which pushes her to the borders with North Korea. Here she has a fateful meeting with captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin): from this moment on begins a tormented and very romantic love story that will accompany you, between super fashionable outfits and moments that will keep you in suspense, until in the end.*chaebol: term used for the first time in 1984, an industrial conglomerate that is managed by a person or a family (among the best known chaebols also in the West --> Samsung, Hyundai, LG).
Captain Ri, played by Hyun Bin, is a man who appears cold and a little naive, but who turns out to be loyal and very sweet towards Se-ri, despite his dramatic past. Se-ri, even though she is a successful and very rich woman, has a terrible family: her brothers can't stand her because she is a woman and she has been more successful than them, her mother has always treated her with indifference. Surely our two beautiful protagonists are very shippable together, with such tragic pasts! Alongside them, the secondary characters are also very important, in particular Seo Dan, played by Seo ji-hye, an heiress of a North Korean department store and aspiring cellist who is also the "girlfriend" of Ri Jeong-hyeok for an arranged marriage; Gu Seung-jun / Alberto Gu (Kim Jung-hyun, who you may know from "Welcome to Waikiki"), a smart and charming South Korean cheat with British citizenship.
This k-drama was one of the most watched on TvN in South Korea, and there are a lot of reasons why it became so popular. The first thing I want to underline is the importance given to the relations between North Korea and South Korea: from the first moment we see two completely different characters, who represent North Korea (Se-ri) and South Korea ( Captain Ri), who try to interact with each other despite the (few) differences, all seasoned with a good dose of comedy that will make you more than a laugh. Another detail that can be seen is how the series tries to make the military and all North Korean citizens more "human", which I think is very nice ... but the sister of Kim Jong Un (leader of Korea of the North) doesn't think like me, infact she has repeatedly reiterated how South Korea is producing films and series that are impure and unfaithful to North Korean reality. But I can assure you that this is not the case (okay, maybe this series romanticizes things a bit, but I think it's really okay, because it's still a show, not reality!). The last thing I would like to emphasize is that the series wants to get the message across: "Okay, the two Koreas are still divided, but look, in reality you are not as different as they want you to think; you have habits, rituals and a few different words, but in the end you are always Korean citizens, whether you are from the North or from the South!".
In short, if you want to know a little about North Korea and its people, I highly recommend you to watch this drama!
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Good Reasons For Watching
Crash Landing On You is more than just romance to me which is a good reason to give it a high rating. Some aspects of North Korean life is projected in the drama which is not only an eye-opener but also gives it a unique background to the story. No doubt, the plot is all pure fantasy but the North Korean angle adds an interesting layer to the romance that follows.Moreover, the drama manages to evoke intense feelings in viewers as the cross-border love becomes stronger but separation between the 2 lovers is inevitable. You will cry buckets in some scenes especially the separation in the last episode. So, getting tissues ready is highly recommended before you start watching. But apart from the romance, you will also be able to feel the care and camaraderie among friends. There are comical moments to lighten the mood too after more serious scenes that weigh down your feelings. In short, the drama has a little bit of everything that gel together very nicely into a great production.
Chemistry Between The Leads
The chemistry between Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin simply sizzles in Crash Landing On You. They certainly played their roles well to convince us that they are falling deeply in love deeply with each other. Perhaps the events in the story help it along as they need to sacrifice much to protect one another. But their eyes, facial expressions, and body language are often able to convey their deepest feelings to make us feel moved. The tears seem real as we cry along with them. I guess Son Ye Jin does live up to her Melodrama Queen tag each time.
I think the supporting cast also did a great job especially the soldiers and village women. Their portrayals of the unique personalities of their respective characters give the drama much more depth. They are interesting to watch rather than just mere props to support the main leads. The guest appearance by Ha Seok Jin as Jeung Hyuk’s elder brother is also a nice surprise. I first noticed him in Something About 1 Percent and that is a fun watch as well.
My Verdict
Crash Landing On You is definitely worth watching although the starting could be a little slow. It takes about 3 to 4 episodes for me to warm up to the story before I was really into it. But once you get on the ride, you will be rooting for the couple. The idea of lovers being forced apart is always going to hurt and yet, there is also always hope. Set against the political realities of North and South Korea, the story becomes even more melodramatic and the feelings more intense. Hence, they don’t even need steamy kisses to sell this romance drama. Well, they do have kisses but they tend to be sweet and far more innocent than what you would see in Her Private Life or What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.
For this Crash Landing On You review, I would give it a 8.5/10 rating. I deducted some points for the slow start and the rushed ending. Watch it for the North Korean element, great chemistry of the main leads, and intense emotions it successfully evokes. And of course, the good-looking Hyun Bin and beautiful Son Ye Jin!
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Enjoyable experience
It was enjoyable to watch Crash Landing on you throughout. It is primarily due to the plot and premise of the film. The film is fueled by two outstanding leads, Hyun-Bin (Lee Jeong) and Son Ye-Jin (Yoon Seri) While paragliding, Yoon Seri is caught in a powerful strom that blows her off course, right into North Korea. Her presence is alerted to Captain Lee Jeong and his Army border patrol unit.The captain discovers Yoon and the rest is an entertaining ride of intrigue, deception, comedy, and ultimately love. It is the incredible acting and phenomenal chemistry between the two main characters that sells both the story's plot and its purpose. In addition to the supporting cast and set production, the writing also contributed to the success of this classic. The two main leads do very well, but Son Ye-Jin's performance will pull on your heart and emotions.
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Fabulous Drama, Great Story, Superb leads.
This was one of the best ever South Korean Dramas I have watched. It is stand out superb.The story is great . the acting wonderful. Both Leads were brilliant. Loved all of the North Korean Characters. The Soldiers were especially heart warming but the women were also wonderful characters. IN my top 3 favourites. I watch it regularly as a treat. Hyun Bin is gorgeous and a great lead romantic actor. The Bad Guy Gang was a monster but his acting was superb. This was a truly heart warming drama with lots of excitement and humour. Seri was wonderful . Her family were Revolting. And Captains Fiancee was awful. The settings were Superb. I so preferred the North koreans and their lifestyle to those in South Korea. The Sout Korean members of the NIS were the most charming. I loved this Drama so much.
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This review may contain spoilers
Its alright I guess
Crash landing on you is a story about belonging and communitySoon ri and numerous characters are avatars through which we can see this
yae ri finds a community amongst the north koreans
The north koreans find that they fit in a bit too well in south korea
The random mom of the second female lead was like a super bitch but she end up being good friends with the villagers.
Joon hyuk and Soon yae ri ended up being such a good match that they ended up together outside the drama as well.
Perhaps in another universe, north and south korea could have been one great big loving community.
But koreans are evil so that aint gonna happen
Anyways Crash landing onto you maintains a good balance of drama, plot while adding in little specks of dogshit here and there to take away the emersion and make you feel like youre watching my love from the stars.
The music is used effectively, though some of it is overused (standard for most kdramas).
The acting was sometimes goofy but mostly solid. Besides caricature moments, it was actually pretty good. The goofy special forces was comedic relief but actually had enough personality that they werent just annoying plot devices like in many other shows.
The overall quality is fairly good like the cinematography, though heavy cuts such as in fight scenes did give me a slight headache. Shit would have been a peak ending if the camera panned and focused on the special flower in Switzerland right at the ending. Still enjoyable but missed opportunities.
The middle and latter parts of the show were better, mainly focusing on character development and actual plot (something that is missing from many kdramas *cough cha cha cha). Minor parts of the story weaved into the overall plot pretty well, and besides the suspension of disbelief, it’s a fairly enjoyable plot.
God forbid a character actually learn and have development. I cannot believe how many shows Ive seen where the main character is static, does jack shit and just waits like a damsel in distress. Soon ri is a bitch but she gets better (stops being korean). As always, the second leads were more interesting/had more chemistry but cant really say anything, when the main two leads got married irl.
Edit. After finishing the show, the second couple story was peak. The main couple was done enjoyably. Decent ending. Could have been potential for inserting the opening into the scene where they are in north and south korea and bro is doing the voice over. A bunch of misssed opportunities but still quite enjoyable.
Overall, besides minor complaints and the first half being hella boring, it’s a surprisingly enjoyable show.
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So it is about a South Korean chaebol heiress, Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) who, while paragliding in Seoul, South Korea, is swept up in a sudden storm, crash-lands in the North Korean portion of the DMZ, and meets a captain Ri Jeong Hyeok (Hyun-bin) in the Korean People's Army. Over time, they fall in love, despite the divide and dispute between their respective countries.
This Korean drama is really like other clichéd dramas but the setting moves to North Korea, but it's interesting to see the romance that exists in a country that we don't know what it's like. I can say that this drama was executed well, had actors who maximized their abilities and in the end they really raised this drama.
A good show.
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This review may contain spoilers
Love everything about this drama
The storyline is incredibly made, it is a romantic tale yet it isn't just about the normal couple. They each have their own lives and characters beyond their sentiment, which is truly intriguing to watch. I, most importantly, am a sucker for star-crossed sweethearts sentiments so in the event that you partake in something like that, this is a perfect fit for you. The manner in which they showed the distinctions in the existences of individuals living on the two sides of the boundary felt practical. It made it simpler to adjust to watching the characters as the dramatization exchanged this way and that between the North and South.
The synopsis for this show portrays the female lead as a "South Korean heiress" so I anticipated that she should be spoiled and irritating yet that was not the situation. Obviously, she was spoiled yet her personality created with the plot. I loved Yoo Se Ri's personality. She showed a ton of profundity and feeling, causing her to feel like a female lead that you could pull for. I hadn't exactly seen quite a bit of Son Ye Jin in shows previously, however her portrayal was astonishing! I frequently regarded myself as crying close by her. All along, I loved Ri Jung Hyuk as a person. His indifferent disposition was engaging to observe particularly in funny scenes. He's devoted, calm, and shockingly sweet person made me like him considerably more. I adored the sweet minutes between Ri Jung Hyuk and Yoon Se Ri. I'm astounded to say that I really delighted in watching the scenes with the guardians. Watching Yoon Se Ri's mom cooperate with her all through the dramatization was exceptionally moving. Their scenes together most certainly made me cry. I likewise loved the emotionless person of Ri Jung Hyuk's dad. I figured I would loathe him since he would likely need to isolate the couple, however I wound up cheering along when he shocked us with his devotion to his child.
I can't compose a survey without referencing the four soldiers that work close by Ri Jung Hyuk. They were so engaging to watch and they gave genuinely necessary comedic help in the most devasting scenes. The ladies in the town that became companions with Yoo Se Ri were so amusing in their collaborations. Na Wol Suk was so interesting at whatever point she would emerge and attempt to scare rookies. Her personality helped me to remember Yang Kyung Won.
I would re-watch this series. I am delighted in watching these characters communicate with each other. In spite of the fact that there were a few characters I don't like for example, Yoon Se Ri's more established sibling and her sister by marriage, it was the sort of disdain where you will continue to watch since you can hardly hang tight for them to get what they merit. Crash Landing on You is an astonishing show and I think it is one of the top drama to emerge in 2019.
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Well-executed cliché
Story: I love how they wanted to portray the advantageous sides of both countries. It’s not exactly SK vs NK and I think it’s a good thing. For a drama, the message here is important. Although some may disagree/dislike the delivery but I believe that people need to be less political and more human when it comes to fiction. If you focus on the wrong thing, you will always find fault on them.Acting: They all did great although most gossips by comrades of RJK and women in his hometown were a bit unnecessary or annoying. Their humor was a hit or miss for me. Chemistry between Seri & Jung Hyuk wasn’t that palpable but because they were such amazing actors they delivered their lines perfectly that convinced me with their whirlwind romance turned soul mates. Seri’s mom had an okay acting here.
Music: I appreciate most songs. There were times when I just listened to the song instead of watching their slow mo intimate moments.
Rewatch Value: Probably not gonna rewatch because I cried waaaaaay too hard and too many in this drama. No matter how I fast forward some scenes, you just can’t help but feel the sadness of every character. Their lines were so good that you can’t help but think, yeah, this is love. Love for your family, about brotherhood or relationship and even love for your country. It’s not too deep but not also shallow.
Overall: The first few episodes were a 6 because it wasn’t that interesting for me. I almost dropped it. You can expect cliché moments but tolerable. However, overall, I would give this 8-8.5 just because of the delivery and gravity of their dialogues and the meaning behind their actions . Although it took me a week to finish this because of its up and downs but after watching, I definitely remember most of the good parts than bad ones. This drama can bring out emotions to those who believe in the power of love. A well-done fairytale.
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This review may contain spoilers
Classic lovers in opposite camp story done right
imagine wanting to kill yourself in Switzerland but then years later when you actually want to live you're stuck in... North KoreaLmao
Now, this drama isn't perfect, but this is the couple to end all couples. If you didn't believe in the power of love, this drama will rectify that. Their love was so deep and absolute it transcended enemy country borders and could conquer any adversity, and even... break the fourth wall, as apparently being together on-screen wasn't enough for them! Their chemistry was too good.
And so Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin got married afterwards in real life too. Makes the whole thing even more wholesome and heartwarming.
Life goals.
This is an emotionally stirring drama. Very earnest.
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