Crash Landing on You (2019)

Possibly my most favorite k-drama! Love how the story is so original which lead to my curious self to start CLOY. Absolutely love Hyun Bin and Ye Jin's characters, their chemistry and their character development. I loved so many aspects of this drama that I have to put it in point form:
- Nothing and I mean NOTHING, dragged on throughout this drama. Was on the edge of my seat since Ep. 1 and just hooked onto the premise of the story.
- LOVED how each episode included so much! This drama in particular made me realize how many events that took place in each episode which was why I binged it in 2-3 days. They were able to add a good amount of events that took place or arising issues needed to be resolved in each episode while everything blended together, maintaining the flow and really made me interested the whole time.
- Seri's a rich woman who is smart and confident while being down to earth and kind. Liked how she wasn't portrayed as a "damsel in distress". Loved Ye Jin's acting with her facial expressions really portraying every emotion, especially in her eyes.
- Loved how Hyun Bin wasn't a "cold" guy and had to progress as someone being more open like other dramas, but rather he just built walls around himself due to what happened to his brother. We can already tell in the first episode in the special ending clip that he was smiling at Seri hanging from the tree talking to herself. He gradually opened up to Seri and was able to show how caring and affectionate he is.
- I adored the relationship Seri had with the soldiers, the constant bickering b/w her and Chi Su, Ju Muk's love for k-dramas, Eun Dong's kind heart and Kwang Beom's presence while being Jeong Hyeok's right hand man. Usually I get bored or uninterested in some supporting characters and am guilty to admit that I can skip parts I don't want to watch but I loved the soldiers characters and their chemistry so much and there was no skipping anything in this drama.
- We were made to somewhat dislike Seo Dan and Seung Jun in the beginning although I knew Seung Jun wasn't actually a bad person however I quickly adored them as the side couple and started realizing that Seo Dan really wasn't a bad person as well. Usually its hard for me to be interested in the side couple however this couple kept me curious with how they would turn out. No one really mentions it but it saddens me how Seo Dan waited that many years to be married to Jeong Hyeok and just having the hope even though she knew that he didn't love her. Also saddened with the ending for Seo Dan & Seung Jun. TT
- I liked how the military/officials scenes of either Jeong Hyeok going to work and dealing with issues, certain directors planning schemes and showing the behind the scenes of what went on was intriguing and kept the drama flowing well. Often times, many k-dramas have political/officials related problems scenes that are super boring and just fillers however CLOY didn't have any of that which is a positive aspect of this drama that really stands out.
- Liked how this drama portrayed North Korean people as the same as everyone and that most of us hold a certain stereotype towards normal NK people due to the dictatorship life there which was mind opening for me as it changed my perspective.
- Loved the cast and everyone's acting was excellent!

Some minor aspects I didn't like and why I left out 0.5 for the rating:
- The CGI was definitely not good for some of the scenes when they were paragliding which is alright but if someone else watching could be picky about it and I understand it added humor to the drama but wished it would've been a bit better!
- Would be better if Cho Cheol Gang's past was shown or he had some backstory as to why he had such ill intentions to kill JH's brother. I'm assuming JH's brother was after some sort of high ranked position as Cheol Gang but I maybe missed it somewhere?
- Glad that the ending was happy and satisfying in a way. I wished that somehow JH's father is able to issue visits to South Korea for JH which would let him see Seri much longer than the 2 weeks that the ending showed. That might sound bad haha but considering how high his father's position is I think it's possible. Also for them to go through so much just to only spend time for 2 weeks and then wait the next year is sad and frustrating
- A few very minor plot holes, one example is the scene of Seung Jun at the airport ready to leave but having to go rescue Seo Dan to which he randomly shows up with a gun when he was on the run the whole time and didn't have anything with him. Just minor things that I questioned later on and didn't affect the enjoyment I had watching this drama!
All in all, I loved this drama and would recommend to anyone! Would definitely re-watch in the future!

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“Crash landed on my screen”

At First I hesitated on watching this drama, because I thought it wasn’t Worth my time. However I came around and decided to watch it. and I’m saying this as a person who always overthinks Weather or not I should watch a certain drama, because It takes me the right amount of time to finally decide on which drama I should watch. and I loved this drama so much than I anticipated.

From that first 20 minutes while watching this drama I couldn’t predict what was going to happen next because I had no idea about what was going on. in fact I didn’t even read the plot of this drama. But that didn't stop me from continnuing. I still liked the Unexpected scenes from this drama. It gave hope, courage, and love to those that needed it. And we genuinely need to move on as the wind blows cause it doesn't stay in one place for a reason. So I highly recommend this drama to all those that have not watched it. And hope they love it when it crash lands into they're world as much as I did.

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Cause I can't help falling in love

This is the highest rated drama on MyDramaList that I have watched to this day, but, as much of an emotional attachment I have been able to develop to this drama, I cannot help but recognize its many flaws that make it quite an overrated drama overall. Now, don’t get me wrong, this drama was freaking awesome. I loved the leads and the side characters to bits, and the music, although not the most impressive soundtrack, did contribute quite a bit to the waterfall of tears I shed for this drama. But because I loved it so much I can’t help but wish for some parts of it to be a little different. So here we go: Right off the bat, I’m just gonna be honest and say that I didn’t like the drama at all during its first 3-4 episodes. It just didn’t click with me right away. The comedy was a little ridiculous, but I learned to get past it and love the drama anyway. The first “part” of the drama that happened in North Korea felt very repetitive. It was the same sequence of “ooh boy she’s come up with a plan to get out of North Korea” only to be followed by “oh man, another unforeseen obstacle prevented her from escaping successfully” and repeated several more times to the point where I just didn’t even hold out any hope for her escaping AT ALL. Now to address some cliches. 1)Fated to meet *barf* 2)Ri Jeong Hyuk’s brother’s death caused him to become distant and cold-hearted (dramatic much? I get that you loved him, but plenty of people lost their loved ones and didn’t act like the world suddenly ended) 3) Now this may just be my personal opinion, but the “big bad villain following the rich South Korean heiress into her country to kill her” sequence was a little ridiculous and super annoying to watch. While we’re on the topic, I tend to err on the more realistic side of Korean dramas, and watching these two lovesick idiots take bullets for one another time after time and end up in a hospital bed was just a little too gruesome and depressing for me. I tend to avoid dramas where characters face violent or even fatal encounters for that exact reason. Last two complaints, I PROMISE. I wasn’t a fan of how Ri Jeong Hyeok kept lying to the South Korean officials about his intentions for the sake of saving Yoon Se Ri from legal troubles when he left. He was clearly making her miserable and yet he kept lying I JUST UGH. While I’m probably one of the few (or maybe not lol) people that thought that eliminating the second male lead was a bold and frankly quite a fun choice, I can’t say the same for how they wrapped up the ending of the drama for the main leads. Once again, largely personal opinion, but I found it so depressing how the couple could never truly be together and had to rely on two weeks for every YEAR to meet each other. I didn’t watch 20 hours of a Korean drama only for you to tell me that they don’t even get a proper happy ending! Now, while I just typed up a huge freaking essay of complaints about the drama, I have to admit that watching CLOY was one of the best experiences of my life, all the frustrating parts of it aside. The side characters/second leads were so well developed over the course of the drama that I felt like the love story between Jeong Hyeok and Se Ri had a dramatic impact on all the characters on both sides of the 39th parallel. This drama explored all angles of the story and wrapped up the side characters’ narratives even better than it did with the leads, and while I will always cherish the main leads’ romance, it is the side characters that ended up completely stealing the show and making this drama one for the ages.

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I can't say I didn't have any problems with the story. It had it's loopholes for example in the first nine episodes crossing the border into South Korea was shown to be next to impossible . But from episode ten and onwards it seemed to be a piece of cake . Just why didn't Ri Jeong Hyeok ask his father for help regarding seri in the first place? Why did he put his and seri's life in danger again and again till his father found out himself and decided to directly intervene ?

The biggest problem i had though was Seung Joon being killed in the last episode. I absolutely loathe dramas that unnecessarily kill off characters . Also we often tend to root more for characters that have suffered or who are pitiful. In my eyes Seo Dan and Seung Joon were the most tragic characters in this drama and i felt they deserved happiness the most. I thought this alone would make me hate the drama but to my utter shock I loved it despite it all.

This drama shows just how important good direction and solid acting from the cast is for a drama. Hyun Bin and Son Hye Jin gave such amazing performances that it was hard not to root for them. The timing and execution of every scene was amazing . And even the secondary characters were acted out wonderfully by the other cast members.

The way the characters were written was also awesome and they all showed depth. I thought I would find Yoon Seri as an annoying character but I grew to appreciate the fact that she was smart and independent not a damsel in distress. I also loved her protectiveness towards Jeong Hyeok and the scene where she takes a bullet for him.

Jeong Hyeok is everything that you would want in a hero . He is tough as nails and also very devoted towards the heroine. I must admit I didn't like Hyun Bin's character in Secret Garden as he was very clingy towards the heroine and utterly disrespectful to her at times. But here he realises his full potential as a swoon worthy male lead who isn't the entitled self centered jerk we often see.

As far as the story is concerned I loved how much research they put into depicting life in North Korea . If you love dramas exploring different cultures you will love this. Life in North Korea is so bizarre and terrifying and the drama made full use of it to add to the thrill . Tvn dramas tend to have very long episodes and I find them hard to finish but this kept me hooked till the end. It also had one of the best final scenes ever. What l love is how romantic it was and yet it wasn't solely focused on the romance alone

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while I adore certain aspects, there are also significant flaws

Crash Landing on You is a drama I have mixed feelings about; while I adore certain aspects, there are also significant flaws.

First and foremost, the cast is phenomenal, featuring some of Korea's top actors who deliver stellar performances. The chemistry between the female lead (FL) and the male lead (ML) is incredible, and their characters are initially well-developed and relatable. The show starts off brilliantly, and I would argue that it could have ended halfway through for a more perfect conclusion.

However, the second half takes a turn for the worse, particularly with the FL's arrival in South Korea. Here, the ML's character begins to falter, and the narrative shifts towards excessive South Korean propaganda. While it’s reasonable to exaggerate North Korea's flaws, the show fails to mirror this approach with the South, missing an opportunity for a balanced portrayal. This lack of subtlety detracts from the storytelling and leaves viewers without a chance to form their own opinions.

Additionally, the blatant product placements become overwhelming as the FL returns to South Korea, taking away from the narrative’s authenticity. The conclusion feels politically correct and disengaged, disappointing viewers who are left yearning for a more credible resolution. The show's insistence on prioritizing career ambitions and long-distance relationships over genuine emotional connections makes it feel unrealistic—if love is truly powerful, shouldn’t it inspire more effort?

Overall, Crash Landing on You starts strong but ultimately falls short of its potential, with narrative choices that compromise its integrity.

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Hmm

Just finished Crash landing on you...and it deserves to be on my favourite shows list. Wondering why I wasn't picking this show up earlier. Moving on to the show, it has a simple yet good storyline and excellent performance by the whole cast especially i totally enjoyed the parts where that squad (if you've watched it) comes on screen. Also loved the chemistry between the leads, Captain Ri & Seri they looked so good together :) and Gu seung joon (l simply loved this character), he has done a great job.
One thing that is its length (was unnecessarily stretched till the end) was my biggest concern but still I would prefer this drama over many others. It has that emotion which lasts till the end, suspense, fun elements just fits nicely.
Definitely a binge worthy show.

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I'm happy that I waited for this drama!

All I can say is this drama is a PERFECTION!!

- I love all the characters. Especially the main character Son Ye-Jin and Hyun Bin!
- I love the story concept!
- I love the OST of this drama!

Until now, I still visit this drama on Netflix! LOL
For me, this drama has a perfect ending.

I will not spoil this drama here. For some of you still did not watch this drama until now! You guys need to watch it! AS IN ASAP!! GO NOW! GO NOW! WATCH IT!!!! :)

Please don't get mad at my review. This is just my own opinion, and I want to express my feelings towards this wonderful drama.

LoveSia,

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Great start with intriguing characters, however the end fell short for me.

The acting of the two mcs were phonomenal and I found myself on the edge of my seat cheering for them and badmouthing those who went against them. I absolutely adored all the soldiers in Captain Ri's squad, they brought humor and adorable sweetness to the show. A loved all the ladies from the town, it was so nice to see a group of neighbours that seemed like an actual family having each other's back despite the consequences.

Despite the shows excellent start the last few episodes had moments that brought the show down for me...

(Major Spoilers Alert!!!)
I liked the characters Seo Dan and Gu Seung-joon, finding their relationship quite cute. However the ending of their character arc didn't hit the mark for me. GSJ's death felt unrealistic and lacked the emotion needed when killing of a character. The whole time I was to distracted by the paramedic who sat there in the ambulance doing absolutely nothing. When a paramedic watches while someone who is dying takes off their oxygen mask to talk to someone, and when that person dies shows no attempt to save them it makes the scene unbelievably stupid for me. It made me continue to wonder if he wasn't actually dead which was furthered by the lack of reactions from any of the mc's. Also Dan's revenge was not clear at all.

The whole series they emphasised the power of the rich so I found it quite disappointing that when the people they loved were in danger Se-ri and Dan did little to nothing. When Se-ri and Jung Hyuk were in SK despite her mentioning that he shouldn't show his face they made no effort to hide it despite her social standing, constantly being photographed. However I understand that they wouldn't want to have his cute face covered all the time.

The portrayal of North Korean was very interesting, giving a new perspective to a place I didn't know much about besides its military and government flaws. It was nice showing the different cultures and the merits of both. The portrayal of the South Korean officials seemed unrealistic. It seemed like they were trying to show how amazing and kind the SK system is going way too over the top. It seemed silly and unbelievable that the soldiers were asked if they wanted to stay and that Jung Hyuk was allowed to go anywhere, with access to a phone. In any interrogation a certain degree of intimidation is expected and required, this show went over the top in trying to show the humanity in SK government vs NK's.

The ending also could have been better. Se-ri is so influential it would be easy to find where she was but they had to wait years hoping to meet by chance... I would have liked to see them settled down in switzerland or anywhere, living together and starting a family like they dreamed of. The show made ot seems like they only see each other for 2 weeks a year which was quite disappointing after everything they've been through.

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Overall the character development and acting was phenomenal but they ending didn't do the series justice.

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this drama is suuuper addictive and worth every watch ! got me hooked on the first episode omgg i miss when dramas used to be this dramatic and fictitious (in a good way).. though i did get bored for a few episodes in the middle but it was still bearable because of the side characters's wits >< the ahjummas & soldiers were so entertaining to watch i love themmm they're definitely one of the main highlights of the show ! i cried and laughed a lot while watching this show cus it was just that goood .. so grateful that i didnt watch this drama as soon as it came out because i'd be missing it everyday for 2 years now ㅠㅠ

only down point is that the character cheolgang was just too annoying i didnt gaf about him omg he gets away with everything why does this guy always play corrupted characters ;_; other than that everything was just great but as for the scenes i skipped, blame it on my poor attention span. hyunbin & yejin's chemistry were undeniable they were both so great and charming i love themm :c!!!

overall this drama definitely was worth the hype and worth to be watched ! its fun , entertaining, heartbreaking, thrilling omg literally every emotion there is !

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Just like Jung Hyuk and Se Ri were fated to be together, I was fated to watch 'Crash Landing on You'. No seriously, I NEVER would have watched this drama but something happened which freed up my time so I spontaneously decided to watch this even though I have so many other dramas that I've been meaning to start for years now. Suffice to say, I've found another 10/10 drama that will stay with me forever. I'll try to keep this review short so you can start watching it if you haven't seen it already.

I don't know why, but my expectations weren't very high for this drama but wow it had me laughing, swooning, crying and anticipating what would happen next at the end of every episode. And MY GOODNESS I love all the characters (the good ones of course). The cast did an amazing job , they were really able to portray authentic friendships and love and emotions.

Do you know how sometimes at the end of a drama it leaves you wanting more? Leaves you questioning what happened to the characters? Not content with how it ended? Well, you don't have to worry about experiencing that with this one. Other dramas would have stopped like half way in terms of the plot but 'Crash Landing on You' continued the story and it didn't once feel dragging. (Although, I wasn't happy with what they decided to do for a certain character but it adds to the plot, so I'll let it slide.)

And the OST? AMAZING. It made the drama even more beautiful.

This drama was so good that I finished it in 3 DAYS! I don't think I've finished a drama that fast since 'Goblin' (another drama which I gave a 10/10 rating). I was actually supposed to do some really important things but I chose to put it aside to watch 'Crash Landing on You' and I don't regret it.

Oh and another thing, the cinematography was absolutely breathtaking, especially the scenes in Switzerland. It makes me want to visit that country in the future... maybe I will. Maybe this was why it was fate for me to watch this drama, so I would decide to go to Switzerland and something life changing will happen. Ok maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Anyway, I love this drama. I recommend you check it out even if it's not your style because apart from Romance, there's underlying themes of Family, Friendship, Mystery, Comedy, Drama and Politics. Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk.

*Edit: I rewatched this kdrama with my mum months ago and I loved it even more so I'm changing the rewatch value from 7 to 10*

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For Hyun Bin

This is a very belated review. I watched it once it was aired and I have since rewatched it a few times. It was on my list because of Hyun Bin. When I knew that he was the male lead, I knew that I had to watch it and of course, I did!

This drama has received tons of positive reviews and I want to add mine! Hyun Bin is an absolute delight to watch! The scene where he was being transformed into a Seoul man was drop dead gorgeous!! OMG!! So very hot and sexy.

This drama has funny elements, touching elements as well as intriguing moments, suspenseful moments! The cast was excellent but my highlight was and still is Hyun Bin.

Pls watch for this very fine actor. I loved him since Secret Garden. These two are, to me, his best best best dramas thus far and I look forward to more of his brilliant work.

Watch - for the love for Hyun Bin.

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