Megan Lan
A Piece that Tugs at Your Heartstrings
A short, sweet drama about family, ballet, willpower, resilience, and dreams. Although I know nothing about ballet, this drama taught me so much about dance. The beauty behind it, the emotions that support it, and your passion that keeps you going. If you're currently struggling about going after something you love, watch this! Although it has the cliche "follow your dreams" message, it's a refreshing watch and reminds you that age is simply just a number.Story: Centered around a 70-year-old man trying to learn ballet, the plot unfolds slowly yet beautifully. The two main characters share a special relationship, one that says "I always got your back". However, the more personal part of this drama was the family love and the respect for others. Each couple in the family had their own problems yet the end was clear: as long as I'm here, we'll be okay. I was also relieved when the writers didn't force a relationship between Eunho and Chaerok; the focus of the drama was clear, and the unnecessary love stories were avoided. Overall, the plot is very intriguing and branches off to several sub-plots that make the drama more interesting and personal.
Acting: I've never seen any of Song Kang's works, so this is my first impression of him. And, he did not fail to disappoint. His character development was played perfectly by him. And can we mention how he learned ballet for 5-6 months? While watching, I was certain that this was a very experienced dancer...the turns, the positions, the elegance, and the emotion. Park In-Hwan was also magnificent. His character evoked so many emotions from me, ranging from pure happiness to heartbreaking pain. My tear ducts are dry because of many of his scenes. The couples were also cast perfectly! The way the director recruited some of the most famous Korean actors to play these roles shows how well the research was done.
Music: My Day by Taemin and Heal You by Ha Hyunsang. That's it. The soundtrack was composed perfectly to match the dynamic and warmth of certain scenes; the music literally painted the screen.
Please watch this short 12 episode drama if you're looking for something more personal, realistic, and heartwarming. This drama is a poem about relationships, an ode to love, and a reminder to never substitute your dreams for money. But be prepared, have a few tissues lying around. It does tug your heartstrings a bit.
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A Worthy Historical Drama to Watch
One of the best dramas in quarantine I've watched! Usually, historical dramas drag on which does not help my attention span of a goldfish, but this one had me hooked on all 20 episodes. I think the best part of this drama was the incorporation of comedy into an action-based historical drama; you are bound to laugh AT LEAST ONCE in every episode. The chemistry between Shin Hye-sun and Kim Jung-Hyun could literally be felt through the screen; the acting of both of them was phenomenal. The way Shin Hye-sun was able to portray the funniest moments but also act out the most painful ones really shows her talent and versatility as an actress.However, the one reason why this drama had me pressing "next episode" for 24 hours straight is because of the soundtrack and OST. The subtle music behind the comedic scenes really made you laugh and of course, the iconic "Bong Hwan A!!!!" song is literally the highlight of every episode. Overall, this drama is amazing if you want to laugh and cry at the same time and watch an actually interesting plot unfold through the screen.
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"As long as you remember, they are not gone."
A raw, beautiful drama depicting the unfairness of life and how quickly death comes for all of us. Although having only 10 episodes, this drama was packed with emotion and plot; each episode had a different story that explored multiple perspectives of death. From the relationship of the two main characters to the inevitable presence of death, this short series is a painful reminder that life is horribly unfair sometimes. The people who deserve to be here a little longer are always the ones who go first.The concept of trauma cleaners appears as the guiding story in this drama, a term that isn't popularized or well-known in today's culture. This drama paints the hard parts of the job, from dealing with death and misery, and also why the job is necessary, letting the deceased have one last word. What I found especially enduring is the Move the Heaven yellow box. In a time of darkness, despair, and blackness, the yellow box symbolizes a release, a sign of hope and clarity.
Acting: The two main leads, Lee Je-hoon and Tang Joon-Sang, play their parts in a way that truly brings out their characters. Although the acting isn't wildly superb, the emotions spilled off the screen and landed in the viewer's hearts. If you're a fan of the "mortal enemies to forever brothers" or "I hate everyone but you" trope, this drama is a must-watch as both actors build their relationship through such a small period of time (need a season 2!).
This drama is so short, yet it made such a difference and changed my perspective on grieving. As long as you remember them, they will always stay with you. If you've recently lost someone you loved or are going through a tough time grappling with this unsettling concept, give this drama a watch. It's worth your time.
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Not like your typical hyped up dramas
When I first stumbled upon Vincenzo, I was intimidated by the sheer popularity; from Tiktok to Instagram, literally, everyone was talking about this. Having seen how hyped up dramas like True Beauty turned out, I was hesitant in starting it, scared that I would end up being severely disappointed. What I didn't know was that this drama would soon land a well-earned spot on my top 10 dramas list.The story/plot: Writer Park Jae-Bum and Director Kim Hee-Won really created a story filled with every single emotion on the spectrum, putting an amazing cast together and bringing the story to life. The story begins with an intriguing plot and continues for the whole season; there are small yet necessary build-ups that are vital for character development, making the plot even more fascinating. Of course, the added mystery of the Mafia aspect attracts any crime/mystery fan. What more can you ask for? The best part for me was the development of the romance. There was no rush to incorporate their intimate relationship yet you could clearly see how much the two leads loved each other. The tenderness shared between them gives you the impression of two best friends who will always be by the other's side, no matter the obstacle.
Actors: The people who brought everything to life. Song Joong-ki. NEVER disappoints. His range is impeccable. But I got to give it to Jeon Yeo-been. To act out such a lovable character and have everyone under her grasp was something she went beyond with. Her emotions spilled through the screen, and her chemistry with every single actor she worked with was truly amazing. And of course, the Cassano family. Every great kdrama has a squad, one that brings a touch of humor and also a sense of home. It was impossible not to love every one of them, each of them making up for the space left by the others and coming to form a perfect circle. Also, another scene added to the most iconic walking scenes in Korean dramas (if you know what I mean ;)
Music: John Park's "I'm Always By Your Side" is on repeat. That's all. Also, the instrumentals, Jipuragi, RDU-90, and Giseok Theme illustrated what the scenes would sound like perfectly.
Overall, you won't be disappointed. Come join the Corn Salad family!
extra!!! watch the behind the scenes videos and all their interviews! Truly amazing people off and on screen.
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Revenge Tastes Hella Good.
Truly one of the dramas that put other dramas out of business. Taxi Driver is a whirlwind of a story, with the storyline building within smaller plots and slowly unveiling itself as the drama progresses. A satisfying story that makes you wish that Rainbow Transportation existed in our own society (or maybe it does!) with our corrupt legal and justice system, letting horrible criminals out and innocent bystanders in. The drama perfectly describes the feeling of disgust and disappointment: sitting back and watching those who tortured and ruin you getting a tiny slap on the wrist. And the inevitable question everyone is faced with in the industry: Should those who punish bad guys be punished too?The cast is unbeatable. From Lee Je-Hoon to Ho Chul Lee ( can we talk about how he played 2 different personalities???) to the craziest villain Cha Ji-Yeon, the producers and directors knew what they were doing when they cast each role. Also, love the fact that Lee Je-Hoon is on a roll this year! If you haven't watched Move to Heaven with him, please do so immediately. Every episode had its own special story which had Lee Je-Hoon evolving into different characters. Let's just say he understood EVERY assignment. The creative detail for the Rainbow Transportation service is also insane...the way the animation perfectly resembled a video game and had a different location in each episode.
Overall, this drama is a must-watch. If you like revenge, violence, and Lee Je-Hoon, start this right now.
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