This review may contain spoilers
Story that cannot decide if it's a comedy, drama, or love story
A show can absolutely be a blend of comedy, drama, and love story, but IMHO not the way it is done here. Most jarringly, some of the comedy is incredibly broad (e.g., when the FL gets captured and tells the North Korean soldiers the wonderful things she has in South Korea). The shifts in tone are also sudden, without a "bridge" to them, which makes it difficult to know how to respond to what is being shown.
In terms of the individual show's components:
* The story: The middle bit is (largely) wonderful! The fish-out-of-water FL experiences, the very different individuals in North Korea and their side stories -- handled and acted well. Alas, the beginning and the end (after the FL returns to SK) are not nearly as rewarding. Especially the end. First of all, it's somewhat confusing. Secondly, the theme of "they've-met-before-and-are-fated-because-she-heard-him-play-one-time-years-before" does not work, at least for me. And while the FL being in NK offered some dramatic tension and reward, the North Koreans' stay in SK was treated very much like comic relief and contributed next to nothing to the plot.
* The acting: Somewhat hard to say because of the shifts in tone, but I would say it's a mixed bag all around. However, I blame the story or the pacing of the story for this. In some places the actors are, again, very broad (esp. in the comic bits) and then suddenly shift to more naturalistic high drama. It's difficult to relate to!
* The music: Nice, but not that distinctive or memorable.
* Rewatch value: Nonexistent. I barely made it to the last episode, and mostly because I have read the excellent reviews and was hoping that the show would end on a high-quality note. There are not even any scenes that I want to rewatch (which usually happens).
Bottom line: Lots of people enjoyed it -- and good for them! For me, it is a miss and not a good way to spend one's time.
In terms of the individual show's components:
* The story: The middle bit is (largely) wonderful! The fish-out-of-water FL experiences, the very different individuals in North Korea and their side stories -- handled and acted well. Alas, the beginning and the end (after the FL returns to SK) are not nearly as rewarding. Especially the end. First of all, it's somewhat confusing. Secondly, the theme of "they've-met-before-and-are-fated-because-she-heard-him-play-one-time-years-before" does not work, at least for me. And while the FL being in NK offered some dramatic tension and reward, the North Koreans' stay in SK was treated very much like comic relief and contributed next to nothing to the plot.
* The acting: Somewhat hard to say because of the shifts in tone, but I would say it's a mixed bag all around. However, I blame the story or the pacing of the story for this. In some places the actors are, again, very broad (esp. in the comic bits) and then suddenly shift to more naturalistic high drama. It's difficult to relate to!
* The music: Nice, but not that distinctive or memorable.
* Rewatch value: Nonexistent. I barely made it to the last episode, and mostly because I have read the excellent reviews and was hoping that the show would end on a high-quality note. There are not even any scenes that I want to rewatch (which usually happens).
Bottom line: Lots of people enjoyed it -- and good for them! For me, it is a miss and not a good way to spend one's time.
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