ParkYeoJin
Seoul, South Korea
This drama caught my attention in the first place because of how short it is when I googled it and that I am familiar with the lead female whom I know is a great actress for such a young age. However when I first had a glimpse of it, I decided to drop it since I find the beginning as another ambitious and exaggerated way of showing how gifted these students are. However, when I decided to watch it again a month or two later, and got past that 'beginning', I was able to appreciate it in ways that I would have never expected I would before. Plus, that I am quite familiar now with the other casts, my desire to watch this drama was even stronger. And I am glad that I had taken that step and finished this drama.
The storyline is quite simple with twists that are quite predictable but still has the ability to surprise you. For a short drama, I am quite surprise how almost all the necessary things that you would expect from a 16-episode drama can be found in this one: character growth, changing perspectives in life, rivalry turned to alliance, learning that our dreams may not be what we truly want or need and other matters that one can find in a slice-of-life drama. One thing that I find really fascinating in this drama is the simplicity of the story and the absence of unnecessary fillers. I love how every scene contributes to an ending nobody expected but were contented about. The flow of the story is smooth and consistent with the main problem or goal of the whole drama.
Acting/Cast:
The acting was quite impressive especially with the male leads. I love how the piano and the music itself contributes to symbolically represent each character. I didn't expect to be moved by this. But I was and this deserves a bucket of happy tears.
Music:
Music is good given that this is a drama driven by music itself. In this part, I'm referring to the piano pieces the characters chose to play and I find that the music, as I've said, complements well with the characters.
A definite 10 for rewatch value. This is a drama perfectly suited for young adults. I love how this drama can actually redirect you if your goals in life are quite blurry. The writer did a great job. I recently found out that this writer also wrote one of my favorite dramas, I Can Hear Your Voice, and so I am not anymore questioning why it's a good one. I hope to see more of this in the future but would love it more if it's a 16 episode drama.
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[Also, I am still subjective to the acting skills of some idols and EXO is one of them. Probably, the only idols I have been truly moved/convinced by their acting skills are Park Hyungsik, Yook Sungjae, Kim Kibum and Choi Minho. But after watching this, I can see a bright future for the EXO members.]
STORY:
I didn't expect much from this show. I know no one except that I'll be watching EXO members (I haven't listened to EXO but I know who's who) and a girl who looks like a mix of Lee Sung Kyung and Jung Chae Yeon in a storyline that many fanfictions might have touched.
But what made me watch this is the storyline that I find quite cute and something that you'd wish you could have read or watch back when you were in high school. It's the kind of plot you'd read in fanfiction but still enjoy reading if you like those kind of stuffs plus the antics you normally wouldn't expect if you're watching a normal rom-com (what is normal anyway in rom-coms?). Truthfully, it's not anything new but it's not anything you'll see often either or get the chance to see in a drama as the main storyline. I think it's more with the feeling and experience you'd get while watching this. I swear my cheeks hurt from smiling.
ACTING:
The female lead for me was quite good and she reminded of Lee Sung Kyung's acting in Weightlifting Fairy. The males' acting were good enough and the way they deliver their lines reminded of a comical skit or something you'd see in SNL but still funny and convincing. I loved Sehun's and Kwang-soo's acting feats. I find it touching when Kwang-Soo's mother addressed his son in the end and I think that it was a little hint that Kwang-soo has some illness (but I'm not sure) and that Sehun understood this somehow. I didn't think his character is that shallow. D.O. is amazing although awkward at times. Chanyeol's okay but he really shines when Ga Young's in the picture. Baekhyun and Kai are good as well. I just don't know how to judge their acting properly since it's like they're acting the way they would probably do in their normal day-to-day lives (they're acting as fictionalized versions of themselves anyway XD). Suho, uhm, not really sure, but I guess his acting was a bit believable.
CHEMISTRY:
It's a definite yes. Chanyeol and Ga Young definitely have that chemistry. They look so good together that I find it quite cute. I think they look better together than Hyungsik and Bo Young in Strong Woman or Joo Hyuk and Sung Kyung in Weightlifting. I think it's always a difficult endeavor to find an actress that'll complement an idol. But this one, it's like the show hit a jackpot. I also had a little second lead syndrome but still Chanyeol for the win. :)
I felt really bad though since each episode last like a commercial film and that I wish they could have made it 30 min long but I think that maybe it's better to be brief but still concise.
P.S. If you're a SHAWOL, let's be friends. ^_^
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