allyson
San Antonio, TX
I find myself in watching Korean movies that I always end up wishing someone had made these into dramas, and that is never more true than of Penny pinchers. I could have definitely devoted 16 episodes to this story. The side characters are under developed quite a bit in the movie, but the storyline doesn't suffer because of it. In fact, the only two characters you even want to know more of were the leads.
All in all, this movie is a delightful way to waste two hours, and you get to hear Song Joong Ki singing, which to me, even if I hated the movie, would make it worth it :) I was surprised by how enjoyable this was, so you should give a shot and you might be surprised too!
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The other members of the WOC add drama and comedic relief to a show that can be really tense. For this only being Jo Jung Suk's second drama, I was shocked by how incredible he was, and that he wasn't snatched up for dramas a long time ago. As for the villain, Bong Goo is far from terror-inspiring, and tends to drag the show down a little bit because he is never really given a clear motive for why he wants to bring the royal family down, or why he hates Lee Jae Ha so much to want to completely destroy any bit of happiness he has ever had. Or why he is so obsessed with really stupid magic tricks! That being said, he eventually does seem to pick up a bit of rhythym that makes him a worthy adversary for Jae Ha.
Also fascinating, the relations between the North and South. I can't claim a wealth of knowledge about the North, so I don't know how accurate any of their depictions are, but it definitely was an interesting look into the tense relations in the country, and how easily a war can be sparked. All in all, if you enjoy a big dose of drama, kidnappings, murder and attempted murder along with your romance, then King2Hearts is the drama for you! Just be prepared! It will make you cry like a little baby at times :p
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There are a couple things I want to get out of the way before I start the actual review of the drama.
First, man am I super susceptible to advertising. This isn’t really a new discovery, as back when the fans tried to save chuck by begging Subway for product placement, I learned real quick that just seeing someone eat a subway sandwich was enough for me to go out and buy one. So, if you’ve ever wondered if product placement ever actually works on people, this jerk right here will fall for it! And man, there was a lot of product placement in this drama, so be ready.
Second, I think this drama should come with a warning label for your ovaries. My biological clock appreciated the heck out of watching So Ji Sub lovingly play with those kids.
Ok, so now that that is out of the way, on to reviewing the drama. There seems to be a pretty mixed bag of opinions in the comment section, and honestly, I can’t find fault with either side. Terrius had a lot of issues that kept it from being perfect, but I can also see how it would be easy for someone to go in expecting a comedy and not looking for plot holes to thoroughly enjoy it.
Cause first and foremost, this is a comedy drama, and the spy and action stuff is kind of thrown in as an afterthought. There are a lot of plot holes and a good dose of bad writing, but for the most part, the characters genuinely are easy to love and root for. The spy stuff was ridiculous and mostly unbelievable, and the twists were obvious from very early on.
So, hopefully I’ve cleared things up for people who are going to go into this for the spy angle. Let’s talk about the romance angle. A lot of people have said there isn’t any romance, and that is true. You don’t get a traditional romance, you don’t get any pda at all. But that’s not to say it’s devoid of romance. It is made pretty clear that they care a lot for each other. It’s just never expressly said or physically shown.
Another disappointment is So Ji Sub’s character. It’s just incredibly one note and flat. I have been really impressed with him in other dramas prior to this one, but here it felt like he never connected with the character, and so I never connected with the character. I’m not sure where the blame lies, if it is a writing problem, or an acting problem, but it definitely detracted from the drama.
Still with me? Cause that’s a lot of negative, and there really is some bright gems in this story that make it worth watching.
First, the extended cast is just hilarious. It wasn’t hard not to fall for all of the side characters. The kids were adorable, the KIS squad was hilarious and even the NIS team had quite a bit of cuteness in the form of Ra Do Woo.
Second, it’s So Ji Sub and twins. What’s not to love there?
Third, it was just flat out funny! Not all of the time, but enough that it kept the story moving at a fast pace and helped disguise some of the little plot holes that were cropping up everywhere.
All in all, this isn’t the worst drama I’ve ever watched, but it’s also far from the best. If you are good at suspending disbelief and don’t need your plots to make a lot of sense, check this out! If not, there are certainly better written/acted dramas out there.
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This review may contain spoilers
A friend of mine recently said that sometimes a drama can just creep up on you. Never has that been more true than with The Vineyard Man. I struggled so much trying to watch this drama, I dropped it twice without being able to get through the first episode. I honestly couldn't imagine that I would ever enjoy it, even as I was watching it. But as with Secret Garden, I am so glad I was willing to give this show a third chance. This show is far from perfect, some episodes drag, and they definitely took their sweet time advancing the romantic story line. They spent way WAY too much time on the love triangle aspect of the show. As you get into the second half, it's like they just can't stop beating the dead horse as they tried too hard to extract every bit of drama and frustration that a love triangle can bring.
The characters were all pretty phenomenal, especially Jang Taek Gi. Seriously, he may have taken the spot as my number one drama hero fantasy boyfriend :p He was so incredibly sweet and caring, even if he could be dense at times. Lee Ji Hyun was so stinking irritating in the first 8 or 9 episodes, she is what made this drama so hard to get through! She was just a spoiled brat, and I hated listening to her whine. I know that that was the point, she is supposed to undergo a transformation, but she was just so unlikable in the beginning, it was grating. The secondary characters were a joy to watch, too. The villagers were all funny, I especially loved Taek Gi's best friend. His voice cracked me up. The only character I wasn't too fond of was the granduncle, which is weird because I have loved that actor in everything else I have seen him in.
I, of course, don't want to get too spoilery, but I will say the last episode was the best of the whole series, hands down. There wasn't too much romance by way of kissing or any other kind of PDA, but there was plenty of sweet scenes to keep you going :)
Bottom line, there are some things I would have changed, but all in all this was well worth the effort of slogging through the parts that dragged on. If you find yourself getting bored in the first few episodes, I would really recommend reading some recaps to get you through them. If you are looking for something fun, sweet, and pretty funny then this is what you are looking for! If you can make it through the boring, you will definitely be rewarded by the sweet and irresistible!
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When the show starts, Pal Kang is a frivolous, irritating young woman who doesn't care about anything other than landing the lawyer as her husband. This show does an amazing job of show casing her growth as a person and as a mother. My only complaint is the sheer number of times she felt the need to say that when she cut her hair in the bath house, that was when she stopped being a woman. There are some episodes where she felt the need to point that out 3 or more times! As for her male counterpart, his growth was also very interesting to watch. I definitely enjoyed just how much room the writers gave these characters to grow together.
As for the remaining cast, the nephew was hilarious, if a little too much at times. His love for Pal Kang was a welcome comedic relief though. And the three children's devotion to each of Pal Kang's potential husbands was also something that was really fun to watch. I never did end up liking the brother, Joon Ha, though. He always came off as kind of slimy, even when he was trying his hardest to be a sincere knight in shining armor. Ugh, and don't even get me started on Jae Yong. Her strict adherence to the idea that Kang Ha had to marry her absolutely, no matter what, was irritating, cause it's never given a clear motive of why. It doesn't make sense, the lengths she goes to to force Kang Ha into a relationship with her.
And this is definitely a show that ends up jumping the shark in the last episode. Majorly. Without spoiling it, let's just say, the last episode felt as if the writers were giving a big middle finger to the audience's intelligence, I have to say. Maybe if they had spent a little more time developing hte storyline they threw in in the last episode, it might have made more sense.
All in all, this show is a cute, easy watch. Nothing ground breaking or earth shattering, but fun and cute, even if you do end up wanting to punch several characters straight in the face at times.
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Dokko Jin was oft-times ridiculous, irritating, and childish. Despite all of that, he was also sexy, sweet, romantic and adorable. His character was nothing new in terms of kdrama heroes, but he was still such a great leading man, even if you wanted to punch him in the face occasionally for so being so completely oblivious at times. His naivete was adorable, and his crazy laugh was somehow endearing.
I wasn't really that impressed with Gu Ae Jung. Her character was kind of bland, and a little unbelievable because she was the "forever good" kind of character, who never even has a mean thought about someone, or so it would seem. I really felt like they could have made her character a little more multidimensional and not have lost out on how completely Dokko fell in love with her.
The supporting characters were, for the most part, a complete pleasure to watch. Ding Dong was adorable, Se Ri was a good evil foil, without being to irredeemable, and the Pil Ju was so beyond sexy, there should be a new word made up to describe. I was totally rooting for Dokko and Ae Jung, but I can't help it if I also want to jump on the Pil-line!!
The storyline wasn't anything new or revolutionary, and that's just the way I like it, I think! It's a good rom-com that will make you hurt for all of the characters at some point in time, and root for everyone to have a happy ending! And Dokko and Pil Ju will have you smiling like a fool at least once an episode.
If you are looking for a new romantic comedy, that is really cute at times and a lot of fun to watch, then this is what you should watch!! The love story in this one is definitely not something that romance fan should miss :)
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I don't really do dramas where lead characters find out they're terminally ill. That just sounds like a recipe for heartbreak, and I try to avoid that when at all possible. In fact, I think the only other drama that I have intentionally watched with a similar story line would be Scent of a Woman, and that drama handled the sad material way better than this drama did.
Sa Rang, the daughter of the terminally ill woman in this drama was absolutely freaking amazing. In fact, I'd hazard to say that she is one of the best child actors that I have ever seen. Her character was so strong and yet impossibly adorable. If I could guarantee that I could have a kid like her, I might consider procreating. Both of the main leads in this drama started out incredibly annoying, Mi Rae moreso than Yeol. They were both childish and insufferable at times, and it took quite a few episodes for either of them to grow on you. But once you get a couple of episodes in and Mi Rae stops being so overbearing, they both really start to grow and shine.
However, no matter how much Mi Rae grows on you, she is still an odd combination of awful mother and really good mother. I mean, it's obvious that Sa Rang is loved, and maybe this is a cultural difference, but they just let her wander wherever she wants to go. She is ten years old and is left to her own devices for a vast majority of the time.
Story line wise, this show dragged a lot. I think it could have seriously benefited from a 10 or 12 episode length rather than 16 episodes. They would set up these really great plot points, and then utterly destroy them by the end of the episode. And all of the back and forth was just infuriating. Make up your mind already, guys!
Did you ever watch that episode of Friends, the one where Phoebe finds out that Monica and Chandler are dating? She wants to get back at them for not telling her and the other sooner, so she and Rachel devise a plan to prank them. As the episode goes along, each party finds out what the other is planning, and it leads to the hilarious "They don't know we know they know we know." It was hilarious for a 20 minute episode, all of the crazy shenanigans. Now, take that same idea, throw in some cancer and instead of 20 minutes, turn it into a 4 episode arc and you have the later episodes of this show. It got beyond tedious.
Another thing that bugged me about this show was the "villain", Han Yeol's boss. He was evil purely for the sake of being evil. And I'm exaggerating with the use of evil there. He was a bad guy, and an absolute jerk, though as villains go he is probably fairly tame. His characterization made no sense, his hatred of Yeol is never satisfactorily explained. It's like the writers knew they wanted to give us an obstacle, but didn't really want to put effort into that character. I like my villains to be a little more nuanced, to give us a little more of a reason for their sudden redemption.
And while all of those feel like legitimate reasons to maybe take a pass on this show, I still think that it is worth the effort! The relationship between Mi Rae, Yeol and Sa Rang, while clunky at times, was an absolute delight to watch. Yeol's smile just absolutely melted your heart, and once you start this drama, you find yourself hard pressed to turn it off and not find out what happens with Mi Rae in the end.
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So, after watching Shin Min Ah and Joo Ji Hoon getting it on, I was really looking forward to more passionate scenes. What I got was kind of lukewarm instead. Of course, it's a love triangle, and Min Ah's character was married to her childhood friend, so there are complications in the way. But what could have been a really amazing movie about a woman growing was just kind of a weird tale of people who were super blase about cheating until it became clear the feelings still lingered.
Ji Hoon remained rather adorable throughout, until he was confronted by the husband and then he seemed kind of petulant. I wasn't a fan of the ending, either, though I don't want to spoil why. It just felt like the easy way out to end it that way.
Anyway, if you are a fan of Joo Ji Hoon, then this is a must watch. Or at least, the first 15 minutes are a must watch, that is. Though, you might be more satisfied by just googling the one sexy scene, if that's what you are looking for. I gave this such a high rewatch score simply because of that one :p
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Now, can I just say, I am in LOVE with Mukai Osama! He is ridiuclously cute, and a pretty decent actor! He even has me considering checking out some more Jdramas just to watch him!
The storyline was a little bizarre, and the comedy a little too slapstick. One of the pitfalls of having such short episodes in time as well as the number of episodes, means that you lose a lot of character development, and this drama was a bit lacking in that area. Chisato was a cute character, and the actress who played her did a very good job portraying her. The rest of the reverse harem also was done fairly well, though I will say that Takeru was a little grating at times.
All in all, this was a pretty good drama, a great way to waste away my Sunday. If you are looking for something fun and silly, something to waste time on, this is your drama! The characters will have you rooting for them to succeed at every turn, and maybe wish you had a reverse harem of your own :p
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Objectively, this show is not good. I guess that's why I have to remind myself how awful my taste is at times, because even with all of the problems this show had (and there are plenty!!), I still liked it quite a bit.
Woo Hyun is absolutely adorable. Even from the beginning when he was in jerk mode i loved him. Watching him grapple with his feelings for what he believes is a man is actually interesting, where it very easily could have been uncomfortable. If it weren't for Woo Hyun's character, this would easily have been unwatchable. It is unfortunate, however, that both he and Seung Yeon fell victim the Korean brick wall of kissing. Not once did they have a kiss that would make you feel anything.
None of the other characters ever get a chance to shine. I think this is why I avoid shows with such large casts. There is not enough time to try and let the viewer connect with each character, and this show particularly failed at that. This show also fails at providing a villain to hate. The villains it offered were never given clear motives, so it was hard to understand why they acted the way they did. Why did Team
leader Han feel the need to throw herself behind Woo Hyun so fervently? Why did In Young's character make absolutely no sense to the story line? There were a lot of mistakes made throughout the series; gaping plot holes, dropped strory lines, etc. Even the "love triangle" utterly failed to tug at the heart strings.
All of that being said, the show is not wholly irredeemable. The relationship between Seung Yeon and Woo Hyun was adorable, and a lot of fun to watch in the later half of the season. I'm telling you, Woo Hyun's smile will absolutely melt your heart! If you are looking for something to waste time on, that won't make you cry or really feel too much of anything, then this is for you! Just be prepared, the ending is left open to a lot of interpretation, so if you like a pretty bow on top of all of your answered questions, then I would not suggest you watch this drama.
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Full disclosure: I'd have Ji Hyun Woo's babies if I could. After his role in Queen In Hyun's Man, I've just been in love. That being said, I was rather disappointed with his character in this drama. It was very reminiscent of the role he played in Taming of the Heir, a drama I tried and tried to finish but never could. Eun Ji's character was also reminiscent of the lead female in Taming, not to mention quite a few story similarities, down to the financial troubles, missing father (or was it a mother? I can't remember!) and little sister.
So I was asking myself, why couldn't I finish Taming when there were fairly similar, at least in my mind? I think it all has to do with chemistry. Though Ji Hyun Woo's Jang Joon Hyun was a spoiled brat in the beginning, it really did feel like his own personal growth was triggered much sooner. And Eun Ji was such a likable, strong character, that it was a lot of fun to watch them go up against each other.
The sheer number of drama tropes present in this drama after the first few episodes also contributed to my relatively low score. It was a very predictable story line. The biggest shock of the drama was just how much I fell in love with Shin Sung Rok's character. After his psychopathic character in Man From the Stars, I thought no freaking way are they trying to make me like him as a romantic lead. But this role was just perfect for him. Affable, a little ditzy and the perfect guy is as easy for him to play as the sociopath was in Man From the Stars. Of all of the drama, I am the most pleased about being able to see his range.
Honestly though, the sister was seriously the best thing about the show sometimes. She was ridiculously adorable and her chemistry with Ji Hyun Woo's character was so much fun. All in all, this drama is far from the best thing to come out of 2014's dramas, but it also isn't the worst. If you like music dramas (and that is a MUST! Eun Ji almost never stops singing in this. Every five seconds, 'should I sing you a song?' Nope, I'm good thanks.) and don't mind some corny tropes thrown in here and there, then this is something you should try out.
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I went into this drama with the expectation of dropping it in the first five minutes. I kept seeing it pop up on Dramafever, and I kept looking at it, wanting to start it but having this gut feeling that I wasn't going to like it at all. So I finally decided to start it, just so that I could drop it and get it out of my head. But man, almost from the very first minute, I was completely sucked in. And then after the first episode, I knew there was no way I could give up on these characters and their story.
Can I just say, Choi Woo Shik was absolutely made for this role. It never once felt like he was acting, it felt like he was just implicitly Ho Goo. And Ho Goo was this adorable, naive, simple guy that you couldn't help but want to hug a billion times an episode. His heart was always in the right place, and he always put other people's needs first. It was the polar opposite of most lead male characters, who start off bristly and arrogant and only change through the power of love. Ho Goo was innocent and thoughtful, and while love did change him, it only made him into a better, stronger version of something that was already pretty awesome.
Uee, however, felt really flat in her role. I honestly couldn't understand what Ho Goo saw in Do Hee. Why he was willing to do so much for someone that was only slightly better than a wooden plank. There were a few moments where you could really see some potential in her, but for the most part I just kept wishing they had picked someone else for this role. But alas, Ho Goo loved her and I was determined to see them together if it was what he wanted.
The storyline felt really fresh to me. Just when I thought I knew how people would react, what was going to happen in the storyline, someone did something that turned my assumptions on their head. Which is always a pleasant surprise in drama land! The side characters really added to the story. Ho Goo's best friend and his really ripped arms; Do Hee's "first love" and all of his hilarious baggage; Ho Goo's sister and her unrelenting crush on someone who thought she was a boy. All of them added to this perfect recipe of a drama in the most entertaining of ways.
I haven't watched many 2015 dramas, or more to the point I haven't been able to finish many of them, but I think I can easily say that Ho Goo's love is one of the best to come from the crop of dramas this year. It's endearing, and sweet, and the romance in it is adorable if you only focus on Ho Goo's side of it.
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Full Disclosure: Given the opportunity, I'd have Park Yoochun's babies in a heartbeat. I fell head over heels in love with him in Missing You, and he has created in me a fervent fan girl who will follow him down any road he chooses to take me. While I think that contributed to my rating, it is also worth noting that his Three Days barely scored a 5 from me, so I am not blind to a dramas flaws just because of my love for him. And man, did this drama have flaws.
It's probably also worth saying that I really don't like Shin Se Kyung. I honestly think she is a mediocre actress, and almost wanted to pass on this drama because of her. But like I said, I'm in it for Yoochun, no matter who he is paired with. And it's really good I didn't pass on it, because underneath all of the bluster and ridiculousness is a gem of a drama, perfect for drama fans that don't think too hard about the plot lines.
The story in this drama was just such a mess. Story points were completely dropped, a few rather important ones that we never receive closure on. Which is incredibly annoying. I can never tell if the drama is trying to give commentary on the ineptitude of the police force, or if just assumes it's viewers will forgive the absurdity of the plot and just assume the police force is doing a good job. But I sent far too many text messages while watching the drama, bemoaning the stupid plans that both the cops and the bad guy made. And what's worse than these awful, absurd plans? The party they were meant to trap usually falls for them!
You have this killer that has eluded capture for years and years. He is supposedly clever enough to keep getting away with murder, even when the police know that it is he that is doing it. And I'll admit, occasionally he will hit on a plan that is pretty inspired. But most of the time, you just can't believe that he would do such dumb things and get away with them, or fall for such dumb plans that the cops were making.
Alright, that is a lot of bellyaching about a drama that I actually, legitimately enjoyed. While it didn't cater to the intelligence of its viewers, the chemistry between Shin Se Kyung and Park Yoochun was pretty adorable. Plus, the dreaded love triangle never reared its ugly head, which is a huge plus. The cuteness between the two leads was enough for me to override all of the less stellar aspects of the drama. Though, I have never been accused of having good taste when romance is involved.
The side characters in this drama mostly added to the levity and were fun to watch. This drama solidified in me a resounding understanding that I will never, ever understand Korean Skit Comedy. I mean, seriously. Totally over my head. I wish they hadn't focused so much on it in the beginning, because none of it was funny to me at all. In fact, I think my brain just shut off every time they were at the troupe or practicing.
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The actors were fair to middlin' as my nana would say. There wasn't really anything spectacular here, nothing extraordinary. In fact, as I am writing this, I can't think of a single scene that really blew me away or left me dying for more. I did finish all but the last part of episode 32 in two days, so that's not say that this drama isn't somewhat compelling.
I think my main point of contention with this drama was just how many dropped story points there were. There were so many people and situations introduced that we just never heard from again. And even with the main characters, it was like they were only used when it was convenient for the storyline. During the whole basement period where no one knew where Kang Hwi was, it was like he had never existed with any of the characters other than Man Ok. And why do we never find out what happened to Tae Ik's parents? Or more of what happened with Kang Hwi's? Though, we did get more of Kang Hwi's than Tae Ik's at least. And the whole consequences of the gambling thing are never brought up again either after that one episode.
The whole thing ended up feeling a little schizophrenic and all over the place. I was extremely disappointed in the lack of friendship between Kang Hwi and Tae Ik. We are supposed to believe that these people were best friends, to the point that Se Ryung was jealous she tried to destroy it. But that's what I don't get. If it was that strong a relationship, how was it that all she had to do was kiss him and it was irrevocably destroyed? I just refuse to believe that a friendship that is supposedly so strong could be destroyed so easily and so permanently and that Tae Ik would never stop and think that maybe he was misunderstanding his very best friend.
As for villains, LJ was just a ridiculous one. I have a really hard time believing someone in his position woul continuously make as many poor choices as he did. If there was a wrong or dumb move to make, he was going to make it. It didn't come across as evil, just as if the writers expected their viewers to not care that all of it was just dumb.
All in all, it was just poorly executed. The first Full House was my very first Asian drama, but even so I came into this with low expectations. I just feel really sad that with as low as they were, they still couldn't be met. I would say if you have free time and nothing else to watch, then give this a shot. Otherwise there are much better love triangle dramas, and way way better kpop dramas out there. I mean, seriously, you are going to make a drama about a kpop duo and only give them ONEFREAKINGSONG to sing and dance on stage? I can understand it may be difficult to write your own songs for a show, I don't really know what goes into something like that. But if you know you only have ONE SONG, why oh why do you make them perform at least once every little half episode for the first 10 parts? You can touch, be my girl, you can fly, let me love love you tonight. It will never get out of my head!
As an aside, seriously, I think these boys were absolutely insane for hiring anyone with hair that awful and who dressed that poorly as their stylist. She wore a shirt with a collar made of stuffed cats for Christ's sake. My brain just kepy repeating "Did that really just happen?" over and over again.
I'd really like to come up with a list of positive things about this show to explain why I actually liked it. But honestly, I think I liked it because I just have really awful taste! And I'm OK with that :p
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