This review may contain spoilers
they made it so complicated that it ended up not making any sense
the cast and their acting was amazing but i'm gonna be very honest and say, the story just got worse and worse as the episode went by. they made it so complicated by making the main couple and even the psycho killer be able to time travel. the romantic scenes lost its spark for me because 99% of the time i didnt know who's who. it icks me to think that junhee (or was it minju? lol) might be kissing somebody else that isnt her lover which to be frank at episode 10 i dont even know anymore if it was yeonjun or siheon that she fell inlove with in the first place. i get it that maybe they were going for the "even if we're two worlds apart we will find each other and love each other" trope thats why both junhee (minju) and siheon (yeonjun) can time travel but when it was revealed that the psycho killer can time travel too and on top of that chan hui wasnt actually the killer but actually it was chanyeong his little brother who happens to look exactly the same as chan hui even if they arent twins???? jesus christ its all just nonsense at that point. anyway, the ost gather my tears by seo jiwon was good tho, i loved it. also, i didnt watch the taiwanese version so this opinion is solely based and about the korean one.Was this review helpful to you?
So Jooyeon and Seo Jihoon carried this drama
I'm giving the 8.0 stars rating entirely to So Jooyeon (Somang) and Seo Jihoon (Hamin). Their acting and the storyline of their characters made me want to finish watching this drama. They both did so well portraying Hamin and Somang, they conveyed the pain and sadness and at the same delivered a good portrayal of young love. The acting of the other main characters wasn't convincing. Almost everything they did felt so awkward, forced, cringey, and out of place but its not really a big deal because they're still rookies and I'm pretty sure they will improve later on. The only time I felt connected with their characters is in the very last episode. It felt like they were a little bit more comfortable with their characters.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
i have complicated feelings towards this drama
for me the only good thing about this drama is eunsil and jangho and the beautiful place where they shot the drama.trigger warning : domestic abuse
i hated two things about this drama.
one is the ml's behaviour at the very first few episodes. like why cant he just say something?? its not like i wanted him to pour his heart out all at once because i understand that he had a rough life and everybody processes their trauma differently but he can atleast give a simple reason for his actions or i dont know complete one freaking sentence. he was extremely frustrating to watch at the start of the story.
the second one is way more infuriating. as someone who has an abusive father like haewon, i cannot understand how could she get seriously mad with her mom and aunt but not with her criminal of a father. i would be very happy for my mom if she can get her freedom, not that i want her to commit murder or something but the point is i will never blame her if she does something to protect herself and i would never side and pity an abusive man.
and as if those werent stressful enough, kim boyeong gave me head-splitting headaches. she was extremely annoying and arrogant. she completely disregards haewon's feelings. she's the perfect example of a character who wants to be a victim so bad up until the very end she was very prideful and even tried to gaslight haewon into thinking that she hurt her more and that she deserved a second chance. kim boyeong made haewon's highschool life miserable but she still thinks she doesnt deserve how haewon treated her after.
also, they didnt explain why eunseop was calling haewon "irene" until the very end??! what the hell was that all about??
it took me 3 or probably 4 times until i was finally able to finish watching this drama. i did consider completely dropping it after haewon started getting mad at her mom and aunt for protecting themselves against her abusive father. it was a very slow and quiet drama at first. it was like reading a book. there werent a lot of rousing dialogues. most of the time the characters just convey their feelings through their eyes or through the books they read and/or share to each other. i needed to be in a particular mood to watch this drama. for some reason i only craved to watch this when it was raining outside or when the day feels very gloomy and cold. another thing i found entertaining besides eunsil and jangho's story is haewon's mom and aunt. the casting director knew what they were doing, like the actresses can actually pass as sisters even in real life. this drama also made me realize that you shouldnt really judge someone based on their looks especially when it comes to romantic relationships. like i was so confused when the flashbacks of haewon's mom and dad started because i cannot believe that kid would end up abusing haewon's mom. it was very disturbing to me.
surprisingly, i also liked oh yeong woo. normally when there is already an established love interest for the fl i dont really like when they bring out an ex or just someone from the past who has/had feelings for the fl/ml but oh yeongwoo kind of made it work for me.
anyways, the drama was fine but if i can go back to the past i think i wouldnt try this much just to finish watching it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It was fine but I think it could've been better.
I enjoyed the movie, especially the chaotic bickering of the entire cast but mainly IU and Seo-Joon's characters. My only problem with this movie is the way they wrapped up some of the characters' story. I liked In-sun's story so I was kind of anticipating how will they wrap it up but it left me confused at the end; Was his encounter with the girl from the Japan team just an imagination or something? That's how I see it given that he also saw her image on that girl who bought a magazine from him at the very end of the movie. Also, I feel like some of the characters backstory was lacking (the gangster guy and the gay character) compared to the others (the IMF uncle/ the construction worker uncle). All in all I still consider this film worth watching, there are a lot of moments that will make you emotional and ecstatic.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
had me giggling and blushing every episode
i liked the pacing of the story in this live action series. when i watched the anime there are episodes that felt too much like a filler so i'm glad they toned it down in this version. i haven't read the manga yet so idk what went down there but let me tell you this, i seriously loved the fact that they paired ayane with kento because in the anime there were times that it felt like the story is hinting something between pin and ayane so i'm so glad that in this version they didn't do that. also, when i watched the anime i was actually hoping that kento and ayane will get together so this is a win for me i guess lol. i also liked how this adaptation cleared some of my musings and questions after watching the anime, like the reason why kazehaya quir baseball. loved the casting, especially for chizu, ayane, and pin; felt like they came out straight from the anime even their hairstyle and clothing matched. kinda bummed out that there are scenes from the anime that they didn't include in this version like the one where kazehaya got weak knees after having eye contact with sawako lol that was such a cute moment. ngl the anime version felt a lot more romantic and heart fluttering and like it was you know perfection haha but they did well with this adaptation and its still worth a watch <3Was this review helpful to you?
light and refreshing
it was a nice watch, perfect when you just want to watch something without dwelling so much about its story or the characters. just the right amount of emotions that wont leave you in an existential crisis at the end. there are only 2 things that i liked about this korean drama, first is that it revolves around books (more specifically, how books are made) and how clean its ending was, no loose ends. you know the story ends there, no more no less. the acting was fine, lee jong suk will always understand the assignment but the story is not really my cup of tea.Was this review helpful to you?
Jimi ni Sugoi! Koetsu Garu Kono Etsuko
0 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
perfect for the literature and/or fashion loving people
ive been thinking that jdramas portray life as a working adult very well and accurately and this drama just further proved my thoughts. the struggles of being an introvert in an extroverted job. the hardships of working with a free spirit as a rule stickler. bosses and higher ups who are cruel to their subordinates. representation of people who are dreamers and people who are lost in life. everything, they do it so well in jdramas and this drama is definitely one of those. im quite impressed that the main character didnt come off annoyingly positive. most of the time i cant stand easygoing characters because they push toxic positivity like its so frustrating to watch characters like that but with etsuko its kinda different. she expressed something genuine, that she's really enjoying what she's doing even though its not what she wants and she still holds on to her dream in a non-delusional way. i also love how stylish etsuko is and the way the drama made sure to highlight her style. i loved that plot twist in ep 7 so much for the sole reason that i guessed it from the very start. i mean, it felt like a plot twist but maybe its not but still it felt very satisfying to me. well, aside from guessing it it was also fulfilling to finally get more about the male lead because at first his presence is not really very big and i dont know, his character just felt kind of bland until that twist (?) happened. aside from proving that jdramas are good at portraying the working adult life, this drama also made me realize that jdramas really love the "knowing/improving myself first before getting into a relationship with someone i already like" type of storyline and i feel very conflicted about it. like, i do agree that you should always prioritize yourself but i cannot explain why it feels so unsatisfying when i watch it happen in dramas like a part of me wants the characters to just rely on each other and work on being happy personally and in their career together. if you love reading books or literature in general im pretty sure you will find this drama worth your time and also if youre interested in fashion. as someone who loves reading since i was a kid it was entertaining to watch and learn the various process that happens behind creating a book. it wasnt very heavy with the romance plot but the main leads relationship is super adorable.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
one of the best ROMCOM out there
i LOVE this drama so much! its one of those dramas that i thought would be mid but it had me SCREAMING, CRYING, THROWING UP every episode. for me this drama served balance, there is a good amount of Romance, Comedy, and Emotional scenes and i absolutely love that. Ji Changwook and Kim Jiwon are perfect for the romcom genre. Ji Changwook does the clingy, sulky, and borderline insane romcom male lead so well like for real and i adore Kim Jiwon's character here. I completely understand her and she is so valid for doing all the things that she did, I relate to her character so much. In my opinion, episode 16 felt more like a proper ending than episode 17. episode 17 felt kinda out of place and weird to me, its like a spin off just to tell the story of dongsik and haena and its not that i didnt like that its just that it made the drama a bit messy. For rin-i and kyeongjun, im completely in favor of how their entire story played out, for me their differences is not something you can just work out so i think im satisfied over their ending but for Geon and Seonyeong, im like 50-50 about it. The conclusion of their story feels both right and wrong to me. Anyways, if you're looking for a romantic comedy drama with a good amount of emotional and heart shattering moments, Lovestruck in the City is perfect for you <3Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
working adults would really appreciate this drama
tbh, i started watching this because i saw a gorgeous guy (honda kyoya) in the preview so i didnt really expect anything from this drama but i loved it. umi experiencing difficulties in her job and kazao wanting to do what he loves but having to make sacrifices first really resonated with me as someone who is also at that same stage in life as them. i felt really sad and frustrated when umi didnt understand kazao's feelings about his career. i mean, kazao didnt really express his thoughts enough to umi but umi fully supported her younger sister when she said she wants to be a stylist, she even told her to not worry about anything and just do what she wants to do. that's exactly what kazao needed from her. it made me think that maybe umi said the things she said and was acting a bit stubborn and selfish because she just didnt want kazao to leave Japan. it was fulfilling to watch umi learn to set boundaries when it comes to her career. i liked seeing the difference between umi's ad job and her job at ab, the difference in the environment are so obvious. made me hope that one day i would find a rewarding workplace just like ab. if you are a working adult i think you would appreciate and realize a lot of things through this drama. i have just one slight dislike about this drama tho and that is, it needs more romance. i needed more of umi and kazao. i wanted more of their lovestory. i really liked their dynamics like how they would bicker a lot and their interactions are just so adorable. i just wish we got more of their romantic story.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
quite consistent for a drama that involves an elaborate past and present timeline
most of the dramas that ive watched which revolves around a past and present timeline confused me, there were obvious plot holes, or sometimes the older/younger versions of the characters were inconsistent but in signal i didnt really felt that way. i find it satisfying how they connected things that happened in the past and the future. i was kinda afraid when i realized that they might be reviving some characters that are already dead or killing characters that were originally alive because things might start not making sense but i think they did a good job navigating those part of the story like everything still fits even after the changes. i also like the way they presented (?) the cases because sometimes in dramas that involves crimes they give off documentary vibes and i dont really appreciate that way of direction. im very heartbroken for haeyoung's brother because the real culprit behind the crime that he was framed for was never punished. imo, not only the main villain (kim bumjoo) but a lot of other wrongdoers in this drama were not punished enough and that's really the only thing that i didnt quite liked about this drama. when it comes to jaehan's character for me i will be glad if he survived or even if he didnt. both scenarios makes sense to me. tho it was a very open ending so i kinda want but also not want a second season. all in all, i highly recommend this drama if you havent watched it yet tho its very heavy emotionally and mentally so just take it slow maybe.Was this review helpful to you?
See Hear Love: Mienakute mo Kikoenakute mo Aishiteru
0 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
there are flaws but this movie brought out a lot of emotions in me
the first half felt kinda slow to me. the cast really made me feel frustrated, downhearted, and angry. i was so mad with shinji's boss (?) because he's clearly manipulating shinji and ruining his career. it also made me feel sad thinking about how many mangakas out there had to go through this kind of horrible situation in real life. shinji's assistant had me going on a roller coaster of emotions because i felt like she's gonna betray shinji or that she likes him so she might hurt hibiki but then at some point it felt like she was harmless, she's a very confusing character. the second male lead was very very VERY annoying. im the kind of person who is not good with sympathizing to people who are in a situation that i havent experienced but araki yuko and yamashita tomohisa's acting really made me feel like i was there and i was being subjected to the struggles that they are going through. tho i must say i was kind of weirded out with the way hibiki found shinji's address. you know, it felt like stalking and i didnt really understand why would she track him down when they dont really know each other but in the end im still happy that she did because in that way she found shinji and saved him and even if things are still hard at least they have each other to hold onto now. im a sucker for love stories where they save each other and find their purpose or reason for living because of that special someone. in my opinion, this movie would have been perfect with a sad ending. the way they presented shinji's disease, when he went away from hibiki, and the way hibiki found him in that park felt final so i didnt really like the way they ended this movie but still, worth the watch.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
hear me out...
I loveee everything about it except... maybe... the ending. I mean, I'm kind of torn about it because I'm aware that dysfunctional (?) relationships are really a thing when it comes to japanese media (i also read manga sooo iykyk) but in this case i kind of didnt want them to follow that kind of storyline and i was lowkey expecting them not to because izumiya and nao had potential. like, it felt like they could make it work as a couple even though it was quite obvious that nao liked sakaki. it wasnt just the age gap that kind of bothered me with sakaki and nao but its the fact that their parents had a double affair so them being together (i mean, that's how it looked like with the movie ending) feels wrong. anyways, i liked the cast hirose suzu will always deliver, i love her and also the one who portrayed nao and izumiya (the little sister) they also did a good job. the lighthearted/comedic parts were also good. the sceneries were also so gorgeous. so all in all, i really enjoyed watching this movie and i recommend it <3 AND THEY HAVE A CAT!!! the cat was so cuteee. i almost cried when i thought they wouldn't adopt it.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I liked it except for ONE THING
I enjoyed watching this drama, mostly because of the fact that it makes you think and ponder about a lot of things. It gives many decent insights, largely about romantic relationships but not limited to that. It also tackles friendships, family, and life in general. I love how it talked about instances where you are in love with the thought of love and not necessarily the person you're with or the fact that some people like or try to like someone just because they confessed that they like them. The only thing that annoyed me about this drama is, Mami (the mc's sister). I don't get her. I tried to but I just ended up screaming to my TV screen. I don't get why she cannot just communicate with her husband like, she doesn't even try. She shouldn't have married him if she didn't want him to act like a married man. I know her feelings are valid, I also wouldn't want to change my surname after getting married and I also cant blame her if she only realized all those things after getting married but the thing that was really unacceptable is the way she didn't communicate with her husband. She just told him to figure it all out on his own. ngl tho the way the husband just cant say no to the part-timer girl gave me the ick. Basically, it was frustrating to watch them ruin their relationship because they cannot communicate properly. I really tried to understand her but she's really just... awful. Well, that's that but all in all i liked this drama. The inner monologues are so funny and relatable and It was fun guessing and anticipating who will the mc end up with or if he will even be with somebody by the end of the story.Was this review helpful to you?
this drama is worth my time
It took me a long time to finish this drama. well, it has 50 eps (on netflix) so that's that but also i actually put it on hold for some time because it kind of got draggy at the middle part of the series (for me) but then i'm glad i decided to pick it up back and finish watching it. every character in this drama had their own story to tell which i enjoyed watching. the three sisters (gahee, nahee, dahee) are one of my fave kdrama sisters ever and they're all so pretty. i loved their sibling dynamics, its's so fun and heartwarming especially when they're all together in one scene. loved the chaotic and funny energy that the gyujin/nahee and jaeseok/dahee moments gave, almost all my favorite moments in drama are the ones where this two couples are together in one scene. the osts/bgm were good too and fitting to the drama. loved that every character (i think) had their own love interest or you know ended up with someone romantically. its a drama with a lot of cliches but it also gave a lot of life lessons especially with regards to family and relationships. it made me cry and laugh which basically all i need to appreciate a drama. the number of episodes did threw me off at first but i got through it and its worth the time. i enjoyed this drama <3Was this review helpful to you?
not bad but not good
the plot of the drama is interesting, it makes you think; it makes you want to know who's behind everything and why. it makes you want to hear what the characters have done to be subjected to this torture but when it comes to the acting, it wasn't convincing. it was cringey at some point. there was no feelings/emotions for some of them (tbh all of them at the very start). the acting was even lower than bare minimum. it got a little bit better (i think lol or maybe i just got used to the actresses/characters) towards the end. well, i read that they're all in a girl group so basically they're idols and i think this is their first acting project so maybe they'll improve later on. If you're hesitant to watch this bcos scary dramas are not your cup of tea, i think you'll be fine. Its not scary, its just surprising sometimes.Was this review helpful to you?