Mask (2015)

Because this drama got me quite addicted, I completed this within two days.

The rating was pretty easy on this one even though I  thought about giving this a 9 even. But there were still some things  that bothered me, so 8.5 is pretty alright for this drama. Also, my  rating is partially biased by enjoyment. It would be way lower if I were  only judging in regards to writing, cleverness etc...

I think the best way to describe this drama would be "average makjang"...
Imagine  reading your favorite fanfiction packed with your favorite clichés. All  the things that are happening in the story have the only purpose of entertaining you and keep your excitement up. You don't even care whether all those incidents make sense or are possible in reality. One convenience/coincidence is hunting the other and timing of certain twists doesn't add up either.

But because you like it anyway,  you won't nitpick. That's how I felt about the story. The whole story was all over the place, started many twists in the beginning and worked through them one by one. Because it didn't really follow realism, everything was possible and every character seemed to be  capable of whatever was needed - because neither of them had a  conscience (and because the story needed them to act that way).

Even though I had temporary hair loss in the first half because the female lead kept making me angry with her trance-like attitude and visible discomfort regarding the situation she was in (if you agree to play a  role, you should play a role and don't make it obvious/show your real emotions on your face), she got alot better during the second half (even though her change was a one-eighty,  as if she had switched personalities). It still made me happy because  her scenes got more enjoyable and I loved listening to her conversations  with the male lead throughout the drama.

Therefore half of my whole enjoyment were indeed the leads. I've never seen either of them before  but they grew on me. Their acting had a warm aura and made me feel comfortable. They also had really good chemistry between each other. I  loved their skinship. It was not exposing but it was nice to watch, it delivered the right feelings and was very sensitive <3 (But dramas  already get me with a caressing gesture or a tight hug anyway :P)

Especially Jo Ji Hoon (the male lead) got me quite good during this show (probably his deep, relaxing voice played a part as well... seriously,  it was such a pleasant sound~). I don't think he's one of the prettiest guys out there but I liked his acting very much, it was warm and made me feel at home in the drama. He also had some really interesting, subtle nuances in his facial expressions that made his scenes very touching and unique. And his role was the most intriguing one. From all flawed characters, he was probably the most authentic one.

The  second leads had a quite dysfunctional relationship that was bad from the beginning and just got worse (I mean that in a positive and enjoyable way). I didn't really get their change of hearts in the last episodes, but well... The drama didn't care much for explainable developments from the start. I was also a bit disappointed that everything constantly resolved to whoever had the better evidence to blackmail and constant threatening (or the evil ones had a sudden enlightenment). I was also a little sad that they didn't clear another lose end that was mentioned in the early episodes...

But overall:
Pure satisfactory, superficial entertainment that I enjoyed a lot nonetheless~
The  charm of the older dramas, the simpler cinematographic touch, the  development of the romance, and even those ridiculous twists and turns.

And  did I say that there were also many scenes that surprised me because I  didn't think they would get me in a certain way? Throughout the drama,  there were always some pretty... striking moments regarding mood and other things.

Leggi di Più

This drama is in a genre that I haven't watched much of, I tend to watch rom coms but I now have an interest in watching Melo/suspense/romance dramas.

The story is well set up, the initial episodes are gripping and made me want to keep watching, the story is very dramatic, it has most of the elements of a melodrama, doppelgänger's, birth secrets, switched identities, revenge, murder, blackmail, corporate greed, secret affairs the works. For the most part the story handled these themes well, my only problem is that some of the plot lines that were established earlier in the story were not resolved at the end, the most annoying one being "were Seo Un Ha and Byun Ji Sook biological sisters?"
The love story between Un Ha and Min Woo is very charming and sweet although I wasn't crazy about the lacklustre chemistry between the leads;

Soo Ae's portrayal of Eun Ha and Ji Sook was spot on, she managed to give each character its individual identity so that the two were very distinct. Her steely determination and quiet strength were very well executed.

I found Joo Ji Hoon's acting to be quite wooden, he doesn't seem to have many facial expressions; he had an excellent script and role to work with though and I think that was his saving grace. I will admit to him being charming though.

Yeon Jung Hoon's portrayal of Min Seok Hoon was great, he gave the character sufficient menace without being inelegant, He was cooly focused on his revenge mission and used every weapon and opportunity at his disposal to achieve his goal. I will say though that the story set him up for big things which I feel he ultimately didn't live up to.

The character I enjoyed the most in the drama is that of Choi Mi Yeon played by Yoo In Yung. For the majority of the drama I found her irritating so I shouldn't say I enjoyed this character, it's more accurate to say that when I finished the drama hers was the most complex, subtle, and many layered character in the show. Mi Yeon is not simply good or bad, she has so many layers in between and varying shades of grey that she was often frustrating to watch. Mi Yeon's inward struggle was always on show, her constant battle to do the right thing while trying to hold onto a husband she clearly knew cared nothing for her was heartbreaking to watch, her moral compass was so shaky that half the time she didn't want to know what was truth or lies, preferring to make up her own reality. Ultimately she realises that she cannot live a lie or bury her head in the sad any longer. this is a sterling performance from Yoo In Yung.

The music is good background, and suitable for the action on screen.

I don't usually rewatch shows that have a suspense premise, because I already know what's going to happen.

Overall I give this show a 7.5

Leggi di Più

Great premise, realistic execution.

The story for this drama has one of my favorite tropes: poor girl takes over rich girl's identity and meets rich boy and falls in love. The story has a rather realistic execution to it, as the female lead is characterized as someone who doesn't have a lot of gumption, isn't good at lying, and is constantly fearful of being found out as a fraud. The first 10 eps were frustrating to watch because this characterization makes you feel a lot of second-hand embarrassment. Later on in the drama the female lead finally grows some backbone and the overall drama becomes less annoying. Similarly, many of the supporting cast is also frustrating to watch and I had to fast forward through. I will acknowledge that the drama applies a realistic spin to an unrealistic premise - which differentiates from many other similar dramas.

The love between the main leads is believable. The story does tie up nicely.

Overall, a decent melodrama, especially for someone like me who doesn't particularly like melos.

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I somehow enjoyed the series except for a few episodes, but there was something missing that could have made it even more worth the watch...the emotions portrayed by the Male lead and Female lead were not raw enough for me (especially when they got so emotional), Joen Jung Hoon who played Min Soek showed more emotions that he even could fool his "wife" (the manipulation and blackmail is too much)quote in English "believe me even if I am lying" (by Min Soek)

Anyhoo it's strongest part was to keep you glued for the next episode, however it should have been less than 20 episodes in my opinion....one more thing the last episode though , I was like "wtf just happened did someone perhaps fastforward without letting me process what's happening?"that really annoying me

At times I just wished that the "doppelganger" Eun Nah would come back to life that moment when Byun Ji Suk was confessing to everyone (that twist would have made my day)

I would recommend it still just don't have high expectations but you will surely want more after each episode

Leggi di Più

This series kept me hooked...

This series kept me hooked until the very end. I am surprised because I really did not expect that after reading the synopsis.
The story is nothing new so I did not expect much. But the actors and the implementation were great. Each episode ended with a cliffhanger. Normally I get bored very easily and switch between different series while watching them. This series I watched in two days.

Yes, there are some plot holes and it is kind of predictable because the core of this story is a classic. I was not really interested in the "loanshark-side-story". I actually skipped these parts because I felt they were unnecessary and not interesting.
The actors were amazing. All of them. I felt like every role was perfectly cast. FL and ML had a nice chemistry and they build a slow and steady relationship during this series. It was believable and sucked me in.
At one point I cried and that rarely ever happens to me.
All in all I loved it. The message of this series is beautiful and I had fun watching it. Time flew by. I definitely recommend this series.

Leggi di Più

Très bon Rom-revenge drama avec un super cast

Les acteurs sont expérimentés et donnent vie aux personnages auxquels on s'attache très vite. les malfrats sont un peu surjoués, mais c'est certainement volontaire pour alléger un peu l'ambiance, avec un côté humoristique ;)

Ce que je n'ai pas aimé :
- la story comporte trop trop de twists et de coïncidences évidentes pour être crédible (menacée de mort et recherchée, elle se promène seule dans la rue ??? par exemple)
- les evil characters sont particulièrement vicieux (et je ne commenterai pas l'amour aveugle et extrémiste de la sœur, irréaliste).

La réalisation est assez dynamique, maintient bien le suspens, ce qui rend le drama assez addictif.
Rien de particulier sur les Ost qui accompagnent bien les émotions;

A voir sans aucun doute !!

Leggi di Più

Overall a waste of time ...

Started intriguing enough but went downhill fast and continued hardly over telenovella niveau. Acting was accordingly - not too good. All the same old same old cunning and one dimensional bad guys (like BIL, SIL, MIL) got on my nerves - badly. Nobody acted reasonably or comprehensible in any way but in ways bad writers want them to for (allegedly) dramatic effect. Some people might find that entertaining, I don't.

Didn't like any of the characters (well, maybe the brother Byun Ji Hyuk). Sloppy execution as in no love for details or consistency (like walking off in the obviously wrong direction). Skipped half of it.

What I learned is that rich people sleep in the clothes they wear all day. And they all drive ruthlessly like the mad people they are (that car chase in episode 4 or 5 is absolutety ridiculous). Definitely no rewatch for me.

Leggi di Più

Gente, que dorama perfeito! Eu amei ele do início ao final, já entrou pros meus favoritos.
A premissa da história é meio batida mas eles conseguiram desenvolver a história num nível muito além, a história foi muito bem construída e não deixou nenhum furo.
Eu adoro essas histórias que tem intriga política e familiar, suspense, ação e várias reviravoltas.
O elenco é incrível! Mesmo os personagens secundários e terciários são muito bem interpretados.
E eu amei os protas. É o primeiro trabalho da Soo Ae que eu vejo e já amo essa mulher, a atuação dela é impecável, é tanto que ela fez dois personagens completamente diferentes, só de olhar já dá pra identificar quem é a personagem, não precisa nem ela abrir a boca, hahaha. E o Joo Ji Hoon provando mais uma vez que é um ótimo ator e que é bem versátil, esse já é o quarto projeto que eu vejo dele e parecem quatro atores diferentes.
E o casal é perfeito, eu surtava muito nas cenas deles. Eles têm muita química e o amor deles nasce e se desenvolve de uma forma muito natural. E eles são muito parceiros, eles têm muitos momentos descontraídos, não só românticos, e um faz tudo pelo outro. É um casal real.
E assim, o dorama é daqueles que você começa e quer parar tudo pra maratonar, quando você não tá assistindo fica pensando nele, enfim, ele é excelente e eu super recomendo!

Leggi di Più

Boring boring boring

This drama has so many idiotic and simply stupid scenarios. The FL supposedly has amnesia so instead of a confident woman (which she was as the original persona) we have a timid mealy mousy boring annoying person. Everyone except the baddies are not overly bright. The husband cant tell the difference between chalk and cheese.....

After 10 episodes of stupid instances that have transpired relating to the pouty pathetic FL I just cannot stand it any more. The family of the FL also has some missing brain cells.

The writer should be made to watch this cr.p over and over again. It portrays Korean females yet again as simpering idiots - so unfair.

There is no chemistry between the FL and ML how could there be with such pathetic writing and directing. Don't waste your time with this nonsense.

Leggi di Più

Wow! Unbelievable drama, I expect this to be this good, especially since I've never seen the 2 leads before. This is honestly in my top 3 dramas of all time.

Great story, but the best part has to be the fantastic writing (the dialogues and plot are better than most dramas, though sometimes a bit cliche), and the acting, especially from Soo Ae, who was always superb and beautiful in this drama. The main couple is one of the cutest and most romantic of all dramas I've ever watched. It's also one of the "happier" or more upbeat kdramas. The villains are a bit annoying but played on point.

This drama will make you laugh, cry, nervous throughout, fully recommend!

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