W (2016)

Let's start with what I liked about the drama.

I really enjoyed the idea of the storyline and how unique it was. It's not everyday one comes across a story where a girl can travel into a Webtoon and meet the main character of it. Not only that, the main character is the man of almost everyone's dreams. I also loved the music that went with the drama and played during certain scenes. It definitely made the scenes more dramatic and made me more empathetic to the characters' feelings and thoughts.

Once again, Lee Jong Suk has struck me with his acting skills. I just came out of Pinocchio and While You Were Sleeping, which I absolutely loved. I also loved his role in this drama. However, I don't blame him and how he delivered his character for my dislike of W. I also don't blame Han Hyo Joo either.

What I do blame, however, is the storyline and how everything played out. The idea of the drama was, without a doubt, great. I loved it. It was unique and would catch anybody's attention, mostly because it was an idea that hasn't been yet introduced. However, how the drama was planned and how certain characters were portrayed left me dissatisfied.

Let's start with Oh Yeon Joo. Maybe because it was the scriptwriter, screenwriter, director or whoever it was, but I did not enjoy Oh Yeon Joo's part in the story. Nevertheless, I did enjoy how she was portrayed in the beginning. A normal woman that was still in her residence years was suddenly pulled into an unknown world, and a cartoon at that. She meets Kang Chul and saves him. Obviously, she falls for him too. And that was when I noticed things going a little bit downhill. Since Oh Yeon Joo is the lead female character, I assumed she would play more important factors in the story. Besides revealing to Kang Chul something he wasn't supposed to know, starting the story itself and kind of pushing the plot line along, that was all I got from her.

She may have fell in love with Kang Chul and gotten together with him, but I didn't see much of a romance build. I saw what sparked their romance, but I didn't really see or feel the initiation of it. It was as if part of the romance story was meant to be another Webtoon, a spin-off almost. The failure of such romance build, I look to the script writer to answer my questions.

Eventually, from what I saw, Oh Yeon Joo slowly regressed into becoming more of a side character. Other than multiple events happening to her and driving Kang Chul into a determined state, she soon became a damsel in distress that only helped out in certain parts. Instead of acting, she reacted instead. To simplify it, she didn't have much character build and held Kang Chul back at certain points. She certainly did become the source of Kang Chul's ambition but, then again, it was as if her character was only made to support him. A supporting character. To some degree, as a lead character, I expected her to build herself and not only support Kang Chul but also herself. I wanted her to face off the villain and think, "Don't hurt the people I love," or at least something to that similarity.

However, often times, I saw her cower in the darkness when the villain came after her and waited for Kang Chul to rush to her rescue. In the end, she resulted into being a passive character instead of a more active one. Kang Chul did most of the fighting, quite literally, while she did a lot of crying while watching on the side lines. Don't get me wrong. There were many times where Oh Yeon Joo took the initiative and I am very proud of her for doing so, however, the actions should've been more driven into her character.

Not only that, focusing more into the plot line, it was a roller coaster ride. However, the roller coaster was on fire and the ride was more than just "rough". Often times, the events were a repeat of what had already happened, just in a different form. Problems sprouted and it was left for Kang Chul to solve them, however it was mostly just him. It was him running around and getting things together, while the other characters just cried and reacted to whatever was thrown at them. They were flowing with the river while Kang Chul fought against the river's current. From what I saw, it was a lone battle for Kang Chul, with characters on the side that had no idea what was going on or what to do.

To be honest, I have no problems with the acting or cast. I just have problems with how the story and characters were delivered for the audience. What I was most dissatisfied with the most was how such a great story idea was slopingly broadcasted to the viewers. Like the diamond was cleaned but not polished throughly. That's why you can see scratches that aren't meant to be there.

So, in summary, that's why I dropped the drama at episode 14 and gave it 6 stars.

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Ok, finally i have decided how i should review W... So i update my review here...

STORY:
I really like the beginning of the story, especially episode 1. I was like WOW!
SUCH AN AWESOME DRAMA!! And I was excited to watch the next episode.
I watched it with my boyfriend and he feels it's good too on eps 1.

Then eps 2 and 3, we feel quite shock on how easy kang chul and yeon joo becomes together.
My boyfriend dropped the drama and refused to watch, he said it's too cheesy, weird and illogical,
well, i cannot blame him, he is a guy anyway and a guy is supposed to be more rational than women :P , alright, but i still continue watching since i thought W has so much potential and it's only eps 3.

Then there are more twists happened, i thought well, it's still bearable and i still watch it because of jong suk. I am a fan of him. I also thought that the twist makes it interesting, so i watched until eps 12, then it became so unbearable for me to continue that i decided to drop the drama. Lucky that i don't waste more time to watch the ending coz i heard the ending is bad and i don't want to ruin my kind of ending on eps 12. I will pretend that the ending is on eps 12.

Why i dropped the drama? Because There are too many endings in this story, i mean too many!! This ending and that ending that is only fake or only in dream before it gets so chaotic again. Too many Twists making it so messy. I seldom drop the drama, this is the first drama that i didn't even watch the last episode. (it's because of that many versions of ending, so it's kind turn me off to watch how this drama ends).

CHARACTER / ACTING:
I feel empathy for kang chul (in the beginning) about his life and his hard-work even though it's only inside the comic. After that there is no development about kang chul at all, only becomes romantically involved with yeon joo, that's all. So i am disappointed. I like to watch drama because i feel close with the character, but this drama fails in character's development.

I can't even like Yeon joo's character, for me she is like a day dreamy spoiled princess syndrome who wants the story becomes romance. She is a doctor but she often neglect her patient and keep thinking about kang chul and her unrealistic dream. She only act as a doctor for kang chul. Oh God, actually i feel annoyed that a female heroine is portrait like this. So-Hee is much better.

The character that is good here is only yeon joo's father, he plays really well with his expression and his motive is clear, why he does this and that, etc. He is one of the reasons that makes me still continue watching the drama until eps 12.

MUSIC:
The only thing that i like about this drama is the OST, it really reflects on the scene. I'm still listening to W's OST, it's really good.

REWATCH:
Neh, don't bother..

OVERALL:
i have not finished watching the drama, the plot is confusing and becoming weirder. Initially on eps 1, the plot was interesting and fast, but it's weird to have a cute romance in the thriller serial, and now it's mostly about romance that is forced to be a thriller, i don't know..

The couple is sweet though just that it's not logical.. a bit delusional..

Maybe not my cup of tea..But i like their acting..

I would prefer a slow paced drama like doctors, even though some might find it boring and i also find it boring in some episodes, but the story is well written, the character development is there so i learnt a lot from doctors. Like life lesson. For W, i cannot learn anything. It's only an overrated cheesy drama I can only learn how to be irresponsible towards my patient if I were a doctor. The writer wants to make this drama interesting like SIGNAL but FAILED BIG TIME.

PS. Initially i put 8/10 for W, but since there are a few psycho fans here who cannot appreciate my review and feedback and insulting me keep saying i am wrong and idiot whatsoever, i feel kinda turn off and disgusted by them, so i have edited my review, and put 6 instead, thank you for all the psycho fans for insulting me.

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Entertaining and interesting enough to get through without getting bored, but overly complicated story and unimpressive hero. Story started out with great potential but fell apart in the middle, while writer wrapped it up with unoriginal ideas to give it an ending. HHJ's charm was the only saving grace, despite her character constantly being bullied and harassed by father's sin, lover's doubt, villain's ambition, and everyone else's ignorance. Main couple had very little chemistry, mostly due to LJS's immaturity and poor acting skills that failed to deliver hero's full potential. And LJS spent most of his time struggling to remember his lines that was stupidly long. Probably his longest script yet. I'd still recommend watching this drama. There's enough twist & turns in the pointless story to keep you entertained and interested. Has sappy/overly dramatic romance & happy ending for the couple to leave you satisfied (with some bitter taste).

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W review-
High points for originality! In drama land. It was more complex and challenged you to think instead of spoon feeding you. I love it! Suspenseful as heck.

Acting on point! Female leads need to be able to bring me in and Han Hyo Joo did a brilliant job! She suffered so much but she pulled through. LJK is beautiful and truly fits his idealistic Manhua looks. MVP is DAD! He made this show a thriller! San bong and Mad dog were such needed life lines in this heavy hitter. Hugs!

Writernim - you can shoot a movie, an American show (with series) and do what ever you want now cause I respect your originality. W may not be perfect but it was a brilliant move towards the right direction. Hopefully one that more dramas would step towards. Your skill of taking an used group and then spin it a fresh is also much appreciated.

Direction: exceed expectations. I liked she was pretty alright but this brings it up another level!

Production: deserves an award! Movie level lighting and Sound (expected from signal music director!) Special Effects team deserve an award!

Manhua team! I want a hard copy like Now. Pretty please XD

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W is one of the best dramas!

This shows ratings.... no MOST of theses dramas ratings are not right! They are rated way to low and so is this one.

I have watched this drama 3 times now. Twice on my own and once with the family. They LOVED it! So much to the story and so many twists and turns! The first time watching it... I was on edge! Told the fam to leave me be so I could finish it. 😂🤣 One of the best dramas out there to watch!

The acting was spot on and I am just amazed at how well Koreans can tell a story and the emotion they show throughout each one! I am hooked on Kdramas forever! So many good ones out there!

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Esse eh com certeza um dos melhores - se não o melhor - dramas que eu ja vi. Desde o momento em que li a sinopse fiquei empolgada em ver, afinal, universo paralelo não eh um tema tao recorrente então fiquei bastante curiosa. De fato, todas as minhas expectativas foram atendidas, e até superadas. O enredo eh maravilhoso e me prendeu desde o primeiro episodio.

W possui um ritmo de narração bastante acelerado, sempre tem algo empolgante acontecendo o que motiva ainda mais a continuar assistindo. São poucas as cenas desnecessárias, o tempo quase inteiro ocorrem diálogos importantes e momentos decisivos fazendo com que 100% da nossa atenção esteja voltada à tela.

O show mescla muito bem ação, suspense, romance e uma pitada de comedia nos momentos certos deixando a trama um pouco mais leve.
E o casal tem uma química incrível, foram poucas as vezes que eu shippei tanto assim em um drama. E as cenas de beijo sao fantásticas.

Vale, também, ressaltar a maravilhosa atuação do Kim Eui Sung (o cartunista) que realmente fez um trabalho excelente.

Em suma, W eh um dorama pra quem gosta de uma trama mais energética, ja que possui bastante reviravolta e pouca enrolação.

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Fine un pò scontata però non è stato male.
Storia interessante, personaggi pure, luogo bè è lo stesso di molti drama che ho visto; ma vorrei dire che l'idea utilizzata mi è sembrata un pò troppo "americana" che è risultato una pazzesca. Complimenti allo scenografo e al produttore, che ha saputo gestire un coordinamento diverso dal solito; ideare una serie/fumetto che si può anche visitare, non è per niente male; i due personaggi principali non mi hanno fatto impazzire ma sono stati bravi. Per l'antagonista devo ammettere che sono rimasta stupita quando ho scoperto chi era, a parte l'altro "cattivo" che era stato creato del fumettista, personaggio del drama. Non è stato un granchè, per il resto del cast, secondo me serviva per riempire 16 puntate... lo so che è un brutto giudizio per il cast ma io la penso in questo modo.
Ora spero che nascano altri drama korean di questo stile anche per qualche altra storia.

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The first 9 episodes of the drama take you to such a high level that the lacking second half ends up being a fall that hurts more than it would otherwise. While watching the initial epsiodes you feel everything moving just right, infact a little fast but then the way everything is shown makes you belive you'll get your layers, reason and dimensions of the characters later. There, again lies the problem.. it went too fast, too soon and just ended up a diffused bomb instead. There's no depth of characters as you expect in the second, everything that made first half a success goes the wrong way, because there's no backing to keep the second half up. Nothing makes sense and all we see if a fantastic plot driven to an extent that there's only mindless solving and putting everything into place left. But even so, doesn't that process also need solid reason and logical explanations to back them up? When we watch a show, we expect it to make sense throughout especially after it ends, but even though I can't stop myself from re-watching the first half of the show, the same me, just cannot get myself to rewatch any of the later episodes.

The lead have such an amazing chemistry, potential whatever you want to call it. They make you fall in love with them, but then what after that? Where;s the character depth, how do you get where they're coming from, how do you relate to them? Everything just stps at 2 dimensions. Their backstory, and their current love. So disappointing especially when you rewatch it.

The side characters, though SO many, and so good and so much potential, were almost inexistent. This was so sad because they could havebeen used brilliantly to weave everything together.

The OST is beautiful though, especially the instrumental music for the lead pair and the various artist instrumentals. So good!

Over all I would say, they has a great exotic set of ingredients, all right equipments, even a great chef, but the recipe started out good but failed to take you to a level that is expected out of such a combination. I'm writing this a month after I watched this series, because I keep thinking of it, especially the first half. Sigh.

My verdict for a reccomendation would be - watch it, it's a good attempt, but do no, i repeat do not expect much out of it at all. It would be hard to do so though, especially since (I repeat again and again) the first half was so good!

PS - okay i'm editing it for the last time, because I cannot not mention that the romantic moments in the series are just so cute, it hurts. probably why I keep rewatching them lol. If you like sweet romance you'll love the romance, but hate it too because there's nothing beyond one dimensional romance, but hey, it's cute lol (this probably affects my credibility as a reviewer, but i had to mention it!)

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