Entertainer (2016)

I didn't expect coming into this drama getting as emotional as I did! From the teasers, I expected a light, comedic drama about forming a band, with a cute romance between Ji Sung and Hyeri. But instead I got an emotional roller-coaster of a drama that revealed the darker side of the Entertainment and Music industry. There were many heartfelt and heart-wrenching moments that actually brought me to tears. I took a break from the drama after the first two episodes because of how slowly they were paced, but I'm glad I decided to pick up the drama again :)

LIKES AND DISLIKES:
For me, the highlight of Entertainer was definitely the bromance between Seok Ho and the 4 boys of the Entertainer Band, especially with Ha Neul. I found it heartwarming to see all the obstacles they faced together in order to pursue their passion of music. The bond between Seok Ho and Ha Neul was very touching. By the end, it felt like the Entertainer Band was a family. I also enjoyed the different character arcs of the 4 members of the band, my favourite being Yeon Soo's (which was very heart-wrenching and emotional).
In general, I liked the realistic portrayal of the Entertainment industry that this drama showed, and the development of the characters throughout the drama- you could genuinely see the amount of growth all the characters went through.
What I disliked was the unnecessary love line between Seok Ho and Geu Rin. I felt little chemistry between their characters, but I blame the writing, not the actors or the age gap between them. Some of their scenes were quite cringey to watch, and I felt like their love line was forced and out of place. I don't really think that Geu Rin's character added anything to the storyline in general. The pacing of the drama was also a problem, but eventually it improved. I didn't mind the 2-episode extension much, and I think the storyline was wrapped up nicely.

ACTING:
The actors portrayed their roles very well, especially since there were a lot of emotional scenes in the drama (a looot of man tears). Ji Sung's acting never disappoints me, and I wasn't surprised when he completely embodied the character he played and brought it to life. I would like to see him in a more complex role in the future, though. I see a lot of acting potential in Kang Min Hyuk and he delivered the emotional scenes surprisingly well. Lee Tae Sun (Na Yeon Soo) is also an actor I will definitely be keeping an eye on. I can't believe this was his first drama role and he was one of my favourite characters.

MUSIC:
I enjoyed the OST's in this drama, and the track I liked the most was A Love Before by Eunji. I wish we got to hear more tracks from the Entertainer Band, but I did like I See You and It's Okay To Cry.

OVERALL:
I wouldn't say that I would watch this drama again, but I did enjoy watching Entertainer every week. It was a very emotional journey full of ups and downs. If you are looking for a drama that is full of heart and full of bromantic moments, this is the drama for you! You might want to bring tissues ;)

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Let me start with, that I really enjoyed this drama. This doesn't have much of a romance factor as it is very subtly done but the best thing about this is the bromance.

The main reason I watched this is because of Ji Sung. I've seen many of his works before to have realised that this guy is an amazing actor. I fell in love with his characters in the past and the way he executed them, that I literally cannot pass up anything that he comes in the future.

If you're a big Kpop fan then the cast will definitely be to your liking and in my opinion, they all did a good job in portraying their roles. The four boys together had great chemistry which made me wish that they were an actual band of their own. HyeRi does take some time to gel into her own character but she eventually does and it's a delight to see her.

The story is straightforward, failed manager guy decides to make a band and make them big. Obviously, many obstacles come in the way and this is all about the character development of all the characters and how they overcome these obstacles together. The boys as a band were great so was really sweet how they slowly open up to each other about their hidden secrets and how they support each other despite all the hard comings. The chemistry between Ji Sung and Kang MinHyuk was so cute because they had a genuine brother relationship that was so exciting to see.

Overall, I enjoyed myself thoroughly seeing the connection between all the characters and how they accept each other. I would definitely recommend to try this out as you'll definitely have a warm feeling inside whilst watching this!

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Entertainer is an excellent drama with flaws. I think the story line was well developed but the pace was too drawn out. Also, it could have ended at episode 16 and I probably would have given it an emotional score of 10s across the board. However, they gave me episodes 17 and 18 to cool off and score it realistically. I guess that age gap really tampered down all the romance, but it didn't take away from the drama. The story was more about bromance and making up for mistakes made. Although there is a lot of emotional crying by pretty much the entire cast at some point, it isn't overdone. If I was in some of these situations, then I would be inconsolable. The ending was okay too.

Ji Sung is my first love and I think he is one of the best actors in the business. He doesn't fail to deliver as Suk Ho who gives his all after making a horrible mistake to make things right. I fell in love with him all over again. Hyeri is fine as Geu Rin. I don't know if it was the character or her acting but I just didn't feel anything. She didn't really add anything to the drama. Can all of the members of CNBlue act or what? Kang Min Hyuk totally rocked his part as Ha Neul with an excellent mix of vulnerability and strength. The rest of the band member and cast did a great job also. Where the heck did Lee Tae Sun come from? I never would have thought this was his first drama.

The music is so awesome. I will say that it is weird that they used Nirvana for the inspiration because none of the bands music sounds like Nirvana. Maybe that is a good thing because Kurt Cobain is flawless and it is better to be totally different than to be compared. Even if you don't watch this drama, you should watch the ending of episode 16. It was totally moving.

I might rewatch the good parts for the music someday.

If you like bromance, some melodrama and good music, then this is the drama for you.

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This was a pretty alright drama. The story is cute, though rather predictable. There were sweet moments as well as very emotional scenes. While overall I liked the drama, though, there were a few times I felt it was boring and dragged. There were also a couple of times that I couldn't understand the logic behind a character's decisions or actions, especially in the last episode, but nothing annoyed me that much, hence the 8 rating.

The music was great, though I do not know why it kept being referred to as rock. It is not rock! :p It is very catchy pop. Nirvana's Nevermind album was featured and I think it was supposed to be an influence, but has absolutely nothing in common with Entertainer Band's music. That was probably a peeve of mine worth mentioning. :p

The acting was decent but nothing extremely special. Ji Sung, whom I think is an amazing actor btw, was great as usual, but he has played much more interesting characters in other dramas. I was very disappointed by Hyeri's acting in this. After her performance in Reply 1988, I had high hopes. I think she was extremely under par in this. Of course it didn't help that her character was written to be naive and rather foolish. I also thought that she had absolutely zero chemistry with Ji Sung. Not because of the RL age gap either, but because she just seemed so awkward and out of place alongside him.

In conclusion, if you are looking for a light rom com without all the stress and like good music, it's a good choice. (*^_^*)

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A typical story of a main character, who basically has to start from scratch after a series of regrettable events occurred. The story itself lacks originality but certainly isn't sloppily written. After watching the teaser trailers, it gave me an impression this was going to be a soft rom-com drama. So I was surprised with the fact that the parts about the entertainment industry, especially the dark side, were bigger than I thought it would be. What makes the drama worth watching is the relationships between the characters and the journey of the main protagonist.

If there was one word to describe the feeling Entertainer gave off, it would probably be bromance.
The band members supporting each other through different ordeals and (past & future) hardships. You would almost forget that they were just a bunch of guys, who where picked up & randomly and got thrown together because of their love for music. Don't forget Shin Suk Ho & Jo Ha Neul's bond, after the first learning about Jo Ha Neul's background. Luckily the serie isn't focused on a (forced) love line as it is kept very subtle. That being said, bromance isn't everything this drama has to offer, as the drama has an emotional storyline too.

Ji Sung did a great job portraying the protagonist, Shin Suk Ho. His character development was nice to watch throughout the story. Trying his hardest (to protect) for his loved ones and assuring everything will be alright. Even to the extent of going through something alone. It was endearing to watch. Kang Min Hyuk grew as an actor. Knowing how to portray a wronged person with the right emotions and naturally acting. He did a good job as Jo Ha Neul. Hyeri did pretty okay portraying her character, Jeong Geu Rin. Sometimes her character felt stiff and awkward. It probably has something to do with how her character was written in the drama. The casting (and acting) of the supporting roles isn't so bad but still replacable in my opinion.

Entertainer has some parts where the story feels dragged which leads to off pacing. It makes you wonder if a 2 episode extension was necessary. They ended the serie nicely though. The music is good and pleasant to listen to. It accompanies the scenes and catches the mood pretty well. Cameo appearances (Park Shin Hye, Seo Kang Joon and more) are a nice extra, fitting in with the entertainment industry setting. In the end Entertainer isn't something out of the ordinary but doesn't disappoint either.

If you are looking for a fun & rom-com drama with likable characters and some drama, you will probably enjoy Entertainer.

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I absolutely loved this drama. The storyline is really moving, so I thought I might write my very first review of a drama.. Please be kind :)

Overall, the acting of Ji Sung was amazing. The reason why I fell in love with this serie is the way he portrayed his character. It is really refreshing to see a man that doesnt feel the need to conceal his real emotions. The other actors were fine, I wasn't really impressed but they were fine. The child however, what an amazing little actor, unbelievable!

Give this drama a chance: bromance, tears and happiness guaranteed!

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UNDERRATED

I really really love this drama! I find it a bit underrated, maybe it's because the drama's main focus isn't romance.
Even though I have watched this one 2 years ago, it's still one of my favourite dramas. I still listen to some of it's soundtrack, the songs are great. I remember I would wait for wednesdays for the new episodes, and that I would really laugh in almost every episode.
The ending was my favorite part, and all the actors (Ji Sung especially, of course) were great. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a light-hearted and fun drama to watch!

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Wonderful acting, excellent atmosphere

This drama surprised me very positively. I avoid showbiz themes, I started watching "Entertainer" out of boredom and it was a series really full of entertainment and excitement. I'm the kind of person who likes to get involved in a character's life and ML played by Ji Sung absorbed me completely. He captivated me from the first episode, played with bravado and beautiful subtlety at the same time. I am full of admiration and praise.
The plot drew me in from the beginning. I love that each character, even in the third plan, is a finished whole with their own interesting story. The crime plot is interesting and the humor is really funny. What I appreciate most, however, is the warm and hopeful atmosphere of this drama. In spite of the difficulties the characters face, in spite of their pain, which could be felt so clearly in some scenes, "Entertainer" gave me a lot of positive impressions. Rarely has a story been so well written and so brilliantly conveyed. My respect and full satisfaction as a viewer is expressed in the rating of 10/10. I really don't have even half a point to give and I would gladly add another.

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Perhaps I came into this drama with high expectations because of the cast and premise. Perhaps it's because I had just completed dramas in which the acting and tone had particularly impressed me (Reply 1988, Descendants Of The Sun, Cheese In The Trap) just before watching this. Whatever the reason I found this drama to be so very disappointing.

The Story: Let me begin by saying I was really looking forward to the show because I thought it had great potential after seeing the plot. I was almost expecting a little bit of a similar background view to Korean showbiz as was seen in 'The Producers'. but in reality it felt more like a soap. There was just too much plot put in and the emotion of the story felt lost and shallow. I get that everyone in the group was supposed to have their own background story and show growth, but the execution was sadly lacking. The writing of the script and dialogue needed a lot more depth. It was like reading a novel where the writer tells you 'so and so feels sad' rather than showing it through the the character's actions words/actions. The relationships in the between the characters also felt shallow. They showed the one scene between Shin suk ho and young Ha nuel over and over to establish the connection, there could have been more. The romance was also a stretch. Either the development should have been shown slowly over time with them spending more time together instead of the awkward glances and kindness and the fast forward to the future where you are supposed to assume the relationship had grown, or they could have just left it out. The redeeming aspect of the relationships was the bromance, but even that could have been done better.

Acting/Cast: The cast was another thing that had me anticipating the drama. I love Ji Sung and everything I have seen with him in it, I was really impressed by Hyeri in Reply 1988, and was so happy to see Chae Jung Ahn cast in a 'nice' role (I just think she is radiant). I was not familiar with the rest of the cast so I wasn't expecting much there. I don't know if it was the direction or the actors' own initiative, but there was waayy too much moping. If they had cut the minute long intense glares/gazes and super dramatic crying/ wailing/throwing oneself against walls and the floor scenes, the drama would have fit the original plan of 16 episodes and been a better drama for it. For me, this was just the beginning of the acting troubles for the main cast. I would be tempted to say that the supporting cast, esp Lee Tae Sun were more convincing.

Music: The music was great. It was the one thing I really enjoyed in this drama.

Rewatch value/overall: I think if you are a great fan of one of these actors or you like a really drama filled show with angsty looks and heartbroken glances with tons of bromance, it won't be a bad watch. I would stay very far away if you are looking: for a show that touches your heart with great acting and dialogue or a drama gives a glimpse of human nature and the harshness of reality or just really good romance. In all my disappointment I don't regret watching this 100%, but there is definitely never going to be a re-run of this for me. I apologize if someone finds this review very harsh and I know there will be many who don't agree with me, but this is the review I would have wanted to read before watching. It is my honest opinion and perhaps it will soften the blow of disappointment for someone else if they go in with more realistic expectations than I did.

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For starters, ignore what everyone else says, I love this drama!

The acting was so awesome and I just love Jisung as always. Despite a lot of them being new actors I enjoyed and felt with all of them. I definitely need to see L.Joe, Gong Myung, and Lee Tae-Sun in more dramas! Not to mention, Ahn Hyo-Seop, he was barely in this I just needed more.

The drama was extened for two episodes than it was originally going for, but, I feel like it still did not waste the time it had with flash backs, instead, I enjoyed the plot as it took twists and turns. Every arc was a good part of the drama. It was lighthearted at times, but serious when it needed to be. It even gave redemption to all but one character. I enjoyed all these aspects, I need more dramas like this.


The romance in this drama is a little lacking but, the bromance is awesome! I just love Jisung and Kang Minhyuk!

The music is some of the best! I can't stop listening to these osts! The osts themselves should be enough to make you watch the drama!

This kdrama deals with some of the problems and issues of the kpop world and it does it very well. Plus, Seo Kang-joon has a cameo appearance, who does not want to see this drama?

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One of the best series I've watched

For many reasons, this series stuck in my heart. The main plot is about a manager from famous entertainment company, but something happened and he make his own small company. He had a rough start and the first idol group he make is a band, filled with 4 boys who have their own problem (Which normally would end their image before they even start). But they didn't give up and along the way they mature and solve their problems, helping each other in the process. I love the emotion they bring into the series and also delivered the fact that public figures have their own skeleton in the closet, but they also want to let us know that public figure still human, sometimes they didn't want their problem to happen but it just happened and out of their control. This series really simple but meaningful.

Another great aspect is he song. Because this series is about a new rising band, so of course the song would be their main point, and I have to say it was really good. Might be better if I can understand the lyric, but from watching the show I could feel the emotion from the song.

I have to say, it really is a great series.

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