Chocolate (2019)

WARNING! This review will contain spoilers.

" The value of one's life is determined by how much love one gives, not by how much love one has received." by Epictetus

Let me be honest. At first, I did not want to start this drama because it sounded too emotional for me when I first heard about the story. Now I have to tell you that I do not regret starting watching it. It was worth to spend time on each episode even when my exams were near.

I wasn't so interested in the story, but after I started watching it I've realized there was so much more behind it. It wasn't just one story. In a frame story, there were so many other stories. Every single one was meaningful and touching. ( I was crying a lot while watching this drama.) I've found this k-drama very detailed and well-written. I think the writer did a great job. So I give 9.5 for this, that -0,5 point is for a scene at the end which I don't understand but I hope after watching it over I will.

Being honest I am not a fan of Ha Ji Won but I think her acting skill is not a joke. She has shown us the character development of Moon Chae Young. She portrayed an innocent, kind, cheerful, helpful and thankful for her life's saver grown-up woman who has a deep wound in her heart. She did an excellent job. Let give her a big applause!
I've seen Yoon Kye Sang in a drama before but I didn't remember him ( I still do not remember his acting in that drama, I'm so sorry Ahjussi). I think Lee Kang's character was made for him. That nice end lively boy was growing up in an environment that was just not for him. I have to tell you that I am very happy about the fact that k-drama world shows up that kind of main leads who are much more loveable like Ko Ji Seok ( Kim Seon Ho) from Catch the Ghost or Hwang Yong Sik ( Kang Ha Neul) from When the Camellia Blooms. Even though Lee Kang was not so likable sometimes but still we could understand him.
There are two more people I have to mention for you who deserves it. First is Lee Jun (Jang Seung Jo) who had the biggest character development in the whole story. I think we all can agree. At first, I thought: Oh my, here is another spoiled kid, but he is NOT at all! He did not want to be that kind of person, he wanted to do something different, he just wanted to be the same as others. This is what makes him a person. Jang Seung Jo is a great actor who has excellent skills for acting.
The second person who deserves a few words is Moon Tae Hyun ( Min Jin Woong), brother of Chae Young. I think a lot's watcher hated him because he was annoying, always causing problems for his sister. I've found him annoying too, but I'm happy because the writer didn't put him aside. They showed us what made him be like that. He loves his sister but how could he become a decent person when he just saw a bad example from his mother?
I give 9.0 for the acting/cast. Let's give them (not just the main leads but every supporting actor, actress) applause because they deserve it.

I give 10 for the OSTs because every single one of them is beautiful and meaningful.

Rewatch value is 10. I want to watch it again, even if it is just for the small stories. I think I can learn a lot from this.

Everyone, let's stop for a moment every day and value what you have.

Leggi di Più

Great start, mediocre ending. The promise of a great story kept me till the end. The acting of the young characters was commendable. The friendship between Minsung and Lee Kang was enviable. But somewhere along the way, the story fizzled out. As if the writer lost interest or did I just miss the plot? The episodes after epi 5 seemed shorter because it kept me wanting. It took 14 episodes before Lee Kang knew of Cha young's connection to his childhood.

They started so well! Anyway...i cheered for the characters till the end. Good effort everyone, i still enjoyed watching it :)

.................
..................
...................

Leggi di Più

Chocolate é um K-Drama recheado de personagens com cicatrizes emocionais profundas o que confere a trama um ar melancólico e um ritmo de desenvolvimento mais lento. Como esperado de um melodrama, tudo na história acontece de forma muito dramática.

A mistura da medicina com culinária foi inusitada e boa de se ver, a culinária é um tema que me agrada e as cenas onde a Moon Cha Young (Ha Ji Won) aparecia preparando algum prato foram realmente interessantes e um ponto muito positivo deste drama.

Por terem sofrido no passado o desenvolvimento do relacionamento dos protagonistas é bem comedido, o que não me deixou desinteressada, pelo contrário. Pessoalmente eu gosto de dramas onde o relacionamento dos protagonistas é mais contido, isto me deixa ansiosa e me faz torcer pelo romance deles.

O que me desagradou neste drama foi a forma como alguns acontecimentos ou personagens foram introduzidos na história. A falta de coerência em algumas cenas me incomodou muito, quando eu menos esperava e piscava os olhos já estava em outra cena sem terem concluído ou explicado a cena anterior (isto aconteceu com maior frequência nos primeiros episódios). Apesar disso, consegui acompanhar o drama até o final sem nenhum esforço.

Quanto as atuações, foi tudo OK, apesar de achar o Yoon Kye Sang um ator bem inexpressivo, este papel foi perfeito para ele.

Leggi di Più

An extremely poorly told story

This drama was the most frustrating and disappointing that I have ever seen. A good story destroyed by poorly written script and even worse direction and editing. It is an example of how good actors can have their performances overturned by a very weak script and direction. Even so, I watched until the last episode with the expectation that I could be wrong and even it get better due to the promising opening scene of their reecounter reunion in Greece, and I was punished with a very weak ending beyond what was the obvious ending that protagonists would be together. Still, I wish I would watch a remake, which could be with the same actors, but with a completely redesigned script and new direction. Best set designer and costume designer would also be welcome.

Leggi di Più

Loved it a LOT!

Hello Friends,

I am very new to this site. Also, this is my first ever review I am writing as a viewer.

I have just started to watch KDrama. I had heard my friends raving about them. I thought to give it a try. I am glad that I got to see Chocolate as one of my very first KDrama series I started to watch.

The lead characters were perfect for the role of childhood lovers who grew apart to find each other once again, The story is a mature love story told perfectly. The actors do justice to their roles. There are some moments which tend to stir something inside you emotionally and you shed a tear. There are plenty of heart warming moments as well. It is not often that you experience such myriad emotions in a series.

This gem deserves a perfect 10 from my side. As I write this, am wondering if there are any similar series as Chocolate? If not, am watching this again in the near future.

Enjoy!

Leggi di Più

não foi um dorama que me apeguei muito por causa do desenvolvimento ser lento e melancólico. além disso, o romance também não me agradou muito mas também é de imaginar pelo gênero do dorama.
as cenas são lindas, tanto das paisagens como das estéticas das comidas.
me emocionei com os temas abordados e os personagens que participaram ao longo dos episódios e achei interessante as diversas formas como apresentaram todos os relacionamentos. as osts são ótimas e passam uma vibe ótima enquanto vc assiste.
apesar da minha nota não ter sido alta eu recomendaria e realmente vale a pena assistir bem tranquilamente.

Leggi di Più

*sorry for the long review, but hopefully reading it will be worth it!

I cannot put into words how intense and unique this drama is, but I’ll try!

To start off this review, if you’re looking for a typical cliche romance k-drama, this isn’t it; although I’m sure you’ll still love it. Yes, there’s some really good chemistry and cute romantic scenes, but the story consists of many other characters and stories that will keep you engaged. Seeing the characters develop throughout the plot as they learn from the past, teaches you many valuable life lessons, which is surprisingly rare in a lot of dramas.

My opinion:

The plot:
I kept putting this drama off thinking that I wouldn’t enjoy it for a while now, but I’m so glad that I finally decided to watch it. I haven’t been this addicted to a drama in a long time. The plot never got boring and truly emerged me into it making me feel so attached to the characters. I didn’t just feel like I was watching it, but I felt like I was their friend rooting for them and sobbing with them like a baby quite often. The entire story is filled with emotion and will leave you crying quite often. Many great people die and will make you sad as if you’re their friend. The happy moments will make you so happy you might also cry. I cried almost every episode, but in my opinion, that’s one of the main reasons this show is so good!

They truly mixed in family, romance, friendship, medicine, death, a but of humour, tragedy, cooking, and that delicious Godiva chocolate ;) so well! I’ve never seen a drama so successful with mixing so many genres. Especially chocolate. I’m a chocolate lover and I know this sounds cheesy, but this made me appreciate chocolate even more. I wouldn’t have been able to pick a better name for this show. I’m still craving that chocolate Lol. I also love it when a bit of humour is mixed in to relieve the tension; especially with a drama like this (it’s very intense and emotional). I found myself crying and laughing at the same time in a few scenes, which made me love it even more. Now, with all that being said, the end felt a bit rushed and I was left hanging on a few characters. I don’t want to spoil it, but there were a couple characters that I wished we got a better look at what their future may be like. I’m not sure if there will be a season 2, but I highly doubt it. Other than that, the whole drama is amazing and you should definitely watch it. I think anyone will enjoy it.

Acting/characters:
The acting and chemistry was so amazing! Everyone did a great job. Especially the patients suffering! I was truly shocked by how incredible the acting was and I believe they chose the perfect cast for this drama. The character development and learning from the past truly did inspire even myself as a person that relates to a lot of the characters situations and feelings to go out and enjoy life.

Music:
The music was perfect and very well done for the most part. There was one song that I kinda felt didn’t sound great, but that may just be me. Other than that, the music was great!

Rewatch Value:
I’m not the type that usually rewatches dramas, but maybe only a few scenes or episodes. I personally wouldn’t rewatch most things, but I feel like that depends on the person. I’ll probably watch it again in a few years when I forget a lot of it.

Regardless of the little things that may have lowered my rating a bit, this is definitely one of my top dramas. It’s full of valuable lessons about life, family, relationships, trauma, a person’s past, learning from your own and others mistakes, appropriating living life and making the most of it, and many more. I feel like each person will see this drama differently depending on your own past and situations, but I have no double that almost anyone will enjoy it. So if you have any doubts, put them aside and get watching!

Thanks for reading!!

Leggi di Più

Chocolate sem pimenta

Até gostei de Chocolate, mas acho que os personagens e tramas secundários são a melhor parte da série. O casal de protagonistas não me convenceu muito: ela é chorona demais, ele tem cara de porta e a química entre os dois é zero. Pelo menos ambos são bonitos.

Na minha opinião, o quente da série acaba sendo a própria unidade de cuidados paliativos. É lá que diversas histórias bem mais impactantes acontecem com personagens supostamente menores. Ok, às vezes a série exagera um pouco no melodrama nessas histórias, mas vez ou outra acerta o tom e rende momentos genuinamente comoventes.

Também achei que alguns temas foram pouco desenvolvidos. Não vou entrar em detalhes para não spoilar, mas quem leu Norwegian Wood provavelmente vai traçar um paralelo e sentir que um... triângulo amoroso , digamos assim, teve seu terceiro vértice "funesto" explorado muito superficialmente. Oportunidade perdida de explorar um ângulo menos convencional numa série romântica.

Não achei nada de muito extraordinário, mas curti. Malhei os protagonistas, mas a série tá cheia de gente simpática nos papéis de apoio. Vale a pena assistir, eu diria, só não espere muito em termos de romance.

Leggi di Più

I rarely write any views about dramas, but this one is something i should worn people about.
1-if your looking for your beautiful romance in this drama then you in the wrong place, it dose not have any romance what so ever.
2-the story flows in a very slow rhythm creating useless filing scenes that are not relevant to the story.
3-The story time line skips alot with nothing being solved.

I finished the last 4 episode in less than 10 min by jumping trying to find any important scenes bit had no luck. Over all I will never recommend this drama to anyone its just a waste of time.

Leggi di Più

Love Is Patience Love is Kind Love is Honest

Have a box of tissue by your side...

I tried to be brave to watch this drama. However my sucker for sympathy hearts fails me everytime. And that is saying, it is such a relief to be able to shed tears when moved.

The Cooking part in this drama is such a delight to watch. Meals are comfort. Preparing for it is keen business. And serving them is the warmest form of affection.

Drama about incurable sickness helps you to cherished seconds of life in a modest way with a grand hopes. And here you have a taste of that. Be brave. It will make you inspire to become a better version of human. It will helps understand that life is not perfect. It will gets better.

Conflicted part in this drama is intense. The actors and actresses is very genuine with their dialogue, I can’t help to wonder if we could use those words in actual life. Perhaps we could change a stigma. Defense bullies. Give hopes. Second chances. Settled disputes.

There was a scene, when Lee Joon and Lee Kang spent in the pottery furnace. When all the angst has died down and they are able to have conversation in civil. And Lee Joon has always been true, despite his anger and struggles for his share unfairness. Lee Joon’s character heals in ways he is able to save people.

The way of romancing He forgot She remembers, very well patiently done. The way Lee Kang find his closure is with the same weight as Cha Young accept her condition. It can be more beautiful than that.

The music score is very nice and soothing. Chocolate is a drama where you can be brave with acceptance.

Leggi di Più

this drama is mediocre at best. with so much focus in the synopsis on the main couple, you'd assume we'd be presented with some development by the main leads that would make you feel warmth when they eventually ended up together; the side stories became a focal point, so much so that i had lost interest in the main couple by the time they were together, and found myself bored by their constant teetering, and moon cha young's apparent inability to speak.

starting off strong in the first episode, i was intrigued and saw potential in the story. by episode two, i was confused and questioning whether i should even continue. with kang nearly dying in libya to min sung and cha young becoming a couple, only for her to leave and for min sung to becoming ill, i didn't know what to focus on when it came to the plot. too much happened, with unnoticeable time skips that made me wonder what exactly was going on.

i continued on...

the drama was filled with heartwarming and heartbreaking stories about lives within a hospice and i could appreciate the characters and tales of each patient, and we saw some sweet moments between main and side characters that caused my eyes to well up (though i found that i probably only cried twice, to my surprise considering how much others had been mentioning a box of tissues should be ready before watching this drama). eventually, this became tiresome and i found myself skipping through the scenes of other characters, hoping for some development with the main characters. the stories took away from my focus on the leads which eventually caused me to lose interest in them completely and led me to become more interested in lee joon's character as a whole (which fell short, as we can only assume he goes back to the hospital, but no satisfactory finale).

by the end of it, the relationship between kang and cha young felt unnatural, and what could have been sweet romance felt awkward, as they had lost the spark they had at the beginning. i found myself just waiting for it to end, i had watched so much of it, i couldn't just drop it at the last few episodes. the ultimate episode ended with them once again meeting in greece after she had run away but left me with no satisfaction nor a warm feeling inside.

a positive is that i paid much more attention to the OST of this drama than any other drama i've watched, i'd say, and found myself enjoying the sweet melodies of the show.

Leggi di Più

Slow burn romance, beautiful stories about death

The drama took time to tell the stories of each of the patients which I loved. Though we only met them for a few episodes, each character was precious and memorable.

Likes:
1. For a melo drama that talks about death in every episode, this drama is still addicting to watch.
2. It must be the beautiful writing, the rich characters (Jun, Kang, CY and all the patients), the wonderful setting and OST.
3. I hate that each of the patients are slowly dying just when we have gotten attached to them but i love how their deaths are written. Like they have this grand gesture or final wish fulfilled or they give a beautiful speech about life and living and death. It makes you reflect on your own life.
4. All the food that Cha Young makes look so delicious and i love how she honors the patients by cooking their fave food or baking a beautiful cake.
5. Especially love Jiyong and episode 8 was fantastic. As well as the bday episode.
6. Nice to see my fave supporting actor Kim Won Hae in a different and serious character. He is so good.

Dislikes:
1. The harsh grandma and Jun's annoying parents. I actually dont like this part of the story. I'd rather they focus more on the hospice and the patients.
2. Taking so slow for the romance between Kang and Cha Young (im so impatient -- i want them to fall in love and kiss already!) But okay I will wait until Kang falls so hard for Cha Young.
3. It's obvious the cousins care for each other a bit I hope they finally make up, put their heads together and take down their own family so they can live the life that they want.

Episodes 14-16 felt rushed and overwhelming. They introduced 2 more characters to the show for our secondary characters. I also felt the story of Kang and Jun's family wasn't fully closed, though i didnt really care what happened to the grandma and Jun's parents. They can take their beloved hospital and eat it.

I wish Jun had better ending though the cameo of his real life wife was a nice surprise. I just hope he doesnt fall in love with her because she seems sick.

As for Kang and Cha Young, i wasnt sure why they had to part. I was a little confused when i saw Kang back in Greece. I thought it was just a flashback until i realized it was the present time and we are back to the first scene on episode 1. I guess the time apart was what they needed to free themselves of their past and start anew. But i hoped this time it was Cha Young who made the move because it's always Kang running to her.

Rating: 8/10

Leggi di Più