The Sound of Magic (2022)

Too Much Ballad Songs for a Musical

Everything else was passed the Good teir so i won'tsay anything on that, but for a drama that's a musical all of the songs except two (the opening song and the yellow flower field sung by Hwan In Youp's) were actually good and memorable. The rest of the song were so bland and boring, I know they were mostly speaking through the ballad song but i had to skip them because they weren't captivating enough and since music is a top contributer to this drama since its a musical i was very disappointed to hear ballad arter ballad after ballad. That just my two sense of the downfallsof this drama otherwisethat that it was good, i do recommend.

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Do you believe in magic?

Annara Sumanara

Likes
1. The first 3 episodes were strange yet fascinating. Ahyi's life was depressing to watch then they'll start bursting into a song and i feel like i'm in a disney movie with the fireworks and flying horses.
2. I probably wouldn't have watched this if not for Ji Chang Wook. He was so mysterious, sometimes scary but often times like a child. I dont know if he was trying to be Willy Wonka or PT Barnum in the Greatest Showman movie.
3. I loved Sung Eun, sometimes I feel romantic vibe between them esp when they're singing a duet but then i remember Ahyi is in high school and Rieul is 30yo.
4. I loved all the musical performances but sadly the songs were not memorable.
5. The second half was way better, when the childlike fantasy plot became serious murder storyline. I loved the last episode, i even teared up hearing Rieul's past and when he gave Ahyi his hat. Is it really magic?
6. Two things that struck me. When Rieul told Ahyi, "...You should do the things you want just as much as the things you don't want to do."
And when Il deung said, "I didn't know before that flowers don't bloom on smooth asphalt but on bumpy dirt." The real magic is Rieul being able to comfort and guide Ahyi and Ildeung to be better people.

Dislikes
It was trying to be too much at the same time. Musical. Fantasy. Sexual assault. Murder. Daddy issues. The first half was for kids, the second half was for adults.

Rating: 8/10

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My favorite musical I have ever watched!

I know what it's like to struggle financially, and what it's like to want people to hear me when I cry out for help. This series hit me where it hurts and I don't regret it. I loved this series with every fiber of my being. I stayed up late every night to be able to watch this. I was able to laugh, cry, smile, get angry, and just straight up enjoy every last bit of it. I'm not putting much into this review because words can't explain the emotions I went through watching this. The end, when the magician disappeared, hurt me the most. I cried lmao. I was kind of curious though at the end, what had happened to Il-deung? We saw him after he had gotten beaten and that was it. It was a little frustrating, but I was content. Highly recommended. I'm even forcing my partner to watch this lol.

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No matter how hard life gets, never let your inner child die...

I've watched like hundreds of dramas till date but this one hit me really really different. All the cast just nailed their roles and as always such an inspiring and jaw-dropping character portrayal by JCW. I felt like I need someone like Ri Eul to be friends with me for life cuz the way he made Ah Yi and Il deung realize the cold truth of LIFE was so smooth and clever. He helped them in finding their inner child and taught them not everything the adults stuffing inside our head can bring us happiness. The greatest lesson I've learnt from this drama is that HAPPINESS AND SMILE is the biggest magic that can happen to anyone. Working hard for your dream is important but not at the price of your happiness. Whenever you feel like you are getting far away from enjoying the little things that makes you happy, remember this " Flowers don't bloom in smooth and cold asphalt roads".

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Watch to the end. There is an end credit scene.

That doesn't count as a spoiler because I wont tell you what it is. I just dont want you to miss it.

Overall I REALLY liked this. It is whimsical and magical while still dealing with real life teen and adult issues. It dares you to take a leap of faith. It is for the people who grew up beliving in Peter Pan and Never Never Land.

The cast is phenomenal both in acting and in singing. The main character of the magician does a particularly wonderful job with great nuance.

I will be listening to the ost!

Only complaints are that the ending feels rushed, not enough pay off for 2nd male lead's plotline, and ep 5 didnt have any songs ( :( ).

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Not perfect, but so full of heart that it’s easy to love regardless.

Do like you musicals? Do you like shows full of heart? Do you like characters who are mysterious and kind but maybe just a liiiitle bit unhinged? Do you like the idea that magic doesn’t have to go away just because you grow up, and in fact, maybe it shouldn’t?

Do you believe in magic?

Do you not mind too terribly when the the plot leaves a few loose ends, as long as the story is entertaining enough?

Then this is the show for you.

The Sound of Magic is a show about a lot of things: the pressures created by family and society to succeed in a particular way, the struggles of poverty, being an outcast, and of course, the difficulties involved in growing up. It handles all this and more with grace, and feeling, and SO much heart that you can’t help but fall in love with the tale being told. The music numbers are phenomenal and work particularly well to help bring the magic to life, and if there’s one thing this show isn’t short on, it’s magic. Interestingly enough, it also has some crime drama/mystery elements that sneak up on you towards the end, but not necessarily in a bad way.

Is The Sound of Magic perfect? No. In the first half of the show I figured I would come out giving this a 9 or 9.5, but a few things in the back half did knock my rating down a peg. Mostly, questions left unanswered. A few characters make choices we never get to see the results of, and if we’re getting nitpicky, I do also wish they’d leaned a little harder into a decision about the magic. I understand that it was supposed to be left up to the viewer to decide, an open ending to that question if you will, but the way it was handled didn’t quite stick the landing. To me, it seemed less like something left up to personal choice, and more like the author themself simply hadn’t wanted to make a decision.

However, that being said, I still finished the show feeling like I’d gotten a breath of fresh air. It’s not often that a piece of media will tell you that growing up doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to the little things you loved as a child. That the magic can stay.

Also the visuals/cinematography/choreography/and costumes are all stunning all show long. Visually a treat to behold.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Sound of Magic, and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for some heartwarming and emotional musical entertainment.

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A masterpiece who's wings were clipped

I was very excited about The Sound of Magic because it was a musical and also it would be my first Ji Chang Wook drama.

Under it's magnificent exterior Sound of Magic actually tells a grim story of teenagers succumbing to societal standards of conformity, killing all and any personal desires.

The show could've been a masterpiece but a lot of it felt abrupt and rushed. Right from the beginning there was lack of context setting, so I had no understanding on any of the characters. I couldn't predict how the characters would react, or even fully empathise with their woes. It almost felt like this show was designed for regular 16 episodes but someone told the makers to manage it in 6. As if, someone clipped the wings of this show before it could truly fly.

But it wasn't all bad. The show has some great moments, as the characters dwell into what it is being an adult and the futility of it. The show also weaved symbolism well, the flower, butterfly, asphalt and band aid being my favourite.

I won't suggest skipping this one, but I wished it could've been better. Maybe spending more time craving the characters especially because it's such a dark topic.

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Amazing!!!!

Seriously amazing. Outstanding acting. Outstanding cast. I 100% recommend watching this, it's shorter so you can finish it quickly and the plot is so good. I do have to say Rieuls relationship with Ahyi bothers me because it seems like he wants to be with her in a romantic way and she's a minor. Another thing is the plot kind of falls flat at the end because we never really found out what happened to Ildeung, like did he follow in Rieuls footsteps because he started having the symptoms in last episode? It seems like a season 2 should happen and focus around him. Honestly I watched this not knowing it was a musical but I wasn't disappointed. I wish there was a bit more on Ahiyis mom but I get that wasn't the point of the show but it would've made the plot much better. I recommend watching this drama, it definitely will stay in my brain for a long time.

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Annara Sumanara

I loved it ! A fantasy with real issues dealt with great sensitivity and brilliantly acted . The music is wonderful , the ending spectacular , and it left me with a smile on my face , a spring in my steps and melodies in my ears .
I watched it twice and was not disappointed . There could not have been a better Magician than JCW . An unusual role for him but one he performs to perfection . His face is so expressive , you can feel the pain , you can read the joy , the insecurity , the relief in his eyes . You share his sorrow, you condemn the malice and injustice that the world is putting on the young , the innocent and the vulnerable . One finds relief in the wonderful music and magic and find hope .
A truly memorable and inspiring drama .
I do not know if a second series is necessary and not unless all the original cast can be in it .

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Worthy effort of being enjoyable, but not memorable

The Sound of Magic was one of the more eagerly awaited k-dramas of 2022, that had something different to offer than the rest of the shows.

The drama could have offered more, had it not been restricted to 6 episodes. It has lovely visuals, solid performances, impressive song-and-dance numbers, and oodles of charm. Although what I would have loved to see more in the drama was the narrative, which I felt was not much effective.

The Sound of Magic has six episodes, and while they’re long, it sometimes feels like 10 or 12 would have better served the show’s ambition. Nonetheless, the drama is an enjoyable watch, if not memorable.


My Rating : 7/10

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