Rollercoaster Ride

To preface my review, I technically finished the series, but due to reasons later stated, I pressed skip many many times. Therefore, I watched "all" 59 episodes under 48 hours.

Story: I enjoyed how there was a distinct reason for every action and choice; so the characters were well developed and not there weren't any overly cliche characters. Even the villains weren't just pure evil, they had their own past that influenced them to become a villain. The main reason I gave the drama a 9.0 storywise was because of all the misunderstandings I had to watch. As a viewer, I would rather misunderstand certain characters, instead of knowing everything while vividly watching the main lead be in the dark. Also, the misunderstandings were so easily spotted that I question if the writers had any other plan to induce character change. Because of this reason, I often found myself skipping to parts where the main leads reconciled. However, the story itself was interesting and each scene was vital to the story's development. Many historical dramas are only watchable when the main leads are involved, but the side characters in this drama were multifaceted and were just as worthwhile for the viewer's time.

Acting/Cast: I think the actors truly grasped the complexity of each character and represented their ideas and worldview without being overly fake. The male lead's actor was a perfect choice for his role; without being too dramatic, his every smile, gaze, and blood spit was masterfully placed to tug at the viewer's heart. His dedication and trust in the female lead were unmatched. The female lead's actress had to play a more difficult character who often experienced major changes. I applaud how she displayed the female lead's dynamic journey while also staying true to her most basic self.

Music: Usually, I watch dramas and their ost does not stick out. In "Love and Redemption," the music often indicated major battle moves, which I think was an interesting choice. Instead of a full ost with all ballads, there were different genres to complement the dynamic plotline. After finishing the drama, my first action was to go on Spotify and listen to the ost while writing this review.

Rewatch Value: I have never fully rewatched a drama because I don't see a point when I already know what will happen next. That said, I judged this category based on how likely it would be for me to fan compilations of the main leads' love story. I am completely hooked on their moments together, for they did not only experience pain after pain, but there were actually scenes where they were joking around and being lighthearted.

Overall, I think this drama was well produced. The fight scenes were especially gorgeous and engaging. For viewers who can withstand the heavy, dramatic moments, I recommend this. If you enjoyed "Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms," this just might be your cup of tea.

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Emotional Story About One of the Most Basic Relationships in Life

"Mother" is the drama that makes use of all the characters to turn words on a script into a piece of art that moves the viewer. As much as I enjoyed the drama, I will try to write a review that truly considers, not only its strengths, but flaws.

Story: The first couple scenes in "Mother" gave me the impression that it would be a slow-paced drama that may bore viewers. This doesn't last for long until they show just how awful the little girl is treated at home. My heart raced as she faced the man in her house and kept a straight face throughout the entirety of his actions. After the teacher chose to save the girl, they embarked on a frightening journey that began with their identities changing into mother and daughter. The bond between the pair grows as they rely on each other even when the world is after their every move. The beauty of this drama is that the writers/director recognized that everyone has a special relationship with their mom. I won't spoil the details, but if you watch carefully, you can see how almost every character is affected by their mom's presence/absence.

Acting: Lee Bo Young did a magnificent job in controlling her expressions and emotions. KSJ had been through so many trials throughout her life, and Lee Bo Young was perfect in encapsulating the details that made KSJ such a distinctive character. Similarly, Heo Yool, the little girl, deserves all the praise. "Mother," undeniably, is a heavy drama even for the viewers. I can't imagine how she must have felt to become a child who went through so many difficulties at such a young age. Her acting is extraordinary, and I'm looking forward to her future projects. All the actors and actresses in "Mother," were terrific, but the one person I applaud the most is Son Seok Hoo, who played the abusive man. His acting is realistic, that every time I saw him on screen, my heart pounded with fear.

Music: I have nothing bad to say about this ost selection for this drama. I'm especially enjoying "Kind of Love" by Seungkwan. As a Seventeen fan, it was surprising to suddenly hear his voice during the emotional scenes. Right now, as I am writing this review, I have pulled up the drama's ost on spotify.

Rewatch Value: I never rewatch dramas, so I rated this category based on how likely I would be to rewatch clips of "Mother" on youtube. Because this drama is so heavy, I would need to be in a specific mood to rewatch scenes. However, I do think I will revisit the drama's message quite frequently.

I have so many things I want to say about this drama, but it is difficult to form the right words at the right moment. But I do want to mention that I cried while watching. Even when I tried to hold my tears, there was one scene where I couldn't help but cry. I do hope that everyone reading this will try to watch "Mother," even if it isn't the type of drama you usually watch.

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Surprisingly good

When I first read the storyline, I expected a melodrama that would cause me so much heartache because of all the twists and turns. However, when I saw the poster and teasers, the drama seemed slow-paced, kind of like "When The Weather is Fine." After finishing "Find Me in Your Memory," I can confidently say that it is not frustratingly dramatic, nor does it drag the plotline. I enjoyed it much more than I expected and I will give a more detailed explanation in the paragraphs below.

The drama's main plotline revolves around the memories that the main leads do or do not remember. When I first realized their connection, I predicted that there would be a huge "explosion" scene where the truth would be unraveled and misunderstandings would arise. To my pleasant surprise, the main characters are much more mature and aren't as impulsive as typical kdrama characters. The writers were smart to focus the drama on the characters rather than some revenge plot that the villain was planning.

The acting and cast for this drama were definitely the best. The main actor had a difficult role where he needed to express a lifetime of emotions with only his expression; I think he did exceptionally well and did not seem to force the emotions. The main actress started off with a simpler role, but after experiencing a major event, she needed to change her expressions and overall feeling. Her character development was something I looked forward to, and our main lead did not disappoint. I should also add, the chemistry between the two leads was off the charts. The side characters were perfect to balance out the serious tone of the drama; there were lighthearted moments that allowed me to not feel stressed about the challenges the main couple had to go through. The villains, all despicable, still played their roles very well and allowed me to hate them to the bone.

I rated the drama's ost a perfect 10 because it had a collection of songs I really enjoyed. Although there isn't much variety, genrewise, they still tugged at my heart and complemented the drama. I actually added one of the songs to my playlist because it is such a gem, "A Memory In My Heart" by Yangpa.

The rewatch value category often confuses me; I have never fully rewatched a drama because I don't feel the need to watch all the scenes. Therefore, I rated this category based on how likely I was to watch the main couple's scenes again. Although their love story was splendid to watch, it was very heavy. The side couple, on the other hand, was so cute and I would definitely watch a short compilation of their romance.

Overall, I definitely recommend this drama to anyone. This exceeded my expectations and I am proud to boast that I finished it under 48 hours, without skipping as much as I usually do.

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My level of obsession is VERY HIGH, but this is a candid review that considers all factors

There are so many things I could say about The Untamed, but I will just be blunt and relatively short. This is a drama I enjoyed much more while rewatching. The first few episodes are quite slow, so I skipped quite often, which developed into a habit for the rest of the drama. There was a well-curated plot, but I am the impatient type who likes to see the main leads happy, together.
Any faults in this drama are 弥补(I can't think of the English word for this lol) by WWX and LWJ.
Overall, if you can focus on the story when the main leads are mesmerizingly distracting, then you will love The Untamed even more. Still recommend it to everyone!
P.S. I have a spotify playlist called "wangxian" (by Jane G) and it is most definitely inspired by The Untamed. Okey bye, happy binging :)

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BESTBEST BEST

omg this drama has everything.
romance, action, thriller, family, friendship, heartbreak
everything is so meticulously thought out and planned
the last episode made me cry just by how much emotion was evoked out of me
i cannot even put into words how much i love this drama
actors are impeccable
- it is a little funny that the grown adults play their young selves, but it does noT change the sincerity at all
makes me wonder how someone thought of this storyline at all
i have seen an obscene amount of dramas and this has to be the best
20 episodes is not too long and not too short
highly recommend!!

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