Great idea, poor execution

I love the story pitch but disliked the execution. They should have just told the story in a liner fashion with only a few flashbacks for exposition.
The director tried to hard to be artistic, jumping back and forth between the present and the past making it difficult to follow, and he did not use any technique to let we the audience know which was the present and the past. To a directors out there not everyone is a Christopher Nolan.
I was so excited after reading the synopsis, trepidation set in once I saw the title card “one year later” that always signals doom for the clarity in storytelling.
I wish they had focused on situations that displayed his so called quick wit and fighting skills with a dash of romance to enhance the flavor.
The right ingredients where there, the kitchen/production-value was decent, restaurant/actors very good, but the chef/director & sous-chef/script-writer failed the diners.

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Perfection For The Romantic In You.

Where do I start, a truly timeless love story that will stand the test off time.
My one tiny gripe is I wanted more of the first couple, that should have been 2 episodes at least.
The second couple the male actor was a little lacking in visuals.
The director as usual struggled a bit in the 3rd act which is par for the course.
I would have loved to see a wedding or pictures at least.
Maybe a few episodes the couple and son trying to reconstitute their family and the struggles they probably will face.

Overall everything was excellent, The three female actors were perfection in casting, the male lead’s sister was gorgeous.
I loved that the director and script writer kept it simple and linear with no new fangled techniques.

The ingredients/story-idea a 10
The kitchen/script a 10
The restaurant /production-value a 10
The service/waiters/actors a 10+
The chef/director a 10

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I wish I never started, promising but goes off the rails.

Just avoid this one in my opinion, because it’s the worst kind of drama that promises better but self sabotages. At least dramas that set no expectations and stink are much more palatable because you don’t feel deceived.

It pretty much goes off the rails after episode 65, quickest way for a writer to ruin a show is to make the leads unlikeable and making them a doormat that protects their enemies in addition it guarantees you lose empathy for them..

Adding in using lazy plot devices like lack of communication and pure stupidity, you guarantee frustrated viewers.

In addition I am yet to find a “Lee Yoo Ri” drama with a nice satisfying ending, the ones I’ve seen all end with a whimper, I suspect she’s an ego trip in real life.

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Another lazy script writer, lack of communication as a plot device.

KDrama sucks at “Comedy of Errors”, if you ain’t Shakespeare or haven’t properly studied him just don’t, for Pete’s sake,
So basically, no one communicates with each other.
Fiancé has no idea where the in-laws live? He brags about her shows ultrasound but never shows her picture?
Another fiancé doesn’t call his sister to go home and watch his newborn?
Mother tells her son nothing happened last night the woman is alive?
A so called chairman doesn’t know what’s happening around him? Also your son asks you a simple yes or no question “did you buy my fiancé’s family house” and you don’t answer?
A family is caring towards a stranger and let’s him move in but they don’t have a single family picture with a dead daughter/sister?
I guess zero communication is this writers go to plot device.

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Good different.

I have to say this oddly turned out to be one of favorite Japanese dramas.
Japanese dramas tend to start off nice and normal then they veer off into some highfalutin pretentious concepts, in my opinion going for “trying to be different” pathway, that inevitably turns into jumbled up mess (I’ve dropped more JDramas than I have watched)

This show on the other hand takes that inevitable turn that most JDramas do and some how manages to pull it off.

It’s simple and old fashioned, but modern and edgy at the same time. It’s not something I’ve quite seen before.

In summary I recommend this because it actually manages to do different well.

Menu= Synopsis/Concept ~(10)
Ingredients/Recipes= Script Writer ~(7)
Chef= Director ~(9)
Flavors/Taste= Actors/Performances ~(9)
Restaurant/Decor= Wardrobe/Costume-Design/ Production-Value ~(7)
Waiter/Service= Editing/Pacing/Cinematography ~(7)

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Nice and crisp, girl power without toxicity.

Menu= Synopsis/Concept ~(8)
Ingredients/Recipes= Script Writer ~(10)
Chef= Director ~(10)
Flavors/Taste= Actors/Performances ~(10)
Restaurant/Decor= Wardrobe Production-Value ~(10)
Waiter/Service= Editing/Pacing/Cinematography ~(10)

Starter/1st Act ~(10)
Main Course /2nd Act ~(8)
Dessert/3rd Act ~(9)

Lee Bo Young delivers and shows why Korean actress should just be given all roles in all dramas worldwide, I’m purposely being hyperbolic.

The secondary romance plot was an unexpected and welcome surprise.

The 16 episodes go by pretty quickly.
Nice show but no rewatch.

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Hard to rate, a 9.5 if you like Yoona.

I don’t know how to rate this drama, if I remove about 75 episodes, I could give it a 9 or 10.
I had to skip a lot of random episodes to enjoy this.

Yoona did a good job carrying the bulk of this drama considering it was her first go as a lead and she was 18 at the time.

The ML had an weird facial expression( he has the same expression in “Tale of Two Sisters”), it takes you out of the scenes he is playing.

The other ML’s anger issues became tiresome after episode 2.

The writing was amateurish/lazy at times, using the “lack of clear communication” plot device to stretch out the story and create tension, drama and comedy. Introducing characters to fill time.

If you focus on the Yoona episodes it’s an enjoyable watch.

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My 2nd Favorite JDrama

I just rewatched this so I thought I’d write a brief review.

The story is one we’ve all seen before, but the screenwriters take on it with the twist of the female protagonist as the heroine and the male protagonist as the antagonist was well executed.

It’s a feel good story with some light life lessons sprinkled in.
I would classify this a medical procedural with the love story in the foreground.
Most episodes had a medical problem that had to be dealt with, so the negated the need for a big bad to dealt with by the protagonists.

The FL rode in with her on self interest to be fulfilled but wound up helping others.
Her being called a hero started out as a joke but she ended up living up to the name, it’s a reminder for us to characterize ourselves in a positive light and then strive to live up to that characterization.

I would term this show as a ode to the timeless a true power of femininity to lubricate a community and smooth out the rough edges, which makes that community livable.

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Modern Fairytale

Menu= Synopsis/Concept ~(6)
Ingredients/Recipes= Script Writer ~(9)
Chef= Director ~(9)
Flavors/Taste= Actors/Performances ~(9)
Restaurant/Decor= Wardrobe Production-Value ~(7)
Waiter/Service= Editing/Pacing/Cinematography ~(9)

Starter/1st Act ~(9)
Main Course /2nd Act ~(9)
Dessert/3rd Act ~(10)

The concept was very simplistic and has been done before, but the script writer was given simple tasty ingredients and managed to flesh out a script that avoided to many cliches, and stuck with the simple straightforward theme. The script avoided the biggest mistake that plagues a lot of writers, trying to put an overly realistic spin on the story and trying to be different. The classic are that for a reason nothing wrong with “tried, true and tested”.

The director did a good job of staying out off his own way and let the story flow naturally.

The actors overall did a nice job and avoided overacting which generally plagues Makjangs, making this one of the few off this genre I can watch.

Sets where okay, no great emphasis on production value, the wardrobe was good with minimal emphasis on costume design, everyone’s wardrobe reflected their character, which showed that thought and planning went into them.
The product placement was not over the top and intrusive like you see a lot of the time.

Pacing was good and crisp, no lagging.

1st and 2nd act were smooth like freshly churned butter in french country side boulangerie. And thank goodness there were not crazy breakups in the 3rd and we got revenge served with a great heaping helping off the warm and fuzzies.

I’ve rewatched twice already, enough said.

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A Great Show, But Stumbles A Bit In The 3rd Act

Menu= Synopsis/Concept ~(10)
Ingredients/Recipes= Script Writer ~(9)
Chef= Director ~(10)
Flavors/Taste= Actors/Performances ~(10)
Restaurant/Decor= Wardrobe Production-Value ~(7)
Waiter/Service= Editing/Pacing/Cinematography ~(8)

Starter/1st Act ~(10)
Main Course /2nd Act ~(10)
Dessert/3rd Act ~(8)


Ever wandered what a middle class “Batman” with shades of “Superman” & a pinch of “Spiderman” would be like? Well then this is the show for you.

Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young delivers, with great chemistry and a believable romance arc.
The action was not overbearing.

The quasi superhero bent serves as a backdrop for a sweet and endearing romance.

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All Time Favorite Long Drama

Menu= Synopsis/Concept ~(9)
Ingredients/Recipes= Script Writer ~(10)
Chef= Director ~(10)
Flavors/Taste= Actors/Performances ~(10)
Restaurant/Decor= Wardrobe Production-Value ~(8)
Waiter/Service= Editing/Pacing/Cinematography ~(10)

Starter/1st Act ~(8)
Main Course /2nd Act ~(10)
Dessert/3rd Act ~(10)

My favorite and probably only long drama, I stumbled on this purely by luck, because I avoid long dramas like the plague.

I’ve concluded that Shin Hye Sun being on the cast almost always guarantees a drama.

I’m surprised more women don’t like this drama, as it essentially a modern day fairytale for divorced women who were mistreated by their ex spouses. My best guess is because it portrays the female lead as ultimately feminine who appreciated and submitted to the male lead.

For such a big cast the drama gave every character it’s moments to shine even the youngest daughter.

The toxicity was minimal and thankfully the alcoholism was also kept to a minimum.

I bought one of the soundtracks on iTunes.

I’ve rewatched twice already, which is shocking considering its over 50 episodes.

If you want a sweet but realistic drama that has something for almost everyone, I recommend it wholeheartedly.

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Hollywood meets Makjang, a Modern Day Fairytale

Hollywood meets Makjang, a Modern Day Fairytale( which like it or not is what most of us are here for)

Moral of this story women shouldn’t be trusted, because of they are emotional. They won’t stick by you through thick and thin, so men have to take the reins, shoulder the burden and be decisive especially when they recognize a woman who is a good long term bet.

Kudos to the writer for writing a strong male lead, without resorting to grabbing and pulling the female lead’s wrist, being low-key mean etc.., he was decisive but a little unsure sometimes, competent, independent, in-shape and managed his emotions well.

Kudos also for a strong female lead, without resorting to the “kind to everyone no matter how bad they treat you” kdrama trope. She stood up for herself but knew when she needed a man’s help, she was fit, feminine, friendly, and most importantly knew her true feminine strength was being inspirational to those around her.

The screenwriter is a good storyteller, and she accepts the reality of who men and women are. The one on one romantic scenes are more on the realistic side. This is more like a Hollywood modern romance than your typical Kdrama romance that is more prevalent.

If you’re here for romance it doesn’t kick off till about episode 25/30.

Lead actress might not cut out for lead roles(caveat, I have to see her in other lead-roles), but for what the script called for maybe she’s a good choice, but I will have to rewatch to decide. Her expression in her head shot is the same she has 80% of the drama, like she’s just going through the motions, but maybe that’s the direction she got.

Because of the acting choices of the director and lead actress at the start of the drama it’s hard to grow empathy for her character, add to that numerous other characters you start lose focus on and leads, which makes the story disjointed. When you get to the end you start to see what the creatives were going for. That creative choice is certainly up for debate. I think a more emotive actress would have built empathy early and I suspect a lot of viewers were lost in the early stages of the drama.

This show is better suited for watching with a lot of fast forwarding.

Overall I think maybe I see where they were going, the two actresses are technically Co-Leads.

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Watch at your own risk.

Watch at your own risk.
I suspect the screenwriter, director and a few of the lead actors decided to come together and end their careers. The male lead actor for sure must have been in some sort of scandal or the lead actress sucks at selecting projects at least.
And toxic parent of the century goes to ? “Hong Baek Hee” my new favorite bad guy, she even has 5 goons working for her. SML is really clueless and willfully ignorant going to mom for help, he doesn’t deserve FL.
Clueless chairman award goes to ?”Choi Jin Bok”, plus I’m fuzzy on what the company actually does..
The true stars of this drama are the secretaries, and the chairman’s cook/house-lady.

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IU shines.

I have rewatched this twice and it each time the same issues prevent me from rating it higher.
1)The unnecessary lack of communication between characters, even within the FL’s family that the writer portrayed as close.
2)Not enough focus on the ML and FL was a missed opportunity, this one aspect prevented this from being regarded as one of KDrama’s best shows. Because if you look at some of the best all time favorites, like my love from the stars, crash landing, descendants of the sun, it’s ok not to not be okay , flower of evil, extraordinary attorney, queen of tears, alchemy, and on, and on….
Only “Slice Of Life” dramas with strong cast’s can pull off spreading out the focus.

That being said I recommend this because IU’s performance and it factor is a thing of beauty to watch.
And in my opinion this is one Yoo In Na and Jo Jung Suk’s best performances.

Also this show had the most ‘Legs’ of any show I’ve seen, I wonder if the director had a thing?

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I Wanted To Like It.

Where do I start,
1) Worst ML casting I’ve ever seen, is he really an actor? Or was this a parachute hire? Did he detest “Seol In Ah” in real life? Did she detest him? I don’t know what happened but ML and FL had negative chemistry, I suspect the script was changed to reduce their interactions. Whatever it was it ruined the show.

2) I wanted to like this because of Seol In Ah, but because of what I mentioned above her role was cut back, even the main plot line didn’t involve her and male lead till the last 2 episodes, and it was minimal. In the last few episodes the inevitable scene where ML has to comfort FL was awkward at best and cringe worthy, she reluctantly let him give her the worst consoling hug I’ve ever seen on screen.

3) Resolving the main plot point didn’t happen until the last 5 episodes or so, and I suspect that had something to do with the ML & FL problem and rewriting the script.

I could never rewatch this, if you like Seol In Ah, watch Business Proposal or Twinkling Watermelon.

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