This is a very subjective and different review seeing how much love this show has gotten.

This is probably the most boring highly-rated Kdrama I have ever had the displeasure of viewing, without completion. It has taken me over a year to finish, and I'm only on episode 11.
I must be doing something wrong, I must be missing something. But I just don't feel the magic in this show like everyone else does.
The plot is extremely repetitive from what I've seen and the typical rude, cold demeanor of the wealthy male stereotype just wasn't working for me like it usually does. The male and female lead were so off putting that I couldn't enjoy the apparent comedic chemistry they share. The gender-swapping plot line was so slow and uninspiring, drawing out the tiring push and pull between the annoying leads.

Don't know what it is, I have watched some pretty unknown dramas and have enjoyed myself more.

Every scene honestly felt so damn cringe-worthy.

Anyway just my 2 cents, different things for different people I guess.

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My gosh, this historical drama is fantastic!!

I can't believe I happily sat through 50 episodes of this drama, it made me fall even more in love with Korean Sageuk/historical dramas.

OST
First and foremost, that OST!! I have never, I repeated NEVER bothered to download a Drama's soundtrack just because I enjoyed it while it played during the drama. But with this soundtrack, it made me search every corner of the internet universe just to get every version of every song, even the instrumental/acoustic tracks.
The OST blew me away and is like nothing I have ever heard, it almost became a character of its own throughout this drama.

Cast
The cast has acting skills to write home about. Everyone from the leads, to the supporting and the extras who played their part by really adding to the historical element of this drama whether they ere crying or dancing in the streets through the roller coaster of events. The male leads are striking both in looks and performances. Although many have been criticising the female lead for her single-expression performance, I thought she did a good job of just performing a headstrong no-nonsense character?

Writing/Story
The heroes of this show are the writers!! From the witty one-liners to the captivating monologues delivered by the cast, the writing will totally impress you. The writers especially did a good job of great character development throughout all 50 episodes. The same leads that you meet in episode one change and mature and develop in the most realistic but surprising way.

All in all this drama gets 10's all round, I can find nothing wrong with it. If you're not used to watching 50-episode dramas, no worries! You wont even notice the time go with this drama, before you know it, you're at episode 50 and balling your eyes out over how amazing it was and the withdrawal symptoms will immediately set in LOL ;)

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I freakin' love this drama!!! Becuase most Kdramas rely on strong romance between the characters, it was so refreshing to see a drama that has tuned down the romance (it is still there, just not so much in your face) and still be very interesting and captivating!

The lead actress is excellent, and the best part of the drama was seeing her and the the supporting characters develop. It shows how people make life-threatening mistakes and how this affects others. To see the characters grow from strength to strength was the most satisfying thing for me. Such a roller-coaster of emotions!

The dry humour was excellent during the times of the lead females creepy and robotic moments.

I recommend this drama to anyone looking for a change to the usual cliche sappy romance that you would find with Kdramas. Happy watching!

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This shw is INCREDIBLE!! What a breath of fresh air to the usual K-drama set up. The writing will leave you in absolute stitches and at the same time so many life lessons can be learned.

The four male leads really carried this show and the supporting cast as farmers were so funny in their treatment of the leads that for the first time I might actually watch a K-Drama for the 2nd time.

Whenever I even think of this drama I immediately get a smile on my face while reminiscing the hilarity of Man-Goo's antics!!
Officialy my all time favourite Korean comedy. If anymore can recommend a similar hilarious comedy that is funny from beginning to end , I would appreciate it. ????

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Glad I watched this because it taught me so much more about human-nature and what we as people are really capable of, given the circumstances, we are potentially good or evil, as seen by the male lead and how he manipulates and justifies the "cheese" and those who willingly fall into their own "trap", which for a long time he will not take not even partial responsibility for.

What a strange, strange drama. Cheese in the trap started off with such a different, eary and chilly feel, which indicates brilliant acting from the leads and supporting siblings. However, you soon start to feel that the brilliant acting from the leads is downplayed because of the lack of character development. It made me really appreciate the importance of Baek InHo and Baek InHa's predicament which ended up in happiness and self-fulfilment.

They go from having growing pains to finally being able to detach themselves and start new lives in the final episode, the leads however, had an unsatisfactory ending. I usually like to be objective and don't really mind how the ending is, as long as the characters THEMSELVES find self-fulfilment at the end. This leads me to wonder what the entire point of the past 15 episodes was while watching episode 16.

So for all those complaining that the supporting Baek In Ho as a supporting character got way to much screen time, I am very satisfied with the outcome at least. My time watching his dilemmas was not wasted, because he eventually found his passion again, even his sister had a new beginning.

I've watched enough K-Dramas to figure out all the genres and what is most enjoyable or appealing to me and what genres I need to give more of a chance to because I surprisingly end up enjoying things I thought I would drop. I really wanted to get into more eary and chilly dramas, but this one just couldn't do it for me.

Shout out to everyone who liked it though, everyone is entitled to their own favorite shows!

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Another juicy makjang

Acting: I especially enjoyed the convincing performance of Kang Yul/Jung Woo Hyeok. He did a standout job, from showing his unwavering love to Shin JuKyeong and rising up as an actor and business manager, I thouroughly enjoyed his performance. The new male lead (Shi Kang) also did a great job based on how viewers were so eager for the revenge against him to happen, he was truly a convincing villain!! Of course, I cannot fail to mention Jacqueline Taylor (Son Sang Yoon) -- she had excellent character development and it was interesting to see her totally transform bit by bit through the show. She is an actress with plenty of impressive range and dynamic facial expressions and reactions. She was convincing as both a "villain" and a "hero" in her own ways. I look forward to seeing more excellent work from these 3 actors.


Story: I thoroughly enjoyed this typical web of revenge plots and subplots. It has everything you would expect from a nice juicy makjang - revenge, hidden identity, true romance, false romance, strong family ties, monopoly by conglomerates and destructive greed.Of course, it's a Makjang so people may be frustrated here and there. But there was also plenty of humour added in when necessary (Oh NaHui's romance lol), lighthearted family moments and sweet genuine romance (shoutout to Kang Yul/Jung Woo Hyeok).

All in all, I loved this and it is full of life lessons, which is something I always take away from Makjangs, which is why I love them.

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Why do I like this drama so much?

I cant pinpoint one overall reason why I like this drama. Is it the way the writers and directors sneakily lead us one way and then flip everything to show us that we were wrong? I love how they present everyone and no one as a suspect at the same time. Its a great way to unravel a mystery, and makes us just as eager as the lead to find out who is the source of her turmoil. The show is riveting and enticing, with excellent cast members who each add a different dynamic to the story. I really appreciate how besides the ML/FLs, the supporting characters are quite well fleshed out and we truly get an insight into their life and how they navigate their struggles. The show seems balanced in giving every character a good individual storyline while also making sure that these storylines intertwine quite skillfully. I absolutely love Lee Hyun A, she is my favourite --the definition of a talented, confident, badass, hardworking woman. But we also get to see the reality of women working in the corporate world who are forced to put on a brave face in order to thwart unwanted sexual advances/flirting or appear competent at their jobs and get their voices heard. The show did a great job of showing the struggles of a working mom, and the things that already competent women have to do just to get a promotion.

The show has some tough scenes to watch, and deals with very real subjects such as the effects that infidelity, miscarriage and raising children while working has on couples. Although sad, its realistic. Problems are not solved overnight and behind the scenes, there is no pretending that things are okay. The cast gave great performances in showing what people who seemingly have it all go through behind the scenes. This show has some important lessons, and shows that even though people may have top careers and seemingly warm and wonderful marriages, not all that glitters is gold and everyone is hiding secrets and living with hidden pain.

I also love the OST and main title/ending song, very riveting and fitting for this type of drama.

I would only give it a low rewatch value because after watching it the first time, I already know the main culprits of the main issue sooooo....?

All in all, I love VIP!!! Its a great start to my 2023 kdrama viewing streak :)

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This was my first Taiwanese Drama, and honestly, i LOVED it!!! Coming from the huge world of addictive Kdramas, I was shocked with myself that I actually happily completed this drama without any episode skipping. This drama, as I have realised is the case with many Taiwanese dramas, was much SLOWER than the average Kdrama. I usually can;t stand a slow Kdrama/any drama in general as I only watch dramas to escape from regular life and really be captivated and engrossed in what I am watching.

So yes, not super fast-paced but definitely enjoyable. Becuase of this drama, I have opened myself to other Taiwanese dramas such as 'Two Father's' which is a 2013 drama that I have just fallen in love with!

Anyway Aaron Yan in this Refresh Man drama is absolutely breathtaking both in looks and performance. The female lead is fun to watch because of her perseverance and the supporting characters do their job quite well, bringing out important themes of friendship, truly caring for those who work around you and also loyalty in and out of the work-place. The OST is just so fun and cheerful, I almost want to learn mandarin just so I can sing that damn song everyday!

Overall, very good drama with just enough romance and life lessons to keep you watching. However, because of the slow-pace, it has very poor rewatch value. All in all, the best thing about this drama is the continuous message about never and not giving up!

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Excellent Part 1, Unsatisfying part 2

Story: I feel like part 1 set us up really well and made it seem like there would be a long, well drawn out and elaborately satisfying revenge. Song Hye Kyo/Moon Dong Eun kept on hinting at what she would do, however; I don't feel like part 2 lived up to the hype of part 1.

Song Hye Kyo/Moon Dong Eun was absolutely tortured during her younger days, so I feel like the perpetrators did not receive the same amount of punishment. Even ruining their careers, public image is not effective because they could easily get it back with some money, influence and connections, which they all have. I feel like the perpetrators did not feel the same pain as Song Hye Kyo/Moon Dong Eun. Tbh, the deaths of some of the perpetrators meant that they could never fully repent and atone for their harm done to others, so I feel like that punishment was an easier way out for them.

Acting: This is by far Song Hye Kyo career best performance. She was utterly convincing in showing the deepest and darkest sides of someone who is solely living to exact revenge on her perpetrators. You root for her all the way, but also feel sorry for her that she was tortured and is now living her life just to bring about justice. She also showed great character growth and development by slowly allowing for feelings other than hatred and anger, as she slowly allowed for some love and light into her life. This gives a message that there is hope to live a good life and to look forward to the future, no matter what we have endured in the past. Brilliant acting from all the cast, the perpetrators acted superbly without shame, never holding back their terrible nature. The supporting cast really made you emotionally invested in the story and in seeing justice prevail.

Overall, a solid production that had some excellent moments. Unfortunately I finished the drama feeling so unsatisfied after seeing everything that the perpetrators put the FL and other victims through. Another unsatisfying end to a kdrama with so much potential.

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A copy-cat Kdrama for the books!! --- WARNING: a few indirect spoilers ahead, no direct spoilers.

I cant believe I went about 3 years without knowing of or watching this killer of a sageuk (historical drama)!! The OST was spine chilling at the right times and heightened the tension so greatly that I found myself holding my breath till the next moment. As a seasoned fan of sageuk dramas, I started this show feeling like I know it all and I've seen it all. But wow, the story of a copy-cat look-a-like clown taking over the seat of the King left so much room for never before seen twists and turns in our precious but sometimes repetitive world of kdramas!!

Acting: Before I praise the good guys, let me make mention of the exceptional acting skills of the actors who play the "bad guys". Shin Chi Soo was brilliantly conniving and very convincing. My favourite of all was the Queen Dowager. Even though she wasn't seen much in the first half of the show, whenever we saw her she convinced us of her presence and power and her goal for revenge. Even as an audience member, I was always weary of her and kept her at the back of my mind wondering when she would strike next. She was so unrelenting in her quest for revenge by plotting murder after murder. I loved her facial expressions, very regal even when she was being nonchalant. These two actors really emphasised the discriminatory division between "upper class" and "lower class" and showed us the dangers behind prejudice. Their strong performances motivated the "good guys" to work and try even harder.

Yeo Jin Goo/Ha Seon/King: I will never forget the harrowing moment when King and Clown meet for the first time - coupled with the sharp and edgy OST - that's when I knew that this actor was about to take us for an endearing ride.
For such a young actor at the time of filming this, he really outdid himself and gave a knock-out performance. The original King absolutely CREEPED ME OUT with his gaunt face, troubling spells of histeria and outbursts against the servant staff and other royalty. His slow but steady decent into total "madness" was so realistic that it was worrying. It reminded me of Macbeth in William Shakespeares Macbeth, whose "bloody hands" haunt him till his last moment. I went from denouncing his appalling actions throughout his time to feeling sorry for him in his final moments when he said "I'm scared". Thats when I saw him as a victim of his own evil.

Secretary Lee (SL): Wow what can I say?! First of all I was surprised to learn that this is the actor from "What's wrong with my family/What happens to my family" ....That is the only drama I ever watched him in and he had a more comical, silly but serious role to play as he became entangled with the main family. Kim Sang Kyung is amazing in this role, so multi-dimensional at the right times. We saw him be a noble, "clean" politician but also saw him commit "sins" in order to wipe out the bad guys and save his country. He gave a strong and steady performance, and I felt he was the backbone of this drama. To me, he was the "father" of this drama and gave a strong sense of protective paternalism which is what HaSeon , along with us the audience, really needed in order for this "crowned clown" act to last as long as it did. He did an excellent job of supporting HaSeon with the mentoring and leadership that he needed, gently but sometimes firmly. He struck a perfect balance between guiding and letting Haseon make decisions as king. Just like with what Haseon experienced, SL showed the inner conflict that comes with doing whats rights and doing whats best. When he needs to let his guard down and shown some tenderness, he does so to Woon Shim [Courtesan] so sincerely. We hardly see him express his romantic feelings towards her but when we do, it is most convincing. I could feel the trust and compassion between them whenever SL would involve her and ask her to take care of certain things.
I cant wait to see him in the Joseon Psychiatrist Yoo Se Pung, another historical drama!!Even though I express my disappointment at how short the drama was below, I believe his character was well fleshed out and fully explored.

Queen: I love how the actress displayed a more reserved demeanour compared to other queens in other sageuks. Instead of plotting and scheming (even for good causes), I do appreciate how her character was faithful to the King through mental and emotional support instead of being too politically engaged. The actress did a good job of making this queen seem more human and "normal" because she hardly used her powers and made major decisions. She gave a great portrayal of a quiet but sure love.

OST: Really dynamic - it fed your emotions and really influenced the way you felt. I wont ever forget the chilling violin sounds for the tense scenes and the softer piano for the romantic scenes or scenes when an important conversation took place.

Story/Negatives: More episodes please!!
My only disappointment was that it was too short and plot lines were resolved too quickly. I so badly wanted 50 episodes, throughout which the clown's identity would be concealed for much longer as he and his crew continue to fool the bad guys and make real change in the Joseon nation. I wanted Ha Seon and Haksan to do more work together, to see Haseon win and fail and win again while navigating the heaviness of the crown. I felt like the Queen, her intelligence and her commitment to helping her King was not explored enough. We just saw her go through struggles but I felt she did not have enough victories in her position. I wanted her to win battles against the Queen Dowager. But I do love the way she gave mental and emotional support to her King.
***Spoiler ahead** * when Ha Seon revealed his identity to Shin Chi Soo I was soooo mad, it was way too early!!! That gave SCS too much ammunition against Ha Seon and Co. And what about the story of Secretary Lee and his "members" ? That story was introduced in the first half but was never fully developed or revisited thereafter.

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