Zoe
I was fanning myself over the talk about the duet.
I love it when film captures the smexiness of the piano. Not at lot of soundtrack, which is a good move so that the piano moments are really attention grabbing. Also, you know that Korean soundtracks can be cheesy, so best to keep it empty. Also, that moment when they introduce a riff and you know you're going to love it and it's going to mean a lot to you by the end of the drama.
I love the idea of falling in love with someone's music before the person themselves. Or how you can know a person so intimately just from hearing them play.
I liked the unexpected moments of intensity without the swooping slow motion or romantic riff. The actors don't need the music to portray the emotion.
At first, the age gap was difficult, but as the feelings and the characters became more entwined, it felt more and more natural. And the piano really was the winning factor. I can understand if anyone falls in love over a piano.
They really contrast Hye Won's calm steadiness with Sun Jae's girlfriend's teenage hysterics.
“When a woman reaches forty, dignity is the biggest charm.”
Hye Won
“I will take the filth. That's my specialty.”
I initially thought that she would trapped in a glitzy world due to her husband. But she's actually in the upper rich circles because she's a secretary to a rich family. Hye Won has classy sophistication.
This lady is competent and exciting.
“People who think this is my weakness...are so obvious. I'm not scared at all.”
“I'm only clumsy with you. Outside, I'm cunning beyond your imagination.”
She plays a dangerous game among the conglomerate family all hungry for what they want and wanting to use Hye Won to make it happen. Hye Won holds secret after secret from each family member.
Hye Won's acting is convincing every step of the way. I understood her.
The way she expressed her awkward love for Sun Jae was really subtle and tasteful and how the people around her could tell because she never says more than she has to and suddenly she's volunteering information about this student.
Sun Jae
“Yesterday, I just played what I heard.”
Oh, the smokin' metre just went up a notch. Musical prowess is so sexy.
“I gave everything to that Goddess.”
He's attracted to her mentoring, her approval, her mothering.
Poor Sun Jae, trying so hard to make a good impression when the rich couple comes to his house. It's comical. He treats Hye Won well, because he feels so inferior to her. You can see how dazzling he sees her. And she laps it up.
And the first time Sun Jae actually speaks his mind. And he is indeed a man. How nice.
“You just need to love me. You've got nothing to lose when clearly I love you more.”
Romance
I'm not sure if it was the way the romance was set out or was it purely the age gap/cultural gap that bothered me. But by episode 12 the relationship still wasn't making sense to me.
Someone said she didn't seduce him. But there are a few blurred lines because she's so fascinated with his music, she's hungry for it. And he just eats up the attention.
He's also never shared music with anyone, and to have her, the epitome of all that is graceful, elegant and powerful in the music world...oh the meaning
I'm not sure about Yoo Ah In's portrayal though. I'm not getting the chemistry.
At first, I understood Hye Won's passion for this musical genius. The youth, the freshness, the interpretation.
Throughout the show I had conflicting views on the relationship but by the end I was firmly in the camp of "does not compute".
Musical Moments
Ep. 6 The sweeping music in the shabby conditions is making an effect on me. That despite all this, this is really a beautiful moment.
Episode 7. I'm glad they made sure he was playing the right notes. I'm pitch perfect, I can tell.
Interesting to see how nothing shakes her but a few words from him and she's riled.
Episode 10. What's this piece again? Rachmaninoff Theme of of Paganini – love it.
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I was looking forward to this drama for the chemistry. Everyone always says Yoon Eun Hye can kiss. And let me tell you, she doesn't disappoint. Ah, she's great. She just takes the kid's gloves off the Kdrama. And she's so adorable.
I have so missed Yoon Eun Hye. Her personality is really entertaining. The girl is fierce and saucy. And how cute is she in hanbok!
The plot of course is just terrible and cringe worthy but the drama really caught my attention when Yoon Eun Hye's crying face came out. She's incredible at those moments.
Actually, the second half of the drama just had the right vibe of melodrama for me. I do hate the overused love triangle but I haven't seen it in a while so it felt nice to see again.
Gi Joon
I didn't find him particularly captivating to begin with. I did like his devotion to his brother.
People lose all their dignity when it comes to karaoke.
Who knew this guy would have such a playful and joking side to him?
Towards the second half, he really puts in a lot of effort in pursuing Ah Jeong.
Also, I don't think I get tired of father-boyfriend meet and greets. They crack me up.
Sang Hee
It was great to see Sung Joon relaxed and smiling so much.
Romance
Towards the end of watching Lie to Me, I was also watching a family drama. So the cheesy romantic moments really were great.
“If I go home, I would miss you more. I would be more tired if I miss you.”
Hooray for no slow-mo kiss!
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This drama was exactly what I needed. I really enjoyed giggling through this.
Kim Seul Gie is great, of course. I like the idea of her not being a good student in modern times but in Joseon times it doesn't matter because she is still going to know much more than the most advanced scholar.
Her personality is both cute and confrontational. She takes over the historical world with her modern attitude. Her audaciousness is so fabulous. I mean, she doesn't lose the Kim Seul Gie charm even when she's telling off the king, so you know this is going to be darn good.
The relationship with the king is a cracker. He appreciates her forwardness and bluntness but he also gets the brunt end of it too.
I really loved the historical moments of this drama as well. I normally don't appreciate history but it was pretty darn epic!
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When A Man's in Love
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This drama was pretty shaky. I sped watched the middle but I liked the ending. I think the characters all really started to shine again.
Mi Do - Shin Se Kyung
I haven't heard good things about this actress.
Her acting is appropriate to the scenario because she's depressed. And even if the actress isn't good, the character that she plays is written well. Mi Do is steely, a little volatile and she doesn't mess around. And definitely doesn't back down even if it gets her into trouble. I appreciated her resolve and she's not clueless either.
She's also not intimidated by the second female lead or the second male lead's forwardness.
She's a sad little thing and pretty much never happy which can be super annoying at times.
Tae Sang
Song Seung Heon is really excellent. His character is quite broody but he doesn't make it boring. The way he talks and his body language, he really owns the personality and the mood while still giving a lot of energy.
He handles Mi Do's pride with care. It's unusual to have such a kind chaebol. Tae Sang's character is fabulous until you get to the middle of the drama.
His gangster side does come up now and then. I liked how he is not a character that has it altogether. He is sincere and earnest and he tries so hard.
“Sorry that I'm stupid.”
He freely admits that he's never dated and that he doesn't know what to say. He's adorable. But he learns quickly. And Mi Do lets him know the rights and wrongs. I love him.
Friendship
The side characters are really strong. There are so many great brother relationships in this drama. The loyalty and the comradeship is A+. I like the trust and respect between the men. They are such mother hens to each other wanting to look after their hyung or their dongsaeng.
“You're my friend, my father, and my only family.”
The heroine also has a cute relationship with her brother. I love how much he admires her. He really thinks she's cool and awesome. And I like that she seeks him out when she's down because she knows she's safe with him and he can cheer her up.
Chang Hee
This guy is an awesome domestic goddess and such a great brother.
Jae Hee - “You sound like a grandmother.”
Chang Hee - “It's good to have a grandmother.”
Romance
What romance? This is so very screwed up.The drama should be called “When a Man's Obsessed”.
Tae Sang comes on way too strong.
First Half
Tae Sang and Mi Do have a really good dynamic. It's nice for a change that the girl is a little grumpy and unpredictable and that she likes physical affection. I like how real they feel because they go through their ups and downs and their feelings are all over the place. Their romance isn't clear cut at all. I liked the depiction of their uncertainty, their frustrations, and their struggles to make it work.
“Dad, let me date Han. I can dump him anytime if he's no good.”
I like that Mi Do takes charge of the relationship because he's so clueless. Han's lack of social graces is so endearing.
They have some beautiful cheeky moments together. There were times when I totally shipped the serious Mi Do and the sincere Han together. Other times, I completely felt the ill-fitting romance they were having. I can feel Mi Do's depression coming through and Han's frustration with her apathy. She takes his love for granted and acts like she's tolerating him. But on the flip side I liked her confidence in the romance.
I liked that the push and pull of the romance was a big part of the drama and that the tension surrounding it was a major anticipatory factor.
Jae Hee - Yeon Woo Jin
I was happy to see this actor again. He has a serious make out session. Probably the steamiest I've seen in Kdrama.
Music
I always appreciate a strings soundtrack.
Elders
I like it when there are different mothers because the drama feels less tropey, is that weird?
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That Winter, The Wind Blows
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Oh Soo - “I just don't want to be pathetic.”
I had to take a break towards the ending but then got right back on board after skipping several minutes of predictable anger and drama after the shit hits the fan. After things settle back down, I really liked what happened with the characters. It even felt like the acting improved.
Young
Youngie is a serious and sad little thing. Cynical too. But she's not one to be messed with.
Even though she is disadvantaged in many ways and doesn't care about what is happening around her she knows how to stand up for herself in a heartbeat. When she does comes round to wanting something, she will make it happen. I liked seeing her browbeat someone who she has allowed to browbeat herself because she simply can't be bothered.
She refuses to be manipulated.
It's true that she hates accepting help but I didn't like that Oh Soo overdid things for her.
Youngie really comes to love Oh Soo quite quickly. It was nice to see her have a safe haven even if it was built on lies.
I liked how confident she became in their relationship and it was nice to see her feel so comfortable with him that she'd take him for granted and become a demanding little sister instead of always pushing him away or relying on herself.
Throughout the drama, you can never blame Youngie for anything, she is strong and makes her own way.
I think I didn't like her as much because I really really like the actor who plays the hero (Jo In Sung) and I was always on his side no matter what, so that kind of skewered my perspective of her.
Oh Soo
I first saw Jo In Sung in That's Okay, It's Love. He has such a lazy, arrogant persona. Oh Soo doesn't like himself very much. He doesn't have a lot of will to live but when he starts a con, he goes all out. He knows how to con really well. The people around him worship him, but he can't get it into his thick head that he's someone that people love.
One of the characters points out that Oh Soo knows how to put down his pride for love. And that is true. He is open about how he feels and he can make himself vulnerable.
He is at his best when he is bluffing someone. I really like how well he portrays that arrogance and the smugness.
Jin Sung
This guy just broke my heart over and over again. He is so loyal. He has his own problems and he just wants to stick with Oh Soo till the very end.
Actually, he's more like a mother bear around Oh Soo. He'll get Oh Soo through come hell or high water and he still smiles. My gosh, this kid.
Moo Chul
I actually grew to like this guy quite a lot. He has a very soothing way of speaking even when he's threatening someone.
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Despite the irritations of this drama, all the characters and scenarios are interesting. I didn't skip anything because I needed to know what was going on, or I needed to giggle at the palace staff.
The main characters are blatantly selfish. It's kind of nice not to see the goody-goody personalities or justifiable actions that are usually portrayed in dramas. In a way, because they are so bad, it almost justifies the harsh retribution that the other characters dish them. I like this quandary. Did they deserve that or not? Am I happy to see them crushed to oblivion? What does that say about me, or the other characters who felt they needed to step in and punish wrong-doers?
There are a lot of moments of, “Wait, what, why?” The characters logic is not always the best.
I was particularly frustrated when no one would explain why to Lee Seol. They always just strong-armed her and if they would just talk to her, she would understand and go along.
Romance
I was not expecting this drama to start with the heroine trying to help the hero get his lady love. She's actually very instructional, which always amuses me. I like how well they work together. And they're quick to empathise and show compassion for the other.
From the start, he likes her and thinks she's funny. Their relationship is pretty polite which I find unusual. Of course there's the usual jabs at each other but they're laidback which I like. They even play touch each other without any dramatic music or slow motion.
They have the perfect chemistry for sexual tension.
Their love confessions and their kisses are perfect.
Towards the end, Hae Young really lays down all his cards and he has some of the most swoonworthy lines. He's so content just to be with her. Also, I've never seen so much kissing in a Kdrama. It was great.
On a side note, romantic moments out in the cold seem more romantic when you can see their breath in the freezing temperatures and they're so focused on each other. Haha.
Lee Seol
From start to finish Lee Seol is clueless, stupid, selfish, and naive.
The age gap between her and the other participants in the love square is evident. Everyone of them points out that all she does is whine and cry.
But I also didn't like seeing her without someone who would be there for her unconditionally. Everybody wanted something from her either to trick her or use her. Later on, though, some of the palace staff get behind her rather comically.
Throughout the drama, she has zilch character development. Even in moments of crisis there are no shining points. She gets pushed around and demonstrates continual lack of direction and purpose.
P.S. The actress that plays her when she's a kid is the most adorable little girl and super talented.
Hae Young
Watch the drama for this guy. He is a beautiful man. The plot might suck, the heroine might suck, everyone might suck, but his emotion and his dilemma is so compelling I had to keep watching.
Hae Young has it all together. He's not particularly snooty but he is competent without being condescending. He's also kind. And not one to let arrogance get in the way of doing the right thing. I loved seeing him get into all sorts of trouble with Lee Seol. The things he does for her...so funny.
As is typical, he teases her and torments her but he gives up pretty easy too which is great. You can see he really doesn't like to see her unhappy. Every time it seems like he's really going to cross some lines with his behaviour towards her, he does or says something that turns everything right round on its head and you can see how he truly feels about her. The way he talks to her in that gentle tone of voice...gah, so touching.
He walks a fine line throughout the drama, struggling with what he wants, what he thinks he wants and what he thinks is best for Seol even though it makes her mad. He gets mixed up in professionalism and all. It really is his bad luck that he likes her so much.
Also, he calls Joo Sang Wook “slimy-looking” hahahaha.
Towards the end, Hae Young's playful side comes out and he's so damn adorable.
Second Female Lead
Even though she has some rights in the way she treats Lee Seol, she has a grating personality. She is dedicated to her cause and I hated her most of the time. The condescension, the control, ugh.
Male Rivalry
I live for the one liners when the two male leads are bickering.
“Stop...stop...If you want to cover her, just up to the shoulders are fine. Why are you moving higher?”
“Have you always been so talkative?”
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I like how this drama explores all the areas of a comic series and a fanbase. Things like spoilers, waiting for the next episode, coming into a series halfway, the to-be-continueds, etc. It’s similar to time travel when one cannot share one’s paranormal experiences because it’s too weird. Towards the end of the drama it gets seriously nail biting. I don’t really like horror and jump scares, but this drama takes a dip in that direction. One of the most awesome things about this show is how the main leads work together. Kang Chul might be the brains but Yeon Joo is the one that does the work and she’s got a few ideas of her own.
Kang Chul
I’ve never seen Lee Jong Suk play a powerful character. He’s usually a down trodden orphan with a lot of insecurities so it’s hard for me to wrap my head around his new confident persona. I can’t help but be charmed by Lee Jong Suk. His character is reasonable and kind. He’s not too pushy or conceited. He’s very smiley. I like that Yeon Joo’s presence depended on his consistent emotions – such an interesting factor. I love a man who can apologise before he has even developed romantic feelings for his girl. There’s something very flirty about Lee Jong Suk. I kind of love that about him. The winking! Oh my gosh. He’s so cute.
I’ve also noticed that LJS’ characters always have a rather sassy relationship with his elders.
Because surprise is a big factor of this show, it’s such a delight to see LJS’ perplexed face. I really liked how quick he was to catch on to the mystery of Yeon Joo.
Kang Chul is pretty intuitive and smart. He figures out the “logic” of things and how the rules work. I like how he was so professional with his agenda.
Yeon Joo
Yeon Joo is pretty badass when it comes to controlling the webtoon. It’s so great that she also does her own reasoning as to how the webtoon magic worked.
I like that Yeon Joo does her research and doesn’t need to be told the answers. She can find them herself. She might show some similar traits to idiotic fluttery Kdrama heroines but she’s not bad at piecing things together and accepting things calmly without throwing a hissy fit. To even the power play, Chul has to consult with Yeon Joo about things he doesn’t know. He can’t afford to hide things from her when it comes to danger because she could really help him. I really love how useful she is and how important she is to the plot. Just when you think we’re going down the typical route of keeping the girlfriend in the dark, either Kang Chul is just plain honest with her or she figures it out herself.
Romance
I like that the main couple isn’t enemies to start with. I know people complain about epic love stories, but it’s a feel-good romance. The couple isn’t unnecessarily mean or unnecessarily stupid when it comes to their love. They’re honest and secure. The power play is solid too. Yeon Joo gets to save Chul and pretend to manipulate him with her rescuer role. She gives him emotional support, helps him get back on his feet again.
I like that she’s forward in her pursuit of Chul but she’s not desperate. She’s dignified.
I like that she doesn’t let Chul push her away because of his issues and that because of the design of the system, she knows how he feels about her. In a way, Chul can’t have his dignity.
I enjoyed the premise of the separated love. Of the limited time frame of their relationship.
We always see fated lovers. But I like that Kang Chul feels connected to Yeon Joo because she knows him so well. It’s fun to see her call him on his crap because she knows his story. I found it meaningful that she knew every significant moment in Kang Chul’s life. That she knew his motivations and his reasoning. It was kind of an incredible dynamic.
I was impressed by Kang Chul entertaining the possibility that he and Yeon Joo might not make it and really leaving the power to her.
Random Notes
I love Yoon Do’s role in the romance as the message man.
I like that at the end Kang Chul goes back to his old hairstyle. I know it must be difficult to gel when you’re on the run.
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It’s amazing how many unreasonable people are in this show. It took me a while to warm up to this show but it did hook me by episode 4. This is such a strange show with strange characters. Even more strange than usual I would almost say.
Everyone is so full of themselves and every single character talks about their non-existent coolness. They are all trying so hard to put on a good show for everyone (literally and metaphorically). It’s weird seeing the main characters throwing around their weight so much and their sense of entitlement. They are all concerned about what everyone else thinks. To fend off their insecurities they attack each other.
Ye Jin – female lead
“You’ll know once you start editing. When someone says something and there’s no response from the other person...then that means...you have to edit it.”
It’s always really great to see a woman in a male-dominated work force.
Ye Jin and Joon Mo are good friends. They tell each other everything and then they make fun of each other a lot too.
Seung Chan
Seung Chan is the only normal guy in this drama. He gets picked on but in a way that is so ridiculous, I still laugh anyway. He’s the kind of guy that apologises for everything but he’s pretty much never in the wrong really. He likes to follow the rules.
He has very subtle ways of showing his contempt or rebellious nature.
He has passive aggression to the limit.
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Of course, the drama starts at a very dramatic moment and then backtracks.
There's a lot of family politics involved in here. Obligations, expectations and responsibilities.
Romance
I feel like it's been a while since I've been curious about a couple and how they will work together. Ji Sook and Min Woo are both unique individuals. They definitely don't gel in the usual way.
I was relieved to see how quickly Min Woo softened to her.
The way he kisses her is perfection. I just have to mention that even when he does the sudden approach he gives her time to accept or not.
I think it's amazing that their sweet moments totally makes up for the trauma and pain that is this drama.
Suk Hoon
I like that this guy doesn't come from a rich family.
At first, I found Suk Hoon and Mi Yeon's dysfunctional marriage a bit stereotypical, but it was always captivating.
“I'll believe you even if it's a lie.”
Suk Hoon was so intriguing and intense. He was great. He really lit up the screen with his presence.
His interactions with Ji Sook are chilling and it was compelling to see how he wanted to work with her.
Min Woo
Min Woo's character really challenged me. He made me question what I value in masculinity. Sometimes I found him a bit pathetic, which makes me feel lousy. He feels like a kid playing at being grown up. It's because his brother in law constantly holds the cards and Min Woo is obsessed with his mother. I was relieved to see that Min Woo knew something was up, he just didn't know how to deal with it.
There were so many things to dislike about him, I think that's what added to the struggle because I loved him a lot. I understood how Ji Sook felt about him, wanting to take care of him but also finding him hella hot.
Min Woo has some psychological issues and he is also trying hard to be a competent businessman. I loved his serious personality. He takes everything so seriously. I like that he never smiles.
Dem cheekbones tho. Also, similar to Yeon Woo Jin, he uses his eyebrows in the hottest way and whispers a lot. I don't know why I find whispering so attractive. For some reason, the way this actor (Ju Ji-Hoon) spoke made me pay attention. His Korean sounded different from what I've been hearing.
I like him best when he's exasperated.
Ji Sook
I've found my new favourite heroine. This girl is incredible. She's really an impressive character. I loved seeing an elegant and graceful woman as a heroine. The way people treat her is also refreshing. Sure, they're mean, but not for the usual reasons. No one is telling Ji Sook that she is ugly or stupid.
I like that from the start, Ji Sook has a backbone. She's a fighter and knows how to get down and dirty to survive. I admired her quick thinking.
When she plunges into the world of the rich and snooty she doesn't know how to behave at all. I was really frightened of how awkward she was. She is subjected to a lot of male domination and intimidation.
It was a relief to see her begin to deal with her enemies.
It's nice for a change that the heroine gets the role of protecting the hero secretly and looking on longingly from the side lines because of all the complications. I usually fangirl over the way heroes look at the heroine. But the way Ji Sook smiles at Min Woo, you can see how important he is to her and how much she cherishes him. It's beautiful.
This actress (Soo Ae) has definitely raised the bar. The way I've seen other actresses look at their heroes now seems more akin to shallow infatuation but Ji Sook's gaze just seems so deep and meaningful. It's like the difference between like and love.
Fashion
Both the main characters wear the most beautiful clothes. Well, I loved Ji Sook's dresses and Min Woo always looked dapper in his suits. I liked his home clothes too. They were cute and comfy. Haha. Also, Ji Sook wears some really nice dresses as sleepwear.
Music
The soundtrack was beautiful.
The gimmicky idea that Min Woo plays the violin was not. As a classically trained musician, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was terribly terrible!
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The Princess Wei Young
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A common theme is that despite the stiffness and coldness of the characters when they find someone that they are comfortable with they act quite silly and I found it very cute.
Plot-wise, the start of the drama is heavy with conflict and twists and turns. I thought we would be in for more of that as the story went on, but the big guns of trouble that were brewing on the horizon ended up to be nothing. I’m glad that it wasn’t all heavy going all the way.
Towards the end anything that happens results in Wei Young being accused and dragged before the court – it seriously got so repetitive that I just had to laugh.
I’m not one to notice fancy scenery and filming but this show is really such a nice thing to look at. It makes mundane moments tantalising. I usually struggle to connect with Chinese over the top filming, but this show really captured some amazing shots and feelings with their thoughtful production and directing.
Servants
I was impressed with the servant’s immediate loyalty and sense of duty.
Heroine
Our heroine is indeed quick witted. The reviews did not overestimate her. She knows how to get her way very nicely amidst the bad guys wielding their power.
I appreciated her familiar way of treating those who favoured her. She teased them and fooled around with them all the time.
Tuoba Jun
“Destiny? I only believe in a man’s will.”
Sometimes Tuoba Jun says the right thing with the right smirk.
“How can there be disappointment when there was no hope to begin with?”
This actor is probably one of the few that looks better in historical Chinese hairstyle than a modern one.
Prince of Nan-An
This guy does not make good first impressions. But as the story goes on, I quite liked his subtle machinations and the way he played the others. The actor has a good way of playing his character to stand out yet be very secretive too. He has a number of lines that are really meaningful and his delivery is very nuanced. As it goes along, he becomes a standard villain type, but he had some really great moments earleir on.
Secondary Romances
Li Min De and Tuoba Di are very skippable initially – but as they go on, I appreciate their mature take on love. They are both emotionally impressive and sacrificing for the sake of their respective unrequited loves.
“We are both so silly.”
Jun Tao and Cheng De were mostly slapstick.
“You’re womanly. Very womanly.”
Korean vs. Chinese Drama
The make up on the Chinese actors as well as their hair is so caked on it seems fake and it really annoys me.
Romance. I have found that Chinese dramas like to have an extended rocky/cold relationship and then when it’s solid it’s so picture perfect solid it seems unrealistic.
I appreciated how they kept coming back to the zither as a focal point of their romance. As a musician I found it very touching indeed.
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I think I have a thing for tests and teamwork. I like the concept of a bunch of newbies entering a new program and undergoing trials together.
There are a lot of illogical things that happen but the important thing is that I could understand why the character did what they did in response to these illogical situations.
One subtle theme of this drama is the little things that can change the course of an individual's life.
Honestly, the messages of this drama didn't interest me very much and the musical inspiration and rade rah, the teacher pep talks and especially the teacher politics were all quite blah.
I liked how each individual had a different personality emerge when they were engaged in music. The grouch looked so happy when she was singing and the shy one was so confident when he was dancing.
Love Triangle
I liked how both the boys had a different foundation with Hye Mi. Jin Guk related to her on the basis of their lack of parenting and the troubles that they were both in.
Sam Dong's relationship with Hye Mi really was about the music. How because he chose her, he chose music and afterward, she helped him choose music. What happens to them because of this is pretty intense and done really well.
I have a thing for guys who can put up with the prickly girl.
Both the guys are lovely. And do things for Hye Mi that are quietly extravagant.
Also, that scene when Jason confronts Hye Mi about the love triangle is hilarious.
Hye Mi
“For the sake of my livelihood I am very tired.”
Hye Mi's in a tight spot. She is also really aggressive to the point of stupidity. She clings to her pride desperately.
Her self-preservation drives her to lash out at kindness. Even when she does care for people, she doesn't want them to be troubled by her burdens so she pushes them away.
It was a relief to see her icy facade begin to melt when she discovered altruism in life.
Similar to other characters, I learned to understand and appreciate her way of caring for people.
As for the actress, she's pretty awesome. I liked how different she looked from her little girl smiling face to her bitch face. She had a really effective range of expressions.
Hye Seong
This kid starts off as bratty but I really came to love her. She has a special relationship with Jin Guk. So adorable.
Sam Dong
“Sam Dong looks like a fool who only knows Hye Mi.”
Sam Dong is shy and awkward and innocent. I liked seeing him gain confidence in his music and how much attitude he had when he danced. Also how boyish and selfless he was in his love for Hye Mi.
He's a mama's boy and he's sensitive. He wears his heart on his sleeve and I loved his rawness.
Jin Guk was beautiful but Sam Dong's shining moments really just blew me away.
Jin Guk
Jin Guk is sort of the bad boy. But he's way too nice and patient. So, maybe it's better to say he's the too-cool-for-you kind of guy. I appreciated the little ways that he'd look out for people.
Unlike Hye Mi, he instantly melts under kindness.
Bromance / Sisterhood
I liked the dynamic of the boys with the worldly Jin Guk and the naive Sam Dong. The boys were also probably the first dudes to be so civil about their rivalry. I enjoyed their honest talks with each other.
I enjoyed the girl friendship in this. I feel like there's not a lot of girl relationship development in Kdramas.
Teachers
Student - “Mr. Yang looks young.”
Mr. Yang - “Last week, when I went for a drink, they asked for my ID.”
Mr. Kang - “That's because you look like a criminal.”
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I was not expecting to love this drama so much. This is my first Chinese drama. I usually watch Korean dramas. Initially, I had many complaints. But now writing this review, those issues seem unimportant. MDL friends tell me that you can't compare Korean dramas to Chinese dramas and at first I couldn't understand that at all. But now I do. They are different. And you just have to appreciate them for their differences. That said, I still included a list of comparisons at the end of this review. =)
This is also my longest drama to date. It was a good introduction to the idea of dramas longer than 16-18 episodes. I found I could watch it easily and didn't get tired and the story continued to carry. I now feel more confident with trying out more lengthy dramas.
REVIEW
My main problem with this drama was that the important scenes left me disappointed that I wasn't captivated by the emotion and the intensity that was obviously trying to be conveyed. I couldn't connect.
The second half of this drama is fun. Feng Teng and Shan Shan are adorable and we get to see the ups and downs of an uneven relationship. I liked seeing how they navigated it. Feng Teng clearly adores Shan Shan so you can forgive the drama for a lot of things. It gets fun to see what new obstacle will arise so the pair can be all cute and cuddly and demonstrate how much they care for each other. Of course they also explore the difficulties of professionalism and workplace issues in their romance.
As the drama goes on, Feng Teng gets kinder and more possessive.
Shan Shan gets more and more independent. YESSS! I love that she stops trying to please him so much and starts working on her own goals. My favourite part was when she said, “Do it yourself.” Hahaahahah. And the look of shock on his face was priceless.
Feng Teng
Feng Teng, throughout the drama, consistently bored and annoyed me with his inaction. There's not enough explanation to his cold facade. The way he just stares for ages is discomforting. Feng Teng presents his conceit in a straight manner. There's no joking about it which makes it bearable in Kdramas.
Feng is pretty stolid and robotic. The first time he comes to life is when his sister's best friend returns to Shanghai and he actually smiles in conversations and jokes. It was hard to connect and empathise with him because you never know what he's thinking. His face is stone. He honestly is his most animated self with his sister's best friend.
I was also offended that he'd joke about threatening Shan Shan's when he knew she was taking him seriously.
Shan Shan
I really like how the drama develops Shan Shan. By the end of the drama she is dumbfoundingly mature. I was seriously impressed.
Shan Shan starts as the doe-eyed, altruistic Cinderella. She does have some sarcasm and she's not terribly clueless and I liked that she is quick to catch on to social issues even if it's a bit too late. She is most sassy in her mind. Sometimes it feels a bit suffocating with the constant voiceovers. I also like that she takes some lengths to avoid Feng Teng's highhandedness. But she's only indirectly defiant until later on in the drama.
I think she's an interesting person but it takes a while to see it.
Friends
“This prince who is used to eating without worry must want to try out a plain dish like you.” ~ Shuang Yi
Shan Shan's best friend scenes never really won me over till about Episode 13. They are full of “advice”. Also, what happened to Shuang Yi? She just disappeared?
Sister – Feng Yue
Feng Yue is cheeky and very pretty. She and her husband are an adorable couple and kind of stole the prize for most heart-winning romance.
Romance
Feng Teng and Shan Shan's romance develops over a lunchbox. Sometimes this is cheesy and stalkerish and other times it is quite cute to see how invested this “big boss” is over lunch.
I was really curious to see how Feng Teng and Shan Shan would get together and what they'd be like together.
I couldn't understand why Feng Teng liked Shan Shan at first. I could imagine him falling in love with her personality if she ever actually opened her mouth to have a conversation but it's just those big eyes and stuttering sentences.
I think if you can make it to Episode 12 then you're sorted. Episode 12 is THE episode. All the happiness, everything comes together, it all makes sense. More importantly, Feng Teng and Shan Shan make sense. It's all wonderful sunshine and roses and I could finally root for them.
I do get a bit worried when a heroine is worried about angering her boyfriend. There are definitely moments when I was concerned about the powerplay of the relationship. The way Shan Shan would search for an answer to please him and he would just remain stolidly blank until she gave in to what he wanted. I didn't like seeing Shan Shan bow to this kind of manipulation. And just because the heart is good, doesn't mean you can snatch someone's phone out of their hand while they're looking at it.
Chinese Dramas vs. Korean Dramas
I feel that the below points are a bit harsh now. But I must admit that watching this drama has made me appreciate Kdramas a whole lot more.
Compared with Kdramas, this drama looks very amateur. I can see what people mean by the lower quality of acting, delivery, and filming. As a result, it's easy to skip over and miss things just to get the general feel of the story because each second that passes by is not so important or well-thought out.
First thing I noticed, was that the men stand very close to the female when talking instead of the polite distance that you would expect from not only Korean culture but general Western personal space etiquette.
Another thing is that voiceover that indicates what the character's are thinking. This results in a blank facial expression with an intangible voice speaking over top which really is sort of distracting and takes you out of the moment of the drama. In Korean dramas, characters tend to “think out loud” and them actually having to voice their thoughts makes the feeling more expressing and brings me into the moment with them.
On the topic of facial expressions...these Chinese actors seem to be a blank wall compared with Korean actors who are so animated and expressive. Their favourite look is the “huh?” face.
The story telling is disjointed. I was relieved to see some themes emerge. Actually, I'm surprised at how I've come to rely on themes to make me think and invest myself in the plot.
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Who Are You: School 2015
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It moves quickly and the girls switch places almost immediately. It is lovely to see the battered twin enjoy the spoiled twin’s life. The boys jump to defend her, and the girls love on her. The romance of the show seems to be heading one way in the first half but when it comes to wrapping up the story it takes a strange nosedive and it’s weird. Not so much in first male lead vs. second male lead, but on a greater scale since there are two girls involved.
Eunbi
“I’m sorry. I guess we weren’t very close.” Eunbi is so sweet! It’s cute how she finds Gong Taekwang’s antics amusing. Eunbi successfully navigated Eunbyeol’s world and mistakes. I liked seeing her successful in her kindness.
Eunbi’s easy going relationship with the boys is fun and cute. They expect her razor sharpness but she’s so gentle and sweet. I wouldn’t say that our heroine’s character is a damsel in distress, but she does know how to make use of the boys’ loyalty to her. I liked seeing her be nice to them and be genuinely happy that they liked her.
“I was very happy here. You’re one of the reasons.”
It feels good to see her accept their help instead of a heroine who pushes away people who care for her. She’s very mature in the way she is around them. She doesn’t take them and their friendship for granted. Eun Bi is so sincere with how she deals with Ian you can’t help but forgive her.
Eunbyeol
I liked how Eunbyeol’s reputation lived on and benefited Eunbi. Everyone knows what she’s like.
“Do you know what a fierce temper Eunbyeol has? No one in school can touch her.”
Eunbyeol is absolutely above Soyeong’s games and I love it.
Eunbi might try to scare people off with words but Eunbyeol plays a lot rougher than her little sis.
“Eunbi is lucky. She has a reliable older sister like you.”
It seemed a bit sad that nobody could really be close to Eunbyeol.
Taekwang
Taekwang is such a fun weirdo. He is very quick on the uptake to see that something is wrong with Eunbi and is a great defender of her when she’s still trying to work things out. It was nice to see him have a purpose even if it was being about a white knight.
“I don’t care whether you’re Eunbyeol or Eun Bi. So when you’re with me, be whoever you want.”
He is also so hilarious and awkward when it comes to romance.
Ian
Love to see a kid working hard, learning from his mistakes and minding his own business.
“We didn’t fight. It was all my fault.”
“What could Ian have done wrong to Eunbyeol? It’s always the other way round.”
Lee Pil Mo is always such a delight on the screen.
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The secondary characters are suitably quirky and warm as well. They served their role to entertain and not bore the hell out of me.
There are so many layers to this show and so many layers to the characters – I appreciated the slow reveal of the storyline and what happened between the people involved.
The music also gets a tick from me. It used some very unusual soundtracks. A lot of English! My favourite is Satellite.
Go Pyung Kyo
This actor is wonderful in his character portrayal. He completely stole the show.
He is so cute! My sister described him as a “smol bean” - a character that despite being big and tall, always evokes feelings of pity or adorableness.
Jeon Seol
Heroine starts off stereotypically bubbly and dense. Her past character is quite marvelous, but again, takes a while to warm to. She is really nothing special in terms of protagonists. The way she cleans up the end is impressive. That’s definitely the stand out point for me.
Han Se Ju
Yoo Ah In’s portrayal of the arrogant male, is perfectly eccentric. It has a different spin to it that is charismatic and appealing. He is consistently calm in the face of enemies and super zen about people attacking him. He is also quick to figure out the bad guys’ schemes. You can’t fool him!
His development as his past self, Hui Young – is quite tasteful as well. He seems very cool, on top of the game and strategic, in the past.
Romance
Present day romance is really built on the romance from the past. That’s what sold it for me.
Also, despite being too little too late, this show has one of the best “I love you” scenes. Really beautiful and heart breaking.
If I think about the ending too much, I’ll probably lose it.
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It’s a show where all the characters go out of their way to be unfriendly. So when they are even mildly civil, it’s such a great improvement that the rest of the cast are shocked.
“You didn’t hang up. I thought you would.”
Kwang Ho
Choi Jin Hyuk as our hero is a good character to portray the rough and read 80s cop who has straight values.
Sun Jae
Sun Jae is the most hostile out of the lot of them but he gravitates towards Professor Shin because she is just as isolating as he is.
Professor Shin
Professor Shin is a quiet and dark individual who doesn’t have much to say unless it’s important. Then she spits it out and shuts up again.
“I thought I’d handle it well no matter what happens.”
The show demonstrates how despite her experience and dark nature, she is human and the actress portrays her quiet vulnerability with underlying strength.
Sung Shik
I found it very cute that the chief used to be Kwang Ho’s maknae and they resume that same relationship 30 years into the future despite Sung Shik obviously being older than Kwang Ho now in the present.
Yeon Sook
Kwang Ho’s wife is a dignified and composed cop’s wife. She is beautiful and gentle. The actress does a wonderful job of smiling at Choi Jin Hyuk like she is so freakin’ proud of him and thinks he’s the greatest thing alive.
The last couple of episodes really lose the plot with originally smart characters fumbling around just to fill the episodes. But the ending of the ending is filled with all the feelings. I loved it.
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