The jdrama that changed my mind about jdramas

In the past, I've struggled (and failed) to get into jdramas for a variety of reasons. I'm terribly impatient and picky about which dramas I watch, so it takes A LOT for me to invest time in one. Which is why I'm surprised by how taken I was with this drama.

TnS is yes, a predictable story with some loopholes but it has just a few episodes. The leads nail their parts of playing two people weathering a 20-year age gap between them, and they do so adroitly and charmingly. There's also just enough tension in the story to keep one's interest. I also appreciated two things in TnS which I find very important in an Asian drama:

> the story deals with a married couple, and the treatment of their intimate scenes was done tastefully and REALISTICALLY. (No spoilers, please watch to understand what I mean). It was a terrific change to not have to dumb down this aspect especially since I left high school decades ago.

>I am glad that there was enough care put into the clothing and style of the actors. Everyone dressed their age and acted accordingly. It was refreshing and appealing.

Anyway, I'm hoping you give this show a try. All dramas ask us to suspend disbelief to a point, this one included, but I enjoyed the ride. Hope you will too.

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A complex drama that's easy to keep up with...

...and yes, that's a good thing.

In the world of political/suspense kdramas, most become overly ambitious with their multiple moving parts (i.e. Signal), and layers upon layers of flashbacks as seen in the mess that was Private Lives (2020). While I may be more simpleminded than the average kdrama viewer, I appreciated this series for its ability to weave a story of what began as a seemingly simple crime that snowballed into Byzantine proportions. The story arc was methodically narrated and every character had a purpose.

The cast was on point, and I appreciated Lee Bo Young, the FL who was steely but soft-hearted, and as a police detective, could sure throw a punch and a kick. Kwon Yool, the antagonist here, who also plays a villain in Voice 2, so effectively played his role here that I honestly couldn't decide if I hated or loved him. Special notice goes to Kim Hyung Mook, the Executive Secretary, who I feel was there to provide much needed comic relief, but in a dignified way, you have to watch to know what I mean.

Lastly, I feel that most kdramas are weak when it comes to wrapping up a story; most of the time it's rushed or I'm left feeling like something's missing. Not so here with Whisper: it's an easy binge-watch and best of all, the ending is rightly wrapped up.

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A mature drama tackling a prickly issue done well

The issue of infidelity is handled maturely in this thought provoking drama; it's an introspective exploration NOT a tawdry, women-slapping-each-other melo. I was surprised at how slow-paced and simple it remained to the very end. Every scene looked like it was filmed in that vintage sepia-ish filter which further contributed to the melancholy, bittersweet feel.

The two leads have a chemistry that "... makes glass tubes and halogen lights explode...", as one reviewer on dramabeans.com so accurately described. Frankly, if someone looks at you the way Seo Do Woo looked at Choi Soo Ah, you can die happy. Bit of an exaggeration there, but you get my drift. The other supporting leads were excellent too. Shin Sung Rok expectedly, nailed the part of an uncaring, misogynistic husband to Choi Soo Ah so much, that as a woman, I wanted to reach through the TV screen many times to smack him across the face.

I really enjoyed this series, it pretty much smashed all the familiar kdrama tropes and gave me something refreshing to watch and think about. As someone who is always looking for more mature dramas, I hope to find more like On The Way to the Airport.

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The mature kdrama romance-thriller you've been looking for

Let me make it clear that I am NOT your average kdrama viewer for the following reasons:

1. I FAST FORWARD A LOT because I have little patience for scene fillers where 20+ seconds is spent with the actor(s) gazing wistfully at the distance. I need action to happen FAST...
2. I am always looking for MATURE, STRONG LEADS especially where the female leads are concerned... and
3. I do not watch what everyone else is watching simply because I think I'm looking for different stories: MORE SUBSTANCE, LESS CRINGE. (I really disliked Her Private Life, couldn't stand the FL in Something in the Rain, and for that reason, I will never watch CLOY), and lastly,
4. I think that kdramas take too long to begin and then rush to end -- I mean, hello, what the hell kind of ending was that in Cheese in the Trap??!

Having said that, if you are similar to me, and you like watching kdramas with romance AND suspense, then
WATCH THIS DRAMA NOW.
It's a 16-episode NOT 32 episode story that is solidly written and executed. Enough time is given to the flashbacks and present day so I never felt confused. The actors are so well-cast, they transform into the characters , so much so that I found myself getting more and more invested in them as the story went on. Aside from the ML being exceptional, Heo Joon Ho nailed it as the psychopath; every scene he was in crackled with electricity, as did his accomplice, played by Hong Seung Bum. The FL was strong and compassionate, certainly someone I could root for.

The pace of the story is terrific, and the ending is tied up neatly. I am a chronic kdrama-dropper, but not with this story. I hope i could find more stories like this one.

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