Uncontrollably Fond: Kdrama Review

I watched this series right after ‘the heirs‘ primarily because of Kim Woobin. When I first started the series it did not catch my attention. I tried to watch the first episode over a number of days again and again. I skipped off a bit from initial 4 episodes. The background scores in 3rd episode helps a lot.

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The story is about Shin Joon Young and Noh Eul who were best friends. Shin Joon Young wanted to become a lawyer but a tragic incident made him switch to acting and singing. Noh Eul, on the other hand is a documentary producer who tries to be righteous however her rigorous conditions sometimes make her behavior unethical. It is when she is asked to film his documentary the two meet again years later and love blossoms.

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I actually found the storyline good, it is much more intricate then what is visible on the surface. But the title wasn’t all justified as per the story. I really liked the playback of the story of Eul and Joon Young and how they fell in love was touching. However, later on I expected a lot of hardcore romance on their front. To my surprise there wasn’t much. The romance was mainly indirect like Joon Young beating the other guy who said mean things to Eul. And pushing the girl away because he thinks he doesn’t deserve her. ( But why tell her to love you and listen to only you and confuse her when you know you will leave after sometime. This annoyed me a bit) Also, the show felt a little more inclined towards justice and conscious then the love story to be precise and hence I felt the title wasn’t all justified. Even so I still like the drama for dealing with the darker sides of both good and bad people.

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The plot was good, the present day and flashback went well together which created enough suspense. The back story played exactly when it was needed explaining everything. I liked that bit about the show.

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I was a bit confused between Joon Young’s moments he imagined in his brain and the actual reality.
Also, light could be shed on how they met and how he developed the friendship and then love. (There were instances but not enough) I really thought I would cry alot as everyone talks of the show like that but I didn’t that much. Something’s really connected and a few scenes did make me teary eyed but I never ended up crying a bucket. There were three scenes that got me on my feet. The one was when he proposes in the concert. It was too cute. The one where Eul tells him the exact time she fell in love. And the one where his mother visits him and he can’t recognize her.

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I think the beginning was really stretched out. And the end episodes were a little in rush. The show deserved a proper closure. Like he could have made a video on how much he loved everyone, his mother and especially Eul and how he wants them to live afterwards. Also, much could be shown on how the other supporting characters lived afterwards.

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Kim Woobin was a obviously a stand out and the reason I continued watching. In every drama of his that I have watched, he plays this jerk who straightens out later on. It suits him but then I want him to able to live his love in a show atleast. I want to watch him in more shows as lead where tradegy doesn’t do away with his happy ever after. Everytime Kim Woobin was acting sick, I could only think about how he must have felt when he actually went through cancer afterwards. For once, I am glad that reel and real life are different for he came out as a winner. Bae Suzy was very prominent in the initial episodes and the ending episodes. In-between, her acting did not prompt a lot of emotion in me.

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Regardless, the chemistry between Kim Woobin and Bae Suzy was really good and some front end romantic scenes would have helped the show a lot more. You can’t help but fall for Kim Woobin. His acting skills are amazing. He seems very natural whether it’s a sad scene or a happy one. His smirk. Oh god. His smirk is to die for. Everytime he does, I too have a smile on face. I didn’t fully understand some of the supporting roles. However, I liked Jin Kyung’s acting along with Choi Moo-sung.

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The drama ost is one of its biggest bonus. It is very beautiful and profound. ‘Only you’ by Junggigo is a favourite, it’s a perfect mix of romantic and upbeat. The song ‘A Little Braver’ should be a theme song for this drama along with ‘Only You’. All the instrumental soundtrack are also amazing, something you can’t help but listen to. ‘Love Hurts’ by Hwanhee, ‘My Heart Says’ by Kim Na Young, ‘Don’t Push Me’ by Red Velvet’s Wendy and Seulgi, all make an unexplainable sadness and yearning in your heart whereas the song ‘Across The Ocean’ by New Empire makes for a happy beat. Few songs have also been contributed by the two leads. Even if you are not fond of this drama, you wouldn’t regret watching it for it’s soulful music in the least.

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Overall, I would still say that if you like a subtle romance that could still make you cry a bucket then this drama is for you.

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This drama teaches you that you can correct your mistakes, you can seek justice and even love within a limited time as well. It is a matter of choice.


Why Watch it?

  • If you are a fan of subtle romance with other subplot taking the mainframe
  • If you are a Kim WooBin fan, he has done his very best here
  • If you are a Bae Suzy fan, the chemistry between the leads is really good
  • If you wish to watch something sentimental that could make you cry or if you like bitter-sweet endings
  • Amazing Ost

Continue reading “Uncontrollably Fond: Kdrama Review”

The Heirs: Kdrama Review

“One who wears the crown must bear it.”

A crown does not only have weight, it is heavy as well. The story is about ‘heirs’ of various billion dollar businesses and companies and how their life is not all it seems to be. How their struggles and problems are just as ordinary as others. How money cannot buy you everything and there is price one has to pay for having a lot at birth.

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Characters (Left to right): Choi Young Do, Kang Ye Sol, Cha Eun Sang, Lee Hyo Shin, Kim Tan, Chan Young, Jo Myung Soo, Lee Boo Na, Rachel Yoo

The starting of the show was quite interesting. For me usually korean shows take time to develop story and hence my interest but this one really got me interested from the first go.

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Slowly I realised that it is a high school drama with lots of cliche elements like a love triangle, jealous partner doing crazy stuff, the societal class and bullying. The drama has some really good sayings to offer. The back story they were trying to build was good but didn’t fully materialize.

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Coming to the characters, I really liked Kim Tan saying “Do I like you?” “Did I miss you ?” Instead of I like you and I miss you. It adds such a mysterical and questioning element. I found Kim Tan relatable to the extent that to some people he is so sweet and to others he is so rude. The way he turns a blind eye to what he started makes me question if he really has become a good guy or even if he is a good guy. Lee min ho’s intense gaze is something in itself and he was looking handsome as ever but on the acting front he seemed like a poker face I couldn’t make out his expression many a times whether he is hurt, sad, angry or what. Maybe that was the demand of his character.

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I was touched by Cha Eun-Sang’s determination to give her mother a better life even with so many problems and her mother’s inability to speak gives a much deeper touch and connect. Park Shin-Hye’s acting seemed very natural to the character.

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The chemistry between the lead was good but I think the couple could have had better scenes together. The intimacy could have been better like it was in the initial episodes. Another thing was the dream catcher, it kind of got the story around. I liked how Kim Tan looked through to EungSang via dream catcher symbolising she was his dream. I think dream catcher was one of my favourite characters in the show.

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Yoong do came off as so evil but later on I realised that he is so sweet and fragile from inside and is textbook case of parent neglect and bullying.

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This drama was not really about being perfect and the character flaws were in your face evident which I did like. However, there are a lot of loose ends. Like what happened to Yoong Do’s father, his mother? What happened to Won’s Girlfriend? Did Rachel and Hyo -shin materialize (which was kinda out of the blue to be honest) A lot of characters, since it was ensemble needed more time. It was more like blink and miss for many. I would have enjoyed if chanyoung and his father’s relationship was given more time. The thing I did not like about this drama is women were being pushed around a lot be Cha Eun Sang, Rachel or Kim Tan’s mother. Their destiny for some reason did not seem completely theirs.

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Somethings were beyond me like how Won changed suddenly when Kim Tan was trying so hard since the beginning. I wanted Won and his girlfriend to end up together they really deserved it. I wanted Kim Tan and Yoong do to reconcile, they deserved it. I wanted Rachel and Yoong Do to have a better end. I kind of pity them. Also when the show started I thought they might end up together but they were declared step brother and sister.

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The ost of drama is one of it’s strong points. The song ‘Here for you’, ‘Crying again’, ‘Moment’ are absolutely amazing. ‘Serendipity’, ‘I am saying’, ‘Love hurt’ by Lee min ho, ‘Story’ by Park Shin Hye are also great picks.

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Towards the end a lot started happening which was a little much for the end. All in all, it was like an okay drama. The underline theme was good but I wish it wouldn’t be shadowed by the love triangle. There were somethings I really liked. But sometimes it fell flat for me.

I would recommend this drama only if you have been into kdramas since before and you know how they work. Also, if you like things to be little cliché.


Why watch it?

  • If you are Lee Min Ho/ Park Shin Hye/ Kim Woo Bin fan
  • Park Shin Hye’s good chemistry with Lee Min Ho, Kim Woo Bin
  • If you like coming of age, high school romance drama with love triangles and cliché
  • If you like dramas with ensemble
  • The underlying theme, good quotes and good music

Continue reading “The Heirs: Kdrama Review”