Fantastic (2016)

Fantastic.. Fantastic as the title I could start describing this drama...

Yes, maybe isn't a masterpiece, and yes, a common drama but wow! this made me smile, cry and want to hug many of these characters... but where I should start? Maybe in dramas like these instead of 16 episodes I could do only 12 or 14, yeah, the plot always lost a bit of that strength in the middle, but in this drama I almost (yeah, hardly to find the perfect drama) didn't notice because I wanted to know as every character could have their endings.

Fantastic show a reality in thousand and thousand of people in this planet fighting against a disease, and here every character has a way to show the different ways to struggle in these diseases, and I think that's the beauty in this drama. To feel as everyone near to the main lead is living this type of situation.

I think every actor and actress was perfect to every character, and personally, Joo sang wook and Kim Hyun-Joo did a pretty interpretation as leads on this drama. (Pchhh, I don't wanna to sound biased, but if you like Jisoo, well be ready yourself.)

Okay, I don't wanna be extra boring telling you my review, but if you are searching romance, you have it! Drama? Well,,, is dramaland. Sometimes you will want to cross the screen and punch some faces too, but I think that's something good haha.

Don't be scared by the theme of this drama, I usually run of this type of dramas but I don't regret giving to this a chance. I promise you will end with a smile in your face! or at least I hope so!!

Lighty drama with a good combination of comedy, drama, and love.
Have a good time, and a big hug to all these out there who are struggling with some disease or problem! Good vibes always :D

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Fantastic was surprising for me. It made a person feel hopeful even as each character was going through hard times. I felt like it was a character driven story. I like the women's camaraderie and how they support each other. The writer made me happy by writing the men as faithful and loving men who stuck by the women they love through everything. The writer also gave meaning to the different close relationships and show love comes in a variety of ways. I also like that the jerks get mostly what they deserve. I think there were times when ithe story was a little over the top and the characters were too self sacrificing. Over all though the story is well written and paced. I

I always remember Kim Hyun Joo as BOF's Joon Pyo's noona. I haven't watched any of her drama's since then. I thought she was great as Lee So Hye because that is a hard part to play. The strength, vulnerabiity, and the emotions that the she had to put into playing the character must have been draining. Joo Sang Wook is a hit or a miss for me. This time he was mostly a hit as Ryu Hae Seong. I'm a total Park Shi Yeon fan. She is so versatile. I have hated her in a drama and I loved her as Baek Sul. She is just trying to find her way to happiness. Ji Soo was just to adorable and totally strong man as Kim Sang Wook. I have seen Kim Tae Hoon in a lot of dramas and I think that even though he isn't the male lead, he plays Dr. Hong Joon Ki like he is the male lead and I enjoyed every minute of it. The other actors are good too.

The music is ok.

I will never rewatch this.

Warning: It is about cancer patients. My mom passed from cancer, but I was ok watching this. However, it could be hard for people to watch.

I liked this drama, but I don't necessarily recommend it.

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Despite being disease-ridden(too many diseased people), the drama never lets us lose interest in it. The romance, friendships, struggles are very well depicted.
I generally hate when 3 people are involved in love affair because there's always a jealousy fight where we see one fighting fairly while other plays unfairly & we already know who the winner will be. but in this drama, writers made both the lead male characters very thoughtful & sophisticated. I loved watching both of them. so until the end I could not make up my mind as to whom with should I ship her.
It was refreshing to see Park Shi Yeon in a different role after Innocent Man. I liked her very much.
Everyone played their roles perfectly. and that's why even though the concept of the drama was nothing new I could finish it in one sitting.
There's a lot to gain from this one.
& lastly let me tell you it's not a Tragedy, you even get to watch the bad guys get punished, so please do give it a watch.

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Fantastic is a lovely slice of life drama that encompasses many genres: there is romance, comedy, melo, bromance and female friendship. Like many I was worried about the cancer story line but this is not Scent of a Woman (solid drama by the way). I noticed a few viewers seemed to see this as a watered down version but this is an entirely different style drama with a totally different vibe though the message is perhaps the same. Kim Hyun Joo plays a very successful writer having to deal with this diagnosis and the return of "foot" actor ex-boyfriend possibly playing the lead in her next drama. If you don't think that sounds like SOAW you'd be right. I consider Fantastic to be one of the overlooked dramas of 2016 so here goes:

Cons: No cancer patient getting treatment ever looks this good and truthfully this is how it is in most tv shows regardless of origin. I know expecting reality in this regard is a bit much but it did bug me a little.

Wow, that's really it.

Pros:

All the actors are solid and a shout out to Joo Sang Wook for playing a bad actor so well. Some of the scenes with the acting coach are so funny. It's not easy to be that bad. Also Kim Tae Hoon as the doc was so good. He is one of those character actors that can do anything: bad guy in Angry Mom, discouraged husband in One More Happy Ending and great as the amazing friend and doc in Fantastic. Really the entire cast is excellent.

Pacing: There are a lot of different stories going on and this drama keeps the pace and flow very well. I especially appreciate this because Ji Soo had a serious surgery situation pop up so, if you watch, that is why he is kind of missing in action as the writers no doubt had to trim down the scope of his story.

Bromance: There's a lot of talk about the bromance in Goblin, but I have to say the story between the two main guys in Fantastic resonated with me so much and was truly amazing. It actually is one of my favorite aspects to this drama.

Story: It went in directions I didn't expect. I can't say too much without spoilers but I thought I'd be watching a bickering couple, k-drama style. Not so much. I thought it will go standard love triangle route...not so much. These characters are adults and they act that way (most of the time); they're not perfect and they make mistakes. I so much appreciated at a certain point when some serious issue happens, they sit down and talk about it. In so many dramas, it's five episodes of angst when a simple discussion could have dealt with it. I also felt this story really shows the power of female friendship, especially with the friend who had kind of fallen away. Who has this not happened to, but it is so true how you can pick those friendships back up again as if no time has passed. One other aspect I liked was the insight into the entertainment industry in regards to management companies and ways they keep their talent in line. I've heard stories out of Korea about this, and the show shines a light on that activity.

Besides the comparisons to Scent of A Woman, the only other issue that I saw some viewers had was with the main male lead....people seemed to think because of the tone of voice JSW uses and the way the character sometimes acts that the guy doesn't have emotional depth. I would just say the longer the drama goes on, the more we see what kind of man he is. I recommend this gem of a drama with one caveat and that is if you or a loved one is dealing with or has dealt with cancer, you might or might not be inclined to watch. This is not a standard melodrama with 16 episodes of angst but still....

Otherwise I'd give it a go.

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Tears and laughter with some genuinely moving moments.

I believe I've started this before but gave up in the first episode. Probably because of the ML being yet another wealthy, handsome manchild.
This time I hung on in there for just a little longer and whilst I did still find him infuriating at times his (eventual) character growth and the story were ultimately rewarding.
This isn't ground-breaking stuff but it is a good, wholesome weep fest.

The performances are pretty good though characters don't all have a lot of depth. The FL probably gets the prize from me.

The bromance and sismance are engaging and emotionally rewarding.
The only real flaw for me was the Baek Seol story line. The In-Laws were a bit too overdone and I found her acting unconvincing. The rather obvious duck lip probably didn't help. I didn't really feel her motorbike friendship came over as innocent either which rather spoilt it and the ensuing story line.

I have to admit to skipping through some of the longer emotionally manipulative moments.

Story: Good but not standout
Acting: Good with alright chemistry between many of the characters.
Music: Ok didn't really grab me but not mute button awful
Rewatch: Probably not - I enjoyed it but not to that great a degree.

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BOMB of emotions, rarely perfect combination from comedy to drama

it was such amazing drama, couldn't stop watching... Can't believe how it is so underrated ???

when I'm getting bored after 4-6 episodes of 80% dramas, skip half of episodes and almost never cry, with this one I wanted to watch every scene till the end, laughed so much, then cried, but soon after I was laughing loud... but last 3-5 episodes were absolute bomb of emotions. after 200+ doramas I could count on fingers when I was so emotional because of drama...

this drama has simple and warm story like slice of life, that makes you emotional 2-3 times (at list) per episode; sadness of melodrama and so much really funny moments like good comedy; Also it catches you to binge watch like action/adventure/suspense.

it has really amazing positive 3D characters, realistic relationships and overall realistic plot, without primitive cliches, endless misunderstandings, unnatural villains and stupid and/or superhero characters. characters are real humans, not only black and white. There are 5 main leads and 2-3 storyline, all really interesting.

SMALL SPOILERS:
there is emotional friendships: 3 women (FL, SFL and one more) who are friends since high school and support each other and amazing bromance which starts between ML and SML after short time love triangle, they have such healthy relationship, soo sweet... SML is very good guy who can see when his feelings are unrequited (though FL first liked him) and move on, like it would be in real life normal situation, he can be real friend with FL and ML too and ML very much likes him, they form soo lovely bromance which by the end becomes soo deep friendship with understanding and compassion... there were details that is soo rare in Asian dramas (man who is ready to plan date for woman he loves and new friend/ex-rival in love - that much compassion to friend).

everyone were really good, natural acting and delivering realistic 3D characters: positive-funny-supportive-little narcissist ML; strong independent FL; amazing human-supportive-funny-adequate SML, once badass but now abused SFL with character development; very honest-right-smart young guy in love SML (Ji Soo, who was as usual amazing).

p.s.
Kim Tae Hoon was star of the show!!!!

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I’m impressed! I started watching this drama because of Joo Sang Wook and Ji Soo. I have watched several dramas with Kim Tae Hoon and this is definitely my favorite character from what he has done, super charismatic, positive, outgoing, energetic, hilarious, understanding and the list goes on... I love the two main couples! I have never liked the second couple as much as the first one, and this is definitely the case. This drama truly portrayed Joo Sang Wook ‘s amazing acting potential. I cried and suffered when he suffered and laughed when he laughed. For me, this story was a charm. My daughter went through leukemia treatments for 2 years and 3 months and I could relate with their emotions of frustration, happiness and all the complicated emotions in between. Then, what seemed like an impossible genre combination, a romantic comedy based on cancer patients, extremely funny throughout. Then after all these great elements, lots of bromance! It was just beautiful to see all the characters personalities unfold and show who they were. All the characters were amazing, and I loved that it was also about domestic violence and it reminded women that they are not alone. So I’m going to stop writing because I’m sure I can go on forever. Watch it, it’s ‘fantastic’!

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It's a cancer drama that will bring you to tears. There are some slow parts here and there that I did end up skipping, and to be honest there isn't much chemistry between the two main leads. If you're not that interested in the cancer story line, there is also Baek Sul's story line, which I found more engaging. She is a badass turned into home caretaker, but hates her life, and seeing what actions she'll take next. I did really like the companionship between the three childhood friends, and the the male cast who also end up having a bromance friendship.

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