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An okay comedy, but superficial romance
The opening to episode one did not really draw me in, but I pushed through. If you watch this then you have to come to terms with that it is super unrealistic, the first episode sets the fantasy/cartoon like tone - surviving a tornado, running through a minefield unscathed, elite soldier missing his shot, north Koreans soldiers super friendly to southerners etc (all in first episode).So much of the plot is stupid coincidences, and Seri being stuck in NK seems convoluted, every plan failed. When she does get back to Seoul then all the tension is pretty much gone, and the show just devolves into North Koreans tyring chicken and random south Korean stuff.
The show is supposed to be a romance, but Seri comes off unspathetic (especially when back in princess mode in Seoul), but why are Seri and Captain Ri a good match? Dan & Albert had a much better romance and chemistry going on, whereas Seri and Ri looked more like friends or siblings.
There is a scene when they are in Seoul and Ri asks Seri about her interests and she replies "You don't need to know that type of stuff, I told you already, your face is my type"..., yeah she told him that in the first episode, but this is like episode 13 or something and she is pulling out some shallow response like that? So she is spoilt and gets her way with him because he is weak willed & he is handsome.., soudns like an awesome romance..
Ri is also too perfect, like he apparently a musical genius, all the women like him, his is rich, comes from a family of high status, he plays an instrument, he reads a lot, he is tall and strong, kind.., he made noodles *fresh* for her in episode 2 or something. Dude cooked fresh noodles and usedthe spaghetti/noodle machine. He is some unrealistic Nietzschean Korean superman. If they made a season 2 then it's probably entail Ri building space probes, colonizing Mars, solving the world's energy crsis, and bringing world peace, oh and raising a successful family or something. He came off too fake and unrelatable, give the character some flaws beyond being weak willed.
Music was okay, but this is 2 months later or something and I can't remember any of the songs. The songs were pushed too much too, I get they are probably going to sell the songs to the audience or something, but sometimes I heard the same songs over and over, and they'd just have these long musical parts where nobody spoke; those were dull.
Comedy aspect was alright, you have the annoying and sometimes funny housewives of the village, most of the funny moments for me were Ri's second in command, Dan's mother and uncle, and Dan and Albert.
It's cool if you enjoyed Ri and Seri, but for me I'd much rather have watched a show focusing on Dan and Albert, they felt more organic, not forced like the main couple. They were cute, sucks the writers killed that off, not sure if it was to insert some sadness or to stop them outshining the main couple.
The sad backstory of being left on the beach as a kid for a few hours was not really that traumatic, so that plus not getting on with her family means she'd suicide? Eh.
Why is the ending they meet each other only in Switzerland? It's strange, Ri could easily buy a house outside of North korea and meet up anywhere, Dan was Studying in Russia for ages so clearly people are allowed to leave NK easily.
I felt emotional maybe in one scene when Man Bok (the rat) told Ri how his brother died or something.
Overall a decent show, but you are best going into this approaching it as an unrealistic and over the top comedy show than anything else.
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Finally a drama that lives up to its hype!
I’ve watched tons of dramas including Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, etc. I like all types of dramas. But I prefer a drama that has it all; romance, unique storyline, character growth, comedy, and suspense. It’s rare that I find a drama that has all of the things I’m looking for but this is one of them.Story:
The story is quite unique. What would happen if a South Korean accidentally landed in North Korea? Not only do we get a look into what it might be like to live in North Korea, we also get to see some really gorgeous men in uniform. The story has lots of twists and turns so there’s never a dull moment. All of the scenarios are quite realistic and believable which helps the audience to really immerse themselves into the drama. And the romance moves at a normal pace. It doesn’t overwhelm the drama or become overly cheesy but it’s always there as a driving force behind the main leads actions. The drama is quite funny at times too. I loved the balance of romance, comedy, political intrigue, and suspense.
Cinematography:
We get lots of breathtaking scenery. I really enjoyed the rolling hills, the lush foliage of the forest, the quaint little villages, the scenic train rides, the campfires, and the picnics. They put a lot into the production of this drama. And when the FL is flying through the air paragliding, they did a great job of making you feel like you were right there with her. The cinematography was top notch.
Acting:
This was one of those rare dramas where I don’t have a complaint about one of the actors. Usually someone is a little wooden and stiff or they overdo it, but not in this drama. They all did a great job, especially the main leads. I rarely cry at movies or dramas but the acting was so good in this one I cried twice. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a sad drama, but the few sad parts they have really got to me.
Overall:
My overall opinion is that this drama is excellent. It’s right up there with Goblin and the other really good dramas. It’s already breaking viewership ratings and will definitely get lots of awards. Don’t miss this drama.
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Overhyped and Shallow
I watched it during the initial run and thought it was ok (not good not great) but after some glowing reviews in this site i thought maybe if i watch it again, binge waching this time may be i will start to love it.Sadly it was worse
It is being considered as a drama similar to Descendant of the sun. It is easy to see why, it is lighthearted on the whole, over dramatic and over the top story wise and beautiful to look at(asthetics of characters not cinematography as a whole). But what DOTS did better was it maintained the tone throughout and thus made the experiance a lot more enjoyable.
After rewatch, the scenes that impacted me most or even made me care about the characters where of Seo Ji Hye and Kim Jung Hyun. This made me realize how shallow the main couple where and meaningless their journey was. I had to skip most of the scenes during rewatch.
If the second couples journey was chiched as the main couples may be i would have rated it more (Strange!! I Know). But their journey showed me that the drama was capable of being much more impactfull, but sadly they didnt even try.....
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Kinda boring in my opinion
So, I didn't want to watch this drama since it was really hyped up but after a long time I decided to give it a chance. Long story short, the idea of the story was a really good one and it had a big potential at first, but it lost it's charm after a few episodes. It's the first time I see Hyun Bin in a drama and I can say that this role was not a good one. In my opinion, the whole drama was carried by Yoon Se Ri, who was seen as a powerful woman but to be honest, she was also kinda dumb at some certain points. The OST...I can't really say much about it since I don't remember something about it. Also, I've skipped a few episodes because they were getting really boring, so overall I don't really see the hype everyone gave to this drama. Romance? Eh. Action? Not really. Comedy? We can't even talk about that, except the 4 guys who were with Ri Jung Hyuk, they were really cute and kinda funny.. To end this,I'd like to remind everyone who gave this show high ratings and will probably attack me, please remember that this is only my opinion about the show.Cet avis était-il utile?
the story started fine and the comedy was good, but as it continued it started getting rediculous, overly dramatic, unrealistic, and cliche.
if you want to watch a drama that's funny and cliche with some beautiful scenes and good actors, then this is good for you. but if you don't like unrealistic shows then try something else.
before watching this drama i didn't know that its auther is the same as the legend of the blue sea and my love from the stars. if i had known that i probably wouldn't have watched it because i didn't like these 2 dramas as well.
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The idea of a South Korean woman being blown into North Korea by a freak tornado is in itself slightly out there, but no more so than some of the more unique premises found in other kdramas. Where the premise veers into the absurd is how our North Korean lead and his subordinates reacted to her arrival. And even more absurd is how our second female lead, Seo Dan, who dislikes SeRi from the moment she meets her also seems to willingly risk it all to keep her true identity as a South Korean secret. It was simply asking too far a stretch of my imagination to think that North Korean soldiers would welcome a South Korean with open arms and relatively easy acceptance. All of the plans and attempts to return SeRi to South Korea were also simply preposterous. I found myself laughing at times because of just how silly everything was which greatly cheapened the more serious moments in the show.
All that said, the cast was the absolute highlight of the show. Hyun Bin was amazing as Ri JungHyuk. He captured a more subdued quiet man's character without coming off as brooding. This alone is a feat as there is already an overabundance of brooding males in dramaland. The subtle variety to the strong silent type Hyun Bin offered through his acting was refreshing yet simple. Son YeJin as Yoon SeRi provided much-needed balance to JungHyuk's calm by being quite over the top with many of her emotions. She was funny and strong-headed while also having moments of sadness and anger. It was amazing how she got on so well in North Kore but as her strength of character was well developed beforehand it made it all very easy to believe. She too was a delight that made even the more ridiculous moments of the show enjoyable.
Overall this drama was like a light little snack: easy to digest but satisfyingly filling all the same.
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This drama is brilliant!
I've been k-drama fan for more than a decade now and all these years watching more than 70 dramas, this is my most favorite one so far! Can't get enough of this drama, i binge-watched 14 episodes in a day. Chemistry of the MCs, the plot, the music, production everything is so perfect. I loved the MC's so much they've become my favorite couples.❤️This show is so amusing i didn't even skip a part. The only thing that lingers in my head all day is this drama lol. oh god I'm so into this drama. Yall who haven't watched it WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I guarantee this drama is remarkable. You're not gonna regret ?
Update: The ending was the most beautiful and happy one ever. I'm 100% satisfied <3
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Contemporary KDrama Cliches Wrapped into One Show: Does Everything Well, But Lacking Special Sauce
I find this review hard to write because of how beloved and sacred this show is. To me, watching this show the whole way through is like a rite of passage into being a "contemporary Kdrama" watcher -- it's usually hailed as THE series to watch with its elements lauded as being perfectly executed. But unfortunately, I did not feel the level of positivity about this show that most people seem to have.To be clear, it is a good drama: the cinematography, acting, story, music, set pieces, costumes, and everything have high production value and all lean towards the positive side. The story has an internal logic to it. The actors/actresses seem to be giving their all -- if you are Hyun Bin fan, then of course that itself is an amazing plus for you. The OST is comprised of well known, proven musicians like IU or Davichi.
And this show is very "Kdrama" -- you're going to have ridiculous, fantastical situations like the tornado that blows the main female character into North Korea. You're going to have rich heirs/heiress (Chaebols) that cause infighting -- in my opinion, you even have the rich guy/poor girl trope here, except that it's reversed (Yoon Se-Ri is the hyper rich South Korean Chaebol and Ri Jung Hyuk is the poor North Korean by comparison). You have short-lived love triangles (quadrangle?) with side character, second leads and stabilize into a second couple.
But to me, this show is lacking an X factor to elevate it into greatness. The premise of the main female lead being blown into North Korea means we get to spend time as viewers in that setting, which is novel. But if you strip away that premise, what do you have? Just a very typical KDrama. This is my main issue with this show -- nothing about this felt particularly special. The romance was expected and average -- Yoon Se Ri is your misunderstood, Chaebol brat who transforms into an outwardly kindhearted soul and she falls in love with prototypical, perfect male lead Ri Jung Hyuk who is fiercely kind, loyal, brave and caring -- but nothing about this screams match made in heaven to me, but rather just a typical Kdrama setup. Some of the side plots felt predictable too: good Chaebols beat bad Chaebols. True family values beat insincerity every time. Bad guys that do bad things get what's coming to them and good guys get justice or closure.
The absolute highlight for me was small moments of funniness with the side characters: without going into spoilers, I'll vaguely mention that it involves scenes in South Korea and includes the experience of "daily life" such as playing video games or eating South Korean food.
It's said that this drama is an excellent way to introduce non-Kdrama watchers to Kdramas because it does not contain anything oppressively exotic to someone not used to Kdramas while introducing them to some of the typical elements like Confucius values that find their way into a lot of Korean storylines. I agree with this statement, but to me this is exactly what makes this show so average -- it is just really safe and not notable.
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Twice as long as it should have been
I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED IT!While I loved the first 4 episodes, the more I watched it, the less I liked it and by the end the only question I had was HOW MUCH LONGER???!
It was unnecessary stretched without having anything much to tell, there wasn't even enough cheese to make it enjoyable, just boring and extremely unbelievable action scenes and plot twists when the bad guy just. Keeps. Surviving. Again. And again. And again.
However, it wasn't THAT bad. There were a lot of good things. Most importantly, it's the cast. I doubt it would have been so popular if not for the amazing actors in it. They're funny and emotional and obviously enjoyed filming this show, and it is definitely visible on screen. Secondly, the bonds the characters shared were so heartwarming. They had flaws but they were so unapologetically human that you just had to love them. Thirdly, the cinematography was stunning and the soundtrack was on point but not as memorable as it could've been. Finally, the concept itself was great, it's a shame they chose the worst possible route to develop it, so much wasted potential there. And finally, definitely deserving a separate mention, is the chemistry between the leads. Pure electricity whenever the two of them were together.
All in all, it was an above average drama, definitely worth watching for certain aspects, but in no way it deserves so much praise for the overall quality as it gets.
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On one hand, this drama goes too far with too much - too many fated 'coincidences,' too many rescues, too many escapes from death, too many jokes at the expense of N Korea. Yet, every once in awhile, it just turns into pure magic - the story will pause, get quiet-er, the camera work turns cinematic, the insights thoughtful. It would unexpectedly become a different drama all together - one very much worth watching and with themes that are incredibly touching given the current state of the world.
For once, there was an exciting second half instead of running out of steam at the 10 episode mark.
The main leads and all the supporting actors create distinct personalities and characters that linger on. Hyun Bin as Ri Jeong-hyuk can WALK, every time he strode into a room, it was mesmerising. Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri was a great mix of steely and silly. While they were both great in this drama individually - they do less well when they share a frame. I liked it better when they were fighting for each other, thinking about each other, talking about each other more than when they were actually in the same camera shot. When they were actually together on screen, their interactions got a bit stilted and there was no physicality to the relationship. They were both quite awkward in kissing scenes.
The music was competent, and like I mentioned about the story generally, the music would have some unexpectedly great moments - especially with some of the folk/childrens songs and lingering bits of classical music.
Rewatch value is mixed. I could watch Ri Jeong-Hyuk stride into a room anytime but a lot of the draw to the show was suspense on how it would all resolve.
I grade on other criteria:
Themes - 10.0
In a world that can be cruel and unforgiving, a sense of community, kindness, generosity and sacrifice are qualities to be treasured. Even in the most trying and difficult of circumstances, moments of joy, peace and connection with our fellow humans can occur. Seize life and happiness however it comes along - even if its imperfect.
Character Growth - 9.0
All the characters are marked by the experiences they shared together. They are changed people and there's no going back. Yoon Se-ri especially becomes less jaded, snobby and closed off.
Complex Women and Relationships between Women - 7.0
Seo Dan was an interesting character, as was Yoon Se-ri's mom - but that was all it was a sketch. They were defined by their relationships to the other characters especially other male characters. All the women, were overwhelmingly focused on the men in the show. Even when in solidarity with each other, it was often over a man or due to a man.
Cinematography/Production Values - 8.0
Mostly competent. The fight scenes were thrilling. A bit higher score than normal due to the unexpected cinematic moments, and a lot of shooting outdoors.
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I found the music beautiful but most was not memorable. The last song gave me butterflies in my stomach when it began which is a drama first for me!
I will say I was not sold on this drama until episodes 3 or 4 and then from there on out I couldn't stop!
You are not a drama addict if you don't try this drama!!
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The Storyline is Really Plain and the Drama is Overrated
Honestly, this drama is so OVERRATED. Even just looking at the summary, I find it completely ridiculous. Sure, it was quite different from other dramas due to the South Korea and North Korea stuff though it super CRINGY. It's basically a Romeo and Juliet story that has a either too slow or too fast paced plot. The storyline just seemed too easy to predict what will happen. By the parts where they're in the South, the plot seemed to go everywhere. Most people say you should watch it and the drama has high ratings, though in my opinion, I think the opposite. The story is just "destined lovers", "met in the past", "guy travels far to meet his girl". Honestly, rom-com dramas are usually the most interesting, though I find fantasy dramas better than this. They may have the Romeo and Juliet storyline, but they actually make the plot not too complicated, but also not too simple to the point that you can tell what's going to happen. The music was quite good, though majority just made me sleepy.Cet avis était-il utile?
