Retour à Samdal-ri (2023)

I'M GLAD I STAYED TIL THE END

This drama started a little slow. I couldn't watch the first few episodes continuously.

BUT it gets better midway. While most of the most hyped dramas' plots drop midway, this drama gets more interesting in the second half which is very rare.

I love how they reveal everything in every episode.

We also get to know the story of the other characters in the drama apart from the main leads' drama.

There was a doubt on the chemistry between the leads at first, but in the end, they became one of the chemistry in kdrama. They don't need those unnecessary make out scenes, their gazes and cuddles were enough already.

I love the ending. The people from the hometown that she refused to go back, the people who she thought would badmouth her for becoming a failure in Seoul were actually the same people who truly cared and loved her.

I also love how they did not stretch out the whole revenge plot on Bang Eun Ju because it was not worth it.

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Worst show for both the leads

This is definitely the worst show done by bothe shin Hye soon and jcw..
Story is beyond ridiculous with almost 40 years old Virgin ML pining for his ex girlfriend of 8 years back who is changing boyfriends every year..
In conclusion, ml is a loser as well as simp and fl is whiny, annoying, selfish and bratty who only drink and cry in the whole show..
There is some comic relief by side characters, that's the only good point..
The ridiculous story arc of ml father and fl mother adds insult to the injury of already crippled plot of the drama..
IF YOU ARE HUGE FAN OF LEADS AND TOO MUCH TIME TO WASTE, ONLY THEN THINK ABOUT WATCHING THIS WITH ATLEAST 2× SPEED WITH SKIPPING MOST SCENES OF SML AND ML'S FATHER..

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I love everything about it ?

i love welcome to samdalri sooo soooo much. haven't giggled and brainrotted over a show just 4 eps in since a long time.

Shin Haesun is so so excellent and the writing is gorgeous. one of my favorite things in ANY drama is well written characters and it really delivers on that front i love samdal's brashness and her vulnerabilities that she desperately tries to hide.

I love yongpil and his softness and how he cares so deeply about samdal that he would buy her ointment even after 8 years of their breakup. and i love how the actors portray them. so desr to me.

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This slow burn romance give you a healing time.

1st of all those who doesn't like slow burn , slow pacing , healing drama you can avoid this !

Okay , let me tell you this drama is giving me every aspect of life - ups , downs , family , friends , works , sufferings, happiness, sadness everything. Every single thing , we always face in our lives, our survival, hardship , our achievements, our failure, our emotions, our feelings were well put and expressed to us in a beautiful meaningful way. You can find various aspects of life through the journey.

And if I talk about acting , acting are mind blowing. Every emotions displayed very well mannered, nothing seems over powering as we all know Ji Chang wook and shin hye sun being the marvelous actors. So acting wise it's just top class. And the other casts did very well. For me acting was hundreds.

Story telling process is very good. I found it Little slow but I loved the slowness , you can enjoy the flavour when you watch every episode and have every bite of comfort. Emotional moments were also shown very emotionally. It's giving me a comfortable warmth as if a blanket around myself.

Overall I would say this is an epic drama you can enjoy in winter under your blanket, having a cup of tea or coffee, stress free one hour , enjoying country side view. 10/10

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Having a place to return to is an incredible relief

Originally I was not going to watch this series. I had put it on my not interested list and kind of forgot about it. On the day that it began airing, I was talking to my friend and they asked if I was going to watch it. I decided to give episode 1 a try and see how it was going to go and I am so happy that I did. The number of life lessons and eye opening moments I observed, learned, or took to heart throughout this series... I love the message behind the series and just how much it related to me, my situation, and where I am going in life is shocking. "As always, we're going for only as long as our breath allows without being greedy. And whenever we're out of breath, we'll come back to that place."

This kdrama is honestly probably one of my most favorite I have seen, but it is not perfect. I loved so much about it and how I don’t feel as if there were any holes in the plot. Whenever I had a question, it would be answered at some point. There isn’t a difficult to understand premise and it is a super easy watch. The only aspect of the show that really made me feel uneasy and upset was the amount of alcohol consumption. I have watched hundreds of kdrama but I do not think I have seen one with this amount of beer or soju. It seemed at some points all they did in their spare time was consume alcohol.

My favorite character of the series is the Jeju Dolphin Center’s very own Gong Jichan, played by Kim Minchul. I loved the side story with him and learning more about Haeyul and Haedal. If there was a series just for these three, I would watch it.

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One word: Warmth. That's what the drama made me feel. Love it (Second chance romance worth watching)

Jo Yong Pil (ML): The greenest flag of a character I have ever seen. Its impossible not to adore him. The actor does such justice to the character, i wonder if the writer wrote the script with Ji Chang Wook in mind.

Cho Sam Dal (FL): Very straightforward person, doesn't beat around the bush, which comes off as rude. This got her into trouble, leading to her loosing her career in the city. Bang Eun Joo (the villain) was smart to use that flaw in her character to her advantage. What I like about Cho Sam Dal are her faults, she can be pretty clueless at times and also slow to take actions, but despite them all she is a good person.

Sam Dal and Yong Pil complement each other so well. I am glad that Yong Pil got his happy beginning. While Sam Dal is a pretty impressive, Yong Pil steals the show and captures your heart, making you want to root for him. It impossible not to feel loved while watching this drama, that's how warm Yong Pil is. I'm more into enemies to lover tropes then best friend turned lovers, but this couple holds a special place in my heart. It shows us how relationships don't necessarily have to be the constant push-and-pull but can full of love and care.

Breakdown of allegations against Cho Sam Dal:
1. Bang Eun Joo intentionally went out of the way to get with Sam Dal's ex (Cheon Chung Gi ) just to prove that she could have him. (The guys is also utter crap) The only time Sam Dal said something intentionally harsh was when Eun Joo practically gloated to her that she slept with Sam Dal's boyfriend.
2. What Sam Dal said pissed off Eun Joo so much that she fabricated a suicide attempt and then claimed that she was driven to suicide because of Sam Dal bullying. Sam Dal on the other hand was so shocked to hear about the suicide attempt that she practically gaslit herself for a while, which had us all wondering did she really bully that woman?
3. That's not where it ends though, Eun Joo decided to steal Sam Dal's ideas and work as well. What did Sam Dal do when she discovered it, gave it away to the Eun Joo for free and decided to wash her hands of her.

Coming to Cho Sam Dal's family dynamics, watching the three sisters together is very fun. Ha Yool is also so damn adorable.
All the other couples were also pretty decent to watch. It was good to see all of them succeed in their careers.

I'm a bit unsatisfied with the ending because I just want more of the Samdal-ri's crowd, specially Sam Dal's and Yong Pil's relationship.

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An Ode to my Hometown

I loved loved loved the character Cho Yong Pil. The man with the most Greenest flag!

The last time I loved a male lead was Hwang Yong Sik, the heart stealer from 'When Camellia blooms'. And here I was loving CYP, the same way for being a guy with the greenest flag. Who was the most kind hearted, sweet and patient human being I have seen in Kdramaland. I don't think I found any flaw with his character. He was flawless, like he couldn't be in a real world. Maybe that's why we only find men like him and Yong Sik only in dramalands.

Moving on, this drama was what it promised. A slow paced relaxing vibe with great cast and a fantastic view of Jeju with heart tugging characters who we can't help but root for. And this drama made me miss my hometown. For a hometown which is far in memory and wanting to move back and have a community which could protect you and where you can be you. This drama made me want a sense of protection in people like how Samdal had. The power rangers and the local ajummas. I wanted it. I wanted that sense of relief knowing people got my back.

For anyone wanting to dive into this drama, please do. It's a slow angst friendly neighborhood drama with loving and sweet characters. The FL did irritate me at times for being just a pushover but I guess I kinda get what she is going through and her point of view later on. The only negative drawback for me was, even though the drama had tied up all lose ends, I wish it showed more about our MC's life and all the other characters. It did show, but I still wished they showed a bit more...

I think whenever I will miss for a hometown, I would come back to this drama to feel that sense of relief and safety.

Rating - 9/10

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loved it, ost and all

Not too sure why the drama doesn't seem like it has many viewers with such stellar cast... I've been excited to watch it ever since I saw the trailer. I rush to watch this drama every week, and every time I catch up I just want more!

Plot
People might compare this with Hometown Chachacha with the seaside theme and the main lead going to there to escape from a scandal. Since people like to compare anyway, I think this drama has a better mix of happiness, sweetness and sorrow. While Hometown Chachacha was more heart-fluttering, Welcome to Samdalri is better at invoking emotions in my opinion. The sob story here is also better explained in my opinion. It's not just the main characters' lives you're interested in, you will want to know about everyone! Happy ending as per normal, but it's a nice closure. :)

Cast
You know it's a good drama when you see Shin Hyesun. Kim Mikyung has got to be everyone's favourite ahjumma. I do like Ji Changwook and his acting but I feel like his choice of dramas hasn't been the best ... UNTIL THIS. Good ol' Ji Changwook is back. :)

Music
Beautiful music. Will definitely listen to the OSTs and put them in a playlist. The tears,,, I convinced my friend to listen to the osts and she LOVES them (enough to want to watch the drama).

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