Honestly, the show isn't as bad as it is made out to be. Just forget NJH's RL drama and watch it with an open mind. The story is a bit messy and confusing right till the end but if you love romance as much as I do, then you won't mind as much.

The exceptional beauty of most of the cast members were at times distracting. But for the most part, I think everyone did a good job. There was good chemistry between the main characters as well Moo Ra and Bi Ryum. Also a special mention for Im Joo Hwan who is always such a consistent performer. The rest of the supporting actors didn't have much to do because of the weak script.

Music was one of the best parts of the show. This soundtrack will stay on my playlist for a long while.

So to sum it up, you'll enjoy the show if you go in with little expectations. Give it a try, the romance and awesome music might just win you over.

Edit:

2 years and dozens of dramas later, I stand by my initial review. I think rewatching it helped me understand it better. Forget about the comparisons with the manhwa. On its own, it was great and doesn’t deserve nearly as much criticism it gets. The story was well planned and tied together in the end. The fact that all the answers came in the final episode made it feel a bit too artificial but other than that I have no major complaints. My only gripe is that they sort of abandoned Shin Hoo Ye’s storyline. I would have loved it if they’d have elaborated on his ending, perhaps showing some hope of gaining acceptance from the other gods that he so desired. All in all I’ll say that it was a great watch the second time around. So everyone please give it a chance and decide on your own rather than relying on the reviews.

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Watch for the outstanding romance just not between the leads

Before you decide to write off this drama due to the bad reviews, hear me out.

This drama suffers from a case of split personalities. It is both very very good and absolutely awful at the same time. But do I regret watching it? Not at all.

The bad:

The drama started off decently with a best friends to lovers trope and it was engaging enough within the first half of the show. In the second half, the chemistry between the leads fizzled out. As a fan of Lee Da Hee, it pains me to say that her character was incredibly frustrating. Also it takes special talent to make someone as gorgeous as her look terrible, but this show managed to do it with the awful fashion choices. As for Choi Si Won, his character was too selfish. In short the leads were very unlikeable and over time I completely lost interest in them.

The good:

While the reality show aspect was fairly engaging, there was an unexpected couple that developed and they really stood out far more than anything else in the drama. Individually, these two characters showed the greatest growth and together their love story was swoon worthy. While they had limited screen time, their presence is what kept me obsessed and coming back for episodes week after week. Maybe the actors aren’t well known but they had great chemistry, engaging character development and an interesting background that could easily be expanded into a full series. I would give anything to have these two get a spin off show . If not that, then at least to see their crackling chemistry again as in Goblin/ Touch Your Heart.

To summarize, this show is mediocre at best if you consider the story of the leads, and most of the supporting characters. They show limited growth, and have few redeemable qualities. While they tried to tackle a lot of concepts, eating disorders, obesity, trauma, etc, I don’t think it was presented very well. Poor writing is ultimately the source of the show’s downfall.

This is also where the concept of split personalities come in. While the main story is so dull and poorly written, the story of the side pairing is so amazing that I would gladly fast forward through the rest just to watch them over and over again. Even if you’re not won over by how adorable they are together, you would still enjoy watching them. The two actors have a great screen presence and their characters evolve throughout the story. The male character ‘s arc in particular deserves special appreciation. To me these were the most interesting and fleshed out characters. It’s a shame the show didn’t give them enough screen time. Had they been the focus, the show could very well have ended up being a 10 for me. The writers have missed out on a brilliant opportunity to show something unique and special.

My parting thought is the following: give the show a chance and make your own opinions about it. There are few dramas where the romance has gotten me this excited in recent years. I really did enjoy the side pairing and will continue to rewatch their scenes whenever I feel the desire to watch some sweet romance. It was an unconventional pairing but absolutely delightful to watch. If you need one reason to watch this show, it is to watch these two characters as they grow and to see how their romance blooms. I promise you won’t regret it.

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I know I will be in the minority but I really didn’t like the show, even though I really wanted to. The main reason for this would be the script.

Seo In Guk is one of my favourite actors but I didn’t like his role. I suppose that just proves what a great actor he is to make me dislike him so much in this. Kim Moo Young begins as a character with a traumatic past who is cold, manipulative and has many psychotic tendencies. By the end we are meant to believe that his love for Jin Kang made him want to become a better human being. But I feel that the writers did a poor job in conveying this transition.

Which leads me to Jin Kang. Jung So Min did her best given the role but I found it very hard to empathize with her character. For the sake of love, Jin Kang, disappoints, betrays and lies to everyone around her. She is foolishly blinded by love and fails to recognize that Kim Moo Young is simply a bad person. The fact that the story romanticizes this fact is troubling. This is not a story of a bad boy who is misunderstood by all except the female lead. Kim Moo Young is only good to her, and not to the rest of the world. The script partially tries to justify his actions by exploring his troubling past but I don’t think it was very convincing.

Finally, the brother, Yoo Jin Gook. He is the only character that seems to be reasonable. Although he too does some questionable things, but compared everything else that goes on it seems less significant.

As for the rest of the cast, they did well but were under utilized. What was the point of Hong Bin’s character? He pretty much disappears mid-series.

I've already said a lot about the script so I’ll keep it short. The beginning and ending episodes were engaging but in between it felt like the story was going nowhere.

The OST complemented the series well. “Star” is the song that stands out. Jung So Min has a very serene voice that really shines in this song.

Overall, the series turned out to be somewhat of a disappointment. I may not have liked the story but I appreciate the fact that it had a solid ending that tied up most of the loose ends.

Coincidentally while this was airing, I also watched “Come and Hug Me" which shares a lot of parallels with this show. In my opinion that show had a superior script and would recommend you watch it if you like these types of dramas.

If it weren’t for the fact that I watched the drama while it was airing, it would have been a difficult watch mainly because of the slow pace. I don’t intend to rewatch this show. Not even the J-drama version if it is anything like this one.

As I mentioned before, I really wanted to like the show but unfortunately it couldn’t live up to my expectations.

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My reason for watching this show was a) because of all the hype and b) because of Kim Go Eun who I liked in Cheese in the trap. Unfortunately it turned out to be a great disappointment.

There is not much depth to the story and to be honest I didn’t care much for any of the characters. For a man who has lived for 900+ years, Kim Shin has about as much maturity as a 16 year old boy. Moreover, the lead pair is terribly mismatched. A younger looking actor might’ve been better suited. If this were real life, I would go so far as to think that Ji Eun Tak was a vulnerable girl who loves goblin only because he is someone that pays attention to her and takes care of her. Not exactly the best reasons to love someone.

That said, not all is bad with the show. I enjoyed watching the second pair as well as Deok Hwa. I was never a fan of Yoo In Na in her previous work but I think she did a good job here. As did Lee Dong Wook and Sung Jae.

Music was pleasant to listen to. I especially like “Stay with Me”.

The best part of the show was the cinematography. Maybe I have a bit of a soft corner since Quebec is my home province. But I must say, they did a wonderful job shooting around the Chateau Frontenac and surroundings. The Goryeo scenes were good too.

Rewatch value is none since the first watch was painful enough. For such thin plot line, what was the need to have 1.5 hour episodes? Tighter editing or fewer episodes might have made the show a bit more bearable.

Watch if you’re curious like I was, because of the hype. But I would not recommend it.

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Watching this show has been a journey I will never forget. From the summary you would think it’s the love story about teacher and a student who is 10 years younger. While that is true, it’s also about growth, deciding who you want to be and being brave enough to get what you want in life in spite of all the negativity around you.

From the first episode itself, the show sets itself apart from others. The love of Hijiri and Akira is honest and pure. In no way have the makers glamorized this forbidden relationship. The struggles of our two leads to stay apart while falling deeper and deeper into a love that no one will accept is one that you can’t help but root for.

The chemistry between the two leads is fantastic. While Arimura Kasumi did a fine job, Okada Kenshi was outstanding. It’s hard to believe this was his first time acting. The other actor worth noting is Yoshida You (Haraguchi san) who was my favorite character in the drama. The rest of the cast was good too.

Prologue by Uru was the highlight of the soundtrack. It blended so well with the tone of the show. I have been listening to it over and over again and still enjoy it.

Rewatch is a must. Although I watched the series as it was airing, I first rewatched all the episodes befor ep 5 aired and then again 1-10 before the final episode and it was great. I noticed so many little things the second /third time around.

For me this is the best J-drama I have seen and probably in the top 5 of all dramas. The last 2.5 months, I have been obsessed with the show. Waiting for each episode to come out, then coming to MDL to discuss with fellow viewers. I have enjoyed every bit of the experience. This is an incredibly well made drama that deserves to be seen. It would be a travesty if you pass it up based on preconceived notions.

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A lesson learned

Don't judge a book by its cover is a saying you hear time and again. For me it was an perfect example of that.

I wasn't going to watch this drama. It looked too dark and the age gap between the leads was too much to accept. But on a whim I decided to start it anyway and I have no regrets.

The story is not a noona romance, nor is it about two individuals supporting eachother through hardship. It is much deeper than that. Eventhough it was sad and gloomy and heartbreaking, I looked forward to new episodes each week. It was at times predictable and I didn't always agree with the direction of the story but it kept me fully engaged and ended on a satisfactory note.

When it comes to acting, everyone did an good job, particularly Kim Nam Joo. She expressed the grief and desperation of losing a child beautifully. That said, it was Cha Eun Woo's performance that made the drama truly memorable. I could feel Seon Yul's pain and desperation as if it were my own. This was easily the best performance of his career. I'm glad he's finally taking on darker, more mature roles, it really suits him. On a side note, while Cha Eun Woo has always been attractive, in this drama he is next level handsome.

The music and cinematography were on point. It was haunting and bittersweet. These two elements really suited the sombre mood of the drama.

Looking back, I'm glad I watched the drama while airing. This is not the kind of drama you can binge. You have to experience it a little bit at a time to not let it overwhelm you. No matter how great a drama it is, I don't think I'll ever rewatch it. I already know the twists and turns. The surprise element is gone.

To summarize, I consider Wonderful World to be among the best dramas so far this year. Don't be like me and judge it based on superficial things. Just give the drama a chance, and you will be hooked in no time.

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This drama set itself apart from all others from episode 1 itself. I don’t know much about cinematography or lighting or any other film technicalities but throughout the series I couldn’t help but admire how beauty of each shot. I feel it is on par with Goblin if not better. The Cuba scenes were especially stunning.

Going into this drama, I came with high expectations since Park Bo Gum is one of my favourite actors. Song Hye Kyo I like as well. I can’t say their chemistry was exceptional but there was enough to make the story believable and leave a lasting impression. Needless to say, my expectations were fully met.

The side characters served their purpose but no one really stood out for me. Music as well., it was pleasant to listen to and fit the mood very well but not particularly memorable.

As the series went on I noticed that there were a lot of complaints about the pacing of the story. I fully understand their point of view but I feel like it’s one of the things that makes this drama so unique. Yes, it is slow but never boring. In this fast paced lifestyle that we now live in, this drama reminds me of old times when people took the time to savour the little things in life. I love how the bond between the two leads grows over the course of the series. There is no crazy villain, throwing curveballs at opportune moments. Every cliche that k-dramas have is flipped. A 2nd lead/rival that you can’t help but sympathize with. Even if this storyline has been done a thousand times with slight variations, the little differences mentioned above and more made the story refreshing.

This drama felt like a good movie that I wish would never end. It was pleasant, and served as relaxing end to each week after work. I spent the better part of the time with a goofy smile plastered to my face. Guys like Jin Hyuk are one in a million.

To conclude, I will say that the series was one of the better ones of the last year. I appreciate how the writers gave a proper end to every storyline, big or small. I truly enjoyed watching this show. However, I don’t think I would watch it again. Not because it’s not good but because, I know that the excitement that I felt the first time around won’t be there on a repeat viewing.

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It’s been almost a week since I finished the show and I still can’t get it out of my mind. That’s rare for me.

The whole story feels so real. Like you could go out on the street and end up meeting characters like Moon Soo and Kang Doo. You feel their sadness, their desperation with circumstances and you find yourself rooting for them despite it all because they truly deserve a happy ending.

Both the leads as well as supporting actors did a wonderful job. The chemistry between the leads was palpable and their romantic scenes will stay with you for a long long time. It’s been ages since I’ve wanted to binge watch on a show, and I’m happy to report that all the sleepless nights paid off. The story, character development and finally the ending make for a great watch. I feel like it was the end of something beautiful. I laughed, I cried, and felt everything the characters felt and learned to appreciate my own life a little bit more.

I have nothing but praises for the show. Good story, good acting, and great ost, especially Jun Ho’s song.

This one is a must watch as far as I’m concerned.

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A masterpiece

Beautiful, twisted, heart-warming, thrilling, mysterious, agonizing, saddening, the list goes on. Having just completed the series, I feel a bundle of emotions. While the series can be categorized as a psychological thriller, it’s also very much about romance, love and family. Every week I kept coming back and becoming entirely engrossed in this world.

Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won are some of my most favorite actors so I came in with high expectations and to be honest, they far exceeded them. Both embodied their characters so beautifully, expressing a wide range of emotions, they truly brought the characters alive. Also their chemistry was amazing.

As for the story, it was very well written, pacing was good, suspenseful, emotional and kept me engaged throughout. I also truly loved the contrast between the mystery/ thriller and romance aspects of the story. It’s not often that you see the love story of a married couple, nor the love between father and daughter. Everything about the story was wonderful. If I have to pick one flaw, I would say it is the last episode. Although it was beautiful, I felt it would have been better had the story ended at ep. 15 and the contents of ep 16 being an epilogue of sorts.

Music really played a role in tying the series together. Ost was excellent and made each and every scene even better. Feel You by Shin Yong Jae was easily the star, hauntingly beautiful just like the drama.

It was a wonderful experience watching this drama, however I don’t want to rewatch it again because the suspense element would be gone. Instead, I will remember this as one of the best dramas I’ve seen all year if not all time.

Watching this drama is a must. You don’t know what you’re missing,

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Gosh where do I begin? What started off as a promising love story that was sweet, realistic and heartwarming left me with a bitter taste in the end. Throughout the series people were critical of FL’s mother for being too controlling but for me the most infuriating character was the female lead herself. I have nothing against the actress, she did a fine job as did the rest of the cast. What bugs me is the poor quality of writing that began from the middle of the series right until the end. Yoon Jin Ah is everything I hope to never become. It is infuriating to see how casually she treats others’ emotions. She is neither strong nor independent and doesn’t have the integrity to see things through till the end. The writers did not offer any redeeming qualities to the character. Moreover they didn’t treat the very relevant issue of work harassment in a proper manner.

The best stories are those where the characters rise and fall and rise again after learning from their mistakes. In this story, not a single character shows any character growth and the series ends in a way that feels too contrived and far from its realistic beginnings.

As I said, the cast as a whole did a good job. Jung Hae In particularly shines in his role. I also liked many of the side characters.

As for music, the shows featured an English language soundtrack, which is a first for me in k-dramas. Unfortunately, I can’t say enjoyed it much. But the songs fitted well with the mood of the show.

Rewatch value is none for me. It was an engaging watch but I can’t say I would ever want to watch again.

I had high hopes for this drama but unfortunately it turned out to be a great disappointment.

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If I could rate this drama more than 10, I’d do that.

As a fan of Kim Soo Hyun, I waited eagerly for months for his great comeback. At the same time, I was also anxious because so many of his contemporaries have had rather underwhelming returns and was afraid to be disappointed once again. However, I’m happy to say the drama not only lived up to my expectations but exceeded it.

The story was unique, twisted and complex. There were many arcs within the drama, some brought tears to my eyes and others incredibly heartwarming, with the occasional comic scene thrown into the mix. Character development of the 3 leads was excellent. One aspect of note is the portrayal of a character with special needs and the burden it puts on family members. So often characters such as Sang-Tae are either treated as a child/ someone to be pitied/ some kind of prodigy. As if their stories are not worth telling if they’re perfectly ordinary. I love how they showed his struggles and irrational fears while also focusing on his desire to be a good older brother and ambition to be an illustrator. Likewise, it was interesting to see the impact it had on Gang-tae in his childhood and how his character grew over the course of the series. Moon Young was the final piece of the puzzle. I loved the brotherhood/ friendship between the 3 main characters. They really did feel like a family.

Acting was very good all around. But particularly of Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji. Also their chemistry was palpable. I loved each and every interaction of theirs, be it romantic or otherwise.

The music was fun and enjoyable and fit well with the mood.

Rewatch value is low. But only because I don’t think I would feel the same level of excitement and anticipation watching this the second time round.

This drama kept me engrossed and eagerly waiting for the next episode to air. I enjoyed it thoroughly. This is easily one of the best dramas I’ve watched all year.

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Not a fairytale but memorable nonetheless

My heart hurts especially while finishing the last few episodes. While many will attest to the fact that it’s not an ending we want, to an extent it’s a realistic one.

From start to finish 2521 was truly a memorable experience. It’s a coming of age story depicting the struggles of youth, friendship, first love, and the long winding road toward adulthood.

Let’s begin with the love story, as denoted by the show’s title, it’s a story of one’s first love and first real heartbreak. While that is all a part of life, I felt that the ending wasn’t very appropriate. This was not a frivolous teenage romance which ended as the leads grew up and eventually grew apart, The leads fell in love over several years and what tied them together was immense respect for each other and their respective careers and the will to support one another through life’s hardships. For someone who shared such a meaningful bond, I find it hard to believe that they wouldn’t have tried harder to make it work. For two people who communicated so well together, I can’t believe that it was the lack of communication that tore them apart. Aside from the ending itself, the entire journey was beautiful . While there wasn’t heavy romance, you could feel it throughout the show in subtle ways. Every scene was meaningful and a delight to watch. The fact that it was portrayed so well is what makes the conclusion so hard to accept. Nevertheless, I don’t regret watching it.

While the love story was wonderful, the drama much more to offer. The drama highlighted a number of topics that have seldom been explored till now. For example, the IMF crisis and the impact it had on the country’s economy and it’s citizens was an eye opener. The show also goes deep into the life of an athlete, exploring the kind of determination, pressure and hardship they must go through to succeed. I enjoyed the fact that it showed as lesser known sport such as fencing. Moreover, it showed a deep bond between the female characters. There are so many stories showing the friendship/ teamwork between boys it was refreshing to see the bond between girls. High school life both the carefree days as well as the struggles that students must face were also brilliantly portrayed.

While the cast was quite a bit older than high school age in real life, I can understand why they were chosen to play the part. The characters were written with a lot of depth. Inexperienced actors could not do justice to the roles. There is no doubt that Kim Tae Ri did an excellent job, she deserves every bit of praise she has gotten. However, Nam Joo Hyuk deserves no less recognition. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen his work but I must say what a remarkable improvement. I’m so glad he takes on such varied roles and hasn’t been typecast because of his good looks. Maturity suits him well and he looks even more handsome that I remember. He portrayed the role of Baek Yin Jin with aplomb. I look forward to seeing more of his work. The rest of the cast did well too.

The music was pleasant to hear and was well placed throughout the series. I can tell that it will be in my playlist for months to come,

Cinematography was well done. The competitions felt very realistic and the filming locations were well chosen. The scenes in front of cherry blossom trees looked beautiful. I also loved how so much attention was paid to the details when it comes to progression over the years ex. changing fashion, advancements in technology and so much more. It definitely made me feel a bit nostalgic.

When it comes to rewatch value, I think it’s fairly low. The experience you have the first time around can’t be replicated on a subsequent watch. Enjoy it while you can and treasure it for years to come.

Overall this was a well made drama you won’t want to miss. While I wasn’t happy with the ending of the love story, and my heart still hurts, the rest of the drama was outstanding. It was bittersweet, but a memorable watch nonetheless. Don’t let the negative comments deter you from watching. This was easily one of the best dramas I’ve watched in recent times.

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From a sceptic to a believer

For months I hesitated watching this series for mainly two reasons :
1) 50 episode count
2) BL storyline

I’m happy to report that both my concerns were unfounded. The episodes count is high but they are only 40 minutes long and once you start watching you’ll binge through the rest. As for the BL storyline it’s there only if you look extremely close. The show portrays them as two individuals with a deep bond - more like soulmates than lovers.

In the end it took me all of 5 mins of watching Wei Wuxian and his antics to fall hopelessly in love with this masterpiece.

A helpful tip: The show begins at a pivotal moment and keeps moving back and forth in time which is a little confusing. I would suggest you start watching from the beginning of the flash back in the last few minutes of ep 2 until it ends in ep 33. Then go watch ep 1-2 and finally the rest from ep 33 onwards.

The story: The story was engaging throughout, presenting a broad range of characters, each with a proper back story. Having read the novel simultaneously, I was amazed how faithful the show is to its source material, down to the actual dialogues even. Aside from some changes, here and there, it truly felt like the novel had come to life. I also appreciate how every story had a conclusion, there were no loose ends.

Acting: Everyone did a good job but I must mention that Xiao Zhan really blew me away. I did not know of him or Wang Yibo being idols so I am very much unbiased in my opinion. WWX is such a layered character who is fun, lovable, mischievous and yet sometimes dark. Xiao Zhan brings so much depth to the role. I can’t imagine anyone else playing the part. Wang Yibo also did a good job given the limited scope in his role. WangJi is such a stoic character, I enjoyed how he brought some warmth into the role with his micro expressions.

Music: The music was pleasant and suited the scenes well. WangXian, sung by the leads is very soothing to hear. I enjoyed the OST a lot.

Rewatch value: I probably will watch this show again. But first I need to watch all of the other adaptations. Be prepared to go through serious withdrawals once you complete the drama.

To sum it up, this show exceeded my expectations and truly deserves all glowing reviews. I am so glad I decided to watch it. I don’t give high ratings often but this show truly deserves a 10/10.

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This is my first time writing a review for a show. I've watched LMH in the heirs and boys over flowers, which was my first k-drama but this is the show where I like him the most. Very natural acting. The chemistry between choi young and yoo eun soo is one of the best I've seen so far.

The music was very appropriate and listening to the soundtrack brings back happy memories of the show,

The show as engaging throughout and I enjoyed the blend of politics and romance. As much as I love the small romantic gestures, I kept wishing for a little bit more. That's what would have made the show a perfect 10 for me.

Lastly, the ending left me wanting. It felt a bit rushed, I would have loved to learn how the stories of each of the side characters ended, especially the king and queen. Also a grand romantic gesture for the leads would have been epic.

I would have rewatched it again right after the first time but I so many othe shows to watch that this will have to wait. Some day, months or a year from now I intend to rewatch this show from the beginning.

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