In Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None", ten strangers gather to an isolated island where they will have to witness a murder - just to become hunted themselves. It's a psychological thriller where we get to see, not only the people's deepest thoughts but also the group dynamic in a very extreme, absurd situation that you can only create in fantasies.

White Christmas' main themes are very similar to the masterpiece by Agatha Christie that was written over seven decades ago. What happens to the people in extreme fear when they can trust no one but themselves and they can't escape the danger they are confronting? Each of them reacts to the situation in their own way and various different social bonds are formed. But while "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie is clearly a detective story where the reader is fooled until the very end, White Christmas offers us rather clear hints throughout the series. I would say that in the end White Christmas' best offering for the viewers was not the mysterious guessing game but the psychological themes it dealt with.

The characters of the story were very well written. They had realistic background stories, as well as the personalities they had formed until now. The most interesting was to watch how they all would develop in the journey of eight episodes. None of them was entirely good or bad, and everyone of them had to deal with their own problems, their own values and their own emotions, and to answer the main question of the drama: "Are monsters born or created?"

Besides the great plot and characters, the production of the drama was done very well. The drama was very artistry - but not in a way that it would look forced or unnatural. The set was very simple but in the same time even more stunning. In the end you don't need some fancy effects if you know how to film: the talented use of the angles, light etc. The silent scenes with stunning views and some well-thought music, and you have everything you need for a very emotional scene. And not only was it just nice to watch - the talented production made the atmosphere very eerie and stagnant, something to get you completely absorbed into the story. I also liked the fact how the characters' uniqueness was emphasized by the way they were filmed - all in their own way.

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The above was my main thoughts after watching the the whole drama in one day (night, woops :D) - I will discuss more of the cast, music, story etc. below! :)


Story - The story was in the end pretty unpredictable although that viewers were given pretty clear hints about the mysteries in the drama throughout the series. Altogether White Christmas is a fresh and unique drama among the sometimes very cliched dramaworld. The greatest pros in this drama were the deep, well-thought characters and the many thoughts it offered to the its viewers in every single episode. Some illogical gaps though made me reduce half of a point in this section.

Acting/Cast - I have nothing bad to say about the cast or the acting. Although there were many rookie actors (e.g. Kim Woo Bin, Sung Joon) I never felt that they were actually "acting" - was it then the direction of the drama or the well-written characters, I really got into it and felt more like they were real characters rather than just normal people behind the characters they were trying to create.

Music - This soundtrack didn't have songs of its own but it borrowed many famous and also not-so famous songs from around the world. Majority of the songs were Western songs, varying from pop to alternative rock and ballads. But who could have imagined that Vivaldi's Nisi Dominus would actually be so creepy?

Rewatch value - Although I love thrillers, the series always suffer from it as well. As you know what's going to happen in the second time when you're watching the series, it doesn't really feel exactly same anymore. That's why you should always cherish the moment when you watch a drama for the first time. (:D) But with great production quality and the many thoughts that the drama offered, I think that it would still be pretty enjoyable when it is watched for the second time! (And I'm sure that I'm going to watch it for the second time for sure! ^^)

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Ever wanted to watch a sageuk drama but felt like they are too ”out there”? Sungkyunkwan Scandal would be the perfect introduction to historical Korean dramas – it has a common plot and quirkiness that can be found similar to the popular rom coms, such as "You’re Beautiful", for example. Just when you have got used to the traditional culture - the customs, the clothing and the way of speaking - you get to like it, more and more and you find yourself hooked on the sageuk dramas.

Although the plot that consists mainly of a woman pretending to be a man, is rather used in Asian dramas, it does that freshly in SKKS. Main character, Kim Yoon Hee, is a smart, determined and an independent woman opposite to those clueless girls who just happen to find themselves in a situation where they can not reveal that they have the XX-chromosomes rather than those of XY. Although that our main heroine needs some help time to time it doesn't make herr too helpless or naive. Actually, who wouldn't need some helping hand, as you live as an only woman in a man inhabitant dormitory? The group around Yoon Hee, the upright Lee Sun Joon, the smart playboy Goo Yong Ha and the rebellious Moon Jae Shin, forms eventually a close group of loyal friends who help each other in a need and value and fight for their views of life. It is refreshing to watch the group power that only grows with each episode.

Sungkyunkwan Scandal blends very well many different genres in a one drama: it has romance, drama, mystery, investigation, historical, action, school life and for the most – humor. Still it doesn't feel like losing under the number of genres but continues to surprise after each episode. Unlike the most dramas, it doesn't lose touch even in the very end and you get easily hooked on the flow.

What I loved to follow the most in this drama, was the relationship between Moon Jae Shin and Goo Yong Ha. They are completely opposite but was it then the plot, the direction or the brilliant acting, the viewer gets the feeling of a strong friendship and appreciation between them.

As mentioned about the acting already, I would say that I’m not too convinced about Park Yoochun's and Park Min Young's acting - which was a bit stiff for my liking – but to compensate these actors you get Song Joon Ki and Yoo Ah In who are both gifted with amazing talents.

If I could have changed something in this drama, it would have been those overly acting sidekicks of Ha In Soo and the weird “time leaps” witch leave you with multiple question marks saying “how did THAT happen?”.

Despite these lacks, Sungkyunkwan Scandal is a fresh, warm drama that I don’t regret watching!

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Story 8.5 - The story was full of great little twists that wouldn't let the drama turn out to be boring, even towards the very end. There were couple of moments than just seemed to happen though, against any logical reasoning, and made me reduce some points in this section. The most of the characters, on the other hand, were fresh and really likable.

Acting/Cast 8 - I wasn't that convinced for Park Yoochun's and Park Min Young's acting but loved Yoo Ah In and Song Joong Ki!

Music 6 - Nothing special with the soundtrack. It was not bad but it didn't stick in my mind either. Overall pleasant but not amazing!

Rewatch value 8 - There happened a lot in this drama which is a part of the reason that it wouldn't get boring to rewatch it - on the other hand though there were many things that stirred the excitement to me while watching it and knowing the things that will happen in the drama may make it a bit boring while rewatching it.

Overall 9 - Overall I loved it, despite of it lacks. The characters, the humor, the power of friendship, the freshness of the drama and the brilliant acting (mostly by Yoo Ah In and Song Joong Ki) got me hooked till the very end. Highly recommend!!

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Drama that stirred dialogue and shed light to important issues

D.P. has managed to capture a great balance in portraying the battle of wrongdoing and righteousness of a dysfunctioning system. We peek at the cruelty of humanity and find the goodness of the human heart on the other side of it. D.P. has been one of the top 10 dramas of the year in South Korea, and for a reason. Even though the scenes are dramatized (a bit too much for my taste during the climax), the issues raised are very real and partly also based on the real-life events. The story also sheds light to the human's natural tendencies to build hierarchies, we vs. them mentality and to ostracize those who we deem different. Going against the current not only calls for strength and courage, but the right resources as well. Sometimes we find ourselves helpless against the greater forces. When we witness unkindness and unfairness, even cruelty, we can feel small and frightened in the front of it all. Quilt follows us for not noticing, not speaking, not acting.

How much can one person do to change the system? How many victims are needed for someone to care enough to act?

From a society to the system, all the way to a one individual, D.P. looks at all the layers of our world. "What makes a monster and what makes a man?" is pondered throughout the 6 episodes. Is violent rage justified if you have been drove to it? Is abuse okay as long as no one intervenes?

D.P. tackles big issues skillfully, both those of more concrete and visible, to the deeper philosophical questions. The raw and beautiful cinematography greatly complements the themes and offers the cast a perfect stage for splendid performances. Humour is dark and witty, action is there when called for, and a pause on a perfect moment lets the message sink into the viewer's heart. Very graphic, dark and even brutal at times, it wants to shake the viewers from their utopias: sorrow, abuse, and cruelty exists in those nooks and corners we choose not to notice.

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Heart-warming mystery drama with unique touch of criticism on our modern society

Mystery to Iunakare has a common trope of an aloof and eccentric genius who is able to solve even the most unsolvable puzzles, very much like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, the police having constantly to rely on their help. This brings along both advantages and disadvantages to the story. Kunou Totono's geniousness IS the character, with his quiet but observant nature, yet one could also wonder if the drama is meant to be a realistic police drama or just a mystery story with an unrealistic plot. When Kunou is able to solve the cases with the weirdest, most random clues, it takes away from the credibility of the story. Kunou appears to use scientific evidence and theories to help him make the deductions but the evidences and theories are at times far-fetched and rely on pop-science, and Kunou quickly jumps to conclusions and outcomes that remarkably always land correct.

Hence, the different mysteries and crimes weren't the favorite part of the drama for me. Instead, I loved the criticism it offerered to our modern society. There were many good discussions and remarks that Kunou points out from time to time almost as as a moral or lesson after the mysteries have been solved. From the social position of women to childrens' rights and to the gratitude and observance we should have for life, these arguments were stated with a direct and bold manner, something which I have never quite encountered in Japanese dramas. I really loved it. The arguments that Kunou bring up are straight from the original manga. The story also had certaind kind of understanding and humanity that only Japanese dramas can deliver. Mystery to Iunakare quickly became one of my top comfort dramas that made me relax and forget my own issues for awhile.

Furthermore, what would the drama be without Suda Masaki who amazingly brought Kunou to life with the warmness, quirkiness and soul level deepness that Kunou has in the original manga. Unlike Sherlock, Poirot and company, Kunou doesn't come off as arrogant or know-it-all. He welcomes life with open arms, observing it with a inquisitive mind and always stays humble and down-to-earth, making remarks and opinions that usually hit the nail on the head. He always stays respectful and accepting of others and even creates this special bond with the wrongdoers, trying to understand their motives without necessarily accecpting their actions. Kunou's wonder and celebration of life is beautiful and his patient and compassionate nature that allows him to to try and understand others is something that made me really fall in love with the characther. I hope, as the story progresses, we get to learn more about Kunou himself and his past. Points to the female lead who had an interesting character development!

The mysteries alone were not very interesting and a bit lacking at times. However, the story wraps up surprisingly at the end, tying together some loose ends. The production quality is not at par with many of the modern-day dramas which unfortunately takes away from the magic of the story. OST didn't really stick with me, and the well-known classical pieces being even distracting at times, however the song "カメレオン" by King Gnu was lovely.

Despite the weaknesses, the positives of the drama really shone through, and all in all, I give the drama 8.5 stars and it goes straight to my favorites! I'm looking forward to the movie! :)

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