I do not understand the hype

I will cut to the chase. It was not bad, it was a nice series to watch to pass your time but the reviews make is sound like it's a masterpiece. The only unique aspect this series had to offer is the stories of the secondary characters. However, in classic kdrama fashion, they decided to focus on the main characters' romance instead of them. That wouldn't be an issue, if the main storyline was strong or if they managed to smoothly play in the main story but I found their story the least interesting, the only interesting parts of the main male protagonist were almost brushed off and resolved out of nowhere so it felt predictable and rushed. Instead the producers decided to cram in many overused clichés that offered nothing to the story. The 3-4 minute blatant Domino's pizza ad in the middle of the last episode was the cherry on top... you knew at that point the creator didnt really care to make a nice story. Dissapointing, because it could have been so much more.

Both main actors are amazing (and beautiful), great acting but the chemistry was not fully there.
As mentioned previously the stories of the villagers were incredible, they dealt with so many different issues and it left me craving for more.

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That was unexpected

I went in thinking this was another Kdrama with maybe some social messaging for Korean beauty standards that would end up being cliché ...but boy WAS I WRONG

The series took an 180 degrees turn. I will keep the review spoiler free, so all I am saying is that if you are a fan of Korean cinema; Park Chan-wook , Lee Chang-dong, Bong Joon-ho type of Korean cinema you will like the Mask Girl.

BE CAREFUL this a very VERY heavy series which if you can't stomach, sure it is just not for you, but the production had no fault. Actually describing it as "no fault" is a disservice ... the story was impeccable, the director used masterful techniques, that helped the narrative without seeming gimmicky. Above all it was an important commentary on Korean/modern society.
It should not be left unsaid that the actors were all astonishing , even smaller roles or even child actors, it was shocking how well they performed. For example Junyoung, I've only seen him in romcom and knew him from his idol fame days but his acting made me google more of his roles.

I hope this becomes a new classic and is appreciated in both the domestic and international market, so we can see more productions like this one with such high quality.

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In need of better writers

"Destined with you" suffered due to it's subpar writing.
The plot was intriguing and fun but the way the episodes were written was so done messily the viewers didn't have time to really sympathise with the protagonists/fully engage. But the superficiality of the script was saved by some funny moments and ... the actors. To my surprise despite the negative comments I've heard, Rowoon so a joy to watch, he never felt awkward and he excelled in comedic scenes.

Despite not being a great drama I didn't really find it boring, I only felt pity that it could have been so much more.
Still, not a bad watch 6.5/10

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Nothing spectacular

There is nothing spectacular about this drama, but at the same time nothing exeptionally bad.
It was a fun premise, cute couple, interesting side characters.
Truth been told regarding the main characters eventhough they were interesting, their story dragged out for no reason.
The drama would have benefited from being 6-7 episodes shorter.
The story would have been concluded beautifully in just 10-11 episodes if they compacted some scenes... there were too many boring unessesary scenes but the drama was saved from being overall boring since each single episode had it's funny sweet and endearing moments.

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Better than expected

My friend suggested Brush up Life and I will forever thank her.
It was such a nice break from pointless and predictable romance dramas out there.
The story is so unique that got me hooked from the 1st episode.
Be warned, there is 0 romance , and it mainly focuses on the bond of these school friends.
As a woman in my mid 30's it was extremely relatable and thought provoking.
Even though I did get frustrated by the main protagonists choices sometime, I understood that this is a realistic portrayal of a person that is flawed, she obviously made many mistakes. Also, coming from a different culture some of her choices to become better person were definitely ... interesting. I saw some other comments here criticising the drama for being too "western" and falling victim of western ideologies; I think this person was watching a completely different drama.

This is a beautiful depiction of Japanese society and beliefs but at the same time it contains universal truths about relationships and the meaning of life.

All the characters, even side characters were well built and were very realistic; just humans trying their best to navigate life to the best of their abilities.

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Realistic fanfic

Doona! is like a fanfic I would have read when I was 17 that I would obsessed over, rereading multiple time to relive it's beautiful written moments.
The drama does seems like an ode to Suzy; written by an obsessed fan daydreaming of an outlook from his mundane life. Despite the extreme implausibility of this scenario, all the relationships depicted in the drama are written very realistically. That's the charm of Doona!, you deeply empathise with all the characters, their deeply flawed personalities and their struggles to navigate through love and life. A beautiful story, wrapped in stunning visual cinematography.

Sidenote: While watching the show I kept wondering if this was a manhwa which it actually was, I am so glad for the rise of webtoon and manhwa. The best sprouting grounds for aspiring Korean story tellers these days!

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I'm so confused

Is there something wrong with me? Based on the reviews even if this wasn't a masterpiece I should have atleast been able to finish this drama, but I just couldn't. I finished episode 5 and realised a didn't enjoy a single aspect of it. On the contrary, I just wished for the episodes to end as soon as possible.

Despite the intriguing first episode, the drama falls flatter than flat.
The characters are not interesting, just caricatures of people that only exist in kdramaland.
The chemistry between the mains non existent.
The plot has nothing to offer.
Ultimatetly I was utterly bored.

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