Minority opinion here

I'm all for a comfort drama, but all I could think about throughout the whole show was, "where the heck is the romance?" When romance is listed first on tags, there should be romance! No chemistry, they held hands at the end. When does a show go from slow burn to watching paint dry?

The FL spent most of the drama apologizing. The ML spent most of the drama just there, not doing much. There was the typical trope of a woman that's liked him for years and can't admit that she's in the friend zone.

And don't even get me started on the families! The 2FL's dad almost kills her, and her grandmother wants her to lie so he doesn't go to jail?! It would have been a perfect opportunity for him to dry out. That whole storyline really bothered me. Then, toward the end of the drama they at a murder mystery that just comes out of nowhere and doesn't add anything.

I did, however, really enjoy the young second couple, and once they all became friends. There were really a lot of not very nice townspeople.

Add to that, Netflix gave up on subtitles four episodes before the end. Thankfully it was on Viki, even though I felt it was a waste of time anyway.

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WAY too many episodes!!

Just my own personal opinion, but this show was hard for me to finish. The writer should get some kind of award for making a show with the most unlikeable characters in it. I understand that there need to be some people that we don't like in order to provide some tension and move the story along - but when that includes the lead characters, it's a problem. I couldn't root for the leads. I couldn't care about what happened to anyone. There was too much backstabbing, too much hate, too many antagonists.

The story line itself was a meandering mess. It moved one way, then it went in another direction, then decided to go into a yet another direction. Was it a mystery? A revenge story? A comedy? The body swap was messily done, and much too often. I didn't feel that the actors were able to differentiate enough when they were inhabited by the other person. To me, there is a difference between a strong FL and a B****. She definitely fell in the latter category. Once she changed a little, it was too little too late.

As for the romantic relationship, I will say that the kisses were technically well done, but I didn't feel chemistry between them. They were too cold to each other for entirely too long. Bring in the revenge factor and that makes it even worse.

One more thing, since the writing didn't work for me, I found myself inordinately focused on the wardrobe. So many short, short skirts, which seemed odd since they were always on that giant stairway. People were always looking up at the people on the stairs or the people standing on the second floor - short skirts don't work in this instance. They put the FL in a number of strange outfits. I hated the boxy, oversized, mannish suits they had her wear, as well as the patterned sweaters, belts, multilayers she wore when she was inhabited by the ML. Lomon in a suit, however, can never be a bad thing. Then, the final thing we see is him walking toward her in the most ridiculous shirt/jacket I think I've ever seen.

Not that it was ALL bad -
1) Again, technically good kisses.
2) Shirtless Lomon in episode 8.
3) The team that worked in the basement was somewhat entertaining.
4) Lomon in a well-tailored suit.

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He's hoping for a season 2, and so am I!

Where do I even begin. When I first read that they were going to do this show, I wasn't too sure. But Suga is a natural. He's playful with his BTS mates, yet still manages to bring out new things that we didn't know. They are goofy together, dancing, cutting up, and laughing about silly things they've experienced. He also gave an opportunity to spotlight some other bands that we may not know and then moved to actors.

I love the idea of every guest bringing their favorite beverage, and it was funny to me that Suga didn't quite know what to do with the ones that didn't bring alcohol. Then, when you add that each episode basically turns into a mukbang, what's not to love?

Each episode had something special about it, but the last episode with his best friend Jang Yi Jeong was especially touching. When Jang Yi Jeong touched on his problems with his voice and difficulties mentally because of it, there were moments of silence that Suga didn't feel the need to fill, because it's well-known that Suga has had his own struggles in the past. Their support of each other was obvious.

Suga is respectful of every guest that comes on Suchwita, and manages to draw things out of them that fans, or people that will become fans, want to know.

This is another good show to watch if you are at all interested in BTS, not just their talent, but their personalities and their camaraderie.

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Emotional story

I wasn't going to watch this movie. It looked depressing, there seemed like there was going to be a lot of violence in it, and those aren't the types of shows I like. Well, I'm going to have to modify my first impressions, for sure.

The story itself it heart wrenching. Have you ever known anyone that, no matter what they did or tried, they continue to live under a black cloud of misfortune? That was Kiwan and Marie both. They lived lives that we can't even fathom, the kind of lives we wouldn't wish on anyone. This was a story about going on, about not giving up, and also about the strength we get from others. There is romance, but it isn't about the romance at all. That seemed secondary to me. If this is something that matters to you, it has a good ending.

The acting was amazing. Song Joong Ki was mesmerizing, not only from the fact that he looked completely different than anything else I've seen him in, but his deep quiet voice, his economy of movements and his soulful eyes brought Kiwan to life. I really felt for him and kept wanting things to get better for him.
Choi Sung Eun as Marie. This was a character that we've seen in countless dramas, but she played the part without the extreme hardness that I've seen elsewhere. I was rooting for her almost from the beginning, wishing she could catch some kind of break. The love between Kiwan and Marie actually redeemed both of them.
Jo Han Chul as Marie's father. He's very versatile. If seen him in many things where he's the comic relief, or the bumbling fool. I saw his in something else as a psychopath. In this movie, he was a man living with his grief, trying unsuccessfully to have a relationship with his daughter.

The cinematography was interesting. It was darkly filmed, to go along with the darkness of their lives. Early on, on the few occasions that we it lighter, it was more of an artificial light, the kind that gives skin a yellowish hue and you can't tell what color things are. Counteract that with the ending, out in the sunshine (and freedom), it was very effective.

Though they were supposed to be in Belgium, shooting actually took place in Budapest, which was a treat for me after vacationing in Budapest.

My only complaint was the translation done by Netflix. I don't speak a lot of Korean, but "thank you" is not "I love you". Also, when they were attempting to speak English, by saying "I do not speak English", Netflix translated it as "I don't speak French", and then when they were speaking in Korean, the subtitles said, "Speaking in English".

Don't pass over this just because it's not your usual genre. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

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Not for me

I'll say up front that you should give this show a try yourself and come to your own conclusions.

This was a really hard one for me to rate. My rating is based on the way this drama made me feel. I found myself unable to separate my feelings from the overall intent of the show, thus the low rating. As I feel I have to say so people don't attack me, this is just my personal feeling/opinion. This rating serves the purpose to remind myself what I liked and didn't like about the drama.

Story: Very interesting concept. I thought the way the story was woven together, with people's lives intertwined, was well done. As you go further into the story, we find Yi Jae inhabiting bodies of people that he's encountered before. We also see that his downward spiral was the result of his first encounter with someone's death. This drama embodied the concept of "every action has an equal and opposite reaction". I thought the story became more meaningful when it was personal, concerning his girlfriend and his mother. I just couldn't get past all the evil/darkness/bullying/violence. I probably would have enjoyed it more if time was taken to develop some of the characters more, to see why they became the way they did.

Acting: Can we just talk about the cast? I'll admit, that's what drew me to this drama. Each person was excellent in their own right, but the standouts for me were:
1)Kim Mi Kyung as Yi Jae's mother. I love this actress in everything she is in. Here, she embodied someone carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders after her son's death. Her slightly stooped posture, her slow, mincing gait, and her facial expressions (or lack thereof) showed us that she was walking through the world by herself, after losing the person most important to her. I felt her despair. Watching her face, her flat affect, a lone tear running down her cheek, it seemed that it was all she could do to just keep living.
2)Seo In Guk as Yi Jae. I'll admit that he's one of my favorite actors. Here, he hit all the emotions (even if there were only brief moments of happiness shown in flashbacks). Anger, fear, frustration. Watching him moving from hopeful to hopeless, wow.
3) Kim Ji Hoon as Park Tae Woo. Sociopath? Psychopath? His portrayal of an evil man masked as a successful businessman just gave me all kind of creepy vibes.

This was filmed in a very dark way. I understand that it was part of the whole experience, but some scenes were so dark, that if you watch it in a well-lit room, you won't be able to see what's going on. So, watch it in the dark.

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It's a 30-minute movie on YouTube

I happened upon this gem quite by accident. I almost don't know what to say. Start with the fact that Park Hyung Sik is in it, need I say more? But that's not the point (well, not totally).

This film was quiet, slow and calm. It was beautifully filmed in blues and grays with filtered and hazy camera work. Close up camera work made me feel like I was in the world of the visually impaired. We only got a token look at a couple of the characters because of the time constraints, but this film demonstrated the difference between assisting those with disabilities and pitying them.

I loved seeing all the classmates interact with one another. I appreciated those that are willing, able and have the heart to work with the disabled. Also, the hidden heartbreak - pay special attention to when the middle schooler is taking a picture of his mom - her face just brought me to tears.

I was tempted to rate it a little lower because it WAS so short, but then thought that they probably would have made it too long anyway, with too much filler, and all the magic would be lost.

This is one I will definitely be revisiting.

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I liked it, but...

I don't care for bullying, corruption, violence, and gore. If you like all those things, definitely give this show a watch, because it is extremely well-written. It's fast-paced (a little draggy toward the end), and pretty interesting throughout. There's a lot going on at all times, and I think you'll have a hard time deciding who is worse, humans or demons. This drama really highlighted man's capacity for evil. Personally, I think there was too much evil coming from too many places. It might have been better if there had been one Big Bad, as opposed to multiple bad guys.For the aforementioned reasons, my rating is lower than I'm sure most people think it should be.

However, can we just talk about the cast? I'm a sucker for found family, and this drama really did a good job of demonstrating that. The Counters are people that, in normal circumstances, might never even travel in the same circles, let alone be friends. Once they got together, they truly were a family, bickering and all. The bickering was so great, because that's what real family does, "I can badmouth you because we're related, but no one else better say anything bad about you!" There were numerous emotional scenes that really worked - they made you feel their pain, but they also brought something that made you root for them.

Cho Byeong Kyu as So Moon - he's the newest Counter. He did amazing things with this role. His grief, his anger, his disability, and portraying teenage hormones all worked together to make him so interesting. He's a beautiful crier. Trying to learn his powers, then trying to control them, often skirting around what Counters are allowed to do. I loved his relationship with his grandparents, as well as his school friendships. The transfer of power from them taking care of him, to him watching out for them was really good. Also, I liked that, for the most part, he and Ha Na had a sibling relationship, and the writers didn't try to force a romance.

Yoo Joon Sang as Mo Tak. He's the strongest Counter. His character seemed to be the most fleshed out, since a lot of the show was about corruption, and he had been a cop. The romance aspect was a waste and completely unnecessary. He becomes the father-figure of the group of Counters, and he had some amusing scenes.

Kim Se Jeong as Ha Na. Angry Counter (that's what I called her). She had a chip on her shoulder a mile wide. She doesn't like to be touched, she doesn't attach to people and she's got that "keep away" vibe going on. First, this role was completely different than her role in Business Proposal (of course!), and if I didn't recognize her voice, I might not have known it was her. This was a character that, if not played well, you would totally hate her. She made it work, and I enjoyed watching her coming to terms with letting others into her life.

Yeom Hye Ram as Mae Ok. I hated her so much in Goblin and loved her so much here. She was the mom of the Counters, looking out for the others. She formed such a strong bond with So Moon, and when she had to heal him of his wounds, that just wrecked me. I loved her character.

There were some beautiful songs in the OST. As for re-watch - no. I'm not even sure I'll watch The Uncanny Counter 2. Just a little too much darkness for me.

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I couldn't get past the student/teacher relationship

This show was totally played for laughs, thankfully, but still... why couldn't they have made her just a few years older than him, but still in school? The low rating by me is pretty much due to this, it was uncomfortable for me to watch. That said, you should try it if...

1) You want somewhat over the top humor.
2) Don't mind overacting (purposeful in this case, I think)
3) Like the "fated to be" trope
4) You are in the mood for something light to watch, without angst
5) You don't like 2FL storyline. There is one, but it is resolved really well
6) You like to watch shows about friendships and the importance of friendships
7)You like some fantasy in your shows. I mean, she thinks she's in love with a manga character!
8) You like a cute ending.

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Rating number is based solely on my lack of enjoyment

Up front I'll say that this show is a slow, slice-of-life comedy/drama. Wonderful cast. I loved the idea that they all grew up together and lived in the same alley. We got to see their day-to-day lives. I LOVED the scene where they kept taking side dishes to the others in the alley and it became a seemingly never-ending travel from house to house with side dishes. They knew each other so well; they didn't knock before entering the houses of others. That's the kind of closeness that's developed over the years, creating comfort for all involved. Every character had their flaws, but they also had redeeming qualities (except perhaps the FL's sister, she just wasn't a nice person). I can totally see why the rating for this is so high, and why people liked it, but I didn't care for it.

I loved the character of Jung Hwan. He was fascinating to watch. Still waters run deep. This character was like watching a cautionary tale of what happens if you play it safe all the time, if fear or insecurity drives you, relationship-wise.

What I didn't care for:
The FL - I felt that she played the character over the top a lot, with a lot of shrieking, screaming, crying. This actress has a very expressive face, but it just felt like too much to me. She liked one person, then another, then another.
The romance storyline. None of it felt natural to me. I wasn't seeing/feeling chemistry. And I definitely didn't agree with who the FL ended up with, that's all I'm going to say.
SO MUCH yelling and hitting between all of the characters. Parents hitting kids, sisters hitting sisters, friends hitting friends. And in the midst of all the hitting was all the yelling.
WHAT was with the goat sounds. That was SO overused!
The "grown" FL and ML. To me, they were too different than the characters we'd been watching.

If you like slice-of-life, give it a try. It might also be enjoyed more if you don't binge watch it, but savor each episode.

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Sweet story

This was a sweet story about two lonely people becoming family to one another. The actors were good, but maybe it was where I was emotionally when I watched it, but the "passivity" (for lack of a better word) kept me from enjoying it more fully. The extremely quiet FL with her hair in her face, head down, shoulders slumped, that bothered me here. That said, once they got to know each other more, both actors were beautiful to watch.

I especially enjoyed the last episode. Their new family, that included blood relations as well as friends that they'd acquired along the way. It was a lovely ending.

This is a good show to watch if you are in the mood for no angst and a slow, easy story progression.

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sweet movie

I had a difficult time not comparing this to Always (the Korean version). The actors/characters in Always are older, so I think I related more to that one because the main characters seemed lonelier, and I appreciated them finding one another more. The thing that really stuck out in this version, when he was trying to convince her to have the surgery, he was talking to her about being able to see her children. When he talked, it was like he was talking about her marrying someone else and having children. In Always, he asked her "what about when WE have babies" - that touched me so much more.

Yokohama Ryusei and Yoshitaka Yuriko both did a good job and were cute together. The actor that played his coach overacted quite a bit and that was bothersome for me.

The bonus for me was the BTS song Your Eyes Tell.

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Kind of cringy at times

I have heard of NCT-Dream and I was looking for something light to watch before continuing on my LONG list of dramas. I didn't hate it, but neither did I like it much. The biggest problem was that the team members didn't have any chemistry with one another. I haven't researched to see how long this group has been together, but there didn't appear to be any bond between then. There was actually one member that I got the impression that the other young men didn't like, and that's hard to watch as well. After watching reality shows with members that have amazing chemistry (I'm not going to name names, but...BTS), this was cringy to me, in that one minute they seemed like they were trying too hard, and the next they just seemed like they felt uncomfortable with one another and would like to be anywhere else but where they were.

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Oh my goodness, just why?!?!

Bad costuming, bad hair, and some bad acting. It was an old show and didn’t age well. I realize that production values have improved over the years, but this felt like watching a bad home movie. I'll be the first to admit that I don't care for people that are liars or con-men, so this one was problematic for me. Their separation throughout the show made no sense at all. They had no respect for one another and no chemistry. I had some second male lead syndrome though. It's also one of those shows that I watched again because I hadn't reviewed it and hoped it was better than I remember, but unfortunately, it wasn't.

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