When a drama is so perfect it wakes you up from what feels like a century of hibernation…
Oh how I’ve missed you, Forest of Secrets. And I will continue to miss you, till the next season comes along
Having read a few murder theories ranging from far-fetched to mildly believable, I thought it would be good to offer a different point of view. To me, it was obvious that Hye-na committed suicide. She jumped from the balcony all on her own.
I drew this conclusion from her increasingly frantic state of mind. Hye-na has been shown to be clever, self-sufficient and mature beyond her years. Unfortunately, she’s also sly, wicked and manipulative. These traits make people forget that ultimately Hye-na is still a teenager and an underage orphan. She just lost her mother, who’s her one and only family member, so I won’t be surprised if she also lost her will to live. Strike one. Even Ye-seo admitted it herself “But Hye-na’s quite impressive. If it happened to me, I wouldn’t be able to live without you, mum”. And yet in a stroke of fateful timing, she found out about the existence of her father. She then decided to hold on to that one measly thread, doing everything in her power to find a new family for herself. That’s how she moved into the house, and in the process got jealous and greedy, and was pushing everyone’s buttons.
Hye-na never intended for the truth about her father to be revealed so soon. Holding the secret means that she has bargaining power against Seo-jin for as long as possible (remember their deal?). She just wanted to toy with Ye-seo and made her miserable milking Woo-joo’s crush on her for all its worth. Yet she lost her cool in the spur of the moment and spilled the secret herself during their fight. You’ll notice that she was quite flustered afterwards. She may say to Seo-jin “You can deal with it however you want. It’s spilt milk” but she also realized that she just lost the upper hand. When Seo-jin confronted Hye-na later and she counter-threatened with SNS posting, it’s really just an empty threat. Seo-jin was like “Fine, let’s die together. We only need to get over the embarrassment but you, you will never make a life for yourself”, and Hye-na is smart enough to know this. She’s been putting on a façade of wickedness in order to stand toe-to-toe with Seo-jin but this is really a lop-sided fight between a child and an adult that she will never be able to win and she’s scared. Hye-na’s not a psychopath and all that stress must have further taken its toll on her mental health. Strike two.
Nevertheless, she still has one last card. If her father Joon-sang can accept her, then all of this will be worth it. She may butt heads with Ye-seo all her life but at least she’ll have a place to call home, and people to call family. But from the preview it looks like Joon-sang can’t be bothered with her and even mocked her existence, whether or not he knows the whole truth or only speaking hypothetically. Strike three. Hye-na can’t help but feel resigned. Her lifeline just got cut off and it’s not surprising if she decided to take her own life. In her last moments, she was touching the bricks that made the building, and taking in the view from the tower, as if she was saying goodbye to things she never got to have. She took a deep breath full of resignation, as if readying herself, and when she fell, a single tear also fell from her eyes and that was so telling. This was such a sad ending for Hye-na, who deep inside is just a lonely kid trying to survive.
I can’t help but look back to what Kim Joo-young said to Soo-im. She’s actually right in the sense that the tragedy’s roots are in the family itself. They could’ve made a different choice but their greed and arrogance just accelerate whatever hell on earth that she facilitated for them. What Teacher Kim did was create an environment where it was easy for the family to go into ruins, but had they realize it and made different choices, the tragedy may have been able to be prevented. What could the others in the house have done to soften Hye-na’s edges? Perhaps Hye-na need not die at all, but she would never know now. Her death will certainly shake the castle, and especially Seo-jin’s family who has to bear the brunt and deal with the aftermath.
PS: I feel like Soo-im when writing this, furiously typing and brimming with self-righteousness, LOL.
Matrimonial Chaos is so underrated. It may not have a cinematography that’s dripping with money but it’s so well-written and superbly acted. And honestly, I’d much prefer a well-executed story that can move your heart and wring your emotions, than a bunch of pretty pictures strung together. The characters are flawed but very human, and no matter how selfish, petty or despicable they were at one point, it’s impossible to hate them. Of course, the acting helps too.
This is especially true for Lee Jang-hyun (played by Son Seok-gu), who’s proven to be a character that made me feel so conflicted throughout. He is a cheater who realised belatedly that he’s lost someone important and tries to win her back. His backstory that’s filled with trauma and betrayal by women shaped him into who he is. He becomes so insecure in himself that he never wants to take responsibility for anything and just lets life drag him along. So when he finally realised that for the first time ever he wants to make a choice and abandons the rest; when he cries and begs Yoo-young to give him another chance, it was so powerful. I can relate to and feel his sincerity. However at the same time, I wonder if it’s okay to trust him. There’s this looming fear that people don’t change and if she doesn’t run away now, she probably will never be able to. I’m glad the story ends well for the both of them.
Anyway, Son Seok-gu caught my eye and he has done such a good job with the character that I started looking for his past works. He hasn’t done many, and I’ve watched Mother. But then I found this clip from Sense8 and omg his English is so sexy!
It’s a gem. I thought it was beautiful. The interior scenes all seemed homey with the attention to detail used. I’m obsessed with the water crossings in the drama.
Oh yes. I was surprised with his fine English . In MC he speaks a line before his wedding. He says ‘borrowed’ with an accent and you should see SeokMoo’s face 🙂
“Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue”. When he said that I was like, HANG ON A SEC *frantically rewind*. I thought I heard wrong but the clip from Sense8 confirmed it. He should get more English-speaking roles in dramaland, rather than giving them to awkward foreigners with zero acting skills.
Glad to find more love for this show!!
It’s so much more difficult to make a show with such powerful and meaningful script. I mean, so many dialogues in this drama are worth framing!!
Jang – so many of us were conflicted about him in this show. His acting was so good. Every time he says ‘dey’(yes) when he doesn’t want to answer it or avoids an answer with such innocence he cracks me up.
This Mama Fairy show is… I have no words but LOLs and more LOLs. I still can’t decide if it’s genius or just plain crazy, but one thing is for sure: I was entertained. I can\’t stop laughing at Kim Sun-ah being the butterfly-haired sexy eelworm, while Eric is Alex, the Jeolla-do saturi speaking wise frog, and Jung Kyung-ho is Jeom-dol inside the egg. Who thinks of these things? Honestly, best voice cameos ever.
Remind me not to ever anger Korean netizens. Man, they’re ruthless. Life’s finale just got roasted online and no one was spared from their wrath, with the exception of Jo Seung-woo and the veteran actors/actresses. Out of curiosity I read some of the comments this morning before watching the finale, and they were some really sharp and hurtful criticisms, so I was expecting the worst.
I finished watching just now and I guess it was okay? It was definitely not one of the more satisfying endings by a long shot (this year, that title belongs to My Ajusshi – all hail Kim Won-seok and Park Hae-young!), but I got some answers so for me it’s an acceptable ending. The netizens, however, were cursing everyone starting from the writer (who bore the brunt of the blame), then Lee Dong-wook (who was told to go back to acting school), Won Jin-ah (for the awkward love line), and even the director as well (for giving unnecessary screen time to plot points that no one is interested in).
Although I’ve also stood on a soapbox and criticised the show before, I thought it was rather unfair that all the earlier episodes were quickly forgotten due to a finale that left a bad taste, but it is what it is. I suppose expectation is a double-edged sword; the disappointment of not being able to meet it is what makes the netizens lash out.
Oh well, I hope this would not deter Forest of Secrets Season 2 from being produced. God knows we all need it. In the meantime, I’m just going to re-watch FoS while waiting for Feng Shui to be released. See you in your next project, Jo Seung-woo!
Wow I didn’t expect the netizens to lash out so much. I was happy with the finale, despite its flaws. Maybe bc by this point, the only character I was invested in was JSW’s. So when he got the happy ending he deserved, I was happy. Hahaa
people expecting a perfect score drama like Secret Forest and for some it deliver. but for some, it was a failure. i think lee dongwook and wo jin ah really taking all the blame. i guess they are like outsider from the perfect secret forest team that people didnt really appreciate their roles in the drama. i might be projecting but their anger on LDW and WJA is really constant since the start of the drama. this two was so loved in their previous drama but it change overnight with Life.
Where did you read it? But LDW was receiving flak from the start but it was an old(er?) issue about his acting (it kinda quited down during goblin) and about the name placing on the poster. There are comments that JSW name should place first since he is the bigger name and bigger draw. I’m not sure why they criticize WJA tho. Sure, I didnt like her character that much but I dont think it is her fault, it is a characterization flaw.
Yeah, read them too on my twitter tl.
I actually agree with some disagree with others, but it’s just life. Everyone entitled to their own opinion – netizens, twitterians, beanies.
fun fact – i also decide to binge FoS))
I guess everyone (myself included) is expecting a grand finale like SF – but the ending is beautiful that I like a lot. It lightly finishes off the politics by trumping temporarily the Chairman via the Minister but realism is what sets this drama apart from others when President Gu said that victory would only last as long as the Minister is in position. Then it moves on to paint the story of each character – life goes on and live it to the full as best as you can. There’s great message for us all!
Exactly. I felt like the writer purposefully bring everyone full circle to their starting point, with many of them having to deal with the exact same problem all over again, but they are now better equipped to face it. And I love that. Life is an ongoing struggle after all, and I never really expected the drama to give us the ‘final’ answer.
Life hasn’t been the perfect drama as Forest of Secrets was for me. There were unfortunately glaring flaws in all fronts that miss the 2% wow factor. It is solid, but falls short of being mind-blowing (see the comments section for my 2 cents on Life’s flaws). Nevertheless I waited with bated breath for new episodes every week, and this final week is no exception.
The preview for episode 15 seems to suggest that the trio that matters will join hands to defeat the evil chairman, however I have a nagging feeling that it’s more like the Last Supper kind of gathering. By the looks of it, the three raised their cups as a show of respect to each other before the real battle begins. “Let’s do what we can, so there are no regrets”. Either way, Seung-hyo will have to decide where his allegiance lies, and live with the consequences. He’s my favourite character and I’m rooting for him all the way, so I hope his character stays consistent and doesn’t get short-changed in the end.
I love Lee Soo-yeon’s brilliant writing in Forest of Secrets, but I think this time it is overly ambitious. Just from the top of my mind, I can point out a few topics that the writer raised, but then simply gets forgotten. For example just for Seung-hyo alone, the writer never explains what drives Seung-hyo to bend over backwards and devote his whole life to Hwajeong. It’s only mentioned that he’s a scholarship student (so what? unless all scholarship students are legally contracted to be life-long slaves, Seung-hyo always has a way out). Additionally, JSW has said in the press conference that his character is loyal to the former chairman out of gratitude, but it’s never explicitly shown what he’s grateful for. We could’ve understood his character motivation better had this been made clear from the beginning. It’s also mentioned in passing that Seung-hyo was once badly screwed over by some of the subsidiaries’ presidents, and that’s why he’s now very cautious when it comes to doing anything that can potentially piss off the chairman, but we never know what happened. A simple flashback scene on these topics along the way would’ve sufficed, and yet we’re at the final two episodes and we still haven’t got any crumbs.
Also, what’s with the Seosan pioneers (the original land owners)? Is it important enough for us to pay attention? Do the Korean viewers just automatically relate because it’s a current social issue, whereas the international viewers are here scratching our heads wondering what the big deal is? Seung-hyo has planned for so-called “caretaker lodgings” to be built near the new hospital complex, and we know that he intends for them to be used for a different purpose unbeknownst to the current chairman, but what is it? I could go on and on with the many loose threads that the writer has created, but shows no signs of being resolved, which is a shame.
Did the finale answer your question on Seung-hyo? Perhaps the old chairman of Hwajeong helped him while his family was their lowest point due to the IMF crisis.
About the Seosan pioneers, I’m glad I am not the only one who was scratching my head. I think it’s some social issue which only the Koreans can understand.
Acting – This actually starts with mis-castings. No-eul was casted too young. If it was intended from the start that she would be Jin-woo’s cohort, then they should’ve casted someone who looks and carries the gravitas of someone her age (mid to late thirties). It was super awkward to hear Sun-woo call her noona. Lee Kyu-hyung himself is not baby-faced, and I only accept it because he acts like a puppy around her. If I could re-cast I would’ve probably picked Han Yeri, or Moon Chae-won. What Won Jin-ah also didn’t manage to do is create an unambiguous chemistry with Seung-hyo. I’m just confused as to what the writer intends to do with her character and their so-called love line. Is it a platonic friendship, is there flirting, or potential for romance and soul mateship? Instead of having a clear-cut something that the viewers can root for, all their interactions just turn into a big messy, forced, ambiguous nothing.
As for Lee Dong-wook (and Jin-woo), sigh. I digged deep into my heart to find something positive to say about his performance, but this is one of those times where I cannot understand or relate to the hero of the story. However, it would be unfair to say that the blame lies solely on the actor, because frankly, the writing for the character itself is pretty damn frustrating. Do you want me to root for you or not?
Totally agree with the casting of Won Jin-ah. I was fine with her as a character on her own but I found it really hard to buy her with Seung-hyo. I don’t think it’s age but something else which I can’t quite put my finger to. Put Director Oh and Seungkhyo together and I find them mesmerizing. That’s the difference.
For Jin Woo, someone described him as a douchebag. While that’s rather strong, I find it hard to say anything positive about him other than his devotion to his brother. He’s one of the strangest lead character I’ve seen in dramas. I enjoyed the side characters like the annoying doctors and the organ transplant guy much more than Jin Woo. Was it because of LDW’s performance? I know that he’s heavily criticized for his performance but some of it seem biased from the start. I like underdogs. So while I think highly of Jo Seung Woo, I was hoping that LDW would prove his naysayers wrong. Although he wasn’t terrible, he wasn’t very good either. Sad is all I can say of Jin Woo. He just looks grim all the time.
Directing – One could argue that the writing in Forest of Secrets is equally muddy from the start, as there are so many characters, each with different motivations, which could possibly point them to be the main suspect. However in the director’s hand, each layer of the character is peeled at a pace that is just right. Do it too early and you risk running out of steam towards the end. Do it too late and the viewers disconnected and already left before the meaty part starts, plus you run out of time, as is the case for Life. It is admittedly, a larger ensemble cast compared to FoS, so there’s less time allocated for each character’s development, but what a waste of a bunch of good actors. We could’ve done away with some unnecessary scenes and save it for what’s really important. The director did his best, but I foresee that there was just not enough time to try and wrap up this story in a satisfying way.
Music – The less said about the stupidly loud background music, the better. I’ve noticed that they’ve thankfully toned it down a notch in the later episodes, possibly due to criticisms. I hope the music director learnt something from this experience. Sometimes less is more.
Your criticisms are so on point. It has been a solid, wild ride but as we approach the end, I’m almost certain that not all the loose threads that matter would be resolved successfully. Most of the reasons (or maybe the only reason) why I love this drama have to do with Seung-hyo’s character and JSW’s performance. Director Oh and Team Leader Kang are tied for second favs <3 Other than that, FoS by far is superior in terms of writing and directing.
What happened to Mr Sunshine’s ratings? Did a sports game take over most of the audience on Saturday night or something? Otherwise how do you explain the sudden embarrassing drop of over 10% of viewership between last week and this week? I have to admit there isn’t much happening; it is not very engaging and it takes me several goes just to finish an episode, but damn, if there is no other logical explanation, the production team must be freaking out right now.
Yesterday was the Asian Games gold medal football match between Korea and Japan. I suspect maybe the whole nation tuned in for the game. Koreans are very patriotuc.
Plus Son Heung Min (an EPL player) was playing for a chance to be exempted from military service. A lot of overseas media covered his journey because i guess it was so unique. He had to win gold to be able to continue playing with his club and avoid being away for 2 years. Luckily they won, so everyone is exempted from military service.
Japan put on a great fight. For a team of only Under 21 players going against big names in the Korean team, i say Japan did very well.
The important football match explains it then, which means to the production team’s relief tonight’s episode’s ratings will most likely bounce back. They’re at the final stretch and really can’t afford to lose any viewership.
Possibly the cutest thing you will see today
(Bless your soul, whoever made this)
Now, Feng Shui sounds utterly boring on paper. I mean, what’s the big deal about a bunch of men (and a stunning lady) fighting over a piece of land? However, with this cast (Jo Seung-woo, Ji Sung, Moon Chae-won, Kim Sung-kyun, Baek Yoon-sik and Lee Won-geun), I have no choice but to watch.
This Chuseok, the box office battle is on between Jo Seung-woo and Ji Sung’s Feng Shui, Jo In-sung and Park Sung-woong’s The Great Battle, and Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin’s The Negotiation.
Who will emerge victorious? Who are you rooting for? But no matter what happens, I’m sure we can all agree that the audience are the true winners.
Gather around kiddies, for Moon Sori and Jo Seung-woo are giving a masterclass in acting. Out of all the amazing acting JSW has given us so far in Life, this sequence is my favourite. Screenshots don’t do it justice and only by watching you can hear every breath he took, and all the shifts of expression in a matter of seconds.
There’s no doubt in my mind that even if JSW doesn’t do anything else, with this alone he’s got enough ammunition to be nominated for Baeksang’s Best Actor awards again next year.
OH MAN, this scene was so good. Gu Seung-hyo not a man that shows his desperation, but in this he was so subtle, effortless… ugh. Jo Seung-woo is everything. 💖💖💖 (My other favorite was the scene between him and the Deputy Dir. When he raised his voice for just a brief moment I was literally fanning myself lol)
I mean, we get awesome back acting from him in ep14 Forest of secret no? XD But seriously, I keep wanting more scene between the 2 of them. And I actually rewind a few times their public showdown in previous episode tbh. It was so damn good.
Episodes 11 and 12 of Life just made me feel so enraged. Thanks to Jo Seung-woo\’s acting, I\’m totally feeling what he\’s feeling. I\’m all ready to throw chairs. I can’t imagine how the writer is going to resolve this mess, but I can recommend a few things that need to happen:
1. Seung-hyo needs to quit the toxic Hwajeong conglomerate altogether and bring his awesome self and Team Leader Kang straight to their biggest competitor (excluding QL, of course). See how the Chairman likes losing their best business brains.
2. Now that the President position is vacant, the Chairman can bring in an awful replacement that’s both crap at the job and way more materialistic than Seung-hyo. See how Jin-woo likes that. I seriously think he has got no idea. The hospital has already been bought by Hwajeong and they can’t just press Cancel now. If President Gu goes, another one of the many Hwajeong subsidiaries’ president will simply fill his position. What does Jin-woo expect, that Seung-hyo’s replacement will be a saint? Dream on.
3. Unless of course, Director Oh retaliates by hiring hitmen to murder the Chairman, which will make everyone happy. You don’t mess with Director Oh.
Ohemgee I so agreed with you!!!! All my feelings and sympathies are for Seung-hyo, thanks to JSW’s amazing performance. Jin-woo is making me see red bc of his incredible naivity. But he still got some brownie points for trying. Haha
It is rare that I’m rooting for the “anti-hero” instead of the “hero” of the story, but it happens. Jin-woo referred to himself as a ” fearless day-old puppy” but I think he’s more like a bull in a china shop; careless actions resulting in so much collateral damage.
Jin woo seems more like the conventional/stereotypical hero in a drama that just seems somewhat one dimensional to me. He has this idea of justice in his head and goes right to it without thinking of the consequences, fearlessly but also naively. Maybe that’s why he sticks out like a sore thumb to me. Sighhhh i just hope Seung hyo makes it out alovw and well, go home and play with his puppy and hang out with his fam. That’s all.
I want Seung-hyo to start his own startup instead. Honestly him and Ms. Kang are the only sane people in that company. The chairman is so detestable, it is unbelivable that he was the sweet brother in Prison Playbook. Plus yes JW is so naive. He is a weamer character compared to SH in term of wits. Though the previews hardly tell us anything, if we go by it then his plan to kick out the President is the worst because Hwajeong can easily replace SH with someone else but still the control remains with them so win-win for Hwajeong instead. It will be better if they work together with SH if SH goes against the chairman. Plus I think that scene between No Eul and Seungho in ep 12 was a closure for their story. No Eul probably realizes that their work ethics are different.
Yes, a start-up company where he can still kick ass and be his own boss. Together with Team Leader Kang, they should take a page out of Misaeng’s book and just do it!
Jung Moon-sung (Chairman Jo) gives a great performance, and thanks to his musical and theatre background he has a screen presence that’s not easily overshadowed by JSW.
I want the story to progress and there seems to be so many plot points that need to be resolved in 4 episodes, so I welcome a closure for No-eul and Seung-hyo as early as possible. There are more important things and I ain’t got no time for melo stuff.
Pet shelter. With social programs for orphans, sick and elderly.. Wher SH, Ms. Kang, Glutton, SunWoo and NoEul live their lives hugging puppies. Also they help Dr. Joo finally reconciling with his daughter..
Bear with me i have a vision of future here))
On Noeul, I sure hope so cause I still dont understand the direction of their whatever-ship. The start is weird, the flow is not working on me and please just end it already. Hero doesnt need a heroine by his side, vice versa. Or maybe make Gu and Director Oh the OTP and smack some senses into Ye and anyone who thinks like him (which is jumping all over with little info and wreck havoc).
I share in this fit of anger. I’ve tossed everything in sight… metaphorically speaking, of course! President Gu, Ms. Kang and Director Oh are honestly the one characters in the hospital I’m rooting for. Dr. Ye infuriates me! The sooner he realized that he and P. Gu could be on the same side, the better. He always starts up some shit and someone else takes the brunt of it all.
I wasn’t up for Dr. Oh becoming the director but the moment she won it, I changed my mind. She became an unexpected favorite of mine.
Everyone treating Seon Woo like a child annoys me even more. It’s like they’ve all reduced him to his disability. They’re no better than the people who stare at him at restaurants. They all look at him with pity. I get their concerns and I totally understand that but theirs transcends concern to pity. The man is a doctor! I’d understand better if the accident happened only a few years ago but he’s lived in wheelchair longer than when he didn’t.
I vote for #3
I’m sooooo arhhhhjddddkddk
Are you sure? It’s not easy being married to an actor. Can you deal with his mood swings? Will you be okay seeing him doing sex scene with his colleague?
Can I at least, try? Please? I’ll do my best, I promise…
LOL, jokes aside, I did not think that far but I suppose actors’ and actresses’ spouses must have a different attitude from the ordinary folks when it comes to understanding professional obligations. You made a good point.
And I love you the most, Violent Crimes Unit 3. It’s middle of winter here and this dinner scene warms my soul. Please come back, Tae-joo yah. The team won’t be the same without you.
I love everything about Life’s premiere episodes. I really do. It’s shaping up to be a solid drama that will gain critical praise. If I may voice a minor complaint though, I just wish the background soundtrack wasn’t so loud and out of place. Especially every time Gu Seung-hyo showed up, the OST made him to be somewhat a major super villain (they just need to add a MWAHAHAHA for it to be complete).
It’s too early to call Seung-hyo a villain, and he’s had some cute moments as well. I love his eye-rolls after his assistant praised Jin-woo’s good looks (“Oh my, is he a doctor, not a sculpture?”), when he ate his sandwich in the car, and when he got startled by Kyung-moon and jumped in fear. I love how Jo Seung-woo left no trace of Hwang Shi-mok in his acting, and yet I’m immediately invested in his character. My ears are also blessed with his diction and line delivery. So, so good.
:'( Life was THE drama that I was waiting for and the waiting for subs is killing me! I need JSW in the life again stat!
Butttt hearing all the critical reviews is making me excited for when I do see it ahhhhhh
First episode of Life and I already have so many questions, which is a good sign. I think they’ve done a great job setting up the mystery, but knowing the writer, the plot won’t just be a simple whodunit. As usual, there are also so many characters to keep track of, and I am looking forward to the layers being peeled off.
Secondly, why is Ye Sun-woo an apparition? Is he a ghost? A figment of imagination? I can’t tell if he’s real and alive, or if he’s long dead and Jin-woo’s being delusional.
Last but not least, Gu Seung-hyo appeared probably for a total of 3 minutes but he just commanded the screen. He made his entrance and I felt a sudden urge to bow deeply and said “Yes, Your Majesty”. If there’s such a thing as an explosion of charisma, he will be it.
I have the same exact question. Why is Sun-woo appeared everywhere near Jin-woo like he is his hyung’s voice of conscience or something? I might suspect him as a figment of imagination if not for Jin-woo talking about him with No-eul. (Also, how cute is it that Lee Kyu-hyung called Won Jin-ah noona?)
Yeah Sun-woo in the wheelchair is likely real because he interacts with No-eul as well. But the one who follows Jin-woo can stand on two feet. I wonder why Jin-woo has his brother as voice of conscience though, when he’s still alive and well?
I thought I would be more concerned about Sun-woo, given his condition. But now (especially after watching snippets from eps 2) I’m even more worried about Jin-woo. I don’t know if it was some sort of misplaced guilt or something far more concerning.
I think I won’t learn the character, just the romanize version of it (pinyin). My goal is just to be able to watch cdramas while doing something else on the side. You know usually cdramas have like 40-60 episodes, ain’t nobody got time for that 😂
Well, I’m too lazy Gie. I’ll just wait for the sub 😂
Hmmm… I can’t help but think that Lee Byung-hun is a little wasted in Mr Sunshine, when he’s capable of this. His chemistry with Kim Tae-ri seems a lot more restrained.
Also, Soo Ae is such a classic beauty, and I imagine Won Jin-ah will look just like her when she grows older.
Brain: You know, I must admit that Yoo Yeon-seok can be very, very compelling when he’s at his best, and he’s really killing it with this character. But he’s doomed, no doubt about it, so the quicker you can accept this, the sooner we can drop this drama.
Heart: But. Those. Sad. Eyes…
Brain: Have you already forgotten about the tears you cried along with him at the empty baseball stadium, and the pain and betrayal you felt that not even a last minute meet-cute with Jung Yumi could appease?
Heart: About that… What’s Shin Won-ho PD doing these days? There could totally be an Answer Me 2002: How I Met Your Mother version starring both of them. I’d watch that.
Brain: Don’t get distracted!
Heart: Sorry… My point is he’s not Chilbongie the sweet and hardworking baseball player anymore. He’s Gu Dong-mae the smouldering swordsman now. Perhaps we can compromise?
Brain: My Lady doesn’t even like him holding onto the end of her skirt, and you think he still stands a chance?
Heart: But maybe…
Brain: CHILBONGIE! And all Chilbongie-related suffering. You really want to be Chilbonged again?
Heart: More like Dong-maed.
Brain: Exactly. I rest my case.
The soundtrack was overdone a bit there but it really heightened the tension. YYS is doing such a good job that I don’t think any other actor could have done this role.
My take for the gobstoppers scene is simpler. In my humble opinion it represents the fact that the swordsman and his “My Lady” will always be at the opposite sides and despite his efforts, may never see eye to eye. He tried really hard to enjoy the candy that she so enjoyed eating, but the first time he found it too hard and gave up, while the second time he plainly spit it out, obviously not liking it after all.
This is exactly the reason why I stay away from Mr. Sunshine though I’m so tempted to give it a try. But my heart can’t take it, I know. So I’ll just wait for the right time to binge-watching Mr. Sunshine, maybe it’ll be less hurtful if I could watch all episodes in one go.
Dong-chul\’s scene at the victim\’s house (you know which one!) is possibly the best physical comedy I\’ve seen this year, and to top it off Tae-joo just had the most appropriate reaction shot to seeing his boss making a fool of himself. I\’ve watched it so many times and it never ceased to be funny (and then felt a bit guilty for laughing over his pain). The comedy is so perfect.
And what about the kids sitting on the back of the truck who, like most of us, shipped Tae-joo and Dong-chul’s bromance? They were singing the Korean equivalent of the Kissing Song while looking at the duo, lol. The production team heard us and they sure are having a lot of fun growing the bromance, but this is only going to make the eventual separation, when Tae-joo returns to 2018, much more heart-breaking. I mean, does he really need to go back?
Ikr? Does he really need to return to the time where he has no friend and no one is on his side? That would just be a doubly painful blow to him after the warmth of 1988.
This IU fanboy was once so ecstatic to have received her autographed album that he ran all the way from the door with a big smile screaming “I got it, I got it!”, when he’s the Jo Seung-woo.
Melona
October 4, 2020 at 11:27 PM
When a drama is so perfect it wakes you up from what feels like a century of hibernation…
Oh how I’ve missed you, Forest of Secrets. And I will continue to miss you, till the next season comes along
wapz
October 5, 2020 at 12:06 AM
Welcome back! Seeing you after so long.
Melona
October 5, 2020 at 12:09 AM
Thanks! 🙂 You can trust FoS to bring me out of my drama slump.
Melona
January 7, 2019 at 2:36 AM
Thoughts on SKY Castle Ep 14, aka The Cliffhanger that Caused Collective Jaw-dropping Everywhere
Melona
January 7, 2019 at 2:37 AM
Having read a few murder theories ranging from far-fetched to mildly believable, I thought it would be good to offer a different point of view. To me, it was obvious that Hye-na committed suicide. She jumped from the balcony all on her own.
I drew this conclusion from her increasingly frantic state of mind. Hye-na has been shown to be clever, self-sufficient and mature beyond her years. Unfortunately, she’s also sly, wicked and manipulative. These traits make people forget that ultimately Hye-na is still a teenager and an underage orphan. She just lost her mother, who’s her one and only family member, so I won’t be surprised if she also lost her will to live. Strike one. Even Ye-seo admitted it herself “But Hye-na’s quite impressive. If it happened to me, I wouldn’t be able to live without you, mum”. And yet in a stroke of fateful timing, she found out about the existence of her father. She then decided to hold on to that one measly thread, doing everything in her power to find a new family for herself. That’s how she moved into the house, and in the process got jealous and greedy, and was pushing everyone’s buttons.
Hye-na never intended for the truth about her father to be revealed so soon. Holding the secret means that she has bargaining power against Seo-jin for as long as possible (remember their deal?). She just wanted to toy with Ye-seo and made her miserable milking Woo-joo’s crush on her for all its worth. Yet she lost her cool in the spur of the moment and spilled the secret herself during their fight. You’ll notice that she was quite flustered afterwards. She may say to Seo-jin “You can deal with it however you want. It’s spilt milk” but she also realized that she just lost the upper hand. When Seo-jin confronted Hye-na later and she counter-threatened with SNS posting, it’s really just an empty threat. Seo-jin was like “Fine, let’s die together. We only need to get over the embarrassment but you, you will never make a life for yourself”, and Hye-na is smart enough to know this. She’s been putting on a façade of wickedness in order to stand toe-to-toe with Seo-jin but this is really a lop-sided fight between a child and an adult that she will never be able to win and she’s scared. Hye-na’s not a psychopath and all that stress must have further taken its toll on her mental health. Strike two.
Melona
January 7, 2019 at 2:37 AM
Nevertheless, she still has one last card. If her father Joon-sang can accept her, then all of this will be worth it. She may butt heads with Ye-seo all her life but at least she’ll have a place to call home, and people to call family. But from the preview it looks like Joon-sang can’t be bothered with her and even mocked her existence, whether or not he knows the whole truth or only speaking hypothetically. Strike three. Hye-na can’t help but feel resigned. Her lifeline just got cut off and it’s not surprising if she decided to take her own life. In her last moments, she was touching the bricks that made the building, and taking in the view from the tower, as if she was saying goodbye to things she never got to have. She took a deep breath full of resignation, as if readying herself, and when she fell, a single tear also fell from her eyes and that was so telling. This was such a sad ending for Hye-na, who deep inside is just a lonely kid trying to survive.
I can’t help but look back to what Kim Joo-young said to Soo-im. She’s actually right in the sense that the tragedy’s roots are in the family itself. They could’ve made a different choice but their greed and arrogance just accelerate whatever hell on earth that she facilitated for them. What Teacher Kim did was create an environment where it was easy for the family to go into ruins, but had they realize it and made different choices, the tragedy may have been able to be prevented. What could the others in the house have done to soften Hye-na’s edges? Perhaps Hye-na need not die at all, but she would never know now. Her death will certainly shake the castle, and especially Seo-jin’s family who has to bear the brunt and deal with the aftermath.
PS: I feel like Soo-im when writing this, furiously typing and brimming with self-righteousness, LOL.
Melona
November 30, 2018 at 8:23 PM
Matrimonial Chaos is so underrated. It may not have a cinematography that’s dripping with money but it’s so well-written and superbly acted. And honestly, I’d much prefer a well-executed story that can move your heart and wring your emotions, than a bunch of pretty pictures strung together. The characters are flawed but very human, and no matter how selfish, petty or despicable they were at one point, it’s impossible to hate them. Of course, the acting helps too.
This is especially true for Lee Jang-hyun (played by Son Seok-gu), who’s proven to be a character that made me feel so conflicted throughout. He is a cheater who realised belatedly that he’s lost someone important and tries to win her back. His backstory that’s filled with trauma and betrayal by women shaped him into who he is. He becomes so insecure in himself that he never wants to take responsibility for anything and just lets life drag him along. So when he finally realised that for the first time ever he wants to make a choice and abandons the rest; when he cries and begs Yoo-young to give him another chance, it was so powerful. I can relate to and feel his sincerity. However at the same time, I wonder if it’s okay to trust him. There’s this looming fear that people don’t change and if she doesn’t run away now, she probably will never be able to. I’m glad the story ends well for the both of them.
Anyway, Son Seok-gu caught my eye and he has done such a good job with the character that I started looking for his past works. He hasn’t done many, and I’ve watched Mother. But then I found this clip from Sense8 and omg his English is so sexy!
mugyuljoie is preciousss
December 1, 2018 at 12:01 AM
It’s a gem. I thought it was beautiful. The interior scenes all seemed homey with the attention to detail used. I’m obsessed with the water crossings in the drama.
Blue (@mayhemf)
December 1, 2018 at 4:24 AM
I know! I have seen it in another drama. Heart to heart I think.
Kairoskat 💐
December 1, 2018 at 12:52 AM
His english is good in that clip 🤩. I never watched sense8 but mannnn, he looks good~
Blue (@mayhemf)
December 1, 2018 at 4:25 AM
Oh yes. I was surprised with his fine English . In MC he speaks a line before his wedding. He says ‘borrowed’ with an accent and you should see SeokMoo’s face 🙂
Melona
December 1, 2018 at 12:27 PM
“Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue”. When he said that I was like, HANG ON A SEC *frantically rewind*. I thought I heard wrong but the clip from Sense8 confirmed it. He should get more English-speaking roles in dramaland, rather than giving them to awkward foreigners with zero acting skills.
Blue (@mayhemf)
December 1, 2018 at 5:07 PM
I did a rewind too :))
I hope to see him in more dramas too.
Blue (@mayhemf)
December 1, 2018 at 4:24 AM
Glad to find more love for this show!!
It’s so much more difficult to make a show with such powerful and meaningful script. I mean, so many dialogues in this drama are worth framing!!
Jang – so many of us were conflicted about him in this show. His acting was so good. Every time he says ‘dey’(yes) when he doesn’t want to answer it or avoids an answer with such innocence he cracks me up.
Melona
November 20, 2018 at 1:01 AM
This Mama Fairy show is… I have no words but LOLs and more LOLs. I still can’t decide if it’s genius or just plain crazy, but one thing is for sure: I was entertained. I can\’t stop laughing at Kim Sun-ah being the butterfly-haired sexy eelworm, while Eric is Alex, the Jeolla-do saturi speaking wise frog, and Jung Kyung-ho is Jeom-dol inside the egg. Who thinks of these things? Honestly, best voice cameos ever.
Melona
September 12, 2018 at 3:32 AM
Remind me not to ever anger Korean netizens. Man, they’re ruthless. Life’s finale just got roasted online and no one was spared from their wrath, with the exception of Jo Seung-woo and the veteran actors/actresses. Out of curiosity I read some of the comments this morning before watching the finale, and they were some really sharp and hurtful criticisms, so I was expecting the worst.
I finished watching just now and I guess it was okay? It was definitely not one of the more satisfying endings by a long shot (this year, that title belongs to My Ajusshi – all hail Kim Won-seok and Park Hae-young!), but I got some answers so for me it’s an acceptable ending. The netizens, however, were cursing everyone starting from the writer (who bore the brunt of the blame), then Lee Dong-wook (who was told to go back to acting school), Won Jin-ah (for the awkward love line), and even the director as well (for giving unnecessary screen time to plot points that no one is interested in).
Although I’ve also stood on a soapbox and criticised the show before, I thought it was rather unfair that all the earlier episodes were quickly forgotten due to a finale that left a bad taste, but it is what it is. I suppose expectation is a double-edged sword; the disappointment of not being able to meet it is what makes the netizens lash out.
Oh well, I hope this would not deter Forest of Secrets Season 2 from being produced. God knows we all need it. In the meantime, I’m just going to re-watch FoS while waiting for Feng Shui to be released. See you in your next project, Jo Seung-woo!
strawberry
September 12, 2018 at 4:53 AM
Wow I didn’t expect the netizens to lash out so much. I was happy with the finale, despite its flaws. Maybe bc by this point, the only character I was invested in was JSW’s. So when he got the happy ending he deserved, I was happy. Hahaa
Broken is Bidulgi OTP trash all the way 🕊 🕊 🕊
September 12, 2018 at 5:28 AM
people expecting a perfect score drama like Secret Forest and for some it deliver. but for some, it was a failure. i think lee dongwook and wo jin ah really taking all the blame. i guess they are like outsider from the perfect secret forest team that people didnt really appreciate their roles in the drama. i might be projecting but their anger on LDW and WJA is really constant since the start of the drama. this two was so loved in their previous drama but it change overnight with Life.
HANI
September 12, 2018 at 6:49 AM
Where did you read it? But LDW was receiving flak from the start but it was an old(er?) issue about his acting (it kinda quited down during goblin) and about the name placing on the poster. There are comments that JSW name should place first since he is the bigger name and bigger draw. I’m not sure why they criticize WJA tho. Sure, I didnt like her character that much but I dont think it is her fault, it is a characterization flaw.
Key🍜
September 12, 2018 at 8:10 AM
Yeah, read them too on my twitter tl.
I actually agree with some disagree with others, but it’s just life. Everyone entitled to their own opinion – netizens, twitterians, beanies.
fun fact – i also decide to binge FoS))
gadis
September 12, 2018 at 8:33 AM
Hmm… Maybe I’m the weird one then who actually love the ending. *shrug*
PYC
September 12, 2018 at 9:30 AM
I guess everyone (myself included) is expecting a grand finale like SF – but the ending is beautiful that I like a lot. It lightly finishes off the politics by trumping temporarily the Chairman via the Minister but realism is what sets this drama apart from others when President Gu said that victory would only last as long as the Minister is in position. Then it moves on to paint the story of each character – life goes on and live it to the full as best as you can. There’s great message for us all!
gadis
September 12, 2018 at 3:11 PM
Exactly. I felt like the writer purposefully bring everyone full circle to their starting point, with many of them having to deal with the exact same problem all over again, but they are now better equipped to face it. And I love that. Life is an ongoing struggle after all, and I never really expected the drama to give us the ‘final’ answer.
Melona
September 9, 2018 at 4:55 AM
My OTP in Life.
Life hasn’t been the perfect drama as Forest of Secrets was for me. There were unfortunately glaring flaws in all fronts that miss the 2% wow factor. It is solid, but falls short of being mind-blowing (see the comments section for my 2 cents on Life’s flaws). Nevertheless I waited with bated breath for new episodes every week, and this final week is no exception.
The preview for episode 15 seems to suggest that the trio that matters will join hands to defeat the evil chairman, however I have a nagging feeling that it’s more like the Last Supper kind of gathering. By the looks of it, the three raised their cups as a show of respect to each other before the real battle begins. “Let’s do what we can, so there are no regrets”. Either way, Seung-hyo will have to decide where his allegiance lies, and live with the consequences. He’s my favourite character and I’m rooting for him all the way, so I hope his character stays consistent and doesn’t get short-changed in the end.
Melona
September 9, 2018 at 4:56 AM
I love Lee Soo-yeon’s brilliant writing in Forest of Secrets, but I think this time it is overly ambitious. Just from the top of my mind, I can point out a few topics that the writer raised, but then simply gets forgotten. For example just for Seung-hyo alone, the writer never explains what drives Seung-hyo to bend over backwards and devote his whole life to Hwajeong. It’s only mentioned that he’s a scholarship student (so what? unless all scholarship students are legally contracted to be life-long slaves, Seung-hyo always has a way out). Additionally, JSW has said in the press conference that his character is loyal to the former chairman out of gratitude, but it’s never explicitly shown what he’s grateful for. We could’ve understood his character motivation better had this been made clear from the beginning. It’s also mentioned in passing that Seung-hyo was once badly screwed over by some of the subsidiaries’ presidents, and that’s why he’s now very cautious when it comes to doing anything that can potentially piss off the chairman, but we never know what happened. A simple flashback scene on these topics along the way would’ve sufficed, and yet we’re at the final two episodes and we still haven’t got any crumbs.
Also, what’s with the Seosan pioneers (the original land owners)? Is it important enough for us to pay attention? Do the Korean viewers just automatically relate because it’s a current social issue, whereas the international viewers are here scratching our heads wondering what the big deal is? Seung-hyo has planned for so-called “caretaker lodgings” to be built near the new hospital complex, and we know that he intends for them to be used for a different purpose unbeknownst to the current chairman, but what is it? I could go on and on with the many loose threads that the writer has created, but shows no signs of being resolved, which is a shame.
outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍
September 13, 2018 at 6:48 AM
Did the finale answer your question on Seung-hyo? Perhaps the old chairman of Hwajeong helped him while his family was their lowest point due to the IMF crisis.
About the Seosan pioneers, I’m glad I am not the only one who was scratching my head. I think it’s some social issue which only the Koreans can understand.
Melona
September 15, 2018 at 4:41 PM
Yes, I look back at this post and thankfully I can say that most of my questions have been answered in the finale.
Melona
September 9, 2018 at 4:56 AM
Acting – This actually starts with mis-castings. No-eul was casted too young. If it was intended from the start that she would be Jin-woo’s cohort, then they should’ve casted someone who looks and carries the gravitas of someone her age (mid to late thirties). It was super awkward to hear Sun-woo call her noona. Lee Kyu-hyung himself is not baby-faced, and I only accept it because he acts like a puppy around her. If I could re-cast I would’ve probably picked Han Yeri, or Moon Chae-won. What Won Jin-ah also didn’t manage to do is create an unambiguous chemistry with Seung-hyo. I’m just confused as to what the writer intends to do with her character and their so-called love line. Is it a platonic friendship, is there flirting, or potential for romance and soul mateship? Instead of having a clear-cut something that the viewers can root for, all their interactions just turn into a big messy, forced, ambiguous nothing.
As for Lee Dong-wook (and Jin-woo), sigh. I digged deep into my heart to find something positive to say about his performance, but this is one of those times where I cannot understand or relate to the hero of the story. However, it would be unfair to say that the blame lies solely on the actor, because frankly, the writing for the character itself is pretty damn frustrating. Do you want me to root for you or not?
outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍
September 13, 2018 at 7:12 AM
Totally agree with the casting of Won Jin-ah. I was fine with her as a character on her own but I found it really hard to buy her with Seung-hyo. I don’t think it’s age but something else which I can’t quite put my finger to. Put Director Oh and Seungkhyo together and I find them mesmerizing. That’s the difference.
For Jin Woo, someone described him as a douchebag. While that’s rather strong, I find it hard to say anything positive about him other than his devotion to his brother. He’s one of the strangest lead character I’ve seen in dramas. I enjoyed the side characters like the annoying doctors and the organ transplant guy much more than Jin Woo. Was it because of LDW’s performance? I know that he’s heavily criticized for his performance but some of it seem biased from the start. I like underdogs. So while I think highly of Jo Seung Woo, I was hoping that LDW would prove his naysayers wrong. Although he wasn’t terrible, he wasn’t very good either. Sad is all I can say of Jin Woo. He just looks grim all the time.
Melona
September 9, 2018 at 4:56 AM
Directing – One could argue that the writing in Forest of Secrets is equally muddy from the start, as there are so many characters, each with different motivations, which could possibly point them to be the main suspect. However in the director’s hand, each layer of the character is peeled at a pace that is just right. Do it too early and you risk running out of steam towards the end. Do it too late and the viewers disconnected and already left before the meaty part starts, plus you run out of time, as is the case for Life. It is admittedly, a larger ensemble cast compared to FoS, so there’s less time allocated for each character’s development, but what a waste of a bunch of good actors. We could’ve done away with some unnecessary scenes and save it for what’s really important. The director did his best, but I foresee that there was just not enough time to try and wrap up this story in a satisfying way.
Music – The less said about the stupidly loud background music, the better. I’ve noticed that they’ve thankfully toned it down a notch in the later episodes, possibly due to criticisms. I hope the music director learnt something from this experience. Sometimes less is more.
strawberry
September 9, 2018 at 1:43 PM
Your criticisms are so on point. It has been a solid, wild ride but as we approach the end, I’m almost certain that not all the loose threads that matter would be resolved successfully. Most of the reasons (or maybe the only reason) why I love this drama have to do with Seung-hyo’s character and JSW’s performance. Director Oh and Team Leader Kang are tied for second favs <3 Other than that, FoS by far is superior in terms of writing and directing.
Melona
September 2, 2018 at 1:16 AM
What happened to Mr Sunshine’s ratings? Did a sports game take over most of the audience on Saturday night or something? Otherwise how do you explain the sudden embarrassing drop of over 10% of viewership between last week and this week? I have to admit there isn’t much happening; it is not very engaging and it takes me several goes just to finish an episode, but damn, if there is no other logical explanation, the production team must be freaking out right now.
Forest of kdramas 🤣🤣
September 2, 2018 at 1:20 AM
May be people are more tuning to Gangnam beauty becoz it’s far better written than mr sunshine
fencejumper
September 2, 2018 at 1:24 AM
A 10% drop? Wow that’s intense.I’m still in ep 9 which so far is the most engaging episode.
drawde2000
September 2, 2018 at 1:36 AM
Futbol, from what I read on Twitter
Asian Games gold medal match between Korea and Japan.
Korea won and from what I read they are exempted from military enlistment.
Melona
September 2, 2018 at 2:16 AM
I see. That makes a lot of sense.
Kairoskat 💐
September 2, 2018 at 1:43 AM
Yesterday was the Asian Games gold medal football match between Korea and Japan. I suspect maybe the whole nation tuned in for the game. Koreans are very patriotuc.
Plus Son Heung Min (an EPL player) was playing for a chance to be exempted from military service. A lot of overseas media covered his journey because i guess it was so unique. He had to win gold to be able to continue playing with his club and avoid being away for 2 years. Luckily they won, so everyone is exempted from military service.
Japan put on a great fight. For a team of only Under 21 players going against big names in the Korean team, i say Japan did very well.
Kairoskat 💐
September 2, 2018 at 1:44 AM
*patriotic
Melona
September 2, 2018 at 2:21 AM
The important football match explains it then, which means to the production team’s relief tonight’s episode’s ratings will most likely bounce back. They’re at the final stretch and really can’t afford to lose any viewership.
Melona
September 1, 2018 at 5:46 PM
namedx
September 1, 2018 at 6:08 PM
Omo, is that president Gu!?
Melona
September 1, 2018 at 7:41 PM
He’s trying to kill us all in 3 seconds!
natzillagorilla
September 1, 2018 at 8:35 PM
I’m….at a loss for words. Eeep.
astromantic
September 1, 2018 at 9:31 PM
I want to marry him.
larelle79
September 2, 2018 at 8:44 AM
Get in line.
astromantic
September 2, 2018 at 1:52 PM
ahahaha
Amy
September 7, 2018 at 12:14 PM
pres Gu…..omo what is this?
Melona
September 1, 2018 at 5:33 PM
Possibly the cutest thing you will see today
(Bless your soul, whoever made this)
Now, Feng Shui sounds utterly boring on paper. I mean, what’s the big deal about a bunch of men (and a stunning lady) fighting over a piece of land? However, with this cast (Jo Seung-woo, Ji Sung, Moon Chae-won, Kim Sung-kyun, Baek Yoon-sik and Lee Won-geun), I have no choice but to watch.
This Chuseok, the box office battle is on between Jo Seung-woo and Ji Sung’s Feng Shui, Jo In-sung and Park Sung-woong’s The Great Battle, and Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin’s The Negotiation.
Who will emerge victorious? Who are you rooting for? But no matter what happens, I’m sure we can all agree that the audience are the true winners.
Melona
August 29, 2018 at 3:05 AM
Gather around kiddies, for Moon Sori and Jo Seung-woo are giving a masterclass in acting. Out of all the amazing acting JSW has given us so far in Life, this sequence is my favourite. Screenshots don’t do it justice and only by watching you can hear every breath he took, and all the shifts of expression in a matter of seconds.
There’s no doubt in my mind that even if JSW doesn’t do anything else, with this alone he’s got enough ammunition to be nominated for Baeksang’s Best Actor awards again next year.
astromantic
August 29, 2018 at 10:50 AM
OH MAN, this scene was so good. Gu Seung-hyo not a man that shows his desperation, but in this he was so subtle, effortless… ugh. Jo Seung-woo is everything. 💖💖💖 (My other favorite was the scene between him and the Deputy Dir. When he raised his voice for just a brief moment I was literally fanning myself lol)
HANI
August 29, 2018 at 8:28 PM
I mean, we get awesome back acting from him in ep14 Forest of secret no? XD But seriously, I keep wanting more scene between the 2 of them. And I actually rewind a few times their public showdown in previous episode tbh. It was so damn good.
Melona
August 29, 2018 at 1:46 AM
Episodes 11 and 12 of Life just made me feel so enraged. Thanks to Jo Seung-woo\’s acting, I\’m totally feeling what he\’s feeling. I\’m all ready to throw chairs. I can’t imagine how the writer is going to resolve this mess, but I can recommend a few things that need to happen:
1. Seung-hyo needs to quit the toxic Hwajeong conglomerate altogether and bring his awesome self and Team Leader Kang straight to their biggest competitor (excluding QL, of course). See how the Chairman likes losing their best business brains.
2. Now that the President position is vacant, the Chairman can bring in an awful replacement that’s both crap at the job and way more materialistic than Seung-hyo. See how Jin-woo likes that. I seriously think he has got no idea. The hospital has already been bought by Hwajeong and they can’t just press Cancel now. If President Gu goes, another one of the many Hwajeong subsidiaries’ president will simply fill his position. What does Jin-woo expect, that Seung-hyo’s replacement will be a saint? Dream on.
3. Unless of course, Director Oh retaliates by hiring hitmen to murder the Chairman, which will make everyone happy. You don’t mess with Director Oh.
UGH I’M SO ANNOYED!!!! *THROWS CHAIR*
strawberry
August 29, 2018 at 3:43 AM
Ohemgee I so agreed with you!!!! All my feelings and sympathies are for Seung-hyo, thanks to JSW’s amazing performance. Jin-woo is making me see red bc of his incredible naivity. But he still got some brownie points for trying. Haha
Melona
August 29, 2018 at 5:19 AM
It is rare that I’m rooting for the “anti-hero” instead of the “hero” of the story, but it happens. Jin-woo referred to himself as a ” fearless day-old puppy” but I think he’s more like a bull in a china shop; careless actions resulting in so much collateral damage.
strawberry
August 29, 2018 at 7:31 AM
Jin woo seems more like the conventional/stereotypical hero in a drama that just seems somewhat one dimensional to me. He has this idea of justice in his head and goes right to it without thinking of the consequences, fearlessly but also naively. Maybe that’s why he sticks out like a sore thumb to me. Sighhhh i just hope Seung hyo makes it out alovw and well, go home and play with his puppy and hang out with his fam. That’s all.
wapz
August 29, 2018 at 4:07 AM
I want Seung-hyo to start his own startup instead. Honestly him and Ms. Kang are the only sane people in that company. The chairman is so detestable, it is unbelivable that he was the sweet brother in Prison Playbook. Plus yes JW is so naive. He is a weamer character compared to SH in term of wits. Though the previews hardly tell us anything, if we go by it then his plan to kick out the President is the worst because Hwajeong can easily replace SH with someone else but still the control remains with them so win-win for Hwajeong instead. It will be better if they work together with SH if SH goes against the chairman. Plus I think that scene between No Eul and Seungho in ep 12 was a closure for their story. No Eul probably realizes that their work ethics are different.
Melona
August 29, 2018 at 5:15 AM
Yes, a start-up company where he can still kick ass and be his own boss. Together with Team Leader Kang, they should take a page out of Misaeng’s book and just do it!
Jung Moon-sung (Chairman Jo) gives a great performance, and thanks to his musical and theatre background he has a screen presence that’s not easily overshadowed by JSW.
I want the story to progress and there seems to be so many plot points that need to be resolved in 4 episodes, so I welcome a closure for No-eul and Seung-hyo as early as possible. There are more important things and I ain’t got no time for melo stuff.
Key🍜
August 29, 2018 at 5:29 AM
Oh. Misaeng-stile ending will be perfect here..
A girl can hope, can’t she?))
Key🍜
August 29, 2018 at 5:23 AM
Pet shelter. With social programs for orphans, sick and elderly.. Wher SH, Ms. Kang, Glutton, SunWoo and NoEul live their lives hugging puppies. Also they help Dr. Joo finally reconciling with his daughter..
Bear with me i have a vision of future here))
HANI
August 29, 2018 at 8:36 PM
On Noeul, I sure hope so cause I still dont understand the direction of their whatever-ship. The start is weird, the flow is not working on me and please just end it already. Hero doesnt need a heroine by his side, vice versa. Or maybe make Gu and Director Oh the OTP and smack some senses into Ye and anyone who thinks like him (which is jumping all over with little info and wreck havoc).
Key🍜
August 29, 2018 at 4:17 AM
i vote for #3
Melona
August 29, 2018 at 5:03 AM
It’s a happy ending for everyone.
IamPilgrim
August 29, 2018 at 7:06 PM
I share in this fit of anger. I’ve tossed everything in sight… metaphorically speaking, of course! President Gu, Ms. Kang and Director Oh are honestly the one characters in the hospital I’m rooting for. Dr. Ye infuriates me! The sooner he realized that he and P. Gu could be on the same side, the better. He always starts up some shit and someone else takes the brunt of it all.
I wasn’t up for Dr. Oh becoming the director but the moment she won it, I changed my mind. She became an unexpected favorite of mine.
Everyone treating Seon Woo like a child annoys me even more. It’s like they’ve all reduced him to his disability. They’re no better than the people who stare at him at restaurants. They all look at him with pity. I get their concerns and I totally understand that but theirs transcends concern to pity. The man is a doctor! I’d understand better if the accident happened only a few years ago but he’s lived in wheelchair longer than when he didn’t.
I vote for #3
I’m sooooo arhhhhjddddkddk
Melona
August 22, 2018 at 4:58 AM
Here’s a common anthem to commiserate Yoon Doo-joon’s sudden enlistment news. Fulfill your duties responsibly, take care of your health and stay safe.
Melona
August 22, 2018 at 2:37 AM
I want to marry Jo Seung-woo. That\’s it. That\’s the post.
mano
August 22, 2018 at 4:11 AM
Are you sure? It’s not easy being married to an actor. Can you deal with his mood swings? Will you be okay seeing him doing sex scene with his colleague?
Melona
August 22, 2018 at 4:42 AM
Can I at least, try? Please? I’ll do my best, I promise…
LOL, jokes aside, I did not think that far but I suppose actors’ and actresses’ spouses must have a different attitude from the ordinary folks when it comes to understanding professional obligations. You made a good point.
mano
August 22, 2018 at 6:01 AM
LOL, of course! Then, congratulations!
Yes, I think that’s why actors usually married people from the same industry.
Melona
July 30, 2018 at 2:18 AM
And I love you the most, Violent Crimes Unit 3. It’s middle of winter here and this dinner scene warms my soul. Please come back, Tae-joo yah. The team won’t be the same without you.
meowingme
July 30, 2018 at 2:37 AM
I love the heaping bowl of rice Na-young gave Yong-ki ^^
Melona
July 26, 2018 at 2:07 AM
I love everything about Life’s premiere episodes. I really do. It’s shaping up to be a solid drama that will gain critical praise. If I may voice a minor complaint though, I just wish the background soundtrack wasn’t so loud and out of place. Especially every time Gu Seung-hyo showed up, the OST made him to be somewhat a major super villain (they just need to add a MWAHAHAHA for it to be complete).
It’s too early to call Seung-hyo a villain, and he’s had some cute moments as well. I love his eye-rolls after his assistant praised Jin-woo’s good looks (“Oh my, is he a doctor, not a sculpture?”), when he ate his sandwich in the car, and when he got startled by Kyung-moon and jumped in fear. I love how Jo Seung-woo left no trace of Hwang Shi-mok in his acting, and yet I’m immediately invested in his character. My ears are also blessed with his diction and line delivery. So, so good.
greenfields
July 26, 2018 at 2:41 AM
Subs are out? Where? O_O
Blueyy
July 26, 2018 at 3:29 AM
:'( Life was THE drama that I was waiting for and the waiting for subs is killing me! I need JSW in the life again stat!
Butttt hearing all the critical reviews is making me excited for when I do see it ahhhhhh
Melona
July 24, 2018 at 4:10 AM
First episode of Life and I already have so many questions, which is a good sign. I think they’ve done a great job setting up the mystery, but knowing the writer, the plot won’t just be a simple whodunit. As usual, there are also so many characters to keep track of, and I am looking forward to the layers being peeled off.
Secondly, why is Ye Sun-woo an apparition? Is he a ghost? A figment of imagination? I can’t tell if he’s real and alive, or if he’s long dead and Jin-woo’s being delusional.
Last but not least, Gu Seung-hyo appeared probably for a total of 3 minutes but he just commanded the screen. He made his entrance and I felt a sudden urge to bow deeply and said “Yes, Your Majesty”. If there’s such a thing as an explosion of charisma, he will be it.
gadis
July 24, 2018 at 4:14 AM
I have the same exact question. Why is Sun-woo appeared everywhere near Jin-woo like he is his hyung’s voice of conscience or something? I might suspect him as a figment of imagination if not for Jin-woo talking about him with No-eul. (Also, how cute is it that Lee Kyu-hyung called Won Jin-ah noona?)
Melona
July 24, 2018 at 4:36 AM
Yeah Sun-woo in the wheelchair is likely real because he interacts with No-eul as well. But the one who follows Jin-woo can stand on two feet. I wonder why Jin-woo has his brother as voice of conscience though, when he’s still alive and well?
gadis
July 24, 2018 at 8:34 AM
I thought I would be more concerned about Sun-woo, given his condition. But now (especially after watching snippets from eps 2) I’m even more worried about Jin-woo. I don’t know if it was some sort of misplaced guilt or something far more concerning.
mano
July 24, 2018 at 4:33 AM
Where do you find it with sub?
Melona
July 24, 2018 at 4:40 AM
I watched it raw because couldn’t wait. I plan to watch it again if the sub comes out.
Giegie
July 24, 2018 at 5:23 AM
Let’s learn Korean….asap!
mano
July 24, 2018 at 6:46 AM
I’m still struggling with Mandarin and I only just started with pinyin 😂
If I’m very much into K-pop maybe I would learn Korean.
Giegie
July 24, 2018 at 7:05 AM
Is there a difference between the two??? 😅
I’m not into kpop as well. I want to watch kdramas without relying on subs.
mano
July 24, 2018 at 7:45 AM
I think I won’t learn the character, just the romanize version of it (pinyin). My goal is just to be able to watch cdramas while doing something else on the side. You know usually cdramas have like 40-60 episodes, ain’t nobody got time for that 😂
Well, I’m too lazy Gie. I’ll just wait for the sub 😂
Giegie
July 24, 2018 at 8:54 AM
You and me both 😅 Too lazy to learn so we don’t have a choice but to wait for subs lol
Melona
July 24, 2018 at 1:37 AM
Hmmm… I can’t help but think that Lee Byung-hun is a little wasted in Mr Sunshine, when he’s capable of this. His chemistry with Kim Tae-ri seems a lot more restrained.
Also, Soo Ae is such a classic beauty, and I imagine Won Jin-ah will look just like her when she grows older.
Eries be the Light
July 24, 2018 at 2:43 AM
That’s the first thing that I thought when see her in JBL. I’m a little confuse for the first time, she looks like Soo Ae in cute version
cherry 🍒
July 24, 2018 at 3:45 AM
My main concern is what is he wearing in this video 😂
Melona
July 22, 2018 at 4:04 AM
Brain: You know, I must admit that Yoo Yeon-seok can be very, very compelling when he’s at his best, and he’s really killing it with this character. But he’s doomed, no doubt about it, so the quicker you can accept this, the sooner we can drop this drama.
Heart: But. Those. Sad. Eyes…
Brain: Have you already forgotten about the tears you cried along with him at the empty baseball stadium, and the pain and betrayal you felt that not even a last minute meet-cute with Jung Yumi could appease?
Heart: About that… What’s Shin Won-ho PD doing these days? There could totally be an Answer Me 2002: How I Met Your Mother version starring both of them. I’d watch that.
Brain: Don’t get distracted!
Heart: Sorry… My point is he’s not Chilbongie the sweet and hardworking baseball player anymore. He’s Gu Dong-mae the smouldering swordsman now. Perhaps we can compromise?
Brain: My Lady doesn’t even like him holding onto the end of her skirt, and you think he still stands a chance?
Heart: But maybe…
Brain: CHILBONGIE! And all Chilbongie-related suffering. You really want to be Chilbonged again?
Heart: More like Dong-maed.
Brain: Exactly. I rest my case.
greenfields
July 22, 2018 at 4:12 AM
He’s killing it here. That ending scene with the skirt was so powerful.
Melona
July 22, 2018 at 4:30 AM
Dare I say probably the most emotionally-loaded scene so far? KES can thank YYS for that.
greenfields
July 22, 2018 at 4:51 AM
The soundtrack was overdone a bit there but it really heightened the tension. YYS is doing such a good job that I don’t think any other actor could have done this role.
Melona
July 22, 2018 at 4:29 AM
My take for the gobstoppers scene is simpler. In my humble opinion it represents the fact that the swordsman and his “My Lady” will always be at the opposite sides and despite his efforts, may never see eye to eye. He tried really hard to enjoy the candy that she so enjoyed eating, but the first time he found it too hard and gave up, while the second time he plainly spit it out, obviously not liking it after all.
hannaehh
July 22, 2018 at 4:46 AM
This is exactly the reason why I stay away from Mr. Sunshine though I’m so tempted to give it a try. But my heart can’t take it, I know. So I’ll just wait for the right time to binge-watching Mr. Sunshine, maybe it’ll be less hurtful if I could watch all episodes in one go.
Le__Ssy
July 22, 2018 at 4:55 AM
For YYS, I am SO ready to be Chilbodongmaed.
Melona
July 16, 2018 at 2:01 AM
Dong-chul\’s scene at the victim\’s house (you know which one!) is possibly the best physical comedy I\’ve seen this year, and to top it off Tae-joo just had the most appropriate reaction shot to seeing his boss making a fool of himself. I\’ve watched it so many times and it never ceased to be funny (and then felt a bit guilty for laughing over his pain). The comedy is so perfect.
And what about the kids sitting on the back of the truck who, like most of us, shipped Tae-joo and Dong-chul’s bromance? They were singing the Korean equivalent of the Kissing Song while looking at the duo, lol. The production team heard us and they sure are having a lot of fun growing the bromance, but this is only going to make the eventual separation, when Tae-joo returns to 2018, much more heart-breaking. I mean, does he really need to go back?
gadis
July 16, 2018 at 4:47 AM
Ikr? Does he really need to return to the time where he has no friend and no one is on his side? That would just be a doubly painful blow to him after the warmth of 1988.
Melona
July 13, 2018 at 9:54 PM
This IU fanboy was once so ecstatic to have received her autographed album that he ran all the way from the door with a big smile screaming “I got it, I got it!”, when he’s the Jo Seung-woo.
I need Life in my life right now.
gadis
July 13, 2018 at 11:26 PM
Omaygad, this ajusshi is just too cute. Life, where are you? 10 days never felt this long before.