This series is not perfect, but it is still good. It has a solid storyline, and great characters. Hong Hae In and Baek Hyun Woo have been married for 3 years and the love that had united them at the beginning seems to have disappeared in their distance and silence after a miscarriage that broke their hearts. When Baek Hyun Woo finally has the courage to present the divorce papers to Hong Hae In, she tells him she has a tumor and doesn't have much time left. His decision to stay with her gives them an unexpected chance at finding that love that had united them once. Family interactions between their very different families questions dynamics and help characters grow.
I like the fact that they didn't take the easy way out with our main antagonist. The story in itself is really good and I loved it, however, production was a bit careless with details that were too big to miss: Hae In's operation - how can a person with a brain tumor have a surgery with her hair intact. Or Hyun Woo's neck injury suddenly disappearing in a second, ext. These kind of details show some careless oversight. But we can forgive them - we laugh it off and keep watching to see what happens next.
Park Sung-hoon is nailing his character as Yoon Eun-seong in Queen of Tears, but when I say that he makes my blood boil I really mean it. Also that Mo Seul-hee is shady af, I wonder if she and Eun-seong are working together in secret?
Just enough angst and drama, mixed with cuteness, sweetness, & light.
The two leads were very good, but I absolutely LOVED the odd quirkiness, depicted by Nan Shi An, as Giseop—he was exquisite!
One is a perfectionist, looking for his father’s attention and love; the other is a pushover, who just can’t say no—so, if he is willing to go out with you, because you asked, it’s meaningless.
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I’m, presently, watching it over again! (After having just finished it).
(And the actor, who portrays Balgeum, [one of the second couple] is really good looking!)
It's so bittersweet but I love it. Maybe it's my obsession with Jin Do Jun, but if you follow the actual chronology of things - Do Jun was reborn as Hyun Woo first. Because he died first. And if fate cannot be changed then he was meant to recover his memories as Jin Do Jun, which had alread been burried within him. Even before Hyun Woo "died" (for a week), it was meant to happen. So who is really who at the end? As Hyun Woo called it, you could think of it as repentance, but for me personally, Do Jun existed in Hyun Woo long before Hyun Woo got "reborn" as Do Jun.
All that being said, I do have some very smaaaaaall issues with the ending.
First, it felt rushed. Honestly the last 3 episodes or so felt really rushed compared to the rest of the drama's pace. Everything that needed to happen still happened, but it was just.... I don't wanna say half-baked but.....
Second, Hyun Woo got shot straight in the head point blank. You're telling me he miraculously survived that? Sure there are some miracles that happene even in real life, but it's a patter I hate with tv shows, nto just kdrama. At the very least, he would've needed years to recover. Although, if I really want to defend it, I could say the years he spent as Do Jun somehow changed Hyun Woo's brain's perception of time which afforded him just enough time to recover. Still, between Do Jun's and Hyun Woo's death, Do Jun would've had a much higher survival rate than Hyun Woo. Sure, Do Jun's car got slammed pretty hard, but it's not comparable to getting shot at point blank IN THE FREAKING HEAD, now is it? :/
Also I would've loved to see the actual process of Mr. Oh Se Hyun working with Do Jun's mother, instead of just hearing about all the things they're gonna do..... but we don't get to see them.
Jin Sung Jun's character deserved more too. Sure he was greedy, but he was not guilty of ordering Do Jun's murder. Both times he was innocent. He knew everyone would've suspected him, which is was exactly what his father wanted. It's the reason why he got the company in the first place. Sung Jun deserves some justice too. I feel like it would've been that more epic if the show had gone back to the conversation between Hyun Woo and Sung Jun from episode 1 and committed to the bond that was forming. Imagine if we had Hyun Woo and Sung Jun working together in the final episodes. Hyun Woo gets to finish Do Jun's deed and Sung Jun finally has a change of heart and pays tribute to his grandfather and runs the company with the same heart his grandfather had.
On a more positive note (says anticupid), Hyun Woo did not end up in a relationship with Min Young! Which makes logical sense, for once. I'm not saying I'm happy that they didn't get together, I'm saying it happened for the right reasons. But I'm sure most of the ship's fans will be satisfied that she seemed to recognize Do Jun in Hyun Woo in the end. One could imagine they did end up meeting up and like.... making babies. Idk.
I liked the future Min Young a lot more. Although for her to become the Soonyang Grim Reapper and wear only black because she was mourning for Do Jun, I really would have loved to see more of their relationship developing at least? As it was all based on only a few times they talked? Briefly? But I guess human emotiones are unpredictable, so it's possible. Anyways, there's that.
A little sad the endings of the rest of the characters were rushed by too, but I didn't see anything that made me think "hmm this doesn't make sense". Honestly, is there not going to be a season 2? Now I'm kinda disappointed, because I wish we had spent more time with how the other characters' life continued. As well as more to see of Do Jun with his family. But I get it, it was never the focus of the show.
All my other thoughts about this drama flew out the window.
I can say it was a lovely experience. I enjoyed this so much despite constantly finding something to nag about. I loved following Jin Do Jun's life, and that particular era in South Korea's history. The real footage they used. I loved Jin Yang Cheol's character, I loved Lee Sung Min's acting (as well as Joong Ki's, always).
It made me cry a couple of times and any drama that invokes real emotion in me keeps a spot in my heart. Especially when Ha In Seok went to testify and thought Hyun Woo was Do Jun (was he wrong though?) and wanted to protect him. The unspoken hero of this show. It was a fantastic story, even if we look at it only from Do Jun's perspective, it makes for an amazing story. Had Hyun Woo not even been a part of this drama, I would've still loved just watching Do Jun and his grandpa. Hyun Woo's growth at the end was the bonus for me. I get to exprience something which unlocked his cage and his heart. The boy who grew up in poverty and had many hardships because of it, the boy who willingly walked into a cage because of his trauma caused by poverty. He put his emotions aside, thinking that money was more important than them. Finally, he was freed from it all.
With a new look on life, a new heart and a new dream, he was able to leave all of his hurt behind and live in a way that not only fits him better, as a human, but also a life that Do Jun would be proud to see him live.
Ugh. I'm gonna miss Do Jun's smile though. I know Joong Ki plays both, but that smile is now Do Jun's until the day I die and there's no changing my mind.
Alright, time to go cry in a dark corner. I love-hate this ending.
An unexpected case leads Lee Yeon back in time to 1938, where he reencounters Ryu Hong Joo. Once a guardian spirit of the mountain in the west, she's now the owner of a high-end restaurant in the capital city of Gyeongseong. He also meets his younger brother Lee Rang. Meanwhile, another former guardian spirit and ex-friend Cheon Moo Young has become hostile. Lee Yeon struggles to return to the present, to his loved one.
Source: MyDramaList (2023)
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One of the Most Unserious Dramas Out There
Before we start: I did not watch the first one and am not planning to watch it at all. Going into Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 I admit I had to do a Q&A with my sister to understand what happened between the Lee brothers in this drama's modern world. However, one does not actually need to watch the previous drama to watch this and honestly speaking, from what I saw and knew about it, Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 is a whole lot more interesting and fun.
That being said, lets get on with how I felt about this drama. I am not kidding when I say, this is the most unserious drama for a drama anyone would think to be serious. Practically half of this drama was comedy and that is a praise. The comedy bit plays a part in making Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 so darn interesting and fun. Yet, this show also pulls on your heartstrings be it the brothers, the best friends or the best friends' righthand people.
I understand romance was a huge part of the first instalment but in this, it was just a tiny bit and I believe that is why I freaking loved watching this drama. In terms of what romance there was, I have no complains too. I mean, I adore the mermaid and the only complain I have is that I wished we could have gotten more scenes with her powers. When Rang said he liked someone who's stronger than him, he was not lying. The way Yeohee was written was right up my alley, she may not be as powerful as Rang but she saved him more times than he saved her and even when she was in danger, she still did not back down on a losing fight. For that reason, Yeohee is I really thought I would dislike the mermaid but nope, I love her.
Another thing I seriously love about Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 was the friendships. Any friendship in this drama was a pleasure to watch. Obviously, the friendship among our three mountain gods was my favourite. Don't get me wrong, Yeon is extremely lovable but in this trio, I need to worship my lady, Hongjoo and lovingly protect the cinnamon roll, Mooyoung. These three portrayed my kind of friendship where they were tight as children, still tight as adults and even with unfortunate circumstances, they might hate but they love each other more. Of course, the friendship among the roommates was a delight too. I only highlighted my top two favourites but I am not lying when I claim that this show did friendships so well.
Now, now. We have a problem though. At the beginning of this drama, Taluipa told Yeon even if he changes something in 1938, it does not affect 2023. I think its safe for me to say that we do not want that to be true, right? I am just willing to believe that what Taluipa said meant that Rang would still be dead in 2023, nothing Yeon did in 1938 changed Rang's decision in the future. I would even go as far to say that, everything Yeon did in 1938 further encouraged Rang to make that choice in the future. That is all I am willing to believe because I hear there's a third season and I need my best friends and roommates reunited to fight (without a doubt) the original mountain god. Yes, I know I said all I am willing to believe is that Rang is still dead but that's because I am sure there will be no Nine-Tailed dramas without both Lee brothers alive.
When the next instalment comes out, I will watch it as long as Hongjoo and Mooyoung are still around (if Jaeyoo, Miyeon and Yeohee are too, even better). I don't even care if there will be more romance although I wish there wouldn't be.
Rating: ★★★★★
P.S.: Anyone else felt that the big bad villains were so pathetic as compared to the smaller villains?
This Korean drama is based on the webtoon. I haven't read the webtoon, yet but I definitely will. I liked the series because it kept me wanting to see what would happen next. Yoo Hyeon Woo had been a faithful employee to the Soonyang owners who were fighting for the management rights over the empire. He doesn't like the people he works for, he doesn't respect them but he does what needs to be done in order to hold on to his job; until he goes on a business trip where he is to meet his death.
But he is not dead, he is now living in the body of the Jin Do Joon who had died 20 years before. The youngest grandson of the legendary Jin Yang Cheol who had created the Soonyang empire. It is through the relationship between grandfather and grandson that Yoo Hyeon Woo tries to mend the situation in his previous life by making sure Jin Yang Cheol's children and grandchildren don't get the management rights over the company.
The twist and turns in this story kept my interest. The relationship between Jin Do Joon with his grandfather and his investing partner were fun to watch. It is sad to watch how children and grandchildren watch the patriarch like vultures waiting for him to die so they can get their hands on the company. It really felt like Jin Do Joon was the only one who truly loved his grandfather.
It is interesting to see how all those experiences Yoo Hyeon Woo lived in this paralleled reality was connected to what he had lived in his first life - as Yoo Hyeon Woo would call it. I don't want to say more because this story is best to watch without knowing much. But I will say that I liked the fact that these are very gray characters and that I liked the main characters with all their imperfections.
This is a really good series. I recommend it. Can't wait to read the webtoon!
Photo from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reborn_Rich
After the idea of putting Kim So-hyun with Park Hae-jin in my F&H fancast invaded my brain, I decided that actually the far better vehicle for them to appear together is actually a k-drama Rebecca. Please see my vision:
KSH is built for ingenue roles, her big eyes able to convey debilitating doe-like shyness but also flashing glimmers of fierceness and determination when necessary (her dual role in School 2015 astonished me for an actress of 16) to keep her from being totally limp. Of course, she’s totally beautiful, but more schoolgirlish and down to earth in her beauty than, say, Kim Yoo-jung (who’s the same age).
And PHJ is thee prototype for “cold abruptness” and does very compelling “suicidal misery” which a review in the Guardian praised as required qualities for an actor playing Maxim de Winter. He’s got that arrogant, aristocratic nose. Let's also not forget that Yoo Jeong is very Gothic anti-hero coded. Besides, the 17-year age gap from KSH also seems accurate for the characters.
Also thinking about Kim Jung-nan as Mrs Danvers…I’ve only ever seen her in rich-lady roles but she’s got the right hardness and charisma.
so i started watching queen of tears on a whim and i'm more into it then i'd thought i'd be??? the characters are all so messed up and their dynamics make me internally screech but...i'm kinda enjoying it? the casting choices tho 🤌🫶✨✨✨ like soohyun as a tormented chaebol som in law and jiwon as a haughty chaebol queen? so so different from their usual roster of roles but also so refreshingly good!
not to forget supporting cast bec kwak dong-yeon has my entire heart and kim jung nan is literally playing my fav character in the entire story so far 💀 props to kim kap-soo for never missing the mark when playing arrogant old geysers with a sprinkle of sleaze 🤌
hate that i gotta wait till the weekend for the next 2 eps but i have high hopes from the way the story's unfolding! 🫶
All photos below have been AI enhanced for a more clear viewing (there may be some errors in the pictures), i will be listing there names in both English and Korean below the photos.
There names go from top left to bottom right.
English - Gisaeng List - Kim Bok-hee, Kim Hwa-jung-seon, Kim Chae-wol, Kim So-hong, Kim Unjo, Kim Wol-pa, Kim Hong-ryeon, Kim Myeong-hwa
Korean - 기생명부 - 김복희, 김화중선, 김채월, 김소홍, 김운조, 김월파, 김홍련, 김명화
English - Gisaeng List - Kim Nan-ok, Kim Ho-shin, Kim Ho-jo, Kim Byeok-jo, Kim Geum-bong, Kim Jeong-ok, Kim Wol-hong, Kim In-ok
Korean - 기생명부 - 김난옥, 김호신, 김호조, 김벽조, 김금봉, 김정옥, 김월홍, 김인옥
English - Gisaeng List - Kim Chae-un, Kim Chun-taek, Kim Myeong-ja, Kim Geum-hee, Kim Ran, Kim Yeon-hyang, Kim Ok-jin, Kim Ok-hye
Korean - 기생명부 - 김채운, 김춘택, 김명자, 김금희, 김란, 김연향, 김옥진, 김옥혜
English - Gisaeng List - Kim Gan-seon, Kim Wol-seon, Kim Seon-nyeo, Kim Eun-deok, Kim Mun-sook, Kim Young-wol, Kim Ok-seon, Kim Yeon-wol
Korean - 기생명부 - 김간선, 김월선, 김선녀, 김은덕, 김문숙, 김영월, 김옥선, 김연월