El Místico Bar Efímero (2020)

¡Imperdible!

"El místico bar efímero" es de esos dramas que son "joyitas ocultas", ya les digo los motivos.


Primero (y en mi opinión, en punto más fuerte de este drama), es la historia. ES BRILLANTE. Si bien, el tema de reencarnaciones, fantasmas, etc. No es algo del todo nuevo (muy visto en Goblin, por ejemplo), pero Bar Efímero las cosas avanzaban a un buen ritmo, no creo que hubiera capítulos de más ó menos, sino los exactos y en cada uno te dejaba un aprendizaje (el perdonar, el arrepentimiento, etc.) y además poco a poco a poco había un desarrollo de personajes que siempre que terminaba cada capítulo me ponía a pensar una serie de teorías en mi cabeza que siempre me daba esta sensación de intriga de querer saber más.

El cast es otro de los puntos positivos del drama, la química entre los 3 actores principales es muy buena, basta con ver uno o dos capítulos para verlo y eso es algo que agradezco, no siempre tengo la fortuna de encontrar casos así.

En la música me hubiera gustado que las canciones OST, hubieran aparecido un poco más entre las escenas pero por puro capricho personal, ya que así hubieran brillado un poco más, sin embargo estos fueron un poco compensados por los sonidos divertidos que se agregaron.

Como comentario final "EMBE" es un drama que necesita ser más apreciado por todos, sobre todo por las actuaciones y lo brillante que fue la escritora al acomodar todas las "piezas del rompecabezas" de la historia de una forma tan justa. Este drama es tan entretenido que fácilmente volvería ver, para poder apreciar pequeños detalles y analizar a fondo las enseñanzas de cada capítulo. Y por supuesto que pasa a mi lista de favoritos sin duda, definitivamente una historia de fantasía muy recomendable para maratonear que trae un bello mensaje. Imperdible.

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De los mejores kdramas de fantasía que vi

La historia va de una mujer que es condenada a resolver los pesares de 100.000 personas (metiéndose en sus sueños) para no ir al infierno. La cuestión es que después de 500 años intentando cumplir con esto, por fin le quedan solo 10 pesares... pero la empiezan a apurar. Por suerte cuenta con la ayuda de un ex policía del más allá y de un chico mortal que cuando toca a alguien, esa persona le cuenta sus problemas.
Obvio que hay muchísimas cosas detrás de lo que les dije, pero #spoilers.

Los actores, los personajes, la fotografía, el guion, la trama... Amé todo ?

Al principio tenía miedo de que se me hiciera pesada, pero nada que ver. Hay un equilibro buenísimo entre los momentos de drama y los de comedia. En un mismo capítulos podés estar riéndote y después terminar llorando, literal.
Además, el desarrollo de la historia está muy bien manejado. Nos van contando de a poco qué fue lo que pasó hace 500 años como para que la prota fuera condenada, y eso lo van relacionando con lo que está pasando en el presente.
Otra cosa que me gustó con respecto al desarrollo es que al principio parecía que cada capítulo iba a tratar un "pesar" diferente, pero esa dinámica solo la usaron para que llegáramos a conocer y a querer a los protagonistas, para después centrarse más en ellos y en sus vidas. Igual los casos me encantaron, fueron uno mejor que el otro, me saco el sombrero ante los guionistas.

Los actores son maravillosos, y el trío principal tiene altísima química. No puedo decirles cuál es mi personaje favorito porque los amo fuerte a los tres, así de mucho me gustaron.

Para colmo visualmente es una locura total, no tengo ningún comentario sobre eso.

Las relaciones que se van construyendo, los mensajes y enseñanzas que dejan cada capítulo, la reflexión final... Amé todo. Es una serie que realmente siento que vale la pena, así que espero que se animen a darle una oportunidad (me duele que haya terminado ?)
¡Más que recomendada!

IG de reseñas cortas: @altoplottwist

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Enjoy the crazy ride.

This drama is just like it's title "Mystic". Never have I ever watched any drama which could actually play with parallel worlds!
Honestly speaking, I started watching this drama beacuse of Hwang Jung Eum and my love for Fantasy genre. I wasn't a huge fan of Yook Sung Jae nor Choi Won Young since I hadn't watched any of their dramas before. So, I was a bit skeptical.

The story was all about a pricky woman who operates a food tent at night so anyone (dead or living) can visit and grab a drink with the owner and then she can appease their grudges through entering their minds by giving them a special drink.
As the story progressed, it got me hooked everytime! I literally craved for the next episode. It soon became a story about some extraordinary people with some extraordinary capabilities trying to help out both ordinary and mystic beings. The characters were so diverse and well played by each and every actors/resses.

Hwang Jung Eum playing Weol-ju (the main character) was so different from her other characters she has ever played. Her character was written in so depth, we could actually feel those emotions. More matured, understanding, comedic, lively, passionate, etc! Being a spirit aged 500 yrs, under a grave punishment in the human world, the pop-up bar was set up as a place to help spirits let go of their problems and solve their grudges patiently to fill her quota to solve up to 100,000 grudges in order complete her mission.

I actually love that I came with an expectation of a bit weird love story between a supernatural woman and a younger guy. But NO, this was truly an Exception! Instead, I got two crazy spirits who are practically married but denying their feelings, and an adorably awkward part timer who's spiritual visions are widened! They together really made a hilarious little family.

Every episode is fun, and there’s a lesson we takeaway each time we watch it. Almost always we become jealous of people who have more capabilities than us, but this shows that knowing and having that much can get very lonely too. I had never expected the story to be so deep and at the same time so heart-warming and touching!
Each and every episode holds a mystery which unfolds just nicely. It totally delivers the heart wrenching and heart warming stories in a not over dramatic way. I actually liked that they didn't focus much on romance but human life itself which is perfect for what is going on in this world today. I cried and laughed every single episode!

The growth of attachment between the trio which eventually strengthened was so sweet to watch. How quickly did Kang Bae got attached to Weol-Ju and Chief Gwi? Kang Bae being upset and distracted awaiting their return even when he was with his girl was just priceless!

Best Things I loved in this drama:
● The first thing I got very attached to in the beginning of this drama was it's Music. The OST "Dive" totally has those 'Mystic' vibes. The orchestra Background score and the sound effects in each episode is so Amazing!
● HWANG JUNG EUM LOOKING GORGEOUS than ever! How amazing does she looks in that hanbok (Korean traditional dress)?
She looks so pretty. Her costumes were killing! Her transformation has indeed surprised me this time.
● YOOK SUNG JAE TURNING CUTE TO SEXY IN NO TIME! His expressions were priceless!
● CHOI WON YOUNG'S AMAZING ACTING!
● Hwang Jung Eum and Choi Won Young's ENGLISH.
● Yook Sung Jae's adorable side.

☆Overall - This drama is something I needed desperately! It's full of magic, love and laughter.
*This maybe not a drama which everyone will like, but it was perfect for me!

The only disappointment is that the drama is too short. Anyways, a complete enjoyable drama which is fun to watch. I would definitely re-watch it someday :)

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"Do you want to have a drink with me?"

"Counseling with a twist." That is how I initially perceived the theme Mystic Pop-up Bar. Dramas that touch on mental health issues are often either of melodrama or suspense genre. But here is a gem of a show that gives you a release and relief from a shot of soju, without the usual hangover.

In the first few episodes of this drama, you'll find stories of persons whose grudges could well be the same as many of us have. The counseling part comes naturally in the dialogue between the characters, often in a comical way. (It could be a good idea to have a paper and pen ready to take down some quotable lines.) As the drama progresses, it begins to focus more on the main characters' own concerns which has been taking 500 years to settle.

What's so awesome about Mystic Pop-up Bar is, while it's generally comedy, you'll also find some bits of romance, drama and action in it. Worthy of mentioning also is how clean the CGI effects they used in the show. I'm not sure with the others, but for me, each episode was like a movie.

Even though I chose to watch this because of SKY Castle actor Choi Won Young, I must say all the actors in this drama are worth applauding. Yook Sung Jae made a great choice of doing this drama before his military enlistment; he did really well as Han Kang Bae. Also, I could say that we have a different Hwang Jung Eum here, so if you're not a fan of the way she acted in her previous dramas, don't let that get in the way of you experiencing a one-of-a-kind journey in Mystic Pop-up Bar.

The OST is worth adding to your playlist as well, especially the song for Part 1 of the soundtrack.

I recommend this drama after watching heavy drama, suspense or action, or to those who simply want to have a good laugh after a tiring day.

Enjoy Mystic Pop-up Bar!

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Mystic Pop- Up Bar was a surprisingly enjoyable and fun show to watch at times...

Mystic Pop-Up Bar recounts the mystery behind our most unlikely hero Kang Bae ( Yook Sungjae) , who by chance, ends up meeting the eccentric owner of a “ Pop- Up” Bar called Wol-Joo ( Hwang Jung- eum). Together alongside her coworker Gwi ( Choi Won- Young), the duo are representatives of the other side, tasked with solving the numerous desires of their customers through wandering through their dreams. When Kang Bae ends up indebted to Wol- Joo after a certain incident, he soon finds himself stumbling into new worlds and strange revelations as well.

As dramas go, Mystic Pop- Up was a surprisingly enjoyable and fun show at times. It wasn’t groundbreaking upon the traditional concept of the oblivious protagonist stumbling into the world unknown, however, there were a lot of intriguing aspects of Korean culture ( modern and traditional) , mythology ( particularly deities) and a strangely sweet romance between Kang Bae and a most unlikely love interest in security guard Kang Yeo- Rin ( Jung Da- Eun) .Nonetheless, it was a bit of a conundrum from a watching perspective.

The biggest problem with this lay upon stealing too many cliches and tropes into the storyline. Whilst this in itself is not a crime and Mystic Pop-Bar did have a fairly intriguing premise , the drama just did not expand upon many of the later intriguing aspects as well ( particularly with the shocking twists near the finale).

This also caused and created too many loose ties in the entire show ( particularly later plot-holes). It’s understandable that the drama tried to balance comedy and melodrama to appeal to audiences , however, the biggest problem for Mystic Pop Up Bar was relying too heavily upon comedy for a major proportion of the drama than allowing the later melodrama to be just as impactful in later storylines.

On the other hand, whilst most watchers seem to criticise Hwang Jung-eum from her past experiences of acting and applying it to the show after the beginning of the drama , Jeung-eum was actually quite good in Mystic Pop Ip Bar. That’s not to say that she didn’t overact at times ( similarly with both her co- stars Young Choi and Sungjae), but, Jeung- Eum seemed to challenge a level of a profound edge towards her performance and character’s backstory , parallel to fellow costar Sungjae during the more tear jerking moments of the drama .

The delivered ending was fairly bittersweet. Perhaps not the “ perfect” ending to the show, but this just added to the fact that although Mystic Pop- Up Bar follows the generic scenarios and tropes of most fantasy and comedy dramas, it was still enjoyable and entertaining to watch.

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I just finished watching this drama and now I'm so upset that it has finished. This drama was different because it was more about life lessons and family rather than romance which I really liked. The trio was so good and i was even more excited when I found out they were family. It was such a sweet drama whilst also being funny at the same time. It teaches you how to deal with grudges and how to let go, a really mature perspective on things . And I loved seeing sung-jae especially since he is in the army now. I had never seen him as an actor but his acting skills were amazing , especially towards the end. I would highly recommend this drama to anyone who wants something comedy whilst having an amazing story.

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I never Knew Dreams Can Be this Real??

The mystic and ecstatic elements are held in abeyance ingeniously devised by Screenwriter Ha Yoon Ah and Director Jun Chang Geun. I cannot comment fully on the similarities to the 2017 webtoon of the same name, but it appears the Screenwriter tempered wonderfully warm melodic moments with a keen sense of humor.


It was Jun Chang Geun's first project since The Package (2017) that I flat-out enjoyed the beautiful scenery and famous landmarks in that show. Mystic Pop-Up Bar does not disappoint, but there will always be a select few people that will bash this show and nothing we can do about it. By this point, have we not seen all that we will see in the fantasy aspect, maybe not. Yes, we pine for originality in the script, but do the actors catalyze more visionary thinking in each other that this drama expertly displays.


The location of the outdoor drinking establishment lures individuals from all backgrounds that were the main focal point. The viewer invested by the average individuals' problems the Mystic Pop-Up Bar soothes the pain and suffering. The soft and upbeat music, along with the light clinking of glass, was soothing to my ears when drinking occurred, and the main leads entered the dream world. The Directing Style aided to the storytelling because we see a different side to what the director contributes to this Depleted Genre that I have trust will be in good hands for the future.

Acting:

Every character imparts much liveliness to the scenes. Hwang Jung Eum's tone and expression did not awake an old, unwelcome feeling that her other works sometimes did. I think Park Shi Eun's depiction of the younger Weol Joo was a significant reason why I overlooked the deficiency of her acting style. She has retained a certain mystique, which makes her such a compelling character.


Choi Won Young's heartening rendition of his character was something special as his dilated pupil and eyebrow expressions in a bunch of scenes caught my undivided attention. Also, he imparts strength and provides an air of talisman of protection. Yook Sung Jae timid, yet bubbly persona was too wily, unfailingly tactful, an adept with the touch of his hands. I especially cherished Jung Da Eun's role as a Security Guard, her metamorphosis of a resigned face to an alight face from the first episode to the last episode. YSJ and JDE are too adorable together.


I would have liked a little more character development from the villain. Still, writing this review, I reflected on the villain's role, and what they did was not bad considering tropes run rampant in every drama—a bittersweet story of the villain trapped by the flaws in his character.


Conclusion:

It had the right amount of episodes to enjoy every episode. If you have any doubts, I say watch the first two episodes and make your decision. I conclude I have a fondness for close contact with someone after viewing this show. The show elicits an aliveness we crave in this Coronoviris Pandemic once everything settles back to normalcy; Human Interaction and affection.



Final Rating: 8.75/10
Story: 8.57/10
Acting: 9.68/10

Rewatch: I will watch this again for sure. Four Thumbs Up.

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A true masterpiece

Okay folks, get ready 'cause I'm gonna fangirl really hard about this show for like...the rest of my life. If you're wondering wether to give this a chance or not, my solid advice would be: YES, DO IT! DO IT NOW! JUST DO IT!!!

To me, this drama feels like one of those shows that fill you with joy and makes you feel all warm inside. It is definitely something that reminds you of the beauty of life. I'm sure many times we find ourselves going through a rough patch, we get tired of the way things are going in life, or we just have too much on our plate. I mean, just as an example, in addition to our personal ups and downs, we're all going through a pandemic right now!! And it might make us feel like this is too hard, this "thing" called "living" is just not what we were waiting for or we would've liked it if it came with a series of instructions on how to navigate it. However, we all know this is not possible and that we have to go through life figuring out how things work and making the best out of what we have.

For me this show provided that pause I needed in my routine. It was like finding a friend who comes to me and says: 'Hey, it's okay. Stop for a second thinking of all the negative things that are going on in your life or how you don't know what's gonna happen in the future. Stop for just a minute and look at the things that are going well, at all that you've accomplished and at how you have the opportunity to start over each day and try your best to achieve what you want. I understand how you're feeling and it's okay. Things will get better and you're gonna ace it.' What I loved so much about MPUB is that it reminded me that we're all struggling in this uncertain journey called "life." We all have our problems and no one has a guide that says how to do it, we're all figuring it out at our own pace and that is fine. There'll always be good and bad times and that's just how life is. It doesn't end there, there's so much to enjoy and appreciate in life even though we're sometimes stuck in seeing just the negative part.

This show taught me something that I tend to forget many times. What's important is to value the small moments in life, the people we are with and the time we get to spend with our loved ones. Sometimes we just need to look up to realize that everybody else is also struggling and trying their best, that's the moment when we realize that it's not just us, other people are going through the same, other people need our help as much as we need theirs. If I had to decribe MPUB in one word, I'd say it's "healing." I get so many positive vibes from this show, it's like a friend who tells you that no matter what you're going through you'll work it out.

Every episode of this show has a life lesson or take-away (that must be one of the things I find most refreshing and love about this drama) and the one that stuck with me the most is that we all need someone to listen to us, someone with whom to share our struggles, our worries, but also our joys and hopes. We don't expect that person to solve our problems, but we all need someone to be there for us. And of course it's not only receiving, we also have to give. There are many people around us who need us to ask them how they're doing and listen, truly listen to them.

This is what makes MPUB a true jewel in kdramaland, it's not everyday that we come across a show like this. The character development and the relationships between them are so masterfully and beautifully written that they seem real people you can relate to even though this is a fantasy story. (Shout out to that person in the comments who asked if there's a word for shipping a family, 'cause that's exactly what I'm doing. I SHIP THIS FAMILY LIKE FEDEX). The actors did such a wonderful job in portraying the characters that I truly came to care for them (especially our mystic trio, they're now my precious babies that must be protected at all costs). Hats off to each one of them. I only have one teeny-tiny complain about this show. Even though I LOVED the ending, it didn't quite have the same feeling as the other episodes, if you know what I mean. It was a tad rushed in my opinion. I kinda felt I wanted more, more of my mystic trio being together as a family, but nevertheless, it was wonderful. Congratulations to all the people involved in this masterpiece, they really did an outstanding job. They deserve a standing ovation.

Bonus: I'd just like to take some time to talk about Chief Gwi and how much I ADORE this man. I mean, he just went ahead and raised the bar so high up that at this point, everybody else should just give up. I mean, where can I get a man who catches evil spirits for 500 years just so that he can spend 1 year with you helping you without expecting anything in return, without revealing who he is, just wanting to be right by your side, doing his best to help you achieve your goal. I mean, he didn't even try to explain what happened in the past because he felt that what was important wasn't to get himself a second chance but to fulfill his promise of protecting you. A man who literally decided to go to hell for you without expecting you to recognize all his effort and devotion. A man who promised to always find you no matter what and he DID. He did and stayed with Weol-ju, knowing how much she actually resented him but being happy of just being able to be with her. AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE ADORING LOOK IN CHOI WON YOUNG'S EYES EVERY TIME HE LOOKS AT WEOL-JU. I NEED THIS KIND OF ROMANCE IN MY LIFE. We didn't even get a single kiss from them but it wasn't needed, I hadn't seen this level of romance in a kdrama in a long time. That hug in ep 12 was everything I never knew I needed.

Bonus 2: Sungjae is a precious baby boy. Too precious for words, too precious for this world. He did an amazing job once again and I'm so proud of him.

In summary, MPUB is now one of my all-time favorite kdramas. It was an amazing journey and I'll definitely be rewatching it more than once. The found family trope is so strong in this one that it's all I ever wished for in a kdrama. We really need more shows like this out there. Once more, congratulations to all the cast and crew for making such a beautiful show.

"Everyone's fate is decided by the heavens, but the heavens is more easily moved than you might think. Little things that you say and do may change your fate. If changing your fate is called a miracle, miracles may be happening every day. The miracle of you being alive, the miracle of having that person next to you, the miracle of being able to have a drink with that person."

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GREAT CONTENT TO GET INTO.

I honestly love this drama, short but worthwhile and warm at the same time. The drama centers around 3 individuals 2 who are dead and trying to atone for their sins in the living realm and one who struggles with a power that has brought him misfortune his whole life. The storyline I depicted when I first watched the teasers was more a thriller feel but it ended up being way much funnier than I expected. it is very balanced in terms of equality in each genre. There is a sufficient amount of plot twists to make it an interesting drama. it is also very humorous as to not make it feel gloomy, I think Hwang Jung Eum, Choi Won Young and Sung Jae did an amazing job in this. Their previous works are known to be quite humorous and well-acclaimed they elevated that feel into this drama and the romance was heartwarming, it had the whole past life kind of eternal love which is cliche to most but they managed to down tone trivial lines in that kind of genre and make it as realistic as possible.

I commend the costume designers too, I loved the modernized hanboks that Wool Ju( Hwang Jung Eum) wore in this drama it really made her character stand out more and even to her character in the drama. it showed the angst she held in her heart over a very long time and although she did change her initial self and goals were all the same.
The cinematography was awesome, shout out to director of cinematography. the music was alright I would have loved a bit more scores in trenching moments but overall they did a good job. The performances were so nice with supporting roles like Jung Da Eun (Kang Yeo Rin) who played a re-incarnated spiritual tree and also Kang Bae's( Sung Jae) love interest.

I think Netflix in terms of k-dramas has a really good standard. Their originals have been good this year with extracurricular, the king; eternal monarch, and now mystic pop-up bar. if you're into the k-drama scene or if you're starting out this is a great drama to get into. WATCH IT.

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Truly a gem

I had not intended to watch this drama until I saw the ratings and read the pleasant comments about the show and I'm so glad I went for it. This drama is so beautiful. The cast is great, the pace is apt, the storyline well executed and the emotional moments well-placed , even though the story itself was nothing new. Some parts of the plot were predictable, but nonetheless this was an enjoyable ride. All thanks to the cast.

Hwang Jung Eum portraying a mature, feisty fantasy figure was different from her roles in previous dramas and definitely an interesting choice for a come back. Yoo Sung Jae was a perfect choice for the sweet innocent dorky Kang-Bae and it was also nice to see Choi won young in a charismatic, easy-going lead. Also, the whole fantasy, afterlife and dreamworld set up was authentic and genuine to that extent that believing in those things seems natural. If your up and looking for a simple, short, heart-warming show, this is it.

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one of the most underrated kdramas of the year

damn, I watched this show start to finish and ep. 1-11 were honestly the best thing ever, the plot was different, the characters had background, grudges, and DEVELOPMENT, the actors and actresses were awesome, every character had some part to play, I’m surprised how heavily underrated this series is tbh, AND THE TWISTS, UUUUUU BOI, like you will see them coming, but you’ll second guess yourself and say “no way, can’t be him, wait what, but it makes sense though if it is him ... arghhh ASKHAHNAHSNNS” just the twists this show had were so good and top notch and they didn’t screw over the plot, so I loved them. All in all, it was very refreshing to get 12 episodes that had promise and for most of the part executed the main plot well, that is ...

UNTIL THE END.

not gonna lie, ep. 12 felt like a bunch of scenes cut together to try to fit the 60 min. time limit, someone I saw in the discussion feed put “it felt like someone else wrote the last episode,” which I agree with, it didn’t even feel nearly close to the flow ep. 1-11 had, but there was some development and it was a happy ending, I won’t say the end was anti-climatic because we got some fight scenes, we got info, some burning questions we had were answered (aka those “twists”), but the end could’ve been better imo, especially with the huge plot hole at the end, overall though this series deserves an 8+ rating for the storylines in each episode alone, very heartfelt and a couple tearjerkers, I definitely do not regret watching this one, and even though the end kind of nodded off, it’s worth the watch for 12 ep.
:)

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