Well I loved it

I'm in the UK and initially I was put off by the eccentric characters and weird storyline but in 2 or 3 episodes I was finding this series funny and well worth watching. It was a touching romance and a brutal picture of how parents can behave in South Korea. Certainly an eye opener. I appreciated the fact that suicide wasn't shied away from and that sometimes the youngsters were the best people to help. The damage done by teasing, gossiping, and plotting was chilling to watch.
I warmed to all the main characters and thought they were acted with thoughtful evolution through the series. You can still fall in love if you're a bit weird. All the masses of students who did not have speaking parts did seem to represent a real institution. So well done everybody.

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"Because this is my first life" Unusual storyline. Thought provoking

For me, this series was mainly about the way human beings find it difficult to communicate in relationships as well as the dating versus marriage conundrum. It was interesting to see how S Korean society is adjusting (or not) to declining birth rates and an eye opener for me about a lot of other pressures playing out on women. I thought all the cast were good and all the main male and female players had interesting roles.
If I have one thought for others watching, it would be that it looked to me as though Lee Min-Ki was directed to act as someone with a diagnosis such as social anxiety disorder or OCD. This so affected his character's ability to converse with female lead Jung So-min that most of their episodes were barely producing an improvement in their "no touch marriage". So be warned that you will not automatically warm to these characters. I thought the script and direction gave a very hard task to the lead couple and I applaud them.
Would I recommend? 100% yes.

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Flawed characters, flawed families

It would have been nice if this was written as a straightforward love story with the occasional car accident but the characters dropped in from the beginning with traumatic childhoods, abusive parents and power crazy family businesses. Plus deaths, debt and unsuitable spouses. This does seem to be a trend in South Korean drama.
Jun descended like a tortured soul and just oozed past mistreatment. Both the main leads, Go Ara and Lee Jae-wook were exemplary in their roles and their roles were definitely written as two very flawed characters who mad bad decisions a lot of the time and were almost impossible to help. Jun's inability to open up about his past, his family and his illness were clear to see and his and Ra-Ra's relationship was filled with understandable potholes. How many people do we know where one suddenly says goodbye for no reason and disappears?
I know many families where cancer is hidden and treatment undertaken secretly. If people acted rationally, all people would get their cancer treated on time. If Jun was to get cancer we would all have wanted him to tell Ra-ra and for her to stay by his bedside until he was cured but real life is very far from cosy dramas.
The rest of the cast nobly kept humour going through all the difficult storylines. I've scored this quite high because I was upset by the last episode but I thought the screen writer was trying not to mollycoddle us. Odd ending though!

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Our Blues - review from England

This series is such a treat and I would recommend anyone to see. There is violence in some of the scenes but keep watching - it's necessary to understand where the characters have come from and where they are going.
The script writing is unbelievably good and the stories and heartache through every episode are truly unique. Many of the topics would just not be touched on in the UK so it's a big well done from me.
And the huge cast is to be applauded for acting to such a high level through the series. From the smallest to the eldest. The storylines with Kim Hye Ja and Go Doo Shim were amazing and acted out with such sensitivity that I am lost for words.
Well done to all the crew, keep promoting this in the UK.

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Now, we are breaking up. Yes a lot of this.

This TV series is about loss and people not adjusting healthily to it. And poor communication within families and workplace.
I thought the script was ambitious and was weighed down too heavily with bitterness from mother in laws/ex GF etc. But dealing with a child's reaction to cancer was commendable.
All the actors were very good and I liked the direction that was given to the two lead roles. I presume they were trying to act as the offspring of their very selfish, loud and bullying parents.
This is not a bright and breezy watch and I found some episodes easier than others. But I would still recommend 90%.

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Trapped in a castle!

This series was made in 2016 and it is feeling its age but it is still extremely watchable. It is a parody. The script was ok but sometimes seemed hemmed in by the predetermined plot lines. The actors were very good and Lee Jung-Shin was very good as a musician (obviously)
My main criticism was the siting of the family home in a huge house in the middle of nowhere and the ridiculous flooring plan inside. Very weird but all the cast seemed to cope with it! Still very enjoyable but don't take too seriously.
For all those reasons I've tried to score it taking into account when it was made!

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Unusual murder mystery

I really liked this. Bit weird but trust the characters and elevate your imagination. I liked all the actors especially Bae Hyeon Seong who I think for his age is amazing. Jung Woo is just as good even though not as dishy. Nearly everyone in the police force was unlovable but I realised that that was intentional and perhaps why there were so few women there. There is some violence which I gritted my teeth through but it probably comes with the genre. So I binge watched over a few days and managed to keep up with the names whizzing through on the subtitles. I thought 16 episodes was just right and the pace suited me fine. 100% recommend.

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