WHAT I LIKED

I KNOW ZERO ABOUT HOCKEY BUT IT WAS REALISTIC ENOUGH to make me cheer and it was very very entertaining !
I ENJOYED THE SIDE STORIES (it's a Hockey Team). I never skipped over any of them like I usually do :) Each tale/pairing had enough of a bite to hold my interest though I may have gently tapped the FF just to jog things along in places ;)

THE MAIN LOVE STORY was impressive. An Office Lady and A Pro-Hockey Star played out the angst and fear of falling in love at first sight when all the reasons why they can't and shouldn't have been a part of their personal circumstances for ages. If/When love happens, you really have no say in the matter right? This idea was portrayed very believably here.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I would definitely give this an 8 if I hadn't found the ending to be a bit too crispy for my taste - Not saying crispy is bad - just saying too crispy makes it just that little bit stiffer, harder to bite into and takes away just that teeny bit from the overall enjoyment.

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Excellent. Excellent. Excellent.

There's so much rich writing here. This is not a drama to zone out on. It keeps your mind hopping, challenges your values, and opens the doors of legal learning, in a fun and intruguing way.

Every twisty situation was magnetic, every character was played masterfully. The cast chemistry crackled. The male lead? He's no pretty face, but MAN, he's spellbing and masculinly hot. No lie. He explodes with charisma, and has a voice that melts...well you know what. Good grief!

He did another legal drama called A New Leaf, that was never completed.
I was left hanging, but this totally makes up for it.

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Cdramas, especially the historicals have come a long way for this English international viewer/addict, since starting out a mere 6 years ago. Watch this drama for a slightly unique plot line, the rather good and good looking cast and also the very good acting. BUT MOST OF ALL, watch this drama if you're in the mood to see lots o' "real" kiss scenes with great chemistry in a one season drama (Cdrama Jiayou!). Lot's of great lip locking in this one. Lots. The scenes also make sense so they are not off-putting or gratuitous. If the actors didn't genuinely like each other IRL (not necessarily talking relationship wise), then the leads are some dang good actors. I found myself actually double taking in my mind and saying "woe! another one?" Sheesh, must have been tons of chapstick and breath mints on hand lol. These actors were also FR eeeeeeezing on this set the whole time but managed to give off lots of kissing heat in spite of it lolz. Talent goals, props and admiration.

This is what stood out the most to me and so I highlight and note this drama for it. Other than that very specific detail, you're getting a well done story with everything you've come to expect and love from an RC historical done up mainland style. Repeat. Tons of sugary lip locking. Nuff said, Enjoy. :)

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This is one fantastic movie I highly recommend. I'm such a fan of Cha Seung Won. Packed with serious action and life struggles. Neither supersedes the other. You'll get both in equal dose. With all the very public high profile "successful?" gender switches that's been going on lately this drama is also a very timely one but you keep in mind this is not a Docu-drama on the subject of transgender. It's a cop and gangster movie. But CSW not you're typical Cop. This Cop has issues with his sexuality. But it's only 1 of a few story threads in this movie. Friendship, mob/gang war, it's here.

This movie sucked me in and didn't let go. The action is sharp and slick and on point beyond words my lower jaw just dropped. CSW's acting is so pure and true to the kind of life(style) he's trying to depict giving a small but clear insight into the struggles and sacrifices millions of people with this issue face everyday. To be honest this issue belatedly switching genders is not one I've ever turned my mind to. I hear and see it all around and pretty much dismiss it as it's not something I condone; But I don't have to condone something to try to understand it.and this movie was portrayed in a way that made me curious and drew it to the forefront of my attention :)

What caught my attention was how Cha Seun Won used his smallest finger to play a big roll in this movie. A raised pinkie seemed to be what the Directors decided to use as a subtle hint at the persistent feminine mindset of the main character when he was in male mode. We all know it's silly. But in this case I thought it was a good call. They chose not to over-feminize (my new word) a person whose main roll in life is a bad-ass hero cop. This most masculine looking man with a beautiful face didn't need to be seen as "trying to hide" a swishy walk or striking dramatic femme-poses instead I think the dignity was kept for the M & F portrayals by remaining subtle with the body. After all, the wig dress and make-up was more than enough for us to get the picture. CSW goes all in for his dramas. He's One of my Favorites! I'm never surprised at any of the projects Cha Seung Won takes on. He's mastered his craft so well. The rest of the cast were wonderful as well.

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6.5/10
WHAT I LIKED
- Story concept is good
- I could listen to Docs voice FOREVER AND EVER then 1 more day.
- The characters each had a nicely fleshed out story that made sense and had depth.
- There are situations and circumstances that most age groups can relate to.
- Within this drama are 2 beautiful gems that I was surprised and happy to find!

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
- I'm NEW to J.drama so I'm still getting used to the over-the-top/cartooned style Directors seem to favor for the characters in most of the ones I've seen so far (unless they are hard action etc.) They didn't do it much with this one but I admit I'm biased against it and even a little of it makes me cringe. THAT'S NOT TO SAY I WON'T WATCH A DRAMA THAT HAS IT THOUGH. :)

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Yeon Jung Hoon.. sigh.. je ne sais quoi !
This is a pleasant watch. I realized this was a re-watch for me 1/4 of the way in but it was good enough to continue for a second time. I happen to really like the male Yeon Jung Hoon lead in everything he does so I guess that played a factor as well. It's definitely not a boring watch. And as much as it's you're typical hardcore CEO vs hardluck Secretary RD they tried to put a different spin on the typical happy ending. You'll either like it or you won't. The ending isn't my favorite but it didn't detract from the drama at all.

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7/10 for Lovers of Long Daily Dramas!
- This drama kicked in AFTER EPISODE 6 for me. It took 2 weeks to get there and 2 days to finish it after that.

What I Liked:

1. THE PLOT
WATCH THIS ONE FOR THE STORYLINE. A passionate young girls' journey from childhood to adulthood as she tries to break through a fierce traditional prejudice. From the age of 8 she had to dress and act like a boy (Eun-Seong) in order to be accepted and trained to get an inheritance that for 400 years only Men in the family were allowed to have.
2. THE way LOVE was presented
The writers took protective love and love that gives freedom and presented it to us very very well.
3. THE COMEDY
Two women gave performances that stole every scene they were in. Their Characters were very well cast. Even without much Character development they stood out and added comic relief and warmth.
4. SATISFACTION
This drama is full of satisfactory moments!. They don't make you stew over unfair treatment without giving you the satisfaction of getting a good knock out punch in every time!
5. HOW/WHY DID I WATCH 122 Episodes?
a) I used the Watchsome-Skipsome method. b)The story line was good and strong and overshadowed the things I disliked. For the most part the actors did a great job with the script they got and there were times this drama hooked me solid. A lot of people will really like it and you might like it as well.
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If you care to know WHAT I DISLIKED about this drama read on. If you're going to give this drama a shot, DON'T READ ON. Instead, for the impatient like me, bear with it through episode 6 after that it takes off. :)
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What I Disliked: (please remember this is IMO if you completely disagree I totally respect that.)

1. THE FEMALE LEAD in the roll of Adult Jang Ha Na
First of all, I have to say up front - they should have changed the main female once she passed out of Teen-hood. There were ample opportunities to do it. Park Han Byul's cute innocent look and feel did not live up to the qualities that Jang Ha Na needed to be believable. The adult roll of Jang Ha Na would have suited Yoon Se In (who played her half sister) much better.
2. NO SEXUAL/ROMANTIC CHEMISTRY WHATSOEVER EVER EVER EVER
They present us with a triangle very early on and If they're gonna do that, they should ante up some chemistry. Yoon Se In worked hard and tried her best with the triangle/romantic scenes. And that's the problem. I could see it. - If you want great romantic chemistry with your FD, I suggest the drama Ugly Alert.
3. THE STRETCHING/ REPETITIONS,
FINE it's 122 episodes. That means the writers should skillfully fill the scenes with lines other than -We'll see after we compete next week, next week, we'll see next week, it'll all be over next week and the segments with something other than a NEW competition to see who deserves the job. I think I counted 4 or more RE-competitions, you'll probably end up counting them as well :+/
5. ANTI-CLIMATIC ENDING
This drama should have been 20-25 episodes Max. but they wanted to give us 122 so they did.
There are many climaxes in this story and they're good! But with that many episodes creativity and enthusiasm can run dry and as a result the ending is not unpleasant but it's lackluster.

WITH ALL THESE grievances, I STILL WATCHED 122 EPISODES through to finish and I didn't viciously want my time emailed back to me:)

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7.5/10
FAIRY TALE and FATE- A REMINDER TO VALUE TIME WELL
no matter how young we are because with all the stress and mess we face daily we tend to forget, A LOT. I use these kinds dramas (Tragedies) to pause and take in some bitter reality with the sweet. That's life after all. Still, I rarely do it when what I'm actually in Drama land for is the fake and pretend. It's even more rare to find one I like enough to brave to the finish line. I'm a Drama wimp.

YOU CAN WALLOW IN FEELS with this one all you want. I've already admitted my aversion to tragic Dramas BUT this is one of my exceptions. I LIKE THIS drama. Apart from it being sad, it accomplished another purpose, It made me pause to appreciate the hours and quality of life that I've been given. Even if only for the 1minute it took for the credits to flash at the end. This pause took the place of tears and also replaced the morbid depressing thoughts I'd usually have for hours and days after, with ideas of how I can add more happy value to the time I've been given.

THE CINEMATOGRAPHY IS JUST BREATH TAKING
and may be the main reason I rewatch a Tragedy for the 1st. time. Especially the final scene.
Locations and skillful artistic and natural lighting weave so much magic throughout everything. It's pure Eye-Candy and beautiful ambience ..it still gives me goosebumps really. The visuals are turbulent and soothing. You may not need the tissue....then again...

THE ACTORS DID THEIR CHARACTERS JUSTICE. I happen to love both Leads.
The drama had an overall condensed feel. It moved along very quickly and I noticed most of my attention went to the front and not so much the back story. I'm pretty sure I'll re-watch.
Song Hye Kyo and Cha Tae Hyun balanced such a sweet and pure young 1st. Love story with real world adult reality. Their present was all I could focus on. THEY WERE GREAT.

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Based on the premise that something significant happens every ninth year of our lives. This is a great watch. By looking at the poster, I admit I thought it would be boring but it's anything but. It's very well written and executed. The stories for each of the boys were seamless and the acting is on point. I really can't say there's anything I disliked enough to be worthy of a comment because I really enjoyed it.
I think you will enjoy this family drama as well.
ASIDE:)
Because of this drama, I actually took the time to think about all my 9th years over the decades coming up to my present and to my surprise in my case it's true! lolol! Something life changing has happened to me every year before each decade began. 2016 is another 9th year for me and before it ends will probably bring the most significant life change of all so far. Crazy I know.

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I'm guilty of re-watching this drama over and over as it progressed until the halfway point when it began to fizzle. As much as I loved this drama, after watching the final episode, I came away with the feeling that the entire thing was a vehicle to show off PSH's "Adult kissing" chops with a veteran star known to be great at it. I mean lets face it. Kim Rae Won is a stellar actor in ALL ways and he's mature. What a perfect way for her to leave the immature cardboard kissing nonsense behind her for good! This drama also showed of those fighting skills that I'm sure she worked seriously hard to hone. She executed those moves PERFECTLY leaving me to believe she probably does that stuff in her free time (whenever that is).

I think for KRW this drama was light and fun to do. All the Cast were great. I invested in all of them, even the Antagonists and although the story basically fizzled - IMO - once the mains established their bond and the fight scenes no longer made sense, the fizzle started far enough along and I liked the characters more than enough for this to be one of my indefinite re-watches. In fact, maybe it's that all-round lack of heaviness and full-Cast likeability that allows me to keep going back to it happily.

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