IM YourOnlyOne
Parallel World from the Future
Powerful stories about life and family
If I'm going to pick one thing about this series as a review, it's the flashbacks. They showed us the challenges of living, be it with special powers or as an ordinary human being.And then they touched on the relationships of adults.
Then parents and their kids.
It is very touching. Every single episode with flashbacks is very touching. The director knows how to create the scenes, and what sequence it should be to capture the audience and deliver the message the writer wants.
Forget about superpowers. The flashbacks are more powerful and meaningful than their superpowers.
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You don't have to imagine you are with them, the editing, camera shots, the way they talk, laugh, you are easily immersed. It's like playing and having fun with your family and friends. There are teasing, there are jokes. It's casual enough to feel there is bond.
You wouldn't even think they're filming a variety show. You wouldn't even think they're doing it because it is their job, and it is expected of them.
Even if you remove the cameras, it will be the same fun and bonding moments.
That's make this show amazing and worth watching for almost 2 hours every week.
Keep giving us this natural laughter and real bonding. More power.
(And I hope you visit the Philippines, too. Drop me a line too, I want to meet you all haha.)
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A different level of drama.
This is a different level of drama. So many interconnected things happening at the same time. If one falls, everything will unravel.You don't know who's a friend and who's a foe. Anyone can backstab anyone at any time, anywhere.
All characters have their own agenda. They all want something. They are doing things for themselves. Even characters that appear to be “holy”, they have something deep inside driving them.
Everyone is very calculating and patient. No one's moving for the kill. I can't wait for the episodes when they are all going to make their move and go for the kill. It's going to be bloody. Maybe literally bloody.
Also, you don't know who you want to hate and who you want to support. Good and evil isn't clear-cut.
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The ups and downs of human relationships
School 2021 is shaping up to be the best in the School franchise. It's focused on human relationship, not just between students but between father and daughter and the adults.It's taking on serious topics without going too deep yet remains powerful and relatable.
The soundtrack is also good, very fitting for the powerful message they want the audience to absorb. And even the main characters are mostly newbies in acting, they are delivering their lines and emotions at the right place and at the right time.
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In memory of the original 10
This is actually good! It's slow at first, building the story of the group of assassins. Then it picks up and showed us amazing sword choreography. Great acting by Ueto Aya and even though she looks beautiful and pretty, she was able to exude her character's fierceness and one-mindedness of a true assassin. I can not help but compare her to Battousai whenever Azumi the Assassin shows up.In memory of the original 10, and the perfectness of the production, story, and cast, I give this a perfect 10.
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An impactful lesson-filled short story
"Dear My Name" (2019) was a 6-episode web series for 10 minutes each which was later re-released as a 2-episode show. However, do not get distracted by it, not every good story has to be long just as how short stories can be as awesome as novels, "Dear My Name" was as awesome as any other full-length TV drama.The acting was simple and the production and direction captured the spirit of the plot. A story about soulmates, liking each other, rejection, moving on, courage to confess, and having the freedom to choose who we want to spend our lives with. Having presented these "stages of relationships" in a total of one hour tells us the talent of the actors, actresses, the writer, and the director.
Could it have been done longer? Sure. But it won't be as perfect as what it is with its current format.
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A 花より男子 (Hana Yori Dango); Meteor Garden show with political sibling rivalry
I. StoryIn a story with many important characters, it is important to tell it clearly, they did well in doing that. The political war between the brothers were interesting, they also picked a good period for the Korean version of a Chinese novel.
Sadly, the romantic aspect of the story was delivered poorly. It did not elicit any emotional reaction. There was no built-up. This is primarily a story about sibling rivalry gone to the political level.
II. Acting
It was lacking in some areas, there were also scenes which looked like they were practicing. There were also memorable scenes, from pure laughter to serious where their acting were very natural.
III. Music
The music, unfortunately, did not make an impact. There were scenes where a powerful music fits but instead it did not have any or a weaker music was used. They should've used more.
IV. Production
The production was very good. They spent for quality materials and designs for the wardrobe of the actors. This is specially true for IU where she was able to wear historical wardrobes yet with a modern touch which fits her aura. Great job in blending the two eras.
However, close-up shots were overused to the 5th power. It wasn't needed in many of the scenes, it became annoying. In the boat scenes, there was too much backlight glare from the sun the actors (again close-up shots) can be barely seen.
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The Greatest Science Fiction Romance in the last 40 years
"더 킹: 영원의 군주" or "The King: Eternal Monarch" (2020) was the best science fiction and romance of the 2010 decade. I would say that this show has gained the number one (#1) spot in my list of "Top 10 Overall Best Sci-fi TV Show" pushing down "Fringe" (2008) which held that rank for 12 years.I. Story
The writer, Kim Eun Sook of the "Lovers in Paris" (2004); "Descendants of the Sun" (2016); "Goblin" (2016); and "Mr. Sunshine" (2018) fame, once again showed us her amazing talent in creating stories that truly captures the imagination and heart of the audience.
In "The King: Eternal Monarch" (2020), Kim Eun Sook has woven beautifully the "parallel world" trope into her memorable romance plots. She did not leave it simply as a literary device then forgotten, she placed it in the center of the series, and the drama and romance unfolded through it.
Each episode was more or less one hour and ten minutes, and no episode was boring, no episode was dragging, no episode was a repeat of previous ones. In every episode there is a fresh plot, a new story to tell which added to the development of the characters, the relationships between them, and the tension and clashes when worlds and ambitions collide.
II. Acting/Cast
What an amazing cast--Lee Min Ho, Kim Go Eun, Woo Do Hwan, Kim Kyung Nam, Jung Eun CHae, Lee Jung Jin, Kim Yong Ji, Kang Hong Suk--they picked the right people for the roles. Their unique acting styles made their characters fully alive and their interaction with each other natural.
The show was not only about "Yi Gon" (Lee Min Ho) and "Jeong Tae Eul" (Kim Go Eun), everyone were key persons in creating the world of the "Kingdom of Corea". They all brought their best and created a masterpiece.
III. Production
While there were a few noticeable errors, the editing and sequence of the scenes covered it all. I especially like how they did not present the stories, in each episode, in a linear fashion; instead they kept scenes for the next episodes and did flashbacks at the right time.
The mixing of historical with the modern in the fictional "Kingdom of Corea" were seamless. There were no out-of-place moments. Where there are modern things, the room was designed to fit these modern gadgets. Where there should be a historical look and feel, the room either did not have any modern materials or the few blended with the environment. Not an easy task to achieve.
It was not only the interior designers but it was also the directors and cameramen who did great shots in creating a seamless mix of historical and the modern environments.
IV. Conclusion
I highly recommend "더 킹: 영원의 군주" or "The King: Eternal Monarch" (2020) especially if one is a fan of "parallel world" type of science fiction. Think of this show as "Fringe" (2008) but with touchy romance and intense family rivalry.
Overall score of 9.5 out of 10 stars.
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