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Heartbeat korean drama review
Completed
Heartbeat
1 people found this review helpful
by admonike
Aug 16, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers

With tighter writing and better focus, the drama could have truly shone

"Heartbeats" promised an intriguing twist on the vampire-human narrative, but sadly fell short of its potential due to questionable writing choices. The central premise of Seon Woo Hyul's struggle to become human after 100 years of slumber held great promise. However, the execution stumbled as the drama progressed.

The cast, led by Seon Woo Hyul and Joo In Hae, initially showcased engaging dynamics. Seon Woo Hyul's transformation into a half-human added depth to his character, while In Hae's pragmatic survival instincts added a refreshing touch. Unfortunately, the promising start was marred by an overload of supporting characters and unnecessary plotlines that diluted the focus.

Despite being positioned as a comedy, the series lost its humorous touch as it advanced. The trio of vampires, a potential source of comic relief, was woefully underutilized, leaving viewers yearning for more screen time for this quirky ensemble.

The drama's message about change and growth was present, yet the pacing and character development faltered midway. The middle episodes suffered from uneven writing, leading to characters feeling inconsistent and the narrative losing its grip. It was during this phase that the potential of the drama started to wane.

The climax and ultimate demise of Seon Woo Hyul, while poignant, felt somewhat anti-climactic and rushed. His evolution from vampire to half-human was well-portrayed, but the middle section's character inconsistencies diminished the impact of his final transformation.

In conclusion, "Heartbeats" had a fascinating premise that unfortunately crumbled under the weight of unnecessary subplots and uneven character development. Despite its potential, the comedy aspect was overshadowed by lackluster execution. The impactful ending couldn't entirely redeem the drama from its mid-series slump. While the core message was commendable, it was muddled by shaky storytelling. With tighter writing and better focus, the drama could have truly shone.
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