Then, Episode 17 happens, and you're left scratching your head in frustration. But more on that later.
The first 16 episodes are a beautifully crafted coming of age drama/comedy. Interesting characters, their ups, their downs. Amazing chemistry. You can sink into your chair and watch these actors do their work for hours at a time. It is comfortable...and comforting. A soul food kind of show. A few gripes regarding prolonged (excessively) teen angst and indecision. But its perfectly forgivable.
Important nuggets of information are presented from the past. So, unlike many shows, the flashbacks work!
The flash-forwards however DON'T. The time spent in 2015 is a complete waste of screentime. And it adds nothing to the flow of the show. In fact, the way it is presented is a bit cringe worthy.
THEN.... EPISODE 17. Now I don't know if they realized they were going to run out of money before completing more episodes, or there was a contract dispute, or the ratings were low so they had to cut the show shorter than planned, but EPISODE 17 is an ABOMINATION of epic proportions!
They took a perfectly paced comfortable show for 16 episodes and sped it up like playing an old 33 record on 45 speed. Plus, plot lines that just end. Others that begin out of nowhere. And this jumping year after year until it is 1994. Terribly executed and totally unnecessary to the spirit of the show up to that point. Compound it with inexcusable life choices, inexplicable relationship break-ups, and your left with an utter mess. Gone is all the good feeling. Now, you're left with an abridged version of a show that is speeding its main characters towards adulthood, all in the span of 60 minutes. This after close to 20 hours is spent developing their beautiful formative years. It seemed like such a cop out. And you knew the inevitable was coming.....
What is it you ask? Well, what does every Korean show have, and can't do without?
Yup, you guessed it....an EPILOGUE.
But in this case, the epilogue is FIVE HOURS LONG spanning the last three episodes (ep.18 through 20). It is pointless. All the events could have been hinted at back in 1989, and left to the viewers imagination. But no! The writers have to show you exactly what you knew would happen, and cram all the plotlines into 3 episodes. Highly disappointing last 20% of the show. All that time would have been better spent finishing up the high school years and leaving the rest to the viewer's imagination.
A strong NINE (9) stars for the first 16 Episodes.
A weak THREE (3) stars for the last 4 Episodes.
My advice, watch the first 16 episodes and stop. Then think up whatever ending you want in your head. You'd probably do a better job than the writers did.
The first 16 episodes are a beautifully crafted coming of age drama/comedy. Interesting characters, their ups, their downs. Amazing chemistry. You can sink into your chair and watch these actors do their work for hours at a time. It is comfortable...and comforting. A soul food kind of show. A few gripes regarding prolonged (excessively) teen angst and indecision. But its perfectly forgivable.
Important nuggets of information are presented from the past. So, unlike many shows, the flashbacks work!
The flash-forwards however DON'T. The time spent in 2015 is a complete waste of screentime. And it adds nothing to the flow of the show. In fact, the way it is presented is a bit cringe worthy.
THEN.... EPISODE 17. Now I don't know if they realized they were going to run out of money before completing more episodes, or there was a contract dispute, or the ratings were low so they had to cut the show shorter than planned, but EPISODE 17 is an ABOMINATION of epic proportions!
They took a perfectly paced comfortable show for 16 episodes and sped it up like playing an old 33 record on 45 speed. Plus, plot lines that just end. Others that begin out of nowhere. And this jumping year after year until it is 1994. Terribly executed and totally unnecessary to the spirit of the show up to that point. Compound it with inexcusable life choices, inexplicable relationship break-ups, and your left with an utter mess. Gone is all the good feeling. Now, you're left with an abridged version of a show that is speeding its main characters towards adulthood, all in the span of 60 minutes. This after close to 20 hours is spent developing their beautiful formative years. It seemed like such a cop out. And you knew the inevitable was coming.....
What is it you ask? Well, what does every Korean show have, and can't do without?
Yup, you guessed it....an EPILOGUE.
But in this case, the epilogue is FIVE HOURS LONG spanning the last three episodes (ep.18 through 20). It is pointless. All the events could have been hinted at back in 1989, and left to the viewers imagination. But no! The writers have to show you exactly what you knew would happen, and cram all the plotlines into 3 episodes. Highly disappointing last 20% of the show. All that time would have been better spent finishing up the high school years and leaving the rest to the viewer's imagination.
A strong NINE (9) stars for the first 16 Episodes.
A weak THREE (3) stars for the last 4 Episodes.
My advice, watch the first 16 episodes and stop. Then think up whatever ending you want in your head. You'd probably do a better job than the writers did.