It’s a new year, and I’ve been busy with dramas! First up was the epic historical Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People, and it sure was a good one! I also got in the sci-fi thriller Memories of the Alhambra, the short period drama Hymn of Death, the romance drama Twelve Nights, and the fantasy romance When Time Stopped to make for a total of five dramas in January:
Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People
Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People is an epic tale jam-packed with emotion, excitement, heartbreak, action, and so much more! We watch this Robinhood type story as Gil Dong rises from nothing and doles out justice to the noble class for their horrible deeds.
This drama depicts some very emotional character journeys as well as some just plain heartbreaking stories. The characters and us go through some wonderful highs but also some incredible lows. It’s an emotional roller coaster for sure.
Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People is a special drama. It takes a lot to create a story that I find captivating from beginning to end, and for it be on the longer side is even more amazing. With a grand story, impeccable directing, amazing actors, moving music, and a legendary hero, Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People is a drama not to be missed. (Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People Review)
Memories of the Alhambra
I like sci-fi type stories, so the very anticipated AR based Memories of the Alhambra was right up my alley. This is a pretty different topic for sure. I loved that so much of the drama was set in Spain which definitely gave it a unique atmosphere.
This is a crazy journey as the game gets out of control. This drama is full of twists and crazy cliffhangers to make for a pretty wild ride. But there are a fair share of plot holes and unanswered questions. The concept is fantastic, but the finer details and overall execution is sloppy.
Memories of the Alhambra worked well for me though. It has lots of unique qualities with its AR story, being set on location in Spain, and its ample use of special effects. Then add in a thrilling story with plenty of surprises as well as a dash of romance from our talented stars, Hyun Bin and Park Shin Hye, and you have a pretty entertaining drama. It was definitely a fun one! (Memories of the Alhambra Review)
Hymn of Death
Hymn of Death is a heartbreaking romance set during the Japanese occupation. It’s a somber drama with increasing sadness. The story is thoughtful and well directed. Lee Jong Suk and Shin Hye Sun both gave moving performances that conveyed the struggles and heartaches each were feeling.
It would have been nice to have more time to develop a story like this so I could get really emotionally invested, but overall Hymn of Death is a decent watch with enough good qualities to depict this tragic romance. (Hymn of Death Review)
Twelve Nights
Twelve Nights is a simple and straightforward romance drama that is broken into three distinct story arcs that involve the three meetings of our couple. I liked the concept of their repeated meetings over 8 years and whether they were fated, but the execution was lacking. The couple really just were terrible at communicating and waited around too much for something to happen.
It had a relationship that felt very romantic at times and had some very thoughtful moments, but the story was very drawn out with little plot progression that just really slowed things down. The drama was just plain draggy. It’s an okay enough watch if you want something really simple and aren’t expecting much, but that’s about it. (Twelve Nights Review)
When Time Stopped
I found the fantasy premise of When Time Stopped with a man being able to stop time while one girl can still move around pretty intriguing. The drama was a mixed bag though. There is a slow developing but sweet romance with a few engaging side stories. The main story involving the leads and the reapers is also unique and interesting.
But the drama didn’t always seem to have a clear idea of where it wanted to go. It’s focus was spread around to much with not enough time spent on the main story.
When Time Stopped has several nice qualities, but as a whole, it just felt like it was missing something. Like it was underdeveloped and just lacking that special something to really grab me. It was a pretty quick and easy watch though which is what made the series decent enough. (When Time Stopped Review)
So how was January for you?
Happy drama watching to everyone!
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