That Winter, The Wind Blows (eps 4-16 (end))
For many reasons, it's taken me a long while to finish this drama. I'm starting to believe that it will be a long time before I again find a Korean drama I enjoy all the way through. With That Winter, The Wind Blows, I found myself growing frustrated and bored by episode eight or nine. It was only sixteen episodes, and yet it felt that (at times) Writer Noh Hee Kyung was struggling to feel her time. I'm not saying the show was bad, but it did have its problems; especially toward the middle and the end. But you have to remember that this is a remake of a film, which was itself a remake of a Japanese drama (Ai Nante Irane Yo, Natsu), which was only ten episodes. My point: even if Writer Noh went off book from the Japanese drama, she still had six+ hours to fill, and that doesn't always play out correctly. But that doesn't mean the show was terrible or lacking, because it wasn't.
- Let me first say that this drama really did a wonderful job of exploring all the characters. Characters that were one dimensional in the other two versions became much more complicated. These characters had flaws as well as likable things about them. Eve our two leads had noticeable flaws, which made them all the more interesting.
- The acting was really good when these people were on. Our two leads do melodrama like nobodies business. Kim Bum is one to watch, he's proven himself and I'm waiting for him to get a leading man role. As for Jung Eun Ji, she's proven that she can handle herself in the big leagues. Though when Jo In Sung or Song Hye Kyo were off, as they were in some of the later episode scenes - it was awkward. Someone else mentioned that while our leads are amazing, when they had a bad scene (especially together) it just felt off and flat.
- The story line with Young and her sight and the cancer and the will she/won't she. .. honestly felt a bit pointless by the last episode. I just cannot even discuss it without getting a little annoyed with the two leads/eye story line. Then the lies came out and, honestly it felt like a lot of stuff. Too much, at times.
- It sounds like I didn't enjoy the show, and that is not true. Despite its flaws, it was actually one of the better melodramas that I've seen in years. The cast had amazing chemistry, it was shot beautifully, overall the writing was solid, it was great to see JIS back on the small screen, and it was a powerful story that was (at the end of the day) told well.
On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this a solid 7. A good melodrama to get me back in the swing of Korean/Asian dramas. I plan on starting the family drama You're the Best Lee Soon Shin very soon.
- Let me first say that this drama really did a wonderful job of exploring all the characters. Characters that were one dimensional in the other two versions became much more complicated. These characters had flaws as well as likable things about them. Eve our two leads had noticeable flaws, which made them all the more interesting.
- The acting was really good when these people were on. Our two leads do melodrama like nobodies business. Kim Bum is one to watch, he's proven himself and I'm waiting for him to get a leading man role. As for Jung Eun Ji, she's proven that she can handle herself in the big leagues. Though when Jo In Sung or Song Hye Kyo were off, as they were in some of the later episode scenes - it was awkward. Someone else mentioned that while our leads are amazing, when they had a bad scene (especially together) it just felt off and flat.
- The story line with Young and her sight and the cancer and the will she/won't she. .. honestly felt a bit pointless by the last episode. I just cannot even discuss it without getting a little annoyed with the two leads/eye story line. Then the lies came out and, honestly it felt like a lot of stuff. Too much, at times.
- It sounds like I didn't enjoy the show, and that is not true. Despite its flaws, it was actually one of the better melodramas that I've seen in years. The cast had amazing chemistry, it was shot beautifully, overall the writing was solid, it was great to see JIS back on the small screen, and it was a powerful story that was (at the end of the day) told well.
On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this a solid 7. A good melodrama to get me back in the swing of Korean/Asian dramas. I plan on starting the family drama You're the Best Lee Soon Shin very soon.