Pinocchio

I often read in reviews that the leads have "great chemistry" and I'm often disappointed that they actually don't. I found Lee Jong Suk and Park Shin Hye did have great chemistry in Pinocchio despite due to the roles they played it must have been really difficult to show that chemistry (connection) without being super creepy and/or inappropriate.

I can't say why without adding spoilers because I want anyone who watches this series due to these reviews to be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

I'm sure there was the usual amount of stereotypical cringyness we're use to in K Dramas but there was also a real and relatable story to follow which I found refreshing.

It wasn't a comedy but , as in real life , you have comedic moments and they inserted these brilliantly. They gave me, the viewer, a chance to forget the drama and laugh so hard it restored and fortified my ability to watch what was to come.

Finally and most importantly - they wrapped the ending up so the viewer is not left wanting or thinking, wth? I absolutely have no hesitation in recommending Pinocchio as a must watch.

Pinocchio is a very well crafted story about just how much the media effects people, as seen through the eyes of our main protagonist, Dal-Po. There is also a very nice romance in there.

The main thing I enjoyed about Pinocchio was how well it was able to balance drama and comedy. The main story was where the drama came from, and was kept in the arc of the main characters. The main characters did have some comedic moments, but most of the comedy was kept to the side characters, which I liked. This was one of those rare shows where you really got to know and like the side characters. I also enjoyed how unique the story was. There aren't too many shows about what goes in the world of journalism.

If I must nitpick, I have to say that I wish they would've cut out some of those cliché moments. Yes I know that Korean Dramas are well known for being soap opera-like, and that those moments very rarely occur in this drama. However, it really took out of the realism of it all when there is a long and silent stare while a ballad plays in the background.

This was the first Korean Drama I ever watched, and I'm glad of it. If you are trying to get into Korean Drama, this is a good place to start.

This is one of the best K-dramas I've seen so far. Most of the summaries are not very good, but it's hard to tell what it is about without giving any spoilers. But I'll say that it's not an usual cliché drama with a lot of romance and no real plot. The story here is very intense and well written till the end. It's about death, revenge, mystery,... But there's obviously romance too, like in all k- drama there's a love/hate kinda story that will make you giggle. The actors are great, you can't expect something else with Park shin-hye and Lee jong-suk, they are awesome. What I mostly liked about this drama besides all of what I've said is that it's pretty mature without being TOO serious and depressive, it still has humor. You will cry and you will laugh, it's a emotional roller coaster and I suggest it to everyone!

First what attracts me to this drama is Lee Jung Sok, how can you not be with that pretty face? and of course, his good acting skills.

The casting is OK, however the chemistry between the leads are of average, but both have good acting skills, surprisingly even the supporting cast performs really well. Both Kim Young-Kwang (as Seo Beom-jo) & Yoon Kyun-Sang (as Ki Jae-myung) are both impressive, specially Yoon. BTW, they do look a bit alike, even the actors who played the younger version of the brothers are outstanding. There are a lot of characters but audience won't get confused as it was presented really well. Kudos to that!

I think the title Pinocchio is novel. Don't think I ever watched a show about how one has to stay honest all the time. Kind of a fresh idea. The theme of this series is serious, actually a very serious topic we need to ponder and rethink how it affects us. The ethical issue of reporting and the ethics of being a reporter, which unfortunately is not being explore enough.

It has 20 episodes which I think can be shortened to maybe 16 or 18. Some episodes are rather boring with all the spread and emphasis on the romance scene of the leads. The story has a couple of holes which I think is not consistent or sensible.

1. Why did In-ha insist on calling Ki Ha-myung "Choi Dal-po"? Choi represents her uncle, a family member. Since she is in love with Ha-myung, isn't she be more welcoming to the idea of having a romantic relationship with a person outside of her family? Moreover, she loves Ki Ha-myung and is trying her best to help him have his revenge, addressing him of his true identity and name should be the very first step of his healing and regaining what he had lost for 13 years

2. Song Cha-ok has so many spare phones but In -ha just happened to pick the right one? What is the probability of that luck?

This series is entertaining, with all the main ingredients available - love, family, friendships, comedy, loyalty & a glimpse of Korean business culture. The only downside I feel is it puts too much emphasis on the romantic aspect of the leads. On the personal level, Ki Ha-myung decided not to use the materials (the retrieved texts) because of his love for In-ha, seriously, your Mom committed suicide & your brother is in jail (for life) because of the setup, and here you will give everything up because of your love for a girl. It is not like it will cost her life. It exaggerated the whistle blower consequences.

On a professional level, Ki Ha-myung decided to forego his motto of what a true reporter should be - divulge and report only the truth to the world. I doubt someone so emotional can be an impartial reporter and carry out his job. In real life scenario, you don't get a second chance or opportunity to let go of the explosive material and wait for another chance which in all possibility may never come as the bad guys will be prepared. But this is Kdrama, so of course, there is drama...

So it's no secret that I generally either hate or am greatly disappointed by older k-dramas (my other reviews speak for themselves). I often find the older "style" of k-dramas makes them feel too dated or too much like a soap-opera. Newer k-dramas stand up to serious scrutiny and can be as entertaining (if not much more!) than western dramas.

That being said this was a very pleasant surprise! I have had "Pinocchio" on my watch-list for a very long time, and I initially tried watching it over a year ago and dropped it after just two episodes because I couldn't get past the fake "Pinocchio syndrome." This time I decided to give it another chance and just go along with the premise, and boy am I glad that I did!

Pinocchio is a very well written and acted drama. While it does suffer from some dated aspects like soundtrack and camerawork/cinematography, the very engaging plot and fantastic acting more than make up for it. This story is extremely relevant, both then and now, and it takes a look at important issues like integrity and media manipulation. Yes, there is a love story, but honestly that is not the main focus, although the love story is cute and the actors had good chemistry. I really enjoyed every character in this, they are all very well rounded and well acted by the entire ensemble. Our lead Lee Jong-Suk was terrific in this, he has great chemistry with both his romantic interest as well as his brother and even his romantic rival. I have enjoyed later/more current dramas with Yoon Kyun-Sang and Kim Young-Kwang, so seeing their familiar faces was a plus. The story is engaging and keeps you interested right up till the end, and Lee Jong-Suk really carries the show with his incredible acting, he seriously is one of the saddest actors I have ever seen.

If you, like me, tend to shy away from older dramas, definitely give this a shot, it's a rare older drama that feels relevant and is done very well.