Pinocchio

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.

I love this series so much. It has a fictional premise of the Pinocchio syndrome, but that didn't take away from the series for me.

The actors did such great jobs of portraying their characters, so much so that I am forever doomed to be in love with Dal-po.

This series made me laugh and also tear up - in short, it did its job very well! It was also a great suspense story.

Recommended.

Pinocchio is an intriguing, intelligently written and highly thought-provoking drama. The storyline was gripping, the characters felt very genuine and the performances were perfect. There was such commendable courage, unconditional love, and selflessness shown in this drama, this brought forth the emotions and conveyed the intensity of the moments spectacularly. A very intellectually engaging drama.

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...

I'm fairly new to personally following K Dramas, though I've been exposed to them for about ten years now. Park Shin-Hye has been in many other dramas, but in this one she is so very likable. I find it amazing when actors can plan characters over long stretches of time and that is exactly what Park Shin-Hye and Lee Jong-Suk are able to do believably. I'm in the middle of the serial but was compelled to write a review in support of this drama. VERY likable and realistic characters. Minor characters, too, are well-played. I'm enjoying the show and can honestly say that it is worth a watch. The relationship between Choi In Ha (Lee Jong-Suk) and In Ha (Park Shin-Hye) is long-term and complicated. It's fun to watch the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Even those early years with Park Jong-Suk and his wig are entertaining. I give this drama seven stars because there is always room for improvement. But I'm loving it.