Pinocchio

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.

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.

The greatest things about this series was the exploration of world of media. It drove the story pretty steadily without a moment of boredom. The romance was the icing on the cake. It did bring up the series as a whole. You can't fake perfection and this series was it. I still get flashbacks sometimes of some of my favorite parts in this series. The ending was pretty satisfying and wrapped up the series really nicely.

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!

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.