Melancholia (2021) User Reviews

Overall a Beautiful Watch

[fake_moviestar · 8/10 · 31 December 2021]

Melancholia is perfectly named; it has a deep, soulful, sometimes dark tone at its heart. The show takes a look at relationships and the cause/effect and the role a parent has in a child's life. The focus on math was particularly interesting and gorgeously done - as someone who hates math with a burning passion, this show made me see the beauty and wonder of math in a way that made me both appreciate it and want to understand it better. The cinematography and soundtrack were so well done, complimenting each other and the story perfectly. Acting was top notch across the board.

Now for the bad, because unfortunately there was some bad (at least for me). First there were some really awful characters, however they were supposed to be awful, so it's not too much of a fault, but it was difficult to watch such insufferable kids at times. And perhaps the biggest of my issues is the romance. I personally would have preferred the show without any romance. I think the show built up to it in a way that felt organic and made it feel less uncomfortable, but honestly it still made me feel uncomfortable. I think the story would have been better without the weight of the romance being real instead of just contrived for a scandal. However I'm not sure if my personal views and biases on romance and relationships are clouding my judgement, so I will give this show a solid 8. It was beautiful and well done, if at times a tad slow. It also doesn't have much re-watch value.

Good Enough

[PennyReviews · 6/10 · 14 January 2024]

Korean Drama '' Melancholia '' is a school drama.

The series has a dark academia feel to it, with the two leads truly engrossed with their science, being in love with math and willing to make new leaps in their field.

The school drama, in addition, was neat, even though, halfway through the drama, got boring and some twists were being repeated. The romance, on the other hand, was nicely handled and was subtle, though the love triangle was forced.

Nevertheless, the characters of the drama were interesting to follow and had chemistry. The performances by everyone in the cast were smooth and nicely executed as well.

So, overall, six out of ten.

Relatable title to the story

[scoobysama · 7/10 · 31 July 2023]

I didn't experience any happy ending at all, more because the 16 years of age gap that the two had, apart from the math and despite to the presence of love in between them, you can't close your eyes on the reality which is one will die sooner than the other and the absence will enormously damage the other one, not to mention knowing that made me sad too, about the story and the idea behind it I'll say that it was good enough to make you watch it till the end but at some point it got a lil bit boring moreover it would've been better if it had less episodes.

Among all other K-dramas that I've watched so far this was so new to me, watching a show based on this kind of relationship made me really sad(cuz of the reason i mentioned earlier) whether they achieve their goal or not.

IDK about u but I gave this score cuz I think the emotions that the female teacher has are extremely powerful and much deeper so the male student won't be able to handle all that in the long term and this is another sad truth.

Beautiful and inspirational

[Jodie_ds · 9/10 · 20 November 2021]

I'm really really enjoying the gentle way that this show celebrates the wonder in being interested in things that are seen as "different from the norm". It also recognises the joy in finding someone who understands you, no matter their age, gender, or creed, and invites the audience to believe that this is also possible for them.

The actors involved must've had to do an awful lot of cramming to have such involved math based detail at their fingertips! And the way they present the emotional nuances has been beautifully shot.

Suggest to watch the series

[begloomaliheh · 10/10 · 9 December 2021]

This story is different, it's not a cliche , usually romantic story get boring after 7 ir 8 episodes, but this one makes me excited... I suggest watch this korean series. I really love this kdrama.

Intriguing drama

[danielochoa-06424 · 10/10 · 18 November 2021]

I don't usually watch Korean dramas but I somehow ended up watching this and I'm so glad I did, the storyline is very intriguing, I don't know what it is but something about this show has me hooked.

sanctimonious couple - couldn't root for them

[phd_travel · 5/10 · 2 March 2022]

Despite a unique premise, this series fails in several aspects. Firstly it is unusual to have to intellectual people here math geniuses and a love story about them. Making math interesting in a drama is an impossible feat and despite a valiant effort they don't succeed. It's unrelatable and feels fake. Secondly, the school cheating and corruption is too drawn out and repetitive. Same with the corruption and board meetings. Reminds of the older dramas with all the wicked powerful people. This show had 12 episodes of story at most. So there are so many unnecessary scenes. Thirdly and most crucially the romance feels off. I couldn't sympathize with the couple. Their relationship was wrong during the earlier part even if they didn't do the deed. She didn't behave with enough professionalism and he was not a hero to break with his parents when they objected. What everyone said about their relationship being wrong was actually correct. Yes cheating is wrong but they weren't exactly right in their relationship. Just couldn't root for them. The age gap is just too much but in real life Macron's relationship was even more inappropriate.

Lee Do Hyun is usually is good at getting the audience sympathetic to the character. But here he just looks whipped and silly. Lim Soo Jung looks too dour during the second half. Jin Kyung plays the villain school principal and she does give a spirited performance. The OST songs were often in English.

You won't miss much if you skip this show. If you want a high school cheating based drama Penthouse is better. If you want a modern revenge justice drama Itaewon Class is better. Melancholia just doesn't work.

Math materials in the series is correct and mindblowing. After seeing the whole series, I feel like sweet taste in my soul.

[storagekiki · 10/10 · 30 October 2022]

The plot is deep and well-planned. I enjoy reading about math, and this series amazed me with the math facts represented in each episode. Each tiny detail in the series showed how carefully it was made. For example, the equation (a^2 + b^2)/(ab+1)=k in an exercise sheet is problem 6 in IMO 1988.

The two main characters' feelings for each other are shown elegantly and softly, not extravagant. My passion for the series was built over time, not prompted and provoked, but incrementally and profoundly.

It's great to spend time watching these series for the weekend. I feel I'm not wasted any time.

Boring wow.... boring as hell

[wibawaa-28144 · 1/10 · 6 January 2022]

Episode 5 and nothing is happening. All still past events, find it a real chore to watch. My goodness worst Kdrama I've seen since ever. Wow.... The male lead has no charisma and the female leads acting skill is as upright as a cardboard. Not good at all. Avoid.

It's lovely

[mindhy_eau · 10/10 · 23 December 2021]

I can only praise what I've seen so far, starting by the title of this drama, I'm a fellow with some science background and the concept of how to pursue mathematics is just beautiful. Of course there's some other things going on, at the end of the day it's a drama.

I'm giving it the number just because I can relate so well with the feeling as an infinite within a finite, if you know what that means.

Beautiful Master Piece

[looiaili · 10/10 · 1 January 2022]

This is such a beautifully craft master piece. The Actor and Actress is perfect for their character, is very peaceful and worth the time. Makes the world a happier place with one happier person for sure.

Beautifully written

[pvrqbxv · 9/10 · 30 July 2022]

Anyone who says this is boring lacks in depth and perspective. Melancholia ( from the title itself, showcases severe loneliness and depression ).

I love how the main chatacters interact without being too overbearing. It provides an out of the norm view of people.

Do Hyun, never fails to amaze me with how he carries characters. He is meant for deep and dark characters.

What a beautiful story!

[sarahloghin · 10/10 · 15 January 2024]

This is not a hot and heavy romance. It is not about kissing scenes or eye candy or anything else you might think of when you think of a romance. The romance is more between the characters and mathematics than it is between the characters themselves.

It is the slowest of slow burns. A beautifully told story, full of complex characters and complicated emotions, portrayed expertly. I felt like I saw the characters in their full humanity, and their struggles were relatable on some level, which is how it drew me in. They didn't overdo the angst or overact the drama. The actors and actresses are masters of their crafts, and the writing and directing were amazing too.

Clever, engaging story with Higher Math as plot strategy

[dcnckm · 9/10 · 30 December 2023]

It is so rare that a movie makes accessible esoteric learning. The fundamental of thr screenplay is unique, well thought out. Calculus is the foundation of numbers(?)". The connection between the leads and later all the characters is an unresolved, impossible problem just as are unresolved mathematical theorems....

But, I found perhaps in an effort to give many of the supporting cast a larger role, the story wobbles. 12 episodes parred to the essential ideas would have served everyone.

The ML was perfectly cast. Hiis character is the most developed. We understand his struggles. The FL is lovely in the first episodes, but her character falls into a too predictable morose. She was lost to me..

A Beautifully Done and Moving Series

[bng-63758 · 9/10 · 11 April 2024]

Given that Mathematics of any kind were always my very worst subject in school, I was fascinated by the fact that I was so quickly drawn into this series. A math teacher with a respected position in her academic world encounters a new student who is a Math prodigy at an astounding level. She finds that working with him is full of surprises and pushes her beyond her own boundaries. His skills are so exceptional, that she is challenged to keep up with him, much less actually teach him. She becomes more of a guide as he navigates his way through creating proofs of equations and living in two worlds - one inside his own mind, and the other on the outside, dealing with other people and the realities of life. Their relationship becomes close, and they are accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship, which had a major impact on their lives and the trajectory of their increasing closeness, even though it was untrue. Of course there was a large age gap between them. There was also the issue of a female Principal of the school he attended, who was devoted to turn the school into a noteworthy center for talented and gifted children. She became involved in dishonest monetary schemes in order to elevate the school's reputation. Math itself became a "character" in this Drama, and the teacher warns her student not to "Fall In Love" with a proof. Over a long period of time and events, their relationship continues to grow as they both mature. This is a beautifully presented Drama. Math is the glue that holds it together but is not the whole story.