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'Call It Love' review: one of the most depressingly beautiful kdrama you'll ever watch
This modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet filled with misery will make your heart grow heavy. The first few episodes may seem dull and bleak at first but you will eventually get the hang of the pacing and follow the healing journey of Han Dong Jin and Sim Woo Joo.The story revolves around Sim Woo Joo (played by Lee Sung Kyung) taking revenge against his late father's mistress who forced them out of their home. Fueled by resentment, she approaches the mistress' son. Han Dong Jin (played by Kim Young Kwang) is unaware of Woo Joo's motives as he leads a workaholic and lonely life. As the story unfolds, the two grow closer together and find solace in each other's company.
No doubt, this is Lee Sung Kyung's best acting performance to date. I really loved how she portrayed Woo Joo who is the sibling that holds the family together but is actually falling apart inside ever since their father cheated and left them.
Meanwhile, Kim Young Kwang's nuanced acting is chef's kiss. He inhibited Dong Jin's character with every heavy step he takes, every heavy sigh he heaves and even the way he slouches screams depression. His worn out bag also symbolizes the emotional baggage he has been carrying all these years. Dong Jin is vulnerable yet he's hiding this by constantly being stoic. The physicality of Young Kwang's performance was tremendous and at the very least deserves a Baeksang award.
The whole time I'm watching this show I can't help but think that this is a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet but the depressed version. The Romeo and Juliet parallels are so interesting. Woo Joo's sworn enemy is Dong Jin's family. Interestingly, their lives became intertwined because of a house. We also have Rosaline in the character of Kang Min Young, Dong Jin's cheating ex who suddenly comes back and is running after our Romeo.
Woo Joo plans to take revenge on her father's mistress by ruining the life of the mistress' son. However, the second she laid her eyes on our Romeo, she thought he was living comfortable and content life when in reality it was the exact opposite. Dong Jin's slouch, heavy footsteps and unspoken words on his glaring face has proved that his life is everything but well. Her revenge plan has only made the two of them closer and empathize with each other.
Without him realizing, Dong Jin is beginning to lean on Woo Joo. The same goes for Woo Joo. She starts to root for Dong Jin and save him every time he feels like falling on the precipice.
It's like misery has brought the two of them closer unlike Romeo and Juliet who were only inseperable because of horny hormones. There is also something magnetic about characters who appears to be nonchalant and composed when in fact they are simply bottling up their emotions and a ticking bomb waiting to explode.
At the end of the show, you can't help but root for these characters and hope that their miseries will end. You will find yourself sincerely wishing them a good life and for them to stop loathing themselves. Then, you will realize you need to do the same for yourself.
This was such a masterpiece, a melo-romance with depth and fleshed-out characters. Although the antagonists' intentions (Min Young and Dong Jin's mother) are still questionable for me, I'll give them their due credit for succesfully making my blood boil.
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Seo Kang Joon's action spy has some laughs but lacks the gritty edge
After three years, Seo Kang Joon finally returns to the small screen. Honestly, I'm just as mesmerized like everybody else by Kang Joon's piercing brown eyes ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶Undercover High School is an action romcom following Jung Hae Seong, a demoted NIS agent whose new mission is to go undercover in a school to find missing gold bars. Joining him in the hunt is high school teacher O Su A (played by Jin Kin Joo) and together they uncover not only the school's scary stories, but also the bullying and social injustice within its walls.
Incorporating themes of hierarchy and injustices in school in an action k-drama makes me wonder whether the writers may have bitten off more than they can chew. The rigged education system feels like a weak subplot and an excess narrative at times. The show suffers with weak writing and its portrayal of injustice comes across as shallow and superficial.
Despite the seriousness of his character's job, Seo Kang Joon is such a delight to watch. For an NIS agent, he’s far less broody than expected – more a being of goofy yet very agile and combative undercover. Kang Joon seamlessly injects humor even while in the middle of a risky operation. His comedic timings also hit the spot and are praise worthy. I would really love to see him next in an office romcom because suits definitely looks good on him >ᴗ<
On the other hand, Jin Kin Joo's character seems to be one-dimensional. She plays the character of a contract teacher who aspires to be a full-time faculty member as she once promised to one of her students. There is only so much a versatile actress can do with a poor character writing. The same goes with the rest of the cast - they are as tropey and typical as K-drama characters come, but in a way that’s also their job, to sprinkle in laugh-out-loud moments in this top-secret operation.
Poor character writing is also evident on the story's antagonist. At first, the school's chairwoman, Seo Myeong Ju (played by Kim Shin Rok), appears to be too powerful and cunning to be defeated, only to have questionable cards up her sleeves. The way she effortlessly bounces back from defeat is unconvincing. If only they had shared some backstory about Myeong Ju, it might have been easier to understand and relate to her obsession with gold bars and elite school. However, kudos to Shin Rok for portraying her with such steely grace and eerie aura. Her choice of clothes is also an eye-turner and a highlight every episode.
The pacing of this show is also an issue for me. This would have worked better as a movie rather than a TV series. Even though this series only has 12 episodes, it somehow feels like it stretches on forever mainly due to filler scenes and characters constantly getting sidetracked along the way. The conflict itself also feels less gritty and intense as the story progresses.
To sum up, Undercover High School is your subpar action k-drama. It's such a letdown that a series with a promising gist and talented main cast gets bogged down by generic and uninspired writing. Anyways, I'm still thankful this cured my kdrama slump. There is nothing a charming and swoon-worthy oppa can't cure after all.
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Kim Tae Ri delivers a bone-chilling performance in this horror thriller
The K-drama scene has all the genres you can think of, even horror. The ones I watched in the past were mostly zombie-centered like Happiness and Train to Busan while others leaned more toward the rom-com side like Oh My Ghost and Hotel Del Luna. Ghosts and zombies do not pique my curiosity enough that’s why I don’t tend to watch them. But a horror thriller lead by a versatile, multifaceted actress like Kim Tae Ri will never not intrigue me.Revenant revolves around Gu San Yeong (Kim Tae Ri) getting possessed by a demon. Interestingly, Professor Yeom Hae-Sang (Oh Jung-Se) can see the demon which has possessed Gu San-Yeong. Together, they search for the truth behind mysterious death and the identity of the demon.
I was skeptical at first whether Kim Tae Ri can pull off a meek and self-loathing character in a thriller. But no doubt, Tae Ri is a stellar actress. Her dual performance gave me goosebumps and her eerily compelling acting deserves a daesang. She totally nailed the role of both a greedy ghost and a self-deprecating human.
Sometimes I get so lost staring at Kim Tae Ri's silky and smooth hair. Is this a Ryo CF? haha Jokes aside, the premise of this show is no different to other horror stories. One must uncover the name and story of the ghost to get rid of it. Revenant's plot anchors on the most common story arc for horror stories. The true pleasure in watching this is Kim Tae Ri's versatile and gripping performance.
The quiet but intense chemistry between Kim Tae Ri and Hong Kyung keeps me glued to the screen. I can’t get enough of their scenes together and I'm down bad for the both of them. Even when they're simply talking, electrifying sparks are in the air. Romance really hits different when it's just a sub-plot in thrillers.
Ultimately, the main point of the show goes to show how human greediness is scarier than ghosts who can do you no harm. It was an arduous and winding journey for the trio to solve the pieces of puzzle together. The only downside is that new characters are added in every episode, either to help or mislead them. The plot twist is nicely crafted. I get the sense that the writer established the mystery first and then built the entire story around it. Is this worth a rewatch? I’m having qualms about it. Tae Ri’s shoulder must have been sore for carrying this show alone. This is a nice watch, but it is still one of the typical thrillers.
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A delicious, addictive time-travel drama marred by a third lackluster villain
At first glance, Marry My Husband might just be a new addition to the ever growing list of time travel k-drama released this year. However, powerful and electrifying performances from Park Min Young and Song Ha Yoon will keep you running back for more.The story revolves around Kang Ji Won (Park Min Young) getting killed by her husband Park Min Hwan (Lee Yi Kyung) after she learns he's having an affair with her best friend Jung Soo Min (Song Ha Yoon).
As if by miracle, Ji Won wakes up 10 years earlier and she is now determined to change her life and get back to those who have wronged her. She also gains an unexpected ally Yoo Ji Hyuk, played by Na In Woo and together they execute her revenge plan and transfer her fate to Soo Min.
The blood-boiling villains is one of the highlights of this k-drama. Min Hwan and Soo Min has constantly kept me at the edge of my seat and made me want to choke them through the screen. Every move they make, every word they speak will leave you seething with rage and will keep you rooting for Ji Won. This villanious duo never runs out of tricks up their sleeves.
The first act is over the top and melodramatic with its twists and turns. However, it failed to deliver interesting plots on the last four episodes. The story could have explored more variables regarding the rules of time travel and transferring of destinies to other people instead of adding another one-dimensional antagonist. We did not even get answers as to why Ji Won can easily pass her fate to someone else without any repercussions. It felt like Ji Won and Ji Hyuk can change anything to their heart's desires.
Once Ji Hyuk's fiancée O Yu Ra (played by BoA) took center stage, my curiosity to the show has diminished. She is nowhere near Soo Min's two-faced character whose actions are unpredictable and can seamlessly act kind or wicked as the situation calls for. Yu Ra is just a chaebol who kills people just for fun and to kill time. Her character is not even properly set up and she just came out of the blue.
Overall, this was very entertaining albeit only for its first act. The story is not trying to break new grounds but still strives on being a guilty pleasure watch. However, one thing is for certain—Soo Min will go down as one of the best villains in the k-drama world at par with The Penthouse's Cheon Seo Jin.
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Navigating one-sided love has never been this earnest and relatable
Don't get fooled by the kdrama's poster thinking this will just be about a girl continuously pining for her crush and then moving on and starting a brand new life without him. There is more to the More than Friend's story than meets the eye.The plot revolves around Kyung Woo Yeon having a one sided-love for 10 years over her high school classmate Lee Soo. She seemingly gets over him after meeting the handsome and charming bookstore CEO Ohn Joon Soo. But fate seems to be playing cruel tricks on them as Woo Yeon and Lee Soo are brought together once again and old feelings have come to resurface.
For years, there has been a debate whether a man and a woman can be platonic friends. Is it really possible to maintain friendship without developing feelings for another? This show definitely answered this question although the ending was not entirely what I imagined it to be.
This was surprisingly an easy watch. Finishing an episode feels like you are just overhearing a conversation from a nearby table in a restaurant. Although I can understand if some viewers are not able to stand watching Woo Yeon and Lee Soo constantly crossing paths and eventually ignoring each other's existence. Lee Soo has his reasons but this does not hide the fact that his character is annoying yet intriguing.
As we know there are different flags in dating – red, yellow and green. Lee Soo is a yellow flag. He's not trying to control or manipulate Woo Yeon. But he still wants her to be always by his side. He's made it clear that he just wanted to be friends with her although she wants more. He constantly confuses Woo Yeon so he's definitely a yellow flag, being straightforward with his feelings but his actions are saying the opposite. He also never explains to Woo Yeon why he deeply cares for her which constantly catches her off guard. As someone who always puts malices in people's actions, I can relate to Woo Yeon haha.
Another thing I like on this show is how all of the characters are complex and well-written. Each of them faces struggles which they deal on their own without the ML and FL's inputs. The supporting characters have their own lives and they're not solely existing to just be a side-kick.
The trio of friends was also fun to watch as they portray the different stages of being in a relationship. Jin Joo being single but accomplished in life yet she feels lonely is so relatable. Woo Yeon always mingling and dating and never seems to be moving on from her first love is something that can also resonate with viewers. Young Hee is in a long-term relationship but her boyfriend doesn't have a clue on the real condition of her family.
Each character has their own arcs, own aspiration and their own complex personality. They are all fleshed out and you're never gonna know what their next move is just like how the people we know in real life are sometimes unpredictable. This is precisely why this kdrama is very entertaining to watch. It's a slice-of-life disguised as a love triangle. It has so much to offer and it got me very interested on how these characters will navigate their lives in their 20s.
The conflicts also don't seem forced. They look like a natural product of misunderstandings and selfishness. Nothing looks cheesy or corny because the characters are speaking from their hearts and stick to their personality. We watch them grow and realize their wrongdoings.
Watching how all the characters grow and learn before our eyes is very satisfying. Not that we want them to be perfect and faultless human beings, we just want characters who are sensible and who think rationally.
Another thing why I enjoy this show is because OSTs are not constantly blasting on every scene. It's not playing as if on cue. The way Shin Ye Eun speaks is so relaxing for some reason. Her character is always straightforward and speaks what's her on mind. Not interrupting these scenes with over-the-top soundtracks let us the viewers resonate with her feelings. Her confrontation scenes with the two male leads feels like the centerpoint of this show.
There is lots to love on this show. More than Friends is more than just romance. It celebrates camaraderie of strong friendship, strangeness of familial love, setbacks and bouts of sadness that comes along with it and the long arduous path of chasing your dreams and doing what you love. It is a one of a kind and relatable journey, one that I will be delighted to watch over and over again.
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'Nevertheless' review: FUBU and red flags but make it aesthetic and artsy
This was an almost realistic portrayal of how red flag gaslights and manipulates us. Except the writers decided to write episode 10 and flip the whole thing.Nevertheless revolves around the no-label and f*ck buddy relationship of Nabi and Jae Eon. For starters, Nabi is fresh off a break-up from her toxic and manipulative boyfriend.
So is Jae Eon different and better than his ex? No. They are practically the same except Jae Eon is younger, so handsome that his face and body should be displayed in a museum, and tries to make it seem like he's asking for her consent when he's not. He persists until she gives in.
Before I list down the million reasons why Park Jae Eon is a dangerous predator trying to disguise himself as a gentle and innocent lamb, let me point out some things I did like in this show. The every day montage of Nabi and Jae Eon sleeping will go down in history as one of the best cinematic experience in kdrama. Nevertheless' cinematography and soundtrack ate and left no crumbs.
Nabi's actions may seem foolish and delusional but it's the reality of our feelings. Feelings waver most of the times and are incoherent. We always get our hope up over simple actions of people we like.
Han So Hee realistically portrayed the roller coaster of emotions when we fall for the wrong guy. The cycle of emotional manipulation is very vicious and at one point Nabi even questioned her own values and worth. She thinks Potato Boy doesn't deserve someone like her.
The first thing you will notice about Jae Eon is his gaze. It's very hypnotizing. It's like he's inviting you to go with him in the shadows. I hate to admit it but I can't take my eyes off him once he comes into my sight. That's how powerful he is.
Whenever he and Nabi fight, he always tries to act cool and calm. He twists Nabi's words so that at the end he gets the upper hand and gets what he want from her.
Jae Eon's gaslighting skills never cease to amaze me. In one episode, Jae eon said he always keeps his guard up because he doesn't want to hurt other people's feelings. That's really ironic since manipulating and messing other people's feelings and minds is what he does on his every affair.
He knew Nabi was broken inside the moment he saw her in the exhibit. But he still went after her just for fun and fling. He's so psycho. I'm aware that FUBU and FWB exist and are acceptable for others but is distorting the truth part of such relationships? He should have been clear from the get-go that he only wants sexual relationship and nothing more.
The episodes about Jae Eon's inner thoughts are so contradicting. It tries to paint him as a broken guy who just needs love and affection. Redeeming his character is the most unrealistic thing in this show. He is literally the ultimate manipulative sad boy.
Jae Eon towards the end of the show is literally the behavior of a gaslighter who is mad over losing his control and power over his victim. He can't believe he lost his own game and to get back at Nabi, he fakes his sincerity just to win her over again.
People rooting for him may have distorted perceptions of reality. I cant blame them since Jae Eon playing the victim looks so bewitching. This is the very reason why Na bi feels confused, anxious, and unable to trust herself.
I believe Nabi's feelings left for Jae Eon is withdrawal symptoms. It's her brain missing the thrill and danger of treading on egg shells. She's missing Jae Eon's mysterious facade and unpredictable behavior. She's missing not knowing what comes next because she's always anxious and confused and horny.
Nabi taking a chance again with Jae Eon even though she knows he will cause her pain is just so masochist of her. Until the very end, we got nothing from Jae Eon. Still can't believe Nabi did all the talking in Episode 10. It's Jae eEon who should have expressed his thoughts and feelings. Just because a jerk cries in front of you doesn't mean all of his wrongdoings will be gone in a blink of an eye.
Putting aside the criticisms for this kdrama, I genuinely think Song Kang totally nailed his role as a red flag who constantly has you wrapped around his finger. Who would not fall for that kind of face anyway? Who can even refuse him?
The mind games he play with Nabi was seriously unsettling and made me queasy yet addicting. He's like a drug you can't resist or can't say no to. You know he's bad for your health but you do it blindly.
I just wished they didn't write Episode 10 the way they did. Nevertheless could have been an impactful and realistic portrayal of a push and pull relationship. It could have educated its viewers about how damaging having a manipulative and gaslighting partner. It's such a let down how they wasted this opportunity.
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A sappily charmed romance that is simply irresistible
One of the things I like about C-dramas is that their stories are relatively simple yet the relatable characters draw you in. Hidden Love is no exception.Hidden Love revolves around Sang Zhi who has a crush on her brother's friend Duan Jia Xu. From the get-go, you know that the major conflict from this story is their age gap but this suprisingly this C-drama has more to offer.
The story follows Sang Zhi (played by Zhao Lu Si) throughout her high school and college days. We watched how her feelings evolve through time. What was once a harmless crush turned into an undeniable affection and beautiful love. I was impressed by how Lu Si was able to pull of the 13-year-old school girl look similar to how Kim Tae Ri effortlessly portrayed her role in Twenty Five Twenty One.
Sang Zhi's object of affection is Duan Ji Xau (played by Chen Zhe Yuan). I initially thought his character would be just one-dimensional, a male lead who only exists to be handsome and serve as the eye candy of the show. As the story progresses, Ji Xau's back story is revealed which ultimately affected the relationship dynamics between him and Sang Zhi.
In another note, this Cdrama reminds me so much of Twenty Five Twenty One sans the sports and slice of life theme. Hidden Love heavily focuses on romance while 25 21 revolves on ML and FL chasing their dreams. They may have different narratives but I must commend how they both handled well the age gap between the leads including the right time and the transition for the romance to bloom.
It is no easy feat to weave compassionate male characters in shows like these. It comes as no surprise when I learned that the director and writer of Hidden Love are women. Because of the female gaze, viewers like me were able to empathize and follow along Sang Zhi's journey as she learns more about her emotions and intimacy with Duan Ji Xau. It helped a lot that both our main leads did not rush their relationship and instead made efforts to get to know each other's feelings and intentions. It was a good slow-burn romance, one that keeps you at the edge of your seat while you can't stop giggling and swooning over the characters.
Although the show started at a slow pace, it successfully drew viewers into Sang Zhi's experience of first love and heartbreak. The show also portrayed the green flags of a relationship as both Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu constantly communicates their worries and dreams for each other.
Overall, Hidden Love contains familiar tropes but perfectly delivers a sincere and pure love supplemented by charming performances. This show is far from perfect but the absence of annoying villains and over-the-top conflicts makes this rom-com a comfort watch.
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I can't even explain what I was feeling right after I finished the last episode. It was overwhelming, disappointing, and confusing at the same time.In this drama, we follow the unpredictable lives and interesting love story of Joon Young and Young Jae. The first half is adorable and swoon-worthy as it mostly focuses on the feelings of being in love for the first time and also the fights and make-ups in a relationship. I liked it because I have never understood how relationships work. Little did I know that everything is all about compromise. The second half blows my mind away as I didn't expect any of it. The drama suddenly changes its atmosphere from being romcom to melodrama and my heart is found in a ditch shredded into pieces. However, I notice that Young Jae always seems to be the one who faces hardships and struggles and Joon Young always ends up wandering every time they break up. I somehow wished the writer was fair in giving them hardships and recoveries from their broken hearts. I know it's for the sake of narration but it's just unfair on Young Jae's part. Nevertheless, everything is so realistic from the misunderstandings to the raw emotions of the characters.
The ending somehow felt right as Young Jae is still in the process healing and Joon Young might be confused about what he feels whether it's pity or love towards Young Jae. So I'm giving wishful thinking that after some time they will still end up being together.
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Healing, fluff romance has overdosed on sweetness
Move over, oppas. Geges are here to take over the world 🌏 This is only my third Cdrama yet I'm convinced Chinese actors have a different kind of rizz no one can ever top. It must be because of the hairline shadow powder and hair extensions of the male leads 😹Dr. He Su Ye's face card. That's it. That's the tweet. That's my entire review haha. His lethal face card can bewitch anyone, body and soul.
Zhang Ling He plays the role of Dr. He, a traditional chinese medicine (TCM) doctor. Due to insomnia, Shen Xi Fan (Xu Ruo Han) is convinced by her parents to have an appointment in the TCM clinic.
Zhang Ling He is more than an eye candy. He actually looks and moves like a TCM doctor, feeling the pulse of each patient with confidence and focus. The dramatic reveal of his face card after he finally removed his face mask was worth it. He looks like he came straight out of a video game. His eyes are so expressive. The way he subtly lift his gaze over his doll-like eyelashes is so alluring and captivating. He's also a master of micro-expressions which is a fun to watch especially when the intern gets on his nerves. He treats sick people, cooks nutritious foods, showers you with affection, and even helps you write your cover letter. What else can you ask for? 🤤🤤 He's the ultimate gege although the only con is he's not in good terms with his father which is always the case in any Cdrama 😹 He also constantly invites his crush over to his place which Asian parents will vehemently disapprove of and is a yellow flag sign for me 😹
Xu Ruo Han's beauty is the epitome of spring season embodying qualities like grace, radiance and breath of fresh hair. Her dark brown copper hair also makes her appear friendly and approachable which complements her job as a front desk manager. Although at the start of the story, we met her while she is in a bad place—navigating her a failing, toxic relationship with her long-time boyfriend. Her self-loathing and questioning herself if she's worthy of love resonates to me the most. It's not easy to heal from a toxic relationship especially when you've done nothing wrong and didn't deserve it in the first place. This theme was mostly tackled in the first half of the show and after her ex finally left her alone there was nothing the story could offer but cute and sweet moments with Dr. He. It was a delight to watch both of them finally be together but I still think it would be better off if this was 20 episodes only.
The last portion mostly consists of cheeky check up, stolen smiles, peak boyfriend-girlfriend behavior, steamy make-out sessions and another unexpected conflict. Twenty-eight episodes were too much for a fluff, light romance but on a brighter side I get to see and drool over Dr. He for 28 episodes so it's still a win for me. The third and last portion of the show was overdosed with sweetness and were too much for my liking. It’s clear the writer is already running out of ideas each episode so he throws every romantic moment he can think of.
The rest of the cast had some growth, if there are any. They are fun to watch and ever supportive of our couple. The story has come full circle when all of the people involved in their love story attended their wedding. Nothing is accidental in this world since we are bound to meet people we need in our lives, one way or another.
I must commend the ex for annoying the hell out of me. Unpredictable, manipulative lovers are the worst. They can mess with your head and try to convince your feelings and memories are only in your head. The hurtful words her ex told her slowly erodes her self-worth and made her stay restless ultimately causing her insomnia.
I also appreciate the episode titles as they are enticing and informative that it got me sold on TCM. The show also emphasizes the pros of traditional medicine and it made me realized this is what people from the past used to treat themselves. Medicinal plants indeed are nature's gift to our well-being.
To sum up, The Best Thing is another feel good romance guaranteed to make you swoon and feel butterflies in your stomach and wish you have a Dr. He in your life 🥹💝The excessive mushy moments and stretched out running time might bore you but just consider it as a fan service and you will make it through. This is romance through and through giving us every bits of romance cliché. This portrays a healing, calm love that even Shen Xi Fan feels too surreal for her like a fever dream. The ultimate highlight of this show is Dr. He’s face card, glasses, face mask and veiny hands checking a pulse—and that’s more than good enough for me.
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For starters, I watched this drama because of Kyungsoo as I am an EXO-L but he exceeded my expectations. I didn't even immediately notice that the plot is one of those overused stories. KYUNGSOO IS SO DAMN GOOD IN THIS DRAMA I'M TELLING YOU GUYS. The chemistry of the leads is so natural. The only thing that I did not like about this drama is how it exaggerated the 100 days of Lee Yol in the village. I somehow got sick with their cute fights. The last two episodes are also a disappointment as the Vice Premier's reasons were ludicrous. I felt like they squeezed everything in those 2 episodes just to run the drama in 16 episodes. Overall, I think I got carried away with Kyungsoo's acting that is why I gave this drama a high rating but I promise it is still worth watching.
PS I only gave 8 stars to its soundtrack as they are repetitive. I only heard Gummy and Chen throughout the drama. It's kind of tiring to hear them over and over again whenever an episode ends.
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Park Shin Hye rules the court in this devilishly entertaining fantasy thriller
Over the years, the kdrama scene has significantly changed its focus from romcoms to thrillers. Three years after her hiatus and on her second kdrama this year, Park Shin Hye delivers devilishly good performance in this supernatural thriller.For starters, the story is about an elite devil named Justitia banished to the human world after making an erroneous judgment. In order to go back to hell, she must catch and kill ten remorseless murderers while she is lives in the body of a judge named Kang Bit Na.
What I appreciate in this show the most is how it addresses loopholes right away. Fantasy thrillers need to establish laws and rules that govern the world which in this case is hell. The story is smart and clever on its first act. It also didn't rush the blossoming romance between Bit Na and Han Da On, a police officer whom she met and rightfully acquitted in one her trials.
I find it surprising that Bit Na takes her job seriously even though technically this is not part of her mission. Bit Na punishes the criminals still in a lawful manner. Once Bit Na learns the defendant is unrepenting and unforgiven of their murderous crime, she acquits and kills them consequently once they are released from prison.
The highlight of this show is how Bit Na punishes and puts the criminals in the shoes of their victims. These fight scenes are deliberately drawn out to give the criminals the taste of their own medicine. Truly, the golden rule is the ultimate, all-encompassing principle of ethics: Don't do unto others what you don't want done unto you. It's interesting this kind of ethics is relevant to Hell.
There are loads to love from this show – it's unpredictable, fast-paced and entertaining although only for the first half. It also delivers some of the laugh out loud devilish shenanigans: a devil saying "what the hell" and getting blinded by the Cross. Demons also apparently study bible, do charity works and attend Mass while wearing protective equipment of course. There are also cleaning boys who are the complete opposite of SOCO as they erase every piece of evidence in the crime scene. It somehow makes a point that demons are actually better than greedy humans.
Bit Na and Da On's love story is the epitome of enemies to lovers – lots of banters, playful back-and-forth fueling romantic tension and the inevitable close proximity They may hate one another but they pine for each other without them realizing it. It is entertaining how they play cat and mouse with each other and which of them will catch the criminal first.
I prefer this show to Nam Joo Hyuk's Vigilante as Judge from Hell emphasizes how the criminals are unrepenting and unforgiven for the crimes they did. It took its time to narrate the motive and nature of the crime as well as the perspective and emotional turmoil of the family's victims. Bit Na does not simply kill criminals just because they easily got away from law, they were not remorseful of their actions at all.
This is also way better than Song Kang's My Demon because it has a clear story world-building about demons. It was interesting how Bit Na said they did receive orders from God to punish sinners who doesn't repent and are unapologetic for their crimes. In the realm of The Judge from Hell, demons are created for the sole purpose of prosecuting and punishing ruthless individuals.
The true star of this show is Park Shin Hye and steely grace portrayal of a devil judge. Her unhinged, electric energy is matched by her flashy and statement outfits she wear during the punishment scenes. Despite her brooding appearance, Shin Hye still manages to bring humor without relying on gags and musical cues.
Although this kdrama tackles vigilantism and crime procedural, it does not take itself seriously and has lots of funny moments in between. The show is gripping and thought-provoking but infuses light-hearted moments outside the court.
Ironically, the weakest point of the show is the villains. They were initially thought as invincible. But at the very last minute, they either changed their minds or easily got killed. All the issues came up and were resolved instantly which felt so anticlimactic.
All in all, The Judge from Hell is an easy watch with its intriguing premise and a fun lead performance. Punishing remorseless criminals has never been this hella satisfying. This series just proves the idea that on a certain degree greedy humans are way more scary and evil than demons themselves.
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Mystic high school kdrama hits the romcom bullseye
Life is full of surprises that you will never know if your classmate wards off evil spirits after class. Your shaman classmate is no ordinary because she prioritizes her grades over her magic-religious rituals.Cho Yi Hyun plays the role of Park Seong A, who at first glance looks like a normal high school student but in truth she is a full-time shaman at night. A dashing yet mysterious and cold Bae Gyeon Woo (played by Choo Young Woo) walks into her classroom as the new student. As if by fate, the two had already met the night before when Gyeon Woo and his grandmother visited her to cure Gyeon Woo’s seemingly series of bad luck. Unfortunately, Seong A already saw that Gyeon Woo is doomed to die. As she is instantly lovestruck with Gyeon Woo, Seong A vows to do everything to save him. She will be his knight in shining armor as she takes on all the evil spirits coming at him.
For starters, Choo Young Woo is hella sexy even with the number of band-aids plastered on his face and body caused by his series of unfortunate events. He plays the tall, brooding, athletic high school male lead so well. There are times his acting felt a bit flat and dull but I’m willing to let it go given that he played a fun dual performance here. He effortlessly switches back and forth between a timid, downcast teenager and a disrespectful, sly thug. In addition, Choo Young Woo had a very busy year as a sough-after rookie actor, bagging four main roles. He also starred in a BL series years ago, which proves why bromance with Cha Kang Yoon is a definite hit and highlight of the show for me.
Cho Yi Hyun is a delight to watch with her porcelain doll face card. She is truly a vision in traditional shaman clothing. She nailed her role as a shaman and gracefully performs ritual dances and chants, though sometimes coupled with a bit of chaos. The way she fights and chases evil spirits as if there were no tomorrow is hilarious and serves as a testament to how enamored she is with Gyeon Woo. Her dedication goes so far that even her mother is perplexed by her actions. However, her crying scenes always come off as comical and exaggerated that you wouldn’t take her seriously.
Yeom Hwa (played by Choo Ja Hyun) is the villain of the show and practices black shamanism which is working with evil spirits for personal gain. She has a very eerie aura and deranged personality yet her all-black outfits are definitely head-turners. Thankfully, she is not a one-dimensional character and actually has motives and reasons behind her wickedness.
One of my bones to pick with this is show is its uneven pacing. Some scenes have awkward flow that you will have a hard time discerning if it’s real or a dream or a preview to the next episode. I also need more description and functions of the talisman because they are often left unexplained (or perhaps these details were just not translated and left out in the subtitles).
Answers were also not laid out properly. The last two episodes were the most frustrating and confusing portions of the show. It got me scratching my head like there’s no tomorrow. What did I just watch? Why do I not understand a single thing of what they are saying and doing? There were just too many questions and too many loose ends to tie up at the finale.
Despite the shortcomings and sloppy ending, I still enjoyed watching Head over Heels. It is charming and lighthearted. The main cast captures the youthful and hopeful energy as well as being immature and reckless. Oh, to think back on your teenage years when you were carefree and free to make mistakes haha lol. This show is far from perfect, but I had a fun time watching these rising stars deliver a pleasant story and performance. This is not your ordinary high school romcom. Head over Heels took it up a notch by incorporating spooky evil spirits lurking around the school and our handsome boy Gyeon Woo. This show may be plagued by supernatural beings, but you will surely laugh out loud as if you were possessed, because its mystique and charm are truly infectious.
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When Shin Hye Sun's journey to healing feels like a relapse
Well, that was bad. A mediocre k-drama could even do better because atleast the characters have common sense albeit predictable actions.I have a lot of bad things to say about this show so let's start with the good ones first.
The pilot episodes have that whimsical energy and dream-like, poetic style cinematography. The director is very skilled and he has helmed Twenty Five-Twenty One and Search WWW. He has proven time and time again that he can depict age gap romance properly and without the ick. Shin Hye Sun's acting prowess also drew me into watching this. She usually picks memorable characters, one that will stick with you long after watching it.
So one might ask—what went wrong? Everything went wrong from the moment common sense flew out of the window for our main character Eun Ho (played by Shin Hye Sun), an unknown announcer with 14 years of experience.
Hyun O (played by Lee Jin Uk) is Eun Ho's ex-boyfriend (don't get me started with how their names practically sound the same). Unfortunately, they work in the same broadcasting company PPS and unlike Eun Ho, Hyun O is more renowned and has moved up the career ladder a bit. They dated for 8 years but broke up 4 years ago.
Looking back, it still annoys me how there is not a single reason why Hyun O and Eun Ho should get back together. From the get-go, Hyun O is ambiguous and evasive towards Eun Ho. He still shows that he cares for her yet he denies that he still loves her. Perhaps, this is just a result of poor writing. If writernim wants to show that two people are inevitably meant to be despite their differences and misunderstandings, maybe she should have sustained their character arc. To be honest, I don't see any growth from the characters. They didn't heal or grow by the end of the story, they just relapsed (Ju Yeon is an exception).
Let me introduce the dashing and brooding Ju Yeon (played by the ever-charming Kang Ju Yeon) who works as an announcer in a different broadcasting company Media N Seoul. The only catch? He's emotionally unavaible haha I agree with the comments of some viewers that he's not yet ready to commit into a relationship given that he tends to be emotionally dependent on his significant other. He confuses love with deep care for someone. He is also the very definition of brooding male lead because he keeps to himself and constantly thinks of negative and distressing thoughts.
Of course, there is one character who is able to see through his facade and that is Hye Yeon, his co-worker. She seems unfazed even when he answers her questions half-heartedly or completely avoids her when she shows up unannounced. Her bubbly personality does not rub off on him. Hye Yeon has a big crush on Ju Yeon, hence she took her time to memorize him and so the tiniest change of emotion and mood can surprise her. Sadly, he never looked her way and he considers him as the annoying colleague that never leaves him peace.
Going back to Shin Hye Sun, she played such a commendable performance of playing two roles: Eun Ho and Hyeri. Possibly due to the stress of her breakup and the uncertainty of her career, she developed dissociative identity disorder (DID). In the morning at exactly 4 AM, she would go to work as announcer Eun Ho in PPS. Then in the afternoon at 4 PM, she works as parking attendant Hyeri in Media N Seoul. During her stay as the parking attendant, her other identity Hyeri developed a crush on Ju Yeon, constantly saving a parking spot on him but goes into hiding whenever he is near. Hyeri has this childlike wonder yet is wise with words perhaps a thing she got from Eun Ho's eloquence. On the other hand, Eun Ho is very much grounded in reality and self-critical especially even when her dreams are crumbling right before her eyes. Hyeri is the very reason I enjoyed the first few episodes. The moment she diseappeared and never resurfaced again still baffles me. Was Hyeri just a clickbait? Did they just add Hyeri to make the plot sound more interesting? Putting a character in the background out of the blue will never not annoy me. Her symptoms suddenly stopped the moment Hyun O started paying attention to her again. This just made it harder for me to connect with the character and understand the mental health issue.
Let's also talk about how they poorly handled the mental health condition. The conclusion felt like a quick fix and merely a stereotype of Eun Ho's sickness. I am by no means an expert but the portrayal felt less authentic and more stigmatizing. Putting a therapist in the show does not instantly make the story accurate and nuanced. The pyschiatrist appears to be merely an accessory rather than someone who is willing to help and support Eun Ho throughout her treatment and recovery. In addition, the mental health issue was used a plot device for Eun Ho and Hyun O's reconciliation. The story was so focused on their romance that the mental disorder functions more as a tool for their reconnection. Her DID comes across as decorative or secondary element rather than a central conflict driving the plot. This should have focused more on help-seeking behavior and recovery rather than showing how her sickness made her romantic relationship even complicated.
Can I also just say that the art direction does not suit Jin Uk's face card? I mean I have a bone to pick with his acting as it feels stiff and pained. His face is not as expressive as Shin Hye Sun's. His acting felt monotonous and robotic and he looks like he just recites his dialogues. It cringes me everytime the camera pans to him because wtf is that acting. His face does not give away any emotions except for being red flag and manipulative lol. I know he has personal issues that's why he thinks he and Eun Ho don't belong together. But for fuck's sake, just man up and clear the air between you two. Is that too much too ask? Perhaps the title should have been Dear Hyun O, Please Fuck Off. I also didn't resonate with his torment and internal conflict. All of the characters' emotions just feel superficial and barely scratched the surface.
Is this an office version of Nevertheless? Absolutely. Both kdramas ditch the good boy to an unpredictable, lackluster bad boy. But atleast Nabi sure knows how to pick her pretty boy 😪😪 and she didn't use her mental health just for the clout. She's just irrational and under the spell of manipulative sad boy and that worked better for me than Dear Hyeri. Can't believe this is the same writer who wrote When the Weather is Fine which is such a healing and warm drama. Dear Hyeri on the other hand is the total opposite, very traumatizing and glamorizes toxic relationships.
Overall, Dear Hyeri is just a second chance romance kdrama that exploits mental health for their own gain. The pilot episodes are intriguing but by the time you reach the last four episodes it's all convoluted and messy. The characters' backstories lack connection with their character arc, resulting to a baffling thought process and questionable decisions. This glorifies toxic, obsessive relationships and instills that love brings pain and sadness which is not the main point of love. The premise tries to depict that people tend to isolate themselves because of their traumatic pasts. In the end, the story failed to deliver this message and came across as an enabler of toxic behavior because of the lack of characters' growth. They all relapsed and went back to their old ways. This was supposed to be a journey of healing, not falling back to the very person who caused you pain and heartbreak. Dear Hyeri was unforgettable but for all the bad reasons.
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PYHOMS: One of the best feel-good romance out there
You took the time to memorize me:My fears, my hopes, and dreams
I just like hangin' out with you all the time
Packed with captivating cast and swoon-worthy scenes, Put Your Head on My Shoulder is a must-watch fluffy youth romance sans frustrating characters. It's impossible not to leave the drama with a smile on your face.
Everything about the plot and characters ia easy-going and heart-fluttering. No irritating characters, stressful scenes let alone blood-boiling antagonists. This drama is one of those joyful, feel-good shows that brings smiles to our faces.
However, the show's biggest strength is also its biggest weakness. Halfway through the show, I found myself slowly losing interest as the main leads' conflicts are very lighthearted and whimsical. Thankfully, the two leads exude amazing chemistry that they still make the story more engaging and interesting despite the bleakness.
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The mundane and trivial conversations of the characters makes the show easy to watch. I did not find any of the episodes tedious because of the palpable chemistry between the leads. It was a relief that the story didn't introduce new characters that will meddle the already complicated lives of Jin Ah and Joon Hee.
On the other hand, I'm beyond impressed with the show's prowess to shed light on the lesser known culture of South Korea such as dating taboos and the ordeal of going through a sexual assault trial. This series is poignant and compelling behind its frivolous romance and toxic in-laws.
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