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Lighthearted romantic comedy centered in convenience store

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2020 South Korean comedy romance with 16, 70 minute episodes.

Choi Dae-hyun (Ji Chang-wook) encounters a gang of female high school students after suffering a setback in a relationship. The leader of girl toughs, Jung Saet-byul (Kim Yoo-jung), Saet-byul tries to bully Dae-hyun Into buying cigarettes but instead steals a kiss from him. She was immediately attracted to the handsome young man who made a sweet gesture of flowers and a stuffy to a girlfriend who obviously did not appreciate it.

Three years later, Dae-hyun has resigned from the corporate world and is running a family owned convenience store. A chance encounter brings Saet-Byul back into Dae-hyun’s life and when she notices he is looking for a part timer she persistently seeks the job to be closer to the man she likes. Da-Hyun is two years into a relationship with another girl who does not see his worth. Saet-byul is determined to show she is no longer the troubled young girl Dae-hyun first met and steal his heart in the process.

Spoiler alert! I really loved the female lead character Saet-byul she is basically a street toughened kid in the beginning. Being poor is hard wherever you live and it was admirable how she sacrificed herself to give her sister a stable teen age life and start on adult hood. The sister acted just as expected when she was young but showed great character growth when she expressed to Saet-byul that she knew and appreciated what she had done for her. I liked that the younger sister was able to be successful as an idol. I liked all of both of their friends and it added a lot of interest with the things that happened in the multiple relationships. Choi Dae-hyun was perfectly sweet as the male lead character. He was responsible, stable and noble. The second guy was a gorgeous idol who was hopelessly in love with the beautiful Saet-byul he credited her deceased father for the foundation of his success and felt responsible to watch over the two girls. I did get a little bit of second guy syndrome. I loved how Choi Dae-hyun‘s family took Saet-byul in when she had nowhere to go and even later took in her little sister. It was something my parents would have done so I could identify. The love story was sweet and the two looked amazing together. Kim Yoo-jung is so pretty that she was an incredibly believable pair with handsome Ji Chang-Wook. I highly recommend this as a light hearted feel good romantic comedy.

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The ending is what diminished it for me

7,5/10 is my rating. This is a 2019 (Josean era) fictional drama with 16, 60 minute, episodes.

Ha-seon (Yeo Jin-goo) leads a relatively care free life traveling around performing comedic skits that primarily make fun of the royalty. Yi Heon, the King (also played by Yeo Jin-goo) was a benign noble as a Crown Prince but became a paranoid, vicious and crazed king. He is bloodthirsty which is driven by opium induced delusions about being killed. When one of his close advisers comes across Ha-seon by a chance encounter, he is stunned to realize the clownish actor looks exactly like the king. The king has become increasingly concerned about assasination attempts and has tasked his close advisers to find a way to get him out of danger. The adviser who encountered the look alike proposes to the king that he be used as a stand in and the King is more than willing to have the doppelgänger stand in for him. Through a combination of coercion and persuasion they talk Ha-seon into playing the greatest role, that of the king, while the real king slips away to a quiet retreat. As Ha-seon becomes acquainted with palace life and gets to know the inhabitants, Queen Yi Kyu (Kim Sang-kyun) quickly steals his reluctant heart and is surprised herself to find that this new side to her husband is stirring romantic feelings for him she did not have before. Nothing could go wrong - right?

spoiler 🚨 I liked the first half of this very well I thought the male lead did an excellent job playing both the clown who was kind and the king who was bloodthirsty and crazy. I like the female lead who played the queen as she was calm and kind. However, the way the king was and all the palace intrigue reminded me of the American show “Game of Thrones“. As is often the case in Royal courts, it seemed as if everyone was out to poison or kill everyone else for the throne. In the middle of the show, there was a part where the Crowned Clown bowed down to one of the evil villains and I wound up fast forwarding because I knew that eventually he would win out and I couldn’t take watching it go on for so long. After that part it got good again and I thought “well there’s just that one part that doesn’t detract from the movie too much.“. At that point, had it ended well, I probably would’ve given it an 8.5 or possibly a 9. The show literally went down in the last episode or so when it seemed like nearly every character I liked had something tragic happen to them or someone they cared about. Then to top it off, the male lead steps down and gives the crown over to someone we were barely introduced to. After everything that he had gone through as well as all the people that supported him it seemed like a waste for him not to reign longer. The Queen also had been made barren and it would’ve been nice if they would’ve found out that wasn’t true after all. Because it felt like Ha-seon did in part step down because she was unable to bear an heir. Then they aren’t done with the tragedy because as he steps down and leaves the palace, one of the last characters that I still liked gets killed as some crazy ninjas say they are avenging the dowager queen who died a year before and we never really got to know these people to know why they would be so loyal to her even a year later. In fact, when the dowager was alive you didn’t really see her do anything all that great nor did they refer to any great things she had done in the past. Then they make you think the male lead is dead and you get to see the queen, who had stepped away from the throne to be with him, grieve for over two years. Then he just suddenly shows up and says he’s been in what would amount to a coma (how they would’ve supported someone in a coma in the Josean era is a bit of a mystery) and they have this long emotional moment. Rather than being heartwarming, their reunion felt a little bit cheesy and over done. It is a shame that it did not end better because it could’ve been a good show. This is the third TV series I’ve seen with this male lead and I have to say all three have not ended as I like them to. It is to the point where if he is in something I will likely read spoilers to make sure it doesn’t have a poor ending. If you don’t mind tragedy and like things that are a bit nebulous, you may like this better than I did. It is worth watching because a lot of the show is quite good and if you’re able to look past that middle part and the end then you may enjoy it.

#TheCrownedClown
#YeoJinGoo
#KimSangKyun

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Worth the watch for supernatural fans because of the unique deity

6/10 is my rating. This is a 2023 South Korean fantasy romance with 16, 70 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.  I provide a synopsis as with some, particularly Japanese and Chinese dramas, the available synopsis are not very good.  So, I hope to provide another description of the series that might help someone decide whether they want to watch it.

Synopsis

Dr. Han Gye-jeol (Im Soo-hyang) faces many struggles in life. Though working as a doctor, which is her passion, she didn’t excel in her studies and attended a mediocre college. Whenever issues arise—an inevitability in her field—her lack of elite credentials is often brought to the forefront. She is between jobs when she trips and nearly sustains a serious injury or worse, only to be saved by a mysterious man, Do Jin-Woo (Kim Jung Hyun). What she doesn’t know is that this man is no ordinary person—he is an underworld god, known as Kokdu, who was tasked with guiding the deceased to the afterlife after angering the creator. Kokdu (Kim Jung-hyun) inhabits human bodies to fulfill another part of his responsibility: executing immortals who violate supernatural laws. Kokdu inhabits the body of a doctor whom Gye-jeol was working under and, over time, develops feelings for. Their relationship starts out adversarial, but as Kokdu discovers their connection from a past life, he realizes that this unassuming doctor may be the only person with the power to break the curse he’s been placed under.

Review:

The premise was intriguing. I really liked the unique take on this god figure—not a Grim Reaper, but a God of Death who also acts as an angel of vengeance. That was an interesting twist. However, the romance didn’t resonate with me, largely because of the way the female lead character was written. I ended up not liking her much, so I wasn’t invested in her relationship with Kokdu. Despite giving it a low rating, I think it’s worth a watch for supernatural fans, especially for its unique interpretation of this deity’s role. I wouldn’t recommend it for the romance alone—it’s okay and resolves decently, but it’s not the standout aspect of the story.

Spoilers

I can mildly tolerate the female lead being a somewhat incompetent doctor. However, it made no real sense that they chose to make her a doctor with such limited skills, as it had no relevance to the overall story. I’m not sure if they were trying to make a point about elite schools or something, but that aspect just fell flat.

The female lead’s interactions with Kokdu were very frustrating. I get that it would be hard to believe someone was an actual god, so it was easier for her to think it was some kind of multiple personality situation. But when all the evidence was there that he was a god, she never questioned it. When she found out he was a god, her anger about it made absolutely no sense. I thought she was being petty and ridiculous about him fulfilling his duties as a god and killing the bad guys. Even a very basic understanding of gods suggests there are things a deity has to do—things that a higher god or the ultimate god would command. So judging him and making him feel guilty for fulfilling the duties of a god was unreasonable. She had sympathy for really horrible people, like rapists and other evil criminals, whom you would expect a god to judge, jury, and execute. That’s the way of the gods. She was also angry at him for deceiving her, but he did try to tell her the truth. She just never believed him, which was not his fault. So, she was angry with him basically for being a deity, and she acted hostile toward him.

I did not like any of the female characters in this show. The female lead was an incompetent doctor who quit practicing for a large portion of the series, and the second female character was just unlikable. The female lead’s sweet brother falls in love with her former friend, who has always been extremely toxic to her. It might’ve been somewhat forgivable if the friend had come around, but she continued to be a “mean girl” to the main character, even when she was in a relationship with her brother. The second female’s friend was also not very nice. She would give advice to the lead female character, but it was always in a condescending, mean-spirited way. So, virtually all the female romantic partners in this series were not very likable.

It also annoyed me when the female lead insisted on going along when Kokdu was trying to save her brother after he was kidnapped. I mean, if you’re a skilled martial artist or something, fine. But if you’re just going to be baggage, get in the way, and possibly become a hostage yourself, it always seems incredibly selfish and foolish to insist on going. Then, after the explosion happens, she’s shocked when he transports them, and she learns he is indeed a deity. She completely forgets about her little brother and goes off on a tangent about being upset with what he is, and I guess about him deceiving her. She completely stops trying to figure out what’s going on with her brother. So, she was so upset about her brother that she insisted on coming along, saw his cell phone, and got freaked out, but then when something unexpected happened, she completely forgot why she was even there. Was she really that dumb, or just that selfish? Neither quality was endearing.

#KokeuSeasonofDeity #ImSooHyang. #KimJungHyun

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Heart Sizzling Romance that will hit all your feels

This is a 2023 Chinese romantic drama with 25, 45 minute episodes. It is adapted from the web novel entitled “Secretly. Secretly but unable to hide it”.

First I will provide an original synopsis then review

Synopsis

Sang Zhi (Zhao Lu Si) is your typical younger sister who engages in all the standard sibling rivalry but acually looks up to and relies on her older brother a lot. Her older brother, Sang Yan (Victor Ma) brings his best friend, Duan Jia Xu (Chen Zhe Yuan) over a lot to hang out and play video games. The spirited Sang Zhi is immediately drawn to the kind and more tolerant than her big brother, Jian Xu. She asks him to help her with some trouble she is having at school and that sets the stage for a relationship of quasi sibling hood that develops between the two. He becomes like her second brother but the good brother who never torments her. Amd she is like the mischievous amd charming little sister he never had. After all she is five years his junior and a kid still in school while he is in college. As the years go by and their relationship deepens, Sang Zhi is the first to realize the feelings she has are not at all sisterly. As things develop you realize the spark was always there and these two, who have hidden their feelings from long, even from themselves, are unable to force an ending only because of their beginning.

Review

Overall it is one of the best romantic comedy dramas I have ever watched and I am currently at over 270 Asian dramas, mostly romance, watched. There is a reason the majority of reviews are overwhelmingly positive. If you like coming of age, age gap, she falls first but then he falls harder, romances this one is perfect for all of that. If you like a lot of intrigue and plot twists then this may not be as much your ideal. The chemistry between the two leads is so on point it would be easy to understand them dating in real life. Both actors are amazing and you really feel every emotion they go through.
Spoilers*
I read several reviews where people were worried that Zhao Lu Si might be in a role where she suffers as a character, that is how much people like this actress. So for those that worry about that it is not like that. She does have some scenes where she is heart broken but they more than make up for it later. So your favorite actress is not going to be in some Nicholas Sparks like Greek tragedy. It is very heart warming and she plays the role spectacularly as I am sure, if you are a fan, you would expect.
I did not feel like the age gap was large at all. I did wonder how they would transition from their brother/sister like relationship to a romantic one but it actually made sense. It was like he also had hidden feelings for her way earlier than he even admitted to himself. They were very soul mate like so it is not at all hard to envision them gravitating toward each other. Once the brother got over the fact that his best friend was attracted to his little sister it seemed he picked up on just how perfect they were for each other. This was apparent when the brother actually stuck up for them a bit with the parents by going with Jia Xu and nodding his approval in the background.
Personally I identified with the sibling relationship between the brother and sister. My brother is 5 years older than me and our relationship was much like theirs. I did date one of his friends and he dated several of my friends (I called him the friendship killer). The difference was he actually trusted his friends to date me more than someone he didn’t know. He really should not have because his friend was one of the worst people I ever dated and I only dated just that one of his friends. So I could see where it could go either way. Of course I did not date his best friend, the one he trusted acting on his behalf, I dated just a regular one of his friends. It may have been different, and my brother may have felt betrayed more, if it was his best friend. But, because my situation was very similar I could really relate to that sibling relationship and I am sure others would as well. It was a very nice part of the series to explore that relationship.
I did not get the age gap thing being an issue once she was an adult. Five years is not a huge age gap it is within most normal ranges. The girl that played the younger Sang Xi (Zhang Xi Wei) did a fabulous job but did not look 14, she looked much younger. So, it did make the age gap seem a lot larger in their younger years. They did a remarkable job with Zhao Lu Si making her look younger than her actual years by just changing her hairstyle and makeup.
There were no compelling 2nd or 3rd romances and the love triangle was not that persistent. But the romance between the lead characters was so intense none of that was needed. It would have been nice to see the brother with someone and they did drop a hint about something when he knew so much about birthing centers and that never bore out.
I think the second most heart warming and interesting relationship was between the brother and sister. He called her “Little Demon” which was so cute as it reflected that kind of playful rivalry siblings can have for the parent’s affection. She was your typical little sister and he was very much within how most older brothers are. It also reflected what I understand about the shifting view of daughters in China. There were so few females at one point because of the one child policy and favoring boys during those times that daughters actually became precious once the policy opened up. There was a part where she was having a really hard time on her internship and she just wanted her brother. But, it showed he was accepting her relationship and even embracing it when he said you have Jia Xu.
I loved what a warrior to his defense she became when anyone was “bullying” Jia Xu. He had such a hard life because of the horrible incident surrounding his father that I wanted nothing but happiness for him. When the crazy daughter of the man who was hit and killed by Jia Xu’s father threw water at him and she, without hesitation, turned and threw water right back at her I cheered. I also loved that she made it clear to him that she did not all feel the sins of the father were his own. She even was willing to combat her brother when he beat him up. I was a bit angry with her brother for doing that as well and was disappointed when they seemed to lie about him hitting him back. The cut away scene when they showed that he actually did hit him back was a perfect way to wrap that up. I was glad he did not lie to her even to protect her brother.
In other dramas I have been disappointed when the lead would be made to distance themselves because the parents did not approve so I loved that she even took her parents on for him by leaving early when their harsh words drove him away. In really good relationships, the significant other is the first person you can count on being on your side and having your back. The depth of their relationship and connection was apparent in the fact that you could see they were hurt too when the other one was hurt either physically or mentally.
There was a separation, but it made complete sense. He was going back to her hometown to set things up for their future. And neither of them were okay with it but went through it as they knew it was the best in the long run. The scene at the airport where she wanted every last second with him and he indulged her because he actually wanted it too was so cute. I loved that they did not follow the tired trope of I must go away and I am just okay abandoning you in the middle of a deep relationship. And the reason the person is going away is usually inane and you feel like yeah I get you want to do that but why do you insist on doing it now. Or can’t you just do that with the person you love? This wasn’t like that. His going was actually because he knew how important her relationship with her family was to her and there was no reason he couldn’t resettle there as he no longer had a family tying him to his hometown. He also was taking steps to make their financial future more secure. And he wanted to make her parents more comfortable with his ability to provide and take care of her. So all of the reasons he had were good ones.
The proposal scene was just beautiful. I was fully tricked by his surprise as well. It was really sweet and seeing her family there just beaming about it was very heart warming. It was clear that they fully accepted it and that he was now going to be a part of that loving family.

#HiddenLove
#ZhaoLuSi
#VictorMa
#ChenZheYuan

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Great slice of the Fan Girl Life with a sweet romance

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2019 South Korean television drama with 16, 60 minute episodes.
Fangirl of a boy band by night and hard working museum curator by day, Sung Deok-mi (Park Min-young) works hard to keep the duality of her nature a secret. Deok-mi originally meets the arrogant and standoffish Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-wook) when they are opposing bidders for an art piece. He later becomes Director of the museum where Deok-mi works and becomes her "cover" when she starts dating an idol. The plot twists when Sindy, who runs a fan girl site, gets a job at the museum and has the goal of exposing that Deok-mi is dating a star. Not easy to keep such a big thing a secret - especially with embedded spies.

Spoiler 🚨 This is one of my new favorites. I wasn't too sure about this because a 30 something fangirl was a little hard to envision from the premise but it works. The characters are all very well developed and acted and you really feel like you get to know them and care about the outcome. The romance is perfectly paced, credible, and the chemistry between the two is amazing. You could really see them as a couple. I loved the ending too - so many do not end neatly wrapped up and this one did. I highly recommend this one to anyone who likes a sweet romance with that little bit of intrigue.

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Good for its primary focus which is monster/horror genre

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2023, South Korean historical, action, suspense, thriller, horror and romance series with 10, 65-73 minute episodes.

First I provide a Unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis

Jang Tae-sang (Park seo-joon) runs a very successful Korean business in Japanese occupied Gyeongseong (later renamed Seoul) occupation. He is determined to survive in an environment that is hostile to Koreans by amassing wealth and influence as a form of protection. Known as Master Jang he is perceived as selfish and uncaring if his fellow South Korean’s plight when, in reality, he takes great care of all his friends and family like associates. If you need something in the way of information he probably knows a guy or a girl. That all changes when he is blackmailed to locate a woman who went missing. He is skilled at using his connections to broker information but this time his livelihood is at stake. His mission puts him in contact with Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee) who is part of a team who are experts at finding people. During the spring of 1945, lots if people are going missing after visiting, or being taken to, a Japanese run hospital. Seems more than just medicine is being practiced there, people are being used to run experiments with a violent creature.

Review

It is a great addition to the monster “movie” genre. The monster in this is terrifying and seems invincible. It has exciting action scenes, edge of your seat suspense and fingernail biting horror. If you are a fan either leads, they do an excellent job in their roles. It can be hard, emotionally, to watch realizing the Japanese did occupy South Korea and they did perform horrific medical experiments on the Koreans. It is a lens on how occupation forces dehumanize their “enemy.” The romance is there but it is not what makes the series stand out. It is complex enough I would watch it again to catch things I missed. I would recommend it highly for those wanting great monster, suspense, historical backdrop, and/or action series.

Spoilers

Prepare for a gore fest. I lost count of how many people the creature killed. I was a little disappointed that the Korean prisoners were killed indiscriminately by the monster when, later, we discovered the creature maintained enough of its original humanity to recognize its daughter.

I wonder if they misinterpreted Anthrax because that is what they said they injected the creature with that caused its horrible mutation. Then, the creature emitted bubbles of Anthrax in a “sleeping” state but it wasn’t characteristic of what we know of Anthrax. This “Anthrax” causes acid burns when it hits the skin. It did not seem like Anthrax so I wonder if it was a translation issue.

Several people betrayed their friends under torture and I liked they called it out and Tae-sang and others acknowledged it was not the fault of the victim as they temporarily lose their humanity.

I feel we never got the full back story of what kind of revenge was being exacted on Chae-ok’s mother that she was turned over for medical experimentation. There was mention of betrayal and I suspect it was also jealously on the part of Yukiki Maeda (Soo Hyun) as she mentions their association when they were younger but that situation was only vaguely explained.

The ending was mostly up in the air with the main creature still alive, a second creature having just delivered what appears to be an alien baby and Chae-ok now revived from death but infected with the parasite. It is clear there will be another season and I think there is a confirmed 2024 production date. I do not trust Netflix though so prefer a well tied up ending. WhatI love about South Korean shows is they rarely leave cliffhangers. Netflix is all about profit and leaves the endings open so, if the series does well, they can do additional seasons. A lot of Asian drama fans likely find leaving it open like that annoying.

#GyeongseongCreature

#ParkSeoJoon

#HanSoHee

#SooHyun

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Not what I expected but in a good way

Review

9/10 is my rating. The plot was very engaging until about the last episode. Then it took sort of a weird turn in my opinion but then got back on track. If you want something a little different this definitely has that uniqueness to it. The leads have good chemistry, and the romance is paced well. I recommend it for those that like their romance with a bit of intrigue. That is the rarer form of romance.

Spoilers

The only part I really did not like is when he randomly decided to become some mercenary like person in another county. After all they had gone through he was just going to be like "see ya" and take off on some weird trip. Then she goes there, in a known dangerous area, gets kidnapped as was predicted and he just happens to be the one to rescue her. The whole thing was just a weird insert. Totally unnecessary to the story.

Her mom was horrible early on, and they never fully explained why she was like that to her and then later was just like "never mind." I mean I think it was because she didn't want her outshining her new stepsister but still, weird. Then, toward the end she is like okay she can hear now so we are good right? Right? I was glad main girl was like we are going to have to take it slow and I am not telling you where I live.

They sure created a good psycho. But I am like seriously dude you are going to fall for the same thing twice. You already know main girl will just wreck you both, yet you are going to try the exact same thing again?

Scroll Down for a Unique Synopsis

Synopsis

This is a 2024/2025 South Korean Romance Mystery Suspense Drama with 12, that run 64-70 minutes.

The couple in this thriller are in a marriage arranged for political and family gain and have barely spoken to each other in their three-year marriage. Paik Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok) is the youngest spokesman for the Blue House a role which he gained as a former war correspondent and counter terrorist resource. He seems very cold and harsh to his wife, Hong Hee Joo (Chae Soo-bin) who is selectively mute as a result of a traumatic traffic accident. To the outside world Yoo Yeon-seok is a lovingly devoted husband who keeps his wife out of the public eye due to threats to her safety. Their life is upended when Hee joo is kidnapped but Sa-eon doesn't believe it and proclaims they are frauds and that he will believe them when they show him her corpse. This is a final straw for Hee joo, and she turns the tables on the very real kidnapper and claims the phone he had been using in the process.

Having the phone provides what Hee joo perceives is a way out of her cold, loveless marriage. Hee joo uses the voice modulator to sound like her captor and negotiate herself a divorce.

This sets off a whole chain of intrigue as the two discover secrets hidden in the past, conspiracies and deception. As the conversations intensify, the love that was lying under surface emerges and the couple must pull together to uncover the true enemies that threaten not only their well-being but their very existence.

#WhenThePhoneRings #YooYeonSeok #ChaeSooBin

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Cute Romance with a unique lens on a "crystal ball" way of seeing how that guy really is

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2020/2021 South Korean Romantic Comedy Drama with 10, 70 minute episodes. It is also known as "Please Don't Meet that Guy".

Seo Ji-seong (Song Ha-yoon) is a information technology engineer who works for a development company that adds artificial intelligence components to household appliances and other technology. When a smart refrigerator she is developing goes beyond its programming to not only make meal recommendations but to provide a complete background check of the person input, Ji-seong covertly tries to figure out what the gliche is and stall her boss for time before the product is marketed. As she is testing the refrigerator's AI, she uses people around her as inputs and finds out information about men in her and her friend's lives she is not sure she wanted to know. It reveals a dark secret, Ji-seong's fiancé had been keeping, and causes Ji-seong to break off their long term relationship. Fate steps in and Ji-seong finds herself crossing paths with Jung Kook-hee (Lee Jun-young) multiple times and even has occasion to work with him through a project with her company. She growns close to Kook-hee but is disturbed by his reluctance to have his photograph taken and his avoidence of technology. Having been burned in a relationship once, the secrets Kook-hee is hiding might keep their relationship from moving forward. Can Ji-seong resolve the problems with the AI and solve the mystery of Kook-hee's absolute avoidance of technology?

Overall I liked this. Usually I would think 10 episodes was too short but they were able to develop and tell the story in this number of episodes. I thought the relationship between the ML and FL was believable and they had great chemistry. I really liked Ji-seong and the fact that she was a female IT/engineer was cool because I have personally known a lot of person(s) in those fields and appreciate their analytical thinking. There are always difficulties in translating between different cultures and it was hard for me to understand Kook-hee's guilt over the fire as it was not his fault the firefighter decided to go in thinking he was still inside when, in fact, he went to a soccer game. That is not something individuals are likely to feel guilty over in US culture. I also did not see a lot wrong with Ji-seong finding out about her friend's boyfriends and warning them. She was not doing it intentionally, she was trying to get the refrigerator to simply provide menu suggestions based on a profile. She had to run it to sort the glitch. She may have ran it a time or two when not actively working on the issue and just to find out, but it would be no different than hiring a private detective at that point. I liked that she never forgave the ex boyfriend for betraying her by sharing her pictures with his friends and making comments about her body. That is not something someone who cares about you should ever do. I liked that Ji-seong's mother stuck up for her and told her ex's mother off when she tried to put the blame for the failed relationship on Ji-seong. I was disappointed when Kook-hee turned away from Ji-seong when he found out she might have dug into some personal information. It was right after she stuck up for him without even knowing the whole story. He "came around" but it still felt like a bit of a betrayal that he did not stand with her when she was having a hard time as a result of information being sent to him. Overall it was good and entertaining. Just a few, somewhat minor, "flaws" in some of the characters. It was also a unique story with the refrigerator acting like a "crystal ball."

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One of the better Josean era dramas, even pokes fun at some of the over used tropes

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2023 South Korean Romantic comedy drama with 16, 60 minute episodes

First I provide a unique synopsis then review

Synopsis

Shim Jung-woo (Rowoon) is still salty about being “sold” into marriage into the royal family. To make things worse his new wife, the Princess, died from poison on the eve of their wedding. Which locks him into celibate bachelorhood and makes it so he has way too much time on his hands. He is known as the grouchy Prince (resentful man) as he uses his exceptional intellect to ensure no one else is having fun either (in the guise of upholding strict Josean law). Jung Soon-deok (Cho Yi-hyun) loved her husband but is a young widow locked in the role of little madam as the second daughter-in-law of the Left State Councilor. She prefers to use her skills as a matchmaker to playing lady of the house. Fate lands these two unlikely accomplices in league to get three old maidens married in order to manipulate the politics to allow the young crown prince to marry. Neither should be interested in anyone romantically as social tradition ties them to their deceased spouses. Will the two succeed in their unlikely task of getting all three old maids wed? Will their hearts abide by the dictates of society?

Review

One of the better Josean dramas I have seen. It even pokes fun at some of the tropes such as the “I love You So I am Going To Leave You” trope. Rowoon is always a joy to watch, he can play such a diversity of characters well. Multiple romances in this, as would be expected given the topic, and they all end well. It is entertaining throughout and ends happy. I recommend to fans of either of the main leads, Josean drama fans, those that like a little action, and a little mystery and not an overwhelming amount of politics. If it was on, I would watch it again and I recommend it as an excellent drama.

Spoilers

I liked the “resentful” man angle and was a little disappointed to find he was not coerced into the marriage. It was less appealing to me that he actually loved the Princess. I thought him being forced made his intractable nature more understandable.

The character growth in this was amazing. The King, for example, I did not think I would like him but he turned out to be one of the best characters. The way he saved both Jung-woo and Sein-dook in the end was heart warming. It was clear he grew to love and appreciate Jung-woo as not only a close trusted advisor but like another son. The queen was also an awesome character in the way she lived her son and how kind she was to others. The young Crown Prince was bright, wise and kind. The royal family in this series is one of few royal families, in Josean dramas, I have liked.

Soon-deok’s mother-in-law (MIL) was purely evil and I know it was supposed to be her punishment was being alone but I would have liked to have seen her seriously punished. Or for her to come around, accept her daughter’s choice, and allow her daughter-in-law to have a life. I was disappointed Soon-deok did not see her MIL’s tweet true character sooner. She admired her through most of the series even when many of the things she was doing were underhanded and evil. I got she was being filial but there were points when I wish she had stood up to her or turned away from her more.

It ending with Jung-woo and Soon-deok just having a magical romance, a courtship, prior to marriage was a little unsatisfying. After all they had gone through to be able to be together, ending in their marriage would have felt more “happily ever after” than we are just going to essentially date and marry later.

#KimSeokWoo

#Rowoon

#TheMatchmakers

#ChoYiHyun

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A unique time travel superhero romance drama

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2024 fantasy romance drama with 12, 70-76 minute episodes.  It is also known as "Although I Am Not a Hero." 

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis 


Do Da-hae (Chun Woo-hee) has participated in several cons where she marries men then works with her step family to relieve them of their assets.  That is her goal when she first meets the Bok family.  Bok Gwi-ju (Jang Ki-yong) is a depressed man who is so grief stricken over the loss of his wife, he is not very involved with his teenage daughter, Bok I-na (Park So-yi).  What Do Da-hae does not know at first is this is a family of people who used to have superpowers.  They lost their powers when they started partaking in modern vices like overeating, lack of sleep and poor mental health.  Do Da-hae cozies up to the family to swindle them but her attentions start to heal some of their issues and she finds herself drawn to them in a real sense.  There is Gwi-ju who used to be able to time travel to happy events but is now too depressed to think of anything happy.  Bok Dong-hee (Claudia Kim), the older sister, used to be able to fly but overindulging in food has left her grounded.  The mother of the household, Bok Man-heum (Go Doo-shim) can see the future and used it in the past to amass a family fortune.  The father, Eom Soon-gu (Oh Man-seok), is the only family member without any powers although it was first thought I-na did not have any powers.  She is hiding her ability to "read" people behind shaded glasses.  Can a con artist unintentionally heal this wounded family?  Is Do Da-hae the motivation for Gwi-ju to move on from his past tragedy?

ReviewIf you are looking for a unique premise and different spin on time travel this is a good one for that.  It does have a strong romantic element but there are so many tragic events around it, not a feel good or light hearted type romance.  There is also a very different "take" on superheroes.  I enjoyed this a lot because of the unusual perspectives on themes and tropes that have been frequently done in other movies and dramas.  He is an unusual male lead character and she is an unusual female lead character.  Overall, this series is a good addition to the time traveler and super hero dramas and is also something romance fans would enjoy. 

Spoilers

The story ends happily with the main couple together, in fact they have a child who is born with superpowers.  All major plot lines are resolved.  There are a lot of emotional and sad moments so those that are really sensitive to that type of content may want to consider this one has some darker and emotionally draining moments.

The main female lead character was a con artist and was part of a larger family of con artists.  She was being coerced to con people to pay back her father's debt to the loan shark he wound up acting as her mother.  But she doesn't resist the role even when it is clear it is hurting other people who are good.  It made it hard to really like her and be hopeful in her relationship. 

The chemistry between the leads was off for a couple of reasons.  First, their height difference was such that their passionate kisses often just looked painful.  And, second, so much of the series was spent with one or the other rejecting their feelings that there was such a relatively short period when they were actually together. 

The mother was just mean to the main female lead character well beyond when it seemed she should have known she wasn't conning people because she wanted to.  Even as a con artist she had done so much to help the family you think they could forgive her having that type of motive to start. 

They never explained main lead girl's "uncle" and "sister."  Were they kids like her or were they her loan shark "mother's" actual children. 

#AtypicalFamily   #JangKiyong  #ChunWooHee  #GoDooShim  #CladiaKim   #ParkSoYi   #OhManSeok  #KimGeumSun  #RyuAbel  #ChoiGwangRok  #AlthoughIAmNotAHero

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A solid dating reality show with a slice of dating life in the 20 to 30 age ranges

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2018 South Korean Reality Dating/Game show. There are 13 regular and 3 special, 54-102 minute episodes.

This is a dating reality show where the participants live together for one month. They cannot reveal their age or occupation but can reveal interests and other aspects of their personality. Participants work during the day and go back to the house they are occupying together in the evenings/weekends and other times off work. There are originally six occupants but two more occupants are added through the course of the show. Each night the participants anonymously send a text to the person they found most interesting and the panel has to guess who texted whom. Panelists who guess right are given a token. They act as a 4th wall, commenting on what is going on, analyzing participants behavior and interests in each other, and competing to get the most correct guesses on who is contacting whom. Participants go on dates but are not allowed to directly confess their feelings.

Panelists

Yoon Jong-shin is a South Korean singer and song writer. He is also a record produceer and is the CEO of Mystic Story. He was born in 1969 so would have been 49 when the show aired in 2017.
Lee Sang-min is a South Korean singer, song writer, record producer and television personality. He is a former member of hip hop and dance group Roo'ra. He was born in 1973 so would have been 45 when the show aired in 2017.
Kim Eana is a South Korean song writer who wrote hit songs for some of the top singers in South Korea. She was born in 1979 so would have been 39 when the show aired in 2017.
Yang Jae-woong is a South Korean psychiatrist, motivational speaker, You Tuber and entertainer. He was born in 1982 so would have been 36 at the time this aired.
Shim So-young is a South Korean stage, drama and film actor. He was born in 1970 so would have been 48 when the show aired.
Jung Jae-won (One) - is a South Korean rapper, singer, song writer and actor. He was born in 1994 so would have been 24 when the show aired.
Kang Ji-hyun (Soyou)- South Korean singer best known as a member of the K-pop group Sistar. She was born in 1992. So would have been 26 when the show aired

Participants

Kim Do-gyun - born in 1988 Korean medicine doctor. He would have been 30 when the show aired.
Jung Jae-ho - born in 1990 CEO of a startup company. He would have been 28 when the show aired
Lee Gyu-bin - born in 1993 preparing to join the South Korean public service. He would have been 25 when he show aired.
Kim Hyun-woo - born in 1985 chef and restaurant owner Joined the show in episode 2. He would have been 33 when the show aired.
Oh Young-joo - born in 1991 marketer at Microsoft. She would have been 27 when the show aired.
Song Da-eun - born in 1991 aspiring actress. She would have been 27 when the show aired.
Im Hyun-joo - born in 1992 work as an actress and was a student at Kookmin University. She would have been 26 when the show aired.
Kim Jang-mi - born in 1989 fashion boutique owner Joined the show in episode 6. She would have been 27 when the show aired.

Ages are based on when the show aired not when it was filmed and are aged where birth is considered 0 years old.

Review
All the same elements that made the first season an interesting watch are in this second season as well. I liked more of the couples in this second season and found myself way more emotionally invested. If you enjoy reality shows and those that focus on relationships you will enjoy this show.

Spoilers*

Do-gyun was one of the males I found the most interest in him finding the right one. I had to laugh when Jang-Mi's friend said if he would use some common sense or something like that as she was implying that he did not make a sound decision in how into Hyun-joo he was when Jang-Mi and he got along and had so much in common. I too felt disappointed because Hyung-joo was just stringing him along, just showing him enough attention that he thought he had a chance when he never really did. He also was not seeing the real her - she had a way of being whomever she thought that person wanted. And her cutesy and cheery persona was an act. So, it was disappointing he did not choose Jang-Mi. Jae-ho and Da-eun chose each other a lot but I had the feeling she wasn't as into him as he was into her. I really felt like they wound up being a couple just on the show and it wouldn't go very far after. Young-joo was really into Hyun-woo and I could not see what all the women found so profoundly appealing about him. He was a bit more aloof and mysterious than the other men but, at least with Young-joo I thought he was very inconsistent. He never understood why she was so upset when he chose Hyung-joo as his second for the trip at the end, but I think most women would have been bothered by it. Young-joo felt like Hyun-woo had Hyung-joo waiting in the wings and there wasn't anything Hyun-woo did that would have convinced her otherwise. I felt like Hyun-woo was a bit manipulative as he never fully committed to either woman. I think it was bad for him in the end because he chose Hyung-joo not because she was the one he really wanted but because he thought Young-joo was not going to choose him. It was apparent when Young-joo called him, choosing him, and he just looked disappointed after that. The most frustrating participant to me was Hyung-joo, the reason all the men selected her is she had this way of being whomever each of them wanted and also making them all think she was considering them. Her tee-hee laugh seemed very feigned but it sure drove the men in the house wild. Hyung-joo inserted herself in the obvious interest between Young-joo and Hyun-woo from the beginning, stepped back when he was being aloof to her, then stepped right back in when she saw the least crack. For house members were having a tough time because of what I felt were her selfish actions. But, really she was a good litmus test for how much the others liked each other. She was a wedge between both Young-joo and Hyun-woo as well as Do-gyun and Jang-mi in that she was cutesy to both men and made them think she was all into them and not just pursuing them as a trophy over the other women. But the fact that she was able to be that wedge was actually a positive for the other two women because who wants a man that let's someone who is so obviously fabricating a persona and leading them on become a barrier to a budding romance. I thought Gyu-bin was really sweet to Young-joo and she may have given him more of a chance if Hyun-woo would not have kept vacillating. I admired that he chose her and stuck with his decision.

Although I would like this show to be more than it is being a romantic at heart, it is clear that all the participants wind up viewing it as more of "the game of love" than a true "love match." I look up how and what they are doing after the show and some of them may keep in contact on a friendly basis but most of them return to their daily lives. Instagram is a good indicator it seems and some of them follow each other but there are no couple pictures that would indicate they pursued anything beyond the show. So love it for what it is, a slice of these folks lives and honest attempts to learn more about themselves while developing their dating style and romance skills. A true love match may eventually occur but it would be the exception rather than the rule. Most are going to interact while and for a short time after the show runs. If your realize that, and that it is a competitive/game of romance like situation for most, you will not be as disappointed if the couple you think would work do not wind up together.


*Deep Spoiler
Heart Signal 2 cast member Kim Hyun-woo was arrested for drunk driving in April 2018 while the show was airing

#HeartSignal2
#YoonJongShin
#LeeSangMin
#KimEana
#YangJaeWoong
#ShimSoYoung
#JungJaeWon
#KangJiHyun
#KimDoGyun
#JungJaeHo
#LeeGyuBin
#KimHyunWoo
#OhYungJoo
#SongDaeUn
#ImHyunJoo
#KimJangMi

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Starts slow but good after it gets going

this 2019 South Korean romantic comedy. it has 12 episodes of around 60 minutes each.

An Dan-Te (Sung-Hoon) heads up a company that brings a management team to change things up for companies that are on the verge of going bankrupt. He is almost robotic in his actions and with his emotions. His next project is one he is reluctant to take on until he encounters Shin Yeon-Hwa (Han Bo-reum) who just so happens to be the head of development at Joybuster, the gaming company he is being encouraged to take on. A series of encounters outside of work do not put the two on the best footing so when An Da-Te shows up as the new CEO and one with no gaming experience, Yeon-Hwa is less than thrilled. The bright and outspoken Yeon-Hwa is quick to tell the CEO just what she thinks of him.

Spoiler 🚨 The first episode of this was a bit slow and failed to grab my immediate interest. I decided to give it one more episode and was glad I did. I have seen Sung-Hoon in a variety of lead roles and I enjoy watching him. He usually plays a socially adept and dashing character but in this had I not known otherwise I would have thought he was a robot. It made it very comedic to see him struggle to understand someone very full of emotions. I thought the leads had great chemistry and the surrounding characters were interesting as well. There were even some surprising plot twists. It was a great slice of the competitive gaming industry and the central plot was interesting and flowed along nicely. The ending felt a bit rushed but not so much it ruined the story. For me there were several laugh out loud moments and nothing was very sad throughout. It is a nice, feel good romantic comedy.

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Comedic brilliance

This is a 2018 South Korean television drama with 20, 60 minute, episodes. Main cast:
📍Kang Dong-gu (Kim Jung-Hyun) wants to become a movie director. He is kind hearted but unlucky.
📍Lee Joon-ki (Lee Yi-kyung) He is the son of a famous actor who hopes to mirror his father’s success but is only able to land small roles.
📍Bong Doo-sik (Son Seung-won) A mostly unemployed freelance writer.
📍Han Yoon-ah (Jung In-sun) A single mother with no family or resources.
📍Kang Seo-jin (Ko Won-hee) An aspiring journalist and Dong-gu’s sister.
📍Min Soo-ah (Lee Joon-woo). A beautiful girl and famous model who is Dong-gu’s ex.

Three friends decide to go into business together in Waikiki and buy a guest house. Their business is failing until one day an unlikely source of fortune, a single mother and her baby, show up and things turn around.

spoiler 🚨 I loved this for sheer comedic appeal. It is a little like Seinfeld in that the characters do the most outrageous things. I seriously have not laughed so hard since I do not know when. There is friendship and romance and that is also great but the comedy steals the show. My daughter and I both thought it was funny so the humor spans generations. If you need a good laugh then treat yourself to this wonderful series.

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I dropped it half way and I rarely drop anything

4/10 is my rating. This is a 2016 South Korean Romantic Comedy drama with 16, ~60 minute episodes. Also known under the title "The Man Living in Our House."

First I provide a unique synopsis then review

Synopsis

Leading the glamorous life of a flight attendant Hong Na-ri (Soo Ae) and with a handsome fiance, Na Ri feels like she has it all.  But her life crumbles apart when her mother Shin Jung-im (Kim Mi-sook) unexpectedly dies, she discovers her fiance, Jong Dong-jin (Kim Ji-hoon) is cheating with her co-worker Do Yeo-joo (Jo Bo-ah) and the house she thought she inherited went to a step-dad, Go Nan-gil (Kim Young-kwang) she did not know she had. At first Na-ri is started by this stranger/step-dad who is possibly younger than her and definitely younger than her mother.  She doubts his motives and cannot understand why her mother hid her relationship and left everything to this stranger.  But, as the layers start to peel back, Na-ri learns that her and Nan-gil have a much deeper past than she realized. 

Review

I wanted to like this one so much. But, I found very little to like about it. I do not recommend it as there are so many better options. If you are super fans of any of the cast maybe watch for them but I cannot recommend it for anything else.

Spoilers

Did it end happy/well? I have no idea. I made it through episode eight then realized there were eight more and could not do it to myself. I rarely drop a show. Out of the nearing 400 I have watched I have dropped only a few. They had confessed to each other and she broke 2nd guys heart, so there did not seem to be anything of substance for the remainder of the show. I was not at all interested in the mafioso loan sharks. So there was not much if substance left to fill eight more episodes.

I disliked the premise, so it is hard for it to improve from there. I thought the whole him being younger yet her stepdad was weird. When I read a synopsis I thought it would seem like that but turn out he was not married to the mom. It is disturbing that a mother figure would marry her son figure. Then he says for half the show that they have to keep up the ruse to keep the sharks at bay but decides half way never mind we will be together and deal with the consequences.

For me the chemistry between the leads was off. There were no longing looks almost kisses or any of that which shows they liked each other all along. So there sudden kiss seemed weird.

I did not like any of the characters. FL was such an absent daughter she did not even know something so important about her mom. And she was so soft on her ex and cheater colleague it annoyed me. The cheating colleague was just completely selfish. She seemed remorseless about ending a nine year relationship. And so fake. The ex also acted remorseless. He apologized but it was such a weak apology and he never said why. The little sister was a creepy psycho. Bth things she did to main girl could have led to death or worse injury. And she doesn’t think she should apologize?

#SweetStrangerandMe  #TheManLivingInOurHouse  #SooAe  #KimYoungKwang  #LeeSooHyuk  #JoBoAh  #KimJiHoon

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Interesting premise, compelling murder mystery but the other elements were sloppy chaos

7/10 is my rating. This is a 2023 South Korean Romantic Comedy, suspense and thriller drama. There are 16 ~60 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis

Bong Ye-bun (Han Ji-min) is a veternarian in a small community where she, much to her disdain, primarily cares for farm animals. Her life dramatically changes when a meteor strike imparts her with a rare form of pychometry. Embarassingly, she has to touch human or animal butts to get visions. A series of murders leads her to work with homicide Detective Moon Jang-yeol (Lee Min-ki) who was sent to the smaller community from Seoul after making an error with an investigation. When Kim Seon-woo (Suho) comes to town, Dr Bong is immediately attracted to the incredibly handsome yet mysterious stranger. Problem is the Detective has Seon-woo at the top of his suspect list for the serial murders. Dr. Bong has checked out Seon-woo and believes he is innocent. But if not him, then who and why are the bodies stacking up?

Review

Chaotic is the best way to describe it. My impression is the writers were not sure if they wanted it to be a slapstick, regular or dark comedy. The story also switched between romance, mystery, comedy and supernatural but not in a smooth manner. The serial killer mystery was good and I thought it was what made it watchable. If you like murder mysteries it is worth a watch for that. If you like "silly" comedy you may enjoy that element. The psychometry portrayed is different and if you like supernatural you may find this portrayal interesting. I am unlikely to rewatch it because I did not feel it was well written. There is a sad element that hits about episode 14 so if you are one that gets really attached to characters be aware there are a lot of murders. It is sad in parts.

Spoilers

The early episodes were the worste of it to me. They set it up as she is a veternarian who takes over her grandfather's clinic as if that will be an important element but it really isn't. After she starts working with the detective its as if she just closed the doors to her clinic. I guess it was so she had critters early on that would not care if she touched their butts so she was able to discover and develop her ability. They did circle back later where her whole pet psychic thing got her on the talk show circuit.

I felt like nearly all the characters were weird. She was weird because when

she discovered she had to touch butts to use her ability she went about it as if she somewhat enjoyed it. It was no wonder the detective thought she was a pervert at first. But he was also weirdly quick to judgement and violent. He was super violent with Dr. Bong at first. Even if he thought she was being a pervert the way he body slammed her to the ground on several occasions was completely wrong. And he had her do dangerous things on her own so he could get information. The chief was weird and rude to main guy from the outset. Main girl's best friend was also weird she was hostile to nearly everyone and mean to Dr. Bong. Her Aunt though was the weirdest of all. The weird way she acted to the Chief was cringy. Who locks someone to a bed frame then throws the key out the window?

I do not know who did wardrobe but it was horrendous. The best friend looked like she bargain hunted fashion items and sort of threw them all together whether they matched or not. Dr. Bong looked grade school sheik. And the collars on some of her outfits looked like she could take wing.

With all the early physical violence and him treating her so carelessly through most of the show, there was no chemistry with the detective and Dr. Bong. Her best friend's crush and claim on the detective was also ridiculous. No chemistry with Seon-woo because she looked like an old bag lady or a preschooler at various times. No one kissed either. So the romance element was thin.

I did not like how they portrayed her as an idiot. She is a vet, which takes a lot of really difficult coursework and yet she is too stupid to even render first aid when someone is hurt, She saves one of the victims from being stabbed but then stashes her in the vicinity while she looks for help. Then she runs into a bus load of men who could have helped but wastes time looking for the detective. Her absolute ineptitude allowed the killer to get the girl again. Then she runs away when Seon-woo is fighting the killer rather than stepping in to help. There is a scene where she fins what she thunks is the murder weapon, a knife covered with red chili from kimchi (looked a little like blood) and she ripuns down the street and even gets on the bus with the knife extended. When she gets to the police department and they ask if she ran all the way with the knife like that she says she did. A smart person would know that is not how you would take a murder weapon to the police.

The Shaman's son was introduced as if that was an important element of the story, but then he just drops out of the story line with no explanation where he went. I think the sole purpose was to allude he killed his wife and that is why the son was there. It was just weird not to indicate what happened with the son.

#HanJiMin

#LeeMinKi

#Suho

#JooMinKyung

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