ltspada

"The Notebook" level of sad, such a harsh slice of reality yet beautiful and masterfully done

Review

9/10 is my rating. This is "The Notebook" level of sad. "Marley and Me" and any other sad show you can think of that was super good, well written, engaging but really sad. There is nothing wrong with it. I just am not a fan of shows that are so real they are sad because they match the sad aspects of reality. I watch shows to escape the sad reality. So this show was masterfully done. The love story is heart warming. It is well acted. Well scripted. Everything about it is amazing. But I probably would not watch it again. Not because it wasn't good. But because one time on that emotional roller coaster was enough. I would recommend it with a warning label. If you are someone that doesn't like sad then maybe think seriously about watching this one.

Spoilers

This is "Notebook" level of sad. I loved her mother so much that I was super sad when she died at only 29. I mean, come on, 29. And then main girl is an orphan. And no one really wants her. That is horribly sad. Then, she grows up a little, still without really much of anything and clings to the one lifeline she has which is main guy. And they have this beautiful love story and you hope their lives will get off to a good start. But no. First his mother and grandmother are horribly abusive to her. And then he finally takes her out of that situation and they have their own place. Only they are starving. Then he is horribly abused and winds up disfigured from the ship captain who was jealous of him. And then they tragically lose their child. Yet they keep bouncing back and finding ways and through it all is their very strong love for each other and their kids. Then the kids grow up and are horrible to them. Say the most hurtful things. And then they finally have just a little bit and he has cancer and dies. And now she is all alone without him.

Real? Yes. So real. I grew up poor and can say that desperation and hopelessness are a thing. Losing a child? Lifetime devastation.

Scroll down for a unique synopsis

Synopsis

We don't often see Jeju Island in its earlier days, but this one is set on the island in the 1960's. Things were not the same for women back then particularly not impoverished women who lost their father at a young age, with a mother who remarried. So, Oh Ae-sun's (IU)'s life starts off difficult. Despite the challenging background young Ae-sun dreams of going to the mainland and becoming a literature major in college. A series of unfortunate event occur to Ae-sun starting with her haenyo (diver) mother, Jeon Gwang-rye (Yeom Hye-ran) dying at the young age of 29. And now she goes from being a child with only one parent to being an orphan. Her friend and fierce admirer, Yan Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) has always been there for the spirited girl, feeding her fish from his families business as a show of love. Her dream is to become a scholar; his dream is her. Be prepared for a story that is not linear in anyway it flashes forward and back and from location to location. It is an emotional roller coaster. You might laugh and cry at the same time. It takes a deep dive into the life and the culture of that region at that time through the eyes of a young woman trying to forge a different path.

#WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines

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Answers all the questions and beautifully continues and nicely ends the story

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2022/2023 South Korean Action, Fantasy romance drama with 10, 69-87 minute episodes

First I provide a Unique Synopsis then review

Synopsis

If you watched the first season and experienced the cliff hanger and tragedy that was the ending, be reassured season two will resolve all that. One could just let things end where they did but why? This continues the story. Jang uk (Lee Jae wook) survived but is now dressed and acts in a very dark manner (shadow). As the most powerful mage in Daeho, he is charged with hunting down and executing soul shifters. Doing so takes an additional emotional tax on him as he is able to see who that person was before going “wild” and erects rock cairns to honor the departed. His nights are spent being “haunted” by wraiths and the memories of his love he lost. When chasing a soul shifter into Jinyowon leads to a chance encounter with Jin Bu yeon (Go Youn Jung) the recently found daughter of Jin Ho Gyeong (Park Eun Hye), the two form an unlikely alliance. Bu Yeon has spent the last 3 years locked in Jinyowon to hide her true identity from the other mages. Jang uk knows that if he can get rid of the ice stone his life will end and he believes Jin Bu yeon will be able to do that. Jin Bu yeon wants freedom as her mother’s plan is to keep her locked away yet have her marry and produce offspring to continue the Jinyowon.

Season two continues the story with all the characters and you find out what happened with them in the three years since the events that happened at the end of Season 1.

Review

I loved this series. I highly recommend it and will watch it again. I am a huge fan of Star Wars and Star Trek and other such otherwordly shows so the complete other world built in this seres greatly appealed to me. I was concerned that the main actress in this second season was different than the primary actress in the first but in the context of this show it makes perfect sense. It did not disrupt my like or feeling for that character at all i just found myself waiting for the aspects that were Naksu like to emerge.

Spoilers

I seriously liked the complexity of the soul shifters in this series. In Season 1, Mu deok (Jung so min) is a character unlike either her original self, Cho Yeong, the assassin Naksu (Go Youn Jung) nor the soul from the body she inhabits, Jin Bu yeon. It was so skillful both in the script and in the way the actresses portrayed these characters how you could, at times, see aspects of each of those souls and, other times, see a individual that was all of them and none of them. Finding out, towards the end, that because Jin Bu yeon lived and didn’t die as a stillbirth only because Seol ran, the original and very powerful priestess actually controlled a lot of what happened with those souls. It is why Bu yeon was born blind as Seol ran was blind, and also why she was more powerful than any of the priestesses in her blood line.

It was my fond wish that others would learn the truth about Naksu and I was very happy that it was revealed that she was tricked into being an assassin and then used as a murder weapon through sorcery by Jin Mu (Jo jae yoon). There was so much hatred toward even her memory that I found that incredibly tragic. I was sad that Seo Yul (Hwang Min-hyun) had planned to kill Bu yeon when he discovered she had the soul of Naksu as his view on the situation was so cut and dry. It made sense for his character to thin that way and actually was the reason I felt less sad he never got to be with the girl he loved. He was one of the few loose ends in the story as it would have been even better if he would have found someone who loved him enough he would get over Cho Yeong (young Naksu).

I have to commend Do Sang-woo the actor who played the soul shifted Jin Mu. The expressions on his face and even his voice transformed to Jin mu and that took a lot of acting skill to carry that off so well. He was an annoying side character as Seo Yun oh that was power hungry and arrogant and was able to kick that up to the level of Jin mu’s evil sorcerer level in a very believable way.

The friendships that developed were such a wonderful part of this series. Jang uk was already close with his childhood friends Seo Yul and Park Dang-gu (Yoo In-soo). But, as the series develops his relationship with Crown Prince, Go Won (Shin Seung ho) becomes closer and friend/family like (and he is sort of the cousin of the Crown Prince depending on whether you consider the father the soul or the body. Go Won seems destined to befriend Naksu as he is intrigued by, and befriends her, in her many forms.

I really liked that he became the King and that Jang uk wanted him to be the king and fully supported him. The writers and creators had an well executed twist when they led viewers to think that Go won had joined Jin Mu’s dark plans.

There are a lot of flashbacks that seem unnecessary and disrupt the flow of the show but that is just Netflix. When these shows are created or sponsored on any of the streaming platforms I expect there will be certain deviations from the formula that has made Asian dramas so successful. There will be flashbacks galore (that does happen in the Asian shows but it is an order of magnitude), the scenes with kissing or skin contract will be a degree more risque and it will end with question if there will be additional seasons or not. I read that the Hong Sisters themselves indicated they did not plan beyond Season 2 so I think any indicators of a Season 3 are likely rumors. There is so much they could do with Daeho, prequels and side stories, but I hope they let the main story remain completed as it is.

I could continue on about this excellent series but will stop there. I just finished Season 2 and miss Daeho already.

#LeeJaeWook

#GoYounJung

#AlchemyofSouls2

#ShinSeungHo

#DoSangWoo

#JungSoMin

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Very comedic yet maintains a serious and engaging plot

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2020/2021 South Korean Historical Romantic Comedy with paranormal elements. There are 20, 70-90 minute episodes. It is also known under the web comic name "Go Princess Go".

In the modern age Jang Bong-hwan (Choi Jin-hyuk) was a star chef at the Blue House until one of the dishes he made was dangerously sabotaged and he was nearly arrested. While escaping arrest he falls into a swimming pool and wakes up to find himself not only in the Josean era but in the body of a woman. And not just any woman but a woman who, in days, will become Queen. Queen Cheorin (Shin Hye-sun) somehow wound up in the lake and part of Bong-hwan's goal is to get back to the lake and get his former self and life back. Only one problem - the lake was drained after the incident under the Dowager Queen's order and she is not immediately willing to refill it. Luckily Bong-hwan/Queen Cheorin is able to use her cooking skill to win favor with the dowager to get the lake refilled. Bong-hwan had not heard good things about King Cheoljong (Kim Jung-hyun) from the history books and figures he will be easy to manipulate. However, it seems there are reasons why history recorded him as a weak king and a prolific womanizer. Things are not all they seemed from history and Bong-hwan/Queen Cheorin have their work cut out for them to sort through the mess and make it back to the future. There is more to King Cheoljong than meet the eye and keeping your friends close and your enemies closer seem to be the rule of the day for Bong-hwan. Will Bong-hwan be successful in returning to his own time/body and will the sparks that fly between King Cheolijong and his curious and spirited wife become something more?

I laughed so hard in the beginning of this. His horror at being in a female body coupled with him trying to submerge his head in every bit of water to “get back” was funny. spoilers***
At first I really liked her cousin as second guy as he seemed sweet and caring but his character got darker as time went on to the point I no longer wanted to see her with him. The historical information the chef knew about the king was interesting. According to the modern time history books he was not a very good king and was only interested in women. Queen Cheorin originally found that she was supposed to be only there as a convenient marriage to keep a power structure in place and the king was not at all inerested in her because she was associated with a very corrupt and powerful family. The king’s love interest in the beginning was his concubine and since the queen was now actually a man in a woman’s body she was perfectly fine with him directing his attention elsewhere. Ironically the fact that she was so disinterested in him was something that piqued the king‘s interest. The queens somewhat bizarre behavior and interesting antics wound up endearing her not only to the king but to a lot of the palace servants as well. I liked how the relationship between the king and the queen evolved over time and each character had a lot of character growth and development throughout. There were some truly villainess and evil people in the palace and they were constantly after the king and also the queen to take as much power for themselves as possible. In fact when they discovered the king was not the convenient figurehead they thought he was it became their goal to get rid of both the Royals. The queen discovered why the king was the way he was and that in reality he was very capable and working behind the scenes to try to take down the evil and corrupt family behind the royal structure. The entire series held my interest from beginning to end. The only thing I did not like was the chef left the queen‘s to return to modern times and it felt like the queen was not fully the person the king had fallen in love with. Also now the chef is back in modern times and you assume he returned to his previous lifestyle which did not seem all that good. It felt like you spent a long time getting to know the queen who was a combination of the girl and the modern day chef and even though they tried to illustrate that she still remembered a lot of how he was it still did not fully seem like the same person. To me it felt like both the king and the chef were cheated out of a relationship they developed. Since the he was in a she body then it wasn’t like a male to male relationship it was like a female to male relationship with a female that just happened to be a little more masculine in her thinking. It seemed to me that they returned him to modern times leaving the body fully to the queen just to avoid any to male to male overtones. Love is love so I did not see any gain from having the queen changed at the last minute to being only partially what she had been when the queen king fell in love with her. The chef’s return to modern times also meant he could look at history and see it changed but that would have been obvious even if he stayed in the past. Overall it is still very good and I would highly recommend it as one of the funniest and most engaging Korean dramas.


i

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When I find Myself Wishing for More Episodes

Spirit Fingers is a wonderful coming-of-age Korean drama that stands out as an underrated hidden gem. It delivers heartfelt growth, self-discovery, and a slow-burn romance with a classic opposites-attract dynamic, all while emphasizing personal development and emotional recovery. The series shines through its warm, feel-good energy and creative flair. It follows a shy high school girl who finds her voice and confidence through an eccentric sketch club called Spirit Fingers, where members embrace colorful personalities and imaginative themes. The club’s meetings transform ordinary spaces into vibrant, thematic “sets” with spot-on costumes and cosplay-like elements that feel magical and immersive—pure enjoyment on their own. The romance develops gradually and naturally, balancing sweet tension with genuine character growth. Supporting relationships and friendships add layers of charm, humor, and heart. The show avoids feeling overly silly or circus-like despite its playful title and cover art; once you dive in, the “Spirit Fingers” concept reveals itself as a meaningful symbol of unity and personal spirit (each member linked to a color representing their essence).Visually creative, emotionally uplifting, and packed with laugh-out-loud moments alongside quieter reflective ones, Spirit Fingers left me missing the characters and world when it ended. It’s the kind of comforting, rewatchable drama you’d happily put on again or recommend to friends. I highly suggest it to fans of romance, youth stories, and light-yet-meaningful tales about building self-esteem and finding your people. Don’t judge it by the cover—this one surprises in the best way.

Spoilers

The only real detractor for me was the portrayal and resolution of Song Woo-yeon’s family dynamics, particularly with her mother and father. The parents came across as deeply toxic—Song Woo-yeon’s mother was clearly emotionally abusive toward her, constantly criticizing and tearing her down, while the father exhibited emotionally abusive behavior that felt like it could easily tip into physical territory. Comparisons between siblings in a negative light struck me as classic abuser tactics. Coming from the “spare the rod, spoil the child” generation where respecting elders was non-negotiable and parents weren’t expected to be their kids’ friends, I still believe there’s a healthy middle ground. A parent’s role isn’t to constantly criticize or diminish a child. The show leaned more into portraying them as overly stern rather than fully acknowledging the abuse, which softened the impact for me. Even more unrealistic was the quick turnaround at the end, where the family suddenly becomes supportive. In real life, deep-seated toxic patterns rarely resolve that neatly or quickly. If it were more realistic, Song Woo-yeon (and her older siblings) might have distanced themselves more permanently—perhaps her moving in with friends or leaning harder into independence, especially since her brother was already carving his own path. Other dramas handle similar situations with more permanent separation, which felt more credible here.That said, I deeply appreciated how the drama handled Song Woo-yeon’s personal arc. Her low self-esteem made complete sense given the emotional abuse from her mother. The Spirit Fingers club played a beautiful role in her growth, helping her gain confidence, learn to like herself, and finally stand up for what she wanted—insisting on staying in the club and pursuing her relationship with Gi-jeong was a huge, empowering milestone that showed real character development. I loved Song Woo-yeon’s alter ego/imaginary friend. It felt psychologically grounded; in abusive environments, people often mentally dissociate or create alternate mental pathways to cope, which can evolve into vivid inner voices or personalities. This element rang true rather than feeling gimmicky. The club’s creativity was another highlight: the thematic sets and costumes for each meeting were amazing and added so much visual delight. The way the club called out and ousted the bully girl was satisfying, as was the main guy’s strong stance against bullying in general. Song Woo-yeon’s little brother was adorable—smart, observant, and it was sweet how he eventually warmed up to the “big creep” (the main guy). The second couple felt compelling and well-developed, and there was a nice subtle hint of a third couple with the guy waiting for her return from Germany.

A couple of minor mysteries lingered: the exact situation with Gi-jeong's parents wasn’t fully explained, leading to an orphan-like assumption, and the ownership of the cafe felt a bit vague. I wonder if the show intentionally kept those details light and mysterious to preserve a magical tone.

Overall, even the absolute toxic behavior being under scrutinized and called out for what it was didn’t detract much from the experience. The show’s heart, the joyful chaos of the Spirit Fingers group, and Song Woo-yeon’s inspiring journey far outweighed the family resolution quibble. It’s a feel-good story that balances realism in personal growth with whimsical creativity, and I’ll definitely rewatch it someday. The title and concept make perfect sense once you’re in—it’s about collective spirit and unity, not anything cheer- or circus-related.

If you enjoy warm, character-driven youth romances with creative flair and meaningful themes of self-acceptance, Spirit Fingers delivers in spades. Highly recommended!

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When Zombies are sort of the Least of your Problems

My Rating: 9.5/10

(My daughter, who’s in her 30s, gave it a full 10/10. She doesn’t typically like zombie movies at all, but she really enjoyed this one.)Review (No Spoilers)

I am not normally a zombie movie kind of person. The genre has just been done so many times. But this was good because it was a different take on zombies. There was also more to it than just fighting zombies. There was a romance. A lot of interpersonal relationships and conflict. The characters were well developed. I recommend it to zombie fans, of course, because even though it isn’t the “classic” zombie movie, it is definitely a fit for that monster-movie vibe in that aspect. It’s not very sad in the traditional sense, and it ends well—wrapped up as happily as it could be for a movie of this type.

Spoilers

What made the zombies so interesting was that they weren’t undead—no reanimated-corpse vibe at all. They weren’t completely mindless either. It was a fresh, different type of zombie that gave the whole story more depth and surprise. Yoon Sae-bom is supposed to be special forces, but she rarely does anything that would show she has the skill to that caliber. Her husband, Jung Yi-hyun, who is a beat cop, seems far more specially trained than she is. I wish she had been more of a badass. When Andrew the psycho had the gun on them, both had so many opportunities to take him out, especially her as supposed special forces. They didn’t give a lot of tender moments with the couple. I think they liked each other from the get-go—I mean, that is why she married him. I also wish we had more of a view of what was going on around that building. They did a great job of showing how shitty some people would be in such a situation. All the greed, selfishness, envy—all comes out. We really did not get the “normal” either. Not even sure who the other antibody carrier was. And Han Tae-seok, the soldier-scientist guy, went through all that to save his wife and it seems it didn’t really save her. Where did this virus come from? The pills? Who made the pills and why? I had some questions. That is why it was more like a 9.5/10 for me.

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Mastered what few can was exciting and thrilling yet deeply emotional and romantic

Speed and Love is an absolute standout for me. There were a couple of very minor elements that weren't entirely to my taste, but they were so insignificant that they didn't impact my rating at all. This is easily one of the best dramas I've watched in recent years, delivering a perfect mix of high-energy action, heartfelt romance, and nuanced family drama.

One aspect that impressed me in particular was the extraordinary work by the hair, wardrobe, and makeup teams in portraying the characters at different ages. It was hands-down the most convincing de-aging and aging I've ever seen in a drama. Esther Yu as Mu Mu looked so convincingly youthful in the early episodes that I genuinely thought they had cast a younger actress, despite recognizing her from other projects. The transition to older versions felt completely natural—huge credit to everyone involved.

Some viewers have critiqued Esther Yu's early portrayal of Mu Mu as overly cutesy, silly, or clingy, but I feel that's missing the cultural context. In many modern Chinese dramas, characters in their early 20s are shown as still very sheltered and childlike under heavy parental influence, which reflects real societal expectations rather than any acting misstep. Esther Yu perfectly captured a character who is both intentionally youthful and younger than the actress's real age. I have seen other series with her in them such as "Ski Into Love" but I expect a certain percentage of women would be that way in reality in a cultural context where young women are expected to remain pure, be careful about interactions with the opposite sex, and so that "cutesy" behavior aligns with that well. I think you either don't mind it or you do. For me, so far, I have liked many of the series she has been in so she must pick good roles.

The chemistry between Mu Mu and the male lead was electric—truly sizzling without ever feeling gratuitous or overly sexualized. I also adored the friend group; the male lead's best friend was especially endearing toward Mu Mu. He clearly could have been romantically interested in her if she wasn't his best friend's love interest, but that just increased the romantic tension. The whole garage crew treated her like a treasured little princess in the most charming way. The stepmother was a refreshing standout too—genuinely kind and supportive without being pushy or overbearing, which is rare for that archetype.

The early adrenaline-fueled sequences involving boxing and racing brought thrilling excitement, giving the first half a distinct high-octane energy that complemented the more emotional second half beautifully.

Mu Mu was a wonderfully balanced female lead who asserted herself firmly when needed without ever going overboard, while the male lead's growth made it clear he would become a devoted partner who had truly learned from past mistakes. Their shared thrill-seeking streak shone through in a hilarious, perfectly fitting ending that felt earned and true to their personalities.

This drama has it all and executes every element with heart and polish.

Spoilers

One slight disappointment was the choice to have the family and the male lead's best friend withhold the truth about his condition after the accident. The "we're doing this for your own good" trope isn't my favorite, but it was thoughtfully redeemed later when Jin Zhao stressed that true partners face difficult things together rather than alone. The only small missing piece was Mu Mu directly confronting the others and receiving proper apologies, but that felt minor in the grand scheme.

I thought it was a bit odd the relationship between her besties wealthy cousin and Jin Zhao was interesting and I could never quite figure out what the cousin's intent was. It was clear he admired Jin Zhao and wanted to race him. Or have him on his race team. But he almost seemed romantically interested in him. Which was weird because early on they said he was a playboy. And then for like a second he seemed interested in Mu Mu. He became a close friend with Jin Zhao but there was definitely something strange with it because they never showed cousin being a playboy after that, nor having a relationship, just seeming a bit jealous when Mu Mu and Jin Zhao were first back together.

I appreciated that Mu Mu didn't grant instant forgiveness upon their reunion. She gave him some much-deserved emotional distance—what my family calls "pickle jarring" him (from Lilo & Stitch, where she punishes friends by trapping their dolls in a jar)—for all the pain his absence caused. He earned that brief cold shoulder, yet she didn't drag it out unnecessarily, which kept it realistic and satisfying.

It was touching to see Mu Mu genuinely try moving on with other dates, only to realize no one else measured up. I also wished for more explicit scenes of her father and stepmother fully embracing the couple's relationship, given the layered but ultimately positive dynamic around the father's alcoholism (portrayed compassionately as a disease rather than a moral failing).Mu Mu's evolving bond with her younger half-sister felt authentic—starting with understandable jealousy (especially over the sister's easy closeness with the male lead) before warming into genuine affection. The Canada arc was pure emotional gold. Seeing the male lead decide he wanted to marry Mu Mu and travel there for his mother's blessing was beautiful, especially after the early heartbreak of his mother initially distancing herself and only staying involved because young Mu Mu expressed interest in him. The moment she finally acknowledged projecting her resentment toward his father onto him and embraced him fully as her son was profoundly heartwarming and cathartic—one of the most gratifying payoffs in the entire drama.Once the male lead fully committed, his growth into a thoughtful, devoted husband was unmistakable. I also loved that he channeled his thrill-seeking nature in safer ways without returning to racing, while the final motorcycle getaway—"eloping" after their wedding party got too drunk and slept through their planned wedding—was both hilarious and perfectly in character. Denying everyone the big fancy ceremony as playful payback was such a fun, fitting capstone to their arcs.

Finally, to address some viewer discomfort with their living arrangement feeling quasi-adoptive (the father treating him like a son, Mu Mu viewing him as an older brother figure), and thus weird later when they became romantically involved. They were not blood related. And he was never fully adopted into her family. Her father treated him like a son, she acted toward him like he was an older brother and he treated her like he would a younger sister. It was more friends to lover vibe to me. Especially since they were not even living together for many years after the parents split. I thought it was handled appropriately and never crossed into anything inappropriate.

Everything came together so well that this drama remains a 10/10 for me—highly recommended!

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A Hidden Gem - not often at the top of must watch lists

Rating: 10/10

I passed over watching this multiple times before getting to the spot where I did not have a lot of preferred content and I was willing to give it a chance. I am glad I did. I almost considered it more as a 9 or 9.5 out of 10 because there's a strong thread of sadness running through this drama that really hit me hard—but I am an empath and so it had me in tears more than once. But, even though it was more of a tear jerker than I expected, the story and the romance were nice enough that it was forgivable. The main couple, Lin Zhi Xiao and Gu Wei, have one of the sweetest and most believable romances. Their chemistry feels natural and genuine, and it's the kind of feel-good love story that warms your heart. There is a gentle balance in dramas, end too abruptly and it feels like they expect you to complete the story, drag on too long and you feel like you are riding side car on their whole life. This one struck just the right balance it did not feel rushed nor did it feel slow or padded. Thus I highly recommend this one for anyone that likes a mostly feel-good romance drama with emotional depth. Some people actually find the cathartic sadness healing, but even if you're sensitive like me, the happy ending and uplifting romance make it worth it in the end. The only minor thing that bugged me was one family plot point that felt unnecessary and a bit too heavy. It didn't ruin the show at all, but I think the story would have been just as strong (maybe even lighter) without it. Overall, this drama left me smiling through the sniffles—super sweet, and heartfelt.

Spoilers

The part that almost made me rate it lower was Lin Zhi Xiao's father dying. I really didn't think it was necessary for the story. He could have stayed in remission, and the emotional weight of the cancer storyline would still have been there without the full tragedy. It added such a deep layer of sadness that lingered. It hit me at a particularly rough time in my own life when several elder family members and friends had passed away. So, there is enough of that in real life I don't want it in my entertainment. I am not entertained by being sad. It was lightened up by just the right amount of post-wedding glimpses which showed that Lin Zhi Xiao and Gu Wei were still going strong and happy years later even after suffering the loss of her father. That was just enough continuance on their story to leave you satisfied without overdoing it. But the story centered so much on the cancer, and Lin Zhi Xiao's parents close relationship that I wish we'd seen something about how Lin Zhi Xiao's mom was doing seven years later. She must have been absolutely devastated after losing her husband, and it would have been so comforting to get even a small glimpse or mention of her being okay, maybe finding some peace or happiness. That was the only very minor flaw for me—the show wrapped up the main couple perfectly with those sweet after-wedding details and their life together (love the family they built!), but leaving her mom's outcome hanging felt incomplete. Still, the romance between Lin Zhi Xiao and Gu Wei is so pure and believable that it carries everything. The way it was foreshadowed and built made the sad elements predictable enough that they didn't blindside me, and the happy, loving payoff made it okay even though I don't normally prefer series that have such a heavy and sad element.

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It takes courage to reinvent your life

My rating is 9.5/10

I loved pretty much everything about this series my only real complaint is that it's short. I would've enjoyed it even more if they'd done a few more episodes and actually allowed the character stories to more fully play out.

It covers a lot of really heavy issues but not in a way that drags you down. If anything, it's uplifting to see somebody escape corporate bullying and build a life that's meaningful for them. It's heartwarming in the found family/friendship group that Lee Yeo-reum forms, how she fits into the town, and especially the main couple. You can clearly see Yeo-reum and Ahn Dae-beom so completely complement each other in their manners and personalities.

I would recommend this to others, and I would watch it again. It's more of a hidden gem type of quality—like if you've watched a lot of other things and you're looking for something fresh, this is one that might surprise you with how good it actually is.

Spoilers

My main complaint was that Yeo-reum and Dae-beom are only at the point of holding hands in the end, and it's pretty clear the relationship will probably continue to progress. But it would've been super heartwarming to see them fully get together with some kind of confession or something—because they never really have a big confession to each other. They just kind of naturally melt together in a way.

Actually, the second couple—the young couple with Heo Jae-hoon and Kim Bom—their romance is a lot more definitive. He asks her to marry him, and she sort of brushes it off, but it does make it clear that's where things are headed.

There's another potential couple with the single dad Bae Sung-min who has the little kid Bae Joon, and the girl Jo Ji-young who used to like Dae-beom so much. You see them hanging out together all the time. Honestly, I cared about that one the least because I thought Jo Ji-young was so negative about everything, and she pushed Dae-beom in directions he really didn't need to go. Yes, she did eventually see that, but she seemed more tuned to success than happiness. Still, it would've been cute to see something more definitive in that relationship as well, because Bae Sung-min liked her so much, he had the little boy, and she started paying attention to and doing things for the little boy, which made it seem like she was thinking along those lines. But again, it wasn't very clear.

With Dae-ho, they cleared him and showed that he wasn't the criminal—he himself was a victim who had witnessed some really scary things—but it didn't show that he'd gotten professional help. It kind of implied it, and you could tell he was doing a little better with his emotion control, but it didn't actually show that was the case.

So that's the main flaw I think with it, and I think it's also a factor of its 12 episodes when it could've easily been 16. That's what kept it from being a show that always rises to the top of people's must-watch lists.

Like a lot of viewers, I was very angry with the way Kim Bom's dad Kim Jung-hoon was, and that he basically got away with stabbing his young daughter and not getting in trouble for it because she covered for him. It was an accident, yes, but he was headed out to do something really bad, and she was trying to stop him. You don't get into an aggressive fight with somebody you love with a knife in your hand—that's just never acceptable.

They also had Yeo-reum cover up what she thought had happened because Dae-ho would never do something like that, they said. But all the facts pointed to him having done it. And she wound up getting blamed and ostracized for not accusing him and potentially stopping the murder. You later discover why she should've been protective, but she didn't know it at that time.

The townspeople are also okay with Kim Jung-hoon slapping her for supposedly allowing the murderer to be free, when they were the ones who had pressured her to protect him. No one, including Kim Bom, came forward to comfort her in that really hard time. I had such a warm fuzzy feeling for that town up to that point, but it showed that they never truly embraced people they consider outsiders.

I was glad she stayed in the town for Dae-beom, and I was also glad she reconciled with Bom—because Bom was young, and so her error was a bit understandable. But it was sad that none of the other people she had befriended said anything when Kim Jung-hoon attacked her like that.

Major characters:

Lee Yeo-reum (Kim Seol-hyun) — A resilient but exhausted 28-year-old former office worker who declares a "life strike" after personal tragedies, moving to the countryside to rediscover joy in simplicity.

Ahn Dae-beom (Yim Si-wan) — A shy, stuttering village librarian and former mathematical genius haunted by family loss, whose quiet kindness hides deep emotional wounds.

Jo Ji-young (Park Ye-young) — Dae-beom's longtime friend and admirer who runs a local billiard hall, grappling with unrequited feelings and her own vulnerabilities.

Kim Bom (Shin Eun-soo) — A troubled high school girl facing bullying and family dysfunction, who forms a heartfelt sisterly bond with Yeo-reum while searching for stability.

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I have watched over 400 dramas and this one is now one of my favorites

Review

I rate this a 10/10, and I honestly don’t indicate perfect scores very often. I couldn’t find a single thing wrong with it.

The premise is incredibly refreshing and adorable: Hana Iwayama has severe social anxiety and can’t meet people’s eyes, while Sosuke Kojima has a phobia of being touched by others—yet from the very first moment they meet, they can look at and touch each other without any problem. It’s such a sweet, clever twist on the “fated connection” idea. What makes it truly special is how both characters grow and heal each other throughout relatively short series. Sosuke is smitten with Hana from the start (and never wavers), which is just pure catnip for romance fans. The series is funny when it needs to be, deeply heart-warming the rest of the time, and surprisingly thoughtful in its portrayal of anxiety disorders and trauma without ever feeling heavy-handed. The chocolate-making scenes are gorgeous—almost therapeutic to watch—and the happy, wholesome vibe is off the charts. If you love feel-good romances with zero second-lead syndrome, no unnecessary angst, and a perfect happy ending, this is an absolute must-watch. I already want to re-watch it, and that basically never happens.

Spoilers

Hana Iwayama is one of the genuinely sweetest, most selfless female leads I’ve ever seen. Giving up her prized original recipe at the chocolate competition so her teammate could take the spotlight? That moment was the cherry on top of her kindness.Sosuke Kojima is just as lovely. When his cousin tries to stage a hostile takeover of the family company, Sosuke doesn’t get bitter or vengeful—he understands the envy, empathizes, and immediately offers to share the top position. Even his best friend Daigo is an absolute gem (no wonder Hana briefly mistakes him for the guy who saved her at the beginning; they’re cut from the same ridiculously decent cloth).There’s none of the tired Japanese drama tropes I usually groan at—no silent pining from afar, no “I loved you first so you owe me” nonsense, no cold chaebol/F4-type male lead. Sosuke is soft and melty for Hana pretty much from episode 1, and it’s glorious. The story is fairly predictable, but in the best comfort-food way. And that ending—seeing them get married, Hana freezing in panic halfway down the aisle, and Sosuke just casually walking over to meet her instead? Perfect encapsulation of how they’ll keep supporting each other forever. I was grinning like an idiot. Easily one of the best short romances I’ve ever watched—yes, even compared to my beloved Korean dramas. 100% recommended.

Synopsis
Aired: 2025
Number of Episodes: 8
Average Run Time per Episode: 50 minutes

In the enchanting world of artisanal chocolate, two guarded souls navigate the delicate art of vulnerability, discovering that the sweetest confections are born from the courage to connect. Sosuke Fujiwara (Shun Oguri), the reclusive heir to a faltering sweets dynasty plagued by an aversion to physical contact, acquires a quaint Tokyo chocolaterie to revive his family's legacy. There, he encounters Ha-Na (Han Hyo-Joo), a masterful yet reclusive confectioner who crafts divine treats under a pseudonym, her genius veiled by a paralyzing fear of eye contact. As their professional collaboration ignites unexpected sparks—forged in late-night tastings and whispered recipes—they form an unlikely alliance, immune to each other's deepest anxieties. Through a tapestry of melting ganaches and tentative gestures, they unravel personal scars, blending professional rivalry with budding affection in a heartfelt ode to love's imperfect alchemy.

*Sosuke Fujiwara (Shun Oguri): The introspective president of a struggling chocolate empire, haunted by tactile phobias from past trauma, who steps into the kitchen to reinvent his legacy and finds solace in unexpected partnership.
*Ha-Na (Han Hyo-Joo): A prodigious chocolatier with scopophobia that keeps her hidden behind aliases and aprons, whose innovative flavors and quiet resilience bloom into bold self-expression amid budding romance.
*Takashi Fujiwara (Ryo Narita): Sosuke's steadfast childhood companion and confidant, a pragmatic executive at the family firm who offers wry humor and unwavering support while navigating his own tangled loyalties.
*Motomi Kawamura (Ayumi Ito): The bubbly, ever-optimistic sales whiz at the chocolaterie, whose infectious energy and meddlesome matchmaking often propel the leads toward awkward but pivotal heart-to-hearts.
*Kenji Koiwa (Eiji Okuda): The wise, no-nonsense veteran chocolatier and former mentor figure, dispensing gruff yet profound advice on life's bitter-sweet balances from his perch behind the counter.
*Shuntaro Fujiwara (Koichi Sato): Sosuke's imperious father and the iron-fisted patriarch of the Fujiwara confectionery empire, whose high-stakes expectations clash with his son's quiet rebellion in pursuit of authentic passion.

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I slightly preferred this rendition over the Korean version

Review:

9.5/10 is my rating.

This rendition was masterfully done. The evil characters, the villains, were truly vile and the hero and heroine were perfect characters to root for. If you like revenge plots, romance, and time travel this is an outstanding addition to the genres. I am not a huge fan of time travel, but I felt like this was time travel done right. I highly recommend it to fans of live versions of Webtoons, fans of romance and anyone that enjoys a good drama. I think it is more than worth the watch even if you have watched the Korean version and/or read the Webtoon. This is different enough to be interesting.

Spoilers

The chemistry between the leads in this version is more intense and it spends a little more time on their relationship which I liked. Conversely it spent a little less time on what it was like leading up to and being married to her ex in the previous timeline. In this Japanese version there are understated glances and quiet intimacy, making every shared moment—whether a tense office encounter or a late-night confession—feel electric yet authentic. It’s less flashy than the Korean version’s idol-driven gloss, but the emotional depth hits harder, especially in Ji-won’s shift from broken to badass. The “evil girl” (the backstabbing friend, likely Jung Soo-min’s counterpart) is next-level vicious here—her schemes are colder, more calculated, with a personal edge tied to Ji-won’s recent romantic history that makes her betrayal sting more. This focus on the friend’s current rivalry, rather than past grudges, keeps the stakes immediate and raw.

The Japanese version also dials back the childhood bullying flashbacks that weighed down the Korean drama, opting for tighter pacing (10-12 episodes vs. Korea’s 16). Instead, it emphasizes Ji-won’s present-day relationships—her messy ex, her workplace allies, and that slow-burn with Ji-hyuk—which gives it a more mature, grounded vibe. The time-loop mechanic feels less gimmicky here, used sparingly to highlight Ji-won’s growth rather than convoluted twists. Negatives? Some side characters (like the quirky coworker squad) get less shine, and the supernatural rules aren’t as fleshed out as in the webtoon

Synopsis

Air Date: June 27, 2025

Number of Episodes: 10

Runtime per Episode: Approximately 60 minutes

Major Characters

Kanbe Misa (Fuka Koshiba): The resilient protagonist who time-travels back to rewrite her fate, evolving from a passive victim to a savvy avenger who prioritizes personal growth over pure spite.

Suzuki Wataru (Takeru Satoh): A compassionate department manager and Misa's new romantic interest, offering steady support that helps her heal and question her revenge-driven path.

Esaka Reina (Sei Shiraishi): Misa's scheming childhood best friend and betrayer, whose manipulative ambition drives much of the interpersonal drama with sharper, more chilling intensity.

Hirano Tomoya (Yû Yokoyama): Misa's unfaithful husband, a self-serving opportunist whose cruelty sparks her transformation and fuels the story's emotional core.

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Like Playing a High Stakes Game of Russian Roulette with a Demi God

9.5/10 is my rating.

Death's Game is an electrifying thriller that blends fast-paced suspense with paranormal twists. The concept of the protagonist inhabiting different bodies keeps you on the edge of your seat, with and you are never sure who he might be next. Fans of Korean drama will see a lot of their favorite actors playing the role of one of the main guy's incarnates. But it isn't light and fluffy or comedic it has a lot of emotional depth, and it explores identity, morality, and consequence through its body-swapping premise. The acting is phenomenal, with the cast skillfully portraying a wide range of characters, from the vulnerable to the menacing. And that level of acting ability is made possible by the "A" list actors that play the various roles. What surprised me was how, as the story progressed, seemingly disparate characters were tied together with creative and clever precision, which kept you hooked through every twist. However, the show isn’t flawless—its open-ended conclusion leaves some questions unanswered, which slightly detracts from an otherwise stellar experience in my opinion. If you’re a fan of high-stakes thrillers with supernatural flair, Death's Game is a must-watch that delivers on intensity and originality.

 This short series is perfect for fans of fast-paced thrillers with paranormal elements, just be prepared for an ending that leaves some threads unresolved.

Spoilers

The brilliance of Death's Game lies in its ability to keep you guessing, especially with the protagonist’s constant body-swapping. The episode where he inhabits the serial killer’s body is particularly chilling—seeing the world through such a dark perspective was both unsettling and riveting. Equally intense was his time in the baby’s body, trapped with abusive parents and struggling to communicate with the social worker. These moments showcase the show’s range, from psychological horror to gut-wrenching helplessness, all interwoven nicely to the story line.

That said, the protagonist’s stubbornness can be frustrating. Despite the clear lessons the body-swapping seems designed to teach—about empathy, responsibility, or fate—he takes too long to catch on. I was a little frustrated with him at times and it made me wonder why Death decided to bother with him in particular. Or does she do that with all suicides? It wasn't clear.

The interconnectedness of the lives he inhabits is masterfully revealed, tying the stories together in a way that feels rewarding and clever. However, that became part of the reason I felt the ending did not provide enough closure. The protagonist begins reliving his own life, but it’s unclear if he gets to fully live it out. And since he is now back in time, that means none of the other events have happened yet. So, what happens with the serial killers he encountered? Can he intervene to save the baby or others? The ambiguity around his mother’s fate—did she die, or is she somewhere else?—and the status of the bodies he inhabited (were they already dead?) adds to the confusion. His girlfriend’s survival is implied since the timeline resets, but is her death inevitable, or can he change her fate? These unresolved questions make the 9.5/10 rating feel generous at times, as the open-endedness undercuts the otherwise tight storytelling. But I think that is a factor of Netflix and their desire to leave it open for additional season(s) if something is well received. It wasn't disappointing enough that I regretted watching, and I would watch it again even knowing that. But I think it helps to be aware that it is a more open ending.

Synopsis

This is a 2023/2024 South Korean drama with a total of 8 episodes, divided in two seasons with each episode running 60-70 minutes. The genres of the series include fantasy, thriller, drama, and supernatural. It blends elements of psychological suspense with metaphysical exploration, incorporating themes of reincarnation and existential reflection, often with a dark, intense tone. The central character, Choi Yi-jae (Seo In-guk), is a young man battered by seven years of relentless job rejections, financial ruin, and a devastating breakup. Despite his many efforts, nothing ever seems to go his way. He reaches the end of his rope and attempts suicide. But death is not the end for Yi-jae. Instead, he awakens in a surreal limbo, face-to-face with Death herself (Park So-dam), a mysterious and unyielding entity who is furious at his flippant disregard for life. In his final messages he even said he didn't fear death. Death took that as a personal challenge. As punishment, she sentences Yi-jae to a harrowing game: he must live and die through 12 different bodies, each on the brink of death, to learn the value of existence. If he can survive just one of these lives, he earns the chance to live it out fully; if he fails, eternal damnation awaits. Each reincarnation plunges Yi-jae into wildly different lives—a wealthy heir (Choi Si-won), a thrill-seeking skydiver (Sung Hoon), a bullied high schooler (Kim Kang-hoon), a secretive fixer (Jang Seung-jo), and more—each life interwoven with secrets, betrayals, and a shadowy figure pulling strings across his reincarnations. As Yi-jae grapples with the fragility of life and the consequences of his choices, he uncovers a deeper mystery tying his deaths together, forcing him to confront the meaning of survival and redemption.

There are supporting roles/cameos, that play the various reincarnations, which are played by Kim Ji-hoon, Choi Si-won, Sung Hoon, Kim Kang-hoon, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Do-hyun, Go Youn-jung, Kim Jae-wook, and Oh Jung-se.

#DeathsGame

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A unique "guided by ghosts" story that showcases worker's rights in a very relatable way

⭐️ Rating: 9/10

Oh My Ghost Clients surprised me in the best way with its unique and refreshing premise. It’s a rare blend of supernatural mystery, workplace drama, and social critique, all wrapped up in an engaging “case-of-the-week” format.

For me, Jung Kyung-ho has always been hit or miss — some of his roles have fallen flat for me, while others have been standouts — and I’m happy to say he delivered a strong, nuanced performance here. He made his character feel grounded and relatable, even in the more fantastical moments.

One thing I particularly appreciated was the show’s focus on its cases. Each episode tackles a new mystery, and every single one kept me invested. The cases are not just “whodunits” — they each reveal something poignant about greed, exploitation, unfair labor practices, and the dignity of the workers who are so often overlooked. The writing doesn’t shy away from showing how companies take advantage of people, but it does so in a way that feels human and not preachy.

There is a secondary couple whose romance turns out to be charming and heartfelt, and while there’s no strong central romance here, it didn’t really detract from my enjoyment because the mystery and social commentary were the real draw.

If you enjoy supernatural shows, mysteries, and series with a slice-of-life look at blue-collar struggles and social justice, this one is absolutely worth your time. I already find myself wanting to rewatch some of the more memorable cases — they’re that well done.

My one gripe is that the shorter episode count left a few threads underdeveloped. This could have easily been a full-length 16-episode series, and I would have gladly watched more. That said, the story as told feels complete.

Spoilers & Critique

One thing that did frustrate me at times was how restrained Jung Kyung-ho’s character was when he could have leaned on the law more. For example, the company forcing workers to come in for unpaid training and testing — clearly illegal — could have been used as leverage to pressure management and recoup some losses for his clients. I understand he was working pro bono at the behest of a deity, but it felt like a missed opportunity to really hammer home the idea of justice. Even a small stipend to keep his office afloat and cover his expenses would have been realistic and added depth to his character’s struggles.

Another weak point was the handling of his relationship with his wife. There just wasn’t enough development to make their reconciliation feel earned. She often came across as cold or unsympathetic, and the show didn’t give us much reason to root for them getting back together. With more episodes, they could have fleshed out her perspective and their shared history, making their reunion more satisfying and believable.

Final Thoughts

Even with those minor flaws, Oh My Ghost Clients is a gem — a smart, emotional, and socially-conscious supernatural mystery that balances its dark themes with heart and humor. I highly recommend it, and I hope more dramas take risks like this one did.

Synopsis

This is 2025 a South Korean legal comedy fantasy and action drama with 10, 70 minute episodes. Also known as Labor Attorney Noh Moo Jin.

Not to be confused with "Oh My Ghost" as I notice a lot of sites twist the two. This is not related to that series. Which is also a very good series. Noh Moo-jin (Jung Kyung-ho) just can't seem to catch a break in life. He quits his nine to five job after buying into an investment strategy. After that spectacularly falls through, his wife separates from him and he is down to his last pennies he takes the advice of a former mentor and uses his legal education as a basis to get a license as a labor lawyer. The mentor who pointed him on the path winds up embroiled in a scandal and the sure prospect of a job goes up in smoke. His sister-in-law Na Hee-joo (Seol In-ah) comes up with a money-making scheme where they go "audit" businesses and determine safety concerns then ask to be paid for identifying the issues without reporting them. During one such venture, Moo-jin has a near death experience and finds himself bargaining for his life. In return for him not dying in the accident the deity strikes a bargain where Moo-jin helps those who were wronged and wound up dying in the labor industry. Seeing ghosts and resolving their grievances by solving and bringing the offenders to justice, transforms Moo-jin into a warrior for labor justice. Go Gyeon-woo (Cha Hak-yeon), who is romantically interested in Hee-joo, utilized his skills as former reporter YouTuber content creator to capture their wild journey and turn it into another revenue stream . "Team Mujins," as they call themselves wind up tackling a variety of cases involving unfair and unsafe labor practices. The three transform into near con men to a legitimate voice for those that would have remained voiceless.

#OhMyGhostClients #JungKyungHo #LaborAttorneyNoh MooJin

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I know I am minority here but I found it boring and filled with unlikable characters

6/10 is my rating. This is a 2021/2022 South Korean coming of age/time gap romance with 16, 60-70 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis

Choi Ung (Choi Woo-shik) and Kook Yeon-soo (Kim Da-mi) first got to know each other while participating in a docu series in high school featuring the best student and the student with the lowest grades academically. Not hard to imagine they did not get along well which made for some very comedic moments in the series. A decade later we find out they dated for years but suddenly broke up in such a hurtful way they vowed to never see each other again. But one of their close friends becomes a producer with the production company that is still getting traction out of their original docu series. Looking for hit content, the company pressures Kim Ji-ung (Kim Sung-cheol) their producer friend, to get the two back together for a sequel to the hit docu series. But Ji-ung secretly had feelings for Yeon-soo since high school and is reluctant to draw the two back together. Still, he caves to the oressure from his work and talks his friends into participating in the project. Things have changed though as Choi Ung is now a mysterious and successful artist who has fans. Fans such as NJ (Rohn Jeong-eui) a top idol who likes the art “Go-oh” (a secret pseudonym Choi Ung does his art under) creates but also has a crush on the artist. Now that things have changed, and time has passed, will this new project bring the two ex-lovers back together or drive them further apart?


Review

If you like straight drama and slice of life, that doesn’t depict the sunny side to life, you might like this. In fact, I think most of the people that rate this very high would fall into that category. In the other reviews, I read before watching this, I saw a lot of it’s a lot like reality. The characters were well developed. The interactions were real and raw. For me I am not a fan of just straight drama, I like a little bit of comedy at least sprinkled in or at least a plot that has some levity. In general, I did not enjoy this drama. I yeah.found it boring through a lot of it and repetitive, and I wouldn’t rewatch it. None of the characters were compelling because I did not like them except for the actress. It was emotionally heavy and I felt like I was watching people be emotionally abused.

Spoilers

The number one thing I did not like about the show was Yeonsoo was just completely unlikable. The way she treated Choi Ung was emotionally abusive. First there is the Cherrie blossom thing where he wanted to go see the cherry blossoms, but she said she couldn’t find the time. But then she obviously did find the time because she had a pocket full of cherry blossoms and sprinkled it over him like there there’s your cherry blossoms. It was such a demeaning way to show somebody something they had wanted to see, but they tried to spin it like it was a romantic thing. That was a jerk move. Later they have a date day, which I had the sense they hadn’t had in a long time, and she let him think she was going to break up with him the entire day. Yeonsoo led him here and there, never asked him what he wanted to do, just kind of pushed him along. He wasn’t enjoying it because he thought it was a break up date. Then at the end of the day they have this emotional scene where she basically ridicules him for thinking they were gonna break up and then tells him out of the blue that she is in love with him. The level of emotional manipulation in that scene was hard to watch. It was cruel. But she was not the only one in the family that was an emotional abuser. Later in the series, the grandmother, Kang Ja Kyung (Cha Mi Kyung) tells him not to blame Yeonsoo because she was poor, and the grandmother taught her to be the way that she was. Somehow this convinces him that Yeonsoo’s abusive behavior is okay and he not inly accepts her back but practically begs her and says things were his fault. I found that whole thing entirely disturbing from a psychological perspective. Just because you were poor and raised to be mean as a defense mechanism does not mean being an emotional abuser is acceptable. She would even badmouth him to other people when he wasn’t around, never supported him in his art endeavors and always held the thread of break up over his head. That is living on egg shells and it is a typical pattern for a narcissistic emotional abuser. So I never wanted to see them get together. In fact I was happy any time he stood up for himself and pushed her away.

in the beginning, I liked the grandmothe. She had raised her granddaughter and worked so hard to do so and the relationship between her and Yeonsoo started out as something very heartwarming. But later in the series it’s revealed she’s not very nice to a close friend she has to the point where Yeonsoo mentions it and says she should apologize and be nicer But what really made me not like the grandmother when when she was so mean to Choi Ung about making Yeonsoo cry. She did that without knowing any details just assumed he was the villian in the situation even knowing and acknowledginhpg how her granddaughter was. Then she gives him that whole story about Yeonsoo and how he should just understand her because she raised her that way. What?

I did not like Choi Ung’s producer friend, Kim Ji Ung (Kim Sung-Cheol) as he lusted after his friend’s girlfriend not based on some deep connection but simply because he found her pretty. He also took a lot of the very limited affection of Choi Ung’s parents knowingly and yet seemed like he thought he was doing Choi Ung a favor. I wanted him and Yeonsoo to wind up together as they were both sort of crap people.

His manager/friend Gu Eun-ho (Ahn Dong-goo) was a horrible manager. He is obsessed with NJ (Roh Jeong-eui) such that he interferes with Choi Ung and NJ getting together. I wanted to see Choin Ung date NJ. She probably would not have been a long term girlfriend but she would have shown him other possibilities. She thought he was great, loved his art and was always nice to him. Rather than tearing him down she would have bolstered his career.

His parents were confusing. His mother, Lee Yeon-ok (Seo Jeong-yeon) did have the one time she took care of him when he was sick that showed some close emotional ties but that was it. His mother and his father, Choi Ho (Park Won-sang) mostly seemed to like and spend more time with Choi Ung’s friends than with him. They even left his art show early which was weird.

I disliked most of the characters so much I did not care aboit them or anything they were doing. I only liked sweet, talented, sensitive amd emotionally abused Choi Ung and NJ whi was like a breath of fresh air. NJ was the only descent person in Choi Ung’s life and he oassed her over for Yeonsoo. I did not find it credible that not one but two men would be completely onsessed with Yeonsoo.

#OurBelovedSummer #ChoiWooShik. #KimDaMi

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If you can look beyond the slapstick portions, this is a great romance

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy series with 10, 45 minute episodes.


First I provide a Unique Synopsis then Review


Synopsis


Shin Jae-rim (Pyo Ye-jin) lives in the typical Cinderella type household with a stepmom and two step-sisters and a father who unfortunately dies.  But that is where they fairy tale similarities end.  In fact, her stepmom is very kind to the point that “Cinderella” feels she has another mouth to feed.  Her father was a worthless bum who did not leave any of them anything but debt.  And her two step-sisters aren’t all that bad.  In fact, as expensive as the world is she needs them as roommates.  One piece of crazy advice her father left her was to not struggle in life but find someone wealthy and marry them.  At first she chalks it up to just more worthless advice from her do no good parent but as life continues to kick her down she decides what would be the harm in exploring that option.  Which is what leads her to seeking a job at Cheongdam Heaven, a social club for the wealthy.  She figures if she positions herself to interact with wealthy people she might wind up with a wealthy husband.  Which is what puts her in Moon Cha-min’s (Lee Jun-young) line of site.  An unlikely Prince if there ever was one, he is the head of Cheongdam Heaven who experiences dislike at first site with Jae-rim.  But the spunky, tells him how she really feels, Jae-rim is intriguing to the born with a silver spoon Chaebol.  Most people “kiss up” to him so her take me or leave me attitude has him intrigued.  He doesn’t like most people and any woman with the Cinderella complex in particular.  Will the untraditional “Cinderella” and the grouchy “Prince” find their own happily ever after?

 
Review

It has its slapstick moments but that does not detract overly from what is a heart warming romance. There is good chemistry between the leads and their romance is believable. Their banter in the beginning just builds the friendship aspect of what seems it would develop into a very healthy and lasting relationship. I liked the play on Cinderalla where none of the traditional roles were as you would expect. I loved this. Would readily watch it again. And highly recommend it for its pure romance.


Spoilers

I know a lot of people wonder about the ending and this ended very happy. He produced a ring and it was very clear they were on the path to permanence. You could tell she had really brought joy into his life and filled all the lonely corners for him by bringing his mom back to him and providing him with new people (her family) who were already showing signs that they would pull him into the fold.

There is quite a bit of cartoonish level slapstick that you have to wade through. Some may lie it but I don’t prefer it because it breaks the 4th wall for me.

An added bonus was Cha Min’s martial arts abilities. It was enjoyable to watch the fight scenes where he used his trusty umbrella to clobber the bad guy.

I liked that his mom came back. And she explained why she left in the first place. The fact she was pushed into it made her actions less egregious. And I could see where that family would be able to heal so it was a happy story with them.

There was that underlying deeper message on what constitutes a family. I loved the the “evil” step mother wasn’t at all evil she was in fact very kind. The dad wasn’t some wonderful person that passed he was sort of a bum. And the sisters were just your regular pick on the younger sister family type sisters. It was a fun spin on the story.

Some reviewers did not like it this at all and I think it was largely due to that super slapstick element. But, if you can see past that, you will definitely love this one.


#DreamingOfAFreakingFairyTale  #PyoYeJin #LeeJunYoun

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Love Grows Out of an Experiment of sorts

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2022 Japanese drama with 10, 45-70 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review

Synopsis

Kisara Hanae (Kiyohara Kaya) did not let being abandoned to an orphanage hold her back for long, she began self-teaching karate, until a local dojo saw her passion and took on her training.  Her career was just taking off when tragedy struck and irreparably damaged her career as an athlete.  After a long period of mourning the loss of her former self, she goes to work as a cleaner for a fellow orphan and childhood friend, Shingo Natsukawa (Fuma Kikuchi), who started a cleaning business.  As she re-emerges and begins living life again, she encounters Ashida Haruki (Shotaro Mamiya) who is known as a one hit wonder who so happened to write the song that Hanae credits with getting her through her difficult childhood and motivating her in her athletic career.  Haruki is about to lose it all, his management firm, his apartment and his career if he doesn’t produce a hit song.  Desperately trying to think of how to salvage his career, his manager suggests if he experienced love it might give him inspiration to write new songs.  Hanae caught his interest when she was shadow boxing in the courtyard and winds up at his house cleaning.  He asks Hanae if she will be his girlfriend to inspire him and she agrees as long as the relationship is over by a set date.  What she does not tell him is something life changing is going to occur for her on that date.  Will their fake arrangement result in real feelings?  Will their love experiment result in musical inspiration and also change Hanae’s life.  

Review

This was a predictable, but sufficiently complex romantic drama with a few comedic elements.  It was on balance happy and had a happy ending.  I would watch it again and would highly recommend it to those that like romance, sports dramas, idol drama, and shows where a main character has to overcome a major health challenge.  

Spoilers

I really liked Hanae but was really frustrated with her when he leaned in to kiss her and she basically told him he needed to ask.  To me someone asks in the slow approach.  You don’t want the kiss?  You just dodge it.  I mean naturally if someone grabs you unexpectedly and mauls you that is unacceptable but the slow lean has been the signal forever.  This “ask me” is such a modern thing and is likely why so few long term couples form these days. So, I was disappointed when that ideology was incorporated in the script.  It’s not romantic to me to have to ask“may I kiss you.”  So, that disappointed me in that character.  She made him feel bad, like he had done something wrong, and there wasn’t a thing wrong with him leaning in for a kiss.  

I got incredibly frustrated with her not telling anyone about her upcoming surgery.  I mean, you might be deaf afterward, that is going to be a little hard to hide.  When she did finally tell her family and they did the “punishments” I totally understood why they were like you did wrong, because it was wrong of her to keep that from the people that loved and cared about her.  And she only told them when they literally had her backed into a corner.  Only after they essentially already knew.  For her not to tell Haruki why she wanted to end it with him was not being very kind toward him.  She made the decision for both of themthat he should not go through it with her.  I mean tell him and give him that option.  I was upset she broke his heart a little and he was just such a nice guy.  I don’t like lies or selfishness and I felt like she was lying to him and being selfish in what parts of her life she shared.  

I was a bit surprised that none of the deaf characters used sign language.  It was all lip reading, voice to text or writing the message down.  They seemed to get along fine with a combination of methods which makes me wonder if that is a true depiction of modern hearing impaired.  

 #FightSong   #KayaKikyohara  #ShotaroMamiya  #FumaKikuchi  

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