Anais

One of the best action and revenge drama of the year.

I'm more than familiar with Woo Do Hwan as an actor, he's the one who made me check out this series and I don't regret it.

I would like to say that a lot of k-dramas tends to fall too much into the cheesy cliché when it comes to good people supporting each other to accomplish a goal/revenge (example Mad Dog, Taxi Driver S2), the interactions just become superficial and predictable, good storyline is replaced by humour.

Here, the series had the perfect balance between emotion, action and intensity with humor and the relationships between the characters.

Woo Do Hwan here is showing how much he is one of the most promising young actors in South Korea, his acting of a good kid wanting to protect his loved ones was embodied perfectly, we really feel for him. But I have to say, it wouldn't have been the same without Lee Sang Yi completing him. The two have shown us a very strong friendship, which goes beyond social expectations and is based entirely on the instant friendship and familiar feeling they got toward each other since they've met. Their moments of support have been truly admirable. Woo Do Hwan making us feel like he needed Lee Sang Yi, his hyung. They supported each other until the end.

Park Sung Woong was a perfect antagonist, just the right amount of annoyance, complexity and substance. A real psychopath.

As for Kim Sae Ron, I was surprised when she abruptly left the show after Lee Sang Yi's life was in the balance, without really saying goodbye, but I guess it make sense for her to fulfill her grandfather's wish by going in Italy, I would have hoped for it to be written better.

Speaking of writing, the script is just awesome, it's simple but intense, the fighting choreographies are very realistic, I felt really engaged in the story. And for once the police are quite effective and the nepo kid is likeable. So what more could you ask for ?

I just hope to see Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi on the same screen one day, they have great chemistry.

I recommend this series without hesitation.

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Hands down, it's one of the best Thai BL series of 2022.

Wow, I have to say this is one of the best Thai BLs I've seen, and that's just down to the acting. In all, of all the Thai BL series I have seen, the only two series that have such good acting are "Not Me" and "I told the sunset about you".

Here, there are two aspects of acting that I would like to highlight.

The first is the couple. I think the way it was shot definitely played on the outcome, it was far from the cheesy shots and sometimes uncomfortable where the actors just stare at each other to make it last - which is incredibly embarrassing to witness. Honestly, I learned to ignore that in the Thai series because it's present in all of them, but here, thank god we were free of that. This makes the moments when they look into each other's eyes seem natural and not excessively long.
Speaking of the couple, it looks like they were comfortable with each other. This is the first time I've seen these actors, but from what I've gathered they've known each other and worked together for several years. This is their first series as both main leads, and it shows how well they know each other. They have perhaps the most natural chemistry and interactions I've ever witnessed between two men who play off each other's attraction.
Maybe it's also a personal feeling, but their chemistry and how comfortable they are really surprised me, from just talking, arguing or when they show their physical attraction.

Second is their individual acting. I don't know where this kid is from but War is one of the best Thai actors I've seen. And I'm not saying this lightly as I never considered the acting of Thai BL series actors to be ground-breaking, but War just threw me off. This kid is talented, I hope no matter if he wants to stay in the BL industry or not, he gets into other projects, especially complex scripts that would highlight his talent.
I mean, his eyes say so much, his micro expressions and then also his character who could have been shallow like the majority of young men who play in these series where they are blindly in love with another, but with little he could showed how much he could add to the character. He didn't just play a character, he embodied it, which is rare, and he showed he has potential.

I hope that if they still have acting projects together, War and Yin, they won't choose another series that gives us the same thing and the same kind of role as many duos do in their other BL projects.

To mention Yin, yes he doesn't shine enough to be at War's level, but his acting is more than decent. I don't expect him to ever pull off the same kind of complexity as War but it definitely has potential to grow, which is quite a lot compared to many of its peers. Honestly, I'm waiting to see more about it.

So in the end, the script itself is nothing special, it's deja vu, it's just two guys trying to navigate their new found love. Lots of unnecessary scenes and plotlines, really many stupid choices made by the characters, but it's filled with a mix of human emotions from tender moments, love, joy, complicity, misunderstanding, fear, sadness and jealousy. It's the typical mix of these series but it's really the acting that did everything here.

As for the second couple, for me they had nothing special and nothing new to bring that I haven't already seen a hundred times in other BL series but their acting is good for the role they had.

So, I highly recommend this series.

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The best sequel I've seen of a Japanese show yet.

I must say that season 2 has surpassed the first season. Here not only do we experience the games on a wider scale (the entire city) but also the point of view change and make the rhythm more interesting.

In season 1, after episode 4 we spend the rest of the time pretty much at the "Beach" where the plot develops but here, we change each episode of location and challenges.

And the intensity was there.

My heart aches because it's over, it was really entertaining and the characters once again, highly relatable. The acting was top-notch.

The only downside for me is the ending. I don't want to spoil anything, but I must say that they tricked us several times with false explanations to this alternate reality, and compared to the truth, these lies were more exciting.

But I still recommend to see, this season is definitely the best.

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A series striking of intensity.

I'll make it short, but from the first episode the series transports us to a very intense world of anguish and fear.

People are forced to play games that are deadly, each of these games are represented by cards that designate whether it is a test of combat, physicality, mind or heart. Those of the heart being of course the most tragic.

The series makes us discover this almost apocalyptic world, we become attached to characters who leave far too soon, we root for them to just make out of a game while just afterwards they are immersed again in the cruel aspects of this world.

The loyalty and values of these individuals are put to the test.

It's really a superb first season that grabs the viewer and does not let go.

The production is insane and the acting is top notch, not one character was lacking.

I highly recommend.

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Intense series.

I'll make it short. It's the typical revenge scenario, so nothing new here. On the other hand, I think it was executed quite well overall. Personally, I found who was the culprit from the first episode but it didn't stop me from enjoying the series.

I don't watch a lot of series with female leads because generally I don't get on with their often cliché characters, but here I liked the simplicity, yet the determination of a young girl to find out who killed her father. She was a hero that I loved to follow the journey. I felt for her and I rooted for her until the end.

In terms of production, I must say it's very good, the script really leaned on the emotional side, and if we could sympathize with the killer, with a psychopath ? What if we hated a police force that does its best ? Me, that's what I love, simple but well-crafted scripts that transport us emotionally.

Only one regret is that one of the detective died, especially in this way, I had come to love his character, and he deserved better.

Overall, a good mini-series, a good script, a good production with intense fighting choreographies, good actors. 8 episodes were enough, no need more or less.
I recommend this series.

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Good first season.

It tells the story of the demons hunters called Counters, whose goal is to capture Evil Spirits that have return to earth in pursuit of Eternal Life.

It is the somewhat typical series that brings together several elements, such as endearing characters and forming a team that becomes a family. We cannot help but root for the characters, like So Moon, who is the new addition to the Counters, it is a pure and innocent young man, who has two adorable grandparents and a lively trauma left by the death of his parents. He is our main character.
Then, Do Ha Na a mysterious but sensitive young women, who does not hesitate to fight for those she loves.
Ga Mo Tak, who was a police officer but lost his memory seven years ago after an accident, strangely the same day when So Moon's father and mother died, who were also police officers. Ga Mo Tak becomes So Moon’s mentor.
Chu Mae Ok is the maternal and protective figure of the group, she is ready to do anything for them, even to sacrificed her own life.
And finally, Choi Jang Mool, who comes and helps the other Counters from time to time, he is in charge of all of the Counters' expenses.

The series comes down to politicians who use their power to crush anyone who puts themselves in their path, they do not hesitate to corrupt and kill, using the worst methods, even going so far as to poison water reserves that the population use without the slightest care of killing them.
The series also take a look at the bullying done in schools, with the bullies which are protected instead of the victims, generally because they have highly placed parents.
And then the heart of the series, the Evils Spirit that the Counters fight, including one in particular which is at the origin of many pains, losses and trauma of several characters.

The script is not complicated but it is well put together, it gives us action, humorous, touching, sad, painful moments, it is a complete package. On the other hand, I would be honest, a lot of plots are predictable and scenes that I have just skipped, so there is this modern cheesy element but in the end it is good.

In summary, it is everything that people are craving for, I am more curious to see season 2, I want to see more sides and depth to our characters, even new faces, I want to see new challenges.

So a solid and entertaining first season, good production and script, and acting (even though nobody really stood out among them - yet, I hope next season will change that), and I'm waiting for more depth for season 2.

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Good first season.

All of Us Are Dead is the typical apocalyptic series which this time tells the story of several students and their fight to survive against zombies.

The premise may seem like deja vu but it's really entertaining. Especially since it takes place in a school, and sometimes we are even entitled to comic relief moments. The series really relied on good production, be it the zombies, the gory and violent scenes. As for the script, I mean, it's fictional but it makes sense, through and through.

The characters are so adolescent representation that it's funny, between impromptu jealousies, friendships, enmities, and love, it was human.

I also liked how much the series also describes human stupidity, like this streamer who goes to the zombie zone just to do live and gain likes and subscribers, it represents our time so much, and is sadly too accurate.

I'm not going to write more, I'll finish saying that the series is good and entertaining, I especially hope that a character will make his return, his character might of seemed dull to some, but he was loyal and combative even if quiet. I hope he is transformed like the new species of zombies (which are not really) and that he will perhaps bring more depth and side to his character next season.

Can't wait for season 2.

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A promising first season.

I will make this short review. This is the story of Cha Hyun Soo and the residents of his building. One day suddenly people turn into monsters and they have to survive in this building at all costs.

To be honest, it's the typical kind of series with the monsters. Besides, I would have liked the monsters to have less CGI and more prosthetics, but it's probably a question of budget. We discover that among the people who transform, they can keep a human part and reason but for that they must fight in their mind to not give up to the monsters, it's a curse.
This is what Hyun Soo does, he resists and becomes a special kind of monster, very valuable. I don't want to reveal too much, but I like the story they found for him, and it's not just people fighting in a building against monsters. Many people die, and the essence of the series is our protagonists creating a community and trying to survive day to day, sometimes without water or electricity.

So the script is quite simple. On the other hand, they added characters over time that made the series finale interesting and further, which holds promise for future seasons.

I also want to mention that Song Kang did a good job in his acting again, I wouldn't say he showed it all, but this series is really a stepping stone for him and his future career. He is really talented.

If I had to summarize, it's not a super complicated story, it's more based on action and the survival of the characters, it is nice.

So I'm looking forward to the sequel.

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To not miss.

It's the story of a young woman with bad premonition dreams who meets two people who suddenly develop the same ability, they realize that their lives are now somehow entwined.

It was really a pleasure to discover this series. It's a relatively simple story overall. Three people who dream of each other, more particularly of their future/events.

I saw this series because I decided to see the work where Lee Jong Suk starred, and to be honest I'm not a fan of romance but I find myself enjoying his series and roles, be it the action and thriller to romance and melodrama. Up to this point, I believe I haven't seen any series where Lee Jong Suk would be bad. So, I picked up this series hoping to enjoy it but I really liked this one.

Already, I must say that overall although there is drama, it is relatively light-hearted. Lee Jong Suk plays Jung Jae Chan, a young prosecutor who starts his career and who, thanks to circumstances, finds himself dreaming and involved with Suzy, who plays Nam Hong Ju, a fearless young reporter who has premonitory dreams herself. The drama plays relatively well on humor and comedy, with romance and intense moments of suspense. Knowing the future, they find themselves trying to change it when it turns out bad, but the consequences can be worse.

I don't want to say more, but the script is really well written. Each character introduced is intimately linked to others, and especially the story of our three protagonists turns out to be more complicated than one might have thought. They each have their trauma and secrets.
The fact that this drama is light hearted also means that yes, "good" people always win. I'm not going to blame the lack of realism because I know the show wasn't filmed that way, but overall message was more of "do the right thing" to the audience.

It was nice, I also liked to follow the relationship between the characters even if I would have liked even more interactions between Lee Jong Suk and Jung Hae In (who plays Han Woo Tak). I believe it would have been a good opportunity to embellish a male friendship.

To continue on the series, the flow is really good, we go from one event and cases to another. The past, present and future intertwine and give us an intriguing web of mystery surrounding our characters.

Honestly, this series was really a pleasure to discover, not once did I get bored, the series made me feel joy but also sadness, it made my heart beat with fear and anguish for our protagonists. It's was really a good K-drama and I don't say this often in my reviews, specially when romance is involved. The series was human and relatable.

So, I recommend without hesitation.

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An interesting surprise.

This series is about a child, Park Hoon and his father who were kidnapped by North Korea. There, he was trained to become a doctor by his father who was already a doctor. Park Hoon became a genius-like heart surgeon. He then flees under terrible circumstances to South Korea after losing his loved ones. He begins to work as a doctor in South Korea's top hospital Myeongwoo University Hospital, but he become entangled in the shenanigans of politic figures.

This story is definitely something. To be honest, I'm a big fan of dark thrillers, and on a whim seeing Lee Jong Suk as the main actor when this series appeared on my feed, I thought why not.

So you can conclude that I'm not a big fan of romance. I tolerate the few romances I see, if done well then I can appreciate incorporating them into a storyline but generally I just go with the flow.

Here, to my greatest surprise I even felt involved. This is a weird and complicated love square. Two men and two women. All I have to say is that unrequited love sucks.
To talk about the romance, and without wanting to spoil, I have to say that it was done with realism, without unnecessary drama, without a childish attitude, just adults falling in love and sometimes hitting walls, sometimes making mistakes or careful choices. They're just humans setting their priorities, their desires, their hopes.

Here the romance was told against the backdrop of a political thriller. And although it's a series that dates from 2014, so we can expect some cliché or cheesy shots in the production or in the music, overall, I enjoyed it very much.

It's a grand web of revenge, greed and ambition that originates when a doctor just tried to do the right thing for a family whose father died of medical malpractice. It degenerates when this one is sent with his son to North Korea. The rest of the story is intimately linked to the situation between the two Koreas, and the ambition of a man who wants to hijack power by manipulating events.

Lee Jong Suk's character, Park Hoon will suffer immensely. From an early age and throughout history, he endured much and yet showed a very noble character. Han Jae Joon also suffers a lot, and I think the hardest part is when he faces those people who have hurt him, and he only asks for an apology for the wrong they have done, but that those people in their greed and power seeking refused to acknowledge what they have done. It's messed up.

I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that, but I'm glad I saw this series even though I'm not a fan of romance. The story is very gripping, the characters endearing and captivating.
I would say that the only negative point would be the competition between the two teams which lasted throughout the series when I would have liked us to move from this plot, I think they could have deepened the political aspect and less the medical one seeing how it turned out. I would say that this part of the story didn't fully elevated to its potential.

But I recommend definitively.

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One of the few short BL well done in 2021.

It's the story of Tae Kyung, a school student who is a loner by choice, because he never thought he needed anyone.
But one day, he starts questioning his own judgment want to make new friends. The teacher he confides in helps him join the school’s student council where he meets three different young men.
He discovers that making friends may be harder than it seems and he will even discover the first feelings for a person.

I know that most enthusiastic BLs may be disappointed, this series is less about the rush and the intimate moments, more about discovering your first love.
The series begins slowly, we discover our characters who learn to know each other and then to understand and assume their feelings.

Four characters in love whose situation might have seemed messy but turned out to be pretty well handled in the script.
I who am very critical of annoying FL, I find that Lee So Hee seemed rather relatable and intelligent, she certainly did a bad deed but she understood what she did, apologized and learned, we see her evolve for good and I like that the characters change.

As for the two protagonists, Noh Shin Woo and Woo Tae Kyung, their romance is slow, step by step and not directly from the "I hate you to I love you" that other series like to maintain.
No, here their relationship evolves with reality, without toxicity between the two even if they are young and stupid sometimes, their relationship is cute and adorable.

Honestly, I'm hoping for a season two that further develops their relationship now that they're finally together, because the actors have real chemistry.

By the way, I liked that the roles that seemed to be cliché in the summary weren't, like Noh Shin Woo, the cold guy who's actually just shy, and Woo Tae Kyung, the guy who seems sensitive is actually very forthright, brave, he can stand up for himself.
It's a change from the overly confident "cold" guy who tells the shy guy how to be and what to do.

As for Shin Da On, some say he deserves better, but in reality, in life, before you absolutely want to be with someone, it is better to find yourself, than to throw yourself into a relationship when you don't know who you are and barely what you want.

As for the production and the sets, frankly nothing to say, it was a pleasant series to watch, the few sets were well done, the production was good and also the script which really avoided the big clichés that interfere with the BLs theses days.
It was really nice to discover a short series with a cute and entertaining story.

I'm really looking forward to a season 2.

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Exploring the Mind of a Killer: A Gripping Dive into the Psychopath’s Mind

The series follows a gripping storyline that begins with murders committed 20 years ago, which gradually lead to a current-day killing spree. A plot twist introduces a technology used to identify children with psychopathic genes, focusing on two such children. As the story unfolds, the audience is kept on edge, wondering whether these children have become killers themselves and if they are connected to the present-day murders.

The cast is exceptional, with Lee Seung Gi delivering a standout performance as a psychopathic killer, perfectly capturing the dark, unsettling tone of the series. The show creates an intense atmosphere, with the series playing with psychological and emotional complexity. Mouse, alongside "Beyond Evil", stands out as one of the best Korean psychological thrillers of 2021, focusing on the mind of a psychopath and exploring themes of remorse and emotional conflict.

The show does an excellent job portraying the inner workings of a psychopath’s mind, despite the dramatic liberties taken. However, while the series is engaging from start to finish, some aspects of the plot fall short. The ending, which introduces a high-class conspiracy and a swift resolution to the villain's identity, felt rushed. The narrative could have benefited from further character development, particularly the exploration of the main character's internal conflict, which was a highlight but ultimately left unexplored.

While the plot sometimes relied on convenient answers, the show maintained its suspense and intensity. The character of Kwon Hwa Woon, though intriguing, was underused, and his storyline could have been more fleshed out. Despite these minor shortcomings, Lee Seung Gi’s performance remains the highlight of the series. His portrayal of a morally ambiguous character is captivating and elevates the series significantly.

In conclusion, "Mouse" is an intense psychological thriller with superb acting and a gripping atmosphere. While the plot falters in certain areas, particularly toward the end, the series remains an addictive watch for fans of suspense and psychological dramas. However, it's not for those seeking light-hearted themes or romance, as it is dark, mature, and intense in its storytelling.

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A profound and poignant series.

I have to say that Korean series excel in thriller, suspense and detective genre.
Here I must say that this overall has a superb production, direction and themes are dark which goes in line with the story being told.

We discover a small town supposedly quiet but with a name attached to a bloody and heavy history.
This story goes back to a series of disappearances and murders that happened 20 years earlier.
I must say that the direction is great, we got flashbacks at the most critical moments, the tension is at its height and these flashbacks not being omniscient, they can be misleading and leave us with lots of questions for the future.
So we have a narration of the facts of 20 years ago in parallel with the resurgence of this case which has never been resolved in current day.
A young detective, not so innocent as that, takes the initiative to continue this case, which leads to an unfortunate situation and the plot becomes more complicated. Especially since it turns out that one of the suspects from 20 years ago is now one of the small town police, and he's as dark and deranged as his reputation suggests.

I'll leave the plot here, without saying more, but I must tell you that the story and script were very well written, especially to highlight the acting of the characters.

Having dark tones, the main characters are just as dark, especially those of the small town, who carry a heavy sadness, a lot of pain due to the disappearances and the questions that have never been answered.
Over the course of the series, we begin to suspect everyone - which often happens in detective series - and sometimes with good reason.

The character of Shin Ha Kyun is overwhelming, he is very complex, intelligent and raw, we can feel his pain, his hopes and doubts. He definitely deserves his Best Actor - Television at 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. His character is striking, and it is difficult to forget such a performance.

He is joined in this series with a young actor, Yeo Jin Goo, who plays the young detective ready to stir up the past. Who also delivers a beautiful performance, his character struggles a lot in the series, to know who to trust, but above all how to discover the truth. He has amazing chemistry with Shin Ha Kyun.

For the secondary characters, they are all equally mysterious, complex and their characters have been well written and acted.

To sum up, if you like good productions, plot and character driven, in very dark, mature and complex police and human tones. Then this series is for you.

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A daunting drama

This drama really stirs different emotions in me. It is typically a story about two young men, In Ha is rich but rejected by his family and Tae Oh is poor but ambitious and intelligent, who grew up together as best friends. Initially brought together under the goal of being on top of the world but things will inevitably change when a young woman, Hye Won, comes between the two.

I'm frustrated that an actress was added to play this role, giving us a love triangle that we already know is going to end in heartbreak when we see that she deliberately chooses the one with the most money instead of the one she loves. This will not only strain the beautiful friendship between the two men, but also break their hearts individually.

In terms of chemistry, I also think the casting is bad. Hye Won has none with any of the cast. Felt like Hee Joo, Ih Na's little sister had more with Tae Oh even though he's supposed to be cold to her, which says a lot.

As for the story, it's interesting but not really very creative, rich people fighting for the succession of a huge corporation, some intrigues, childish behaviors displayed, lies. It reminds me a little of "Reborn Rich".

All this series showed me is that Lee Jae Wook should delve into more dramatic, mysterious or action roles, he's really great.

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A Simple, Heartfelt, and Comforting Romance

It’s a simple story about a young woman, Shen Xi Fan, who struggles with insomnia due to the stress of her life: her dreams of studying abroad and a neglectful fiancé who treats her poorly. The constant strain leaves her restless, unable to find peace.
On the other side, there’s He Su Ye, a young and accomplished doctor specializing in traditional Chinese medicine. He becomes her doctor, and as the story unfolds, the two grow closer and develop a friendship.

Like any TV romance, there are a few bumps along the way, miscommunications that keep the plot engaging, but at its core, both characters are genuinely kind and caring. He Su Ye, in particular, is full of love and deeply committed to taking care of Shen Xi Fan.

While it’s not groundbreaking, it’s a heartwarming story, sweet, a little funny, a little sad, but ultimately comforting. In its simplicity, it’s just a wholesome and healing watch.

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