Cheon

Started with No Soul (Just Like Zombies) but Actually Improved Over Time (Not Like Zombies)

Honestly, the second half was way better than the first one. At first, the show gave us some action, some comedy, some romance, and some good looking gore, but none of these elements really came together to create a solid picture. That's why I said it was without soul, it just felt empty. Later on, though, they actually started utilizing these elements much better.

The first episode was pretty weak to me (I think Coupang thought similarly, so they released two episodes in the first week lol). Not just because it dragged a bit, but also because it didn't properly introduce the characters. They focused much more on showing the leads relationship rather than making them interesting as individuals, which was unfortunate because, for most of the drama, they don't really interact with each other. I feel like it would've been better to first make them interesting as standalone characters and then develop their relationship as a couple.

That's why, in the first half, I didn't really care about anyone, which was quite disappointing because, having seen the director's previous works, I knew he has the ability to present characters you're curious about or at least feel some kind of connection to. Sam Su and Su Jeong had some fun moments, but nothing that really amazed me. That changed in the second half. Both Jae Yun and Yeong Ju were given more time to develop as individuals, and suddenly, they became much more interesting to watch. The whole metro sequence with one of them was SO GOOD.

Everything that started happening at that point was just so much better to watch. It felt like they finally managed to blend the genres the way they wanted to.

The performances were pretty good. Jisoo really isn't as bad as people are saying. It will take her a while to break away from her idol image since she was in it for so long, but with a few more projects, I think she'll be fine.

There was some wasted potential in certain characters, though, like Ra In Ho. At one point, they teased us into believing there might be something more to his character, but they never really addressed it later.

The music? Guess it was fine. There were some cool BGMs, but nothing extraordinary.

Overall, I feel quite mixed. I feel like I'm giving it a higher rating than it actually deserves, but the second half left me with a really good impression, so I'm letting it stay this way. I think I expected more because of the director and cast (and the fact that I usually love zombie dramas), but despite its problems, it's still a decent watch. Definitely not a bad drama, just not the great one it could have been.

Read More

Perfectly Balanced Heartbreaker That Never Lets You Fully Break

This drama is like a friend who tells you a sad story. They know you might cry, they know you might feel guilty, so they throw in a random joke to make you feel better.

To say this drama was a big surprise to me is like saying nothing. When I first found out it existed, I thought it was just one of those short romance dramas, nice to watch, but forgettable after a week.

Way Back Love is anything but what I just described. It's a beautiful story about love, friendship, and learning to accept the guilt you carry from the past. It's definitely a hopeful yet sad journey, but it never felt overwhelming. It never made me feel too hopeful, and never too sad. The director balances all kinds of emotions, and somehow, it just worked for me every single time.

They kept jumping between past and present timelines, but it never felt random. Whenever something heavy happened in one timeline, I was taken to the other in a way that made me feel okay again. It always felt connected. Like when a character did something in the present that they had also done in the past, I was taken right back there with them. The pacing here was great, it never felt boring.

So yeah, you can probably tell by how I described it, the directing here is chef's kiss. One moment the scenography is colorful and full of life, and the next it's bleak and heavy, and every time, the music fits the mood perfectly. Nothing felt out of place.

The performances? Absolutely amazing. I'd only seen both leads briefly in other projects, so maybe that's why I was so surprised. They were both great, but I really have to mention Kim Min Ha, she was just on a completely different level. Her acting felt so natural it honestly didn't feel like acting. It was like someone just said, "Be Jeong Hee Wan," and she just was. Also, shoutout to Jung Gun Joo, really, really good performance too.

Overall, a truly amazing watch. One could say, after reading the synopsis, that this is a story already told many times, and I would even agree. But the key is the execution, and the execution here made it feel really special.

Read More

A Boy with a Pen and His Inner Struggle to Keep Going

They did it once again. Somehow, they managed to turn an extremely unrealistic scenario into something so engaging I didn't question it for even a second. From a writing perspective, I'd still say Weak Hero is decent at best, but it offers so many elements that are executed so well, I honestly couldn't care less while watching.

I think the second season lost a bit of the charm and vibe the first one had, but to be fair, their structures are pretty different. While Season 1 focused mainly on Si Eun and Su Ho before shifting heavily onto Beom Seok, this one does a better job balancing all the characters. Of course, Si Eun and Hu Min take center stage, but it never felt like the others were overshadowed. Everyone had their role, and everyone mattered to the story. The connection to the characters is just something that this drama pulls off really well.

Si Eun is such a great protagonist. I can't fully express how much I like him. After the events of the previous season, I was really curious about what he would do next and how he'd manage to survive. His journey toward slowly finding a reason to live a relatively normal life again was just so good to watch. Si Eun's happy, I'm happy. That's how it works.

That being said, I think I used the word 'slowly' a bit excessively, because that journey honestly could've been explored even more. And it's not just about Si Eun, it's about the story overall. At times, it felt like they rushed the events a bit too much instead of stopping at certain points and diving deeper into them. I don't know why it's only 8 episodes again, I think they would really benefit from making it longer here.

Back to the positives, this is how you do a show with more than one season. The first Weak Hero did this for me, and the second one managed to pull it off again. Am I satisfied with how it all ended here? Yes. Even if a third season doesn't happen, I'm still happy with what I got. BUT, would I watch a third season if it did happen? 100%. That unsatisfyingly satisfying feel to the ending is something Weak Hero once again pulled off perfectly.

The performances were amazing, but it's not like it's surprising considering the cast. We all know that Park Ji Hoon's eyes are built different, and they act better than some actors ever will with their entire face. And while I think everyone did justice to their roles, I really want to appreciate Ryeo Un. It's not easy to take over a spot from a character that so many people loved, but I think he did a really good job here.

Audiovisually, it's as good as it was. I think this season has more color though, that bleak aura is slightly missing for me, but overall it's solid. Really happy they didn't change the opening OST.

Overall, this is just A+ entertainment for me. Objectively, I'd probably rate it a bit lower, but I just can't, and don't want to hide how much I enjoyed it. The scenario is over the top and the suspension of disbelief is set high, but it's not like the show ever tried to hide that. You start watching, and you know exactly what you're in for.

I also want to mention that I haven't read the webtoon, so I can't compare. If some things were left out or changed, I understand why people might be disappointed, but since this is my first time experiencing the story, I'm just happy with what I got.

Read More

Not a motel, not a hotel, but otel.

Objectively, I can see and understand why people find it tiring and even irritating to watch. Subjectively, I vibed hard and couldn't care less.

Of course, at some point, the constant push and pull can get frustrating, but that's exactly what Motel California did really well, it provided enough context to truly understand the characters' actions and decisions.

Did I agree with or like every decision they made? Obviously not. But that's part of its charm. You stay curious even when you don't agree, and you understand even if you don't always support them.

I have a big crush on Lee Se Young after she absolutely killed it in What Comes After Love last year, so I was really curious to see her here, and once again, she delivered. Kang Hee was not an easy character to play, but I think she truly did her justice.

Na In Woo has always been just an okay actor for me, fine, nothing more. But here? I actually really enjoyed him. I can't even explain why, I was vibing, and I think he was too.

I also absolutely adored the rest of the cast, especially Nan U and Seung Eon.

All the beautiful shots, combined with the incredibly atmospheric music (that one BGM was so hypnotically calming, I was in heaven every time it played), created such a good experience. A story about people who want to be together and love each other, yet still need to face their demons (both internal and external). A story that could have been frustrating, but for me, it ended up feeling calming and even relaxing.

I'm really happy with this show. Obviously, it's not perfect, as some things could have been executed better, but looking at the whole picture, I think it's still one of the good ones.

Read More