ColourMePurple

An Easy Watch

It's a kind of coming of age youth romance. There's nothing spectacular about it but it's light-hearted, cute, and maybe a bit cringe at times. I was also rooting for the SML with the FL coz he seemed more mature and level-headed though the ML had his own charm. Problem was certain humour by his character that made me dislike him like joking about wanting to touch the FL's chest because she accidentally placed his hand on his. It put me off him till the end so I couldn't care much for them getting together.

The other thing I disliked was that the mother was made the bad guy because of the father not being present and making everyone walk on egg shells but in the end, magically everyone becomes nicer and happier. It's just not realistic but it's dramaland so I decided to let it go.

The friendships were cute. The child actor playing FL's younger brother was amazing! He made the ML look even more childish. 😂 The ML's friend also didn't get a love plot and was mainly shown hanging out at his home. Waste of talent.

The cafe rooms were amazing designs which makes me wonder how the cafe owner could afford such a place and why it didn't have any business? I expected to see some revelation there but we glossed over it.

Overall it's nice and easy to binge.

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The Human Condition

For fans of Hellbound season 1, season 2 may or may not impress depending on what you are looking for. If your aim is to find answers, then you might get some but it will leave you with more questions searching for the meaning of all the events. The point is that this is exactly what is happening in this dystopian world of Hellbound. Every person is either looking for an answer or trying to control the narrative in the form of religion or politics.

There are 3 main groups. The New Truth, whose new chairman is not religious but simply seeking power. The arrowheads that are an extreme fanatical group that resorts to violence and extreme displays to prove they are the true believers. The third being Sodo. A group that lost loved ones to demonstrations and are now trying to protect others from public demonstrations. The third group is what HyeJin, the lawyer, is working with.

Season 1 left us with the return of Park Junja, the mother of two who had a public demonstration at her home in exchange for money and safety of her children. What season 2 highlights is the chaos that ensues in the world and every group vying for power over the people by trying to be the one that gives people the answer behind the greusome phenomenon of their new reality. And Junja ends up becoming an unwitting participant. Season 2 also depicts what the original chairman of the New Truth - Jung Jinsu, went through during his time in "hell". It is followed by his eventual return to the chaotic world. Though I truly miss Yoo Ah In (especially in scenes that were reshot), Kim Sung Cheol does an admirable job thereafter. From depicting confusion and panic to taking over control and manipulatinb others, we get a real insight into what made him a leader to begin with.

The director's aim is the viewers to try to imagine what we would do if that was our reality and this is where many viewers might end up feeling disappointed considering the long wait between the seasons. However, if you try to enjoy the show with the director's mindset, you might enjoy the journey more. The CGI is as good, if not better in season 2. The characters are interesting and quite realistic if you understand cults and how politicians work. There are some elements of horror and it did freak me out at times. I managed to binge watch it in a day but I needed to recap season 1 just because so much time had passed.

I am sure if we will get a third season but if we do, I hope we will get an explanation of the phenomenon and the new information that this season revealed.

If I had to compare both seasons, I would definitely prefer season 1 because it was something completely new and a treat to watch. Season 2 is a good watch as well but I am still looking to make sense of the series. I can't fault it on not being entertaining because it was despite it not giving me the answers I had hoped for.

Those looking to decide whether to watch or not, I hope this review helps. I would urge you to give it a chance to see some wonderful performances.

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Enthralled

I loved how fast paced the show really is. I also LOVE strong female leads and not only is Queen Woo depicted as a good warrior but also great strategically. She is a true leader and she learnt from the best. If you like such characters, you would definitely enjoy this show. However, it is not for the weak-hearted. There is nudity, sex scenes (even assault) and gore. Some have even compared this to Game Of Thrones. However, I would classify this series as mild in that context.

The cinematography is good but like GOT, there are some scenes that need one to adjust their screen brightness. I wish directors figured out the right balance for such scenarios. However, it still doesn't affect our enjoyment too much.

The characters are definitely interesting and everyone did a fantastic job. There is some criticism regarding the female lead not having a wider range of emotions. The show is actually set in a very critical time frame where she doesn't have time to emote. She knows what her position as a leader is and the urgency of the situation. But we do get flashbacks of happy times. The actors portraying the king and his brothers performed exceptionally to depict the complex situation and era.

Although, I genuinely enjoyed every aspect of the show, there is one question that doesn't really get answered. I am not sure why. Perhaps it doesn't affect the situation so it wasn't addressed. So this and the assault scene are the only reasons why I am not giving this a perfect 10. This series can have a second season but I don't believe there will be one.

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Two cute couples for the price of 1!

Perhaps this show is not for everyone but I loved the concept. The couple was already established but now the FL is being asked to break up with her boyfriend. It was funny from the first episode. I was very curious how they will work through their issues. The FL has a strong head on her shoulders due to her background and can overrationalise things at times but she is a kind and caring person. The ML can be clingy but he is sweet and kind and who wouldn't love that. I also loved the second leads in the story. Maybe slightly more than the leads because their relationship didn't deal with too much workplace distractions.

Though thers ard a few serious moments, the show also makes you laugh and smile. And both couples have cute moments together. Though I wish there were more romance, a little less angst, and if the comedy was even better then I would have rated it a 9 at least.

In a way I am glad the writers didn't drag the background storylines too much. They were not ths point of the story. It was about the couples and some of the problems they dealt with are quife realistic. Even the nicest people have trouble in relationships because you aren't completely sure how to handle the situation.

The one good thing about the breakup trope was also that they didn't show both living separate lives. They continued to work together as they dealt with their emotions. I don't like when they completely remove the leads from each other's lives. So that was a plus for me.

The OST is also quite calming. I hope everyone gives the series a chance.

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Lacking compared to part1

My review is for the second half of the drama rather than the entire drama. I quite loved the first half (part 1) but this second half (part 2) was so much more weaker.

The first 3 episodes are decent, there are light moments (when you compare to the tragedies of the first part) and hope. But episodes 4 - 9 were such a drag to watch. You get brief moments of happiness and then problems. To the point that it seemed like a never-ending mess. I was prepared for a tragic ending. Apart from that, the story was really moving slowly with not much happening. You can easily watch these episodes on 2x because everyone talks so slowly.

Some of the characters really annoyed me. One being the king. He was so hell bent on retaining power and his position that he lost trust in everyone including his ministers, his son, and his people. To target his own people who already faced so much was simply unforgiveable according to me. What does loyalty mean if the other party unreasonably wants to sentence you to death in order to feel "peace"?

The other character was the scholar who acted all noble and could see that the king's fears are driving him to cruelty and he made the same exact choices by giving into his unreasonable fears. Though it just proved that he was always a cruel man and he never regretted his part mistakes. He would repeat them again without much hesitation.

Finally, it was Officer Gu, who we all knew was not worthy of marrying Gil Chae.

It's easy to blame the "barbarians" for the sufferings of the people of Joseon but this part highlighted that the people of Joseon were far more cruel to their own. They abandoned their own family and wives and sisters and daughters if they deemed them to be "tainted" and were obsessed with keeping Joseon "clean". They were willing to kill their own by labelling them as traitors without proof. They forced women to kill themselves. They humiliated anyone who survived. They truly disgusted me because instead of easing each others suffering and giving each other comfort after all the hardships and sorrows, they rejected and ridiculed them instead. They didn't allow their own people to heal. So the real traitors were the ones who escaped "unscathed". Problem is, I don't know if majority of the audience will understand this because of the way it was presented. Unless you can relate to being "othered" in your own country, it's unlikely that most of the audience will understand this aspect of the story because of the way it is presented. It will probably get sidelined as an aspect of war.

The last two episodes were the best compared to the rest of this part. Though there are again unnecessary hurdles and part of me wanted to know what happened to all the politics that we were forced to suffer through, I am glad we were not forced to suffer more on the leads' story front. If not for the last 2 episodes, I would have certainly scored this part lower just for those middle episodes. The male lead also said and did all the right things and he truly was a blessing for everyone. The growth of the female lead was also nice to see and a good contrast between part 1 and 2.

One aspect they glossed over is what exactly happened to Ryang Eum.

The OST of this show continues to be enjoyable.

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Packed with action, bromance, and thrill!

I absolutely devoured this show! It was heart-racing level of good! Full of adrenaline! Small spoilers towards the end.

Geon Woo meets Woo Jin as rivals in a boxing match but they quickly become friends. Geon Woo's mother falls for a loan scam and thus starts the journey of both men trying to take on a dangerous group of men.

The bromance is impeccable and fun with a bit of jokes thrown in here and there. It reminded me a bit of Midnight Runners. Though Bloodhounds has a lot of violence and blood and a bit of torture. I had to speed up some of those parts but mostly I was filled with an adrenaline rush as the show went on.

Episode 6 made me anxious and I was sweating. So be prepared for that. It's not a very easy watch.

There is no romance in this series. It's pure grit and testosterone. But they didn't forget to add some badass females. I was delighted by them not simply depicting women as helpless or eye-candy. Nope. You'll love them!

I only have two small issues but it's not something that would make me like this show any less.
SPOILER
- Why did they (writers) send Hyeon Joo away? I was so ready for her to be there at the end.
- The ease with which Kim Myung Gil kills the deadliest killers felt a bit of a stretch. Especially since he says he was scared of them.

SPOILER FREE
This series deserves at least a one time watch. Especially if you saw Woo Do Hwan in Joseon Attorney, then watch him in this different avatar in Bloodhounds. He is spectacular!

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Dramatic at times but meh

I went into watching Little Women blind with only the idea that it's based on a book that I hadn't read but had heard was quite good. I don't find this Korean adaptation to be special. It left me questioning many things that didn't quite make sense.

Yes, Little Women has wonderful cinematography and the director knows how to build suspense and anxiety but at times I felt like the motivation behind everything lacked any kind of logic and the end folded so neatly, it was actually both a relief and disappointing.

I wish I could make sense of why the society functioned the way it did. Felt meaningless and unbelievable that no one questioned a thing.

Although the Oh sisters irked me in many instances, I was genuinely rooting for In Joo and In Kyung. Oh In Hye will go down as 2022's most annoying main character. So selfish and ungrateful! I prefer any of the villains over her because at least you understand them to a degree.

Loved the mysterious Choi Do Il and it was fun reading viewers speculate. It's unfortunate that the other male character is nothing to write home about.

If you enjoy suspense, then you might enjoy the rollercoaster ride this show takes you on. However, the ending is not very dramatic. If romance draws you in then you might want to give this one a skip.

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Brilliant cast and edge of your seat suspense

The emotional rollercoaster this show has taken me on has been spectacular! Though the second part was a tad slow at first, the writers managed to keep us in suspense until the very last 2 episodes on how everything will come together. So for those watching and worrying, just sit back and let go of your anxiety and have fun with every moment.

Go Youn Jung had very big shoes to fill after Jung So Min charmed us with her sass and wit in season 1. But this season is not about the actress replacing the other. It is about growth and change. What you will get it hints of the same character yet different. And the main moments are the chemistry between the male and female lead. We also see hints of the special connection she has with the other male characters.

Crown Prince Go Won has been a lovely character once again. And Jin Mu has been the bad guy this show needed.

The only flaws with the show are the slow momentum, much less action and CGI. However, the ending will still leave you satisfied.

The OST of this show is one of the best! I can listen to it on repeat endlessly.

This show is worth rewatching and probably one of the few shows that I actually went back and saw multiple times in the process of waiting. Will definitely recommend it and whoever I did recommend the series to, have thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope you do too!

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Best Feb 2025 Drama

I am so glad Hwang Min Hyun decided to do an action drama. I have been waiting for it since it's announcement. I enjoyed the story and the acting. Everyone is great. Even the villains/anti-heroes. Cha Woo Min did a fantastic job and managed to stand out. I am looking forward to seeing him in a variety of roles now. The ladies were also wonderful. I love strong women of all kinds. I liked that the bunch all have their strengths and weaknesses. The support character of Kim Sun Cheol was also a good one.

Initially, I struggled to see bullying being depicted. Though it is considerably better than some other shows, it still impacted me and stressed me out. It gets a better later since the show is doesn't try to let things get too dark and is interspersed with light moments and growth and bonding. Just thought to mention it in case you are also sensitive to those things.

The cinematography and OST are really great. I have 2 new favourites songs - Backpacker and Hood.

The only weak aspects (for me) were the fight scenes. I love a well choreographed action scene. But the main lead has been given superhero-like abilities which take away the realism. The show is based on a webtoon so I started to read it to see if the fights are similar in that and they aren't really (full disclosure: have read about 8 chapters). They are much more believable. The action sequences between the other characters aren't like that in the series. Maybe the exaggeration is to give it a webtoon feel. In any case, for this reason I wouldn't compare it to Weak Hero Class 1. They have some similarities but WHC1 is darker than Study Group and perhaps slower at times but the action was far superior in my opinion which is why I gave Study Group a 9.

Obviously I love both shows so I hope Study Group is also loved by audiences.

There is an end credit scene at the end of episode 10.

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Light and fun

I liked the concept and the execution was decent too but there were a few things that disappointed me. I'll cover those before discussing what I enjoyed.

The drama relied heavily on advertising the star studded cast but when it actually came to their appearance, some of them were barely there for more than a minute. That was my biggest disappointment. Don't advertise something if you can't deliver it. I really wanted to see more of Kim Young Dae. Like a full date. They did him so dirty.

Jisoo's acting received a lot of flak and though it wasn't particularly good, it wasn't awful either. Maybe because I recently saw worse. The plot and editing does help a lot. I did find her behaviour cringe when she was paired opposite Seo Kang Jun especially in ep 3. I didn't particularly enjoy her chemistry with any of the leads. In fact I couldn't understand why Seo In Guk's character would like her based on the faces she made around him. It made him look like a creep at times for pursuing her.

On to the good - The plot of a woman being able to date multiple good looking men virtually was cool and fun. The acting of the men were quite good. At least the ones with longer roles. I really loved Seo Kang Jun's character. I also loved Yoo In Na! I kinda wished she was the FL because she looking so stunning and charming. Even Jisoo's friend's character was so fun! I liked both the authors too. I kinda liked how Seo In Guk's character changed and the behind the scenes moments from his POV were great.

There was no dull moment while watching the drama so it's great when you're bored or need to watch something light.

There are at least 3 OST songs that I really liked and need to look up.

Overall, the show is light and enjoyable. Just wish we had some more screentime for some of the boyfriends so that and the lack of any sizzling chemistry were my biggest disappointments.

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A PROPER ROMCOM!

I hope everyone ignores negative reviews and give No Gain No Love a fair chance because I have never enjoyed the comedy and heart fluttering romance as depicted by the main leads. Shin Min Ah is the life of the show and brings so much chemistry to this pairing that you'll never notice the age gap. And the humour is on point!

There have been 2 other romcoms airing simultaneously (Cinderella At 2 AM and Love Next Door) but none of the comedy has been on par with No Gain No Love. It has been so much fun watching this. Though the plot is not unique with some typical tropes likes fake marriage and opposites attract, the direction and the dialogues catch you off guard! You predict the FL to say or do one thing and she completely surprises you which makes it so much more entertaining. The chemistry between the main leads is sizzling and my only complaint is that I wanted to see more of them because of how much I enjoyed their romance. And I also loved that for once the female lead is the bolder one in the relationship besides also being smart and quick on her feet. The male lead is kind, at times shy and aloof and gentle. They really complemented each other.

We also have 2 other couples. Though I wouldn't say I was fond of them and sometimes I even found them annoying but it definitely presents something for everyone. The second leads also have a 18+ spin off which I will be watching to see if I enjoy their chemistry better in that. However don't let my preference dissuade you because I was fully entertained and it gave me lots to talk about.

Another thing I liked about this show is that even in the low moments of the characters, it never got too depressing and tried to maintain an overall happy and light moments so this is great for watching when you need an escape. All the actors stayed true to their characters with room for some character growth as well.

The "weakest" of the episodes were the last two because they had more serious aspects to deal with and I would have liked 2 more episodes to depict more of the main duo. And that is why I can't give this a full 10. I still loved enough about the show that I can't be too upset with it.

The main theme song is nice and upbeat. It suits the vibe of the drama.

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Sweet and Satisfying

Loved the drama from start to finish! Minor spoilers.

Ji Eum has the memory of all her past lives but the person she most wants to meet is Seo Ha from her 18th life which was cut short. Meanwhile he is still reeling from the loss he suffered from the accident years later. Though I am not sure how much of it was taken from webtoon, I hear it's not an exact replica. Irrespective of that, it is cinematically beautiful with captivating performances by all actors and beautiful OST to set the mood.

The added mystery was a nice touch towards the end which kept things fresh. The pace might feel a little on the slower side but every minute was enjoyable. Loved the way the story portrayed all the relationships that Ban Ji Eum had and both the highs and the lows of carrying the burden of past lives. It was also interesting to see how she used it to her advantage in the present life.

Loved the completely different character portrayed by Ahn Bo Hyun compared to the one he had in Military Prosecutor Doberman. I love when actors can convincingly perform different types of roles well. The child actor Kim Shi Ah also stood out for her performance as the young Ju Won. This was my first proper introduction to Shin Hye Sun and although I had my doubts at first, I fell in love with her character when she is standing outside her mother's mom and reminiscing about the relationship they shared. Such a tragically beautiful moment that it brought tears to my eyes.

I also loved the back and forth between Cho Won and Do Yoon. Will they? Won't they? And the late but memorable entry of Minki to add some spice to the plot.

"Juicy Juicy" by Jo Yuri has become one of my favourite OSTs and it got stuck in my head almost as soon as I heard it!

This is a perfectly binge-worthy show that I hope finds more viewers.

If there is something to complain about, it would be that Seo Ha's dream was to renovate his mother's hotel which we didn't quite see finished. And I wish we would have seen some development in his relationship with his father just to tie up everything neatly.

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A mess

I enjoyed the first 4 episodes but the 5th was bizarre. That's when I realised, this show has disjoined stories and many times those plots are just left without explanations of what is going on.

I would like to say I'm enjoying the acting but let's be fair, what exactly do the main male leads have to do? The museum owner just looked worried and Dome looked like a deer in highlights or spaced out. The only exception being 1 episode where they were more free to emote. I would say the secondary characters had more range and possibilities because all the action involved them. Again, this is on the writers.

Even though at the end, they explained some of the main mysteries like why Khatha hired Dome and the source of his abilities, it doesn't explain Dome's origin. I can't tell if the story is meant to end here or they are suggesting a continuation. Then again, I won't watch part 2.

There is a real issue with the writing and directing of the show. I honestly don't know how so many gave this show anything above a 7 with such massive problems. This show is also not interesting enough for me to try to rewatch it in order to understand what I missed.

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This Is How You Make A Show!

Not a SINGLE dull moment! Loved Crash Course In Romance from start to finish! The only flaw, so to speak, is that this is a mixed genre show with A LOT happening and that might not be appealing to everyone who love pure Romance or Rom Com dramas. But there is so much realism and amazing (as well as toxic) relationships and a wholesome storyline that you will be missing out on if you skip this drama.

What I loved:
The main plot revolves around a 30s-40s couple, their connection, their enemies to lovers journey, and their supportive nature towards each other. It's a couple that is perfect for each other. It's a bit of a slow burn romance.
The female lead's relationships:
- First with her sister's daughter who was abandoned and has been raising her in such a pure and loving way. And that upbringing has made her daughter a strong person.
- Secondly, with her brother who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. He works in the store along with her best friend. Again, it's such a supportive and understanding relationship. One can imagine how she would have had to also raise him after their mother passed early on.
- And thirdly, her friendship with her amazing and supportive best friend who runs a side dish store with her. Both are super-caring towards each other and this is a friendship we all wish we had. The best sismance!
We also see the daughter's friendships and how much they care for each other. But we also see insecurity because of the unusual family she has and has been judged in the past for.
The rivalry to bromance between the students was heart-warming.
The crazy competitive education system and how it drives students but especially their mothers bat-**** crazy.
The mystery element and the whole back story. It's a tragic one.

Normally I would write about what I disliked but I genuinely can't think of anything wrong with this show. I don't know what to criticise which is RARE. Maybe more romance would be my only expectation.

The show is a 10/10 for me! I would definitely rewatch and recommend to others!

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