ColourMePurple

New Bonds and Past Connections

Waited so long for this and there was never a dull moment. But I can't say it was as good as season 1. Maybe because season 1 was so unique and fresh. The action sequences were literally worth rewatching. Season 2 was more brutal and I am surprised most of them did not end up with a concussion and brain damage. But the scenes did not stand out. The final episode was great though.

Season 1 was quite traumatic so I kept expecting something horrible to happen in season 2 as well. The anxiety I had watching this was greater. That could be why I couldn't enjoy it as much. I haven't read the original webtoon so I can't make comparisons with the source but I enjoyed the new bonds and stories of the characters. But somehow season 1 went deeper than just that. Especially with their bonds. Park Ji Hoon shines ever so bright and he makes you both love and feel for him. Ryeo Un was a great addition to the ensemble and fit right in.

The actors really did a wonderful job as did those playing the negative characters. Although a new character they've introduced seems a bit boring so I don't quite care for him if he'll be in the next season.

I'm not actually sure if they plan a third season for this but it would be good if they didn't wait as long to work on it. Season 1 has already set standards quite high. Season 2 couldn't match upto it though it comes close in being entertaining. And at least there was some outcome to Weak Hero Class 1.

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A beautiful drama on family

This might be my first romance drama that I am rating a 10 maybe because it is more about family and that is what I loved most about it. It's not a proper comedy or romcom but it does make you smile and laugh as much as it might make you tear up. It is endearing as a story about family and I genuinely wanted to hug the male leads several times for struggling so much as kids. I loved their bonding through their individual struggles and looking out for each other. I am glad I started watching late and binged it because it made it more enjoyable than if I had to wait weekly.

Sometimes kdramas get boring but I didn't find myself bored with this one at any point. I loved it from start to finish. There are plenty of cute romance moments but it was really the trio that I fell for. The cast was exceptional in their portrayals. I felt their emotions and found myself relating to how they were feeling in that situation I loved the dads and every kid would want fathers who can take on a proper role of childcare and bonding with their children without relying on remarriage to another women and pass on their responsibilities to her in such situations. It was quite wholesome for that reason.

Although the child actors are only seen in the first 2 episodes (if I am not mistaken), they did a wonderful job as well and were truly adorable.

The OST is quite nice even and enjoyable though I normally don't like slow Korean songs.

If you don't mind getting a little emotional and a plot about family with a slow build up to romance, Family By Choice might appeal to you as much as it did to me.

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It's messy but will have you hooked

Mr. Plankton does have several heart-warming moments but it's mostly a story of a group of people fighting for a chance at happiness even when the odds are against them. Sometimes life gives you lemons and no matter how much sugar you add, you still are left with a bitter aftertaste.

But the story is not about the end but rather the journey. Hae Jo, the ML embarks on a journey and drags Jae Mi, the FL along. He is annoying and you want to hate him but just like Jae Mi, every time you end up just pityjng him. He is a man who actually cares a lot but feels like he has to act like a jerk. He's not just trying to protect other people but also himself. And you're forced along for the ride because he can't stop fighting himself every step of the way.

The show is best watched when you aren't emotionally vulnerable yourself because it deals with some difficult topics related to health and abandonment. Unless you need to cry in which case, it might be a good watch.

On the positive side, there are many sweet moments, a decent dose of romance, action, some moments that will make you smile if not laugh and fill you with hope.

The actors have really done a great job and the cast is fantastic.

Personally I won't rewatch this because of the themes but it is a good show and definitely recommended.

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Great start. Lost me with the cheating.

The first half of Destined With You was great. It was funny and I was enjoying the fantasy element as well as the creepy bloody hand. In fact, I started to miss it later.

My biggest issue was that the ML despite having a girlfriend, kisses the FL. This was clearly a red flag for me so much so that I was angry with the character for a good few episodes and couldn't enjoy the story.

The other issue I had was that by the end, it isn't completely clear if anyone was acting under the power of the love spell or not because of the twist. I'm not sure why they made it seem so confusing. That's a plot hole.

Third biggest problem I had with the show is the father being verbally abusive to the mother as well as negligent towards her needs and the writers made them patch up after teasing a caring younger guy as a potential love interest. There was one more female character that was divorced and found love. Not sure why ML's mother didn't deserve better as well? Is it because they didn't want her to find love with a younger man? The father was so horrible towards the FL as well. All the more the mom should be with a nicer man. This is the second such drama that disappointed me in this regard. First being Doctor Cha.

I still have a few doubts related to the story. Towards the end, I decided to speed it up because the story was moving a bit too slowly.

The best thing about this drama was the SML. I wish FL had ended up with him. He was a really decent guy. FL and ML's chemistry was nice except for the weird cheating aspect. SFL was stunning but unbearable. Acting wise, everyone did great. It was the story that let me down in the second half.

The OST of the drama is beautiful.

I would say the first half of the drama is a lot more fun than the second half. It's not a bad drama but it could have been better with a bit of tweaking.

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Captivating Story-telling

DP Season 2 has certainly outdone season 1. The way they have shed a light on the horrors within the military service in South Korea, I don't believe any country has even attempted such stories or would ever be inclined to attempt to admonish the evils within their military. For that, I have to applaud South Korea. Without checks and balances, the system perpetuates injustice.

This series is a dark one but the directors have managed to bring some humour and light moments in between into the story-telling. These are stories of different individuals in difficult circumstances. They didn't choose to serve. They were forced to and what's worse is having to deal with humiliation and abuse on a regular, if not daily basis. Their only choice is escape. The DP team are not actually heroes. They have just one job. To force the deserters to return without actually rectifying the situation that causes many of the deserters to flee in the first place. However, this season seeks to change that. After seeing the errors in the way the military functions and the worsening situations of the victims and the results of the violence and humiliation they endured, the DP team starts to see a real problem with the way things are run and the corruption within the system that is creating more and more victims by sweeping incidents under the rug. However, in the process of creating a change, there are still many who could not be saved.

Every story is heart-breaking. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if it is a flicker.

Hope everyone looks beyond this as a story and considers what stories are not being told in our own countries and how many victims are created because of lack of a voice and change. This series certainly made me think beyond what was depicted.

It is not an easy watch, but DP Season 2 certainly is a must-watch.

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Great but incomplete

I honestly enjoyed every minute of the series except maybe for the very end. We waited so long for the conclusion of the series and they leave some questions unanswered in anticipation of another season which I suspect might never get made. That is why it makes me more annoyed that the current season got split up to begin with. It might have received a better reception as a whole.

I genuinely loved the character development of all our three leads as well as the student. A depth is added to their personalities and the story continues. There is no romance but there is chemistry between Van and Won Min Ho. Plenty of nice action sequences especially including Priest Yohan. Really good CGI. The story moves faster for the most part.

The biggest drawback is that we get left on a cliffhanger so it's not really a satisfactory conclusion although it's not as bad as to feel incomplete either. I just wish all lose ends were tied up in a clean way.

The series is quite enjoyable. I hope more people view it so that we can all ask for another season with a conclusive story line.

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Funny and addictive

Ignore the cheesy title of the show. I found the drama by accident and was hooked instantly. The female lead plays multiple comic book characters usually as the evil secondary character except due to a bug she enters a romance story as a sad and pitiful female lead. Being the vamp that she is, her fiery personality leads to the plot going haywire while she tries her best to fix it.

If you're tired of the usual romance drama tropes then you'll love watching 'Night Of Love With You' tear into them mercilessly and will make you laugh.

This female character is certainly a breath of fresh air compared to the innocent goody two shoes plain Jane female leads. Sit back and relax and enjoy this gem of a drama.

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The prison of a smart dutiful underappreciated wife

For the most part, it was a good drama but there were a few reasons why I couldn't fully enjoy the series.

To begin with the male lead is absolutely cruel towards the female lead, even putting her in a chokehold and making his army hunt her down like an animal "for morale". This marriage is an alliance approved by your grandmother. If you have decided to go along with it, at the very least don't be violent towards her. The story is supposed to depict how a cruel heartless warrior eventually falls in love with his wife but this is not a trope I care for. I have watched and enjoyed Enemies to Lovers but cruelty is not something I'm a fan of.

We see various number of people trying to harm his wife by maligning her character or sowing discord and each time the wife has to fight against her own husband to get him to trust her and be fair towards her. She is basically working on her own. There is only one time when he publicly stands up for her but even then she isn't sure if he will protect her. Even much later into the story, he is yelling at her in front of others. He gets jealous easily and takes it out on her. And she has to put up with it all just because the fate of her people rest on her shoulders and this marriage.

She is wise and quick on her feet. She handles situations as well as impossible people pretty well in most cases. And her husband regularly finds himself dumbfounded by her logical arguments. Yet he doesn't appreciate her as much as others do. Everyone around him has to keep reminding him to be nicer and even his brothers in arms chide him about not knowing anything about love.

This type of storyline albeit interesting at first got a bit tiresome midway. I just wanted to speed through the episodes to get to the actual romance. Yes, it's a very slow burn but there aren't even many romantic moments.

Eventually it comes down to her dutiful role of making him babies. Her helpers suggest she read some material because her husband is inexperienced and might hurt her. I was curious how she would have dealt with that but they just brushed past it. Had they addressed it and shown him being gentle (which I doubt knowing how his character is presented), I would have appreciated the show greatly. It would have been a great teaching moment.

I will say that the sets, costumes and fight scenes were all pretty amazing. I was a bit disappointed by the FL's cousin and Bi Zhi's character. They really made him seem like a mindless fool at the end who is unable to strategize or have foresight.

I love the army fellows characters. They provided some much needed comic relief and bromance. As well as the female lead's helper Xiao Tao's sass. The grandmother was another wonderfully level-headed person and a wise leader. And of course I loved the female lead. Especially her snarky remarks to her husband like - seems you have recovered from your cold. Just being able to deal with such a man deserves applause. No doubt, she would have been an even more capable leader if were not for a man's world.

Overall the show is really interesting but not entertaining enough to award it a 9 or higher.

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Thrilling start to finish

Basic plot: Why Her is the story of a talented lawyer Oh Soo Jae who rises to fame in TK Law Firm. However, her story is not simple. Her journey was one of a righteous young lawyer who goes through tragedy and hardship and makes revenge her ultimate goal by turning herself into the most sought out cut-throat lawyer that that clean up the messiest of cases. However, due to the shocking death in a case, she is forced to take time off and become a professor at a law school. This is where she meets an eager and helpful law student, Gong Chan. As fate would have it, this is not a chance encounter and they would discover just how they know each other while working together on cases.

Review: This is a rare drama where the thrill is maintained in every episode.

Oh Soo Jae is an elegant lawyer who knows exactly how to deal with misogyny in the workplace. She knows she is the best out there and she doesn't care for the opinions of others. She keeps her cards close to her chest. And her character is true to life in many such work places that are dominated by men.

Perhaps the noona romance is not to everyone's liking, however, both characters are adult and the attachment of Dong Chan to Soo Jae is understandable and justified. Similarly, Soo Jae is actually very lonely even when she may not show it and this romance depicts a softer side to her. Dong Chan gives her strength. However the romance element is not a huge part of the show even though I would have loved to see more of it. There is also an additional element of a love triangle with Choi Yoon Sang. His attachment is also understandable as they have known each other for long and he also plays a stong supporting role. My only disappointment was that this character was cut a bit shorter than I would have liked.

Choi Tae Gook is the main negative character. He is also owns TK Law Firm. This is a powerful and daunting character. My only criticism of this role is that we do not see him in action in any case whatsoever. He merely pulls strings in the background in his favour. He along with Assemblyman Lee In Soo and Han Seong Beom plot and plan and help each other rise further in their career ambitions. However, the brains of Choi Tae Gook are unmatched and he has other plans.

The show also has a number of lovely supporting characters that give life to the drama.

Final points: I for one do not understand the harsh criticisms of Why Her. Feels almost like they watched an entirely different show. The finale also keeps you guessing whether the show will end the way we want it to. I hope this review allays any concerns about the show and helps you decide to watch it. I have tried to provide just enough information without giving anything away. I would definitely give this a watch again.

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Nice but missing the wow factor

The concept of the show is pretty good. In the Josean era, a king dies and a physician known for his talent in acupuncture is blamed for his death and banished by the crown prince. A conspiracy surrounds the death of the king. Dejected, the physician nearly kills himself but is rescued by a maiden who also has great interest in forensic medicine. The physician joins a clinic in a nearby village and starts seeing patients but is unable to use acupuncture again.

The series shows different cases and each episode has it's own story while developing the story behind the king's death. However, the show focuses most of the treatment on the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine and there are not many cases involving psychiatry so the title will not make sense until you realise the series is expecting a second season.

There isn't overt romance and the drama and mystery progressed slower than I liked. There are comic moments but again, it may not be to everyone's taste. I felt like the drama had become a bit stagnant midway and finally picked up the pace in the final 2 episodes. I quite enjoyed the two episodes and feel like the show was simply delaying the inevitable for a few episodes.

If you do not like cliff hangers and open-endings, then you can wait until Jan 2023 when the second season will air and watch this season just prior to that.

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Fun Concept (but AI intro)

A new recruit joins a military base who is dealing with the demise of his father. The officers decide to put him on kitchen duty. But since arriving at this base, he has been seeing a strange game like pop-up window in front of his face. The window and voice offer him a path to becoming an experienced chef and in the process winning over his colleagues by uplifting the vibe of the place through delicious meals.

The game like challenges mixed in with very real life issues of these soldiers was an interesting twist and is what made this show a fun watch. The episodes were entertaining as were the character developments. The food making process was also nice. And overall the show gives you a glimpse into the world of the Korean military.

Though the comedy wasn't bad, it only made me chuckle a couple of times. Like when the actors started to speak Spanish befause of how good the food was.

Actually I'm torn between giving this a 9 or 8.5. As fun as it was to see this, maybe an 8.5 is more fitting. Also I've read that AI was used to create the intro theme which was disappointing.

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Riveting and a Breath of Fresh Air!

Kim Tae Ri has done is again. She keeps proving what an excellent actress she is and I am enjoying all her projects. Revenant is a gripping thriller-horror series that is a must watch in 2023 if for no other reason then for Kim Tae Ri's performance.

The opening theme starts off with a strong and creepy vibe and the story is a slow build up of the suspense. However, the pacing is good as so much is happening in each episode. The ghostly visuals are really a unique take on horror in the form of shadows. So if you are faint of heart, this show is still enjoyable.

Folklore professor Haesang, Gu Sanyoung and officer Lee Hongsae work together to discover the identity and the mystery surrounding the evil spirit that has possessed Gu Sanyoung and is going on a murder spree. They are forced to try and solve the mystery through bits of information that Sanyoung's father left behind, along with other clues they slowly collect along the way starting with the 5 mysterious objects related to the evil spirit.

The story is captivating and the series has a high production value thus making is visually appealing. Most enjoyable was the chemistry between Hongsae and Sanyoung despite this not being a romance series as well as the final episode.

The final reveal of the spirit's story is done in the last 3 episodes. But with the evil spirit always aware of their actions, it's a race against time to get ahead.

With 12 episodes, this series is not difficult to binge. You'll enjoy every moment of it.

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Heart Fluttering and Cute

The story is simple but done well! They got me hooked right from the first eoisode and it's revelation. I was so shocked and that itself kept me intrigued for several episodes as I stared at their faces while watching each new episode.

Each episode brought something new and exciting and I loved the development between the main characters. I loved how they emoted and how differently they acted based on the situation and who they were with. There are several exciting moments and encounters between them.

My only disappointment lies in the final episode. It could have been so much more but it didn't live upto the mark of the other episodes which is why I only gave it a 9.5. Their kiss is also disappointing considering the build up.

The main OST is awesome! Very catchy!

The series is short and very easy to binge. Definitely worth watching!

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Queen Mantis and the Petulant Child

The story is about a woman serial killer called The Mantis who has been imprisoned for a while. Her son has grown up to be a cop. A new serial killer has emerged that seems to be imitating The Mantis so the police decide to collaborate with the original Mantis who demands her son be a part of the team.

The show starts off great and Go Hyun Jung is briliant as Jeong I Shin aka The Mantis. Her son however is terribly irritating. He refuses to take into account what triggered his mother and this makes him come across as emotionally stunted and petulant. The reason for this is somewhat explained later but his character became somewhat off-putting to me even though he was smart as a detective. It is almost like a holier than thou attitude which is irritating.

The pacing of the drama was amazing but for some reason they really slowed down the story by episode 6. The ofher detectives think more than the case, it is important to investigate the ML who is also their team leader. That too when lives are on the line. They waste time is episode 7 as well. As if they were just trying to stretch the time. It makes the detectives extremely incompetent. The female detective has a useless backstory. TBH not only her character but also her acting was average or below average. A lot of this team's existence made no difference since the main minds working the case were The Mantis and her son. They just existed for manpower.

There was one other male character that made the show really entertaining but was discarded and it was quite disappointing for me, Talk about an unceremonious exit.

Episode 8 was decent but lack the impact a proper finale should have. It felt sluggish and devoid of energy that a proper thrilller should have. They also leave open the possibility of a second season. I hope they work on improving the team if we are going to see the same characters again in future.

They literally went from a 9 to a 7.5 in trying to stretch a show unnecessarily. The drama can still be considered entertaining for the most part. Additional point in case anyone is interested, the show has no romance.

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