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Great start, rushed ending
A fantasy drama that blends comedy, history, romance and most importantly, food into a 12 episodes joint.The story centers around chef Ji Yeong, who is thrown into the past by some unusual circumstances, and is seeking to make her way back to the modern world from the Joseon Era she stucked upon.
The first half of the drama progresses steadily, with a ton of delicious food thrown in the front of viewers. The camera follows Ji-young through the process, focusing on the ingredient selection and the process of cooking as much as the final dish. The production was quite vibrant. Both the ML and FL had a great chemistry.
The political aspect had a lesser establishment in the first half, while it's focus shifted heavily towards the ending episodes, leaving us with many plot points unexplained. As with most of the drama, the palace politics come with a fairly simple narrative that splits characters into those who support the ML and those who don't. That's it, the political narrative.
The FL Im Yoon-a plays her with fantastic range, with an adequately hammy performance for the comic scenes and a heartfelt portrayal during the more emotional ones. While the ML doesn’t have the same range as Yoon-a, Chae-min offers an entertaining transformation from a tyrant to a soft-hearted king.
Overall, Bon Appetit is a lighthearted show to enjoy, even though the finale might pull down the overall satisfaction, due to rushed ending and unexplained plot points.
My Rating : 7.5/10
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Love and Grief are 2 sides of the same coin
Pavane seems like a romance themed movie, but is more than that. It deals with loneliness, loss,grief and fear of failure in life.The story centers around 3 characters - Yo-Han, Mi Jeong and Gyeong Ruk. While they seem pretty content with each other, there personal life has some struggles too.
The first act - romance between Gyeong-rok and Mi-jeong does not arrive with fireworks or dramatic confessions because this film understands that people who feel undesirable don’t flirt like normal humans. Their connection grows through small glances, long pauses, and the shared exhaustion of knowing they do not fit society’s idea of a perfect couple, which somehow makes their relationship feel more intimate than any cinematic grand gesture ever could.
The second half feels kind of rushed, with too many things that occur within a short period of time. The sudden loss of a character does felt shocking, although it was too abrupt. The secondary characters were of no impact and is the most conerning part of the movie. The film passes on a strong message though - Cherish what you have now, rather than regretting what it would become later.
Overall, the film is visually great, music is compelling and the aesthetics are catchy. While the pacing was inconsistent, the ending and the message it leaves gives a mixed vibe of 'getting hurt but moving on'.
A good-watch that pulls you towards the characters and their story.
My Rating : 3.5/5
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Polished & Pleasant, but too careful and safe
With an interesting dual-world premise, Love Between Lines quickly grabs attention. The drama is consistent with a good production, overall. The atmosphere is soft and inviting, and is easy to settle into.Where it falters is emotional weight. The romance is gentle and agreeable, but rarely compelling. Emotional beats are suggested rather than explored, and conflicts resolve before they can truly settle in. For a story that centered on intimacy and connection; the chemistry remains strangely restricted. The writing is okay, playing it's characters' safe through the themes of vulnerability and self protection.
Talking about the performances, the FL showed an array of emotions and her act was the best from the lot. The ML, though charming, had constraints in his expression, that at times felt awkward. The supporting characters were just there tbh, without contributing much to the story.
The pacing was inconsistent - almost 70% of the drama centered on the characters, with nothing more developmental otherwise. Towards the very end, the story progresses too quickly, making the mystery behind the ML's father's death an unconvincing arc.
Overall, Love Between Lines is very much watchable and delightful drama that smartfully tells the story in 2 different settings. However, lack of emotional weight and an inconsistent pacing, takes a lot of fun from the drama. Nonetheless, a praiseworthy and recommendable drama.
MY RATING : 3.5/5
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A ride that lost it's way
Tempest is a Korean series that centers around political tension between both Korea (North & South) and the U.S.A.The drama with 9 episodes, started strong but kept on diverging from it's path with every episode. Yes, it was ambitious. But it couldn't deliver the way it should have.
To be fair, the beginning was quite promising. The pacing worked, the intrigue kept me curious, even if things were already starting to feel a bit tangled. But the further it went, the harder it was to keep up. The political plot grew unnecessarily convoluted, conflicts felt rushed and half-resolved, characters lacked proper development, and the editing often lacked the quality. The drama repeatedly lost momentum. Tension would build nicely, only to fizzle out because of clumsy execution. Storylines were dangled like they’d pay off, but then they just dissolved into thin air.
Both the leads were not much intriguing. I personally found the act of female lead as pale and blank. The rest of the cast, instead, did a better job. The chemistry between the characters fell out of place. While the first half build strong plot, the second half got dragged a lot and left us with mixed feeling towards the show.
Overall, Tempest is a one-time watchable political thriller that dwelves into your senses, only to awaken nothing from within. Positive points for it's good international concept, but pulled down by weak execution.
My Rating : 6.5/10
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Unnecessary addition, but still intriguing
Although an unnecessary addition and maybe Netflix's cash grabbing opportunity, this original material got me excited nonetheless, although I didn't kept much expectation.Season 3 starts with an obsessed professor to have a near life-or-death experience. He lures Usagi to the game again, ultimately causing Arisu to join the game.
As we saw in the earlier seasons, this piece continues to give us high stakes game that are thrilling, although a bit sluggish at times. The new characters doesn't create much impact, except Rei. This season has less episodes compared to S1 and S2, however the slow pacing (especially in Eps 5 and 6) makes it less intriguing.
From games perspective, some were fresh while some were seen in earlier seasons which automatically diminished my excitement a little. The emotional aspect was given more weightage towards the final episodes.
Coming to the finale, I would say it gave us little answers and more questions. Although we got to take a look into Borderland's existence, we didn't get much insight though. Viewers maybe divided with the season finale in my opinion.
Overall, Season 3 of Alice In Borderland is an unnecessary addition, that still manages to engage it's viewers with high stake contests and the lead characters. An enjoyable season, if not fulfilling or relevant.
My Rating : 7.5/10
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Uninteresting and messy
With 12 episodes, Head Over Heels feels exhausting due to it's over-the-top execution and a story that feels all over the place.While the drama started well with it's initial episodes, the story kept on getting complex and stretchy. The positive aspects were the background score and good cinematography, however was let down by messy ending.
Tropes have always been a staple in K dramas but the magic had always worked before because they knew how to make things feel fresh but now?
We're past the middle of the year and once again I regret investing time in a rince and repeat story. It's yet another K-drama slop that puts lots of familiar ingredients in, but fails to put some soul into their main characters.
Overall, Head Over Heels is an over-the-top drama with weak characters and unpolished writing. There are many better dramas in my opinion to watch instead.
My Rating : 4.5/10
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Enchanting fantasy crafted with precision
With its fast-paced plotting, engaging characters and resplendent wardrobe, Alchemy of Souls was a compelling escapist fantasy that helped us fly through the sweltering summer.Plot wise, the show revolves around the lives of people residing in a place not known to regular humans, Daeho. There, mages, sorcerers, assassins, maids and all manner of other imaginable people ply their trade, helping the numerous areas of this restricted world function. Continuing, the whole series looks fantastic visually. Bringing life to this fictitious world, director Park Joon-hwa emphasises the expansive area he has to play with, immersing the viewer in every scene. Complete with some rather solid CGI, visual effects and use of pathetic fallacy, the show has some undeniably sleek appeal.
Overall, the first season of Netflix’s Alchemy of Souls was an enticing, consistently solid introduction to (and journey through) the complex world of Daeho. It might not have been perfect, nothing ever is, but there’s plenty here for anyone to sink their teeth into, as well as enough substance for those looking for something comprehensive to enjoy, with season 2 down the line.
My Rating : 8.5/10
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First half intriguing, second half mehhhh
Love all play started very well, giving us a glance in the past of the main characters and focusing more on the sports aspect. The situation that young athletes go through in their life, was visibly portrayed in the first half of the drama.The downfall started in the next half, wherein it became more of a love story and very little a sport drama. Undoubtedly, the main characters 'Park Twins' had a good chemistry on screen, however too much of an emphasis on their love life and not on their professional life as a badminton player, let me down in the second half.
The soundtrack was decent, however while watching the show, it felt like an Instagram filter thanks to it's weird production. Overall, Love all Play had good intentions but didn't stood upto the expectations as a sports drama.
My Rating : 5/10
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A beautifully anthology
Hometown Cha Cha Cha was one of last year’s best K-Dramas depicting the trials and tribulations of a small village and its inhabitants, and Our Blues does the similar kind of thing this year.Our Blues is a 20 episode K-drama that essentially works as an anthological slice of life series. The different episodes are broken up into different two or three parters, following residents on Jeju Island as they go about their day. There are a fair amount of people living on this island, and the 20 episodes certainly help to give this show enough time to introduce everyone and tell their stories.
Aesthetically, Our Blues is just as impressive and part of that comes down to the beauty of Jeju Island. From breathtaking sunsets to sweeping establishing shots, this K-Drama makes the most of its lavish, paradisiac setting, and the series is all the stronger for it.
Although some of the narratives didn't quite hit the emotional highs as others, the bright spots outshone the shades of grey. This is a beautifully written Slice of Life drama, with good storytelling and show-stopping visuals.
My Rating : 8/10
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Gripping and terrorizing
Through the Darkness pitches a riveting story that centers on how the minds of criminals work, how they plot their crimes and how oddly their behaviors are, and leading the formation of Behaviour Analysis Team.Through The Darkness delineates the hard work done by every department in catching the psychopaths and examining the behaviour and minds of these killers. Kim Nam Gil as Inspector Son Ha Young was an effective casting who delivered a good acting on his part.
Overall, this drama depicts the terror of numerous psychopaths during the late 90s and early 2000s, and study of these criminal minds.
My Rating : 8/10
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A light hearted drama with a right heart
When The Weather Is Fine didn't received much recognition like other dramas that aired in 2020, as it should have. A slice of life drama with a slow pace that tells us about the way of life through healing, loving and forgiving.The drama contains numerous thematic threads that are poignant and generally strikes a balance between melodrama and comedy. By exploring in great detail the relationships between characters, When the Weather is Fine underscores the small but precious responsibilities that come with love.
The true hero of this drama is its characters as they narrate their stories and show their perspective which feels quite relatable. Won't forget to mention the OST and BGM of the drama, it was one of the best soundtrack that I have heard in K-Drama. It was peaceful, soothing, melodious and at times, emotional as well.
This drama needs more attention and recognition that it received (stating on the basis of Ratings and # of watchers).
My Rating : 8/10
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This mystery is ridiculously amazing
Mouse got me hooked from the start. A murder mystery of a serial killer/psychopath, with numerous different storylines that ultimately connects to the same place.The plot was amazing, Lee Hee Joon as Moo Chi, the detective/policeman was just terrific. At 20 episodes, it didn't felt even once that the story was loosing it's grip. Rather, there was some kind of twist in every episode which made it interesting and kept me guessing.
The BGM was quite good as well along with the production of this drama. In the world of K Dramas that are usually filled with romance, comedy and Slice Of Life, Mouse serves the best thriller/suspense Korean show which should get more attention, just like the others. Mouse is without a doubt, among my Top 5 best Korean series/drama of 2021.
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Be Careful What You Wish For
If Wishes Could Kill takes a simple but chilling idea-what if every wish you made came true, but it cost your life within 24 hours-and turns it into a tense, emotional ride set inside a high school. What starts as curiosity quickly spirals into fear, guilt and desperation.The show's biggest strength is its concept. The "wish app" feels like something that could exist in real life, which makes the horror hit closer to home. It's not just about dying-it's about how far someone is willing to go for their deepest desire, even when they know the consequences. That moral dilemma keeps the story engaging throughout.
The pacing is a slow burn. The first few episodes focus on building characters and relationships, which might feel a bit stretched, but it pays off later when the stakes rise. As more wishes are made, the tension becomes heavier, and the
emotional impact deepens. Performance-wise, the young cast does a solid job portraying fear, regret, and inner conflict. The friendships feel real, and the breakdown of trust as secrets unfold is one of the most gripping aspects of the series.
Visually, the show leans more toward a dark, atmospheric tone rather than jump-scare horror. It creates uneasiness through silence, shadows, and the ticking clock of inevitable death. The gore scenes were very effective and authentic.
However, the series isn't perfect. At times, it relies on familiar K-drama tropes, and a few plot points feel predictable. Also the music sometimes feel way too comedic and doesn't sync with the nature of the drama. The ending might feel a little mixed feeling and abrupt for some viewers.
My Rating : 7.5/10
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A drama that heals you in silence
Your Radiant Season is a very quiet and gentle drama. It doesn't rely on big twists or dramatic moments-instead, it focuses on emotions, healing, and the small details in everyday life. It's the kind of show that doesn't demand your attention, but slowly draws you in through its atmosphere and characters.One of the strongest parts of the drama is how natural everything feels. The relationship between the leads develops in a soft, unforced way, built on small and meaningful moments rather than intense drama. It makes their connection feel realistic, even if it's not particularly exciting. The overall vibe of the show really stands out. The visuals are warm and calming, and the setting adds to that peaceful feeling. The OST fits perfectly with this tone as well-nothing too overwhelming, just enough to support the emotions of each scene.
That being said, the pacing can be an issue at times. The story moves very slowly, and there are points-especially in the middle-where it feels like not much is happening. While this works for the emotional depth, it can also make the drama feel a bit stretched at times. Also, the acting of the cast - especially in the middle portion feels a little too narrow and thin. The plot itself is quite simple and predictable, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean there aren't many standout moments. Some of the side characters also feel underdeveloped, which makes parts of the story less engaging than they could have been.
Overall, Your Radiant Season has a quiet charm to it. It's not a drama you watch for excitement, but more for comfort and reflection. It leaves a soft impression rather than a strong one. While it didn't do wonders for me, but it still is a feel-good, happy ending drama that we expect from such genre of dramas.
My Rating : 7.5/10
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Beast Mode Activated
Back with Season 2, the chemistry remains strong, natural, and genuinely warm; they feel like family. Character-wise, it works too: the main guy is strong but a bit naïve, not particularly street-smart, more of a genuinely good person trying to survive in a pretty brutal world. That contrast actually lands well.The plot, though, is where it gets a bit shaky. Compared to the first season, this one feels more monotonous, less layered. I can forgive a lot if the story is logical and the relationships are properly built — and to some extent, that’s still there — but what didn’t sit right with me was the overall tone. It leans heavily into hopelessness. No matter what they do, they seem stuck, powerless, unable to protect themselves or others.
The story is ordinary, and the narrative is not an original idea. Just like many action based dramas, Season 2 follows the same pattern. However, the action sequences are terrific and that's what keep you engaged. Even though the storyline is neatly wrapped up at the end, it leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Overall, If you liked the first season, you’ll probably enjoy the character dynamics here as well. Just don’t expect the same level of plot depth. I’m curious and waiting for the next season though.
My Rating : 7.6/10
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