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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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A great action thriller, even though the ending could have been much better
Starring Ji Chang Wook, The Manipulated is an intense action thriller that centers around a man wrongfully accused of murder and who gets out to take revenge on the perpetrator.With 12 episodes, the series is tight, had a lot of action scenes and the pacing was very convincing. The characters could have been written more smartly, since a few of the characters (especially Tae Joong's friends) had no contribution to the story at all.
The action choreography were very good. The antagonist was way too overpowered and rich and the show failed to explore more of his past and how he became what he became.
The show takes a certain turn with the death racing game but it was not totally disappointing. The show focused too much only on the main character and his world, while keeping aside the side characters.
The finale was too crammed up, a lot of things happens in a span of 45 mins. There should have been atleast one more episode to have a proper ending. The ending though not disappointing, felt heavily tushed.
Overall, The Manipulated is a stylish action thriller that does many things right, if not all. And seeing Jichang Wook in action was genuinely refreshing. Not the best of the year, but definitely watchable drama.
My Rating : 8/10
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Through the streets of Taipei
Following around the streets of Taipei, Left Handed Girl follows a mother and her 2 daughters who just newly moved to the city.Technically, the movie is well directed, letting the audience view through the streets of Taipei through the character's POV. A vlog style direction is handled well by the newcomer Shih Ching Tsou through iPhone.
While the narrative is shaky at times, the characters are well written and shows their individual struggle to make through every day. Three generations of women working to support their families reveal archaic beliefs about gender and superstitions about left-handedness.
The biggest highlight of the movie was Nina Ye playing a 5 year old kid, seeing her family struggle through various situations and her own dilemma of being left-handed. There was pure innocence in her performance that really made me stick to the movie till the end.
Narratively, the focus was not constant. The pacing was uneven, the characters especially Shih-Hua-Ma could have been written better.
My Rating : 3.5/5
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Slick & Stylish
A 6 part series about a competition amongst the Samurai towards their final days and with a cholera outbreak, to win 1,00,000 yen sounded an interesting concept. And to my surprise, it was, to some extent.The series seems like a combination of Squid Games, Hunger games and many other movies/shows based on competition. But what hooked me to the show was the clean production and the action choreography with many brutal fights that were very well done.
With respect to characters, their arcs have a small screentime except for Shujiro Saga, the main lead of the show. I wished the narrative and every character's arc was developed a little more. The pacing was sluggish, even with just 6 episodes. I saw either rigorous action or very minimal conversation among the characters, nothing in between.
The last episode veered into unrealistic territory which was jarring. Yet it also set up huge stakes beyond the contest for our intrepid little band of contestants. Surrounded by powerful enemies, it will be interesting to see how or if the writers can bring this to a satisfying conclusion when the second season rolls around.
My Rating : 3.5/5
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Good start, terrible ending
S Line is a dark and gripping mini-series that combines mystery, psychological tension, and social commentary in a unique and disturbing way.The story follows a girl who can see red lines above people's heads, revealing their sexual relationships. For others, the line is visible only if they wear some random glasses.
Each episode follows a different case where someone gets the glasses and their life takes a dramatic turn. What starts as curiosity often ends in tragedy, and the deeper the story went, the more disturbing it became.
The pacing was slow but reasonable. With only 6 episodes, the story was building effectively, however out of nowhere, the final episode takes a whole different path and the series ends up disastrously without giving a proper explanation of glasses, the girl's ability to see the red lines or the supposedly cult that was seen in the final episode. The show could have been so good, but the finale made it into a disappointing affair eventually.
Overall, S Line is a wasted potential, that had a great story, but went wrong due to it's confusing and unexplainable ending.
My Rating : 2.5/5
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Shallow and Disappointing
My Dearest Nemesis is another regular K-drama that follows classic overused pattern of romance that we frequently come across many korean dramas. While I was expecting something high from Choi Hyun Wook due to his recent selection of dramas, this drama is totally forgettable and full of clichés.To begin with, I didn't sense any actual chemistry between the leads in any scene. The plot was lacklustre as it followed common trope of enemies to lovers, but in this drama, it was too quick.
The geek side of the male character felt cringey and awkward, instead of cute and endearing. While the drama had some good moments, the rest were nothing special and even at 12 episodes, it felt a long stretch. Better watch 100s of better dramas in the same genre out there.
My Rating :5/10
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When life gives you a second chance, grab it and own it
Marry My Husband centers around an ill woman who receives the final blow when she learns her bestie and husband are having an affair. She dies soon after, but is given a second chance at life.Marry My Husband makes it easy to fall in love with protagonist Kang Ji-won – and that’s already half the battle won for this K-drama. Park Min-young effortlessly portrays her as smart and kind, though not in a superficial way, but a little too naive and trusting. Yet, she’s learning from her past (or, in this case, future) mistakes and evolving as a person. Thankfully, it’s a gradual process that allows the audience space to root for Ji-won as the show progresses, while acknowledging that she can’t possibly handle it all on her own.
To that end, Ji-won is surrounded by a cast of equally charming, if fairly one-dimensional, characters. There’s her bubbly co-worker Yu Hee-yeon (Choi Gyu-ri), who gives Ji-won a makeover, well-meaning but meek assistant manager Yang Joo-ran (Gong Min-jung) and her stoic but secretly soft-hearted boss and love interest Yu Ji-hyuk (Na In-woo). They are as tropey and archetypal as K-drama characters come, but in a way that’s also their job, to not detract from who we’re all here for: Kang Ji-won. It may not be the most groundbreaking of shows, but that’s not what it’s trying to be either. This Korean drama knows it’s a guilty pleasure through and through, and embraces that wholeheartedly. There is something immensely satisfying about seeing a carefully drawn-out, deliciously manipulative revenge plan slowly but steadily unfold onscreen. It satisfies by giving the audience exactly what they want by letting Ji-won get her payback, with a handful of unexpected twists that are just enough to keep viewers running back for more.
My Rating : 8.4/10
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House of slayers
House of Ninjas wraps its family dynamic in the fight-functional garb of its titular warriors. While it may not revolutionise the genre, its ability to entertain and intrigue makes it a worthy addition to the streaming landscape. The series does struggle to find a consistent tone, vacillating between dark themes and attempts at levity and romance, which affects its pacing and overall cohesion. As a whole though, House of Ninjas is a great watch for action fans. More importantly, its ensemble cast makes this series unique with humor and innovative takes on tropes that pay off in spades. House of Ninjas is a fun and entertaining story about a family living in the most unusual of situations. The way the action is shot in many sequences feels sloppy, and the pacing suffers towards the middle, but the series is still worth watching.My Rating : 7/10
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Solid action with suspense, left on a cliffhanger
Popular actor (Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Goblin) Lee Dong-wook shines in this gripping thriller drama as he smoothly transitions from a morally gray character to a man of ethics and family. He might have been killed off in the first episode, but the use of flashback sequences is enough to influence his magnetic presence on the screen.With multiple villains and arch rivals, A Shop for Killers begins with chaos and a slow pace but quickly piques the interest of its audience with a flashback monologue. Despite some vague sequences, loose ends or unexplained actions by the characters, this suspenseful drama is well rounded and executed when it comes to intense drama and vengeance. The dynamic uncle-niece relationship reflects a deep bond of trust and unspoken love between two lonely family members as they fight back the unscrupulous killers in their own way. Whether it’s the fight scenes or emotionally driven main characters, this thriller will keep you hooked and wanting for more even when it concludes Season 1.
My Rating : 8/10
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A common man's take on Justice
An adrenaline rush, Vigilante stands as one of the better originals Disney+ has put out this year. Not a single second of the K-drama is never really wasted on filler or unnecessary scenes.Although not exactly an innovative premise, Vigilante is still worth a watch: if not for the expertly choreographed fight scenes and masterful cinematography, then probably to reflect on the judicial system and what it truly stands for.
The acting was decent and the action was good which was based more on suspense and violence. The story was great. The characters were diverse and interesting l, although the message delivery could have been more impactful.
My Rating : 7/10
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The feeling of winning for the country
Based on a real story, Boston 1947 follows the inspiring journey of Korean athletes who proudly wore the Taeguk symbol for the first time in an international marathon since Korea’s liberation and brought home the prestigious medal with them.The movie tells a great story in a somewhat old-fashioned or even tacky way. It presents the real events of the 1947 Boston International Marathon using 2004 filmmaking techniques. The one who breathes life into the film is Yim Si Wan, who plays the role of Suh Yun Bok. He adds his own momentum to the character and propels the story forward. The highlight of this movie is the latter part of the marathon race. The film captures the vividness of the scene and makes the viewer feel like they are right there. It also accurately represents the distinctive characteristics of a marathon race, where athletes depend entirely on their physical abilities without the help of any specialized equipment.
My Rating : 7.5/10
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