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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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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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Superior sequel, filled with humour and more bromance
Tail of the Nine Tailed became one of 2020’s biggest K-dramas thanks to its engaging blend of fantasy, action, romance, comedy and horror.Fast forward to 2023 and Tale of the Nine Tailed is back. The second season unfolds with Lee Yeon and his returning assistant, Shin-joo, thrust back into the thick of drama, jumping back to 1938 and becoming embroiled in the politics and fantasy of the era. The episodic storytelling follows the same sort of format as season 1, with a variety of different spirits and demons springing forth to test their power against Yeon and his group. There’s an almost anime-like feel to some of these confrontations, especially late on when a group called the Shinigami Mercenaries enter the fold.
With no focus on the romance between Ji-ah and Yeon this time, Tale of the Nine Tailed feels far stronger and streamlined, instead turning its attention on the brotherly love between Rang and Yeon, with Hong-joo and how she slots into all of this another stand out element too. The show does a great job with its character development overall though, with the added additions of characters.
The blend of fantasy, drama, horror and comedy is much better balanced this time around, with some legitimately creative and well-written segments that stand out across the 12 episodes. This is arguably one of the best K-dramas of the year and bettering the prequel, that’s quite an achievement.
My Rating : 8.5/10
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Natural Parent-child relation reflected through an exceptional writing
Resentment can run deep. Human emotions are complex and in this game of survival of the ‘richest’ and ‘powerful’, it is these abstract and intangible emotions that often suffer. You can choose to go with the flow or swim against the tides. Either way, there will be consequences. The new Korean show, The Good Bad Mother, is about these emotional sufferings and a chance to pause, reset and reconnect.The initial episodes of The Good Bad Mother establish the backstory of our protagonist. Although focused primarily on the relationship between Young-soon and Kang-ho, The Good Bad Mother’s biggest strength is its writing supported by extraordinary performances by Lee Do Hyun and Ra Mi Ran. The duo share a great understanding onscreen. Lee Do Hyun is a chameleon. Just a month back, he left viewers bewitched in The Glory and now, as a cold-hearted prosecutor, he is flawless. Ra Mi Ran is a delight to watch. Her switch from turning a ‘bad’ mother to being vulnerable is heart achingly beautiful.
The secondary but an integral part of the drama, Kang-Ho as a lawyer seeking justice for his father's death is an exceptionally written piece as well. Although he justice was served in the ultimate episode of the drama, it could have been more enticing. But nonetheless, The Good Bad Mother perfectly balanced a parent-child relation and a son's attempt to bring justice for what he and his mother were deprived of.
My Rating : 8.5/10
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Focuses not only on romance, but family friendship and education
Crash Course in Romance focuses on two major points - romance between a hardworking single aunt/mother and a renowed math professor, education and the ups and downs that every individual goes through the path of education.The setup was good and initial episodes had good chunk of romance and comedy that we usually see from most of the KDrama, but the last 2 episodes felt rushed and a needless story of a serial killer might have been a painful thing to watch and consume.
The one thing the drama captured very well is the education system. The show captures the sheer desperation and frustration of parents in the form of a group of worrying and conniving mothers, and how they would literally resort to just about anything to ensure their children’s future.
Crash Course in Romance is mostly a fun and sweet watch, despite the contrived killer storyline and hastily done last two episodes that had numerous plot holes. Perhaps watch it for two people being adorable or the reality check on education, or maybe watch it because even if you don’t get mathematics or Korean, it just sounds like poetry when Jung Kyung-ho explains it, hahaha. At the end, a slight bitter feeling remains that the story could have been written better towards the last 2 episodes of the drama.
My Rating : 7.5/10
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Technology is a scary factor
New Korean content on Netflix, Unlocked, is an interesting and thought provoking movie about being heavily consumed by smartphones these days. While this is not the first movie to tackle this subject, it did a good job in delivering a realistic wake up call about the dangers of social media without any sugarcoating.The pacing was good and the story delivered an unexpected twist in the end. It was suspenseful, it was urgent, and it was generally well made. Si-wan as the antagonist was convincing, although I felt that the thrill could have been more given it's genre. If you’re looking for a thrilling watch instead of a bubbly rom-com this February, Unlocked is one to turn your attention to.
My Rating : 7/10
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Higher the stakes, harder the games
In true Alice In Borderland style, the second season opens with mass murder in the middle of the road. It’s one hell of a way to open a show, reminding us of Arisu’s past, his history of gaming and how, like those in the video game, he is caught in the same situation.Season 2 is madness from the first minute of the first episode – just how we love and know the series to be. Bullets flying everywhere, figuring out what the heck is going on in between the lines and high-speed chase sequences. The series is a gift that gives on giving. Apart from the horrific bloodshed, we also face our protagonists’ emotional turmoil surrounding their past lives. Arisu is still reeling from his friends’ deaths while Usagi walks around with the burden of her father’s probable suicide. The games are puzzled, intense and mind fucking just like it's predecessor.
Just like season 1, season 2 carries on the expectations of the high stakes do or die games and delivers them almost successfully. The finale episode hit me a little, wherein many things went unanswered, the pacing got very slow and a happy ending which I felt could have been more satisfactory, had everything would have been answered. Maybe a Season 3 would answer all the remaining questions and solve the final piece of the puzzle.
My Rating: 8.5/10
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Woo to the young to the Woo
Brilliantly contrived, the story of a rookie attorney with a genius mind efficiently provided awareness regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder. Navigating through stories that teaches some meaningful lessons, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is an inspirational drama that teaches to set goals and go for it, although there will be ups and downs in life.With her outstanding performance as the lead character, Park Eun Bin helped the drama to be more engaging, entertaining and worthwhile. One of the terrific performance I have ever seen in a K-Drama. Amidst of the autism and trials and tribulations, a sweet love story between Woo Young Woo and Jun-Ho was an additional delight to the drama. The chemistry between the characters were amazing and Kang Tae Oh was an amazing choice for this role. I like this guy since his performance in Run-On.
Featuring different cases per episode, the drama opted for mostly relatable cases without excessive and unnecessary drama. The supporting characters were good as well to their task. There were only couple of cases where I felt a little downward. Otherwise, EAW has been a rollercoaster ride wherein the narrative has maintained it's essence over the course of the series.
My Rating : 9/10
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