Romantic
Feb 2024Not fast paced, but a gentle, quite emotional and different romance.
Sometimes saying what bothers us, when loved ones act selfishly, is the only way to prevent that happening again and again. On the other hand, that can be difficult if we are made to feel it will be perceived as controlling, or if we think it will drive the other away.
That doesn't imply a healthy relationship at all.
Such issues and more, are warmly faced up to in this rather lovely and very romantic drama.
Our 2 male leads are very attractive together and at times it felt like watching real life.
There are not many characters in this production, but those who are were so good.
I was kept engaged throughout, as the thoughtful yet simple plot slowly unfurled.
I would very happily watch this again.
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Quite stylish, very attractive, dreadful incidental music
Feb 2024Quite choppy at times, when scenes cut back too suddenly to Lee Jun's Idol days. I never got what happened back then; was just LJ sacked, was the group itself not good enough, or did he choose to stop?
Even though several scenes were a little stiff, overall I thought this was a sweet and yet often quite mature drama. Whilst LJ was very unassuming, lacked confidence and was naive/innocent, Choi Jun was accomplished, confident and assertive.
I thought the chemistry between them was very good and both actors came across as comfortable and relaxed in their roles. Their kisses as they became a couple, were lovely, affectionate and natural.
In fact, refreshingly, the weaker portrayal of characters came not from the gay roles, but straight ones.
I really liked that there were no vicious, delusional or overly jealous characters. Often in gay dramas, at least one female part is mean, nasty, clingy and a total bitch. There was a tiny inkling of that at one point, but it went in a different direction, thank goodness.
I loved both the supporting characters of Song Hyun-jae and Simeon, plus the actors who played them.
In fact the whole main cast were good.
It was a sweet watch, with one memorably funny scene that was also mature in its content.
I particularly liked that no big deal was made of being gay. It was a romance; 2 people, both eventually being deeply attracted to each other and going for it.
A really enjoyable watch with a very attractive cast. Keep this standard up, SK and start making them longer with more in-depth stories, please!
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Clever but became too much so at times
Feb 2024Corporate shenanigans, with a greedy, power crazy Director using accounting, company law and number crunching to realise a shocking dream.
Opposing him are characters out for revenge and others closer to home.
Loved the cast and the characters were a decent mix. No whiney, ineffective, needy females either. All are intelligent and their own women.
It was a gripping story, intelligently written and presented, although towards the end there were some, frankly, ridiculous scenarios.
There is some action, but most of it centres around trying to stay one step ahead using brains not brawn. There are times that focus becomes too heavy and tedious.
Not the most satisfying of endings at all, with the usual message that corruption and worst, can be buried by money and power, which should be totally unacceptable, not the other way around.
Whilst this story was concluded to a point, the ending has left a door ajar, should a S2 ever be considered.
It was OK overall and whilst I wouldn't watch it again, the excellent cast and the plot, did keep me engaged.
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Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramun
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Gripping
Feb 2024Long awaited S2 picks up 8 years after the story of S1 closes. As well as cast changes, there are new characters and a shift in the dynamic of some main characters from S1.
I loved S1 and was really disappointed when it was revealed that Song Joong-ki and Kim Ji-won would not be reprising their roles in S2.
However, I have to say that Lee Joong-ki, who took on the dual roles of Eun-som/Sa-ya, was really good and easily filled SJK's sandals.
I like actress Shin Sae-kyong, but didn't think she portrayed Tan-ya quite as well as KJW did; the latter gave the role more depth and feeling, I thought.
The story is fast on action and there are some very emotional and violent scenes, just like in S1. A thirst for absolute power, built on a foundation of deceit, and madness fuelled by paranoia, make for a riveting watch.
I loved it almost as much as S1 and would happily sit through both, in one long binge, in the not too distant future!
I think the ending fits with the feudal times of the setting, but some might not agree.
My favourite race remained the Neanthals.
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Bit all over the place
Feb 2024Bit of a romp, with a pretty bloodthirsty side, a naive-romantic side and a slapstick-style comedic side too. That mix didn't always work together.
Really liked OK Taec-yeon and Kim Hye-yoon as a pair; very cute. Refreshing to have such a positive, practical, smart and opinionated LF role in a period drama, who often took the initiative.
In fact the majority of women in this were strong; no 'princesses'.
Lots of fun, annoying, wicked and some barking mad, characters, join them. I thought Ra Yi-eon's long suffering Grandma was pretty funny.
It did go all around the houses on occasion (and then some), with a few aspects of the story becoming a bit laboured. There aren't multiple crimes being investigated, but one overall mystery that once Yi-eon gets his teeth into it, becomes a huge can of worms.
Plenty of manipulation and there were also a couple of quite moving scenes, too, which were well done.
I liked that some just deserts were visited upon some of the worst characters, although what became of one, I wasn't sure.
Overall a pretty good watch, even though not perfect.
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Charming and frustrating and lovely
Finally got around to watching this and I totally fell for the simplicity, tenderness, even the frustration, of this lovely drama, which starts in 1994 and then jumps in years as the story plays out.Jung Hae-in is a top actor for sure and is like a chameleon, adapting to seemingly any role, with ease. I like how his character in this, refuses to be defined by a key moment in his youth.
The role of Min-soo fit Kim Go-eun like a glove, too. The character was mature, forthright, open and outspoken, which I loved. That balanced JHI's role, who was trying to bury a part of his past, which leads to him often shutting her out.
It really is like fate, the heavens and everything in-between, is trying to scupper their future together.
There are no ridiculously mean, cruel or bitchy characters in this film, which for me, made a welcome change. There is drama and life dishing out some really bad luck, but it feels very normal and more like real life.
Misplaced loyalties, dark shadows, guilt, acceptance and love is the journey.
The story is made by the cast though, for sure. Well worth a watch.
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Fast and fun
December 2023Wow! I love fantasy and action, which this has by the bucket full.
Very fast paced once the action starts (that doesn't take too long), violent, at times gory, but it gets away with it, as it's such comic hero stuff.
I loved the bizarre characters, the weird fashion of Yusuke and Kazuma (kind of 80s) and the quirky feel that J-dramas like this almost always have; I mean, a pacifier sucking Jnr God? Fabulous.
I read a lot of on-line Chinese fantasy novels and many include Beasts that can transform into human form, which are also in this, so really my thing.
Aspects (a gambling part especially), reminded me of Squid Game (or perhaps that should be the other way around, seeing as the Manga debuted in 1991 and the anime a year later), but only for that relatively small content.
The VFX are sometimes a little bumpy, but overall it's pretty good.
I just loved that it's fast, furious and fun. The 'hero', Urameshi Yusuki, is labelled a delinquent, but is a perfect example of attitude, and the book's cover, not representing the true story. People are quick to judge and lump people together (especially when in the negative, or different/more powerful, which leads to fear and hate) and that's certainly addressed here. Keiko, Yusuke's childhood friend, can certainly hold her own too and isn't the usual simpering female we often see in certain J-dramas.
I ended up besotted with the character Kurama / Minamino Shuichi (Shison Jun). Totally delicious!
At only 5 episodes, it's certainly worth a go. I wonder if there will be more.
(I've not read or seen them, but understand the manga and anime, sadly, got wrapped up quite suddenly in 1994, with less than satisfactory endings, due to affects the pressures put on the writer by his publishers, had on his health.)
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Feelgood series, perfect for Christmas viewing!
December 2023First off, I like that Netflix has started calling one-off dramas that won't have a S2 or more, 'Limited'. As they seem to be pushing the western style of multiple series onto many K-dramas they make, it helps distinguish those made in the traditional K-drama format of 1 series (although they often seem to have fewer eps per series; 12 or even less, not 16).
I do wish they wouldn't mess with stuff!
So, on with the review :~)
I loved this; the cast were great and Park Eun-bin has yet to disappoint. I also loved both young actors (Moon Woo-jin and Lee Re) who portrayed younger versions of older main characters. Chae Jong Hyeop and Cha Hak Yeon were both a pleasure to watch, too.
It is very funny at times, but there are also moments of true angst and some tears.
Seriously far fetched, but it somehow gets away with that and I am sure it's totally down to PEB's acting and how she (and her young counterpart) portray the character stranded on an island, plus the other MCs and supporting cast.
The episodes flew by and the story is neatly told in the less-than-usual number of them; I'd have happily let it be stretched out for one or two more... I rarely say that!
Definitely worth watching, especially over Christmas, as it's such a feel-good series about having faith, self-belief, never giving up and staying true to one's self.
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Tough and nail biting
Oct 2023The very early episodes that lay the foundations for this very violent, gripping and fast paced drama, go from causing feelings of mild anxiousness to all out threat, fairly quickly.
It is not easy watching ordinary people being strong armed out of their livelihoods, all their savings and conned into crippling debts they'll never be able to repay.
The ferocity with which the strong-arm gangs operate is sickening. That people could do this to others, totally blows my mind (gang wars happen in real life).
We are then moved on to Geon-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and his new found friend from boxing, Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi), getting drawn ever deeper into conflict with the legitimate business fronted, highly successful and wealthy loan shark, Myung-gil (Park Sung-woong ~ always a brilliant villain).
The story sees them joining forces with someone whose past has a strong connection to Myung-gil. Then, together with characters involved with one another as veterans and members of the Marines (their military service), they decide they have no choice but to take him and his entire organisation, down.
The fight scenes are something else and the efforts both WDH and LSY must have gone to, to get as fit as they look in this, don't bear thinking about!
In terms of how characters are dealt with by the drama/writer, it reminded me of the early days of The Walking Dead... no one is safe and there are shocks aplenty. The sudden departure of one character in particular was very odd but might be to do with the actress.
Excellent writing, as some very witty dialogue and interactions pepper most episodes, which counters the angst and violence.
I love the cast and was really surprised to see Choi Siwan (didn't even realise he was in it), in a very different and [to me] surprising role for him.
Much of it is very OTT in terms of being a long way from what's possible, but, this is an action and justice/revenge drama, not a slice- of-real-life story or a documentary. It's entertainment and I loved it!
The ending held some shocks and I wasn't disappointed, but (why's there always a but?
;-D ), I would have loved to see some characters actually suffer the consequences of their disgusting deeds, and get legally punished by the system, with a nightmare life behind bars!
The most hateful character for me was In-beom, MG's muscle and right-hand man... what a mindless neanderthal. One of my favourites was the quirky and unflappable Oh Da-min, who makes her appearance in later episodes.
If the brutal treatment of others and quite high levels of threat are not for you, then the drama probably won't be either, but otherwise, it's a great and compact watch.
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Warm and feel good over realistic
Sep 2023I thought this was a touching, often amusing, positive and unusual drama.
Dementia is not often featured, to any extent, in S.Korean dramas, in the same way 'natural' gay, disabled or ASD characters are not either. Their industry, seemingly like many within their population, still appear to be more uncomfortable with such things, than not.
Anyone who cares for, or is close to, someone that suffers from dementia or Alzheimers in a far more negative and aggressive way, may find the representation in this a little too saccharin.
However, it is still quite a moving story. How the family of the elderly central character, who is determined to realise a dream he wasn't allowed to in his youth, learn from him, overcome their prejudices and grow, has a very feel good factor.
Deok-chul's family's characters are all quite different from one another and well portrayed by a cast I liked, but I honestly didn't get the father of Chae-rok (Song Kang's character) at all. I found that aspect of the story quite weak; as was the story around Ho-beom (Chae-rok's ex-friend). I didn't really feel like either lent anything extra to the story at all. That's certainly no reflection on the actors though, who were not the issue.
I read that Song Kang took ballet lessons for 6 months prior to filming and it shows. Apart from the very complex moves (where the camera focuses on purely legs, feet etc), which used a professional stand-in, he danced himself. I thought he looked beautiful, strong, graceful and convincing.
If you can put aside the fact that several aspects of the story are terribly unlikely and just watch it for the satisfaction of characters overcoming adversity, pushing their limits, taking responsibility, realising dreams and many becoming better people for it, then you will surely enjoy this, as I did.
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Too many trigger warnings to mention!
Sep 2023I had read various reviews, but a friend with similar viewing tastes to me, said it was actually a really good story... warped and shocking, but excellently done. So, in I stepped.
Along with the captive, Makoto, the viewer is assaulted pretty quickly.
Chained to a gurney and bound, so begins a relentless regime of horrendous sexual abuse, using a variety of sex aids and the captor's own fingers.
Makoto is kept clean, spends a lot of time alone and is quickly allowed to move around enough (though chained by one ankle), to reach a toilet and table containing water and nutrient / vitamin tabs; no food is given.
Beyond the scenes of assault, we learn what lead Katsuragi Makoto to attempting a drunken suicide, from which he is saved by his captor, Yoda Ryoji.
We also learn why Ryoji appears to be numb to the suffering his intolerable levels of abuse cause, for what he sees as a therapy to awaken Makoto's senses and make him want to live.
It surfaces that both are suffering crushing levels of guilt for similar reasons.
Over time, Makoto begins to form a weird but inescapable bond with Ryoji; it's almost like he has become addicted to the intense pleasure he ultimately experiences, even though at the same time, he is visibly disgusted, shamed and hurt physically by it (for obvious reasons ~ he's a straight guy, so it's going to hurt).
As time goes on, however, and the pain diminishes, he seems to lose the shame and humiliation he felt, too. Ryoji tells him that his desire to live is there (basically, suicide should never have been an option ~ he didn't really want to die).
How this ended, I kind of saw coming and wasn't surprised.
Whilst Ryoji sexually assaulted Makoto multiple times, he actually raped him once and that was the culmination of his 'therapy'. He was then left alone and realises it appears he is able to leave.
The ending is poignant and I find that utterly bizarre; yet it is.
I mean, this should be an impossible piece of work to watch. I actually hate scenes of intense bullying and/or where a character is walked all over and too weak to do anything about it. I've dropped dramas like that, which are actually like a kid's programme compared to this.
So I cannot explain why I felt I just had to finish this and, more to the point, could!
Perhaps it's because there isn't any actual cruelty from Ryoji. He is calm throughout, and explains his actions, even though what he's doing is appalling. He never verbally humiliates Makoto and is totally clinical in his attitude. There is no violence with the sexual acts at all; he does not go out of his way to hurt Makoto (in fact there's an instance where he himself was totally vulnerable).
It really is the most visceral, disturbing and yet compelling thing I've ever watched.
It is not simply BDSM porn, that's for sure.
Totally and utterly warped, but it gets away with it. Just.
I could never watch it again though.
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You don't need to like baseball to enjoy this drama
Although I'd read the synopsis, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect and not being a fan of any sport (except figure skating on occasion), I wondered if I'd get into it. However, being a Namgoong Min fan, I decided to give it a try.Much of the story centred around the statistics, strategies and personalities within the game, so I was surprised when it nevertheless kept both my attention and interest.
That was due entirely to the excellent cast who all portrayed the many characters in this drama, so well.
Namgoong Min as the hyper intelligent, unflappable, no nonsense new Manager, whose appointment shocked everyone at team Dreams.
Never having been a player, many looked down on him and thought he'd be a pushover ~ he was anything but. I loved his lazy way of talking and poker face.
Park Eun-bin as the only female to be appointed as any team's Operations Manager, was perfect. She balanced being feisty and just the right level of tough (as a female in a male dominated environment), whilst retaining an even temperament. Too often women in important positions are portrayed as hard, cold, bitchy and lacking emotion. She was none of those things and that was honestly a breath of fresh of air.
So many other actors' portrayals of their characters made an impression on me as well. Too many to list!
There are so many stories intertwined into the main one, which is the club striving to turn their dismal record of losses around, and giving them a fighting chance of actually winning the league.
We also get corporate politics, with the conglomerate that owns the club (helmed by an old and manipulative Chairman), having a hidden agenda. There's in-fighting within both the club's staff and players. Jealousies, arrogance, misunderstandings and struggles with both fitness and confidence.
Then there are the personal problems many characters contend with, which are revealed as the drama plays out. Some are quite tragic and shed a new light on what drives some of them.
All in all, there is a lot of story that is so well wrapped up in 16 episodes.
Whilst I will admit that some of the scenes involving the strategies and stats of the game and its players, went over my head, that didn't spoil my overall enjoyment and surprise at how good this drama was. Even the ending was well thought out and realistic.
An intelligent and fulfilling watch for sure!
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Light and enjoyable
Overall I enjoyed this drama. The synopsis on here is a little 'off' because a big factor in the story is Rembrary wanting to return to his realm and needing to figure out what caused his expulsion in the first place and why. Also some characters are incorrectly named, like The Evil One.The genre is definitely teen, supernatural, comedy, romance, with some emotional and action content; in that order.
The acting was fine, with a watchable cast and story that kept me engaged.
Loved Park Sang-nam as Sa Gam-jae.
Kim Min-Gue (Kue/Gyu/Kyu!) carried the ML role well, making some scenes I would usually find too cringeworthy, bearable.
I would love to see him head up a more substantial drama/role one day... soon I hope.
I am not that familiar with FL, Go Bo-gyeol (playing Kim Dal), but she fit the character well and their chemistry suited their roles, as both were inexperienced and innocent in terms of romance, so it was never going to be 'sizzling'.
The only actors I felt seemed a little uncomfortable in their characters, were Lee Jang-woo (The Evil One) and Cha Joo-young (as the deity, Redrin).
I didn't find it a struggle to finish this at all, so for my personal benchmark, that means it wasn't bad. It's light and easy to watch.
As mentioned before, it does have a 'young' feel, so if you're looking for something a bit deeper, with a more substantial plot, it might miss the mark.
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Different; engaging; surprising
Not at all what I was expecting. I thought it might be some kind of supernatural, light, action/mild horror, comedy. Apart from supernatural, it's none of those.From the moment Shiro/Makoto wakes up from death, on a slab, in hospital, with no memory of any past events, the story is abruptly explained.
We are introduced to a Guardian, who tells Shiro he has died, now inhabits this body and to stay in it and get a second chance at life, he must find out why that person died too. He's given 100 days and 3 chances at answering the question.
The film then follows Shiro's journey as he gets to know the person behind the body he is inhabiting, and struggles to find out why he passed away.
He meets Makoto's disconnected family, a close friend and a crush.
School life is nondescript and it becomes apparent that Makoto was pretty much invisible, with a quiet, socially awkward and weak spirited personality.
Shiro is nothing like that and this is where the story faulters. Apart from 1 character (who still treats it like no big deal), no one seems the slightest bit surprised by the difference.
He's meant to have total memory loss, of which his family and close friend are aware, yet everyone still expects him to know stuff and the interactions don't fit at all.
Due to what Shiro was told about himself, by the Guardian, I also expected his character to be very different and that puzzled me for the whole film, until it was addressed towards the end. In that respect, the story's direction was not at all obvious and pretty engaging.
The outcome was quite a surprise. I think it's intended to make people think, take stock of themselves and their reality, especially when life gets dark.
I actually felt it was quite harsh and yet it offers another perspective that I've never seen before and perhaps when one's mind is not in a place of reason, a person could miss this themselves.
It isn't a film I'd watch again, but the charm and gentleness that Nagao Kento brought to the main character, and the nicely acted supporting roles, lead me to not regetting having watched it one bit.
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I so liked Song Geon-hee in this, playing the King/Princess's brother; I'd not watched him in anything since Missing: The Other Side (S1 ~ I've yet to watch S2) ~ he's Thomas.
The plot is quite fresh ~ a common man who's an attorney, motivated by money, also seeking vengeance, who 'finds himself', a conscience and love ~ though the latter creeps up on him and comes complete with several surprises and a fair bit of angst.
As with many historical dramas, there is, of course, plenty of corruption, power crazy officials, a puppet king struggling to regain the monarchy's power and intrigue by the bucket full.
Being something of a rom-com with a modern feel, kept it light, although there were more than a few scenes that were sad, tragic and with a touch of action thrown in.
The pace was pretty good overall and I was kept engaged. Occasionally, the story did ramble a little, with overly long pauses and the usual irritation of characters acting on their own, not divulging crucial info and thinking they know what's best for everyone. It's forgivable and doesn't spoil things too much. It gets a little cheesy at times though.
I found the ending one that succeeds in leaving the drama's audience satisfied, but after the build-up to it in the penultimate episode, it also felt like a means to that end.
One character's reasons for staying hidden, were never even remotely discussed with the main person affected by their decision ~ if that's not being included as part of the story, leave that kind of reasoning out, rather than have the issue ignored, because there isn't room to address it.
Honestly though, it's not a huge deal, but is something that poked at me!
The music was varied with some quite rocky pieces, but they fit OK for the most part. Even if I didn't think the choices were always appropriate, the music in itself was very good, with some nice ballads too.
A little bit of reality is also included, with the rewritten laws, protecting all, that's focussed on at the end.
Nice drama to welcome Woo Do-hwan back after his military service.
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