MPL88

Fireworks Have Never Been So Dull

Great set up for this story. A couple who were once involved being torn apart by some painful action of the past, but who are still obviously drawn to each other in the present. The chemistry between the leads was perfect, but the story was far from it. It spent way too much time on the minutiae of everyday life. Granted saving lives is not minute, but it just wasn't interesting here as it wasn't well balanced with the love story that should've been the driving force behind the series and thus the A story instead of the C or D story. The show spent numerous episodes moving the love story at a snails pace with hardly anything happening and when they did try to put more focus on it the dialogue would be at times cringey. For example when the FL was saved from her sinking car by the ML. After he saved her, carrying her from her car of course, she asked him if he "went through all that trouble to save her because he still cared for her." Sigh. The guy is a firefighter that is his job to save people no matter his personal feelings for them. The FL should've known this best being that she is a doctor. SMH. Anyway, it took nearly 20 episodes for there to be any "significant" movement with this relationship and even what happened was barely a step forward. Once I realized there would be another 20 episodes of nothingness with most of the focus being on the fire or medical emergency of the week I gave up on this.

Read More

How Refreshing , a HS K-Drama/Movie that Didn’t include Bullying!

It is well known that bullying is a big problem in Korea. Hence so many shows that come out of the country surrounding this topic. However, having a HS dramedy that was wholesome and just about kids enjoying a normal teen experience was a win within itself.

This movie had a premise that’s been done many times before. The FL has a huge crush on the school’s hottest guy and does whatever she can to make herself worthy of him, in this case straightening her hair. But in comes the ML whom she befriends but is oblivious to what he can offer. Everything she’d want in a boyfriend including loving her just as she is. Eventually she gets it and she and the ML develop a romance. They do face an unforeseen obstacle that does tear them apart but in the end they reunite.

Again, this was refreshing because there were no bullies and no interlopers who thought the leads should be involved with them instead of each other. Plus the FL actually had friends!! Genuine friends, which was awesome.! The leads had nice chemistry and the supporting characters were fun and fit within the story. This was a cute movie. Definitely worth watching.

Read More

Peter Parker meets Superman meets Bruce Lee in this ridiculously fun action school drama

That’s exactly what Yoo Ga-min was a school kid who was passionate about learning but also about protecting the weak and doing the right thing. The way he miraculously appeared when his friends were in trouble along with his super human strength ie kicking through steel doors, jumping off of buildings, running at super human speed and crashing through walls without getting so much as a scratch, he was indeed a super hero. All he needed was a cape.

The idea that his ultimate goal was to form a study group, so that he could improve his grades and go to college was original and served as a great way to bring the misfits that were the study group together. The group was a nice mix of brains, brawn , and kids from varying backgrounds. Though none of their lives were particularly similar they all formed a strong bond of friendship and loyalty.

This show was entertaining and had many hilarious moments but did have a very dark undertone, which was the ever present theme which pops up in k-dramas, severe bullying. It was infuriating to watch kids get bullied at school, bullied walking home from school, bullied when walking to the local store or just hanging out with friends, and no adult stepping up to help. The school was strait up pandemonium, but save for one teacher, administrators weren’t doing anything create order. It was ridiculous (and unrealistic) that there were no parental complaints about the chaos at the school ( or their kids coming home with black eyes, bloody noses and other bruises) while crimes were going on daily on school grounds without any recourse from the administrators or local law enforcement.

Pi Ha Wool’s reign of terror at the school made sense in that he wanted to control his “kingdom”. What didn’t make sense is that control entailing terrorizing kids who wanted to study, learn and make something of themselves. Another plot hole, it was implied that Geon Yoop’s mom was murdered by Pi Ha Wool and/or his gang of thugs but that story thread was dropped and seemingly given to Ms. Lee. Not a plot hole but though Ga min’s focus was learning not fighting, I wanted him to teach his friends a few moves that would help them defend themselves when he wasn’t around. It difficult to watch them repeatedly get slapped, kicked and beat down (rarely fighting back) until Ga-min miraculously came to the rescue.

Despite some flaws, this was a great show. Good cast with great chemistry. Min-Hyun was perfect as Ga-min. This was by far his best role to date. Would I recommend this show? Absolutely! Would I rewatch it? Absolutely!

Read More

Destitute Didn’t Have to Mean Dumb

The first episode kicked things off well, but the story failed to keep that strong premise. I was expecting to see three sisters who were ride or die, bringing down those corrupt killers and manipulators whom they found themselves entangled with, while managing to elevate themselves, even if just enough to do better than they were, out of extreme poverty.

Instead, we got three sisters who were as about as bonded as three siblings living oceans apart. The oldest sister was the dumbest out if the three. She spent almost every episode in tears. Sometimes warranted. Sometimes not. She signed her name to a legal document that was in a language she couldn’t read. Repeatedly confronted potentially dangerous people and threatened to expose their crimes. Handed a stack of stolen money to a woman who knew she was dirt poor, while knowing people were looking for said money. Trusted everything a man said whom she didn’t know from Adam. And continued to be a crusader of justice for her BFF who set her up in a serious mess of financial fraud. The stupidness went on and on with this one.

The middle sister had a few more brain cells to rub together. For she could see the forest for the trees. However, she wasn’t smart enough to be meticulous and strategic in her efforts which resulted in her ongoing failures.

The youngest sister was gullible and dumb. I guess she can get a pass as she was a teen and having to deal with being dirt poor and abandoned by her parents. However, her complete disregard for her sisters and total belief in her rich BFF and family was ridiculous. Also, she looked high throughout the series but perhaps that was in effort to convey her depression with her situation. Still it did the character no favors.

The plot actually could’ve been good if those at the center of it wasn’t so dumb. I gave this 7 episodes because I like Kim Go Eun. However, I finally gave up on the series because the plot continued to drag and I became over these characters lack of intellect. Moreover, what also annoyed me was all the educated and/or rich characters in this came off smart while the poor characters came off dumb.

Read More

A Dull Demon Doing What’s Been Done Many Times Before, but with little Flare

The premise of this series was quite cliche. It could practically write itself due to how much this type of story has been done. Unfortunately, the writers could not make this interesting at all. The “demon” (Gu-won) is very good looking, love the actor. But there was nothing interesting about him. He made deals with desperate people and collected on those deals 10 years later by collecting their souls and sending them to hell. Okay. Seen this before. Now what?

It is intriguing that he has a cross tattoo on his wrist that apparently holds all his powers and he did have an encounter 200 years earlier with a little girl which I’m guessing somehow connects to the FL in the present, but the details of that story thread likely won’t be explored for another 10 episodes.

The demon’s first meeting with the FL was fun. And the power struggle going on at Almighty Ju’s company has some spark, but overall the story fails at being interesting. The leads look great together but have lukewarm chemistry. The only relationship that really popped in this was Doo-Hee and Ms. Ju. Really loved their conversations and chemistry.

Again I can already guess where the story is going. Gu-won will of course see the error of his demon ways and in turn find his humanity by giving up his powers for love and eventually becoming mortal. I’m also betting he made a deal with Doo-Hee’s parents (probably to save her life or ensure she has a good life) and that’s why they died in that car accident. This will be a source of angst in their romance. Nothing wrong with a story being predictable but it needs to be interesting. I gave this three episodes and just couldn’t care enough about the story to continue so I stopped watching.

Read More

Snoozeworthy Love Story with Characters Who Lack Chemistry

I knew this series was in trouble when it spent the first 15-20 minutes on characters who weren’t the leads in a silly dispute. The FL lead was involved, in a attempt, I’m guessing, to set up who she was but she was playing a supporting role in those first 15-20 minutes in a storyline that was neither good nor interesting.

The story eventually progressed to its main storyline introducing the the male lead who couldn’t be more dull. The overbearing mother demanding that he immediately find a wife didn’t help matters either. The leads finally meet and unfortunately they are about as exciting as watching paint dry. No chemistry whatsoever. Both actors are attractive and can act but their characters are as dull as dishwater.

The contract marriage trope always has an element of ridiculousness but the suspension of disbelief required for this story is a lot. This was because the lies to keep up the illusion of the contract marriage were so over the top, so unnecessary and so far from who these characters are it just didn’t make sense. If the FL was smart she would’ve made sure the lies closely aligned with the truth. Thus they’d be easy to remember but the fibs she came up with were ridiculously elaborate which I imagine will eventually lead to the undoing of her and the ML’s scheme. The side stories with the brother and the FL's ex are annoying rather than intriguing or funny. And the leads apparently starting to fall for each other is just not believable, due in part to the lack of chemistry between them and their love story being poorly written.

I gave it 10 episodes because I like Xua Kai, but stopped watching as I was FF through episodes more than I was watching them. Needless to say I won’t be finishing this series and don’t think it’s worth watching.

Read More

A Repeat of Once We Get Married this Was Not

The leads in this have wonderful chemistry. They played opposite each other in Once We Get Married and did a phenomenal job. So this series already had extra points for casting them together again. The premise of the series was strong with a lot of potential but unfortunately the story quickly lost steam early on. I don't know if it was too much focus on the kid, which can sometimes happen when dramas are centered around children or if it was the conflict in the story shifting to business which wasn't well written, but this just started not to work in part due to these issues. As a result, I did not continue this show and dropped it about 1/4 of the way through.

Read More

Off the Rails Before the Story Could Gain Traction

Nice science fiction setup about parallel universes. The wealthy FL is transported to the past after following the advice of an acquaintance who assures her if she arrives at a specific location at a specific time she’ll find her missing friend. Speeding to that location in an effort to meet the deadline she ends of careening off a bridge into the water and traveling to an alternate universe that ends up being the year 2018.

Sounds exciting right? Yes! Unfortunately this is where the excitement ends. The FL struggles to understand what is going on and immediately discovers the life she previously had doesn’t exist in this version of 2018. She gets some help from a stranger who gives her shelter for the night then she meets the ML who proceeds to help her while also stalking her. The first four episodes is literally her finding a job and the ML following her around town because of course she’s some woman, likely a love interest from his past, whom he must look out for. There is nothing more about the sci-fi of the story. If a viewer didn’t know any better this would be another boring romance drama.

Such a shame because I like the actors in this and the premise has promise, but the show seemed to have abandoned that premise for the mundane day to day life of the FL and her inevitable romance with the ML.

Read More

Meandering Scenes with No Logic and No Story; Making This Series Unwatchable

The cast is beautiful as are the costumes, but that does not make up for the lack of logical storytelling. We meet the FL, Qingyue, who has been living at a mortal sect of magical practitioners for 11 years. In this time, she has developed no valuable skills or powers but yet is stationed as a guard at the sect gates. She’s obsessed with romance. Though we’re told this instead of shown this , and in turn decides to marry a God whom she knows nothing about.

Granted he saved her life when a rogue monkey tried to kill her and is a good looking guy. But there is no logic in a) why she would betroth herself to him while not knowing one thing about him. B) why when she saw that he was obviously not a mortal she didn’t ask who he was and where he was from. C) Why she would hide him in her home knowing it would cause serious trouble if he was discovered? She then happily “marries” him having no idea why he selected her as his spiritual partner or anything else about what being married to a God will entail. She moves to his kingdom where the “story” gets even worse. It’s literally just one scene after another that have no connection and with no effort to built a logical story.

There does seem to be some past drama connected to the FL, based on the ML’s, the God, brief and ambiguous dialogue with his main subject, but there has been no effort to build on whatever that is. This started off mildly entertaining but eventually devolved into a story with no purpose. If you’re considering giving this a try, I say save your time and watch something else.

Read More

Great premise, but the execution was a snoozer

It begins with the leads experiencing a tragic fate, but are somehow transported back to the past to live a do over. The FL returns to her younger self just in time to witness the betrayal that destroyed her parents marriage, precipitated her mother’s death and brought about her “wicked” step mother. The conflict that this situation could’ve created was resolved before it could ramp up. After which, the story slowed to a crawl. The series spends quite a bit of time on the day to day monotony of the FL building her business and the ML’s military excursions, but nothing that was building towards an intriguing story thread for the series. I gave this 5 episodes , but just could not get into it because the story wasn’t really moving forward at a reasonable pace.

On a shallow note the ML looked great with long salt and pepper hair, mostly salt. 😂. And the snow covered sets were very well done. The leads had so so chemistry. They need more time together to potentially warm up and mesh. Perhaps that happened in a later episode after I dropped the show. The acting was good, but the actors weren't all that charismatic, which I'm guessing contributed to the show being difficult to enjoy. If the actors were interesting, it would've certainly made it easier to continue watching even with the story barely progressing. Anyway, if you have the patience to sit through several episodes of some world building, while the general story comes together at a snails pace, then you may enjoy this. If you are someone who likes to see where the story is going and actions to support that story thread within the first episode or two, this show may not be for you.

Read More

“Passion” that’ll leave you cold with a laughably absurd plot

“Passion” that’ll leave you cold with a laughably absurd plot

This was entertaining and the leads are very pretty even though the chemistry is passable. Outside of the previously mentioned this show is a hot mess. It tries to have passion but the kisses between the leads are so bad they’ll leave you cold and laughing at how horrendous they are. Probably the worst I’ve seen in a while.

The plot makes absolutely no sense. And neither does the leads actions. Moreover, neither are the brightest bulbs in the chandelier. Case in point, the FL goes to visit this slimy business man who offers to invest in her business if she drinks an entire tray of alcohol shots. She foolishly does it and of course the worst nearly happens. However, she conveniently manages to escape the situation, ridiculously running into the arms of the ML who rescues her. Swooping her up into his arms and carrying her away from the slimy business man.

The ML shows his denseness when he sleeps with the FL during which he discovers it’s her first time but then proceeds to think she’s a prostitute with lot of clients. SMH. And then there is the marriage plot which is silly at best. I continued to watch because it was entertaining until the plot got too absurd to continue. This show is the epitome of leaving your brain at the door while watching. If you can get past the absurdity of it all perhaps you’ll enjoy. If you’re looking for a show that at the very least makes sense, this ain’t it.

Read More

When the ML's wig was more intriguing than the story, I knew this was gone be bad. Lol

Expectation are always low for these micro-dramas, but they can be fun and quick to watch. The premise for this sounded interesting so I gave it a try. Right off the bat, the characters actions were ridiculous. So the FL is somehow transported to the past after being murdered by her boyfriend/husband. She arrives in the past where they are at a public event. He's there as a celebrity promoting his work and she's his arm candy. She causes a scene at the event by immediately physically attacking him, understandably, over what he did to her. The attack is so fierce (and unrealistic. Lol. SMH) they some how end up stumbling on to the stage where a music group is performing. Lol. SMH.

The lead singer, who apparently has a history with her, of course. Stops singing to intervene in the violence, then completely abandons his band mates and the performance to follow her off stage to comfort her. He then proceeds to take her home. He didn't even bother to resume the show or to tell his band mates where he was going. Even more ridiculous was the FL asks him to return her to the home she shares with her murderer. In the mist of all this craziness, I was couldn't help but be intrigued by the ML's purple and white wig. Why was it so obvious? Surely the production team could afford a better lacefront than what he was wearing. I mean it did do a good job properly conveying the stiff overprocessed hair that can be seen on pop stars. But it was so distracting because it was obviously a wig. Lol.

Anyway, I turned this off at the end of the first episode when the FL was being choked to death again by her murderer. I'm sure she'll be rescued by the ML and their love will blossom from there. Again, these micro-dramas never have good writing, but can be entertaining. This was not good nor entertaining.

Read More