Meari21

Political Satire Done Right

Good News is a political satire of the true events that transpired during the Japan Airlines hijacking in 1970. It's an excellent mix of dark humor and melodrama, which I found to be absolutely hilarious and painfully moving at the same time. I found myself chuckling and laughing out loud at the funny quips and slapstick comedy quite a few times, and shaking my head in frustration at the universal absurdity of government politics. Damn, and I thought my country was a shithole like no other! Hahaha! But for a wannabe political analyst who thrives studying political science and watching political dramas, this was a fascinating watch! This certainly has the vibe, uniqueness, and boldness of Korean cinema of old.

It stars some of the best and brightest of Korea and Japan, and I was as thrilled as I was surprised to see them share the screen together. I'm glad they actually cast well-known Japanese actors to play the Japanese roles instead of just hiring locals to play these parts. It certainly helped sell the story they were telling.

Of course, the standout to me was Hong Kyung. Who would've thought that the scrawny nerdy kid in Weak Hero would turn out to be a dashing multilingual soldier showing off his cowboy swagger, comedic timing, and dramatic acting chops with just a wave of his hand?! I won't be surprised if this is the role that finally gives him the chance to become a bonafide leading man.

I had a blast (pun intended) watching this. I would definitely want to watch it again one of these days. I'm so happy I stumbled upon this. I hope to see more movies like this from Korea in the future.

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The Weaker Hero

I'm going to start by saying that this second season is good but is nowhere near as good as the first in terms of plot, storytelling, character development, and even action. But having said that, I actually enjoyed this season more. Why? Because it's not as somber and depressing as the first. The characters in this are actually more endearing, even the villains, though not as compelling as the baddies in the first. The friendship between the mains is real and wholesome, and they are written as such that they are more ideal and less flawed. The action scenes are more fun and, I daresay, far more unrealistic that you just have to turn off your brain so you won't question every last bit. But the things I enjoyed in this season are the reasons why I think it's inferior.

There is a lack of development in the characters other than Si Eun. Baku is sort of interesting but he's nothing more than a cookie cutter good guy who wants to protect his loved ones and does everything loud and big to the point that it becomes annoying at times. I think Ryeoun is miscast in this, btw. He's basically playing another version of Suho and he just doesn't have the energy and charisma that Hyun Wook has to make it fully work. The villains are lackluster as well, especially Bae Na Ra as Baek Jin. His pseudo backstory and the writers seemingly wanting the viewers to have more empathy for him because he was bullied and donates money to an orphanage is forced and lazy. Just show us that he's not as bad as he seems, you don't need to tell us. Interestingly, the villain that pulled more weight is Seongje played by Lee Jun Young. Despite having zero backstory and limited screen time, Jun Young actually brought a lot of nuance to his portrayal of the role. He struck me as a kind of Loki or Joker. You don't really need to know about what happened to him in the past and what made him like that or truly understand his motivations because his unpredictability and presence are what really matters. He was the best part of this season save for Jihoon imho. His fight scene with Jihoon is hands down the best fight sequence this season, very reminiscent of the fights in the first. Not to mention that their chemistry is just undeniably palpable. I would love to see them star in another project one day.

Speaking of Jihoon, I didn't like the fact that his character, Si Eun, was sidelined and the spotlight momentarily shifted to Baku. The story revolves around him, without him, there is no Weak Hero. Sure, the other characters deserve screen time too, but not at the expense of Si Eun. He was purposely sidelined to lift the other characters up. A good writer doesn't need to do that to give importance to the other characters as well. This was bad writing tbh. This didn't happen in the first season so I don't know what the writers were smoking when they did this.

The plot by itself is not even half as interesting as I thought it would be. And the fact that they made the main villain flat and less compelling made this season weaker as a whole. Yes, it's more enjoyable for most people because it features more popular actors and the characters are written to be less imperfect so you feel like cheering for them more. But it's the imperfections of a character and the grit of the story that makes a drama better because it makes it more real and thought-provoking. Those are the things that the first season has that this season doesn't. Weak Hero Class 2 is but a shell of its predecessor.

Some say that we shouldn't compare the two because these are different seasons. Yes, they are different seasons but they're supposed to be part of the same story, the main character is the same, and as far as I know the team behind it is mostly the same. So there's no reason to expect it to be wholly different in tone, writing, and characterization. They should be compared, and anyone who says otherwise just doesn't want to see anything negative about anything or maybe they simply have their own preferences. The thing is, people don't think the same way and there will always be people who will criticize something you love. Besides, constructive criticism is necessary for improvement. If they ever make a third season, I hope they can make adjustments and produce a better season than this.

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The Superhero Series We Deserve

Moving is the K-drama and slightly better version of Heroes in terms of writing and characterization. In fact, it is the superhero series we deserve and one that Marvel and DC wish they had concocted themselves. It's one of the best written K-dramas ever made, that's for sure! It boasts of a riveting plot, relatable characters, and visceral action scenes that are downright brutal and reminiscent of Oldboy.

It centers around two generations of people born with superhuman abilities. The plot thickens when agents from opposing organizations start hunting down the previous generation of these “gifted” humans and eliminating them one by one. As the story progresses, the secrets and political conspiracies and machinations of those in charge are uncovered, revealing a plot so sinister that goes all the way to the top.

What I like most about this drama is how the characters were written. None of them are insignificant to the plot, each of them play a part in the story and they're all given their day in the sun no matter how small their roles are. Even the villains are humanized, making them more sympathetic and relatable. Come to think of it, there are no real bad guys in this drama. Each of them are given clear motivations so although you may disagree with their choices, you learn to understand them when you put yourselves in their shoes. And of course, the fact that actors were superbly cast to play these characters contributes to their overall appeal.

The production quality of this series is something that I wish to see in all K-dramas. The production team didn't build a “fantastical” world filled with designer-brand-obsessed people, annoying and laughable product placements, and meticulously curated fancy sets that defy logic and realism to create the illusion of luxury and wealth even when the characters are supposed to be poor. This K-drama formula has always bothered me and turned me off, so whenever I find dramas such as this, I thank my lucky stars because they are few and far between. The world of Moving has none of those, it is gritty and grounded despite the fact that the drama is a fantasy. It shows you the good, the bad, and the ugly side of humanity and the imperfect world they live in.

As I've said, all the characters are great. None of them are wasted. None are mere fodder. But I just have to mention Lee Mihyun, Kim Bongseok's mother. She is the epitome of a great female character. She's badass and highly intelligent and she makes smart use of her powers. But she's also undeniably flawed and vulnerable. She's no Mary Sue. She gets hurt, she miscalculates, she makes the wrong decisions. She's a loving and concerned mother who would die for her son and she's also a wife who's longing for her husband. She's proof that you can write a tough and uncompromising female character without giving her masculine qualities and taking away her femininity. Pay attention, Hollywood! This is how you write a true girl boss!

I seriously can't heap enough praises on this series. I would've given it a perfect 10 if I didn't feel like some parts dragged a bit and wish that they could've written certain episodes differently. Also, I found some of the powers kinda dull and repetitive. But that's just me. That is totally subjective so take it with a grain of salt. If you still haven't seen this drama, go watch it now. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-written story. If you're a fan of the superhero genre, this is a must-watch.

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A Faithful But Lackluster Adaptation of A Popular Sci-Fi Novel

Took me a while to write a review for Three Body because I honestly don't know how to start. All I know is that it's a deeply provocative drama about the nature of man. The drama is based on the Hugo Awardee science fiction novels by Liu Cixin entitled The Three Body Problem. It was also adapted by the same dudes who nuked Game of Thrones for Netflix. Sorry, I chose to forget their names. Hahahaha. I haven't seen that one yet so I can't say anything about that, but this C-drama version doesn't skimp on the science aspects of it. In fact, it never forgets to school you about physics, nanotechnology, space science, and so on. But the very core of this drama is about the good and evil side of humanity, our triumphs, failures, ability to create and destroy, and inability to appreciate life itself and see past our own flaws. The story follows an idealistic scientist specializing in nanotechnology and a scrappy police officer determined to get to the bottom of a series of murders connected to a particular cult-ish organization. At the center of this is a highly intelligent but troubled woman who made a regrettable mistake in her youth that led to a catastrophic mess involving the fate of humanity.

I like the drama for the most part as it is so brilliantly written that you'll either feel as if your IQ has increased after learning so much sciencey stuff or you're dumb AF because you can't comprehend any of it. Hahahaha! The characters are also well-fleshed out that I couldn't bring myself to hate even the antagonistic ones. Production-wise, it's pretty good but you can really tell that this drama could've used more budget for the CGI stuff. I found the computer generated imagery used in the scenes where they were inside the Three Body game very clunky and distractingly bad. The CGI versions of the characters showed very little emotion and moved awkwardly, I thought. They should've just used real actors for those scenes, it would've looked a lot better. This is one of the reasons I found the “game” scenes flat and dull. Another complaint of mine is they spend too much time inside the game with the characters being played by those horrid CGI versions of them. It was not interesting at all! I found myself dozing off every time they entered the game.

As a whole, this is a solid 8 drama and that's already a generous rating. The reason why I can't give it a higher score is because of the pacing. I watched the shortened version of the drama, cut down from 30 episodes in total to just 26, but I still found myself getting bored because of the slow pacing. I also felt that they should've made the science stuff more accessible to the masses, spelled it out in laymen's terms so to speak. I'm not saying they should've dumbed things down, just made them more comprehensible to those who aren't as well-versed in science. I understood the science elements for the most part but some flew over my head, and some I just didn't care for because I didn't feel like understanding them anyway. I was sick and tired of hearing the actors drone on and on about this and that. I think maybe the Netflix version did a better job at this. I haven't watched it yet so we'll see. But if you're into science, especially physics, then you'll appreciate this more, I suppose.

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Star-crossed

My Journey to You is a dark wuxia drama about a doomed romance between a spy and her ultimate target. It follows Yun Weishan, an orphaned girl taken and trained by a mysterious criminal organization called Wufeng. Her mission was to infiltrate an enemy clan and gather information about the enigmatic and secretive Gongs. But she fails her mission the moment she falls for Gong Zi Yu, the Sword Wielder and chief of the clan, causing her to question her own motives, feelings, and loyalty towards Wufeng.

Yu Shuxin absolutely shines as the conflicted and highly intelligent Yun Weishan, a performance I never thought I'd see from her as she is notorious for her cutesy roles and infantile voice that drives me nuts at times. lol I loved her in this drama, though. It made me see her in another light and because of this drama, I am willing to give her another chance in similar works. But as much as I found the premise and female lead intriguing, I found myself more drawn to the secondary characters. I wasn't invested in her relationship with Gong Zi Yu played by Zhang Linghe. The character just felt flat to me for some reason. Perhaps Gong Zi Yu is far too much of a goody two shoes that he didn't resonate with me.

The second couple also did nothing for me as the second female lead was downright unlikable from the start. Her manipulative, selfish, arrogant, and scheming nature just left a bad taste in my mouth. With all due respect to Lu Yuxiao, her Shangguan Qian will most likely hinder me from watching her other works any time soon. I just couldn't stand her character! And I'm afraid I will associate her with this role for quite some time. Cheng Lei, however, was the perfect cold and domineering tsundere, Gong Shangjue. I wanted a better ending for him. But thank goodness for the third couple, Jin Fan and Gong Zishang, they were my favorites! Their comedic tandem kept me entertained all throughout the drama. I also became attached to the fourth couple, Elder Yue and Yun Que, they were quite charming though their love was ultimately a tragic one. The Xue boys and Young Master Hua were also adorable. Yun Weishan's master and handler, Han Ya Si was another unforgettable character. But my favorite is definitely Gong Yuanzhi. Tian Jiarui is simply magnetic in this role and he played it to a tee. I have high hopes for the future of this young actor.

Apart from his visuals and distinct filmmaking style, Guo Jingming's strong suit is writing relatable and interesting supporting characters, so it's no wonder that I loved this cast as much as I loved the cast of Fangs of Fortune. Speaking of visuals, like all of Guo Jingming's works, it is a spectacle to behold. The cinematography, the carefully curated sets, the beautifully crafted costumes, the deliberate almost dance-like movements of the actors, the cinematic shots, and the stylistic action choreography are unlike any other I've seen in C-dramas not helmed by him. It is, in every sense of the word, art. He may not have the best reputation in the industry or even be the most capable writer, but he is no slouch when it comes to artistry and that is why I keep watching his dramas and films.

The memorable music adds to the appeal of the drama and is pretty much the glue that holds the story together, making the emotional beats considerably more impactful. Kudos to the music composer and music editor for a job well done.

Unfortunately, this drama is not without flaws. Though relatively shorter with merely 24 episodes, the run time of each episode is about an hour long, and the signature slow speech and pacing of Guo Jingming's dramas dragged things out as if procrastination was its job, leaving me to nod off into dreamland quite a few times. And yet the last few episodes flew by like a super cyclone in a hurry to devastate another territory, only screeching into a halt with an abrupt cliffhanger of an ending. I mean, I get it. That ending was a deliberate choice to open things up for a potential sequel. I won't be surprised if they had at least another season planned. But with how busy the actors have gotten since the drama was released, I don't see how they would have the time to make another season. It took Joy of Life 5 years to produce a second season and it was a massive hit. It wouldn't have been possible without the full cooperation of all the actors involved. But they could've at least given it a proper ending. The main conflict of the season was already resolved, so it should've been able to stand on its own, sequel or no sequel. Sadly, this is a kind of trend in C-dramas. This is not the only drama I've seen with an ambiguous ending. And because of those flaws I mentioned, I can only give an 8.

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It's A Human Eat Human World

This is actually a review of seasons 1 and 2. I refrained from writing a review for the first season because it ended in a frustratingly unresolved cliffhanger that it annoyed me for days on end! I was so pissed it ended with zero resolution that my rating for the season went from 9 to 6.

After watching the second season, I can confirm that my violent reaction was warranted. The following season started exactly where the first one left off and since I had to wait three whole years for the continuation, I had forgotten a lot of the characters and subplots that I had to do a refresh. For god's sake, they could've just made a 15-episode season instead of splitting it into two!

One of my biggest pet peeves is when seasons end on a cliffhanger without resolving any of the conflicts that were laid out. They could've at least ended the first season with a semblance of a resolution as consolation to its viewers who patiently watched all seven episodes. But no, they had to go the full cliffhanger route and basically declared war with how they ended that penultimate episode, even making people wait three years with the fear that it won't be renewed. And for that alone, my enjoyment of this series was partly ruined. I would've given this a much higher rating if not for that poor decision by the producers/directors. Seriously, who decided they'll just make one season and end it like that without fully knowing if it will be renewed or not?!

But putting aside my grievances, now that I've seen season two, I can honestly say that this is one of the better written and most bonkers, gory, and visceral show I've seen to date! The story itself is so disturbingly insane, I can only imagine what kind of sick mind concocted it. But that very lunacy and the equally crazy characters are its greatest asset. It makes you realize how dark and gruesome humans can be when trapped in a corner like a wounded animal determined to survive.

The characters are so unbelievably complex and relatable to a degree that it bothers me. The Goto family perturbs me but they are the result of generational wealth, power, and privilege. You might think a family like that could not exist in this day and age, but they do in some shape or form. They may not literally eat flesh, but they eat their share of “livestock” simply by existing. If I were Keisuke, would I have done the same things he did, especially when it was all he has ever known? Yes, I probably would've. But I also might have been Yosuke. I might have been Ai, refusing to sacrifice my own child for other people's twisted gains. Even Gin herself had every reason to hate and exact her revenge on a village that treated her like trash. This was a truly thought-provoking, terrifying, and maddening series with nail-baiting scenes, stunning cinematography, fittingly eerie music, and well fleshed out characters. The acting is also superb. I think I might've fallen in love with Kasamatsu Sho even more.

Would I recommend this despite my earlier rant? Yes, if you're into body horror and don't mind all the blood and gore. Good thing you can binge all episodes now. I wish I knew this was their plan, I would've waited for the second season before starting this. I could've saved myself from all that grief! Lol I give this a very solid 8.5.

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A Simple Story About Complicated People

Cinderella Closet is a refreshingly wholesome web drama that fits the feel-good light and fluffy category. The story is simple but heartwarming, there's no melodrama, no villains, just likable and relatable characters. It's a warm welcoming hug after a hard day's work, greeting you at your doorstep as you say, “Tadaima!” Simply put, it just puts a big smile on your face by the time you're done with it. Dramas like these are what made me fall in love with J-doramas in the early 2000's. They're short, sweet, and full of life lessons and adorable quirky characters.

Haruka is a tomboyish young woman who has always felt plain and insignificant among a bevy of “kawaii” girls her age. Her life is transformed the moment she meets Hikaru, a gender fluid cross-dresser who has the looks as well as the fire that she feels she lacks. At the center of this story is their unlikely bond and growing fondness for one another as they manuever their way through life and struggle with their own self-worth.

I devoured this drama in just one sitting. It was as addicting as it was engrossing. The plot is simple but the relationship between the lead characters is anything but. Despite its relatively wholesome vibe, it delves deep into serious and socially relevant issues like gender identity and lookism. There are no bad characters here, just everyday people trying to make something of their lives and that's what I love most about it. The story follows the lives of ordinary individuals just dealing with their own personal issues and that's why they're relatable and you can easily empathize with them.

If you're looking for just a nice short drama that leaves you feeling good about yourself, this is the ticket. I highly recommend it!

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A Surprisingly Gruesome But Watchable Detective Mystery Drama

Coroner's Diary is what I thought and wanted In Blossom to be, about a brilliant female coroner and a calculating strategist for a male lead. Apart from the fact that it stars one of my favorite Chinese actors, I'm also into detective mysteries, so this is definitely my cup of tea.

I immediately became attached to the characters. The main characters are just so adorably wholesome, I can't help but like them. I didn't become as invested in the main couple's love story, though. Although I liked both actors just fine and I appreciated the natural development of their slow burn romance, I didn't quite feel the chemistry between them. They looked great together, I'm not gonna lie, but I felt that the chemistry was lacking. I don't quite know how to explain it. Maybe I'm just slightly biased because I did ship Ao Ruipeng with Bai Lu in another drama, and to me, that was the still best pairing Ruipeng ever had.

I bear no hate for Li Landi, though. I thought she did her role justice and she's definitely one of the better love interests for Ruipeng. This drama also made me pay more attention to her. I would definitely check out her other dramas after this. Speaking of Ruipeng, he surprisingly did well in this. I never thought that the boy who played the rambunctious Lei Wujie would be able to effectively play a dashing, righteous, and cunning military mind.

But as much as I liked the main couple, I thought the second couple carried more charm. I'm such a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope so it's no wonder that I found them to be more engaging. I wish they got more screen time.

The cases they take on are strange to downright disturbing. But it's the uniqueness of these cases that kept me watching. Sure, some of them were so farfetched and predictable that I'm convinced they were merely done for shock value, but it's not like they weren't engrossing enough to hold my attention. The plot twist in the end was pretty good although I also figured that out about halfway through. I'm pretty sure others did too. Chinese writers tend to give away these twists midway so I hope they could improve on that.

This was a good watch as a whole. I was entertained for the most part despite getting marginally bored midway. In my opinion, this is one of the better historical detective mystery dramas in C-drama land.

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Groundhog Day Meets Speed

In a nutshell, Reset is Groundhog Day meets Speed. If you've seen those movies, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It's a high-stakes suspense action thriller with sci-fi/fantasy elements. It's one of the most highly rated C-dramas to date and for good reason. It has a great cast and very compelling main characters. I must say my favorite is Officer Zhang. I actually like the actor, he's one of their better veteran actors. It has pretty good writing for the most part albeit some parts leave things to be desired. It has a decent enough pacing with edge of your seat type of tension.

But, and this is a big BUT, I personally don't think it deserves its almost perfect rating and accolades. First of all, 15-episodes is way too long for a story that can be told in just 12-13 episodes tops. If they had made the episodes 1-hour long, 10 episodes would suffice. The story is seriously not that complex to have that kind of length. By the 10th reset or so, I was bored. You can only endure so much repetition of the “same” predicament over and over again. They have to figure out how to diffuse the bomb without killing others or themselves and this goes on until the very last episode. It drove me nuts!

Yes, I know it's already short for a C-drama with most series spanning 30-40 episodes. But because of this, there are filler episodes and a lot of fluff that the series could do without. There's one particular episode that shouldn't have existed because it doesn't add much to the story imho. Some might say that it's part of Xiao Heyun's character development. Okay, I'll give them that. He learns firsthand that violence is not the answer. But do they show him creating non-violent video games later on? No, they don't. So what's the purpose of him getting his hands bloody and feeling remorse for having killed someone? He didn't kill her anyway as things always reset if they don't achieve their mission. That woman ended up in prison and still very much alive. So what was the purpose of that episode of him feeling like utter trash and them being chased by the police like criminals on the loose? Nothing. It achieved nothing but prolong the series. Perhaps, some would argue that it was a way for the viewers to get to know him a little by showing a little character background. That could've been achieved in just a few scenes or so, not one whole episode. Besides, we know next to nothing about Li Shiqing's background, and yet it didn't matter because we got to know who she is based on her actions and how she handles the situation. We already know that the experience has changed Xiao Heyun. He went from zero to hero trying to defend Li Shiqing. We know who he is. So really, there's no need for that episode. This is precisely why I don't normally watch modern non-costume C-dramas, they are ridiculously overstretched. I don't have the time nor the patience to sit through 30 episodes of couples fighting over manufactured conflicts and being all lovey-dovey after all has been resolved just so they can reach their quota of episodes.

Also, I might have missed this so if there's anyone who can explain this to me, I'd appreciate it. Based on what I've seen and understood, they never really explained why Xiao Heyun was experiencing a physical break down the more time resets. He just mentioned that it was affecting his health because he had reached his limit and time had stopped moving up with every new reset. So what? Li Shiqing didn't feel any side effects from that. Why was she fine and he wasn't? It doesn't add up. This is my beef with many sci-fi/fantasy C-dramas and novels/manhua, some have logical explanations but some don't. They are not consistent. I would've been more likely to accept things as they were if they had simply employed magical realism and not explained some things logically. It's like you're just supposed to suspend your disbelief when they can't offer a logical explanation for a phenomenon or conflict they've inserted. They could've made them both susceptible to side effects of the reset but written Li Shiqing to be more physically fit than Xiao Heyun so she is able to handle the effects better.

To be honest, I was somewhat disappointed with some of the writing in this. While I do appreciate that they took the time to build up the minor characters as they are needed to help the mains execute their plan, I don't like the fact that they gave very little importance to the other passengers like the old woman and the bungee jumping guy. They were part of the whole and had roles to play in the endgame. But they were treated as fodder. I expected so much more from this drama as it is highly rated, but it could've been a lot better than what it was. I am normally more critical of series that are critically well-received because my expectations are considerably higher than usual.

Overall, it's a good drama, I can't say that it isn't. I would still recommend it to anyone who likes this type of genre. However, I would've enjoyed it more if it had better writing and fewer episodes.

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You Do Live Long Enough to See Yourself Become the Villain

I first saw this series about two years ago, and to be perfectly honest, I didn't quite know how to feel about it. I was, in fact, very reluctant to rewatch the season because I didn't want to relive it. But I felt compelled to do so as I intended to watch the second season and I could barely remember the first, probably due to selective memory.

The first half of the series was engaging and the action thrilling. I was specifically impressed by the creative ways Si Eun fought, it was visceral and almost feral yet always strategic and well-thought out. But just when I thought I had the whole plot figured out, it turned every trope I could think of on its head, and delivered a twist so disturbing, resonating with me so deeply that it upset me. I'm not going into all the details as plenty of people have already written reviews that are similar to mine. So I'm going to just talk about the emotional scar that this series has left me, my gripes, and how they affected my rating.

Anyone who has ever been bullied physically or psychologically can relate to this story and I am one of those people. I saw myself in Beom Seok's shoes, the socially awkward and tormented teen who always felt inferior and a total outsider even amongst those closest to him. So for him to turn against his friends and do a complete 180 was distressing to me to say the least because I knew deep down that could've been me, I could've done that if I had chosen to go down that path. Many of this drama's viewers hate on Beom Seok, but he's as real as it gets. He is what happens when a tortured and lonely soul, who was raised to believe that power and acknowledgement can make people love him and see him as an equal, is pushed to the limit.

Even though this part of the story made me disconnect myself and tune out from what I was watching, I realized that his character and betrayal is what truly makes this drama so powerful. This is not just a drama about bullying, it's about the tragedy of what comes after. It's about the psychologically troubled teens who finally snap after all the torture, humiliation, and demoralization by their abusers and decide to bring guns to school to shoot every last one of their classmates in absolute rage. I believe Beom Seok zeroed in on Suho because he was disappointed in him. He placed Suho on a pedestal because he was the complete opposite of his father. He lashed out when the idol he worshipped turned out to be someone whom he thought was no better than his abusive father. I do not condone his actions but he had his reasons no matter how selfish or twisted they were.

But as much as I was moved and emotionally tortured by this drama because of the painful realism they portrayed these characters, I couldn't and still can't give it a much higher rating. The reason is the violence in the last episode that left a bitter taste in my mouth. I expected Si Eun to avenge Suho by using his usual tactics and being smart about it, but he didn't. He went full Rambo with guns blazing and the bloody war he waged against his enemies took me out of it because it was so unrealistic and just plain ridiculous. No school would allow such a thing! And for the things he did, he would've been sent to juvenile hall and even forced to leave the country because no school would ever take him in no matter the circumstances. As an educator, I cannot begin to fathom why the teachers can be so unbelievably useless and ignorant! Dude, the police or even school security would've been called the moment Si Eun walked in with murder in his eyes. But there was practically no intervention. I mean, the fights inside the classroom were already wildly unrealistic, but that last fight was times ten! The only thing that made that scene less cheesy was Jihoon's acting. He sold it, I'm not gonna lie. But I still would've preferred that they had dialed it down and made it more grounded. There are other ways to exact revenge other than going full berserker mode, which I felt was uncharacteristic of Si Eun at that point in his life. Sure, old Si Eun would've taken the pen and stabbed someone with it with no remorse. But the Si Eun who found friendship in Suho would've stopped and thought about how Suho would've reacted if he had gone back to his old violent self. I guess the reason why I was slightly disappointed by how things turned out is I expected a lot more from this drama considering the strong start. Maybe I'm a bit harsh, but I can only give this an 8.5 and no higher than that. This drama could've been truly brilliant if they had managed to maintain the quality of the storytelling and fight scenes until the end. I expected a clever solution, but I got bloody violence in the end.

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"Many Are More Talented Than I Am, But They Can't Create What I Can."

I haven't seen the anime so I had no preconceived notions of what this movie should be or shouldn't be. I just knew that art is a central theme, so I basically went into this blind. I suppose it was a good thing I didn't watch the anime or read the manga because I actually really enjoyed this. I might have judged it in comparison to the anime/manga if I had been a fan of the source material.

Yaguchi Yatora is the central figure in this story, a relatively ordinary teenager just trying to conform to society's expectations, to be a good student and make his parents proud but careful not to stand out or seem too geeky that he'd be ostracized by his peers. In other words, his life revolves around fitting in and pleasing other people save for himself. Because of this, he has never once felt like his own person or discovered what he really wants to do with his life until he stumbles upon Mori Maru's art and ignites something deeply provocative in him, compelling him to reflect on his own existentialism. And so he embarks upon the challenging journey of seriously pursuing art despite the fact that he has little to no talent and has to start from scratch, competing against far more skilled and gifted artists than he is. The movie follows him as he struggles with his own perfectionism and suffers blow after blow to his self-esteem, and yet continues to be determined to try again until he reaches the pinnacle.

Yes, the plot is simple and fairly predictable. It doesn't attempt to do the unexpected and you know where the protagonist's journey ends. But it's not the destination that matters here, it's the many obstacles and moments of self-doubt along the way that the plot focuses on. It's a moving character-driven story that explores the complexities of human desires and the lengths one is willing to go through to achieve them despite the hardships, pain, and humiliation. Every time Yaguchi fails and ponders upon giving up his dream, I feel it, I can relate to it. Gordon subtlely but expertly portrays Yaguchi's sadness and frustration, so kudos to him. But I must admit, he was overshadowed by Fumiya's portrayal of Ryuji. I never thought a complex cross-dressing character could be so beautifully and poignantly portrayed by anyone, let alone Fumiya. I wasn't a fan of his before this, but I've been completely converted. He should be given meatier roles like this. He is perfect for Ryuji! I found their beyond-friendship dynamic profoundly compelling. The movie actually reminds me of The Lines That Define Me but with a better ending, better visuals, a more inspiring story, and more complex characters.

The production value in this is also highly commendable. The special effects are way cooler than I thought they would be. I imagine that in the anime/manga, Yaguchi's imagination and creative reveries are depicted in fantastical visuals that transport the viewer/reader to an alternate world that exists inside his mind, and the movie does well in adapting that into live action. And damn, the cinematography is chef's kiss! The color grading and filters, especially the bluish hues they chose to depict Shibuya's early morning cityscapes, really bring out the somber beauty of Tokyo. I felt like I wanted to be there, I was there, and should be there. Even the subtle details of trash littering the streets and drunk teens smoking on sidewalks give authenticity to the place, something that is rarely shown in dramas or movies that aim to only present the pleasing aspects of a place.

I have to talk about the music because I seriously think it's the best part of the movie. The soundtrack/musical score is a cultural experience by itself! The music is practically the gravitational force that brings it all together. The funky and jazzy song that plays in the first few minutes of the movie immediately sets the artsy tone. The music remains consistent throughout the film, announcing its presence when you're supposed to notice it and toning things down when it's supposed to stay in the background like inconspicuous white noise. It's certainly one of the best soundtracks in any Japanese drama or movie I've seen thus far. Very well done indeed!

My only complaint is that it's too short and left me wanting more. I felt that this could've worked better as a short drama instead of a two-hour movie. The characters could've used more fleshing out. I found myself getting attached to the main characters but the side characters felt like fodder. I wanted to get to know them more. I bet the anime does better at this.

Thanks to this movie, I no longer have any reason to sleep on the anime. I will definitely check it out! I give Blue Period a solid 9 out of 10.

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The Most Seemingly Insignificant Things Turn Out To Be The Most Important Ones

I have to admit, I only watched this for Woo Do Hwan. I came into this blind so I didn't know what to expect. This is probably one of the weirdest Korean rom-coms I've ever seen! But that's not to say that I didn't like it because I did to some extent. I didn't drop or watch it in installments so that counts for something. When I get bored with a drama, I would usually take a break from it and pick it up again days or even months later, or just drop it completely. That didn't happen with this.

The story follows Hae Jo, a runaway whose father practically discards him when he discovers Hae Jo isn't his biological son. He comes to believe that his life is an accident and that whatever happiness he might find is borrowed and temporary. Hence, he has issues with commitment and permanence. Woo Do Hwan plays this role to a tee. Very few actors can pull off an anti-hero type of character and remain sympathetic. His Hae Jo is a selfish jerk and yet you find redeeming qualities in him. You wanna punch him one minute but hug him the next. Do Hwan carries this show, imho. But that's not to discount the rest of the cast. I think they're great too. It's just that this is a Woo Do Hwan drama through and through. And if the lead role had been played by a lesser actor, it wouldn't have worked as well, I believe.

Plotwise, it's pretty angsty. Not that I avoid that sort of thing or have problems with sad endings. In fact, I rather liked how it ends. He came from thinking his life meant nothing to wanting to live because he realized his life is worth living. That to me is a powerful message. It's a story about life, love, regrets, second chances, and endings.

The production is more than decent with the music particularly standing out to me. I would've given this drama a higher rating if it had been shorter. They could've chopped it down to just 8 episodes and it wouldn't have affected the story at all. Too many unnecessary scenes that don't contribute much to the overall plot. My biggest beef with this drama though, is the toxic nature of the main couple's relationship and the constant ridiculousness and nonsensical behaviors of the characters. It drove me nuts! And that's why I only gave this an 8 out of 10.

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There's A New Dragon In Town

I went into this blind. I had no clue about the plot and I'm not a fan of the games from which this was supposedly based on, so I can confidently say that I had no expectations or biases coming into this. I just got curious because they actually had a panel in San Diego Comic Con and it stars one of my favorite Japanese actors, Kaku Kento. Not to mention I have a sort of fascination for yakuza culture and history. The drama starts off promising enough but then it goes astray in the next three episodes. The constant going back and forth between timelines became taxing. I understand that it's a stylistic choice but still, they could've just done some flasback episodes and be done with it. Non-linear storytelling only works if there are some major revelations that need to be to reserved until the end and the twists and turns in the plot are actually shocking. But none of them were mindblowing at all. If anything, I found most of the so-called twists predictable. So I thought the non-linear narrative only did the drama a disservice. But having said that, the last two episodes are the saving grace of this lackluster series. It actually gets better before it ends!

The cast, for the most part, are exceptionally good. Kaku Kento seamlessly transitions from being one of the protagonists to the biggest baddie in the drama and you can't help but sympathize with him. Very few can pull off that kind of role and he did it with ease. Takeuchi Ryoma as Kiryu was a good choice, imho. I know some fans disliked this casting but I thought he successfully stepped into this role. You see a clear distinction between his young Kiryu, who aspired to become the legendary Dragon and the seasoned Kiryu who has seen and experienced the worst. The rest of the cast did their jobs. The only one I didn't like was Morita Misato as Aiko. I thought she overacted, like a lot! I can't say she's a bad actress, though. She did remarkably well in the Naked Director so I don't know what possessed her to act like a total lunatic in this. Yes, she plays a drug addict, but addicts don't generally act like they're always stoned. I thought her acting was unnatural and completely unrealistic.

The production value is a lot better than the local network TV dramas in Japan, something I wish they would adapt locally so their dramas won't look like cheaply produced reality TV shows. I did like the cinematography in this. The darker tones in the color grading give it a grittier and more sinister look, which suits the general vibe and themes of the drama. The musical score is also well done. The fight scenes are well-choreographed and executed. But I'm a little disappointed that it doesn't have as many action sequences as I had hoped.

As a whole, this is an entertaining drama that I didn't regret watching. The last two episodes alone convinced me that it needs a second season and I will definitely check it out when it's released.

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A Lovely Remake

You Are The Apple of My Eye is a Japanese remake of a Taiwanese movie and it is a wonderful coming of age/slice of life type of story of high school life, close-knit group of friends, and first loves. Yamada Yuki plays Kosuke, the martial arts enthusiast who finds studying and going to school mundane and useless, until he meets and falls in love with model student Mana, played by Saito Asuka. Their relationship is complex as they are the exact opposites of each other and so their romance has always been rocky from the start. This line hit me hard, though. “Thank you for falling in love with me.” How many times have I heard that in my lifetime?! Too many! Hahahahaha.... Our teen years really are the best days of our lives but the growing pains, heartaches, and lost chances also suck big time! I love Kosuke's interaction with his friends the most. The four of them are probably the best characters in the whole film. I'm glad I decided to watch this despite my initial misgivings. I might watch the Taiwanese version next.

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A Waste of a Good Concept and a Great Cast of Actors

I had such high expectations for this drama and had hoped that it would be better than Liu Xueyi's previous project, In Blossom. But sadly, it's subjectively much worse. Even though he is paired with a more capable leading lady in this and has better chemistry with her, the writing just isn't up to snuff. The drama crashes and burns pretty much from the get-go. The first few episodes are kinda interesting. A romance between a domineering and borderline psychotic leading man and a badass female lead determined to end him is something I haven't quite seen in a C-drama before. Alas, the drama only plays with the concept but never fully realizes it as if afraid to explore a truly toxic romance.

The story is a jumbled mess. I didn't know how to make of it and I got the feeling the writers didn't know what they wanted it to be either. It's like a patchwork of different subplots that don't seamlessly fit together. The transitions from one story arc to another are badly executed and the writing is filled with overused and melodramatic tropes that I wish would disappear from dramas altogether. The drama also runs a little too long. It should've ended by the 25th episode. But instead, they let it drag on even though there's practically nothing else to tell. I blame the writing for this, they should've gotten better writers to adapt the novel. The cast, in general, did what they could with the material given to them. Although I wish they had chosen other actors to play certain roles, I was satisfied with the cast for the most part. It's a shame because they could've made something far more engaging with this plot. The only thing that made this drama watchable for me is Liu Xueyi's acting that is always on point.

The production is pretty decent. Kudos to the costume and makeup department for the styling of the actors. The music is alright. The soundtrack and musical score don't really stand out to me but serviceable. But that's about it. I don't know what else to say about this drama. I had it to put it on hold after I finished watching the 23rd episode because I completely lost interest. It dragged so heavily by the last few episodes that completing it was agonizing. This is simply not my cup of tea. They wasted a good concept and a great cast of actors.

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