This review may contain spoilers
“You are guilty of finding me before I could find you”
Death’s Game is a Korean drama that tackles a theme as delicate as it is fascinating — the value of life and the weight of our choices. I found it deeply engaging and thought-provoking, a series that kept me hooked until the very last episode.Each life Yi-jae inhabits is unique, exploring profound themes such as love, revenge, and redemption. This variety gives every episode a distinct tone while shedding light on different aspects of human nature. It’s fascinating to watch Yi-jae grow and mature through these experiences, slowly learning to appreciate the value of life and the people around him.
What makes it even more compelling is how these stories intertwine; no life is truly separate from the others, reminding us how even the smallest choices can alter fate in unexpected ways.
That said, I have mixed feelings about the ending. Yi-jae wakes up right before his suicide, as if given a second chance — a touching idea in theory, but one that also erases the meaning of everything he experienced. The people he met, the lessons he learned, even the justice he achieved — all are undone, leaving a sense of emptiness.
I also found the show’s persistent message that suicide is a “sin to be punished” somewhat heavy-handed and moralistic, which might feel uncomfortable for some viewers.
Still, Death’s Game stands out as an intense, original drama that invites deep reflection on life, death, and the power of our choices — even the ones that seem small or insignificant.
It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely one of those series that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll.
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Between Comedy and Identity
I found this film very charming: with lightness and humor, it manages to explore profound themes such as identity, family relationships, and the need for acceptance.Its short running time, however, limits the possibility of delving deeper into both the personal stories of Nacchan’s three friends and Nacchan’s own past. Several compelling threads—such as family ties and the experiences that shaped the characters—remain only briefly touched upon.
Nevertheless, Himitsu no Nacchan is a tender yet lively story, one that leaves the audience with a smile, tinged with a touch of melancholy.
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Finally, an AroAce drama
I’ve been into Asian dramas for years now, with a particular fondness for J-dramas. Only recently, however, did I discover this little Japanese gem: Koi Senu Futari, a series that delicately explores the themes of aromanticism and asexuality — two identities still rarely represented on screen, yet portrayed here with respect, simplicity, and sincerity.Perhaps Koi Senu Futari isn’t the most polished or complex drama ever made on this topic, but personally, I believe it comes very close. Representing the entire AroAce spectrum in a single story is almost impossible, yet this series succeeds in doing so with natural grace — avoiding exaggeration and stereotypes, and honestly portraying what it means to live in a society that often assumes “to love” must mean “to fall in love.”
As one of the first dramas to openly explore aromanticism and asexuality, it stands out as both an important and courageous work.
An interesting detail worth mentioning is that the series is based on a novel by Yoshida Erika, which, unfortunately, has never been translated into other languages. It would be wonderful to read it someday, as the drama leaves you wanting to delve even deeper into the inner worlds of its characters.
A small yet precious gem that teaches us to respect every form of love — and reminds us how essential it is to understand ourselves beyond social conventions.
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