Miss Romcom

Entertaining enough, but no real likeable characters

Likes: As a fan of the zombie genre, I thought the production was pretty good. The action scenes were tense and nicely done. It was entertaining enough that I don't regret watching this.

Dislikes:
- There were no real likeable characters. No one stood out. And because the characters weren't fleshed out enough, I didn't feel a connection with any of them so I wasn't really rooting for anyone that strongly. Nobody really left an impression.
- I especially didn't like the character of Ohn Jo. She was so dull (as with most of the female characters for most of the drama) Having one of the main characters be so dull was a wrong move.
-Lack of clear leads. I wasn't sure half the time who were supposed to be the main leads. Is it Cheong San/Ohn Jo? Or is it Nam ra/Soo Hyuk? I think if the drama had focused on the Nam ra/ Soo Hyuk arc , fleshed that out a bit more and also the hybrid changes that Nam ra was going through, the drama would have been more interesting.
-Lack of depth in the story arcs. Like what was the purpose of the detective, his partner, the baby, and little girl? They added no value to the story. And the whole arc of Ohn Jo and her father was kind of a let down. And the purpose of introducing the arrow shooting nuna so late in the game?
-Draggy moments. Not gonna lie. I did FF a little in the draggy parts.

Overall disappointing? Yes, but I was still entertained enough mainly due to my love for the zombie chase. Would I watch this again? No. Would I watch another season? Yes, esp if they concentrated on the zombie hybrids and have cool action scenes.

Read More

Loved this! Loved the flawed characters in this seductive slow modern romance

Seems like this drama is getting a lot of hate, but I personally really loved seeing this more realistic approach to modern relationships. Instead of "toxic", what I saw were two flawed characters who had emotionally unavailable parents. Two people who struggle with emotional intimacy. Two people who in their own way, were too afraid to open themselves up to love. Two people who were insanely attracted to each other.

You would think that people who have emotionally unavailable parents would seek out partners who are the opposite, but often times, there are these patterns that emerge where they are attracted to the same in their partners because they are trying to subconsciously "fix" that previous relationship. And I could be reading way more into it than it is, but I felt like that's what happened in this drama.

The FL has a mother who was never really there for her. She's been burned in a relationship before so she's very cautious not to get hurt again. She hides her true emotions and basically has a wall up with one foot always out the door. What she needs is someone who will be there for her and stay by her side.

The ML has parents that have sort of abandoned him. He only does casual relationships because he doesn't want the responsibility that comes with commitment. By toying with emotions, that puts him in control to "test" people. What he needs is someone who will keep coming back despite his flaws, someone who won't abandon him.

So what happens when these two meet and do a dance of seduction? Hot chemistry! I don't care if these two might be bad for each other because this is a drama, not real life. I'm in it for the chemistry. I don't want to see perfect people in a perfect relationship because that would be boring. I also don't want to see the same formula that we see all the time in dramas.

I liked that the characters were really flawed. I liked the natural skinship. I liked the music and tone of the drama. I liked that this was different and had more depth than the typical romance. I liked the acting and how the director didn't take the typical cliched route and showed us the realistic insecurities of wanting more from your partner, but too afraid to be the first to admit it. The only thing I didn't like was maybe the last episode....it felt a bit rushed.

Read More

Fun Action Comedy!

Equally entertaining as the first one, this fun action comedy did not disappoint! Hyun Bin delivered on the action scenes and Yoo Hae Jin stole the show with his comedic timing. I absolutely loved the dynamic of Hae Jin's family, specifically with Yoona. I kept bursting out laughing at their reactions to Yoona's flirting tactics. I'm not a fan of Daniel Henney's acting, but his character did add to the comedy and gave an excuse to show Hyun Bin's cute jealousy.. Jin Seon Kyu did a great job as the villain too. I'm always amazed at how these soft spoken kind actors transform themselves into such great villains.

On the story side, I will say it was weaker than the 1st movie and you'll have to overlook some of the flaws in logic, but honestly I didn't care too much because the action and comedy were strong. This was such a breeze to watch. And if you are a fan of Hyun Bin or Yoo Hae Jin like I am, then this will not disappoint.

Read More

Relatable and adorable romcom!

This romcom is ADORABLE! They took the awkwardness, self doubt, and insecurities that come with dating and made it refreshingly funny and clever. The animation cells remind me of Pixar's INSIDE OUT concept where each cell is in charge of a feeling and serves as the leads' inner voice, often delivering the funny punchlines as well.. Being able to see and hear behind the mask is what makes this drama so fun and relatable.

Kim Go Eun is effortlessly natural as Yumi, showing Yumi's loneliness, awkwardness, and insecurities to relatable perfection. Go Eun's talent of being able to convey so much through her eyes and expressions alone is what makes this drama work. It lines up with the animated scenes and you can just feel what she's thinking. It also lends to the comedy as well. By playing it realistic, those embarrassing situations are even funnier and cuter.

I liked the chemistry she had with Ahn Bo Hyun and would have liked more scenes of them instead of all the anime. That was my one gripe. While the anime is cute and clever,, there was just too much of it and sometimes it got boring..
I would have much rather seen the chemistry play out between the leads than watching it through the anime characters. I hope this is something they'll fix in season 2. Can't wait!

Read More

A more realistic modern day melo romance

LIKES:
1) Writer Lee Na Eun - I like her style of writing realistic layered characters. Her characters are never one dimensional and have realistic insecurities and complicated emotions. The way she writes makes you reflect. Just like she did with Our Beloved Summer, I got goosebumps from some of the lines because it was like Writer Na Eun took a peek into my soul. Love that.

2) The balance of humor, sweetness, and sadness that feels so natural. Nothing feels over the top

3) Choi Woo shik - I love this guy. He's such an amazing actor. This role was made with Woo Shik in mind, and honestly, I can't think of anyone else who could have played this role with the same loveable humor, sincerity and complexity.

4) The brotherhood between Woo shik and Lee Jae Wook. The heartbreaking scenes made me cry like a baby!

5) Park Bo Young - Great as always and a great match for Woo Shik's humor. The banter and reactions are fun to watch

6) The mother/daughter relationship. I love how it was written that PBY takes after her mother's personality. I found that relationship so realistic.

DISLIKES:
1) Pace was too slow and honestly the latter episodes got a little boring in places.

2) I didn't care for the secondary couple or the side characters which led to more boredom when it was their scenes. I did like the movie director though because he was funny

3) The kisses - it felt too careful as if the leads didn't want to upset the people they were dating in real life. Personally I hate that because it takes me out of the story and honestly it almost feels like bad acting. Not sure if this was a directorial choice or an actor's choice, but it killed the romantic chemistry for me. So while I did feel like they had flirty chemistry, it felt more buddy like than romantic lovers.

4) Lee Jun Young's crying - this was a hard sell for me. Felt very forced. He was great in the funny scenes though

If you liked Our Beloved Summer or enjoy more realistic dramas, than I would suggest giving this drama a try. While I didn't like it as much as the former, I still enjoyed the writing and lead characters very much. I think the problem lies more with the directing and editing.

Read More

An easy binge watch

I had liked S1 until they introduced the worst foreign actors and voiceovers who played the wealthy sponsors of the game. That ruined the entire season for me by making the show laughable and stupid. S2 eliminated that problem so in a way I did enjoy this more than S1, but it did lack in a lot of ways compared to S1.

LIKES:
1) The peek into the staff of squid game. I liked the introduction of Park Gyu Young's character. We get to see a glimpse of the people behind the mask
2) Gong Yoo's character expansion. Those were some fun scenes
3) The Front Man's involvement - that kept the plot interesting
4) The carousel game - I liked the intensity in that game which brought out people's true traits
5) The feisty mother character player 149 - she adds some heart amongst the greed
6) TOP's weird druggie character - while I don't like the bully, I did find his tripped out moments funny

DISLIKES:
1) The intensity didn't feel as strong as S1 esp with the games except for the carousel game
2) The weird shift in the middle eps where the tone felt almost comical instead of seriously intense. It was odd and disruptive to the momentum
3) Wi Ha Jun's whole arc felt very lackluster. His storyline didn't really add to the story at all.
4) The supporting characters development felt underwhelming and underdeveloped.
5) The casting of more recognizable faces. I actually liked how S1 had only a few main stars and the rest were not that famous. In my mind, it made the characters a little more believable. S2, it took me longer to believe the acting from the recognizable faces

Overall though, this was an easy binge watch that can be done in a day. Just note, that this is only Part 1 and not a complete story. Season 3 will be Part 2 and will hopefully give us all the answers we need.

Read More

Opposites Attract similar to ISWAK or A Love So Beautiful

Likes: The sinuous Tendo and his suppressed emotions and desires. The adorable Sakura who wears her heart on her sleeve. The dynamic between the two.

Dislikes: Like with most dramas, the fainting/near death incidents are worthy of multiple eye rolls, although I get why they are in so many dramas...I just wish they can do it a bit more realistically. I mean, how many people really faint from a cold?

I'm a sucker for these opposites attract type of dramas where the ML is an intelligent nonchalant type who warms up when a bubbly bright FL enters into his life. What I really liked about this drama was that Sato Takeru and Kamishiraishi Mone really sold me on their characters, especially KM. KM really seemed like this adorable clueless girl who keeps getting herself into trouble. I mean, we've seen this kind of female character so many times, but some actresses tend to be a little over the top...a bit too dumb to be real, but I didn't feel that way so much with KM.

And Sato....he has this sultry vibe that's a bit exciting. He has this way of delivering lines that would usually be too cheesy into words that make your heart skip a beat. And his barely there restraint when it came to Sakura would just suck me in like a vortex.

If you liked ISWAK or ALSB, I would recommend checking this drama out.

Read More

Heartbreaking story of the rape of an elderly lady

There are many things I can't stand, but one that sends me immediately into fits of outrage are crimes against children or elderly. This is the first time I've seen anything that even broached the topic of an elderly lady's rape. The director handled this matter in a very sensitive way. You don't see the actual rape, but hear the conversation leading up to it and see the emotional aftermath that just breaks your heart. Not only does the FL have to deal with the trauma itself, but she has to deal with ageism in seeking justice. It's a sad story that depicts the problems with society and how we treat the aging population....something that I, to be honest, don't really think about, but after seeing this film, definitely opened up my eyes. This is a great film that I hope more people will watch.

Read More

A relatable story about a smart & introspective FL and her longtime crush...

Likes: I loved the realistic characters, especially the FL. She's intelligent, introverted and very guarded, but not in a stereotypical way. All the main characters feel like people you may have known sometime in your life.

Dislikes: Too many side characters that no one really cares about

Right off the bat, this simple story sucked me in with the FL's introspection. She has a secret...it's called unrequited love. It's her journey from high school to college...from being invisible to her crush to something more than a possibility. I absolutely LOVED this female character. I find her relatable and realistic. She's smart, independent, knows who she is, and doesn't change herself to fit a man's ideal. Her only issue if that she's very guarded and reticent and has a tendency to push people away, but once you peel back the layers, you see she's this amazing interesting girl.

I loved that this drama stayed natural. No ridiculous or dramatic obstacles. The hurdles and reactions felt like real situations that could occur, real misunderstandings. Seeing the ML's interest grow and him trying hard to figure out how to break down her wall felt genuine. The ML's best friend who jokes around to keep the mood light and deflect any kind of seriousness or his own feelings of hurt feels like someone I've come across in my life. In fact, most of these character do. I just really loved watching their story unfold.

It's sweet, relatable, and natural. I wished more dramas would take note.

Read More

Likes: Kim Hye Yoon’s spunky personality. Rowoon’s eyes that could melt buttah..but gently. The blossoming romance. The originality of the story.

Dislikes: The chaste kisses (Come on, you call that a kiss?!) Oh and I didn’t care one bit about the “main couple” (Nam joo/Joo da couple), but that’s the point, right?

I thought perhaps this kdrama would be a bit too juvenile for me, but I was so wrong. The story was so fresh and unique that I was hooked right away. Kim Hye Yoon is adorable as the spunky Eun Dan Oh who will never give up trying to change her fate and Rowoon is just dreamy as the taciturn classmate who will try to help her. They have a sweet chemistry that will have you reminiscing about your first crush. The butterflies, the awkwardness, the slow build to a blossoming relationship. Just so cute!

Be sure to check out the Behind the Scenes as well on youtube. The teasing that goes on between the cast is fun to watch!

Read More

Likes: A strong heroine. IU’s fab wardrobe & timeless beauty. Yeo Jin Goo’s gazes. The beautiful set design. The banter. The slow burn.

Dislikes: Kang Mina’s superfluous storyline with P.O. Some of the subplots.

Written by the Hong Sisters, I was excited to watch this fantasy series as I generally like their dramas because they know how to pull the heartstrings and they do the enemies to lovers theme well. And it didn’t disappoint!

Let me just say that IU looks stunning in this drama. Her wardrobe was beautiful and theatrical. They did a great job with the hotel design as well, creating this hauntingly beautiful environment. IU did a fantastic job portraying the dark and world weary owner of the mysterious Hotel Del Luna, a hotel for the dead. I just loved the fact that the female in this story is the strong one, the protector. So many dramas portray the guy saving the girl a bunch of times, but here, it’s the opposite. Jang Man Wol is one cool character.

Yeo Jin Goo plays the upright assertive hotelier who’s at odds with IU’s money hungry ways. Yeo Jin Goo pretty much can do no wrong in my eyes in terms of acting. The dude is just a phenomenal actor. Every expression looks natural and real. He had me laughing at so many parts.

And when you pair him up with IU’s opposite personality, the scenes just light up. The banter made me laugh, the yearning made me sad. The slow burn is what I live for. I definitely think they could have trimmed some of the sub plots and I wasn’t a fan of the P.O/Mina love line or even Mina’s character, but overall I really enjoyed this drama

Read More

Never have I ever wanted to try Japanese sweets so badly

Likes: Very pretty leads makin some very pretty desserts.

Dislikes: The soap opera style. Tried too hard to be poetic.

If you can adjust your lens to view this as a soap opera than I think you'll be ok. I, however, struggled with that as soap operas are not my style...I just find them too exaggerated and over the top, but I stuck it out since it was only 8 episodes.

The leads are very pretty . Nao looks straight out of a manga and there were quite a few moments where I could actually visualize the drawn manga version of her expressions. Tsubaki is also very pretty, but has a manly vibe too.
There were a few smoldering moments that had me wanting more, but this felt more melo than romance.

The two are top confectioners making beautiful Japanese sweets that had me dying to try. Not because they looked delicious. But because they looked like beautifully sculpted play doh that had me so damn curious to what they tasted like. It reminds me of my first impression of Taiwanese pineapple cakes. When I saw a pic, I was like why would you eat this bland looking dry fig newton? And then I tried it on my trip to Taiwan. Pure buttery chewy heaven. Let's just say the multiple boxes I then bought after never made it home with me on the plane. It was a massacre. I ate like 15 in one sitting. Which makes me wonder about these Japanese sweets....but I digress.

This story has murder, revenge, broken relationships, and love all mixed in with some overly dramatic music and acting, especially from the villainess mom. It also had some twists that took me by surprise, so if you're ok with soap opera-ish style, then you may enjoy this. For me, it's already fading from my memory...except for those sweets. Gotta try those...

Read More

Gruesome, confusing, and funny

I hadn't heard much about this short gory series, but I'm glad I checked this out. It was entertaining to say the least. Gruesome, but funny too.

Likes:
1) The Acting. Jin Seon Kyu was soo believable and good as the seedy cop. He was able to be despicable, but yet you don't hate him for it. He also was able to deliver the comedy so subtly that I kept having a delayed reaction in laughing, but once it hit me, I thought it was so funny. Jeon Jong Seo was also fantastic as usual. She just has this edgy provocative side that you don't see much of in Korea. I always believe she's her character.
2) The story was a refreshing change from predictability. I didn't know where the story would go so I enjoyed the journey even if it was confusing, though I blame that more on the bad subs.
3) The Bidder #5 storyline with Jin Seon Kyu's character. This is what made me laugh
4) It's short. At only 6 episodes, it's an easy binge watch which I appreciate

Dislikes:
1) Confusing - again some of this is contributed to bad subs, but there's no real explanation for a lot of things so you're left wondering what happened
2) The character development - I was kind of confused why everyone turned crazy. I would have liked some more backstory into some of the characters
3) Sometimes it felt a tad repetitive

Overall, I would recommend this series to people who don't mind dark comedy, violence or gore.

Read More

Weird, but funny and fast paced

This movie is really different. It's an alien apocalypse meets old school wire martial arts film meets magic and mages with some comedy and action thrown in.

Likes: It's creative and fresh. The off kilter comedy works. I didn't know Ryu Jun Yeol could be so funny. The stellar cast. The action and acting was good. It's fast paced so you don't notice how long the movie is.

Dislikes: The movie is just plain weird, but in a stylish sort of way. But it was so out there that I actually thought I would drop this a few times. It was the bits of comedy that reeled me back in. The mashup of genres took some getting used to. The CGI could have been better. All the separate subplots that set up the story took too long and was confusing at first. Once the story started connecting the dots though, it got way better and interesting.

I would say that this movie is basically setting up everything for the 2nd movie. So just when it starts to get good, it ends with a cliffhanger for part 2 which I will watch because I want to know what happens. Very curious to see people's reactions to this movie. It's one of those movies that I think people will either love or hate.

Read More

A service to the fans!

Seeing so many of the kdrama actors and actresses that I like gather together to have fun on an MT is a dream come true! It's unprecedent to have different kdrama casts all together on one variety show at the same time. It was so much fun watching them interact and getting to know each other or seeing the existing bonds already in place. Watching them have fun and laugh and joke around was so nice to see. I loved seeing everyone's personalities come out and discovering new charming sides that I didn't know before.

Like Hwang In Youp. I had no idea that he was a timid worrywart that is perfect for variety shows. So funny and cute and utterly charming! He needs to go on more variety shows! And Ryu Kyung Soo - I can see now why he's a popular guy behind the scenes. There's something comfortable and disarming about him. And Kwak Dong Yeon - didn't know he was so witty! And Park Seo Joon - I always knew he had a leadership quality, but I didn't know he was THAT fearless! I suspected, but didn't know to that extent. I mean, he didn't even flinch at a loud noise. And Ji Chang Wook - I knew he was a scaredy cat, so it was surprising to see he wasn't that scared of the haunted house (bugs are a whole other matter. lol). Btw, I absolutely loved the haunted house segment. I think that was the most hilarious part of this show as it was also the most revealing in terms of personality. Seeing these new sides made me like them even more so it was great that this show could showcase that.

I've personally watched all the kdramas so I was already familiar with the casts, so I think that does make it more fun to watch, but I still think even if you are unfamiliar with the casts, it would still be an entertaining watch. For me it's definitely rewatchable and personally made me so happy as a fan. I really really hope they have more seasons with different casts and then have a reunion with this cast in the future.

Read More