Miss Romcom

Better than Season 1!

Likes:
1) They really upped the ante for the CGI. It was a little fake for me in S1, but now it's high quality and believable. Easy now to get immersed into the world of monsters and humans.

2) Faster pace: S2 was edited well and I never got bored unlike S1

3) The addition of all the military scenes: I don't know if it's because I'm such a fan of the IRON SQUAD, but I really liked all the military scenes esp since some of my fav UDT guys from Iron Squad played minor roles. It added more action and intensity imo plus all the soldiers had such manly charisma that I admit I'm guilty of sometimes focusing more on their broad shoulders and sexy arms as opposed to the story ( 미안해 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ) .

4) Better acting: Every single character was believable. Go Min Si did really well with reflecting her toughness and longing pain for her brother. Jin Young did a great job showing the duality of toughness and tenderness with his character. Oh Jung Se nailed his role as the weird crazy scientist. Choi Go was impressive for someone so young being able to reflect devastation and bitterness so well. Lee Si Young 's agony looked so real. The military guys all delivered.

5) Jin Young's bulked up body. Those shoulders! Don't pretend you didn't notice!

6) A whole lotta naked butts

7) The world building: S1 felt a bit stagnant at times being in one apt building, but here we get to see more of the outside world. Glimpses of the monsters and nature. The movement helps the flow of the story imo

MINOR DISLIKES:

1) Too little screen time for Song Kang. I wanted to see more of his character as he was so central in S1. This season focused more on the other characters which I didn't mind as Min Si, Jin Young , and the military guys were fun to watch, but I wished there was a bit more time focused on the character of Hyun Soo.

2) Too little screen time for Lee Si Young. I just love her. I mean who can forget that back scene in S1 when she lifted herself up in the vent. She's the only actress that can literally fight and go head to head with guys. So I was kind of disappointed that she didn't have a bigger part in S2, esp in regards to action. She does have a memorable ending scene, but it wasn't enough for me. I wanted to see more!

3) I have to say that not a lot of answers were given and everything is still unresolved. You get a lot of new characters, but don't really understand their deal yet. Even so, I got hooked on the whole mysteriousness of it all. I'm assuming S3 will explain a lot of things so I can't wait!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Sisterhood caught up in a conspiracy

Likes:
1) Kim Go Eun and Nam Ji Hyun being in the same drama - When I heard that 2 of my favorite actresses were going to star in the same kdrama, I was elated with excitement because that rarely ever happens. I absolutely loved watching the sisterhood or womance between them and their natural acting continues to shine in my eyes.
2) Wi Ha Joon - this guy is so hot! Not only is he great at acting, but he's also so versatile and he's good at action. I thought he perfectly portrayed his character. You never knew which side he was on. I look forward to seeing him showcase more of his abilities in the future (Maybe a bigger role in Squid games 2?)
3) The interactions between In Joo and Choi Do Il. Although the romance is light as this is a conspiracy mystery, I was completely hooked on the question of will they or won't they.
4) All the twists. I really enjoyed not knowing where the story would end up...that is until I found out who the villain was which brings me to:

Dislikes:
1) Once the Villain is revealed in the latter half, the story becomes a bit too over the top. You will def have to suspend your belief and overlook some ridiculous loopholes at the very end.
2) Having the title Little Women, you would expect more similarities to Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, but I didn't find that to be the case, but it has been awhile since I've read that book.
3) The character development could have been better. There were a handful of times where the character was doing something that seemed "out of" character. We weren't shown enough to understand why they were acting a certain way.

But overall, I enjoyed 75% of this drama. I liked all the twists and cliffhangers leading up to the villain reveal, but especially loved seeing 3 of my fav people in a drama together.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Awkward

Likes: Eiji Akaso is very cute. Baba Fumika is pretty.

Dislikes: If I hear "Eh?....Eh?" one more time.....

This had the potential to be super hot, but instead it was just awkward as hell. There were no sparks. The ML was very cute, but his acting was a bit stiff. The FL was at first cute, but then got SO annoying with her "Eh?....Eh?....Eh?" Everything just felt a bit random and almost uncomfortable.

I think in the hands of better actors and direction, there could have been an undercurrent that would make you understand why these two belong together. Instead you're left wondering what the hell did I just watch?

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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!

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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.

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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

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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...

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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.

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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.

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