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Harmless, with a title that doesn’t match
My Youth is one of those shows that starts off with so much promise. It has a strong sense of being based on an actor (Hae) now a florist, who was one of a pair with Mo Tae Rin, is considered the nation’s sweethearts when they were young.The way the protagonists were brought together through Hae’s rediscovery was so well done. The acting at this point a delight.
The back story was overdone ie with too much focus, however, it soon balances itself out. We get to see the full palette of characters, with some, I think, not fully explored.
The father is self centred. Shown as inept but somehow loved by three separate women with two different children. However, somehow I liked the relationship between this delinquent book publishing CEO and Hae. I have never seen Jo Han Chul in a bad role. Jin Kyung, as his first love and now partner, CEO of a drama production company and therefore step mother to Hae, a good role.
Chun Woo Hee as Je Yeon, once again made things look easy. Hae and his relationship with his sister was also a highlight. As were the secondary couple.
So, where did it go wrong for me?
I didn’t have a problem regarding Hae’s illness. However, how it was portrayed and the way it unfolded seemed all over the place. The last four episodes were reflective of this. I felt disengaged. Suddenly, show lost its momentum, becoming unsure of how to treat the lead’s relationship. It was unsure of how the ending should be.
In short, there were many components that somehow no longer seem to fit together.
With such a cast, show should have been great. It started off so strong. Key elements were interesting and inviting. Then they were sidelined. The writers didn’t know how to stick the landing. The filming was superb, as was the acting. In the end, show was harmless.
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Cute as…
My review is going to be short and sweet. I have said this often - not enough nice movies or dramas are made these days. Love Untangled is just that - a nice old style movie, which we need more of.Even though it is a sweet movie, there are a couple of underlying themes that do bubble through but don’t overwhelm the flavour of the movie - and that is a good thing.
It was nice watching such supportive friendships, loving families and a setting in Busan. The coffee shop upstairs we have seen in recent dramas.
Ignore the nay sayers here. Embrace this movie for what it is - a gentle reminder of what’s nice in the world.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Feast For The Eyes But The Magic Wasn’t Quite There
In the Name of Blossom didn’t quite live up to my expectations, even though I gave it a high rating. It’s true to say, as many have commented, the sequel to Flourished Peony was up and down and seemed to lack that magical spark found in the first series.In some ways, the lack of consistency with the first series may very well have to do with the gap required by Chinese government policy that no drama is to be over 40 episodes and if it is, it must be split in to two parts, with the second part aired 12 months after the first.
There were moments that were excellent, then others that were repetitive and others that even had some noble idiocy creep into them. Our OTP went from being great communicators to full on misunderstandings thanks to others interfering in the relationship.
Despite these frustrations, the acting continued to be superb, the sound track was very good and the set design just as good as the first time round.
I did grow tired of the villains. They went from competent and guarded to overt and, in my view, outright frustrating - trying to be more clever than what they actually were.
As for the peonies - magnificent. The other couples - delightful, except for the villainous tragic pair. The shop employees - were under utilised and almost non existent.
The key battle in the latter part of the story was underdone and those who were supposed to be competent, weren’t. The way the calvary was used, in my view not quite right. I only raise this because this part of the story used up some considerable time.
In the end, our OTP triumphed and the final episode was a kdrama ending - everything wrapped up in a neat bow.
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Show had the potential to be much better than it was
Private Banker had layers within layers. I was never sure where the protagonist was coming from. Even at the end, his motivations may have been very questionable.There are a number of old hands in this drama and their acting was flawless. They were able to play caricatures of themselves extremely well. In fact the tone of this show was one of its tongue firmly planted in its cheek.
Like many jdoramas, some episodes were much better than others. They way the Private Banker assembled his team was interesting- very much the case of him seeing more value in his offsiders than they saw in themselves.
Private Banker did highlight the intricacies of the banking world and the business world, tricky deals and the problem of family in business. Who was the true power behind the throne rotated from episode to episode.
Show is certainly set up for a second season and season one is certainly worth a look.
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Not as engaging as I hoped but worth a look
Uprising is a film that promises much: action, swordsmanship, disaffected friendship and an overview of how persons of the lesser classes were treated. It did not paint King Seonjo in a good light (and rightly so)..What I found during watching this movie is how little it engaged me. I found myself going through the viewing motions. The story in its telling was nothing new. However, if you look at it from the point of view of a historical action film, it has some merit. For me though, I found I was suffering from action sameness.
Now to who I liked. Kim Shin Rok as Beom Dong was superb. I wish I could have moved with such animation at the same age. Her character was strong, loyal and displayed superb martial arts. The Blue Robed God should have treated her with a touch more respect.
The two friends: one is a noble, the other is a very talented slave but his closest friend. The story of how they started out together was solid. However, what led to their difference of opinion and final reconciliation was underdone. Their relationship was complex, A film sometimes doesn’t have enough time or space to show this as was the case here. The acting by both was solid.
The message of how Seonjo viewed his people and what happens as a result of the Japanese invasion is valid. Unlike other uprisings in other nations where there was chaos and war, the King managed to survive and carry on. Why this happened is something that needs more exploration elsewhere.
Overall, it’s worth a look and better than many other Netflix films.
For such a lavish production, I expected more.
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A Very Good Story re Business, Community and Heart
No Side Game (Manager) is one of those stories the Japanese do very well. The blend of the corporate world, interlaced with impacts at home and underpinned by how important sport can be as a way of life resonates very strongly.What starts out as a corporate war that sees our hero relegated as the GM of the company’s rugby team is a fertile ground for what unfolds over the remaining episodes.
We have a part time rugby team that works at the auto factory at the end of its tether. Along comes the new GM, a strategic thinker who also recruits a coach, a former University adversary, who believes in innovation - revolution, not evolution.
These two together weld a team that discovers its heart, gives chances to those to grow, to improve, to shine. They do so to such an extent that a junior club is also formed.
Over two years, we get to share in their triumphs and failures. We get to see all our characters grow. In the end we are left with a warm glow inside and an appreciation of how a society bound by rules and etiquette knows how to make a shift in its mind set when it needs to.
If you have the time, take a peek. You might be surprised 😊😊😊😊😊
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The joy of chocolate…
Romantics Anonymous is a highly polished drama, just like the chocolates presented in this show. The acting is superb, the direction flawless and the writing using each episode based on a chocolate, rich in meaning.Mental illness is a central theme. Knowing how the Japanese are regarding such a subject, a very bold representation.
Even if you aren’t a big fan of the key message of loneliness, the impact of psycho social health, watching the family of chocolatiers make their beautiful creations is a real treat.
There is no denying the joy chocolate brings. Getting to see the key ingredient for each bon bon featured and the traditions they embody were a real highlight for me. It symbolises taking time out, something we all need to do more of.
Han Hyo Joo is unrecognisable, a testament to her acting. Oguri Shun didn’t miss a beat.
The only reason it’s not a 10/10 from me is that the early episodes didn’t quite hit their stride. However, once the groove was engaged there was no looking back.
Be sure to enjoy the Kdrama surprise in the final moments.
As our beautiful couple say in the end “We’re nuts and it’s amazing!”
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This review may contain spoilers
Powerful, Poetic, Sublime, Heart Wrenching and at times, Heartbreaking
Light Beyond The Reed is not for the faint hearted, but what a show. Visually powerful, the reflections poetic, and the writing, sublime. The show is intense, brave in its telling regarding the subject matter: surviving workplace predators and the impact of social media.The writing allows the actors to bring their A game. The leads are compelling, perfect examples of how a couple struggling in misery, come together when faced with the most challenging of circumstances. The brother and sister in law provide an insight into collateral damage. The mum, a great actress, plays once again the role of the tortured, unforgiving and hateful siren but with a redemptive arc.
The detectives are wonderful. So layered but committed to seeing justice delivered. They are the human side of policing.
The cinematography was of the highest level. In short, this show was beautifully filmed.
The insight Light brings regarding social media in China is just how unforgiving it is - in fact next level. It shows the level of judgemental comments, prejudices regarding victim blaming and the flipside of those who want the best for those vilified.
As for the main antagonist, he is vile, abusive, all wrapped up in a bow - a predator at their worst. His ability to ensnare others, all part of his charade.
I marked the show down because of the way the justice system was shown. The Chinese system is shown from two angles: the criminal court and the appellate court. In the former, the process was seen in part and a little all over the place. However, the austerity was there. The appellate court did deal with the new evidence and gave a ruling that follows the required process.
The final episodes are dramatic and a triumph.
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The Queen of Serial Killer Dramas
Go Hyun Jung is without a doubt, the stand out performance not only in Queen Mantis but for the year. She delivered her role perfectly. As much as it was chilling, the depth she brought to a mother who used brutal methods to despatch terrible men in their own right, who also longed for her son, was unforgettable.Although a remake of the French show, Mantis, I have found QM the best serial killer kdrama to date. The reason: superb acting, very good writing and the reigning in of the classic tropes. The subject matter re QM’s origins is not pleasant but it is handled in a steady manner ie not over the top.
This show looks into the cause of human behaviour both nature and nurture. Its premise is ultimately that nuture is the cause and not someone’s bloodline. The exploration on how people react when a key employer (in this case, the mine) shuts down is a reminder of the tragedy that follows.
Trust is pivotal to each character and storyline. How this I stretched, lost and then regained comes down to the inner strength of each character.
Jang Dong Yoon is very good as the son of Queen Mantis. I liked how this show explored the relationship between Su Yeol and his wife and how, in hand with this, Kim Bo Ra played a very understated performance.
Cho Seong Ha delivers as he always does but I felt that his character was a little bit too wimpy. Also, they should have used a different (younger) actor in the flashbacks.
As for Lee El, a strong performance that was like a second fiddle at times. This role contrasts to her performance at the same time in My Awesome Star where she portrayed the jealous and delusional starlet so well.
When it came down to the big reveal, I wasn’t surprised. The red herrings were top notch. The layers, challenging.
Queen Mantis is eight episodes, the right amount for such a genre. Anything more would have detracted from the quality of the show but it’s clear a sequel is in the works.
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Enjoyable, Delightful, Uplifting
For Eagle Brothers is an enjoyable family drama, in fact, it’s delightful. It has been a long time since we have had a weekend Kdrama that was just nice. I think we need more of such shows.The cast is star packed. Apparently, the script is what got Ahn Jae Wook (ML) on board. Jae Wook is a former matinee idol and singer and long established in the theatre. Uhm Ji Won (FL) is a pure delight in this show. Her role is a nice contrast to her other two most recent dramas: When Life Gives You Tangerines and Dear Honrang. Both actors are superb as the OTP.
Although the story works through the ups and downs of each family member and those around them, it has a consistent theme and that is the sun will always come up tomorrow. This is due largely to Ji Won’s character CEO Ma. She is a never ending ray of sunshine, unless you upset her 😂
CEO Ma’s mum is played by another veteran actor Park Joon Geum. In Eagle Brothers, she is annoying at times to her daughter but she has a heart of gold and it makes a welcome change to the overbearing mother in laws she plays from time to time.
Each of the four brothers also go through the trials and tribulations of finding their better halves. The matchups keep the watcher invested. We have the convenience store couple, the financial management couple, the Zumba couple and the navy couple.
I know some were critical of the Zumba couple but honestly they truly do well together.
A special shout-out goes to the financial management couple and the professor’s baby daughter Ha Ni. She is the best baby you will ever see in any show. She will be a star one day.
The main villains are former employees of the Eagle Brewery. They are a husband and wife team that are a bit makjang at times but play their roles so well. Choi Byung Mo Is great in his role as the bad CEO. He deserves an award.
One of the other benefits of Eagle Brothers is showing us how traditional makgeolli is made. We get taken inside the traditional brewery and how it works compared to the machinations of the mainstream Silla Brewery run by Byung Mo’s character.
This show was popular at home. So much so, its 50 episode run was extended by four episodes. For Eagle Brothers will put a smile on your face.
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A Little Charmer
Is Love Sustainable explores the question of marriage against a changing backdrop of cultural norms. We see how, although Kayoka wants to launch her own yoga business, underneath it all she would like to get married. Show does tease out the traditional view of putting work first. Kayoka deals with this issue splendidly i.e. on her own terms. She will always put the right thing first - family, friends and relationships.Her father, a noted linguist and widower decides to respect the wishes of his late wife and get remarried. I enjoyed his journey very much. In fact, I liked his relationship with his new partner more than I did that of the lead couple. Kayoka’s father is a very decent human being. He loves his daughter, adored his late wife and easily got lost in his own geekiness but his level of responsibility is second to none.
As for Seita, he was painted as a bit wimpy. However, he’s not. He is the type of person who needs time to do his thing. He is very capable, a loving father and respectful towards his ex wife. When he discovers Kayoko, you are there urging him on. She knows a good thing. The SML was, thankfully, toned down compared to most love competitors. He gave it his best shot but at the end of the day was a nice guy.
There are moments where you cheer and moments where you tear up. I loved the daughter dad dynamic and the father son relationship. Show draws you in, explores key issues in a pleasant way and leaves you wanting what’s best for all involved.
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A Schlockfest That Will Please Zombie Fans
Newtopia is not for the faint hearted but those who like zombie themed shows and movies will enjoy it. Show is a send up of the zombie genre and it does this extremely well.The thought of an anti aircraft battery on top of a luxury hotel was interesting. It opened the door on those many kdrama taglines regarding incompetence, clashing with the classy people and how we are all the same when the chips were down.
It is fair to say that the first couple of episodes were a bit wobbly, which is why I marked it down a fraction. However, it quickly unfolds into a show that has its theme the importance of sticking together in a crisis.
The special effects, makeup and sets are first rate. What they achieved with the budget was phenomenal. Some scenes were very clever and well done.
At times, it was frustrating regarding the soldiers reluctance to use their weapons. However, it could be argued they were scared witless! The two female heroines were superb. One with their engineering skills, the other a crack shot.
Aaron Park almost stole the show. The drunk, zombie infected hotel manager really lifted the show and became the beacon of light that pulled the main team together.
The FL’s journey to find the ML was well done. In my view, one of the show’s strengths was showing each others path, their journey to a greater understanding - isn’t that what we all love about kdramas?
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Some good moments but might test one’s patience!
Love and Gun was made in 2019 and only aired in 2025. There are a number of reasons for this, which can be found on line. I liked the leads. Generally, I will try any show that they are in.This drama is interesting in that, despite some of the propaganda elements, it dealt with two key topics: investigative journalism and stolen marine artefacts and the personal issues faced by special forces operatives.
The best friends, as the second couple were fine. The wider male special forces members were the usual CDrama cheesiness and annoying at times. The female military members punched above their weight. The parents played by senior actors were very good.
The third, established married couple, with an interfering mother in law, were interesting. From their professional challenges through to dealing with life’s tough moments.
There was a fourth couple and at times, struggled for relevance. I found them frustrating.
This drama is interesting in that, despite some of the propaganda elements, it dealt with two key topics: investigative journalism and stolen marine artefacts and the personal issues faced by special forces operatives.
Overall, we get a good snapshot of China’s military preparedness, which was an interesting element for a show to throw in. The military exercises and operations were full on and worth a watch - although authenticity might or might not, be an issue.
The portrayal of military wives/husbands and how they cope with loneliness when their other half is away was quite good. Even though the lead couple faced many challenges, they were a delight, even if the ML was a dufus.
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It’s not a bad show, just needed a bit more care from the writers
Nothing Uncovered is named after the investigative program hosted by the FL. Initially, this had a strong and meaningful aspect regarding the story. The tension of producing and hosting such a show was quite good.The thriller and mystery aspects started out strong. Even the villains. However, something along the way saw them watered down and recycled in a way to try and distract us from finding out who the real culprits are.
The relationship between the FL and her writer husband was tedious at times. The writers tried to pull our heartstrings regarding the husband. He was mopey, forlorn and deceitful. He said he loved the FL but his actions say otherwise.
The OTP is worth the time. My only criticism is the on again off again behaviour of the FL. It detracted from the story in the second half. The ML does well. We have seen him in a number of good shows now and he shows he can be both goofy and serious.
Despite its shortcomings, I found myself watching this show from the beginning to the end. It’s not a bad show. The cast is good. However, some had drawn out and quite boring roles. The direction was good. The writing too loose and boring for 16 episodes. Ten or twelve episodes would have been enough.
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Delightfully Delicious
What is touted as a revenge drama is more akin to a cross between Leverage and The Pretender (or perhaps The Institute).. This premise is both interesting and dare I say, better than most kdramas of a similar theme. Ultimately, I binged it.There is a lot to like about this drama, a show that I wasn’t aware of until two years after it originally aired. The first half was a delight, a delicious morsel that had the level of intrigue, tension between relationships and portrayal of characters just right.
Our main pair were superb. There is definitely something there between them. The evil characters were good. The notes of intrigue in the first half were classic and very good.
Show does have its brutal moments. They catch your attention. Each member of our Scooby Doo gang are suffering in their own way. Our heroic lawyer suffers from an empathetic illness that appears to threaten his life, a new one on me.
Three episodes from the end, my suspicions became clear and I wasn’t too happy with how the story was turning. The ultimate evil, mysterious, chairman was ho hum and in my view undermined what was a cracking story.
Chun Woo-hee Is an acting powerhouse. Her next drama: A Typical Family is proof of this. Kim Dong Wook is an actor I like very much and did a good job here. Then there is Yoon Park - his versatility knows no end - think Introverted Boss, For Eagle Brothers and Birth Care Centre.
Show overall, is delightfully delicious. If you like intrigue, morally grey characters with redemptive arcs and growing connections between a Scooby Doo gang, then this show is for you. Don’t be put off by the MDL rating.
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