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A Show John Wick Would Be Proud Of
Last Samurai Standing is pure, unrelenting entertainment. With high-end production values, breathtaking fight sequences, meticulously crafted sets, and performances of the highest caliber, not a single moment is wasted. Every character is layered and intriguing—some driven by hope, others trapped in the brutal machinery of cleanup, and still more consumed by greed, profiting from the suffering of others.For me, this series feels like Alice in Borderland reimagined in Edo Japan. Across six episodes—the opening arc of a larger narrative—the story never shortchanges itself. It plunges into familiar yet resonant themes: exploitation, betrayal, disappointment, the bonds of family, redemption, and the fragile persistence of humanity. The backdrop is haunting: the twilight of the samurai era unfolding against the devastating outbreak of cholera.
At the heart of the tale is our hero, who takes in a teenage girl competing in the Koduku contest. She stirs memories of the daughter he lost, awakening his humanity and reshaping his path. Their bond is compelling, tender, and transformative. As his siblings emerge, painful family histories surface, yet it becomes clear that, like all families, they must eventually unite to confront the dilemma that binds them.
The mastermind behind the contest may be easy to identify, but that hardly diminishes their impact. The role is integral, and the actor delivers it with nuance and strength. Contestants range from relentless fighters to those guided by conscience, unwilling to cross certain moral lines. Meanwhile, the enforcers and cleanup crews execute their unforgiving duties with chilling precision—though some reveal flickers of empathy toward the doomed participants.
Many will enjoy Samurai. It is well written. It is relevant to today. It is thoughtful. There are some amazing cultural elements in various villages and towns on show too. The bloody scenes are relevant. Even though the fight scenes have super human endurance on display, as one other reviewer has mentioned: John Wick would be proud. This is a show the makers can feel proud of.
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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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This review may contain spoilers
Marie Kondo Would Be Proud!
My Housekeeper popped up on my Netflix feed and I had a feeling straight up I would like it - and I did. So much so, I finished show overnight.So, what’s to like. Firstly, the characters. Each character is given room to breath. There is no over the top character, which is a welcome relief regarding this type of jdorama. The blend of senior actors and the younger actors works.
Secondly, the workplace. It seemed normal, supportive and deals with the current issues - psycho social health. We see how leading up to this, the pressure on workers, the lack of time and a key stress indicator - super messy apartments - it felt like home, actually!
Thirdly, I felt the story addressed a very real issue in Japan: that marriage is still valued and that age gaps are no barrier to this. I did have thoughts of papa katsu running through my mind but show is not that. We have two lovely people who somehow, bit by bit, fall into each other’s orbit.
Fourthly, it deals with family separation in an even handed way. It even shows how it is possible to mend fences, to bridge that gap.
Lastly, I liked how the focus was on that it was okay to have a job that suited you. There was no need for everyone to aspire to be a professional corporate, a lawyer, a doctor and so on. In fact, hiring a housekeeper is a smart move because it gives you your life back and room to breath, to be human.
Take show for what it is - it’s a nice show. Enjoy 😉
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A Lavish Production With Great World Building
Shooting Stars is a lavish and well made production that promises much. The acting is first rate and the world building regarding the Republican Era, second to none.At its heart is a very strong theme that people and relationships matter. Camaraderie is important and working together to achieve the greater good is a worthy goal to aspire to. Family in its different forms is shown too. The conflict between brothers a vital cog in how the plot unfolds.
The first 16 episodes were superb. There were a range of scenarios regarding who might be good and who might be bad. It was also intersecting re the portrayal of the police force at this time, the rise of the different political factions and the evilness of the Japanese menace. Show used actual footage from events that occurred at that time, deftly weaving our characters into what happened.
However, in the second half of the story, the patriotic fervour was a bit overdone. On some occasions it was over sentimentalised. Chen Hao as the face of such idealism was overdone. I was wasn’t convinced of his relationship with Miss Shi, but she was a fabulous character. His friendship with Yuan Sheng was a key part of the story, but I found its execution so so at times.
Our lead couple were very good. I liked their relationship. So much was against them, but their genuineness shone through. Min Min was a delight: delicate but strong and very loyal. Yuan Sheng needed to lighten up a bit 😂
Overall, Shooting Stars is worth a look. The set design, wardrobe and old vehicles are worth watching for these aspects alone.
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Ambitious, heartfelt, beautifully acted — even if the final arc loses the sharpness it promised
Pursuit of Jade is one of the most confidently mounted dramas of the year. The budget shows in every frame: from sweeping battlefields to intimate, character‑driven sets, and even the green‑screened dam destruction later in the story feels like an ambitious swing rather than a shortcut. My great friends Rita, Jennifer and Beez adored it from start to finish, and for most of the run, I was right there with them.The central OTP between Fan Changyun, the pig‑butcher‑turned‑army commander then general, played with terrific grit and warmth, and the bedevilled Marquis, a man who only ever had eyes for her, is magnetic. Their romance is so strong it demands attention in every episode they are in. One of the show’s emotional anchors is Changyun’s relationship with her little sister Chiming, played by a luminous young actress whose future looks bright. Their bond is tender, protective and beautifully acted.
The second OTP is tragic and brutal, with the heartbreak rooted in the female character being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is a madman. It’s a thread that lingers long after the scenes end. The fourth OTP is equally tragic: both characters are villains, though one ultimately finds redemption. Their arc is messy, compelling and surprisingly emotional, especially in their final moments together. In contrast, the third OTP: the Grand Princess and the Headmaster/army strategist, is a delight, full of wit, ambiguity due to the differences in status but there was a delightful tenderness there.
The Pig Slaughter Squad deserves its own applause. They’re a loyal, chaotic, charming bunch of gangster deadbeats who adore their Flower General, and every scene with them adds humour and heart. The villains across the drama are brutal, sometimes maniacal, and the show handles that darkness with clarity and confidence. My favourite senior actor appears here as the master, the retired Grand Tutor to both leads, and as always, he elevates every frame he’s in.
Where the show falters for me is in the final five or six episodes. What should have been a political tour de force softens into something closer to a limp lettuce, and the wimpy emperor never quite earns the narrative weight the story required. The Chancellor and the current Grand Tutor also undermined the political intrigue the story had developed so strongly in the beginning. Even so, Pursuit of Jade remains one of the better dramas of the year. I’m only flapping my wings a little because the ending didn’t land for me. The journey there is rich, emotional and absolutely worth watching.
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Love Between Lines has a wonderful lead couple
Love Between Lines has a wonderful lead couple. Both play their roles well, although the tsundere aspects re the ML were uneven and went on for way too long. The FL character was upbeat, talented and knew her worth but became unreasonable later on with plot holes in the writing but her portrayal during these moments, was spot on.I thoroughly enjoyed the first 18 episodes. In fact, I binged them, putting other shows on hold. Why? The initial introduction to the interactive VR murder mystery game as a concept, the 2FL with her coffee shop and the FL’s journey to become an architect were well put together. Even the potential relationship between the leads kept us guessing, although it did seem to go on a bit.
There are some traditional tropes which aren’t a surprise, but I think undermined the show in the second half eg the FL’s dad’s ongoing leg injury and subsequent emotional blackmail, the mystery surrounding the ML’s father and the dodgy, ugly, father in law. The show really should have kept building on more about different architectural projects, the D Design teams and the FL’s successes.
I felt the show in the final 10 episodes was very uneven. Key elements disappeared, there was too much focus on the main mystery and large swaths of the story, that perhaps, were unnecessary. The more this went on, the more my rating dropped from 10, then 9.5, to 9 and finally settling on an 8.
However, for those after a super duper Rom Com (well it was to start with), this show is it. The interactions of fun, teasing each other and second guessing were great. At times, I found myself laughing out loud. Whenever our leads were together, we wanted more. Whenever the 2FL was onscreen we wanted more of her too. She was a great character, a great friend and a little business powerhouse.
It’s well worth a look.
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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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A Missed Opportunity
Double Happiness is a show that started off with a particular premise but changed direction in the second half. In essence, it was told from the heroine’s perspective. As her purpose in life change, so did her views on relationships.In some ways, this show is a refreshing take on blended family situations. However, the significant focus on the second couple meant that this was undermined quickly. Not enough story time was devoted to how two families came together.
Our main couple are delightful and warm. Both are respectful of one another where the chances of one on one time are sabotaged regularly. They also have challenging work/business lives but both are very pragmatic and successful in what they do.
The second couple are, in a word, vile. Yet, the writers try to make us feel sympathetic to them. I’m sad to say, I belonged to that group that fast forwarded the rough their scenes 80% of the time.
The third couple were okay. Again an interesting take on a couple that have like each other forever. She is the owner of a second chance relationship agency. He, a supposed playboy.
In many ways, I enjoyed the fourth couple, that wasn’t a couple, the most. We got to see an interesting insight into a cemetery that is a final resting place that even I would like to be found.
The parents in this story, except Aunt Lily, are beyond frustrating.
Be warned. There are topics in this show that aren’t pleasant.
My final thoughts are Kitty Zang is a delight. She carries any show she is in and she does that here too as a single mum who sticks to her guns. Our ML is also very good but he makes it look easy. Both were great together.
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There is Much To Like About Brocade Odyssey
There is much to like about Brocade Odyssey. The acting was very good, the costuming was of a high standard (it has to be because show was all about brocade). The sets were also good. The OST was enjoyable and so was the story for the most part.Right from the get go, we see how determined and resourceful Ji Ying Ying.is. I feel that this is one of Seven Tan’s best roles. Zheng Ye Cheng put in a fine performance as the newly minted Brocade Officer who is at odds with his family. Together, both leads are a wonderful OTP. In fact, this is one of the show’s strengths - the commitment that they have throughout regarding what became a tumultuous journey.
The early episodes gave a good appreciation of the ancient Chinese brocade industry. This including understanding silk, the weaving process, the dye process and how the colours are set using the local water fall and natural pool. We also get to see the conflict between the great brocade houses and the small independents ended up by Ms Ji.
For the most part, each of the story arcs were quite good. The acting certainly made this possible. However, I felt the last two episodes let the story down. In fact, the final episode spent too much time on the villains rather than on giving show time to wrap things up better. I also have to agree with some commentators how disappointing it was regarding what happened to some of the key characters. Some characters just disappeared.
Brocade Odyssey is worth your time. The leads are worth watching just for their relationship alone.
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A Roller Coaster With A Big Heart
The General’s Daughter is 183 episodes of a full on Filipino roller coaster ride. It is emotional, funny and heartwarming, with both lovely and despicable characters and with leads tormented by their past. It deals with corruption and injustice and is a homage to the need for a better Phillipines.Angel gives a powerhouse performance as the almost Nikita type character and deserves the awards she received for this role. The veterans deliver strongly as well - it almost seems without effort. The actor who played Elai also deserves a special mention.
Some might find TGD too repetitive - our heroes and heroines are in over their heads time and time again. This doesn’t matter as the show is aimed at entertaining its audience.
We get to see Filipino communities as I know them to be. People who are humble and making the most of what they have. The evil drug lords are painted very much as in it all for themselves while misleading those who benefit from their largesse. The military and police are painted in a helpful light, although they are divided within.
I’m glad I watched it. Show has a big, emotional, heart. Prime does not have all the episodes but the television company that produced the show does and can be found on You Tube.
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