YellowToiletBrush

A painful yet cathartic experience

This movie hit a little too close to home for me and i believe for many viewers from Asian backgrounds who were raised by their grandparents (for those of you like me, that box of tissues is gonna be more essential than a popcorn). This movie reminded me of my own grandmother's passing and her relationship with her children and grandchildren in those years. She was bedridden for many years before her passing and unlike the main character, was speech impaired, so this movie brought a voice to her experience, a voice i never got to hear.

In a similar way, she also bequeathed most of her wealth to her sons although the persons who cared for her most and whom she trusted most were her daughters, because as a parent she worried most about her sons and wanted to ensure that they were self-sufficient, While her actions may have been interpreted as unfair, to her, this was the best decision she could make to have a peace of mind. And she made the decision knowing her daughters may feel betrayed and she may be hated. She was also "passed around" relatives who agreed to care for her often with the hidden agenda of gaining her favour or benefiting from the situation. And because of her speech impairment, I believe there was much she must've wanted to say that she couldn't. The character 'Ahma' finally gave a voice to my grandmother for me.

Seeing such a personal experience portrayed in a work of fiction pained me but at the same time it provided me some form of cathartic relief, particularly the scene in the kitchen between mother and daughter where Ahma tried to comfort her daughter and convey her love despite it all. Parents believe that they love their children to the best of their ability and it's difficult to judge what's right and what isn't. The character designs were well thought out; Mui was a perfect counterfoil to the ML, logical, shrewd and goal-driven while M was more emotionally-driven and struggled with his conscience, his intentions evolving from being driven by self-serving needs to filial piety, love and respect. And Ahma was too real, vulnerable and strong, filled with loneliness that she forced herself to get used to because she feared burdening her children, and giving even when she was left with nothing else to give. Never blaming her children or grandchildren for their actions, and quietly loving them in her own ways, even if they couldn't understand.

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An enjoyable watch thanks to some great acting and chemistry

The MLs' acting and chemistry was what made this series such an enjoyable watch. There were some beautiful and iconic moments such as the moment when Akin gave Jin his first lesson on breathing right, the scene where the two main leads were under the sheets and the much hyped honey scene, where the cinematography wowed me (acting, lighting, musicality all came together magically). Choice of music was also refreshing with tracks in various languages.

I do wish more effort was spent developing Jin's character. The actor playing Akin cries beautifully and did a wonderful job smoothing out some of the overly dramatic parts of the story with his subtle acting. I think the series tried to emulate some Japanese cinematography, especially how they tried to build up Jade's character (the incessant smoking, the clicking sounds of the lighter etc), which at times came across as some what awkward. Some parts of the editing were also chunky, disrupting the story-telling Episode 10 was also a bit of a drag and could've benefited from sharper screen-writing e.g. focusing on non-verbal cues to convey strong emotions like deep grief and anger borne from injustice, so that the audience could interpret it and as a result be more emotionally engaged. Casting choice for Akin's grandmother was also a little strange.

All in all this was still a good watch with some very solid acting from the MLs and captivating cinematography.

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A surprising take at Dark Comedy for South Korea

This was on my watch list for a long time and i paused it after the first 10 mins of episode 1 thinking it was yet another plot about an unassuming nobody becoming a superhero. How wrong was I.

A Killer Paradox is a rare find in SK dramaland cos it falls into the Dark Comedy genre which is extremely hard to pull off without a solid script, a knack for good comedic timing, and strong actors (and I think this show managed to achieve all 3). The subverted superhero storyline makes you question what makes it morally acceptable to kill another person and I loved the fact that the "hero" went down that path after much denial and was convinced by what seems to be "divine intervention" or a severe case of Murphy's Law in his view, not to mention a superhero enthusiast king-maker sidekick.

Plenty of symbolism, which is a joy for people who like to watch something that allows them to peel off the layers and interpret the show in various ways, to be engaged. Cinematography was beautiful, fight/kill scenes were well choreographed and executed, music and comedic timing were on point and it was just the way Dark Comedy should be, gritty, uncomfortable, strangely light-hearted, morbid and senseless, yet with issues that make you question your own perception of morality hidden beneath the desensitising layers.

I do wish they had done a little more with the detective's character and had more scenes to develop the interaction and play-off between the two leads. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable watch that kept me engaged from start to finish.

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Wasn't expecting to be hooked on this one

I waited a while after the series ended before writing this review because I wanted to be as objective as possible.

Went into this with very little expectation, seeing that it was yet another university-friends-enemies-to-lovers series by GMMTV. I was expecting a recycled plot (i mean it's engineering students again...) and lots of cliche but ended up falling in love with the entire cast. So much so that i didn't mind the cliche "everyone ends up as happy gay couples" ending.

Sure it was cute and fluffy, and the acting isn't quite IFYLITA or ITSAY standard, but some of the dialogue were well-written and tugged at the heartstrings. There were also great comic timing (kudos to JJ, Phuwin, Poon and Pond) and replay moments in the scenes between the MLs. Was pleasantly surprised by Phuwin's and Pond's natural acting and their amazing chemistry, and loved the scenes where the friends just gathered and were there for each other.

The script was well-written and although i did find the last 2 episodes a little draggy, i thought the series was overall well-paced with just the right amount of romantic tension. Overall this was a surprising feel good series (especially if you're in between other serious dramas) that didn't overdo the cliches, had well written characters (and bothered to develop these characters), good dialogue and a balanced focus on love and friendship. Peem is just such a wonderfully written character that you wished was real, cos everyone needs a Peem in their lives.

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Good until Episode 11

I'm not a big fan of cliche romance flicks, especially one involving weak female characters waiting to be saved by a rich, almost perfect male lead. Hence MMH was not on the top of the list of K-dramas to watch. However, after seeing some rave reviews on various platforms, and since I was in the mood for something light-hearted and fluff, I thought to give this a try.

The storyline was pretty captivating all the way until episode 11, then it really started to go downhill on logic, pacing, character development etc. Things just started going all over the place, almost like the writers were just throwing out options on which ending scenario might work best and doing some market testing.

The actors tried their best and as much as I liked seeing Na In Woo as the ML, thought there was decent on-screen chemistry between the ML, and was enjoying the character design and development of the villains, the last 5 episodes were a complete let down. Messy logic flow, missed opportunities to develop great sub-plots with the secondary leads, repetitive 'brave' talk that didn't really deliver in terms of action. The FL just kept psyching herself up and building up expectations on her 'revenge' plan, which in my opinion, was really weak.

I blame the script and the scriptwriter, it was like they swapped the original scriptwriter out after episode 11 or didn't pay him/her enough to produce quality work. It was like a 3 course meal with an amazing starter that whet the appetite (time-travel + revenge plot + character development plot), have a solid main (decent cast, good development of sub-plots and some plot twists), only to be disappointed with a terrible dessert that almost makes you forget how great the starter was.

Was gonna give this a 6/10 rating given the disappointing ending, but given i kinda enjoyed two-thirds of the whole series, gave it a +1.

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Great entertainment but not quite a Masterpiece

I love a strong female lead, and one that kicks ass is even better. One that kicks ass and has to play the role of a mother, pretty intriguing. While i thoroughly enjoyed the fight sequences, which were beautifully choreographed (fatal and feminine) and athletically executed, the movie lacked a sense of its own universe.

With the movie title, genre and timing of its release in contemporary times, it's inevitable that it gets compared with the likes of Kill Bill and John Wick, both cult faves. Although it narrowly manages to differentiate itself from the rest by focusing on the relationship between mother and daughter, and it was beautiful to witness how their relationship deepened and evolved within a very Asian context, the movie did not quite capture me as much as John Wick did. It was a waste that insufficient effort was spent building up an interesting universe around the characters as it had so much potential; i.e. developing the social structures of this world of assassins, and that could've captivated audiences more. Unfortunately, the characters stayed floating on the surface and didn't quite draw audiences in further.

That said, the casting was impeccable, right down to the choice actors for the younger characters of Minkyu and Boksoon. Jang Doyeon was and is a helluva femme fatale and Sol Kyunggu's voice just devours your soul. Some of my favorite moments include the last fight sequence (when Boksoon simulated the outcomes of the fight) and the moment Minkyu realised Boksoon was his soul mate. The ending was also subtle but appropriate, so people who enjoy embedded subtexts and symbolism in films would appreciate it.

Overall this was an entertaining watch, great actors, gorgeous fight sequences and great production, but I probably would pass if a sequel was made.

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The magnetism is so yummy

It was an absolute delight watching the main character's relationship evolve and blossom. From disgust and indifference, to curiosity and pity, to attraction and confusion, to passion and recklessness, and finally trust and respect. I liked how both characters were such polar opposites yet fit each other so well, and thoroughly enjoyed their chemistry and the magnetism of it.

Hirukawa is such a fascinating character, seemingly brash and crude on the outside, but an absolute romantic and fierce protector at his core. Minase on the other hand is seemingly emotionless and goal-driven on the outside, but is actually insecure and caring. He shed the most tears in the series (and what beautiful tears they were). The actor playing Minase masterfully pulled it off (standing ovation), and my only gripe would be that i wanted Hirukawa's character to be more gritty and "bad-boy", instead of one that just dressed up as a bad-boy. And also, what happened to Minase's parents? or maybe that was a the whole point...

Some of my favourite scenes include the ice-cream kiss scene, the scene in which Hirukawa breaks down after his father's death, and the final scene where Hirukawa comforts Minase at the beach and reassures him that even though they cannot be officially married in the eyes of the law, and in the eyes of their friends and family (which is even sadder), they belong to each other in their own hearts, and that is enough.

For someone who doesn't usually binge-watch, this is a binge-worthy series and I regret not waiting for all the episodes before start because it broke the flow for me.

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Never thought I would enjoy the cheesiness and drama this much

As someone who doesn't usually enjoy over dramatic and cheesy romances I was surprised that I didn't find this series particularly cringe. Some of the dialogue was sooo cheesy I was amazed the actors could deliver it with straight faces. And perhaps that was the reason why this series was actually enjoyable and romantic despite the somewhat questionable dialogue ( I mean, what in the world is kiss-meets-explosion-destroys-the-world.... is this a translation mistake). The acting chops of the main leads make this worth watching, they delivered some of these lines with such conviction and acted with their entire body and soul.

The pacing of the story was good, with enough drama, conflict and tension to keep the plot interesting, interjected with well timed humour (here's looking at you Weinai) and a heavy dose of "i-will-die-for-this-love" scenes that brought out the amazing chemistry between the 2 MLs. The actor playing Armin's theatrical acting really shone in this series and the actor playing Thada (who also had to deliver some of the most cringey lines) matched it. I would actually rewatch some of their scenes together just to appreciate the acting. At times I felt like I was being rude and invading their privacy.

Would've rated this a 9 if not for some misgivings. Firstly, they didn't try hard enough to make it believable that the characters had aged 20 years (that's some powerful botox in action). Secondly, Thiwthit's character design was all over the place, was he interested in the inheritance or Thada? Gotta make up your mind boy. Thirdly, the villians were way too one-dimensional. Lastly, the anti-climatic revenge on Armin's ex-lover and ex-bestie, I was really looking forward to a good revenge plot. I suppose I'll need to get that fix elsewhere.

On balance, this was a really enjoyable watch , just steel your heart for cheesiness you've never experienced before and also some truly amazing acting from the 2MLs.

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Possibly the best Taiwan BL I've come across

Having tried watching a couple of Taiwanese BL in the past based on rave reviews online (i say tried because i dropped most of them eventually), only to be terribly disappointed by the story-telling, acting, production value etc (we *cough* best *cough* love, Kiseki) i honestly hesitated starting on this one. In addition to my bad past experience with TW BL, incest just isn't my idea of a good forbidden romance... Putting aside the borderline incest plot, yes they're not blood related blah blah, this was actually a pretty darn good BL. Possibly the best I've seen from TW so far.

The story-telling had structure, decent context setting, good build-up, running themes to anchor the storyline and the dialogues were natural and not overly cheesy. The cinematography (lighting, angles) was surprisingly good for a drama series with thoughtful choice of location (the stairs and alley leading to the house, the fishing scene), although I thought they could've dialed up the "slump" aesthetics a little. But the winning ingredient for me was the acting and chemistry of the main leads. Their sound understanding of the characters was evident in their gestures, speech, right down to their breathing (there's a scene where Yuan and Qian are at the fishing spot for the first time and Yuan is lost in thought, and as the camera pans out back to reality, you can see him breath in and his eyelids quiver, desire and guilt fleets across his face).

Qian and Yuan are also interesting characters with raw survival instincts, are both strong and vulnerable for each other, and are fiercely loyal to each other and their loved ones. The main supporting characters were also well-designed, imperfect people bound together by non-traditional familial bonds. The interjection of well-timed humour also helped to lighten the story (cue San Pang and XiaoBao).

Some gripes were the casting choice for the multiple versions of younger Yuan vs fewer versions of younger Qian. Just wished they either got more similar looking child actors or stuck to just 1 or 2 for both. I also wasn't a fan of the OST and it was an odd choice of bgm at times. The gun scene w the side charac was my least favourite scene as the dialogue was a tad unpolished and it was overall a little over dramatic.

All in all, i thought this was one of the better (if not the best) BL from TW for me and the actors surprised (and impressed) we with their acting chops.

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Moved up my list of best shows in 2023

With this line-up for a cast (I mean they had, Cha Taehyun, Ryu Seong Ryong, Han Jyo Joo, Kim Sung Kyung), a popular webtoon that already has a healthy following and Dalparan (music director/composer for the Good, the Bad, the Weird, and Secretly, Greatly, Kingdom) participating in the OST, this was firming up to be epic. The genre (supernatural, fantasy, action, romance) was also right up my alley and needless to say my expectations were pretty high; and i'm glad i wasn't disappointed. I waited for all the episodes to be out before binge watching and did not regret this decision; can only imagine the painful wait I would have had to endure for some episodes with the type of cliff-hangers they were dishing out.
This has easily become one of my favorite dramas of 2023. There's so much to like! The innocent, sweet blossoming romance between the 2 young leads (i struggle with identifying the MC because each character could well be a MC of their own), the heart tugging back stories of their parents and the villains which helped us understand why they did what they did, the amazing action scenes (ok there were some rather questionable CGI scenes, like when the characters had to be made to look younger, but it's a TV production so i'll give it a discount), the fantastic acting (MCs and supporting cast included), the comic book style inspired cinematography, and the satisfying OST. Happy to report that there weren't any overly cringey dialogues, which tend to happen in webtoon, manga or anime adaptations.
Rated the rewatch value lower only because I don't usually rewatch shows and I fear that a rewatch would just make the experience less satisfying given how good it was the first time around.

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the Green Flag series in a sea of Reds

If you're looking for a love story about a healthy relationship with deep connection, this is the one for you. I enjoyed how the characters healed each other and became better versions of themselves. Mok is such a likeable character and Day was a good balance of angst and hope.

There were some magical moments that were iconic like the "one palm distance close up", the "last twilight" scene at the top of the mountain, the moment when Mok's inner fears manifested as a result of their deepening relationship and he made the choice that he knew would hurt Day deeply, and when Night broke down during the family dinner over stew. These moments were magical because of the build up, the symbolism, the contexts that many can relate to, the raw emotions delivered by the actors, and they gave the characters depth and brought them to life.

While there were some stand-out moments in terms of cinematography and script (e.g. the last twilight scene) the musicality was odd in certain places and over dramatic in some.

The actors have a very natural chemistry and are able to portray a love that's mature and grounded in trust and respect.
Overall it was an enjoyable watch and I would have given it a higher rating if it had an alternative ending. I'm on team "should've been status quo" for this one...

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