atleeing

Black Dragon doesn't mess around

Summary (tear-jerker warning): Surprisingly gwiyeoounnn! I love that the characters are slightly quirkier than in the usual Asian romcom. The female lead is strong and doesn’t take crap from anyone. The male lead is still full of himself (as most chaebols are portrayed) but in a more comical way than I’ve seen in other romcoms. There’s such upfront romance that I blushed at the end of the first episode. Lol. Most of the misunderstandings were quickly and easily resolved, and they didn’t give up on each other when it counted the most, especially Black Dragon. One of the scenes made me cry because it was so heartwarming. It was also nice that they featured a different genre of music than in the usual dramas. And for some reason, I felt like having a coffee candy after each episode (Kopiko, “’it really wakes you up”). XD I just realized at the end that they were also advertising Chokipong as well. Wow… The ending was a bit weird and disappointing but, sure, I would re-watch it.

Details: It was great seeing that Baek Su Jong didn’t let herself be bullied or looked down by anyone, as well as stand toe-to-toe with the “perfect (no mistakes)” but also clueless Ban Ju Yong. I thought it was gwiyeoun (cute) that Ban Ju Yong’s dirty little secret was so innocent (video games, books, glam rock band, etc.) when the other bachelor chaebols were using women and gambling off their parents’ money.

Throughout the movie, I just wanted to give Ban Ju Yong a big hug. Having lost my parents young, I could totally relate. But his haelmoni withheld the only thing he ever wanted or needed: to be loved and accepted by the only family member he had left in this world. I was so livid when she kept blaming Ban Ju Yong FROM CHILDHOOD for his parents’ death (he was only a kid, you freak!). It’s a wonder he didn’t develop any disorders other than a collectors’ obsession and being emotionally stunted/blind. It only took like multiple people, particularly Chief Kwon, talking sense into her for her to finally realize her mistakes. I cried when they finally reconciled.

The love story of the supporting characters Seo Ha Jin and Kim Shin Won was also cute, especially when Ban Ju Yong had to finally give his hyeong advice on love and how proud Kim Shin Won was of Ban Ju Yong growing up so much.

One of my favorite scenes is when Ban Ju Yong drops his most loved and carefully procured possessions to save Baek Su Jong. ^_^ The other one is the mall lights and water fountain special effects when they kiss. Epic. Lol. In a way, she became his #1 obsession, the only person who ever showed him tenderness (like with the chocolate milk) and treated him like a human being. Black Dragon didn’t mess around after he realized what his most prized thing in life really was. Lol.

I also love the manifestation of the video game world in a realish setting and game animation (danger levels) layered onto reality. Wish that could have been expounded on more. His need to keep recording notes on his watch was hilarious, especially at the end. Not sure why the story kept focusing on Baek Su Jong needing to find a hobby and I wonder why she didn’t just go back to gaming. That would have nicely rounded the ending (the leads as their game characters).

One of my least favorite scenes was Strawberry’s (age 19) heartless response to Black Dragon’s (age 15) confession. But I suppose she was also a kid herself and that shocking (age) revelation was the tipping point for everything she had endured in her life. Later, Baek Su Jong kind of didn’t grow up either (super cruel reaction) when Ban Ju Yong was trying to make it work out with her after they discovered their true identities.

The ending was a little strange and disappointing. They dragged on the last episode with at least two video montages of the leads’ love story, one photo montage of the show, and a strange necklace that had nothing to do with anything… And what I thought would be a proposal was a closing voice over. Kind of wish they just did a proposal (with maybe key/lock design rings) instead. Other than that, it was a great watch.

Side Notes: This is the umpteenth show I’ve seen where there’s emphasis on mobile contact profiles (how do you save my name); is that important in Korean culture? None of the Korean family or friends I know ever talk about that…but they’re also Americanized. Lol.

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Perfect RomCom

Summary: At a comfortable 25 episodes, this is by far thee BEST romcom I've seen and will definitely watch again to catch any details I previously missed. I wish there was more story to watch! Following the standard formula of romantic interest > misunderstanding > confession > plot twist > clarifying love, this series packs some heavy one-two punches (also in the show) of both butterfly-inducing and laugh out loud scenes! There's also some heartbreaking scenes as well. That's why I consider Hidden Love (2023) a perfect romcom. NOTE: make sure to stick around (rather than skipping ahead) after the photo collages to see the outtakes relaying more details about an episode; not sure why the filmmakers produced it that way but it works. The soundtrack is also great.

Details: The interactions and situations between the two leads are sooo kě'ài de! I enjoyed watching both grow and evolve into an equal partnership rather than a mentor/mentee relationship, as they struggle through awkward moments and finally reveal their secrets to each other. It was funny to see the confident and caring Duan Jia Xu tease Sang Zhi through her insecure moments and heart-melting to see how courageous and determined she was in caring for him through his hardships. Both actors are great at expressing the really heartbreaking moments of the show. I also like that there weren't strong triangle situations, which can be annoying (sorry if you're into that).

But what's even more entertaining are the interactions of the leads with the brother, Sang Yan, who's also my favorite character in the show. He is HILARIOUS. I'll never look at the word "gēgē" the same again (hint: it's used like "oppa" in Korean culture). XD XD XD For some reason, I kept wanting Sang Yan and Yu Xin to get together with both their feisty personalities.

One thing I was a bit concerned about is so much focus on the child version of Sang Zhi crushing over the adult Duan Jia Xu. I mean no lines were crossed but there didn't need to be so much backstory on that, only the teenager to adult years. The filmmakers also spent way too much attention on the professional details at Duan Jia Xu's work, not sure what valued that added to the storyline.

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Disrespect of the novel

Summary: After watching dramas between 16 and 70 episodes long, this is a very sore disappointment at a mere 6 episodes. I get that it was supposed to be a miniseries but I think it's a complete disrespect to the novel itself. I've read The Ghost Bride novel (2013) so I know the storyline and was so looking forward to watching the show. I finally even got a Netflix subscription just to watch this drama. That said, I think it's a well-made show with beautiful cinematography, wonderful costumes, fun interactions between characters, good plot twist transitions, and catchy music accompaniment. It just needs to be a few episodes longer for everything to make better sense. My lower rating reflects not the quality of the show but the authenticity to the novel.

Details: Even though it's a miniseries, I didn't like that the filmmakers mishmashed 40 chapters of the original novel into an incomplete 6 episodes. The filmmakers took situations out of sequence, changed/removed characters, and squished everything into a quick resolution of matters. I also didn't like that they spent very little time on the romance between the two leads, gave more screen time to the second male lead, and painted Er Long as a mischievous and lowly creature. There were so many important things in the novel that weren't conveyed in the show, like the what Er Lang's true identity was (read the book to find out), how much time Pan Li Lan REALLY spent in the underworld (supposed to have been possessed by an evil ghost), and all that she had to go through to grow as a person. The one refreshing thing was that Lim Tian Ching was more handsome than I imagined in the book, and it was hard to take him seriously as a scary ghost. ^_^

Had I never read the book before, I would think the show was pretty good; although, they did leave a loose end about Er Lang untied in the last episode, which I personally think could have been nixed altogether. They should have took a page from K-dramas and made this series at least 16 episodes long. Hoping the REAL SHOW/MOVIE (respecting the novel) comes out someday...

Side Note: I couldn't seem to find the English translation for "ba ko si ka li" which was subtitled as "couldn't be better" in Episode 6. Is this Malay slang? Does anyone know?

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Best 105 minutes!

Summary: Love, love, love it! I want more! Never a dull moment from the beginning. Lee Sun Bin and Kim Young Kwang are amazing in this movie. Yes, it’s a short and sweet “movie,” an action comedy packed with lots of both Chinese and Korean dialogue and misunderstandings, and a nod to Red Velvet. Lol. I was trying to find the soundtrack for this but it seems difficult. The sequel is also equally difficult to find. I liked that they threw some Cliffs Notes as well about Korean politics and laws on firearms, accidentally educational. Lol. High on the re-watch list for me. :)

Details: At first, I was cringing so much with how incompetent Woo Su Han seemed to be as a private detective but it was great to see him and Yoo Da Hee shine, as they were haphazardly and hilariously using their wits to chase down bad guys. I was impressed by the fast-paced and sometimes funny fight scenes.

I do wish there was more of a love story and feel they spent too much time on a supporting character scene at the end that could have been used for the romance portion. I also wish there was more development with the leads’ backstories. Aside from those thoughts, I can’t believe they packed that much action, informative dialogue, and plot development into the less than two hours of movie! Great use of my spare 105 minutes. ^_^

The ending was a little strange with some loose ends but perhaps it was meant to lead to a sequel, which has yet to be released by now (in 2025). Lee Sun Bin already move on to another great drama in The Potato Lab (which is unfortunately a long drawn out show). How do we get a sequel out of Mission Possible, people??

Side Notes:
- What exactly happened in Woo Su Han’s past that got him dishonorably discharged from his special unit?
- What is Yoo Da Hee’s background to make her so resilient and powerful against opponents?
- Why couldn’t anyone find the missing special agent that was supposed to support Yoo Da Hee?
- Who is the Russian informant and why are they significant to the story?

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Possibly wrong title for this show...

Summary: This is one of the strangest romances I’ve watched. The movie poster and Netflix description don’t quite capture the essence of this thriller/mystery romance(?), which I thought would be like a cheesy ghost story comedy based on Episode 1’s preview of Lee Hong-jo’s encounter with Jang Shin-yu in the elevator. I almost think a different movie title like "Curse You, Curse Me" would have been more appropriate. lol. Warning that there’s dark elements of death, murder, and supernatural circumstances that can throw you off if you’re not prepared (and only sought to watch an actual romcom).

Though the show was still good with moments of sweetness and comedy and an ending with closure for the main characters, there were still some loose ends that remained untied as far as storyline and character backstories, and left me a bit disappointed. Also, the last episode dragged on a bit and ended with a location that had nothing to do with the rest of show. The not-so-subtle advertising for sponsors was also a bit awkward for me, like frequently visiting Goobne (which is not even near my area) and saying, “Mmmmm, this chicken is so good every time I come here…” Ugh.

Details: At the beginning of the movie, I felt annoyed by the male lead’s stoic manner and conceited attitude towards the female lead, saying some pretty mean things to her. The female lead’s aggressive and impolite attitude towards the male lead was also unattractive. They also didn’t look like they went together (was hoping for the second male lead) but made more sense when the storyline unraveled in the past (hint: involves period references), in which they look better together as a couple. However, the sudden change of behavior in one of the main characters was off-putting and didn’t draw me into the supposed love story between the two. I’m not a big fan of heavy color-processed hair on Asian folks (preferred the female lead with her darker, more natural looking hair) but I get if it was meant as a visual divider between different time periods.

Eventually, a lot of the characters evolved and became more thoughtful people. All the actors were great and the leads portrayed the characters’ pain so well. Towards the end, I was annoyed by the female lead’s ignorance by going into scary places alone and not telling the key people in her life about it, after they kept telling her to communicate with them. But it’s also classic dumb hero/heroine behavior in many movies/shows.

Some unanswered questions I had were:
- whether the ‘ceremonies’ conducted by the main characters really worked or not (there’s no further explanation later in the series), which makes me question their supposed ‘destiny’; the answer to that situation is KEY to what caused the sudden behavioral changes in the main characters that led to “love”
- what the significance of the supporting characters in the past was (otherwise, what’s the point of showing them other than more screen time?)
- how child Lee Hong-jo (past period) got sick and what brought her to the temple in the first place, as well as where the heck her parents were in all of that
- why the shaman lady (past period) got punished by the noble in charge (no further explanation later in the series), as it seemed like a pointless part of the storyline
- WHO really put the curse on the noble (past period); I think it was the villain but it was never explained later in the show
- why the villain had similar powers to one of the main characters, which was also never explained later in the show

For the gaping holes in this storyline, I probably would not recommend this drama to others. The acting is good but the show is better as a rainy-day, bored-out-of-mind watch, in my opinion.

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Funny but lacking some depth

Summary: (some graphic scenes) This is one of the most hilarious romcoms I’ve seen! Along with the heartwarming element (tragic family past), there were eccentric characters, excessive use of English (just because they can), and parody of Korean dramas by featuring a TV show that was nearly similar to the leads’ reality. I wish there were more than 12 episodes and felt the last one was a bit weak (especially romance wise), considering all the hype that led up to it, and felt they could have cut out some graphic portions to focus more on character development and depth of the two leads.

Details: It’s funny seeing poor Shin Ha-ri try to match wits with Kang Tae-moo as she gets entangled in ever spiraling bad situations and lies, like pretty much every heroine in these kinds of dramas. I will never look at the word “archaeopteryx” the same again. Lololol. I felt bad for but also frustrated at the female lead’s overreactions to things, like in trying to prevent certain people from recognizing her. This made for great situational comedy but got tiring after multiple scenes. Sometimes there seemed to be inconsistency in the character personalities (anxious/greedy vs. sacrificial). I think my favorite scenes were when Kang Tae-moo came to Shin Ha-ri’s rescue by helping her save face in a very awkward situation and when Shin Ha-ri comforted Kang Tae-moo through his heartbreak in a sweet, tear-jerking moment between the two.

Critiques: The filmmakers could have fleshed out more of the storyline or plot development instead of spending several minutes on kissing (or other more graphic) scenes. For example:
- the details of both leads’ pasts were explained in such a choppy way
- the one-on-one conversations between the Shin Ha-ri and Kang Tae-moo’s key relative seemed pointless since it never led to a plot twist (like misunderstanding/separation between the newly in-love leads) or even revelation in the storyline
- there was a strange body/hair gesture thing of the male lead that was never explained but just disappeared suddenly
- there were also unrealistic situations like how a character could be heavily injured in one moment and totally fine in the next, or suddenly cured from a psychological condition they’ve suffered for several years.

Those missing types of details irk me a bit. Also, I’m not sure if this is a cultural thing but I was surprised at Shin Ha-ri’s parents’ dramatic reaction to her love life, considering that she was a grown adult with her own career. My Korean spouse did confirm that that kind of reaction seems unusual or excessive.

Because there was less focus on the leads’ depth, growth, or evolution — just more lies on top of lies, the last episode seemed rushed by trying to throw in a dry plot twist leading to an uneventful conclusion that makes it difficult to attach to the characters in the end. I would have loved to see their love story brought back to the location of their workplace (and with that important relative), which was where a lot of scenes (and shaming and shenanigans) took place. Overall, I enjoyed most of this series. They definitely could have fleshed out the story into the standard 16 episodes. XD

Side Note: Kim Se Jeong bares a beautiful, striking resemblance to Kate Hudson :-0 (especially when dressed up as the character’s alter ego)

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Use as recommended

Summary: A sweet and simple love story that could very well be blamed on fate, I found “Touch Your Heart” to be a nice romcom (with a little mystery) that didn’t twist too hard into other genres. All the characters felt lovable, except the short-lived villains of course, and difficulties or misunderstandings got resolved quickly. The ending was a bit boring to me, wasn’t much story to tell after they cleared some misunderstandings. Interestingly, I was drawn to this drama through one of the soundtrack songs, which are solid as well. I also appreciated that the product advertising was somewhat more subtle than in other dramas but now I’m feeling like I need to get a ginseng drink before I can move on with life. Lol. I’d consider this show a rainy day re-watch but not high on my list.

I’ve presented some points of story hole evidence at the end of this commentary.

Details: Now that I think about it, there wasn’t a whole lot of exciting situations happening in the story but somehow it kept me entertained. The synopsis of the male lead being cold-hearted didn’t match in my mind. I just perceived that he was just very particular and straightforward about certain matters. There’s plenty of other dramas with super cold (and easily hatable) male leads…but this one was like mild sauce in comparison. Would have loved to see more backstory on Lawyer Kwon Jung Rok's relationship with his father.

The love story between the leads was sweet and it was nice to see their character development over some episodes. Honestly, Kwon Jung Rok is one of the sweetest male leads I’ve seen, a genuinely nice guy. Just gave Oh Jin Sim/Yeon Set a hug when she was guiltily trying to reveal the truth about her situation; he gave her a lot of grace. But of course did dumb things to hurt her in an attempt to help her. I like the references to classic Audrey Hepburn’s Roman Holiday (the filmmakers have good taste) to scare the viewer into wondering what kind of ending it would be (but we weren’t fooled, right?).

I got more of a kick out of the awkward love story between the law firm co-workers Dan Moon Hee and Choi Yoon Hyuk. Lololol. Lawyer Choi’s momma’s boy behavior and little monologues to sexy guitar riffs was so hilarious!

By the last handful of episodes, I was not sure what more story there could be without any villains or mystery left, even with some plot twists thrown in. I can’t say I’m disappointed that there wasn’t much drama to this drama. But I also can’t say it’s a must-watch either. Use as recommended, let it touch your heart with the straightforward love story. :)

Side Notes:
- Do Subways in Korea really sell Americanos? I saw a menu with a seafood sandwich but not any coffee type items.
- Hole in the story, Exhibit A: (between the leads) if you were someone’s ride and took a walk with them in a deserted area, why would you just leave them there by themselves (even if your relationship changed)? Most people with common sense would at least drive the other person home.
- Hole in the story, Exhibit B: (encounter with villain 1) how was Lee Gang Joon able to break into Oh Yeon Seo’s house and how did Kwon Jung Rok get in so easily as well? I get that Lee Gang Joon was stalking her but none of those details were how he obtained so much private personal information on her. Just implying that he’s a chaebol isn’t good enough. Also, why did they have Oh Yeon Seo hire Kwon Jung Rok as her lawyer, then just drop the story in the same episode? Strange.
- I’ve seen Hwang Chan Sung as a great villain in "...Married an Anti-Fan (2021)"; wondering why he (who had already a long resume of dramas by 2019) took a small role as a delivery person. Confused. Lol.

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Funnier than expected

Summary: This drama was funnier than expected and left very little loose ends (side notes below), which I appreciate. The storyline got deep in the middle of the series about their past and the plot twists were interesting. The one thing that threw me off was the unnatural facial expressions the female lead made toward the male lead which took away from the romance in certain scenes. The cinematography was well done with different angles of perspectives or blending of locations/times. The last episode dragged on a little but the ending was really sweet. ^_^ Certainly worth a re-watch.

Details: At first, I was hesitant to watch this show because the beginning just seemed like every other hero-in-disguise male lead and doormat female lead scenario I’ve seen previously. However, the series had me rolling at stuff like the thunder/lightning scene or situations warranting matching sweatsuits. Lol. Yoon Ji Won’s reaction to seeing Seok Ji for the first time after 18 years is the best (not expected at all), including the scene of them flipping each other off covered by cartoons! XD

Another thing that was amusing was that the writers parodied typical romance formulas in which one lead falls into the other’s arms as they stare passionately into each other’s eyes. “Writers should think deeply!... They don’t look at each other [in real life], they just get hurt,” then a hilarious martial arts spin to embrace, followed by a surprised gaze. XD

I love that they added a backstory to the leads (and their families) that explains how they ended up where they were and felt like the younger versions of the leads could have been a whole drama by itself. It also explained why Yoon Ji Won became a shell of herself later, always getting picked on to organize events, run errands, stay late to talk with parent, etc. I like that Seok Ji Won’s mom was so supportive when needed.

Some things I found annoying were the plot twist with the 2nd female lead (but I suppose was necessary to explain what kept the leads apart for so long); how Mr. Byeon couldn’t just stay out of people’s business and embarrassed the crap out of the leads; and Yoon Ji Won’s weird deer-in-the headlights look along with some unnatural facial expressions (eye popping, eyebrow raising, heading teetering, etc.) that made scenes unromantic to me. I do wish one of the villains (a student’s parent) got more than just a smacking but you can’t have everything be perfect on every show.

Overall, I really enjoyed this unique drama.

Side Notes:
- If Seok Ji Won was always there watching and protecting, why didn’t he ever go up to Yoon JI Won? Why didn’t he just go to her house if he wasn’t getting responses through text, or send a snail mail letter? And when Yoon Ji Won later found out the truth about the phone situation, why didn’t she talk to him about it?
- There’s not much explanation as to what exactly happened with Seok Ji Won AFTER the hospital incident. Supposedly, his dad sent him out of the country but that’s never really elaborated on. I wish there was more backstory on that part.
- Knowing how intrusive Mr. Byeon was, why would Seok Ji Won willingly give away his address to him? Is that standard etiquette in Korea, to give out personal information readily to a near stranger like that?
- Can people really pass out from one drink, and have selective tolerance to different types of alcohols?

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Never saw a marriage in there?

Summary: This would have been a great concept as cultural/language crossover romcom but it missed the mark in some ways. I found the storyline a bit exaggerated and annoying in the beginning with foolish yet unfunny characters who seriously lacked boundaries. The ending was sweet but also seemed a bit rushed, wish there was more build-up that led to their romance. Also, where’s the marriage in the movie like the namesake states? I realized at the end it was an actual movie and not a show, which was nice not have to keep starting a new episode. It’s an easy watch but the some of the plot development seemed disjointed to me.

Details: The beginning scene setting seemed a bit over-processed, showing the female lead to be incompetent at her job. I was disappointed at the way the filmmakers wrote her: an aggressive, overdramatic, and impulsive nuisance. Even though this is common character behavior for females in many Chinese dramas, I still tǎoyàn zhège. I didn’t think it was funny seeing her make a fool of herself in multiple scenes, which is what led to her downfall in the first place. Her plan for revenge (via online bullying) made me super sad thinking about how that stuff has led people toward taking their own lives in real life.

I do like that Fang Miao Miao wasn’t a pushover and had some fighting skills (able to subdue a grown man with one punch) but was so immature at the same time, blaming everyone else and not taking responsibility for her own actions which led to her getting fired, beaten by Hou Zhan’s fans, losing her housing, etc. She could have just taken a regular office job to get to her goal of becoming a novelist, like most normal people do, but for some reason was holding on to that toxic workplace. On the other hand, Hou Zhan had some anger/trust issues and was super mean to the Fang Miao Miao, even egging her on at times and nearly putting her life in danger (crowd stampede). When they started getting close, I didn’t understand why Fang Miao Miao would still consider betraying him. Also, I didn’t understand why she went back to the workplace that betrayed her in the first place, which also led to a huge misunderstanding.

Side Notes:
- Something that is pet peeve of mine is people wearing glasses without lenses in them. C’mon people! At least make it look real (you can make it prescription free)!
- How does Fang Miao Miao not know Korean in some scenes then suddenly understand it in other scenes? Wish writers double-checked their story development.
- Why would Fang Miao Miao just leave her laptop lying around? Don’t most writers take their laptops everywhere with them?

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Unromantically Scary

Summary (domestic violence, graphic images): It’s hard to describe this one, definitely an unusual show. The Netflix preview and synopsis (to me) made the show seem like it would be a light-hearted SCI-FI romcom. Instead, it was a horror/thriller/mystery with hardly any romance/comedy, storyline or plot twists that led to loose ends, idiotic characters (who gravitated toward danger), and unnecessary or excessive killing off of characters. I was left livid towards the end (especially with who they killed off in Episode 14) and wished I had dropped the show way earlier. Also, if you’re triggered by scenes of domestic or extreme violence, I recommend to avoid this movie. I had to take breaks and watch other dramas in between episodes because I couldn’t sleep at night after this show. Lol. Not a re-watch for me. Other than that, it seemed like a good thriller/mystery (keeps you guessing) for those who are into that. There’s also some interesting outtakes and bloopers at the end of the last episode — got to see the filmmakers’ hard work in putting the show together.

Details: At first, the storyline seemed interestingly unique with the sci-fi inspiration and not the typical lead characters in a Korean drama, which was nice. However, the show went dark just in the second episode with all kinds of shocking character behavior and suddenly violent crimes in the small town. It would be fine if that’s the kind of movie I expected but I was hoping for a sci-fi colored romcom. Another thing that was bothersome was how Moon Jang-yeol verbally bullied Bong Ye-bun and even slammed her to the ground like a rag doll. Jinjja? Large, angry cop vs. petite, timid vet? I didn’t find that funny at all. In real life, she might have suffered bone fractures and loss of consciousness from being slammed on concrete like that. Not sure what made the filmmakers think it was comical for a 6-foot man to physically beat a 5ish-foot woman but it really irked me. (Hence, the lower score.) I wish I stopped watching the movie at that point. This same actor also played a character in which he was verbally abusive to the female lead in “Oh My Ladylord” so I found it a bit disturbing. He also played a mean (but non-abusive) character in “The Beauty Inside” but I’m not sure about other movies. He’s a really good actor though.

I wish there was more of a focus on the sci-fi element, which WAS interesting and funny and I think made Bong Ye-bun a waaayyyy better detective than Moon Jang-yeol, considering that that wasn’t even closely related to her profession. Even though she was mousy and caved into other people’s demands, she had way more cajones than a lot of those men in that town and sought justice when there was no one else to do it. On the flip side, Bong Ye-bun and other characters were infuriating to watch as they would run towards the killer (ALONE) in an attempt to find more clues, which was what also made me take breaks from the show. I get that it’s typical character behavior in a horror type movie but I still hate it. The filmmakers also killed off way too many characters, especially her love interest, who could have provided Bong Ye-bun some really important information at the end about the killer. I also think that if Bong Ye-bun actually listened to Moon Jang-yeol about no longer getting involved, some of the characters might have not died. I think leaving some of the key characters alive would have made a better ending. As a horror/thriller/mystery, it did keep me on my toes about who the real killer was. But as a potential sci-fi romcom, it failed so many of my expectations for science, romance, and comedy as those elements were sparse throughout the series, especially the sci-fi part which was never quite explained at the end. Also, some character behavior seemed contradictory; how does someone all the sudden decide to murder everyone?

Side Notes (or rather questions):
- Wae-yo do Korean or Chinese shows like to do close-up of a guy drinking water and the water dripping down their neck?? LOLOLOL. I don’t get it. Is that considered sexy in some Asian cultures?
- Why did Moon Jang-yeol leave Bong Ye-bun alone when he knew she was in danger and when all her other friends made extra effort to protect her? Especially when he was starting to fall for her?
- Why bring up Kim Seon-woo’s connection to Mujin and Cha Ju-man if it leads to nothing anyway? And was the first victim actually his mother? That was never addressed.
- Also, why bring up Bong Ye-bun’s connection to Cha Ju-man if it leads to nothing anyway? There was very little connection to this story element that seemed super important at the beginning.
- After that fight with the mob guys, how did they get them to just nicely wait for the leads to figure something out over the phone?
- The explanation for the serial killer’s motive seemed lame. Once the leads found out the truth about the serial killer, why didn’t they just disable his abilities in the first place?
- Also, why didn’t the filmmakers provide any explanations on where the powers came from? And how did more people in the town not get those same powers?

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Surprisingly Sweet

Summary: Although I was a bit hesitant to watch a Korean drama with another domineering and self-important male lead, I gave this a try anyway and was pleasantly surprised. The interaction between the two leads were so sweet and it was nice that there was very little misunderstanding nor mistrust between the two (unlike usual romcoms). I do wish there was more development of characters’ backstories, relationships, and the general storyline rather than lonnnggg, dragged out staring, kissing, travel scenery, and tourism scenes that ate up precious screen time (had to fast forward a lot), particularly dialogue between the leads that could have explained what actually led them to their love for each other. There was also a heavy focus on social disparities (including bullying, bribery, lack of boundaries, etc.) among senior and junior colleagues, addressing Korea’s excessive work culture, which I found interesting and sad at the same time. Also, the amount of blatant advertising in Korean dramas lately is sickening; I mean, how many times do I need to watch someone open up a bottle of Montbest water or work a Nespresso machine or put on Paiget jewelry or spray Sauvage cologne? But I guess they need the sponsorship money to make the film. The soundtrack was solid though.

Details: Let’s start with the leads’ relationship development. While one can piece together (or imagine) what led to Gu Won and Cheon Sa-rang confessing their love at such an early point in the show, I felt it came too soon and without much dialogue (like conversations about their backgrounds or what made them who they were) to build that level of trust; there were many long scenes of them in or around water…and that was about it. I did love the bonds created between Cheon Sa-rang’s best friends and Gu Won’s crew. Cheon Sa-rang’s halmeoni and Prince Samir were probably my favorite eccentric characters, who helped push Gu Won into realizing his deep love for Cheon Sa-rang. The actress that played Gu Hwa-ran did a great job as a villain and it’s easy to hate her in the show, and I wish her character was developed a little more towards the end.

Gu Won’s smoldering stare (uhhhh @_@), which one can get lost in and I think some characters did, was mesmerizing. I was impressed by the total night and day difference between his brooding stares and cheery smiles when his character changed. He also looked a bit like a male version of one of my friends so that was a bit awkward in the beginning. Lol. One of the things I loved about Gu Won’s character is that he had some weaknesses in front of Cheon Sa-rang, like being a scaredy cat, which I thought was refreshing for a male lead.

The level of workplace social disparities shown in Asian dramas is shocking and I had not previously seen it to the extent it was conveyed in this show, which made me look up whether that was true or not. Appears it’s not far from the truth that company management and senior colleagues can often exploit their employees, forcing them to work harder, work overtime, and spend personal time outside of working hours to go drinking/dining with coworkers. The one thing I didn’t expect was Gu Won’s more compassionate perspective toward employees.

Of course, as with many Asian dramas, there’s a twist in the last episode which I thought could have come a bit sooner so that there could be more development into the ending. For example, the big decision that Cheon Sa-rang made was awesome (deviated from the usual female lead) and I would have loved to see more to that part of the story to lift up folks from a similar background. I also love how patient Gu Won was in hearing her explanation and really showed his devotion to her after that twist, which was super sweet. Would have loved to see more of their life together after a certain event. One character I do feel bad for was No Sing-sik, who could have also had a happy ending as well.

Side Notes - I had minor issues about:
- who exactly was the guy in the beginning that called him and told him he was at the wrong building; that was never transitioned or explained
- during the interview on Jeju Island, it seemed strange why Cheon Sa-rang blindly accepted but didn’t run the new set of questions by Gu Won before that embarrassing moment
- if Cheon Sa-rang was on special assignment (or request) to watch Yoon Ji-hu, why did she return so quickly to her regular job (especially if Gu Won could have bonded with his nephew a bit more)
- how none of the employees noticed Gu Won in the elevator before they gave Cheon Sa-rang the third degree about her big, embarrassing news

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Kicking Some Serious...

Summary: This incomplete but entertainingly fast-paced 6-episode series packs a wallop of punches (literally!) and certainly had enough material for double the episode count. I didn’t even know there were triads in Taiwan. From the spunky and strong female lead (who kicks some serious behind) to well-timed plot twists in the storyline to the cutesy chemistry between the leads to the eccentric characters, it could have been a perfect romcom had it not left audiences hanging in the last episode. I had more questions than answers at the end and speculations about the filming (thoughts below). Despite its loose ends and no Season 2 in sight, I think it's still worth the watch and even a rewatch to pick up more details.

Details: From the start of the series until the (supposed) end, there's never a dull moment. I'll never go near a river bridge again! Lol. It's almost cringe-inducing how the leads first meet and how they separate. But there were many cute moments in between that brought the two together, like sharing the same interest in things. At one point, I kind of just wanted Ni An-qi to go with the second male lead because she was betrayed so badly and it helped that Jin Yan-bin (Eddie) was so handsome and kind to her. It was surprising that An-qi was able to forgive Xu Yi-hang so easily after he betrayed her; she was too good for him and he should have cherished her when he had his chance, regardless of his reasons. But I suppose there needed to be some sort of plot twist involving heartbreak (as with many classic romcom formulas). I’ll never know what happened because the last scene of the leads is them staring into each other’s eyes.

Because the series had an abrupt ending, one can only wonder:
- was Xu Yi-hang finally willing to go public about their relationship?
- what became of the secret script?
- will Ling Yun ever get the justice she's been looking for?
- what's really going on with Eddie Kim (in sixth episode)?

Speculations about filming: Did the filmmakers simply run out of money? Did the real triad tell them to stop filming or else? Did something happen to one of the main actors? Was it because the pandemic just started in Asia at that time? It just doesn't make sense why the series couldn't continue when many others still published during that time.

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As soapy as they come

Summary (VERY dramatic): While there were some interesting elements of mystery, action, and tear-jerkers, the first half of the show reeked of American soap opera, in which the main characters were getting targeted every few seconds by an overwhelming number of villains and circumstances felt intense all the time. The scenes were just missing the dissonant organ music. Lol. I do appreciate the overarching theme of water (and how it tied into the plot), the short episode length, the redemption of certain villains, and the subtle address of Asian oppression by umm certain other races. The story also keeps the audience guessing who the real culprit is.

The first few and last few episodes had lots of interesting story and character development. However, the nonsense in between could have been removed. There were too many contradictory elements thrown together. Many scenes were overly dramatic in the beginning with multiple slow motion replays, which took away from the story. The plot twists felt unbelievable to me, crossing professional and personal lines in all sorts of ways, and possibly entertaining inbred(?) romance. Not sure how the guy got over the fact that she had nearly the exact same face as his sister.

The female lead was portrayed as timid, needy, and naive; whereas, the male lead seemed so put together, always coming to the rescue. Also, some of the supporting characters were a bit annoying. I got sick of the juvenile dialogue and immature character behavior by Episode 9 and nearly dropped the show by Episode 16 when some weird scenarios were introduced.

I ended up pushing past Episode 16 to finish the show but feel the episode count could have been condensed to 3/4 the amount. I personally wouldn’t re-watch this show.


Details: The international espionage scenario in the beginning got my attention but unrealistic scenarios made me want to stop watching. It was strange that everyone, including the competitor company, was watching Shen Man Ning like a hawk because they already believed she was a fake? Also, HOW MANY TIMES does Yan Xing Cheng have to rescue/pick up Shen Man Ning and carry her??? I was starting to feel bad for the guy. Lol.

The main characters were really smart in some ways and really stupid in other ways. Considering that Yan Xing Cheng had several years to perfect his revenge, he somehow missed a lot of details in preparing the unfortunate Shen Man Ning for her new identity, which often led to their peril. I wonder what would have been Yan Xing Cheng’s original plan with his blood sister for getting back into the Zhuang family. Still pretend they were engaged?

One contradictory and disturbing scenario was how they tried to play it off as romantic that a woman was getting choked by a guy who looked like he was about to kiss her as well. If he was a true gentleman, he wouldn’t have laid hands on her no matter how much he hated her.

It felt unfair that Shen Man Ning was portrayed as timid and naive, about to fall apart at any moment, while everyone else around her (including her own family) seemed so strong and domineering. On top of that, she was also getting threatened by Yan Xing Cheng when she wasn’t getting bullied by her new frenemies. It’s also strange that all she could think about was her romance after getting kidnapped three times and not to bǎohù zìjǐ (like when they were looking for the brooch). They did a lot of staring and hugging and kissing in time sensitive situations, which could have been spent figuring out the truth.

As far as the supporting characters, I could barely stand the selfish, immature, and idiotic bff Rao Mei Na whose rude and loud behavior seemed out of sync with the movie. Why would you NOT be concerned that your childhood friend hasn’t gotten back to you in such a long period of time? Most sensible people would check with others on the missing person’s whereabouts, then report it to the police if they couldn’t find them. When she does finally see her friend, she totally loses all her manners and ignores professional etiquette in front of everyone. She was also super mean to her friend, seeking apology, instead of finding out what exactly happened to her, how she went missing.

Zhuang Jia Kai and Tang Lin were also annoying to watch (although Tang Lin was better towards the end). Also, why did the female supporting characters keep harassing and throwing themselves at men they barely know, who also thwarted their advances? Reeks of raging teenage hormone type stuff.

Towards the end, the story finally started to get interesting and make sense in relation to their past. However, they threw in some last minute plot twists and left little room for Yan Xing Cheng to have a meaningful conversation with his beloved relative as well as provide more backstory. And since Shen Man Ning kept talking about being together forever, they could have thrown in a wedding scene at the end rather than fill up the time with more staring and cuddling.

Side Notes:
- What’s with all the candles in a lot of the scenes? In the company office, in the garden, etc.
- The constant hair changes of the male lead (professional vs. casual) is so much like K-drama; one of my pet peeves. Lol.
- Why did Shen Man Ning bite Yan Xing Cheng’s hand? That part makes absolutely no sense and adds nothing to the story.
- How it took 10 years (or was it 17 years?) for EVERYONE to seek/find Zhuang Xin Yan; considering their access to technology and an abundance of henchmen, it seems it should have taken much less time than that
- How the female lead’s best friend Rao Mei Na got a job at the same jewelry designer even though she majored in animation(???); one would think that they’d be more qualified to work at a gaming company rather than a high-end jeweler
- Liu Group having power to barge in LH Star’s office, set up meetings with any employee, and force a collaboration contract; how were they able to get past the security gates in the lobby in the first place??
- I realize there’s only three of them but it seems like Yan Xing Cheng’s henchmen were a bit clueless when it came to convert operations (like getting bitten by a dog, or getting spotted easily in front of a restaurant or inside a parking garage); they often seemed unprepared…

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Like Watching Paint Dry

Summary: At first, the Netflix description hooked me: baker by day, demon hunter by night. I thought, “Wow, that’s fascinatingly different!” Unfortunately, the title and description are about all the action you get from this drama. From the dry dialogue to the lackluster ghost busting to the low budget acting (mostly with supporting roles), I can’t stomach any more of it. There’s folks out there who are more patient than myself and I commend them. But I can’t do it, I just can’t! Therefore, this review is incomplete since I could only finish up to Episode 8. Even after taking a break to watch a different drama, it still gave me the same feeling…Snoozefest.

Details: The premise of the show got me really excited and Episode 1 delivered some action (with special effects) and plot development but the storyline sort of dwindled after that (despite a few interesting ghost backstories). Then there was a spark of romance between the leads with the Zhong Kui making every excuse he could to be near Meng Hsin-yu (which was really sweet), then that also dwindled. Then there was a possible romance between some supports and that was sabotaged by the annoyingly overbearing and arrogant best friend Li En-hsi. Only the budding romances between the leads and between their supports kept me watching as far as I have. The attempts by the supposed expert exorcist team to chase the villain seemed to always fail without much clues available. Also, the side stories just made things confusing to me as I was still struggling to figure out where exactly the story was headed (which was probably nowhere). Also, many of the humorous moments weren’t that funny to me, but that could be a cultural thing.

I hate to be so critical of a show, as a lot of work went into making it. But I also can’t overlook a flat storyline and dialogue that falls short of its namesake. Rather than The Devil Punisher, it should be called, “Chasing Ghosts, Maybe.”

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