Zogitt

A 3 acts play that pits business shenanigans against true love

If I'm being honest, this show gives me Queen of Tears vibe. Not that they share any significant DNA, but they both have traffic stars and are very high profile. At least for me, both failed to shine their brightest.

Our ML is THE Bachelor but remains out of reach to most bachelorettes. That is because his mother is the classic queen bee who vets all his girlfriends and chases them away when they are deemed unsuitable. Her cadre of "friends" turns this into a blood sport.

On the other hand, FL's life was a daily grind. She works diligently but has little to show for it. I'm sure many Chinese Gen Z'ers can relate to that. Her sad upbringing made her insecure. She craves security and she will do anything to get it. She basically lied through her teeth to create a persona to capture the ML and allow her to fit into his world. She plans and plots meticulously.

However, this is a very rickety house of cards. She kept running into people (including her real parents and sister) who knows her past. Such lax writing is almost a trademark of this drama. You can't paint her as clever and resourceful, yet dooms her plans with one obvious flaw. It doesn't make sense.

Her life seems to be perfect once she marries the ML. ZLS is beautiful. She is styled exquisitely. Fast cars and luxury are in abundance. It is quintessential the Lifestyle of the Nouveau Riche. Behind all the glitz and glam, a sense of dread is building. Will their love blossom?

Unfortunately, the house of cards comes crashing down in due course. It was nuclear. All the masks are ripped off, pretences burnt away. It was toxic and confronting.

ZLS really brought her A-game for this important pivot. Emotions ran high. The symbolic cleansing of her make-ups signifies the dropping of all her pretenses.

Act 2 begins with a fresh start. Our FL threw away everything she worked so hard to attain. It was a Bowerbird's hoard after all. She starts small and works with the same drive and dedication as before. Except, she will no longer compromise on her principles. It was a trying and testing time.

In the meantime, the ML realised he made a grave mistake. He thought the FL is happy to sell her soul for fame and fortune. It was a bitter pill for such an egotist to swallow.

I'm not going to spoil it, but it took the ML 16 eps to win back the FL. It was fun to watch the ML eat humble pie, but it was draggy in parts. They could have shorten it by removing some of the business side plots.

Then Act 3 hit us, literally. I’m not going to mince words. It is pure dog blood. Ye gods, it was a tsunami of angst. No one is spared. It is mind numbing. Not to mention with less than 4 eps to go, the clock is ticking.

Sure enough, most of the angst bombs fizzled out. This brings me back to my earlier point about lazy writing. The antagonist are hardly subtle nor original. His lackeys are borderline incompetent. They left themselves wide open to counter attack. Resolutions come at pace, but are contrived.

To pad out the straightforward story we have many business ventures. If we cut them out, we could save 10 eps. At one stage, they spend some time at a place called Gubei Town. It was meant to be an historical town famous for their arts and crafts going back hundreds of years. A quick google will tell you Gubei was built from 2010-2014 just outside of Beijing. It is basically a tourist attraction.

BTW, there is a 2CP and a half-hearted 3CP. Maybe it is the way they are written, but they don't have much traction compared to our main leads.

In the end, the show is decent. The production value is high. Instead of food porn, we get fashion parades. ZLS absolutely owns her role. More power to her!

From my perspective, Act 2 is the heart of this show. The ending is sweet but predictable. We don't need all the excess baggage in Act 3.

I don't get the hype though. Yes, our leads have good chemistry, their romance is sweet. We have passionate skinship and the A-plot is serviceable. It is a good c-drama. Just not quite the best of 2025. Peace.

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It is only logical

Using a savant as the lead of a drama is nothing new. They are both a source of interesting characters as well as pitfalls. One false step and you will be seen as making fun of someone with a disability. This show handles this aspect reasonably well but not faultlessly.

As expected, our FL is not a personable doctor but a diagnostic genius. She is clueless about handling people. She literally has a cheat sheet on how to interact with patients. Some of her interpretations of those pointers can be cringey yet endearing. Her very deliberate staged smile is a sight to behold!

This is where her trusted nurse sidekick and new assistant doctor comes in handy. They are her calming influence, boundary setter, as well as moderator to round off some of her sharper edges.

Initially, I thought it would be just mysterious medical cases where the diagnosis eluded the attending doctors. The first episode was largely that and if I’m honest, a bit boring. There are too many jargons and obscure medical conditions. I suppose it does set the scene and introduced all the characters. However, everything shifted up a gear in the next episode.

She ends up being drawn into more dramatic cases, some involving the police. Most of these happened either in her hospital or another medical facility. She would either stumble onto a mystery or be called in. That's the through line.

Other staff involved are often nonplussed and resent her intrusion. Her blunt approach and off kilter personality rubs people the wrong way. Her actions often challenges the status quo. It is ML’s full-time job just keeping her from flying off the handle.

Now let’s talk about the bread and butter stuff. Acting is on par for a j-drama of this length and decent production quality. There is always going to be some overacting for a show in this genre. The FL did her best to stay in character. I don't know if it is a realistic portrayal, but she throws herself into the role. There is a surprising amount of physical comedy.

Overall, it is quite watchable, but don't dig too deep. Most cases conclude within one episode. This is no singularly focused, intricately crafted whodunit. Each case is logical once she solves the puzzle, but she held most of the cards. She would do a final reveal and pulls all the dangling threads together. It is good enough for the general audience.

Now, the big question, will there be a second season? Nothing is official, but the foundation is laid for a continuing series. There is a budding romance. Her staffs are loyal; the department is finally on solid footing. Given the series is based on a 13 volume manga series, there is no lack of source material. There is even a 12 eps anime series released this year. The question is whether there is a will (and viewership) to make it happen.

In the end, I won't say this is an unmissable drama. I did enjoy my time with it. Rewatch is unlikely as once the mysteries are solved, there is little to sustain your interest. Peace.

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Juicy gossips dressed up as a show

I must admit I was drawn to this show by the initial premise of a strong FL who overcomes personal tragedy as well as business challenges to make a fresh start for herself and her newfound family. A solid premise if I say so myself.

The FL inherited 4 brothers-in-law’s when she married her beau. Potentially, it is a gold mine of subplots and characters. That is certainly true, and, in that regard, Oprah Winfrey would be proud. There are 6 CP's, multiple weddings as well as babies by the end of the show! On the other side of the ledger, there are troublesome ex-wives and a persistent antagonist. They also get the Oprah treatment when it comes to redemption. Everyone wins.

As the show went on for over half a year, I don't think there is much point in going through all the twists and turns. I'll keep things relatively high level.

Let's be honest. This show is a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. It is sort of makjang, part-time rom-com and certainly melodramatic. Many clichés and tropes are hurt in the making of this drama. However, it doesn't push any boundaries. The bubbling cauldron is full of ingredients, but the flavour is muted.

This becomes increasingly evident as the series progresses. I was baffled at first and then I had an epiphany. This is a weekend drama designed to be viewed by a multi-generational audience. There are many situations and themes that a mature audience will be familiar with. This show is safe to share with your grandma. She might tsk-tsk here and there but she is more likely to be wearing a knowing smile.

On top of that, all the CP are pre-ordained. Sure, there are the usual push-pulls. You can put money on the pairings, and no bookmakers will accept the bet. It is that obvious.

This is the same with most of the side plots. They are old tropes. There are the odd angsty bits, but resolution is never far away. Everything just plods along.

What doesn't move along is the progress of the 1OTP. They are forever dancing around each other. Even when they are finally dating, they are still awkward around each other. Jane Austen would call this "having an understanding". In many ways, this show is timelessness.

With so many characters and subplots, there are lots going on, but they are tame. One CP did have a one-night stand, but they are the thorniest pairing. Everyone else is prim and proper.

This raises the fundamental question. Is this show for you?

Do you prefer to be hit by angst bombs? Or would you prefer something mellower? Do you want one or two fiery, passionate love stories or many low-key ones? Final question; cute babies or cute dogs? Answer me! 😉

In the end, this is an easy, undemanding watch. I just don't think I'm their target audience. The sunk-cost fallacy kept me watching but diminishing return is real. In hindsight, I would have preferred to have access to all eps from the start. Having to wait week after week for the next release is definitely a con for me.

The show does deliver on its premise, and the acting is solid. Somewhere along the way, it morphed into something bland and predictable. I don't vibe with it and that is on me.

BTW, The ending is beyond sweet. It is sugar overload and should come with a health warning. At least it left no stone unturned.

My suggestion is read reviews. Sample a few episodes before jumping in for the long haul. Caveat emptor, chingu.

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Greed is bad/Saving lives is GOOD

On the surface, this show ticked all the boxes, and it is a definite must-watch of 2025. I'm not a medico so I'm not going to say that the show is realistic, or some procedure is wrong. I see it purely as entertainment. However, it is oddly disquieting for me in parts. Please allow me to explain.

The medical emergency genre is hardly new. There are many fine examples, both from Korea as well as western productions. What usually set them apart is the impactful stories, nail-biting suspense of a life in balance and the human drama which unfolds as the team work to deny Charon his coin. The medics and patients alike are flawed but intriguing.

This drama has these qualities in spades. The ML is handsome and charismatic. He is caustic, masterful, dedicated and will not suffer fools. He gathered a young team around him as he fights to save lives in a hostile environment. Growth in the team is a must. We are hooked from the start.

This is where I find the script testing my patience from time to time. When it is focused on the Trauma Centre and its band of misfits, it is wonderful. It is often an exhilarating white-knuckle ride. Kudos to the production team.

On the other hand, pointless side plots centred around the Chief and the hospital Director leaves me cold. They have antagonist written on their foreheads. Their sole purpose is to look pompous and throw the ML under a bus. It is petty vendetta, pure and simple. I can accept it if it was a significant historical grievance, but it is not. For the Chief and his lackeys, it is simply because the ML is seen as an upstart who is not part of the Club and refused to kowtow to the establishment. The Director is worse, it is all about money and making a profit. It paints the Korean hospital system in a poor light.

OMG, they are so tropey! The whole office politics based on seniority and connection is beyond old school, but we are talking about the doctor's creed. They literally shout to the world that they are out to get the ML. Maybe it belies its Navel visual novel root. It is effective but hardly subtle. It is low hanging fruit for the writer-nim but it takes the shine off the awesome storytelling. Such simplistic handling of strategic plot developments is jarring when the next scene could be a do-or-die struggle between the ML's skill and tiny movements of a dagger’s edge.

To be fair, it is not all bad news on that front. We do get the odd redemption but it can still feel clumsy. It is more like karma slapping the antagonist in the face, hard, then pulls his pants down while laughing. Sure, it works, but I don't feel there is a mutual understanding. More like a death bed conversion.

Hence, if I were to rate the show purely on the acting, production values, OST and the A-plot then it is a 10/10. However, I must deduct 1 point for the oh-so predictable antagonist and their shallow mechanisation. It is still a top pick but I'm thankful that I can FF the aggravating bits.

P.S. I read reports that this series is designed to have a S2 and 3. Netflix, don't fail us now!

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It’s not ok to be just ok

I'm just going to say it up front. Dear Hyeri is not good. Watchable but it could be so much better. It starts well but the middle was muddled, and the ending was sweet but uninspired. It is not quite bait and switch but at times, it comes close.

Let's take a step back. Mental health as the main focus of a k-dramas is rare. There are several good examples but it is mostly used as a plot device to provide the pro/antagonist with an excuse.

In this case, our FL's Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) was front and centre and forms a very compelling narrative. It allows Shin Hye-sun to showcase her acting abilities. While the first few episodes were, to be honest, confusing and counterintuitive, it is engaging and draws us into a troubled and fascinating world.

The odd thing is that once the FL addresses her condition, the show begins to falter. In part, this is due to the focus shifting from the FL towards the 2 male leads. Don’t get me wrong. Both actors are handsome, and the older ML has the acting credential. The problem lies with the script. Both characters are flawed, especially the 1ML. He dated the FL for 8 years and then dumped her 4 years ago. The excuse was vague and unsubstantiated. He loves the FL and yet hurt her deeply and is a key reason why she developed DID. He is totally clueless about her feelings. It makes him looks like a self centred tool.

In the mean time, the 2ML fells in love with the split personality of the FL. That is all well and good but how he behaves after the FL came out with the DID diagnosis is harder to accept. Both ML’s have their redemption arc but it felt contrived and self serving.

In fact, the script completely changed its tone at around the 2/3 mark. Effectively, we have the first 1/3 being very focused on the mental state of the FL. The second 1/3 has some kind of self-discovery plus flash backs to the start of several key events which path the way to the here and now. The last 1/3 seems to belong to a different show. Eh?

Yes, the revelations and expositions along the way did clear up some of the misunderstanding, but it also highlights how bad the 1ML was. Yet, as soon as they are back together (literally within 1 scene), everything was forgiven and forgotten which I find jarring. They behave like teenagers in love from then on. The show inserted more flashbacks to their happier times and it only reinforced how much the FL loves the ML and how heartless/clueless he was.

Even now, I don’t fully understand his rationale for the break-up. We are told that he doesn’t want to hurt the FL and decides to carry the burden all by himself. Is he talking about his found family? That is BS because the dysfunctional family we were shown doesn’t match up with the present day one. Since the breakup, the horrible grannies become loveable eccentrics. In fact, the FL handled them with ease and they welcomed her into their fold with nary a complain. So, what is this burden the ML is talking about? He also said that he will never marry but he proposed. What gives? This is a gap of 4 years, not 40.

If you watch the last 2 eps separately, it is a very sweet and swoon-y rom-com but when you combine it with the rest, it becomes a confusing mess. This series has potential to be original and groundbreaking but took the easy path in the end.

I suppose the writer-nim wanted to end the show with a conventional HEA ending, but it made the earlier plot largely superfluous. Thought provoking ideas about mental health, love and lost are pushed aside by the stampede of unicorns or reduced to greeting card trite in the end.

It would have been a brave choice to allow the DID plot to run its course. The ending might be unpredictable but I'd take that over the pedestrian and overly sweet one we got. The only other show in recent memory that has a similar course change was Love in Contract with PMY. In that series, the change saved the show. I’m not so sure this time around.

Finally, while the production value is good and the OST decent, the support cast is an odd mix. There are many good-looking actors involved but most of their roles are either shallow, weird and/or unlikeable. I honestly think that one or two of them needs psychiatric help more than the FL. Peace.

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The show was carried by the leads but the weak plots and problematic script is hard to ignore

This is a sports-centric rom-com. The chemistry of the leads helped to push this Show past the finish line but only just.

I can understand a lot of sports have been used as subject matter in c-dramas so finding something novel is a challenge. So air pistol shooting is about as exotic as it gets. On the surface, the Show did a reasonable job in making the sport engaging and the people involved as well. There is still a big gap to fill and a lot of that responsibility fell on the leads and they did the best they can. They are a good looking couple and they are sweet, loving and devoted to each other. My concern here is that the FL has been in several shows playing similar roles. I do worry about over exposure and typecasting.

It would be good if the 2OTP can pull their own weight but the script had them pushing and pulling in every direction for the longest time. The 3OTP was set up to fail. It was a counterpoint to the sweetness of the OTP but it was done in such a low key and passionless way that you have to wonder why the Show bothered.

Sadly, 40 episodes based on this sport and the CP's chemistry was a bridge too far for the writer, a 30 episodes run would have been more realistic and yield a tighter drama. To draw out the episode count and kept our "interest", the writer resorted to a lot of old tropes and angsty unproductive sub-plots.

Scripting issues are most evident when we were drip fed pieces of information on a key historical event, I assume the plan is for the writer to give us the grand reveal at the time of his choosing. The viewers are supposed to be intrigued and hungry for more but honestly, the plot was fairly thin so once a few pieces fell into place, there is not a lot left to the imagination. It became awkward when the viewers worked out the secret before the protagonists and we are left tapping our fingers waiting for the show to catch up! It was less of a mystery and more like a marathon.

There is the usual ensemble casts of competing teams and coaches and most were hired straight from central casting. Bulk of the angsts were generated by the win-at-all-cost attitude of the competitors. This meant dirty tricks and outright cheating. I hope Chinese sports are not like that in real life. This plot was even used in an international competition. Is that necessary? It paints a fairly grim picture of the sport. The other antagonist was the older male predator type. It was old school before the turn of the century. The way the show handled this cliché storyline was poor and feed into the misguided trope that speaking out will extract a higher price on the victim. This is a tired and questionable message for this day and age. Needless to say, good triumphs in the end but the resolution was long time coming and felt weak and contrived. After suffering through many episodes of their hapless scheming and loathsome acts, it came down to a few sentences of denouncement and "official" sanctions.

The potential is there for the show to hit a 10.9 but the weak plots and problematic script dragged it down. It was a one time watch. Peace out.

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Easy to watch rom-com that is big on COM but not always hit the mark

The show had an interesting concept. Instead of the usual computer game competition and using the game as a back drop for a modern day story. The show started in the present but moved pretty much the entire show into a fictional historical game world. The FL was tasked to rescue the ML from that virtual world as he was trapped there but he didn't realise that his whole world was inside a computer.
There were some clever use of the fact that the FL was fully aware that she was inside a game so it was very much fourth wall breaking and self aware. Some scenes were quite funny and clever with translation of modern idiom or technologies into the ancient "game" world. Unfortunately, there was a lack of consistency. Sometimes the jokes came in thick and fast but then it might have a complete shift in tone and became a standard melodramatic historical drama. It then flip and became self aware again. Scenes were included that didn't make much sense plot wise and there were definitely plot holes and head scratching moments.
I would have prefer to see the FL use her modern knowledge to solve problems and truly influence that world rather than mostly just go with the flow as another character. On the plus side, she was given a +10 martial arts skill bonus which led to some funny set pieces. Speaking of the FL, there was a lot of overacting. I don't know why but she sometimes looked great in period costumes but in other times, she looked mousy. Once in awhile she also did this silly penguin walk which I find jarring. Was she told to do that by the director?
The ML was fine, standard stoic male lead type. Decent skinship and chemistry with the FL. The 2OTP was surprisingly draggy. They almost behaved like the normal OTP which I suppose made sense as the OTP was already a couple so some of that push-pull duty went to the 2OTP. The 3OTP was quite awkward especially the role of Jenny Zeng's character. Her character arc was poorly written in my opinion, especially the last 1/3 of the show.
The OST was ok. Some catchy tunes. Rewatch value is low. The story telling was a bit messy and the funny scenes will lose most of their impact on a rewatch.
While the show wasn't draggy per se, I think there just wasn't enough material to last 30 episodes. Maybe 20ish episodes will allow a tighter rein on the main plot and cut out some of the more melodramatic elements that did not sit well with the overall feel of the show. A filler between better shows.

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Never give in! Hwaiting!

This is a quality drama, that I can attest. I wish I can say it is a fun watch for me as well. This is both its strength and its weakness.

Firstly, this show is all about Lee Jun Ho. He is ably assisted by Kim Min Ha. Their chemistry is nice and sweet. There is no doubt who carried the show though. The ML made it watchable even when the going gets tough. LJH seldom disappoints and he brought his A-game to this party.

Secondly, this drama did a great job portraying the so-called IMF Crisis circa 1997-2001. They did well to replicate the look and feel of the era. The A-plot is strongly focused on the fallout of that economic crisis and its impact on Koreans. It is not all gloom and doom but those are harsh years.

We watch the ML and his team struggle. It is not just your typical daily grind. We are talking about extinction level events. This gets even more complicated when you factor in the antagonist's machinations.

Speaking of the antagonist, the father and son duo are somewhat overblown. You’d think they are criminal masterminds. Not so, at least not going by textbook definitions. The father is a shrewd businessman, and he is willing to play dirty to get what he wants. His son is worse as he is a vain, spoiled brat who has some serious anger and daddy issues. I know it is dog-eat-dog out there, but they are singularly focused on the destruction of Typhoon Trading.

As I mentioned earlier, I don't find it a fun watch. The ML and his team worked their collective butts off. They have small wins, but their joy always turns to dismay before the end credit rolls. It is unrelenting.

Your level of enjoyment will depend on expectations and forbearance. The ML helps the medicine go down, but it is still a bitter pill.

As expected, this test the ensemble cast's mantle. The senior cast did well. There is depth to most characters. Having said that, the 2CP storyline does feel a little tacked on. They are a nice CP, but their romance has very little to do with the A-plot.

This presents me with a conundrum. It is a variation of the form over function argument. While I can appreciate many aspects of this quality production. I would be lying if I say I look forward to each episode with relish. Time and again, I groan inwardly as the same "how low can it go" formula is repeated. Not only is it depressing, but it also makes the progression quite predictable. Thankfully, after several iterations, we finally reached the end game.

I'm not go to spoil the ending. Let’s just say it followed the well worn path. While the last ep is probably the most enjoyable in the series, it also feels a little disassociated from the rest. There is certainly a marked shift in tone.

Reluctantly, I have decided to deduct 1 point from my score. I need to balance the style vs enjoyment equation. This is a thought-provoking show. A show that will stay with me for some time, yet it will not be in my rewatch list. Peace.

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Queen of (fake) smiles meets King of hearts

I have been low-key following Kim Se-jeong since her Uncanny Counters days and then her breakout role in Business Proposal. She has certainly been kept busy with starring roles ever since. To be honest, a couple of them are cash grabs by production companies while others are earnest attempt to recreate the magic of BP. However, none of them have the recipe for the special sauce.

This one started promisingly. KSJ was given a strong role and she literally came out fighting (hwaiting!). Our OTP ticked all the boxes but it is a weird chemistry. It is like watching a commercial for Chinese herbal medicine. You know the one where they have the voice-over to tell you that this concoction will reduce your inner heat? Well, the ML is that personified. It is very nice to have a boyfriend that truly gets you but it is something else if all you do is cry together or meditate to gain inner peace. What about unbridled lust?! OBTW, there is a bit of skinship but other than a couple of nice kisses, it is all rated PG.

The 2CP is cute and they try to shoulder some of the load. They do occasionally steal the scene but they need more heat as well. There are glimmers of hope but in the end, they are just mirages.

Once you put that in perspective, the rest of the show is just your typical backstabbing business shenanigans and standard village mischief. Bumbling village head meets loud and nosy ajummas. All done with workman like efficiency but nothing too angsty to disturb your karma.

The ending is sugar overload. Oprah Winfrey would be proud. My teeth are aching just thinking about it. And that, chingu, is the fundamental problem with this show. You are not sure if you have watched a drama or attended a wellness retreat.

I did enjoy the show but I probably won't remember it in weeks to come. That is a shame as the cast did their best and the plot is decent. Good enough to be above average but that's a mighty crowded place.

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What's sex? Love is all you need

I had high hopes for this drama. Ok, it is a slow burn in the first half while all the characters are introduced, and we find out how their lives are intertwined. The main plot focused on two sexless marriages and the impact on the relationship of our 4 leads.

It is not unusual for a Japanese drama to take an awkward situation and drill down and come up with something uniquely insightful. This show has a hint of that while tackling the role of sex, intimacy, communication and trust in a committed relationship.

The show does pick up it's pace in the second half and it was reaching a crescendo towards the end when it seems to hit the brakes and the show feels oddly moribund.

Let us backtrack a bit. The show is largely about two marriages and they are both on the rocks because of, at first glance, the same problem. A lack of intimacy and poor communication that created an icy atmosphere and lots of stilted moments. This is not help by one dimensional characters. Their relationships spiral ever downward in a low grade poisonous and self destructive way. They seem to spend the bulk of the time apologising perfunctorily to each other. Timidity, sullenness, frustration and detachment are the four horsemen of this drama.

The show appears to be postulating two types of marriage breakdowns. Both pass through a awkward sexless phase. However, in one case, the love between them is stone dead while the other is a complex dance of false promises, poor communication and selfishness but the flame of love still flickers under the dung heap. There is a lot of penned up emotions and subsurface angst. They have an almost affair, actual infidelity but also attempts to patch things up but the dice is casted, and we are heading to a seemingly obvious conclusion.

It would be too much to ask for a HEA ending, but the last episode feels flat. After a year apart, the FL crumbles and mended her relationship with her ex-husband with little preamble. The second ML is forced to play the Noble Idiot card and walk away empty handed.

We are not told if she accepts the status quo as the new norm or all her grievances were addressed. It seems to come down to the old Love Conquers All trope.

The show put forward a number of questions but ends up walked away without answering them earnestly. We get hints that resolves have been weakened, expectations realigned. It feels like a bet each way. It is insipid and provides little service to its fans. Do we really need 11 episodes to tell this sorry tale?

In terms of acting, all the leads did fine. OST is nice. I could find no valid reason to rewatch this.

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This show is like a box of chocolates . . diet starts tomorrow

Let's start with the caveats. ;)

Firstly, this is a rom-com with a capital R. Comes with a free pair of rose tinted glasses. Secondly, mental health issues covered are just plot devices. No deep diving here. Thirdly, there are lots of triggers due to all the flawed characters and their baggage.

If you are still reading . . good, let's begin.

This rom-com is packed to the rafters with subplots. For starters, there are 4 main tropes running in parallel. Enemy to lover, business shenanigans, a variation of germaphobia plus scopophobia. One is enough to power a regular drama, let alone four!

As expected, our OTP starts off on the wrong foot, but they will become each other's salvation. It is literally given away by the name of the chocolate emporium they work in. In turn, each EP is based on a piece of chocolate in their famed assortment box. They form vignette of stories which come together in the end.

Considering the short runtime, the pacing is fast and furious. It can feel breathless at times. Amazingly, there is order to the chaos. This is largely due to the show having a very clear focus on two things. Chocolates and chocolates. Oops, I mean chocolates and the OTP.

Our leads have phobias which made their lives a daily obstacle course. That is until their fateful meeting. Things got even more complicated, but in a good way.

Their romance is a slow burn, but heartfelt. Surprisingly swoon-y without being sickeningly sweet. They spent so much time bickering only to realise how much they meant to each other.

It was confusing at times. It shouldn't work, but it does. Treat it like an urban fairytale and it starts to make sense. Ask no questions, chingu.

Thankfully, the show is not just about dealing with mental health issues. They also go on road trips to beautiful sites, (those apricot blossoms and lavender fields!) and drop by instafamous destinations. They are unabashed Visit Japan 2025 promos. The show weaved them cleverly into the plot so I won't complain. It beats seeing a pile of brand X juices in the fridge.

This show is not for everyone. The A-plot is fantastical. It is also very sentimental. The adage "You reap what you sow" is at its core. Many of the subplots are there just to reinforce this point.

The acting from the ensemble cast is good. Very Japanese. The ML is handsome and stoic. The FL has the more challenging role. She did a bang up job. I also love how the FL mumbles the odd choice Korean word when he annoys her. Kawaī. BTW, I can't believe she is 38 years old. In many scenes, she can pass for much younger.

There is good chemistry between our leads and skinship that doesn't look fake. But wait! There is more! We have a 2CP which is well written and has depth. I can ship them, no problem. Hwaiting!

For me, this is a lovely little romp and you should judge it as such. It moves so fast that you just hang on for the ride. Disengage your frontal lobe and double the pleasure! Perfect length for a weekend binge. It has a place on my rewatch list. Peace.

P.S. Don't miss the cameos from two top stars at the very end of the drama.

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Spiderman will have a hard time with this tangled web

Like some other high profile k-dramas of late, I'm in two minds about this show. On the one hand, it totally nailed the romance. It was a slow burn in the beginning but when they jumpstart their relationship it is a sizzler! It hits you in the feels from all directions.

I think they hit the jackpot when they selected the leads for this drama. They really acted their hearts out. Bravo! Their chemistry will keep you warm in the depth of winter. I won't spoil the story because it has a nice twist early on but it has its flaws.

I know you are expecting this as I mentioned my reservations about high profile k-dramas. Namely the A-plot is very manipulative. It is like a piece of art that has been crafted specifically to be seen from a certain angle. If you look from the side then the illusion is broken.

To wit, the show has the ML protecting the FL by taking her away from her dysfunctional family but then spent 3 years treating her like a pariah. I accept his eventual explanation but Korean writers have problems with timescale. When 1 month will do, they'd go for 1 year. In this case we went for a grandslam. Why 3 whole years? Most prison sentences are shorter than that! 3 months is more reasonable. Why labour the point.

When you are dealing with years, other factors comes into play like resentment, despondency and resignation. So he took the FL from an abusive and unloving home and put her into a cold and unloving home for over 1000 days. Yay...?

You can sense the writer-nim micromanaging the plot to be as impactful as possible. Ditto the timing and backstory of the antagonist. Hey, don't looking too closely. This is ART, dammit!

The writer-nim then hit us with the angst bomb. No trope was spared. The mess those families are in will keep a team of therapists employed for years. I know it is part of the overarching plot but it can be overwhelming when twist begot more twists. Secrets are like nesting dolls. You just become numb.

The worse part is after all the pain and suffering, the ML repeated the same mistake. He disappeared for 6 months to punish himself while disregarding the FL's feelings. Of course, she finds herself in a dark, dark place and being tormented continually. Her life effectively grinds to a halt. Is he selfish or clueless? Neither label puts him in a good light.

The heart fluttering scenes after their reunion are major highlights but it is like being given a candy after having to drink a bitter draft.

BTW, I find the made up Argen plot poorly done. It is awkward and unnecessary. I can also see a storm brewing over the fictitious war where 2 thinly disguised middle eastern countries took some Koreans hostage. What is the point of that? It was on screen for 20 seconds but it will haunt them for a long time.

I have no doubt this series will be a huge hit and for good reasons. However, I'm not 100% onboard. There are lots to like but there are also bits that left me cold. On balance, I enjoyed the show and I would have no problem watching a highlight reel of the OTP's romance. That is definitely the glue that held the show together. I would have scored this higher if it is more focused on that. As it stands, it is a potboiler in needs of a script doctor's deft ministration. Peace.

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Apex haken vs office lambs

I'm going to start at the end. ;)

The one thing that strikes me is how timeless this show is. Other than the abundance of clam shell phones and slightly outdated PC's, you will be hard pressed to carbon date this drama. It is mind-boggling to think the Japanese workplace probably hasn’t changed much in close to 20 years!

With that out of the way, let's go back to the nuts and bolts. This show is a 100% Shinohara Ryoko starrer. She is literally all dancing and all typing. She portraits an eccentric S class haken. She is utterly professional, abrasive and unyielding in her ways. You can say that she is a pioneer of work-life balance before the topic is even whispered around a Japanese water cooler.

She is highly valued by employers in the know. Any full-time employees who try to belittle her will be licking their wounds in no time. While you can say her portrayal is one-note, you do sense her inner conflicts some times when she knew her actions are hurting people she is growing fond of. Think of it as a kind of tough love. Her numerous qualifications are a little over the top, but you roll with it as a kind of series-long gag.

As I mentioned before, the office setting is timeless. Being a temp is a tough gig. Our FL does not take it for granted, but she also knows her worth and will not take any crap from her co-workers. Least of all, misogynistic power trippers.

As expected, her presence stirred up a lot of tension between the full-time employees and temps. Even between the hakens there are cliques. Some of the plots are centred around cliché powerplay and group dynamics.

We are drip fed the FL's backstory as the story progresses. Bit by bit, we work out why she is so driven. To be fair, the FL hardly changed during the entire run. Nevertheless, her new co-workers are chipping away at her steely resolve. It is just not enough to alter the status quo before her contract expires.

In that sense, it is the growth of her co-workers that is the core of this show. From the meek supervisor who found his mojo, the yes-man career climber who found his backbone and the green haken who found her calling. There are many subplots that are relatable and endearing. There is even a hint of opposite attracts romance.

I was sure they will leave the ending ambiguous, yet they pulled a rabbit out of the hat to give us a possible path to a sequel. Surprisingly, one was made in 2020, but I have yet to track it down (side note, there is also a k-drama remake). Does this mean the romance of this prickly pair might blossom? ;)

One final thought. The projects tackled by her team feels plausible and realistic. This is a stark contrast to the nebulous business deals c-dramas love to use as fillers.

In the end, it is a solid j-drama. I enjoyed it. When you consider I binged it in two days, it can't be that bad. I doubt I'd rewatch it, but you can do worse if you are between S tier productions.

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It is all about the feels

Ok, Bossam has been out for 4 years, so I don't see much point in doing a in-depth review. I'll just put a few thoughts down and then my final recommendation.

Right off the bat, this show is all about the characters, their interactions and growth, especially our leads. They go through the usual enemy to lover trope. They were sorely tested before their love blossoms. They are good people placed in bad situations. They have to adapt to survive. In the process, they saw through each other's disguises and fall in love.

Considering the setting, it should come as no surprise that palace intrigue is the theme du jour. On the whole, it is tropey and doesn't put forward many fresh ideas. Good actors help to elevated this above clichés.

However, there is a lot of it and by the 3/4 mark, everyone and everything is set on their path. Who's who and their schemes are largely set in stone. There is one big twist near the end which I won't spoil. I do find it heavy going towards the end though.

Speaking of which, this show is 20 eps long. While I was fully engaged most of the time, it was draggy around the 2/3 mark when everyone is dancing the political 2 steps. The show picked up the pace soon after and we hang on for the grim ride.

In the end, this is a solid drama crewed by good actors. It doesn't break any new grounds but it delivers a refined product.

Now the elephant in the room. Does the FL has a No-Kiss clause in her contract? There are several hugs but nay a single kiss. Not even on their wedding night. Their romance is still sweet and swoon-y. Just not particularly spicy.

If a good sageuk drama is your thing and you appreciate a slow burning romance then this drama is for you. Peace.

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That will do Ghost, that will do

A quick confession. Bring It On, Ghost was my first k-drama, sort of. As such, it has a special place in my heart. I was curious when I heard about a Thai remake. So, is this any good?

The answer is a little complicated. Overall, it is a solid Thai drama, but it is not necessarily better than its progenitor.

What this show does well is localisation. There is a lot of Thai lore and traditions in the ghost stories. This extends to stories based on modern societal ills. These will be familiar to many and they are impactful and tough to watch.

Another positive is the pairing of our leads. There were some mumblings regarding the original OTP's age gap. They are roughly the same age here. They also have good chemistry and delivered a decent amount of skinship.

This is a key part of the original. The romance between human and ghost is a path well trotted. While most stories in this genre tends to end in angsty tragedies, this managed to turn the ship around and gifted us a plausible HEA ending. I appreciate that.

Now, the not so good bits. The two sidekicks are there purely as comedic relieves. They certainly leaned heavily into slapstick and overacting. They are just loud and clueless most of the time. Why would anyone want to start an exorcism business if all they do is run away screaming at the first sign of a poltergeist. I grew tired of their one-note portrayal quite quickly.

I also have a low bar regarding police abilities in dramas. This one is a confusing mix. While the police officers in charge of the investigation are diligent and earnest, the rest seems to ignore the mountain of dead bodies. They came, they saw, they move on. You'd think it would be a task force level investigation by the end of the show. It is good that the small team delivers but it feels contrived. I'm also baffled why the police are never harmed when others involved are killed off with extreme prejudice.

The SFX in this drama is a mixed bag. There are some good jump scares, and the make-up of the various ghost and bodies are generally good. However, there are some scenes that look amateurish. Is it a case of less is more?

Continuity issues and plot holes also started to creep in, especially towards the end. While I applaud their localisation efforts, they do open themselves up to scripting issues when new contents need to be integrated back into the main plot. Mayhap this Pandora's box doesn't come with packing instructions in Thai. ;)

In the end, I’d say this is a solid Thai supernatural drama rather than an improvement of the original. My score is based on the former. Peace.

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