Zogitt

This drama is stuck in purgatory

This show is not bad. The real problem is that it doesn’t know when to stop. The initial premise is interesting enough. Multi-generational curse is nothing new but it is functional. The show pushed it for all its worth though. There are plot holes here and there but the show has enough momentum to push through most of them, at least initially.

Once it gets started, it gives off a similar vibe to several other wish fulfilling style fantasy shows such as May I Help You. While other shows are more focused on the “clients” and their backstory, this show used them as fillers when the main plot needs to take a breather. The overarching plot is focused on the ML and the curse he inherited. In that sense, it is a nice change from other series where the leads tend to fade into the background and only pops up at key moments. Our OTP is definitely in the fore.

However, this is a double-edged sword. With the focus firmly on the ML, this series struggles. As the saying goes, the tank is running dry. It seems to slice and diced the same plot into different combinations and pad things out. What was novel at the beginning become rather passe by the half way mark. Several times the show seems to have reached its logical conclusion only to be dragged back into the fray just to stretch it out a bit more.

On the positive side, not only are our leads more in focus, his two ghost helpers also have their moments in the sun which is rare in such shows. I appreciate that because they are both interesting characters and they deserve some growth and attention. Deputy Go does fairs better than Mr. Baek and I'm keen to see Yoo In See in other roles.

Acting wise, the ensemble cast did a decent job with what they are given. The ghostly makeup is rather low rent though and more Halloween than scary.

The last episode is probably the most problematic. It really ties itself in knots with its own DIY mystic mumble-jumble. A case of narrative purgatory, I suppose. It all ends well which came as no surprise. The series is watchable but could have been better and tighter. If only it ended 2 or 3 eps earlier while the going was good. One time watch for me.

Read More

In the race of chicken or the egg, the mother hen wins!

Let’s just get the easy bits out of the way first. This series is watchable and entertaining at times. The OTP are well matched and they have good chemistry. However, this is where things get complicated.

As one of my friends commented after finishing the show, who is the FL of this drama? Ok, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but she does have a point. While there is no doubt Yang Zi is the FL, her mother’s role is more titular. In fact, so many of the subplot radiate from the matriarch that her screen time and presence more than rival the FL’s. Furthermore, a lot of the time, most characters are placed in a reactive roles due to her machinations and has little agency.

I can understand that this will resonate with a lot of Asian viewers because they are probably living in a similar situation or knows someone who is. It is a reasonable premise to kick-start the show and give the FL reasons to grow. In that sense, the first half of the show is the best. This is helped by the sage like grandmother who sees all and pulls the strings to get our OTP pass the frenemy stage. Her presence counterbalances the mum’s and provides a safe harbour for our leads.

It all changes after she passed. The FL’s mum’s presence looms larger than ever before. Her interference reaches new heights once we factor in the grandma's legacy. I understand that it is an effective way to introduce some angst as the official antagonist was a bit light weight. However, it also means that the show becomes unbalanced and lacks focus. Everyone is tiptoeing around the mum and keeping secrets from her which set up more confrontations later. It is a vicious cycle.

In the meantime, the mum continues to meddle in people’s affairs and guilt trip her family regularly. It is tiresome to watch and might trigger some viewers. It distracts us from our CP’s romance. When love is in the air, it is sweet and swoonworthy, but they are like deer in the headlight. After more confrontations and some heart-to-heart talks, the mum finally tones down her actions, but it is an uneasy truce.

The problem from my perspective is that we can't really hate the mum because she is not evil in the literal sense, but her constant meddling is annoying and very harmful to her closest and dearest. Yet she always falls back to the old chestnut of “I’m doing this for the good of ….”. Hence all the characters are in a no-win situation.

This shunted several characters into the margins. Chief among them is the ML. He should have a much stronger presence but between helping the FL in her business and being the peacemaker to her family, he became just the nice guy putting out spot fires. In fact, the mum casted such a big shadow that no characters are spared. This is even more dramatic in the last 3 eps when it is all about the mum.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for a mother centric show and there have been some excellent ones. However, in this case, it felt like the mum was initially used as a catalyst for change but ends up taking over the show. The series is still watchable, but it can be very trying at times.

Ultimately, if you are looking for an escapist rom com then this might hit too close to home to be fun. If you want a family melodrama then this is inferior because it is just a hotchpotch of tired tropes. Throw in the PITA matriarch and we have an inverse trifecta. One time watch for me.

Read More

Welcome to Ji Chang-wook!

Fans of small-town dramas will feel right at home here.

To be fair, the village based plot doesn't start in earnest until a few episodes in but once in place, all the typical elements are on full display. Bucolic setting, tight knit community and "colourful" locals all slot in seamlessly.

It doesn't mean this drama is all sunshine and sea breezes, quite the contrary. The first few episodes can be titled, "How low can the FL go?". The simple answer is very low. Not only did her professional and personal life collapsed in Seoul but her troubles follow her back to her hometown on Jeju.

To be honest, the first few episodes are hard to watch. Not because of bad acting but it was an endless series of setbacks, angst and tears. There is little concrete reasoning behind her fall from grace other than the A-plot demands it. The problem is that the shouting and crying only got worse when she arrived home because now it involves the whole family unit and sundry other characters. It was surprisingly relentless when you consider this is supposed to be a rom-com.

Fear not, Ji Chang-wook is here! Our ML is the soothing influence, the voice of reason and the mirror for the FL to see the truth behind all the ill feelings and maltreatment she has suffered for years. Members of the 5 Eagles Brotherhood helped as well. They might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but their total dedication to Cho Sam-dal is a sight to behold and woe to anyone who stood in their way.

Thankfully, the feel of the series changes completely once the OTP acknowledge their feelings for each other. There is nothing a united village can't handle and while they still face challenges, we know they are just speed bumps on their road to success.

Speaking of romance, the OTP is always going to be front and centre, but it is relatively uneventful once they clear the air. The shaky romance between the eldest sister and her ex-husband is more engaging. Props to the actor playing the ex-husband. He could have been a typical spoiled heir, but he is so earnest and sweet that you just have to love him, warts and all. The scene with the cockroach is unmissable.

As I mentioned before, the show is angst heavy, but it is not well balanced. This is largely because the antagonist is light weight. There is no dastardly master plan. She got desperate and the fourth estate took care of the rest. She rode the tiger but have no idea how to get off. This also means the resolution, when it came, felt underdone. It closed the chapter but there is not a lot of satisfaction to be had.

The last EP is total fan service. There is a lot of lovely scenes that wrap up the various threads but the best one is probably the photo exhibition. It is a lot more about the ensemble cast of locals than the weather and it was very touching and uplifting.

All in all, it is an uplifting story that ticked a lot of boxes. Fans of JCW will rejoice. He is such a versatile actor nowadays. Honourable mention must go to Kim Mi-kyung. The veteran actor really gave us her all. Bravo!

Is it the best example of this genre, not quite. There are shows which nailed the formula better and/or the ensemble cast turned in better performances but it is good enough to earn my recommendation, for now. Enjoy!

Read More

I have a wish too . . please shorten this series by half

The premise of the show is interesting. A demon who can grant a wish to anyone in exchange for eternal damnation. We were shown a few tantalising examples to whet our appetite. It also serves to demonstrate the ML’s demonic powers. It was entertaining while it lasted.

The wheel starts to fall off once the Demon gets his powers back. We are attacked by a herd of drunken unicorns. We have a whole episode of them being lovey-dovey. So sweet, my teeth are aching. Other than a couple of key scenes, it is utter meaningless fluff. This happened again and again. Sugar overload or deepest melancholia, choose your poison.

But wait! There's more. Why stop at unicorns? Let’s throw in a psycho killer, a deranged young man and a power-hungry evil mastermind. That's what I call a party! Some show can pull this off, but this drama wasn't even trying. Most of the characters are one dimensional. Many side characters are just canon fodders. There was minimal creativity. It is a smorgasbord of ideas mashed together and spread super thin.

This is not helped by plot holes, bad pacing and whiplash change of tones. We literally have filler episodes inserted into the middle of the show just to pad out the runtime. Throw in lengthy recaps and repetitive flashbacks to the 18th century and we have a lot of dead space in between the key plot developments. I can only credit this to a need to keep our leads in play for as long as possible so that the production company can capitalise on their star powers. The amount of PPL is quite egregious.

Unsurprisingly, the 2OTP is a lazy caricature. Their "romance" was a 5 sec joke that went on for 5 hours. Those seasoned actors have my deepest respect. They took one for the team.

I also feel sorry for the fans of the two leads. The potential is there. Their pairing could have been magical but there is very little spark here. The script is so heavy handed that you stop believing after awhile. They still look good together, but it feels like they are models sashaying through the glamourous sets.

Sadly, the paper-thin plot and lazy writing makes the rest of the show barely watchable. As soon as the Demon regained his powers, the tension is gone. If that is not enough, they throw in a god who can override everything. Who needs narrative logic when you have god's will. I do have to give the show props for their version of God. It is certainly an interesting take and a brave choice from a Korean perspective.

O Daemon, I beseech thou! Grant me mine wish. Pretty please?

Read More

A perfectly engineered drama for mass consumption

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed this show very much and I binge watched it from start to finish even though I have every intention to take it slow. That got me thinking, why did I do that?

It might be serendipity when I just saw a YouTube video about fast food and how they are created by science to give us dopamine and endorphin hits as quickly as possible. The amount of salt, sugar, fat, etc are precisely controlled. It even goes as far as using highly processed ingredients that requires minimum effort to digest so you don’t feel sluggish after a meal. You just feel good and want more . . with fries.

So, if we were to engineer a drama equivalent for the massive Chinese audience what would we need?

• A lead that is long suffering, but s/he has a strong, righteous personality, and a backbone of steel so that s/he can rise above.
• A romantic counterpart who is the rock for the main protagonist to shelter against the worst. S/he will do enough to make his/her intention clear, but it will be a slow burn.
• An antagonist who is despicable but not totally evil. Just bad enough that we look forward to his/her fall from grace.
• A bunch of one-note side characters who will do the dirty work of the antagonist or trigger events and move the plot along.
• The main theme shall be growth and redemption. Angst will be under a tight rein. Hope and despair will be in fine balance. The big payoff will be at the end.
• It should not be an all consuming revenge drama as that will corrupt the leads. However, wrongs will be righted, and the wrongdoers will get their comeuppance.
• Solid actors who can breathe life into their roles.
• Above average production.

To put it simply, this is Alliance in a nutshell.

There are minor deviations. For instance, the 2FL is a little surprise package as she flipped from the classic SFL to become the BFF of the FL. I liked that and it was good to watch her grow and mature. However, some of her subplots are contrived. More suffering for the sake of suffering.

The despicable antagonist is front and centre. The array of side characters are armed and ready. There are some social commentaries, but none are particularly hard hitting nor unique.

Add solid actors, a quality production and we have all the ingredients for a binge worthy drama and that is exactly what we got.

The story of Alliance is ageless and boils down to watching the FL struggle up a greasy slope. She will slip back down and skin her knees repeatedly. We all know that the reward is at the top of that hill so we wait in anticipation.

This is where a good script helps. There is despair but it is not soul destroying. Emotional scenes are well acted but mostly at 7/8th level with rare boil-overs. There are occasional sparks of joy to keep our hopes up and swoon worthy moments to let us know romance is not dead.

It ebbs and flows but the outcome is largely preordained. Plots are designed to hit us with the feels, and they get the job done.

Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not. As consumers of dramas, we crave those type of shows. Maybe they are formulaic, and leaves only a fleeting impression but we shall be hungry for more . . . with fries.

Read More

Lies, damned lies and couple therapy

Superpower shows can be a challenge to make if there are budget constraints. Hence some k-dramas focus on simple ability like seeing smell or reading minds. A bit of fancy camera work and simple practical effects can work magic. This show has the FL hearing a bell chime if she hears a lie. No CGI required, easy peasy. Obviously, this makes her daily life challenging. The bell would go off constantly as she moves amongst people. She becomes cynical and untrusting. All that changed when the ML literally crashes into her life.

I wondered how the writer-nim is going to work the lie detection power into the show so I started to watch. I’m glad that they did a good job in the early episodes, but it does create its own narrative issues later on. The writer-nim had to resort to misdirection to avoid giving the game away. This serves to drag out the show with little gain. Would it be better if it was 12-14 episodes long?

Putting other issues aside, the love line does work quite well. Our leads makes a lovely couple and have good chemistry. Both are vulnerable and have damaged psyches. How they learn to trust each other and heal each other is nicely told and portrayed. There are heart fluttering moments and a decent amount of skinship. I’m also glad that they didn’t drag out their romance until the dying moment of the show. Once they are official, their bond is unshakable.

This brings us to the main message of the show. Both leads must learn to trust again. The FL finally understood that not all lies are bad. Some are necessary to mitigate harm to others. Some might even be beneficial. Sometimes you just have to trust your gut and have faith. Once that message is delivered, the show began to lose momentum. A historical crime is pushed to the fore to take up the slack.

I’m not saying the crime is irrelevant. It is the key to the ML’s social phobia and is the source of much tension and angst during early episodes, but it has done its job. A quick resolution would have sufficed but the writer-nim spun it out for all it’s worth. It is not really the high water mark they have hoped for. It feels like the show is on autopilot during this segment. It runs through some tropey subplots, and voila! Crime solved, justice served and we are on the predictable home straight.

The last two episodes are total fan service with redemptions and resolutions handed out left, right and centre. Some of them ties up loose ends while others are a bit farcical. I’m running out of ways to say “nice” and “sweet”. It is not quite to the point of sugar overload, but it gets close, real close.

In terms of acting, the ML is very handsome but he feels a little flat to me. He has flashes of high emotions but most of the time he just seems to float through the scenes. The FL put in a solid performance, but this type of role is bread and butter for her by now. The rest of the ensemble is a mix bag. It is not their fault per se, but the show did not really develop their characters beyond their original traits. Most are a bit quirky, but you soon realise that what you see is what you get. The FL’s mother is particularly one-note. She barely changes until the last moment when she was gifted a happy but very contrived ending.

In the end, this is an enjoyable show and quite watchable. The romance is sweet, and the growth of our leads is rewarding to watch but I also feel that the show is trying too hard to please and to play it safe.

Production value is decent and par for the course. There is a sudden jump in PPL towards the end. Most likely due to the growing popularity of the show. OST is nice, especially the jazz numbers. Some of the k-pop songs are catchy. Rewatching a highlight reel will not be a chore.

Read More

Solid female centric drama that fell short of being great

This Show certainly started with a bang. It is dramatic and engaging right from the start. It was the classic “how the mighty falls” trope writ large. Liu Tao has the titular role and I love her acting and visuals. She was ably supported by Qin Hai Lu and Chai Bi Yun. Together they formed the triumvirate that seems to be de rigueur for the current crop of similar shows.

Our hapless FL is tested time and again. Her despair and suffering are palpable. She is pushed to her limits, but this only fan the flames from which the phoenix can rise again. The Show did a good job keeping us engaged. The problem lies elsewhere.

Most of the subplots are tropey and they come in waves. When one FL gets a handle on things, the next one will hit the wall and the cycle repeats. This is not helped by the fact that all three FL’s works in the same regional TV station doing different roles. It is interesting to see how the newsroom and the business side works, but it is a small pond. It becomes more claustrophobic as the episode count ticks up. The Show tries to stay relevant by having the leads branch out into the “new” streaming platforms. It helps, but it doesn’t feel “real”. These are not backyard operations but well staffed business ventures. Many struggling streamers must be rolling their eyes.

Weaving through all these challenges are love lines for each FL. Some are more interesting than others. Obviously, the Liu/Liu pairing is the focus, and I can totally ship them. In fact, it is this burgeoning romance that keeps me watching. The ML is so earnest and devoted, he can make any woman swoon. I love his unique visual with the hint of a rebel.

Speaking of romance, it is a key selling point of this Show but also its Achilles heel. There is nothing wrong with the 3 pairings but other than talking the talk, they don’t really walk the walk. After all the push-pulls and trials, we end up with a ripple rather than a wave when they are finally together. Yes, they are loved up but there is next to no skinship. A couple of hugs and a peck on the cheek is it. The other two CP’s don’t even get that far. Maybe it is the age of the actors, but it is not very rewarding after shipping them for so long.

While most c-dramas work hard to hook us within the first few episodes, this show does better than that. The middle section where the FL’s start to turn things around are some of the better episodes. However, the tail didn’t quite fire. Part of the problem is the return of the FL’s husband and the resolution of his mysterious disappearance.

I know crimes must be punished in c-dramas. However, his return feels too scripted. I would prefer for him to keep his distance rather than showing up all guns blazing. He behaved just as you’d expect and utters all the cliché lines. It is formulaic and feels lacking. A better option might be for him to send her all the damning information and an apology letter. Then set her free with a divorce by proxy. He doesn’t deserve redemption per se but that would be a more nuanced approach than just painting him as an one-dimensional crook.

In the end, the Show is a good example within this popular genre. I appreciate the solid acting, chemistry of the Liu/Liu pairing and good production values. However, the plots lack originality and that certain je ne sais quoi to lift it above the rest. It is an enjoyable watch but not high on my rewatch list. It gets a credit rather than a distinction. Peace out.

Read More

Growth is good, growth nurtured by love is even better!

Let's be honest, this show is not going to win any drama awards and there are some story telling issues but I gave this show a high score because it is true to its own narrative. I consider that a nice touch as a lot of c/t-drama starts off with one narrative and ends up with a different genre unless they pull it all back in the dying moment of the show. That can be disconcerting, to say the least.
Being a youth focused show, the plot is centred around life at school and university with a "... 3 years later" time skip in the end to tie things up and give everyone closure. The OTP were cute together and have good chemistry. The FL can be a bit annoying as she talks too fast and too much and was tomboyish but that's her character. The most important thing is that both of them are flawed (unlike some other youth drama where one half is amazing and the other is hopeless). In their case, the sum of the whole is literally far greater than their individual merits, they knew it and talked about it regularly.
As I mentioned before, the writers held firm to that narrative. There were minor misunderstandings or challenges to their pairing but they exist only for each other and their faith and trust in each other was unshakable (well, 90% of the time ;)). From that bond came a great deal of growth, both personal as well as in their careers. Even when the ML (handsome and smart) grew out of his shell, he only had eyes for the FL. He never waver for one moment. The FL is also totally into the ML but her character flaws make her tough on the outside but fragile on the inside so there were some initial doubts. However, his presence anchored her being and smoothed her rough edges. In turn, her love and support allow him to overcome his social phobia and lead a successful life. Both achieved a great deal more than if they'd never met.
As you would expect in such a drama, there was little angst. They resolved their issues quickly and what enemies they had, did limited damage and most saw the evil of their ways and made amends. Some even became fast friends! Teachers were all positive influences and only want to see them succeed. Lots of feels in those formative years.
What was a bit annoying was the 2OTP. Their failed attempts at having a romantic relationship was painful to watch, especially when it dragged on for 25 episodes. Why was the 2ML so thick and blinded to the feelings of the 2FL is beyond me. When he did "discover" his feelings, it just seemed to be a bit too convenient. It was like nothing was there one minute and then after seeing the 2FL with another dude (whom he more or less pushed into 2FL's lap), he just said he thinks he likes her after all, did a 180 degrees and chased her aggressively. Really? What miracle water did he drink (PPL in-joke)? Anyway, that paved the way for some cute 2OTP moments for the last few episodes. Even with all the pairings, there is limited skinship. A few kisses towards the end of the show but there were lots more failed attempts and pull backs.
One last observation, in this type of drama, the elderly actors tends to be the screen stealers (either for good or evil) but in this case, the FL's younger (half) brother (~10 years old?) was a gem. He was wise beyond his age and his acting was sooo good and on point.
In the end, it was happy endings all round. Every loose ends tied up with pink bows. It was a drama that you won't recall many highs or lows but will remember with a feeling of fondness and a bit of wistfulness. Life is not meant to be easy but for a little while, the world was a better place where two imperfect characters became a perfect whole.

Read More

That'll do, cells. That'll do.

I know this is technically a self-contained drama, but it will make more sense if we include Yumi's Cells 1 and 2 in our discussions.

Let's get the easy bits out of the way. The production quality is solid. Everything has a glow up. The FL is now a successful writer. She works in a swanky studio of her own and has a Padawan . . I mean assistant writer. However, she has been surviving in an emotional desert for years. No distractions = max productivity. That is a double edged sword though. Her romantic stories are more polished, but they are becoming tropey as they are no longer fuelled by raw emotions from her heart.

In terms of acting, Kim Go Eun IS Yumi. She owns the titular role by now. Her cells exist in a familiar space, mostly leading a sedate existence or placed in suspended animation as she locks away emotions that are deemed unproductive.

The ML is a young, up and coming actor. He already appeared in several high-profile dramas in various capacities. He is tall and handsome. His role swings from a cold, detached professional to a hot-blooded lovesick puppy. He has good chemistry with the FL and there are some nice skinship. Occasionally, he will drift into this bemused expression as if he couldn't believe he is the ML. He has room to grow and I'll be keeping an eye on his progress.

As expected, the cells shared almost equal billing. This time, we are introduced to the ML's cells as well. While there are some commonalities, there are also unique variants. The General who oversees the ML's principles is a gem. Thankfully, the cells are less of a filler gimmick this time round.

We now need to look at the series as a whole. While the first series planted the FL firmly in the role of a supportive girlfriend with limited agency. The second show took a different path as Yumi discovered self-love and developed a backbone. She is the tragic example of win some and lose some in the game of love.

This third installment starts off feeling same-y, yet . . different. For starters, this series is only 8 eps long instead of the usual 14/16. This means the story is much more focused. Once it hit its stride, the show really motors along. This is a good thing. While the first series feels about right in its pacing, the second one can feel a little draggy at times. Maybe it is due to the heavier tonal shift in YC2.

If I'm honest, I came onto this show with some trepidation as well. I'm happy to report that this series has found its mojo again. :)

To wit, instead of more awkward push-pulls as Yumi navigate a new romance. We are given a much more straightforward preposition. The ML is totally smitten by Yumi and he is not wasting time. Woof! It was cute to see all the cells that have been sidelined or even placed in suspended animation came back to life. The naughty cell is a hoot!

So, if we look at Yumi's journey as a three act play then this shortened drama makes a lot more sense. She is finally in the position to recognise when True Love™ comes knocking. In stead of the uncertainties and self-doubts earlier, she was able to push through and make the right decision for the right reasons. There are no fireworks or epic battle of Wills. Just a quiet confidence that speaks volumes.

The final scenes are beautifully done and firmly cemented the cells’ place in our hearts. It was a fitting finale to a years long journey.

The writer-nim hit paydirt when they created the animated cells, but all good things must come to an end. Fare thee well, cells! Peace.

Read More

It does get better . . trust me

This series doesn’t have a very convincing start. There is a lot to digest in the opening minutes. It does have the hallmarks of a rom-com, just a bit lopsided. A lot of that comes down to the interaction between the leads. The FL is awkward and a bit high strung when we first meet her. The ML is handsome as ever, but there is a certain weariness about him. The rom-com setup is there. The FL is sending out signals; the ML is not receiving. It all fades away like a dream.

When our leads meet again, the FL is now an accidental superstar. She was the lead in a low budget zombie slasher flick. The fact that she was in a coma for 6 months while the world go crazy about her character is macabre and delicious. Their meeting on the set of an international dating/travel show is awkward to say the least.

To say the FL is totally unprepared for her newfound fame is an understatement. She defaults to a nice grey persona. Everyone identifies her with her zombie character, Do Ra-mi and not as the actor herself.

The ML is not in a good place either. His crush is about to become his sister-in-law. The appearance of the FL only reminded him of the past.

Let's just say the drama gods have their last laughs when his crush arrives at the filming location as the new PD for the dating show. He also finds out she broke up with his brother. What does this all mean?

Into this witches' brew enters the SML. A self-centred Japanese movie star. At first, he thinks the FL is nothing more than a C grade starlet who got lucky. While the actor is handsome, he is set up to fail. There is little doubt the romantic scenes are staged. The SML eventually falls for the FL and create a love triangle . . of sorts.

The reason for the rickety love triangle is largely due to the extreme push-pull between our OTP. Their relationship is nebulous. The FL is too weak to do anything other than watch the ML wistfully. The ML kept the FL at arm's length as he has too many emotional baggage to move forward.

I suppose this is where the whole translating love motif kicks into high gear. There are so many miscommunications. It is not so much failure to launch, but failure to communicate. You can only go so far with yes/no/thank you.

All that changed when the FL's Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) came to the fore as she takes on the persona of Do Ra-mi whenever she is under stress. This allows the meek FL to let it all hang out. Minimum self-control, maximum impact. The ML is the usual target of this human tsunami. Initially, he was overwhelmed, yet he could not help but be drawn to her.

The swoon worthy moments and skinship blossoms in the last few eps once all the misunderstandings are cleared away. It is a good thing, but I think the hands of the writer is doing all the heavy lifting. It is obvious that this is the One True Way if we are to get the HEA ending. It just feels a bit too "convenient" at times.

In terms of acting, the FL did good. The meek FL role is standard issue. She shines when she morphs into Do Ra-mi. She is obviously much livelier and more emotional charged. Those are precious moments that truly lifts the show.

On the other hand, the ML feels stiff and tired for the first half of the drama. His trademark sparkle only appears after he tangles with Do Ra-mi. In that sense, she is his muse. He can finally counter her zaniness with his charm.

Now, the use of a mock dating show that doubles up as a travelogue is a double-edged sword in my book. The sceneries are beautiful and iconic. There is a feeling of chicken or the egg.

Obviously, a dating show must build up the romance. Much of it feels staged as we know the FL’s heart is not in it. It even got a little painful towards the end when the SML makes a real confession to the FL only to be brushed aside as great acting. Ouch!

While the OTP's romance is almost operatic. The 2CP is cute and much more grounded. I ship them equally. They just feel right. No endless push-pulls and dramas. What little misunderstanding was quickly resolved. Nice.

In the end, I enjoyed this show. I don’t know if the international filming locations are necessary. I’m not complaining. They are beautiful sights, but they are competing for our attention and often winning. I don’t know if we need the mock dating show to push our leads together. The role of the SML is largely wasted. They used a lot of efforts on something that has minimal impact. There is also some controversy about the actor's background.

I'm also not a big fan of the cartoon-y scenes of her traumatic past. I understand that it is viewed from a little girl's perspective and it serves a purpose. The mental illness angle feels tropey and adds little to the conversation. This series did get better, but I don't think it quite reached its full potential. Peace.

Read More

Your favourite band reformed after years . . . but as a cover band?!

If you read comments about this show you will see the following reframe again and again. "I loved the first season, but . . "

Yeah, I am one of them. If you read my original review from 2021, you will see how I raved about it and gave it a 9. It was well deserved as it was like a breath of fresh air. It was low budget, a bit rough around the edges, but it was visionary and the show delivered.

I was excited when I found out there will be a S2 and the same actors are reprising their roles! Hallelujah! While the beginning of the second season looks promising, the longer I watched, the more despondent I became.

Don't get me wrong. It is not a bad show. Quite to the contrary. All the actors have matured, and the production has been given a decent budget which is put to good use. These are all good things. Any first-time viewer will have little to complain about. What triggered me goes deeper than that.

I hate to say this; the show is now just another historical melodrama. What happened to the fresh ideas and chemistry between the couples? It is like watching power couples going through their daily grind. High power, high stress, but not very relatable.

The FL is now the imperial coroner, huzzah! She is good at her job too. The ML is the respected head of the justice department. Their good friends are still there and doing important job. Both couples have been married for 3 years. It would be great if this is a quick recap before another grand adventure.

What we got instead is what I would call "a storm in a giant teacup". There is so much happening, yet it is centred on just one main plot involving a key set of “actors”. There is a lot of scheming and plotting but the antagonists are known and their motives are cliché. We watch their ghastly shenanigans unfold and then watch our leads try to solve the puzzles methodically. It sounds good on paper, right?

While our leads act well, their characters are no longer fresh. Firstly, their roles are now set in stone. Secondly, there is none of the original "will they, won't they" dynamics. They are married couples now. There is a distinct lack of skinship as well. Sure, they are loved up, but there is not a lot of intimacy. See my reference to power couples.

Thirdly, we have the crime solving. It is well crafted and mapped out with great care. I can't help but feel they went a bit overboard though. It is like a Bermuda Triangle of tropey subplots.

Never in the field of Chinese costume drama has so much happened to so few. This could have been their finest hours. (Sigh)

I'm not saying it doesn't work. We do see glimpses of its former glory in the last few eps. As a whole, it is . . predictable. It is as if your favourite band reformed after years . . . but as a cover band! :(

In the end, I don't dislike this show. It is a solid outing. I'm glad that I get to see the next phase of their lives. The bigger budget certainly gives the show a more polished look. I'm thankful that there are no break-ups nor Big White Chariot of Doom™. I just can't help but feel let down by the safe route they took.

Maybe it does mirror reality. The excitement of a new romance fades and is replaced by married life weighed down by mortgage stress and school runs. Peace.

Read More

There is experience and then there is EXPERIENCE!

I'm late to the party, but somehow this movie popped up on my suggestion list unprompted. I'm glad that it happened. I'm years late, but who's counting. ;)

If you just take the subject matter on face value, you might think the movie will be sentimental, maudlin and full of self-pity. There are elements of each yet the sum is far greater.

The start of the movie is almost like a mirror on the reality of many disabled person. They felt like they are invisible, protected by their friends/family, struggling to establish an identity. In this case, the plights of our FL is even more intense as her mother is super protective and her manga drawing talent has been subsumed by her collaborator.

While trying to break free of her one dimensional existence, she tries her hands on drawing hentai. Her initial submission was rejected because (cough) she has no relevant experience. While her concept and drawings are good, her intimate scenes are obviously illusionary. The editor kindly suggest that she should seek some (cough) experience before submitting again.

We watch as she took the advice to heart. She tries to discover her sexuality, and to a larger extent, her place in the world. What she wanted the most is to reconnect with her estranged father.

I'm not going to spoil the movie. You really need to experience it first hand. It is not an action packed story, but the plots move along at a steady pace.

There are lots of new experiences for her to take in. She encountered some shady people, but they are all decent folks. They live in the margins, but they won't take advantage of her. Is that realistic?

As if to test her determination, the FL and her impromptu helper traveled overseas. It is not easy and she went to locales with questionable infrastructures. Let's call it movie magic. Ask no questions, chingu.

In terms of acting, it is solid efforts from all involved. The star of the show is obviously the FL. If the main protagonist faces challenges, our RL actor have to climb mountains. Kudos to her and the production for making it happen.

I can ramble on, but seeing this came out in 2019, it is diminishing return.

In the end, this is a good, heartfelt movie. The sensitive subjects are handled well. There is no grandstanding nor shaming. It was a normal human story except the lead is extraordinary. Enjoy!

Read More

Romantic historical fantasy done right!

Let me first preface this missive. I stumbled onto this show years ago. It was time before MDL and OCD review writing. I loved this show back then, but I lost it in the mist of time until a friend reminded me. (Thx @Nelly) This is not so much a review but a very belated ode to a diamond in the rough.

As a 2 hours long mini-series, it is not going to win any awards. It is probably shot in a backlot similar to the Hengdian Studios in China. It is well made but with an eye on the budget. The cast is mostly young. The production certainly punching above its weight and delivered onto us something truly special.

In Act 1, Scene 1, we find the FL in a situation familiar to many youth drama watchers. The FL is 19 and KSAT is nigh. She is aimless and despondent. Her life after KSAT is less than promising. Her mother loves her but communication broke down long ago.

When she was magically transported back to the Joseon dynasty circa 1440's. It was fight or flight from the start. At first, she survived by her wits but ends up turning the table. She discovered new motivations, made friends and even found love from an unexpected quarter. It is transformative.

Alright, let's be honest. The show plays hard and fast with history. While the key players are famous historical figures, the details and their interactions are pure fiction. Ask no questions. ;)

In that sense, the show is a rollicking romp, Joseon style. When it is fast, it is furious. When it is slow, it is reflective. I cheer on our leads as they tackle big issues. I swoon and squeal at the romantic scenes, I berated the drama gods for being so unfair to our OTP. It is quite a ride.

So many tropes are packed into such a short run-time. Thankfully, they are dealt with expeditiously. There are many highs and lows for our young leads. When you consider the drama was released in 2015, they are already talented and shows much potentials. As a matter of fact, our leads will reunite in a new drama aimed at the second half of 2025. Yay!

Is it perfect? I'd be lying if I said yes but that’s not the point. It was chef kiss for me, and that’s all that matters. I enjoyed this show immensely. I wish I can say the same for most dramas I watched in 2025. Maybe if it was 16 eps, I’d be more critical. (Moi? Citical?!)

You can just call me shallow, and leave me alone to rewatch it again. Peace!

Read More

Short and sweet

Let's be frank. This show is basically a feature length movie chopped up into 24 bite sized episodes.

As expected, it is a low budget production. Limited sets and a small cast. However, because of its backstory, the actors are well turned out, and some of the settings are quite swanky. Our OTP certainly made a handsome couple.

As a drama set in the Republican era, there is surprisingly little political intrigue. Nay a spy to be found and the Sino Japanese War is a mere phantom menace. To be honest, other than some styling and cars they used, it could have been set in the modern era. Actually, not having modern amenities help with the plot development. ;)

Within that frame of reference, this series is surprisingly entertaining. It is fast paced and well told. There is little time for twists and turns. What intrigue there is, is quite transparent and explained away within a few scenes.

This drama is largely focused on the romance of our leads and their chemistry is undeniable. In fact, for such a short drama, its skinship quotient would put many standard length c-dramas to shame. It is still relatively tame by western standard but it certainly does not shy away from sex and violence.

As I mentioned before, the plot is straightforward. Revenge, business shenanigans and romance dominated. There is also a bonus dash of comedy. With such a short runtime, you just have to accept the plot holes and gaps in narrative logic. It doesn't matter in the bigger scheme of things. Think of it as a stage play. Each act is bracketed and well signposted. It is surprisingly coherent.

Acting is fine, par for the course. The support cast can be a bit hammy at times but nothing outrageous. The show largely focuses on our leads and rightly so. They carry the show. It is fun to watch their flirtatious acts. Thankfully, no fake kisses or camera tricks when the going gets steamy.

Overall, it is a short and sweet drama of little consequences. Perfect for a weekend binge. Peace.

Read More

Cringey one joke wonder

I was excited about this show because it is the same director who helmed Gaus Electronics. Gaus is zany and quirky but has hearts. One of my fav, yes please!

Spoilers! While it starts with a hint of that quirkiness, it ended up being cringey, claustrophobic and forgettable.

Ok, let's start with the good points. It is good to see the "love yourself" message in a k-drama where beauty can be skin deep. The show tries to highlight some societal issues as well. The romance of the leads is cute but more on that later. There are some comedic moments that land but . . .

And it is a big BUT because this show has issues. While setting the whole series in a rundown gym has a lot of potential, what we got is less than the sum of its parts.

On the one hand we have the worthy health and body image stories, but the delivery is inconsistent and confusing. While the show offers different perspectives, it is a zero-sum game for most involved. For instance, the regular members treat the gym like a social club. They make a mockery of any healthy living messages.

Taking a step back, the A-plot centres around the ML being a famous bodybuilder who operates a rundown basement gym. The FL wants to lost weight to make herself attractive again hence the meet cute. It is tropey but it has potentials.

Fundamentally, the ML's persona is purely based on his past achievements and that he was a preterm baby. He alternates between roleplaying He-man and a dorky gym junkie with a cheesy grin. He is earnest and honest, but he has zero EQ and he can't hold a conversation without referencing his muscles/training. It is kind of cute in the beginning but by the halfway mark, it was wearing thin . . very thin.

He does "grow" as the drama progresses, but it is contrived. Like when he realises mums of young children need more help than just having a personal trainer. We see his lightbulb moment, and he tried to help but it is largely forgotten by the next ep. That is a recurring problem. Most subplots are very transient.

While most subplots have the memory of a goldfish, the central romantic storyline is draggy. The FL fell in love with the ML fairly quickly but the ML was totally ignorant of all the signals from the FL. Honestly, if the FL doesn't have Stockholm Syndrome, she would have run away in despair. They didn't get any clarity until EP.11 and the show has to rush to dial up the fan service.

Oddly enough, the 2CP is firing from EP.1. They alternate between sex crazed and pining for each other after nonsensical breakups. I don't know their backstory and they are just there to chew up screen time. It is telling that the more I watch their antics, the less I cared.

That is a fundamental problem with this series. While it is an ensemble drama, most support roles are one dimensional.

The end of this review is nigh and it is usually where I would comment on the HEA ending but I am numb after watching it. I guess the rooftop, fully exposed, outdoor gym is their last attempt at humour. Enough said.

In the end, our talented actors are wasted in this production. It is watchable in a mindless way. It is such a departure from the cleverness of Gaus Electronics, I am beyond disappointed.

Rather than using the gym as a source of engaging human dramas, we ended up worrying about plumbing and broken equipment. Peace.

Read More