Zogitt

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.

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She is a real contender

Sports centric drama is popular for good reasons. We all like to cheer on our favourite team and if they are the underdog, all the better.

In that sense, this show doesn't try to change the status quo. I suppose the old saying "don't fix what is not broken" applies. The slight deviation is the FL is now the one with the potential. We watch her journey into the world of boxing. From rank noob to becoming a pro. It doesn't mean the ML is not involved. It is just that his arc starts from a different angle and he has his own challenges that severely tested his mettle. He is weighted down by a dark past and a lot of self loathing.

If our leads' trials and tribulations are not enough to keep your interest, the show seals the deal by doubling down on their romance. It is hardly plain sailing though. Lots of misunderstandings right from the start, hence the title. Once they confirmed their feelings, their relationship is very sweet and tender. Thankfully, with only 10 eps to play with, it didn't drag on for too long. They even managed to squeeze in a break-up but fear not, it is for the greater good. ;)

Thankfully, most support characters are engaging and have distinct personalities. This makes their scenes pop. There is a lot of wisdom and wistfulness in their lives. They are not fodder for the mill.

Coincidentally, this brings us to the unfortunate case of the SML. He is a good man but just can't hold a candle to the "bad boy" ML. He deserves a happy ending which the show hinted at in the last scenes.

Ultimately, this type of show is all about the feels and their cup runneth over. Even the antagonists are not evil for evil sake. Sure, they have their "twisted" reasons for doing harm but they also deserve a chance at redemption.

Even with a small budget and a short runtime, this punches above its weight. Sure, there are the odd cliche subplots but what drama doesn't have them? The tight script deserves a special mention though. The writer-san kept us guessing up to the dying minutes. With all the twist and turns, nothing can be taken for granted. It is quite a ride! I'll add this to my rewatch list. Peace.

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A pleasant, transient show

While a lot of j-dramas weaponise quirkiness, this drama toys with the idea. Sure, there is a hint of idiosyncrasy, it is a j-drama after all. The ML is a minimalist, while the FL is a rising Instagram influencer but neither of them are extreme examples. It is like someone googled the term and they workshopped it. The show also goes out of its way to tell us why they are like that as if we might think that it is some kind of psychosis.

Ultimately, it is more about our leads realigning themselves and meeting in the middle. That's amore, baby! ;)

It is not all plain sailing though. The ML's bumbling approach to romance is awkward to say the least. He would say one thing and acts in a different way and vice versa. The FL was one confused puppy for half the show. 

When the handsome and debonair SML shows up, things start to get more interesting but even then, the writer-san used a light touch so there are meaningful looks and wistfulness but not a lot of real angst. That is a shame because the SML is a nice guy who deserves a fair go. He just got his timing all wrong. It did drive the ML into some decisive actions and cements his relationship with the FL. 

Speaking of relationship, this show is low key propaganda. In a share house of 5, there are two weddings and one reconciliation. That reads better than any Japanese official statistics! BTW, the 2CP is an odd couple but they are cute. Just wish they have more air time.

If you think that sounds a bit tropey, you are not wrong. It is easy to watch and easy to digest. All the actors earn their keep. It is a solid production and has a pleasant OST. It just feels a bit . . . "been there, done that". Peace.

P.S. love the bonus food porn. I want that curry recipe!

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This is true love. You think this happens every day?

Yes, I’m very late to the party, so late in fact that I got the cleaning up duties. There are many reviews already so I’m not going to do an in-depth review but just some thoughts about this drama.

The quote above from Princess Bride summed up this drama perfectly. On the surface, it is a noona romance and our leads has good chemistry. I won’t said that they are melt your screen hot, but they have a certain charm and their skinship feels natural. Good acting and a well written role helps. One is a competent, no-nonsense career woman who just turned 30 while the other seems to be a wilful young gun who has more money than sense. However, they soon set us straight and we can see the depth in their characters. While they are not breaking moulds, the show gave them some agency. For instance, the ML, is care-free and have little interest in inheriting his mother’s business but he is a mature person who values friendship and responsibilities. He is a team player and contributed significantly. He is certainly not your typical rich playboy.

It is also nice to see the series work with the standard tropes but is not subverted by them. There are SM/FL’s but they don’t overstay their welcome and don’t do anything stupid. They are second leads in the truest sense. I appreciate that. On the flip side, the SFL is annoying but that’s her character trait and she will grow on you, IF you let her.

This level of care extends to plot development. Once again, there are some aspects that are instantly recognisable but there is usually more to them than just cut-and-paste. Yes, their path to true love is not quick nor straightforward but it is believable. Ditto, once they are official, we are not handed the HEA ending on a platter. The plot is allowed to develop organically. I'm thankful that the writer didn't throw in the last minute breakup just because she can. This is how rational people should behave. I wish more shows would take notes.

Both OST and production value are above average.

All in all, this is a good show. I wish I had watched it when it first came out. Better late than never!

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The forest is very dangerous when you miss the trees

You know some shows are a challenge to watch. Maybe the script is badly written or it is poorly made. Bad acting and/or confused direction can be a deal breaker as well. Melo Movie is none of the above, yet it is still not an easy watch. I'm sure it will test the patience of some viewers.

Our leads are all flawed and they don't wear their emotions on their sleeves. Sure, they are talented individuals but lives mostly mundane lives. They are opaque to their acquaintances. They suffer in silence as they drifting through their days.

Even though our protagonist's backstories are distinct, they share something in common. They have an unhealthy focus on details and they are very introspective. They have a narrow field of vision as if they have blinkers on. They might be in a loving relationship, but they would interpret everything from their own perspective and give scant consideration to others feelings and circumstances. This should ring alarm bells and it is ultimately (self)destructive. This brought on bouts of misplaced anger, melancholia and festering emotional wounds.

For us, this translates to a languid pace. Nothing is clean cut and it took a long time for each character to come to terms with their personal issues and, trust me, there are plenty. This means lots of pensive stares and slow panning shots in solitude. Meaningful, yes, but I can also understand why this show will not work for everyone. It is a good show, but it doesn’t have many hooks. It is as if the drama throws down the gauntlet. Do you have the patience?

Expositions comes late in the piece and can feel verbose. I have no doubt some viewers will bemoan the fact that they saw it coming from a mile away. In that sense, the show is its own worst enemy.

Putting all that aside, there are some wonderful performances. PBY as the FL is solid as ever. KJW as Ko Jun is wonderful but the biggest surprise is LJY as Si-jun. I would consider this his breakout role. While he is technically the second lead to CWS, he outshines him. I just don’t feel CWS brought his A-game. For me, Si-jun feels raw and real while Gyeom is a bit flat and floaty. He needs Moo Bi to drag him screaming and kicking back to the here and now. Thank the drama gods for the swoon worthy moments. That kept me going when I start to weaver.

Am I defending the indefensible? Maybe . . I hope not! Truth be told, the show does make it hard to get into if you just want a casual watch. 2 eps in and you might still be wondering what is this all about. So rather than dragging this out, I will just say this, hang in there. Be patient. FF the slow bits if it helps but don’t give up too soon. It does get better.

BTW, the OST is lovely, and production value is solid. Peace.

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That'll do pig, that'll do

To be honest, I don’t have a great deal to say about this drama. It is quite serviceable. It is a short 10x30mins run. The A-plot is focused on office romances. To wit, we have 3 couples from different departments but in the same company. The main CP is probably the most “normal”. The other 2 have more challenges, but they are not insurmountable. It just took them longer to sort out their feelings and work through their issues.

Speaking of which, we certainly have a textbook worth of relationship issues. They are ticked off one by one by our couples. Thankfully, there are no deal-breaking revelations nor breakups. There are hiccups and a dating minefield to navigate first. Everything works out in the end.

Production is par for this type of short drama. Acting is workman like. Ditto the OST. Everything clicks together and there are no nasty surprises. Totally acceptable, if uninspired.

I have not read the manga this is based on so I can’t comment on how close to the source material this is. From my perspective, it provided me with some distractions while I wait for a new must-watch release. I certainly don’t regret the time invested even though I'm unlikely to rewatch it. If you are into romance dramas then this is a solid example and well worth a look-see.

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A do-over that managed to be different yet samey

Do-over seems to be the A-plot du jour nowadays. Contemporary, costume, Korean, Chinese, everybody is doing it.

This one starts a bit differently. Both leads are in a dark and troubling place in their lives. You'd think given their backstories it would be unlikely for them to be friends, let alone lovers. Well, stay tuned because the writer pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this one.

I'm not going to spoil it for you so let's just say both went back in time but only the FL retained the memory of her past life. She sets out to protect herself by not repeating her mistakes and tries her best to be independent. At first, she kept running into obstacles which pushes her back onto the same path but over time, she realised that she can influence events and bit by bit, her destiny and those around her began to change.

This is where the show shone the brightest. The first half of this show is clever and engaging. Our leads are given room to flex their acting muscles. They have good chemistry and we can ship them easily. Their growth and changing fortunes is very gratifying to watch. It was fun to watch their mating dance and navigate the various challenges but most importantly, falling hard for each other over time. Swoon!

It pains me to say this but as soon as they are official, the writer took a vacation. The pace dropped off; plots milled around the watercooler as well. Lots of things are happening but it falls under two categories. 1) We swoon while watching our OTP play house. 2) We groan while we are spoon-fed tropey palace intrigue shenanigans.

Not only are the antagonist not doing much hiding in shadows, they talk endlessly about their nefarious plots. I would have no problem if they were clever and devilish, but it all comes down to who should be king, who is backstabbing whom and when is the best time to act. The antagonist waited, the protagonist waited and we waited.

The pace did pick up in the last few eps. At one stage, I though they were going to hit us with the Angst Train but after 1 or 2 eps, everyone just went home. Yes, they literally went back to their estate and got some R&R. It was surreal especially after the torture scene!

The pace changed again towards the end, it is a bit unsettling to be honest. It is dramatic at times and impactful in the Final Confrontation way but I can’t help but feel the scenes are on rails.

That is awkward as the show have many positives up to the halfway mark but then the pacing, storytelling and character developments lost momentum. The game of thrones stuff is predictable and tropey. It is still very watchable but I missed that spark of originality at the beginning of the series.

The last ep is mostly fan service. All the loose threads are tied up with pink bows. The show cruises to a HEA ending as expected. It is sweet and wholesome. I can’t complain. The positives do outweigh the negatives. Peace.

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Maybe a little less emphasis on strange

I'm late to this series because costume dramas is not my go-to. To be honest, there are more trash than treasure in recent memory. However, they have good reasons to renew this drama for season 2 and 3.

As the show has been out for 2 years, I'm not going to do a detailed review but rather some thoughts and observations.

1) they are all pawns in the game of throne. It is done reasonably well without too much grandstanding.

2) the bromance is real. Yes, one is the brain while the other is the brawn but the junior partner is learning to use more of his brain than his muscles. Their chemistry is a highlight.

3) on the other hand, the real romance storyline is weak. It is all about reaching an understanding. Very prim and proper. There are cute moments but don't expect much in way of skinship. At least there is no second leads to complicate things. BTW, the banter at the end of the last EP between the 2CP is surprisingly wicked. ;)

4) the murder mystery side is decent. There are times when it is intriguing but there won't be any gold star for original writing. At least the A-plot is coherent rather than just a mishmash of random encounters just so that they can stumble on bodies after bodies. However . . .

5) there is an over-reliance on quasi supernatural elements. I understand superstition and folklore plays an important role in ancient China but all the crimes are committed by humans so you quickly learn to see past all the mumble jumble. Giant animals also play too big a role. They pop up whenever the show needs a set piece fight or some smoke and mirrors to distract us from a weak plot point. Which brings us to . . .

6) a heavy use of CGI but not always to good effects. The quality ranges from acceptable to laughable.

7) the River God plot was very impactful and advanced the A-plot on several fronts. Yet it has some of the worse contrivance about crocodiles. It made me facepalm.

8) similarly, the production value is a mixed bag. Most scenes are acceptable if a bit standard issue. They probably didn't invest a lot of money thinking that it will just be another idol drama. Hopefully, S2 and 3 will fair better.

In the end, I enjoyed this drama more than I expected. Even with all its faults, it is still one of the more watchable series to date and I'll definitely check out S2.

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One hell of a found family

Found family is one of the oldest tropes in a writer-nim's repertoire. It has all the ingredients for a banging meet-cute plus bonus characters development as all the complex relationships change and evolve over time.

This drama certainly doubled down on this premise with the parents being saintly foster parents to a string of disadvantaged kids. This did not go down well with their own daughter as she sees her parents giving them more love and attention than their own flesh and blood. There is a lot of unspoken angst and resentment bottled up inside her. What is a little odd is that her BFF's are two of the foster daughters, so her feelings towards at least some of them are ambiguous to say the least.

As in dramas of this ilk, there are always secrets and double dealings. In this case, everyone is pulling double duties. It did not go down well when some of the secrets were revealed. I must admit that some of the twists were clever but there is a lack of finesse. You feel that the dice is loaded from the start.

To be honest, this aspect of the show leads to some of the best and worst plot developments. It gave us some surprise revelations and swoon worthy moments as well as misfires that pile on the angst and take us down several garden paths.

I suppose if you want to be brutal about it, there is not a lot left to the A-plot once we get past the cute and swoon-y start and sort out who's who after some surprise reveals. The middle section was stretched to fill in the allotted time. It leads to some odd plot developments which are quite contrived and added little of substance.

The ending was as sweet as you can expect. Every loose ends are tied up with pink bows. However, there is minimal fan service surrounding the OTP. Similar to shows of late, the 2CP seems to be more interesting and is given a lot of attention. I'm not complaining per se, but it does feel a little odd.

In the end, I enjoyed this show. The ML was the star for me. He looks cute in many scenes, and he will make you swoon. The FL is solid as ever, but I feel that she is in her comfort zone and is happy to stay there for now. The support cast, production and OST are all fine.

This is a solid series that delivers but there is not a whole lot to distinguish it from the rest of the pack. I’m happy to have watched it but I’d be hard pressed to remember it in a few months’ time. That is a shame.

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Master Chefs Assemble!

This j-drama was release in 2019 but was only added to Netflix in September 2024. That’s my excuse for not review this show earlier, Your Honour!

To put it simply, this show has everything. A tight and engaging script. Interesting and memorable characters. Great acting from a strong cast and more food porn than we can safely consume. It was one of the best show I've seen this year.

Ok, I might have got a bit carried away but bear with me. The show is not perfect. It is tropey and some plots are a bit predictable. The ending is a little too saccharine for my taste but I’m nitpicking.

Let's start at the top. As I said before, this show is tropey but in a good way. You know roughly what is likely to happen, but you take it in your stride. You cheered on their every success and bemoan their setbacks. You know the show is being manipulative but you want to see what happens next.

It helps that the show is relatable. Yes, we are not all chefs but the struggle is real. Once you accept the initial world building, the plot develops steadily. While the antagonist is shady, he is not evil. There are times when events can feel overwhelming, but it is never soul destroying.

This is a well crafted script. It uses tropes wisely and is not dragged down by lazy writing. So many themes are present, friendship, revenge, redemption, healing, forgiveness, growth, fulfillment, greed and more. None of these are used egregiously, yet you can recognise them like little beacons. So much is happening that it can leave you breathless. There is a little bit of romance but it is not the main theme of this show.

To be honest, the show is old school. There are hints of The Seven Samurai and other tried and tested filmic motifs throughout the 11 episodes. They are timeless and universal. Ditto the parables and life lessons provided. It mirrors the skills of a master chef. It is the expert use of fine ingredients that elevates the mundane to the sublime. A high production value and top grade food videography completes the package.

I’m also glad that our leads are mature and seasoned actors rather than young idols. They really deliver the goods. There is no shortage of solid performances. I can tell that their presence helped to lift the younger cast members and anchor their scenes. It is a good ensemble cast.

This show is definitely greater than the sum of its parts. I can rewatch a highlight reel anytime. Please give this drama a try. You won't be disappointed. C’est magnifique!

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A mishmash of sweet and cringey tropes

This show started so well. It is cute and ticked all the boxes when it comes to the meet-cute of a rom com. It was tracking well but worrying signs start to appear by mid show.

Let's start with the good bits. From my perspective, the FL is the true star of the show. She is radiant and so sweet. She is born to play a romantic lead. The premise is also nice and promising. It leans heavily into the healing drama trope with a big dose of bad boys come good motif as well. Every fawn (or is it Bambi? deerling?) has a heart of gold and they give the found family trope a good work out. ;)

However, the ML is channelling Marlon Brando a little too hard for my taste. It works sometimes, especially when he is roleplaying The Boss/tough guy. However, even though he is experienced in life and served time in the big house, he has less social skill than a lump of wood. It is jarring to see how he could stare down a mobster in one scene and be totally tongue tied (or worst, catatonic!) in the next just because the FL smiles at him. His characterisation feels too laboured. There are times when he is sweet and swoon worthy but it is more like a caricature.

In fact, most of the characters are done with very broad strokes. Some are there purely as comic relief. Others have more nuance but only fleetingly. You certainly will not be watching this show for character growth nor social commentary.

Is this a simple farce then? Not quite. There are times when the silliness will leave you breathless but there is also a serious dark edge (like many k-dramas). The senseless violence and text book mobster antics made sure of that.

If you think that I’m confused about this show, you are right. I don’t dislike it but there are moments when I question whether I should have dropped it earlier rather than persevere. This is particularly true towards the end when the show race through tropes after tropes just to cover all the bases. It would be farcical if the subject wasn’t so serious. We literally have the ML suffered a near death experience and then within a few scenes two of his bros show up to a blind date and commit social hari-kari in one of the most cringe worthy scene in my drama watching memory.

Here lies the problem with this show. It just doesn’t know when to stop. It has good bones, but bits and pieces are grafted on which doesn’t always make sense nor work as intended. It is a shame because these are good actors, and the basic premise is solid. A “normal” rom com would have worked a treat.

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Satisfying

This drama is only 8 eps long which is half the length of a typical k-drama. As such it is tightly focused on the A-plot and not weighted down by filler subplots. It almost has a j-drama feel.

The plot is straightforward yet nuanced. A chance meeting of two school friends after 10 years apart reignites a half forgotten school yard romance.

It is quite cute and swoon worthy as they rediscover the spark that drew them together in the first place. Of course, typical to this type of romance drama, it is the ML who carried the torch in silence. The reappearance of the SML who is the ex-BF of FL does complicate things. He disappeared 3 years ago without warning. Similarly, the ML immigrated to the US 10 years previous also without a parting word. As you can tell, abandonment is a theme of this drama.

Luckily, with so few hours to fill, any confused feelings and misunderstandings are steadily resolved and the leads lived happily ever after. Alas, it might have ended that way if we were in Tokyo but we are in Seoul hence things got complicated with the return of the meddling/controlling mum.

This is no loud and whiney ajumma but a classic queen bee with power and money to back up her words. It is as tropey as it gets. To be honest, this is probably the worst case scenario. The writer-nim double downed on it as well. It is challenging to watch as our leads are always respectful to her but she is willing to play dirty behind their backs. It got to the point where she is willing to entrap him in legal quagmire just to bring him to heel. It is hard to understand what she hope to gain from that approach as the ML is a well educated and a highly intelligent man. Being respectful is one thing, being cowed is totally different. It will not end well. In that regard, I’m glad that our leads are strong and mature enough to stand up to her and did not bend to her will. It will get messy, but a strong relationship needs to be tested (according to drama lore).

In terms of acting, our leads are in their elements. They have done similar roles before, and it shows. The support cast is fine. Several of them are there to provide comic relief. This is largely true for the 2CP. It is still a bit of mystery to me why the 2FL is so keen on the 2ML. He has the social skill of a block of wood and does not have a romantic bone in him. Never mind, it provides an interesting contrast to the swoon-y romance of our OTP. The writer-nim even find room for a 3CP but their relationship is tenuous to say the least.

In a sea of draggy dramas, this is a breath of fresh air. The storytelling is direct but still has depth. It is not burdened by extraneous side plots like crazed stalker or murders. The drama is not angst free but it is rewarding to watch our leads fall in love and grow stronger day by day. I enjoyed this drama and can recommend it if you want a weekend binge.

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Needs more gochujang

This is a nice and sweet romantic j-drama. It has heart and there are plenty of emotions on display, but it doesn't seem to hit any highs and flounders toward the end.

The premise of a person who can read mind is not new, but it has potential. However, in this case, I never felt the writer-san fully explore the theme. It almost feels like a parlour tick at times.

A case in point, soon after the ML met the FL, every time she read his mind, he is thinking thoughts like "so cute" or "I like you". Ok, I get it, but he is a full-blooded 20-something male . . . that's all he can think of?! Ergo, you’d think a mind reader will go far in the business world, but the FL's business is just staying afloat. I get that she wants to use her power for the greater good so why not start a charity? Read the minds of all the crooked business elites and take them to the cleaners.

To be honest, it felt like someone came up with the initial pitch and they ran with it. However, once they start to spin the yarn, they don't quite know how to close the deal. The whole story book plot is weak and contrived. It dialled up the angst and provides a way out but it is a stretch.

Ditto, the 2CP is way too “quirky”. They have next to no chemistry and no reason to be together. Yet, there they are unto the bitter end. Go figure.

Yes, this show has issues, but I loved the Korean crossover aspect, and I can't fault the ML. I’d go as far as saying that he is the saving grace of the show. If he was not there, there would be no show, mind reading superpower or not. Even then, the show could be improved with a better script. It felt a bit lame after the 2/3 mark. Thank the drama gods for the HEA ending or I’ll have to pull out what little hair I have left. It is a decent series but a one-time watch for me.

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What do you prefer? Style or substance

Within minutes of watching this show you should realise that this is a different beast from the usual idol costume dramas. There is a rawness and stylistic flair that is missing from many mainstream productions. This drama does not hold back on challenging themes. Confronting acts are on full display and it made no apologies.

This is a double-edged sword. No doubt the director has an unique style. Some scenes are rigged for maximum visual impact. There are bold contrasting colours, dramatic weather effects, poetic imageries and big close-ups of the leads. Get used to it.

This can be polarising. You will either be hooked by impactful scenes or be put off by the over-the-top theatrics. This show is not about finding a comfortable middle ground. For me, it was quite a ride and I was loving it! To be fair, the story does settle into a more comfortable pace towards the middle of the run.

I won't lie, the storyline is fundamentally tropey. The overarching A-plot is a classic revenge tale with a side order of the Cinderella trope and an extra large helping of palace intrigue. The writer is clever enough to mix up the plots and kept the pace fast so that we have little time to examine the plot holes. The production team is also a daft hand in hitting us in the feels which further distracts us.

It is obvious that the show is being manipulative. So much of the pain and suffering is purely there to pull at our heartstrings and to remind us that no character is safe from harm. Even a well-loved character can be killed off to get a rise out of us. It works but it is exhausting.

To wit, the FL is in no position to fight back at the start of the show. We watch and cheer on the FL as she gains strength, made new friends and plan the ultimate revenge. It is very gratifying to watch and there are certainly many bittersweet moments.

This is further aided and abetted by the ML. He might be in his early 20's but he acted well beyond his age. I am most impressed by him. I can't fault the pairing of our leads either. There is always tension between them, but it is the delicious kind. You know they are attracted to each other, but they must play by the rules. Their interactions will get the heart fluttering. While sparks fly between them, there is not a lot of actual skinship until the end of the show. It is poor reward for fans who are shipping the OTP hard.

A fundamental problem with this type of drama is that it is usually fanciful. The FL was a meek wife one minute and the next moment she is full of fight and steely determination. There are also conflicting views on societal values such as a woman's reputation. We must switch off our analytical mind to truly enjoy this show. There are just too many lucky escapes and fortuitous coincidences. It keeps us in our happy place, but it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. It is very entertaining but a pair of industrial strength rose tinted glasses helps.

Speaking of the ending, it is both satisfying and ambiguous. All the antagonists got their just deserts. The OTP is allowed moments of bliss but then the production team went gaga on us.

It would have been a no-brainer for the story to end on a high. I'd paid to see the OTP ride off into a glorious sunset to live happily ever after. They have certainly earned it. So why was the ML shipped off to the furthest corner of the kingdom to fight a never-ending war? cliché? Yes. Dramatic? Yes. Necessary? NO!

This is not helped by the last scenes of the show which is beautifully staged but so ambiguous. Is it a dream sequence?

Acting wise, it is fairly solid but there are moments when it feels like characters changed tracks as the script shifted in a different direction but the subtle change was not communicated to the audience. The impact is not significant but can be a little disconcerting.

Overall, I enjoyed the show very much. It is impactful and engaging. The production team certainly knows how to keep our attention even if the plot itself might not stand up to close scrutiny. Some might find it too stylistic, shallow and tropey. It will be a love/hate thing. Caveat emptor, my friends.

*** SPOILER ***
There is a 5 mins postscript ep that confirmed a HEA ending but why is that even necessary?

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We need Ozempic now and keep it coming!

In the olden days, you used to be able to find a good romance with ease but now we speak of them in hush tones reserved for half-forgotten legends. What we mostly find nowadays are shows burdened with angsts and sufferings to the point of needing to put Suicide Helpline on speed dial. Ditto some of those plots are so convoluted that you feel like you are watching 3 different genres at the same time and have to keep the wiki page open for reference.

Well, this Show is quite the exception. It is not perfect, and the plot can fit comfortably on the back of a small napkin, but this show will make you swoon. It is industrial grade fluff and should come with a health warning. Having said that, it is also surprisingly enjoyable.

To be honest, the first few episodes was not encouraging. I was wondering where the show is heading. It is harmless enough but also uninspired. Basically, the meet-cute comes down to the FL having a 4-year crush on her handsome boss and when she finally worked up the courage to confess, he promptly rejected her. Of course, he regretted it almost immediately, but the dice is casted.

The show really shifts up a gear when the Show flips the role and now the ML is doing all the chasing. Yes, my dear Drama Anonymous friends, it is as tropey as it sounds. What elevated the simple plot is the chemistry and visual of the OTP. The longer they interact, the better their chemistry. It is hard to pinpoint so I'll just put it down to romantic screen voodoo, c'est l'amour. BTW, they don’t shy away from skinship and there are quite a few passionate kisses. However, they (oddly) remain chaste until they got the marriage licence and then it was baby making time . . . baby!

This is further aided by the lack of any silly shenanigans involving evil second leads or non-sensical breakups. Quite to the contrary, the Show has a very positive take on romance and when relationships are made public, there are no jealous side-eyes or sly remarks. It seems the whole drama-verse is shipping them. BTW, the ML’s parents are a hoot.

There are some angst but they are due to external forces and each challenge helps to push them closer. It is a tried and tested strategy. Hey, if it's not broken . . .

If one OTP is not enough, there is a 2OTP towards the end of the show. The pairing is quite nice. Their sweet romance is easy to ship. Wait, there is more! A 3OTP literally pops into existence in the dying moment of the show which is not necessary but who’s counting. As I mentioned before, this Show is one oxytocin overload and hazard to diabetes.

Acting is good from our leads. The ML is totally in his element. The FL injects enough spunk to give her character some depth. Well, relatively speaking. Support cast earn their keeps but some do lean towards overacting. OST is nice and appropriate.

As I mentioned before, the Show is not perfect. The plot is single minded and some narrative logic are pushed aside in the name of expediency. Some might find it transparent and overly sweet. I won't argue. It might not appeal to everyone so I can only say caveat emptor. Somehow it works for me. Must be something in the water. Enjoy!

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