Zogitt

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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A serious drama turns light and fluffy in a blink

To be honest, this show does tick a lot of boxes if you are looking for a sweet rom com/healing drama. It also have a nice looking OTP that can work magic when the condition is right. However, this is also where things can get a little awkward.

Let's backtrack a bit. Both leads have suffer major setbacks in their career and their lives are spiralling ever downwards. It is into this maelstrom that they rediscovered each other and supported each other through thick and thin. Once a bit of historical misunderstanding is cleared up, they realised that they are each other's first love in high school. Yes, very tropey.

Nevertheless, these are solid foundations so let's roll with it. I do appreciate that the show put some mental conditions front and centre. Bullying, overwork and PTSD are just some of the challenges our leads have to face. They are serious conditions but the show doesn't do a deep dive into them. It is a little light on diagnosis and treatment. Cough, the self assessment questionnaire is ... interesting. I suppose we should be thankful that at least those conditions are acknowledged rather than just sweep under the carpet.

This light touch extends to the main plot as well. While the initial set up and execution was very impactful, once the major hurdle has been cleared, the plot took the easy way out. The main plot literally died. What is left is your standard rom com trope.

There is nothing wrong with a good rom com. The problem here is the interaction between the leads. On paper, they are well matched and look lovely together. While the FL has a mature/straight-laced demeanor, the ML is prone to exaggeration once he is in love. He goes full aegyo to get her attention. It is cute and sweet but it can feel like a noona romance at times. This is awkward because they are the same age and both are doctors.

How much you'll enjoy this show will depend on how well you can handle sugar hits. It gets sweeter and sweeter as the show progress until it is pretty much sugar overload by the end of the show.

Acting is fine from the ensemble. There is a fair amount of overacting from the support cast. There are heartfelt and emotional scenes which showcase our leads' talent.

The series ran through a number of serious societal issues but none of them are given in-depth treatments. It is better than nothing but you can sense that nothing is going to get in the way of a HEA ending. Once you get past the confronting plot, it is angst lite and sweet but it can also give you a toothache.

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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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Charles Perrault should sue

This show looked promising early on but ultimately it is a let down.

What is bothersome is that this is not a bad show. It is watchable and mostly harmless, but it is surprisingly ordinary and has little substance.

Noona romance is hardly new to the drama-verse but this show has such a pedestrian script which is not aided by the large ensemble cast of one dimensional characters.

Don't get me wrong. There is a lot happening but the A-plot and sundry subplots are mostly inane and tropey. I won’t even mind if the show is super fluffy, but it ended up trying too hard to be funny, edgy and poignant. It is not a winning combo.

We are presented with an klutzy and naive FL right from the start. There is a strong hint of the Cinderella trope. You’d rightly expect her character to grow and transform over time into something special. To the contrary, her character stays gruffy and annoying for the bulk of the run. She acts like a 39 yo virgin but in the most cringey and awkward manner.

I also find it hard to ship the love triangle. It is just not convincing for me. To wit, ML1 is a hunk 15 years her junior with his pick of beautiful girls. Yes, he said that he loves her because she is kind, sweet and cute, really? Am I watching the same show? It is a hard sell.

Ditto, ML2 has a crush on her for years. Of course, they are the worse frenemies until it is too late. Once again, ML2 is mature, talented and handsome. He also has his pick of superior female admirers, but he is loyal to the FL to a fault. Go figure.

The stories related to her two besties are meant to be saucier, but it is so predictable. Plot by plot, they have a home in this genre, but the sum is definitely less than the parts in this case.

There is a mini breakthrough in ep.9 but the good times never last and we ended up with another about face before the episode is over.

In the end, this type of drama can work and there are fine examples out there. However, this show never really engaged me and I find it hard to ship the OTP. This is a kiss of death in my book. I felt detached for much of its run. I hung in there hoping it would get better. . .

OST is functional but I find it repetitive. Rewatch? You jest.

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Size doesn’t matter, as long as you can make a joke out of it

As other reviewers have noted, this movie is not your typical weeknight drama. This show certainly pushes one “sensitive” topic relentlessly. It is not even really about sex but the awkward situation both men and women find themselves in once you get past first base and must do the “show and tell” and keep up with the Kim's.

Maybe the show is trying to milk the shock value but almost every second scene will involve a discussion/action related to the human sex organs and how well they are functioning, or more likely, not functioning. It does the trick . . . for the first 15 minutes but combined with the barely-there filter on bad languages, the dialogues can be quite one-note. You do become desensitised.

BTW, they don’t just talk about sex but there are several elaborate sex scenes. Most are centred on a softcore "starlet" (aka SFL) who is happy to bare all for her art. It is not exactly egregious, but it is pretty much done like punctuations and to emphasis that they can walk the walk. However, this doesn’t quite extend to our leads. They provide their fair share of skinship, but it is quite tame by comparison.

Once we pare back all those "extremities", we are left with a fairly basic rom-com. It boils down to the usual enemy to lover, romance/healing drama. All the typical misunderstandings and push-pulls are present and accounted for. This show leans more heavily into the comedy side with most angst radiating from the FL as she rage against the patriarchy. The movie ticked a lot of boxes but with only 100min run time, there is barely enough time to race through the tropes.

Acting is fine. The leads are charismatic and they make a nice couple. Support cast tends to overact but this is the style of show we are dealing with.

In the end, the movie is entertaining and watchable. It does deliver a fluffy romance and it all ends well. It is not as shocking as the initial premise as the show does fall back to the well-trodden path even though that path was edged with brambles. I suppose the NC-17 rating proves that it wants to be contentious, but not WAY out there.

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Promises, promises

J-dramas are often built on a foundation of quirky characters and outlandish premises. They don't all work but when it does, it can turn up some memorable and unique dramas.

Unfortunately, this show seems to have missed the memo and what we got is a nice romance drama but there is nothing fresh or unique about it.

The biggest selling point of this show is the life goal of the FL. She has set her mind on when she will be married and when she will have kids. Everything should be done and dusted by the time she turn 30. However, life has other ideas and she turned 29 and has little prospect of marriage let alone 1.3 kids.

In stepped a "stranger" who promised to marry her on the day of her 30th birthday. That is a chivalrous move but it would have worked better if it was a written short story. In this case, it is stretched to 8x20ish mins episodes. It is still watchable as a run of the mill office romance but little else. 

There are swoon-y moments and a reasonable amount of skinship. It is nice to watch the ML trying to woo the FL and deliver a promise made on a whim. It helps that he has a crush on the FL but there is a lot of pushbacks from the FL initially. She is confused about the ML's motivation and whether it was all a joke.

As a relatively short dramas, it is sweet/nice/decent enough and an easy binge. It is perfectly suitable for that but it would not be my first choice and it has minimal rewatch value. Peace out.

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A solid period drama that flags towards the end

The show’s FL should be easily recognisable by drama fans. A mix of Cinderella, Belle and a dash of classical Chinese beauty. She is certainly long suffering but has the brain and intestinal fortitude to try to make a better life for herself.

Her journey is long and arduous, but she is helped along the way by some good friends but most importantly, the love of her life. The writer managed to tell her struggles and the love line well. It can get angsty but never soul destroying. Sometimes the side plots can get a bit convoluted, but it is a costume drama based on power struggle at the highest level, you can’t expect anything less. Most of the threads are untangled in the end but some will leave you feeling a little deflated.

There is humour, action and intrigue from the start. To say the show starts strongly is an understatement. The pace does slow as it progresses. Often, there is a mini cliffhanger at the end of an episode, so you’d want to find out what happens next.

The production quality is high. The set are lush and well-integrated. Costumes are of high quality and suits the characters and their style.

For the show to be good, the performance from our cast is key. Our leads are right for their roles. The FL is pretty but also intelligent and quick witted. Her life in a patriarchal society is not easy. Time and again, she hits the glass ceiling and must counter adverse public opinion. On the other hand, the ML radiates gravitas and martial prowess, but he is a sweet and gentle lover once he falls for the FL.

The OTP’s chemistry is good. Their interaction is not sizzling but still swoon worthy. There is a decent amount of skinship, but I can’t help but think they did what the script asked of them and did it with dedication but lacks real passion when it really counts.

Our leads are ably supported by the large ensemble cast. The senior members certainly pulled their weight. Especially those in antagonist roles. The younger set are fine, but there are inconsistencies.

Plot wise, this is old school. Power struggle is standard trope. Playing the long game is the only game in town. This means some of the roles are fairly one note. Subplots are mostly rehash of tropes.

How I wish the show is uniformly good from start to finish. From my perspective, the show peaked around the 2/3 mark. That is when the long game starts to bear fruit. Don’t get me wrong, it still has its moments later on, but it doesn’t reach the same height. That is largely because we know who the real puppet master is by then. If you are familiar with this type of dramas, you will recognise many of the subsequent plots. The last few episodes are filled with expositions so that every schemes and countermeasures are explained, often more than once. Is that necessary when we just watched the scenes played out not that long ago? It pads out the runtime, but it also saps the momentum. The last episode is total fan service which I appreciate. Everything is in place for the HEA ending.

Overall, it is a well made and entertaining drama. I can recommend it and I have no problem rewatching a highlight reel. OST is pleasant if a bit repetitive, especially the love ballads which tends to be on high rotation towards the end.

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A well grounded romance with an odd sting in the tail

I have a love-hate relationship with Taiwanese dramas. They can be either very good and creative or way too melodramatic for my taste. This show is somewhere in between.

I mostly enjoyed this show. It has a dramatic start but once the dusts settled, it feels more grounded than many other t-dramas. A lot has to do with the acting of the FL. She was put through the wringer when her father died suddenly and left her family destitute. With the help from some kind souls, she lands back on her feet and starts to put her life back together. I appreciate her acting and the fact that she is a plain Jane for the bulk of the show. The ML is handsome and earnest in his pursuit of the FL. He did a solid job and provides us with some nice romantic moments. The chemistry between the leads is good and their romantic journey largely feels organic. There is a decent amount of skinship which feels natural.

The Show is well supported by the ensemble cast. It is nice to see that there is not a lot of overacting from them. However, some of the roles are from central casting and can be one dimensional. The mothers of the ex-husband and the ML are next level though. Both are single-minded in their rejection and prosecution of the FL. I don’t quite understand why so many Taiwanese mums are portrayed this way. It is so tropey.

While I consider the show to be well grounded, it is not angst lite. If anything, there are segments where it is very melodramatic. This is particularly true towards the end when the writer throws in many angsty subplots. This is rather unfortunate as the Show was tracking well up to this point. The leads are overcoming the odds and things are finally looking up. They then have everything including the kitchen sink thrown at them.

Thankfully, the HEA ending arrived just before I adopt the fetal position. The Show took its time getting us there but we got there eventually. I'm not sure if it is intentional but the ending is very tropey and predictable. It also has a weird twist that makes me do a double take.

I won’t spoil it but imagine the classic horror movie ending where we see the survivors ride off into the sunset after taking down the evil antagonist. Just as they fade from view, the camera pans down towards the smoking ruin. Slowly but surely, a burnt and scarred hand push through the rubble and claws at the sky. Hold that thought when you watch the last few scenes of this show. This is a textbook romance so what's with that scene with the SFL? Could there be a S2? I hope not.

Production value is decent but they did spare some expenses. I can’t remember much of the OST, generic love songs mostly. Rewatch priority is low.

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Umm, a nice youth romance drama . .

I usually try to be clever with my title but honestly, I can’t think of anything witty to say about this drama.

This show is firmly placed in the middle of the BFF to Lover genre. Nothing wrong with that and it is a staple of youth dramas. However, for that reason, it is hard to stand out from the crowd. Yes, the romance is sweet and the chemistry goes up a notch once they amp up the skinship. However, it is also very tropey. All the standard issue cliches are there. Most of the side characters are from central casting and I’m thankful that there is no truly evil antagonist.

Their time in high school is filled with the usual teenager issues and they are just background noise most of the time. Thing does get more interesting as they approach the college entrance exam and enter college. However, I’m in two minds about the FL’s role. Yes, she is cute and fun loving, but she also feels ditsy. She does calm down towards the end, but it took a long time. On the other hand, the ML is just so serious from go to whoa. He is fun to watch when he gets jealous but otherwise, he is a bit beige. He does get more animated once the romance starts in earnest though. This is an issue with the ensemble cast. The performances are solid but they are fairly predictable and onenote. You don't sense any deeper emotions.

I would say the last few episodes are the best. Having said that, I do find the breakup of the BFF’s relationship to be over the top and unnecessary. Especially when you consider it lasted for 20 months and the whole misunderstanding was resolved so quickly. It just feels like they needed a time skip and a source of angst so they drew the short straw. Better them than the OTP, I suppose.

I could have scored this show slightly higher but after just finishing Hidden Love, this show does pale in comparison. It does everything competently and all the boxes are ticked. It is an easy watch and harmless, fluffy fun but that’s about it. There are better examples of this genre out there.

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A wholesome peek into the enigmatic Maiko House

The life of a Maiko is not easy and it is filled with learning and training from their mid to late teens. It is a vocation as well as a lifestyle that requires total dedication. As such, it is a fairly insular world that has a very public face as well as a private one as well.

This show gives us a peek into the inner workings of a Maiko house. It is a fascinating drama for anyone who is interested in this unique Japanese way of life. However, this is a double edged sword as the show really takes the slice-of-life aspect to its heart so from the get-go. It rarely pauses to explain anything about their training, lore and rituals. I would suspect some young Japanese will also feel a bit confounded. For foreigners, it can be downright bewildering which makes this an interesting choice for Netflix international distribution.

On top of that, there is a very strong foodie element. Not only are the dishes looks delicious and change with seasonal ingredients, they are also tailored to individual’s tastes. All power to the FL for being so skillful but I just can’t shake the fact that she is barely 17yo. Is it dramatic licence?

The storytelling is tropey and fairly old fashion. It is totally functional and engaging, just don’t expect any edgy social commentaries. The plots are low angst and a bit meandering. It skips around the timeline and tends to focus on key dates, festivals and milestones. There are hints of romances, and some tough decisions confront our protagonists. The narrative is ongoing so a sequel is quite possible. The pacing is leisurely. It can be almost meditative at times. Dedicating long minutes on some daily errands is part of the narrative. You just have to roll with it.

Acting is good across the board. The inhabitants of the Maiko House and their associated Geikos are the key members of the ensemble. The young female leads certainly pull their weight. The female cast carries most of the plots and have the most growth (although it is not consistent). The male cast is in support and fill the minor roles. The portrayals are not particularly deep and their behaviours are mostly predictable. You are left in no doubt that the sisterhood and their shared heritage is the foundation that the house is built on.

Your level of enjoyment and reward is really subjective. It is more enjoyable if you are familiar with the subject matter and can follow the ebb and flow of their rigid routines or conversely, you can treat this as a mindless filler and watch it casually. If you are somewhere in between then it can be confusing and frustrating to varying degrees. At the most fundamental level it is a nice show about a female only share house with a talented young live-in cook. However, that would be like describing Lord Of The Rings as a bunch of weird people wandering the wilderness. ;)

This review is relatively short because I don’t really have a lot to say about it. I personally loved this drama. It is like the dishes cooked and served in the show. Nothing fancy but so delicious and comforting. It sparks joy in you, and you just want more. BTW, there is a website that has all the recipes in the show. I’m game to try cooking some. Are you? ;)

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“Femme Fatale vs Homme Fatale”

From my perspective, the show has a rough start. A lot of the issues comes down to the characterisations of the leads. The ML is fairly straightforward, he is portrayed as a handsome movie star that distrusts women on the whole and despises those he considered to be parasites. His psyche is so damaged that physical interactions with females can bring on physiological reactions. Because of this, he puts up a brave front but is secretly an introvert and shies away from contacts other than his close friends and relatives.

On the other hand, the FL is an extrovert who is good at many things including martial arts, motorbike racing and stint driving. She never does anything by half measures. She always hone her skills to the best of her abilities. Interestingly, this mirrors the actor who plays that role. Kim Ok-bin is very accomplished in all those areas and more. In the drama, she is layered with a very strong sense of justice, and she sees bad men everywhere and is more than happy to step in to give them their just dessert. While she is happy to use her fists, she doesn’t shy away from unconventional methods like seducing a cheater and then dumping them just to give them a taste of their own medicine. I love how strong and powerful she is and she is not dependent on any man for her identity. Hurrah!

Just to mix things up, the writer-nim also put the ambiguous relationship between the ML and his male BFF on full display. Maybe she is trying to create more interest with the complex interplays so that the various characters will spark off each other. Unfortunately, that approach didn't gel with me. It feels like busy work and fire off conflicting messages.

The OTP's meet-cute is built upon the mistaken intention trope but is stretched to its limit. This makes it hard to ship the OTP from the start. Fortunately, the misunderstanding is cleared up quickly and we soon moves on to the contract dating trope.

Round 2!! The OTP's romance is now on track. At the same time, we learn more about the leads’ backstories so that we can understand why they behave the way they do. Honestly, while I accept their backstories on face value, they do feel like being engineered to fit into the narrative.

Acting is very good and the action sequences are highlights. The FL is the star of this show, and she excels in so many different disciplines. The ML is handsome but carries a lot of baggage and he did well in that role. We are lucky that this is not an idol drama so that while the actors are good looking, they can back it up with their acting abilities.

Furthermore, with good, seasoned actors, it is not hard to ramp up the OTP’s chemistry. Their skinship is certainly much more natural and intense than the usual perfunctory stuff. Their love line helps to lift the show above average but that is assuming the first few episodes did not dent your enthusiasm.

Two other minor points, the show can’t help itself from adding a cacophony of cute animal sounds, dings and clangs after every “humourous” moment or dialogue. It gets old pretty quick. The 2CP’s romance is too draggy. The show made it clear that the FL broke too many hearts while the 2FL has her heart broken too many times. So she decided to push the 2ML away at all cost. The problem is that it is obvious to the audience that both are pining for each other but this charade went on until the dying minutes of the show. It would have been nice to see more 2CP sweet moments.

In the end, the second half of the show is very entertaining and swoon worthy. I am happy to rewatch that but I’d skip the first half. Peace out.

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A patchy retelling of a classic trope

This movie certainly started like an action movie. Elaborate action sequences filled the screen with loud noises and pyrotechnics. It is all done with good quality CGI. It launches the plot and introduces all the key players. The premise of the movie is not exactly new. The use of AI/robots in combat was cause célèbre before the first Terminator movie but that franchise certainly made it a pop culture phenomenon.

The special sauce in this case is the combat AI in question was extracted from the dying brain of the lead researcher’s mother. She is a famous mercenary who nearly died years ago during her last mission to earn money to pay for her daughter’s surgery. She has been kept alive but in a vegetative state.

The research project led by the selfsame daughter (2FL) is the central plot. It largely focused on honing the AI’s combat and tactical abilities as captured at the height of the FL's fighting prowess. However, it is treated as a closed loop and each time the experiment ends in failure, the android’s mind is wiped.

Everything changed when the research programme is cancelled with little warning. At first, the 2FL was just going to pass on the data and shelve the programme, but she found out that her mum’s memory is intact and the android will behaves as if her mum has come back to life if the restraint on its programming is removed. That realisation triggered the final cascade of events.

I gather the writer-nim and director-nim are trying to make a grand statement about the morality and pitfall of using AI created by mapping a living brain or the sanctity of one’s mind. Unfortunately, the message is not particularly strong nor clear and is mixed in with all the political/business imperatives and feels muddled.

What I did notice is that the process and legality of transferring a dying person’s mind to an android seems to be well established and there are even a price list for perspective clients which diluted the message further. This makes it hard to explain why the 2FL, being a leading scientist, is caught off-guard by her own discovery.

While the start and end sequences are impactful and quite entertaining, the middle section is slower and meandering. It is filled with pseudo-science and the movie tries to use the narrative to fill in some of the backstory. It is watchable but the complete change in pace did the movie no favours. It just feels like there is too much exposition about contrived theories.
As I mentioned before, the ending was an even bigger rollercoaster thrill ride. It was certainly well made and keep your attention to the end. However, the ending is rather tropey. It just about confirms the whole movie is a retelling of the liberation of a trusted slave/horse/mum trope. The final shot of the FL was “interesting”. It is cheesy but does leave the door ajar for a sequel.

Acting wise, it is a mix bag. The female leads did well especially the mum/android role. It is very demanding both physically and emotionally. The 2FL earned her keeps but the script doesn’t really give her much time or room to grow. She has a job to do, and she did it to the best of her abilities. The ML is a caricature and prone to overacting. Most of the support cast are just living props. That is probably why the middle section is the weaker link because we have to rely on some of those secondary roles to push the plot along and they are not always up to the task.

All in all, it is an enjoyable popcorn flick. There is a hint of grand ideals but the setting and execution was too restrictive to truly deliver a knockout punch.

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A solid romance dragged down by lackluster fillers

I felt awkward when trying to write this review because I was seesawing between positive and negative feelings while watching the show. It felt as if I'm reviewing the Show and "the rest".

Fundamentally, this is a good romance drama. The ML is a handsome, workaholic CEO of a high-end fashion empire and the FL is a younger, bubbly student designer with great potentials. So far so good and their developing romance was nice and sweet. The ML is totally loyal and supportive but a bit domineering. The FL is a bit clueless at first but warmed up nicely. They have good chemistry and there is a decent amount of skinship that feels natural. Their romantic scenes in Paris are beautifully shot and their later scenes in China are certainly swoon worthy. I also appreciate the show paying homage to Chinese culture, textiles and fashion. For once, the overarching business theme is integral to the show. This includes realistic couture creation processes and not just the usual lip service. This would be a tight and enjoyable drama if it was 20 episodes long, alas it is more than double that length.

To reach that lofty length, the writer grafted on many iffy subplots and added a host of one dimensional support characters. We have a SML as well as SFL, a parade of tropey antagonists, meddling and manipulative parents and a dying ex-GF. So much angst, too much time.

All these stereotypical characters inhabit a seemingly parallel world where the OTP visits in between their romantic outings. Due to some dodgy writing, the flow of the story is not always smooth nor logical. Sometimes you can sense that the show wanted X to happen, so they worked backwards and jam in an Event Y as the raison d'être but quite often this feels clunky and heavy handed. Even when the story did make sense, it is filled with standard tropes.

Likewise, some characters' behaviour and rationale gave me pause. For instance, the ML’s mum admitted that she made a grave mistake when she forced the ML to marry his ex-GF 3 years ago for business reasons. She is doing exactly the same thing again but with the SFL. This also begs the question what are SFL's thoughts after witnessing what happened 3 years ago. The mum also refused to accept the FL, but she was willing to accept the FL’s younger brother as her only niece’s boyfriend after one short meeting. BTW, the 2OTP is quite contrived and not very convincing.

Surprisingly, the sick ex-GF is actually the best character of the lot. She is a sweet, well-adjusted lady. Her subplot was bittersweet and touching but grafted on. Small blessings.

Probably the worse aspect of the writing is the convoluted and muffled narrative. Subplots are plentiful but feel dull and predictable. Antagonists never raise above being petty minded. Even when they did huge economic damage to the ML’s company they are not punished in any tangible way. It was laughable how they were eventually caught. There are other examples of this type of dubious morality and fast logic. Ask no questions...

With that in mind, I would say that the core romance drama is good and solid but the overuse of lacklustre fillers drag it down and made it less enjoyable to watch. Peace out.

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Fluffy, sweet, cookie cutter rom-com

Oath of Love is a perfectly watchable rom-com that is sweet and angst lite. If you are a fan of the stars or looking for just such a harmless rom-com then this is a must watch.

Otherwise, the plot is back-of-a-napkin stuff. Bubbly college student fell in love with older, handsome surgeon who happens to save her father’s life. The rest are cookie cutter fillers. Don’t get me wrong, the show is well made and enjoyable. The chemistry is decent with a good amount of skinship that looked natural and not staged. The main plot is tropey and the pace is relaxed. There is a bit of love triangles, a bit of angst, a bit of drama but it is all there to take up a bit of time. Nothing really gets in the way of the romance. There is little to allow this to stand out from the pack.

I do appreciate that the ML is devoted to the FL from the start and totally supportive but sometimes he leans too much into the stoic doctor trope. The FL acted well and displayed her usual range of emotions (there is no shortage of tears). It is just very similar to her other modern rom-com roles. I do worry about over exposure of this young star.

There are two other CP’s. They are interesting up to a point but they both got sidelined. They still managed to have a HEA ending. The show is really doing a Oprah Winfrey.

The bulk of the support cast are from central casting. They did their jobs well enough.

There are two things that I really liked and really disliked about this show. The thing I really liked is how the show handled the FL’s father’s situation towards the end of the show. It was sentimental but it was handled with a deft hand. You can feel the love and how they are all trying to create some beautiful memories. The plot devices used are not new, but it was done well. I appreciate it more consider how prickly the father has been.

The thing I disliked the most was the FL’s “attempt” to be a cello player of the highest standard. OMG, it was embarrassing. Just about every aspect of that is off. From her approach to practise, her scenes playing the cello and her “performances”. Anyone with some knowledge of classical string instruments will cringe. I know it is unrealistic to assume every actor will do lots of preparation for a “technical” role but they can do better when faking it. BTW, Park Eun-bin actually learnt the violin for her role in Do You Like Brahms, just saying. ;)

OST was nice but the main theme was a bit overused. I can rewatch this show but it will be a background task because there is not a lot of plot that needs my full attention.

P.S. On a personal note, I start watching this show when it first premiered but by the 2/3 mark, I lost interest and put it on hold. I final binged the rest of the show after a hiatus of many weeks. I’m glad that I finished it. This did present me with a dilemma when it comes to rating it. On one hand, I stopped because the show was a bit draggy, tropey and samey up to that point. However, the show did get better towards the end so I have to give it its due.

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