Zogitt

Don’t judge, just enjoy. :D

I remember clearly after watching the first episode I told my friend that I might have to drop it because it is a train wreck. But like witnessing an accident, there is a certain morbid fascination. I was undecided, but the show was whispering, “watch me . . . watch me . . .” So I watched the next episode and before I knew it, I binged all 4 available episodes in one sitting and I was hooked. Yes, I have the number for Drama Addicts Anonymous on speed dial. ;)

There is not much point in reviewing the show in detail because there are just so many things going on. It would be like running through a scrapbook of memes. The following comments will be general in nature with one exception.

First of all, the Show is beyond zany, it can be next level crazy at times with a mix of slapstick, sitcom and rom-com all mixed in. It is totally non-PC with more than its fair share of people behaving badly towards each other but mostly towards the ML. It was a challenge to watch the first episode because it is rude and crude but once you get to know the ensemble cast, you will start to see their better side or at least their more “normal” side. They are still offbeat and quirky but they are very human.

This bring us to the next point, the show races along at a thousand km an hour so there is a lot of gags, plots and office shenanigans that flash past each episode. Not all of them hits their mark and some are opaque due to cultural differences but when they do, they are a blast. You just have to take the hits with the misses. Once in a while, we’ll get a more contemplative scene to fill in backstories or the character's motivations. It keeps you on your toes as you never know what will happen next.

While there is a strong comedy streak running down the middle, romance is a close second. There are three pairings. The OTP who are quite cute and swoony once they fall in love. A 2OTP with the highest confession/rejection ratio known to me but hope is eternal. Finally, a surprise 3OTP that actually made my jaw drop. In a sea of same-same rom-com's, different is good. ;)

One aspect that I was both surprised and pleased about is the inclusion of a foreign actor. Like a lot of Asian countries, Korea is quite homogenous. Foreigner stands out and stands apart. If they are used in dramas, they are usually there as the token diversity with few scenes and little impact. When Aziz was introduced to us, I was thinking that he would be just another waeguk-saram who will be the butt of a few jokes and then be forgotten. I was pleasantly surprised when he was treated fairly. The show actually put up some stereotypes and then proceeded to tear them down. As the Show progressed, he was seen as insightful, knowledgeable and is given some of the better scenes. Hats off to the writer-nim and director-nim. Bravo!

Acting wise, when you first watch the Show, you would think that there is a lot of overacting. With time, you will see the nuances in their acting and the comedic timing involved in pulling off the gags. It was particularly nice to see Kwak Dong Shik getting the lead role he deserved. He definitely shows another side to his acting abilities. There is no doubt it is an ensemble show and the roster is filled with whimsical characters which allowed the actors more freedom to play their roles.

Of course, this Show is not for everyone. There are moments when I'd cringe. Their unapologetic use of crude humour can be off-putting. If you get offended easily, dislike lowbrow humour or hate slapstick comedy, then skip this show. Otherwise, give it a go. Once you get past the first couple of episodes, it might grow on you.

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Awkward rom-com saved by a heart transplant mid run

I know some of you will think that I judged this show too harshly but please allow me to explain.

For a rom-com to be good in my book, I have to care for and want to ship the OTP and the story has to be engaging. That might sound like platitude but the more rom-coms I consumed, the more I felt that this is more elusive than we take for granted. For me, Moonlight missed that mark.

On paper the OTP was a decent pairing. A cute, idealistic new grad in her first job meets a prickly but handsome writer. The issue here is that the setting was very contrived. The FL landed an editor job in a publishing house without an interview and no relevant qualifications, in Shanghai, of all places. Does that really happen in RL? We have seen all the tropey meet-cutes with the ML running over the FL on a bike or the FL trip and fell into the ML's lap with a hot drink, etc but this is the backbone of this script so it needs to be believable and plausible. Of course she overcame every challenge placed in her way. Her storyline was not exactly subtle.

The ML's story was the standard handsome, awkward, egotistical man-child. The writer also threw in a "fated" backstory just to seal the deal. I can accept cliché characters and we all know that Chinese rom-coms have more than its fair share but these were not characters endearing to me. Especially the ML who had a crush on the FL but at the same time did his best to deny this (point blank to the FL's face) and pushed her away repeatedly. Not only was it cliché but the way it was done was wearing. The ML would then pulled a face that said "what have I done?!" and I have to ask that same question too.

The pacing for the first half of the show was glacial. Nothing reached any real highs or lows. Stuff happened and sub-plots came and went. We knew where the show was heading but it just took its sweet time. Honestly, it was just as well that the leads were good looking and they could act. At least they made it bearable. Even then, I was seriously considering dropping it by the halfway mark. Then something happened around ep.19/20. At the start of that "turning point", the plot got so bad that I was having WTF moments. Then it felt like someone sat the writer down and had a "good chat" and the tone, pacing and plot just changed overnight. By the end of episode 20, it was as if a new rom-com was born with the same characters but most of what happened before was a dream.

The last few episodes were sugar sweet and tied up all the loose ends. Just about everyone had a happy ending and moved on in life, love and career. It also meant that it was quite tropey but I can accept that as reward for sitting through the first half of the show. IMHO, if they condensed the first 19 episodes, add it to the last 16 and made it a 20 episodes drama, it would be a decent and very watchable rom-com.

Moonlight wasn't bad, it just didn't resonate with me. Rather than being immersed in their budding romantic journey, I was mostly bored and a little annoyed for a good half of the show. I can't, in all honesty, score the first 19 episode a high mark but the last 16 was a solid 8.5 so in balance, it ended up being a 7.5.

On a positive note, I do like the use of the actors' real voices and ambient sounds. Dubbing can be overused in c-dramas especially if the same voice actor is used for many shows. OST was good. The FL also sang the title song. Rewatch value is low for me. 

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Mostly harmless college rom-com

It is actually hard to write a review for this show, not because it is particular good nor bad but it is just uninspired. An apt description would be mostly harmless. ;)
There are cute moments, a bit of skinship, the odd tears but basically, it is a lazy wet weekend type of binge. You can cook lunch while the show goes on in the background and you won't miss much.
The OTP is ok, cute enough to carry the show for the most part. Cold ML, fun FL, tick! There are even a 2OTP and a 3OTP but they are all obvious pairings. Lots of tropes are used to no great effect (nor ill effects for that matter). I don't know if the writer is inexperienced or lazy or under time pressure but there is almost no depth to the story. Everything is telegraphed and/or predictable. If someone sneezes then someone will be taking care of the sick one and that advanced their relationship to the next level, etc. A case in point, they threw in the cliché separation of the OTP towards the end of the show. Normally, if I was fully invested in the OTP/plot, I would be annoyed and rolled my eyes. However, in this case, I just sat through it and didn't really mind. It wasn't badly written and it moved the story along towards the final conclusion but it was meh for me.
In the end, the show was like a nicely packaged, clearly labelled meal with cooking instructions. ;) I finished it and "enjoyed" it in a low key, easy-peasy kind of way. Your mileage will differ.

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Oh Mighty Drama gods, give me strength

This Show starts with a bang. We have murders, chases, fights and the ubiquitous death-defying escape. It is certainly a rollercoaster ride. If the first couple of episodes didn’t hook you then you are watching the wrong show.

We are introduced to intrigues both at the imperial court as well as on a personal level. The interplay between the leads is certainly a highlight. There is obvious attraction between them, and they spend the bulk of the Show exploring their feelings and dancing around each other, searching for clarity.

The problem here is that they really stick to the Joseon rules. Most pairing of the upper class is just a power game between dynastic families. Courting is a minefield and love has little to do with it, unless you count forbidden love which is theme du jour of so many historical dramas. This means the ML can only long for the FL but he is not allowed to express his true feelings. On the other hand, even if the FL confessed her love for him, she would need a miracle to see it to fruition. This is an impasse that dragged on for too long in this show. It might be historically “accurate” (heck, that didn’t stop other dramas from turning up the skinship dial) but as viewers, we are left dangling and more than a little frustrated. We waited and waited but there is little reward for our patience. Consider we didn’t get any fan service until the literal dying minute of the Show. It is very poor return for our dedication.

To be honest, the Show is too slow. I can accept the need to build up the mystery and allow time for all the clues to be found and the puzzle pieces to fall into place. The issue is that we are also watching from the sideline, and we can see the bigger picture. So, while our protagonists are expounding their nascent theories and being spoon fed more clues, we are way ahead of them. Maybe we don’t have the smallest details but the overall plotline is fairly obvious to us well before the final confrontation.

This is not helped by the fact that the show is 20 episodes long instead of the usual 16. Honestly, the Show would have been better off being only 16 eps long. There are easily 4 episodes worth of filler material that can be cut with minimal impact to the narrative.

In terms of acting, the ML carries the Show on his broad shoulders. His character has more depth and he certainly has a more challenging role. The FL is good but she spent too long cross-dressed as an eunuch. While she is reasonably convincing, it does makes it hard for us to adjust when she resumes her life as a lady. Your mind yo-yo between the image of the eunnch and her normal female form.

Unfortunately, most of the antagonists are straight out of central casting. Evil officials on one side while the good ‘uns are on the other. Their roles are about as predictable as you'd expect. We do get some twist regarding a couple of key characters, but the longer runtime dilutes the impact of the revelations as we already guess their hidden identities before the official reveal.

So far so sageuk, you might say but the sting is literally in the tail. The ending of this Show is definitely the weaker link. Good guys are rewarded, and the bad ones get their just deserts. All the loose threads are tied up, so, job done, right? The complication lies in the actual delivery. It feels awkward and uneven. We got there at the end but it doesn’t feel right. I get the impression that the writer-nim struggled to make the ending work within the allotted time and resources. The ideas are there but something is lost in translation.

Other than the less than stellar ending, there is one other thing that has been bugging me for some time. Byeokcheon is the key to the main storyline. An army was dispatch from the capitol to suppress a rebellion there which kickstarts the overarching plot. However, it seems to change from a district to a town to (in the end) nothing more than a village. The show even has the people of Byeokcheon gather for a “town” meeting at one stage and they all fit inside one simple room. The scale feels wrong and inconsistent. Maybe I fail at ancient Joseon geography, but the Show’s own interpretation also seems to be somewhat rubbery.

In the end, it is watchable and reasonably entertaining. It could and should have been better with a tighter script and a shorter run. If you are a fan of the leads then it is a must watch and you would be well satisfied. However, there is not a lot there to warrant a rewatch for anyone else. Peace out.

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Female empowerment but at great costs

I am going to break from my usual writing style because if I wrote everything down, this will be too long (it is already long!). There are dozens and dozens of reviews already. So just a few quick observations and we'll move on.

Firstly, I'm so glad that there is going to be a S2. While the show did end on a positive note, many threads are unresolved and left dangling. In hindsight, it is obvious that the production planned this from the start so that the show would end mid stream. We are left with more questions than answers. Which leads us to . . .

Secondly, I have a love-hate relationship with the OTP. On the one hand, I love the leads and their journey. There is no question about their chemistry and it is simply wonderful. I would go as far as to say that it is stronger than Go Go Squid because both actors have honed their skills since and the FL is definitely an equal to the ML now rather than just a naive younger love interest. They are true partners in this show.

However, this is where I have to say some choice words about their romantic journey. Why in the name of all that is holy would the writer drag this out for so long? It is still inconclusive after 32 eps! The ML is totally smitten yet the FL is still sending mixed messages. She just can't believe that he would fall in love with her because of his superior status. She always uses their "fake" relationship as a shield. She'd gently kept him at arm's length and make sure everything is a business transaction. Grrr, it is getting old. Just one kiss, one confession will keep me swooning until the next season arrives. Alas, we have nothing but vague hopes.

Thirdly, the SML is quite complex. He started as a cold, heartless man but he turns out to be very righteous and idealistic. He paid the price for his convictions though. He is starting to turn to the dark side at the end of S1. It will be interesting to see how his character changes as his moral compass is smashed and he gives in to corruptions.

Fourthly, this is related to my pet peeve, the lighting of costume dramas. Time and again, we find night scenes lit up like broad daylight in idol costume dramas. It is even more egregious when they use floodlights and downlights indiscriminately. It is laughable when you consider what light sources are available in ancient times.

Hence, I'm very happy that this show gets it. Night scenes are mostly lit with candles and oil lamps. They added some soft indirect lights to make sure the actors are sufficiently illuminated but still looks natural. Bravo! Ditto the sets, makeup and costumes are lush and beautiful. Quite appropriate for the time period. I'm sure there are thesis written on this by more learned members so I'll say no more.

Finally, the female empowerment message comes across loud and clear. Probably based more on 21st century values than Tang Dynasty ones. It is engaging storytelling but some subplots are tropey. Not unexpected but makes the progression more predictable. Oppression, abuse and virtues are weaponised.

What else can I say? Please schedule the next 28 eps ASAP. I think they have to observe the mandatory wait between airing of two seasons though. Inner peace. . . Inner peace . . .

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One of the best healing/redemption dramas

Let’s get the negatives out of the way first. This Show is unabashedly sentimental. Time and again, its plots are designed to pull at our heartstrings until there is not a dry eye in the house. It is also a challenging watch as it races through all kinds of personal and societal issues. Everything from child abuse, abandonment, modern slavery, self-harm, suicide, organised crime and more. Not everything is treated equally nor resolved realistically but it is a bubbling witches’ brew. Unfortunately, most of the time, these topics are used as backstory or plot devices to propel the story forward. If you are looking for a hard-hitting, earnest drama on such topics then this is not quite it.

On the positive side, the story is well structured. It dropped you into the pit of despair but showed you the handholds to climb back out. It is all about healing and redemption. Crime and punishment is secondary. The key motifs are regrets and missed opportunities. There are flashbacks hinting at a rash decision or a slight deviation may change someone’s destiny forever.
Most characters in this show carried wounds both physical and spiritual. The unwritten charter of Team Genie is to provide someone their last chance to do what is necessary so that they can shuffle off this mortal coil without regrets. This, the show excelled.

Another positive aspect is the love line of the leads. It is definitely not a smooth ride, but it is quite realistic and swoon worthy. Rather than the typical passive damsel, the FL put up a good fight for the ML’s affection and to leave nothing to chances or misunderstandings. Bravo!

Ji Chang Wook has not scored many hits of late but I’m happy to report that he has got his mojo back. His agitated, rambling delivery and hangdog demeanour is perfect for this role. We rejoice in his growth and development as the Show progressed. Choi Soo Young might be a super idol but over the years she has amassed quite a filmography. She certainly did a good job here. The role is hardly glamourous but her acting felt natural and on point. The senior cast members more than pulled their weight and quite often stole the show. To fault the acting would be to nit-pick.

There is a lot of death and sadness on display, but the Show is fundamentally uplifting and counterbalanced the negatives with a steely resolve to do good. Amor fati!

Rewatch the whole show might be a bit challenging even if it is rewarding. The last two episodes is definitely worth a rewatch plus all the swoon-y and heart warming moments.

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Comfort zone ≠ safe space

It is a small space t-dramas occupy nowadays. They can't compete with mainland China for sheer volume of drama output nor their varieties. They don't have the hype/star power of the Hallyu Wave. They can’t compete with J-dramas for sheer quirkiness. T-dramas just don't have the clout to muscle into the global market so the few shows they produce each year are mostly for local consumption.

This can lead to a kind of creative stagnation. There are telltales, for instance, over reliance on certain tropes and settings. To wit, this series is set in a coastal village with its own cadre of aging villagers and urban refugees. As a counterpoint, we have the taciturn top star being exiled to the sleepy village to escape prying eyes after yet another damaging scandal.

If I am being honest, there is nothing new to the A-plot. There are minor variations, but it is a well-thumbed playbook. We knew who are the OTP and the second leads right from the start. The ML is the agent of change and the growth of the various relationships is the raison d'etre. Totally serviceable but hardly thinking outside the box.

The senior villagers are played by veteran actors, and they earned their keeps. Particularly the FL's grandmother. She is the rock that anchors the show. Everything is as it should be, and it is a solid production that made good use of their limited resources. Some of the scenic shots are picture perfect.

Puff Kuo is in her element. In fact, she has been doing similar roles for some time. Maybe she decided to leave the glam idol roles to rising starlets as she approaches middle age. Her portrayals of earnest FL's are finely honed and resonate with her audiences. The OTP has good chemistry, and we can ship them with ease.

However, I am a little disappointed with the tepid ending. When it should have been confident strides to the finish line, it felt more like a series of awkward little stumbles. We got there in the end, but it is baffling. This is particularly true for the 2CP. Every sign points to a done deal and yet they failed to launch, at least officially.

As I mentioned before, I have watched several recent t-dramas which are quite similar, and I can sense that they are in their comfort zone. They know their audiences and their preferences. What can go wrong?

That is a core issue with some t-dramas at present. They are decent shows. Well-acted by and large and skilfully made (within a limited budget) but they can feel quite introspective and hemmed in. If it is not Taipei-centric urban/business tales, it will be set in a quaint village that feels more like a travel vlog with a hefty dose of nostalgia. They are watchable, but also forgettable.

I can understand why some t-dramas have retreated to this comfort zone, but it is not a safe space. Death by a thousand cuts is still a slow death in the end. One time watch for me. Peace.

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It is all about the payout

You don't see many 12-16 eps c-dramas. Sure, there are short form ones that are basically chopping a mini series into 8-10 minutes segments. Then you have ultra short vertical dramas dominating phone screens nowadays! It is rare to see one that seems to share DNA with k/j-dramas though.

As A-plot goes, it is old school. It is centred on a 40 years old bachelor who is set in his ways. He reads like a thesaurus for a zero EQ personality. Taciturn, self-centred, opinionated, and that is him before breakfast! It gets worse, much worse. If I'm honest, it was exhausting to watch him in the early episodes. He is not evil or malicious, but you will thank your lucky star that he is not your friend, better yet . . your neighbour!

It is quite obvious who is our OTP from the start. As expected, they start off on the wrong foot. It is their romantic journey we are invested in.

This is where we can truly appreciate the acting abilities of our leads. They are handsome/attractive. As far as I'm concerned, their maturity gave them an edge over young idols. This is a double edged sword though . If you are in the idol drama demographics then this show might not appeal to you.

Of course, the ML took his time to grow into a "human being". It is just as well his progress is measurable or you will be tempted to rage quit by the half way mark. ;)

While there are the odd second leads, they are low angst and have minimal impact on our OTP. In that sense, they are their own worse enemy. With all the prevarications and heartfelt scenes, you would expect them to progress faster.

Thankfully, our dear writer didn't go down the j-drama path and leave them in limbo. Picture this typical j-drama scene . . they look longingly at each other . . across a bridge . . snowing . . fades to black . . (Shudder)

Hence my comment about the pay out. The second half of the last EP is the ultimate reward for our patience and forbearance. It was dreamy, sweet and swoon-y. I haven't felt that way about a c-drama for a while. There have been some great romantic c-dramas, yet this one just creeps up on you and hits you with the swoon-y stick when you least expected! LoL

In the end, it is a good drama. Hardly original, yet better than expected. A lot of that comes down to the acting of our leads. There is also a hint of k-drama structurally, and it worked. The storyline is not cluttered. The pacing is on point. The support cast earned their pay. You gotta love the old bikers. ;) Production value is solid. OST is nice. A neat and tidy bundle, if I say so myself.

I can recommend this drama . . as long as you can put up with the behaviours of the ML or . . hit the skip butron. ;) Peace.

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Jekyll & Hyde show that is doing my head in

To say that I'm torn about this show is an understatement. I have seldom seen a series that managed to succeed in one key area and yet screw up another. Please allow me to explain.

This series is built on two drama staples. Swoon worthy romance and the time traveling do-overs.

It nails the first with aplomb. Our leads' chemistry is undeniable and when it works, it is meltingly good. Time and again, when I start to suffer, the writer-nim would bring on the amore and we are floating on a pink cloud. . . until we crash back to earth due to the ham-fisted way the show handles the timey-wimey stuff.

The problem is not that the show tripped up on some high temporal concept but rather simple plot management. To wit, the show used weaponised time travel like a blunt instrument. Internal logic and intersecting plots be damned.

It worked ok the first go around but after each do-over, the narrative got more convoluted. It basically tied itself in knots. Did events change? Did time correct itself? Does someone know or cares?! I'm sure the writer doesn't. Forget about time traveling taboos, it was a road kill right from the start.

Another contributor to this mess is the serial killer/kidnapper subplot. How I wish k-dramas would stop using this trope, but I digress. As before, his first couple of appearances was impactful and fits within the context of the central premise. However, one of the fundamental purposes of a do-over is to change the timeline so that history does not repeat itself. In this case, the plot around the killer is more like a rubber band. It is a millstone.

It doesn't help when the antagonist is a "faceless" bogeyman. I get that he is obsessed with the FL, but the rationale is lost in the mist of plot disarray. He has a name but no backstory, no motivation for any of his actions. They shouldn't have met, or he should be in jail as each timeline changes. Then what happened to him in the 15 years since he may or may not have kidnapped the FL? Did he killed more girls or just looked for the FL all those years. What are the police doing? Watching reruns of Dr. Who?!

The antagonist finally got his just deserts in the last EP but how I wish it happened 6 eps earlier. The last EP is total fan service on steroids! It speed-run through a stack of dating tropes and it is total guilty pleasure. It compensates for some of the mid show confusions.

There is a decent amount of skinship throughout the run and they felt right. Not the most passionate I have seen but swoon-y nevertheless.

In terms of acting, it is the same split personality. I love the leads to bits, but the support cast is all over the place. The grandma is sweet. The mum is bearable. The ML's dad is a buffoon who goes for the cheap laughs. The FL's bestie and her brother are so cringy. Their roles get more and more exaggerated as the show progresses. Are they 13 or 30? I groan during some of their scenes.

The kidnapper deserves his own paragraph. He is so one dimensional. Basically, a cardboard cutout. He shows up, does the Death Stare with bonus grimace and retires to a dark corner to await his next money shot. So little effort yet so pivotal a role.

In the end, if they do a director's cut of our leads’ romantic journey, it would be 10/10. I would be a happy couch potato watching it on repeat. The rest gets a 6/10. In view of balance, the show gets an 8/10.

I can totally understand the hype and attention surrounding the show but I also get why some would defer as well. I need therapy.

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Come for the food porn and stay for the clichés

It pains me to pen this as this show starts promisingly. (Why does it sounds like a curse?) However, like our amateur attempt at cooking a soufflé, it only looks good when it comes out of the oven and then it goes flat.

Similarly, this series serves up a table full of typical dynastic/dirty business clichés but they lack impact. The bark is worse than the bite.

For instance, the central plot is a young and beautiful chef who left a famous restaurant in Japan to start her own diner in a backwater Korean town. She struggles to even pay the rent most of the time. Yet within days of the ML joining the restaurant, they became the talk of the town. When you consider the food hasn't changed one bit, it is very . . convenient.

Ditto, the whole concept of a restaurant being bootstrapped to amazeball just by repeatedly stealing other chefs' recipes is dubious. It takes a lot more than just yummy food to reach the pinnacle.

Put it another way, it would work if it is the FL's restaurant as she puts her heart and soul into it. If you just drop her dishes into a glass and chrome palace, there would be a disconnect. Dammit, you need that special sauce and backstory!

This extends to most of the other subplots. They are mostly trope du jour. The queen bee role is front and centre. While she is the puppet master and more than happy to pit her sons against each other. It feels like they are just going through the motion. Their roles are shallow. Everything is skin deep.

The same goes for the "antagonist" chef, who is also young and beautiful (where are the old crotchety ones?). She is just a pawn in the power game with little agency. Of course, she has her own redemption arc.

This lack of depth runs deep. While the noona sous chef appears to have the most interesting personality, we know so little about her. She does her job and then what? I would love to know more about her.

It is not all tepid dish water through. The romance of our leads does has its swoonworthy moments. The nuns and monks are chef's kiss. Full of wisdom and humanity. Blessed are their scenes. Same with the food porn. More chef's kisses!

BTW, the cameo by Yoo Yeon-seok is a highlight, but you can also see it as a cynical ploy to give the show a rating boost just when the storyline starts to flag. Thank you! Come again!

The final do-or-die cook-off feels contrived. When you consider the FL wasn't even cooking during the competition, what's the point? The inevitable ending arrives and we definitely have mixed feelings.

In the end, this rom-com feels like reading an old style Chinese restaurant menu. 100 dishes but nothing new. The decor is gaudy yet tired, samey. It is hardly a gourmet feast and more like Uber Eats. One time watch. Peace.

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How to turn a biting satire into a farcical pipe dream

Edit: Upon reflection I realise I got more and more snarky as I wrote this. You have been warned. ;)

Paraphrasing Mel Brooks, "satire must walk a fine line and take risk". This drama took that to heart in the first half.

It was packed with absurd moments that genuinely made me LoL. I binged a dozen eps in 2 days. Then the rest happened.

The initial setup was simple and delicious. An angel investor will provide the ML with funds to go into business. The twist is that he will only earn a stipend if he makes a profit, but he can take home a portion of the loss as bonus.

So he came up with a bunch of silly loss making ideas and go hard. What he didn't take into account is his anti-trend products started new trends. People love his generous, loss making deals rather than the usual money grabbing ones.

His collection of seemingly hapless, "unemployable" staff are talented and they repay his kindness and trust with an undying loyalty.

So far so good. The first half is deliciously anti-establishment and sets a cracking pace. The whole 996, nay, crunch work culture is laid bare. His cohort of goofballs are more creative and productive in a 40 hours week than those salaried slaves. Huzzah!

The wheels start to fall off when the original and whacky projects start to run dry. The show shifts focus onto the ML and his personal challenges in the second half.

It is obvious from the start that he is not a business wunderkind. He is earnest and hardworking. He has a heart of gold and he put fairness above all else. This means he is a lamb to the slaughter in the cutthroat business world. By focusing on him for several eps, it really pops the bubble that he has the Midas touch.

This also brought the high flying plot back down to Earth. We crash lands with a thud in midst of mundane stuff like making ends meet and paying off a big mortgage. The satire has lost its edge and became a blunt instrument.

Is this some kind of hidden chapter in the playbook? We are talking about an industry that gave us xianxia and wuxia dramas! What is this obsession with RL and the daily grind?

There are many plotholes by this stage, but the whole subplot about the ML working in a rival company is plain stupid. How can this work? Non-disclosure? Trade secrets? It might have worked if they frame it as a clever subterfuge, but alas, the ML is really trying to work there and earn a honest wage. It would be like Elon showing up as an intern at Toyota. Inconceivable!

For me, this series truly jumped the shark when it parachuted the 4 Sima brothers into the plot. Ye gods! That is so cringey and largely pointless. The show is now an aimless farce. Not a particularly funny one either. Just give me a psycho stalker, tyvm.

To seal the deal, the show totally stuffed up the OTP's romance.

The two female screenwriters made it clear who is the OTP from the start. They have been set up many times. Their coworkers are shipping them. Web novel has been written about their "office romance". Yet it all comes to nought.

Seriously, I would have forgiven half of this show's sins if there is even a spark. Why bother if we don't even get one confession. One hug? NOTHING.

As if to rub salt into the wound, people were teasing the FL in a staff meeting towards the end. She said "if I'm the female lead then who is the male lead?" The ML walks in on cue . . of course. I wish you can hear my teeth gnashing.

Do you know what really got my goat? There is more chemistry between two female co-workers than the OTP! I'll let you guess the pairing.

The HEA ending happened right on time. It is totally expected, yet nonsensical. How did the ML come up with enough funding to restart a whole business empire by selling just ONE unrenovated flat with a substantial mortgage. Does the writers not understand the concept of discharging a loan?

Then the business went ballistic while he is on an extended holiday? I missed the memo telling us the how and the why (or maybe I don't care anymore).

Normally, this is where I would use my "ask no questions, chingu" catchphrase, but I'm sick of not asking questions while watching this series. I want answers, dammit!

The final scenes are like a glossy real estate sales brochure and has about as much substance. It really is like a pipe dream. I don't know whether I'm angry, sad, confused or just numb.

Balanced against that are decent performances from the large ensemble. They are mostly second tier actors. Sadly, most of the roles are one dimensional. They played hard, but in a small sandbox.

The ML has the world on his shoulders and it shows. He was a live wire early on, but he just got more and more despondent as the show progressed.

We know his growth must be a pillar of this drama, yet it feels inconsistent. He shuffles back and fore. He stays true to his better qualities, but did he becomes better where it counts?

Production value is A tier. OST is inoffensive.

In the end, I'm torn about this show. This series is watchable. The show can be very funny at times and it has merits. It can be sharp as a pin and give you paper cuts. Then it settles into a hyperbolic business drama and ends on an artificial sweetener high.

I am disappointed that it couldn't sustain its initial trajectory to the end. Maybe 26 eps is a bridge too far. Mayhaps 16 eps will keep it tight and focused. Alas, that answer awaits in an alternate universe. Peace.

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It could have been great . . seriously

If I'm being honest, the first few eps are good. It holds your interest as you wonder how will this pan out. The exaggerated plot suggested a wild ride. It all feels a little surreal.

We finally take a breather when the FL escapes to the titular kindergarten. The early scenes gave me "Kindergarten Cop" vibe. That would be delicious if they pull it off.

Oh woe is me! I'm actually lost for words to describe the next few episodes. It is a mess. So many plot holes. It is bordering on nonsensical.

For instance, the FL flees to the countryside for anonymity. Yet she was identified by multiple people and hunted down by thugs and assassins in short order. Korea is not a big country but it is not that small either. She might as well stay in Seoul! Instead of going into hiding again, she stays put after a little heart-to-heart from the ML. Really?

Rather than silencing the people who recognised her, she takes them into her home so that they can spy on her in comfort. This includes her horrible mother. Why? It makes no sense. The FL is supposed to be resourceful and clever yet almost everything she did is counterintuitive. Oh! Did I mention she has a loaded gun and a million won just sitting in her suitcase. Really?

On top of that, she would give chase when given the slightest provocation. She'd confront her assailants single handedly time and again. I wish she is amazing at Taekwondo, but she always comes out second best. The ML has to rescue her repeatedly. How convenient.

The ML is a nice guy, handsome but a drip. They have little chemistry. There, I said it! They are the OTP by default.

We must now address the worst aspect of this show. The characters are poorly written. Most have the depth of a puddle. Some are quirky, but just when you think it might get interesting . . it doesn't. This is a recurring theme.

The classic example is the 2CP. The 2ML is supposed to be possessed by the ghost of a general. Sounds like fun, right? It went nowhere. The 2FL is cutesy and a little needy. Maybe she has some hidden agenda? Nope, she is just cutesy and a little needy. Did I mention their love story is inconsequential. Ouch!

There are many subplots and we can see glimmers of possibilities, but they meander for a bit and go no where. Maybe her inexperience is showing.

The antagonist do have their moments. When the female antagonist is in her full psycho mode, she is one scary b*tch! Her brother has two speeds. Angry and REALLY angry. They are not subtle. We are meant to detest them. They feel like caricatures at times.

The housekeeper and chauffeur are a matching set. They are there for comedic relief. Mostly harmless. On the other hand, the in-house lawyer is a gem. He might be a support character, but he stole many scenes.

The chairman is a highlight. He is the ultimate puppet master. There is a big twist concerning him towards the end. It was meant to be the gotcha moment, but all the clues are there if you bother to look. Some of the nonsense finally make sense. I have so many questions, but few answers. I can see they made a stylistic choice, but have to swept a lot of the details under the rug. You really have to switch off your frontal lobe at this point.

Moment to moment, this drama showed us glimpses of what is possible. Yet, viewed as a whole, it is all smoke and mirrors. I was pining for an edgy, noir thriller or maybe a high octane romp, it is neither. So much potential . . . One time watch. Peace.

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Apex haken vs office lambs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Stop the angst train!

At the end of Flourish Peony, things are looking up. Business is booming, their fake marriage could become real with one kiss. While it didn't exactly end on a high, it was full of promise. I was genuinely looking forward to the continuation of their story.

The start of S2 dashed my hopes. It was disaster after disaster. I can even accept the pain if the love line moves forward. The leads are obviously in love, but they kept dancing around each other. It went nowhere for 11 eps. The final straw is when the ML played the all-mighty Noble Idiot Card™! I was ready to rage quit.

Ye gods, I haven't felt like this for a long time. The show is still great. I can't fault the acting nor the production, they are S tier (as you would expect). It just feels like the show is mocking me. The drama kept teasing me and giving me false hopes. Yet it delivers naught. Consider we waited patiently for 6 months for this, it felt like a gut punch.

I have no doubt this drama was caught in the middle of the rule change regarding drama length. The production company chopped the show in two with scant consideration of how the halves will work after a 6-month hiatus.

As it stands, 2/3 of this new "chapter" feels jarring. We are dropped into a world of hurt. The OTP made scant progress with their relationship but faced setbacks after setbacks. It is literally all pain and no gain.

We finally hit paydirt in EP.17. This is the equivalent of 49 eps and 6+ months in real time before our leads are finally official! So much teasing, meaningful gazes and pining at the moon. Thankfully, the skinship quota went from 0 to 100 in 3 seconds. So much penned up passion on display! We give thanks for any fan service we are about to receive. Amen.

Will you be surprised if I told you the writer then hit us with the weaponised kitchen sink PLUS dishwasher combo? Ep.19/20 are the crème de la crème of angsty twists. Thankfully, the plot armour or maybe the Force is strong with our leads.

This is where I think the show is too focused on the palace intrigue. It sucks all the oxygen from the OTP's storyline. Granted, the antagonist's endless scheming is a ready source of angst, but it is so transparent. There are no subtleties with their machinations.

I rated Flourish Peony 9/10. This part is an 8 only because the last few eps bring home the bacon, otherwise, it would be a 7.5. If it was one 60 eps run, it would have worked better. The forced break in the middle did the show no favour.

It is done and dusted. Peace.

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Ode to camping and that's about it

This is an uniquely Japanese series. Consider it is based on a manga series, it explains a lot. What is not clear is why it was made into a live action adaptation. 

As it stands, it is largely an ode to solo camping and contains some useful tips and tricks. In that sense, it is a mix of infotainment and travel vlog. To be honest, I am confused about the relationship between our leads. The show doesn't need one but once it is there, it went nowhere. To wit, he is an expert solo camper so he knew every trick in the book. He "rescued" a young newbie female camper and decided to take her under his wings. She loves to cook and there are some serious food porn around the camp fire. So far so promising, I have seen worse meet-cute.

However, there is no real plot and both leads are prone to over acting, especially the FL. This is possibly due to its manga root. I have to say that she is kinda cute if you filter out the silly posing. While there is a hint of attraction, it is ambiguous. It works for a manga because it relies on your imagination but a drama is much more black and white.

At the end of the last EP, they declared that there is much more to come in their camping adventure. Is that a hint of a sequel or just wishful thinking? My unvoiced thought at that point was, "is that it?". While it is watchable and chill, I have to refer back to my original question at the start of this review.

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