Zogitt

Please don’t Disneyfy this beloved franchise, Mr Netflix

Edit: After watching 10 eps, I've revised this review (probably) for the final time. Enjoy!

I was looking forward to this show with anticipation. The original series was one of my favourites.

I knew it won’t be the same as the original, so I am willing to cut it some slack. The start of the show is certainly different, but the young actress was so cute and earnest I'm willing to jump onboard even though it is questionable if the way she uses her powers is canon, but I’ll give it a hall pass for now.

I wished this is the only issue. There are many more. In fact, the only thing consistent with this show is how inconsistent it is. In the original series, the rule around the use and abuse of their special power is well established. However, not only is the FL using her power without a care. Her mother and grandmother also abuse it without a second thought. How can this be?

On top of that, they should be internet sensations considering how blatant they are, but they ain't. It is as if everything can be hushed up with the click of their manicured fingers. However, the narrative contradicts itself repeatedly.

While the new FL is refreshing in her straightforwardness at the start of the show, after a few episodes, her portrayal is borderline grating. She doesn’t so much deliver her lines but fire them out like a gatling gun. She also moves with an exaggerated gangliness. Why? Her one-note performance is wearing. It is one thing to call her naïve but time and again, the excuse is that she is from Mongolia. Geez, I hope they are not streaming this in Ulaanbaatar.

The other female leads are not much better. The mum swings between playing Batwoman and Crazy Rich Woman. She throws money around like confetti. Come to think of it, the whole plotline involving the grandma is superfluous. It just highlights how pathetic most of the male characters are but she brought nothing new to the table. She is too cringey to be an effective comedic relief.

There are too many plot holes to list but it pretty much comes down to whatever needs to happen, happens. It feels like narrative logic and good sense have both packed up and ran screaming from da hood. The writer-nim doubles down on this from ep.7 onwards. It is now in the "see no evil, hear no evil" territory.

It also feels hollow when the show tries to tackle serious topics. The drug abuse problem is marginalised because most of the victims are faceless canon fodders. Until it hits too close to home then everything pales into insignificance. Ditto, the fat shaming of the brother is gratuitous while ignoring the root cause of his condition.

By the half way mark, it feels like plots are products of brainstorming sessions after one too many soju bombs. There is so much going on. Subplots darts off in every direction, most are inconsequential but distract us from the A-plot. There is actually a very insightful scene when the assistant to Hwang Geum Joo asks if one of the antagonist will see through her deception. Her reply was, "They are stupider than you think." Is she talking about me?

It is telling that the only person I'm interested in after watching 10 eps is the main antagonist. It is never a good look when the viewer starts paying more attention to the bad guy(s). From my point of view, the 3 FL's are unrelatable, and to a varying degree, unlikeable. The young FL leaps out of tall buildings, runs faster than a speeding car and drinks poison for LOL's. Yet she skins her knees by tripping over her own feet. Why? Because the ML is there to fuss over her. This is not dumbing down, this is frontal lobotomy.

This brings me to the most poignant moment of this show. In ep.3, we have the original OTP appearing in a cameo. OMG, I could cry. Every interaction, gestures, banter reminded me how good was the original. It also dismisses any claims that this show is a reboot with a clean slate.

I watch with dismay what Disney is doing to Star Wars and the MCU. I know Netflix has jumped on the k-drama bandwagon in a big way. I can see this show being turned into a gaudy super hero franchise. Everything is loud and cartoon-y yet there is little substance behind the garish facade. We don't need more of this.

I'm not saying the show is totally unwatchable. There are the odd cute or funny moments. The plots will test your credulity though. If you are hoping that this spin-off will recreate the charm and engagement of the original then you will be sorely disappointed.

I hung on with grim determination for as long as I can, but it is getting too tough. Maybe I'll speed watch the last few eps for the sake of completeness later. Peace Out.

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Surprisingly paint by numbers

I started to write this review but then have to add a large addendum due to a lightbulb moment. Please bear with me.

First thing first, the review. I like this show very much. The cold female boss and the warm, competent male assistant flips the old trope. It follows the trend set by Queen of Tears.

I like the OTP and I like the growth of their relationship. They are a good looking pair and have nice chemistry. There are some skinship and several swoon worthy moments that I'd like to bottle and sell.

It is refreshing that they don't need marriage/cohabitation to seal the deal. Most of the side characters are not annoying. The 2CP did drag their feet for too long but they are harmless. Both production value and OST are solid.

On the negative side, the antagonist is spiteful but her true motivation is never made clear. She is an annoying, one dimensional character. A loaded gun to be wield by the writer-nim at will. Ditto the Chairman. He is the classic manipulative father personified and of course, he has a redemption arc.

Ok, review done. You can stop reading now. Ha! Not so fast, chingu. This is where I start to question my own rumination in the cold light of day. After mulling over this, I made the following observations.

On the surface, this show ticks a lot of boxes. However, if we dig a little deeper I found the plot and writing rather clinical. To wit, lots of tropes are harmed while making this show. The script is well structured so that it is not immediately obvious. Each Ying does has its Yang. More than once I predicted what is going to happen next which is a little disconcerting. The show also plays it safe. Nothing is pushed to their limits. Most emotional strings are pulled at 7/8th strength. We know the character is hurting but it never becomes excruciating and resolution is a couple of scenes away.

I know other show does the same but I was surprised by my own "gotcha!" moment. I still enjoyed the show very much hence the high score but it just felt surprisingly paint by numbers once you peel back the gloss. It could have been more original.

Butchering the standard disclaimer; these are my personal views yada yada. Peace.

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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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Peak romantic escapism

I’ll be honest, this series has me in two minds. There is the critical side of me that see the contrived, cliche plots and then there is the romance drama tragic that lapped up all the swoon-y moments and happily frolicked with the unicorns. It is a tug of war at times but in the end, the drama tragic won and the critic was banished to the naughty corner.

The premise of the plot is the classic BFF to lover trope. Of course, it is a bumpy ride for our besotted leads or it won't be a k-drama. However, it is also less angsty than I expected. It is pretty smooth sailing on the Love Boat for our OTP once they sorted out their feelings. The angst largely comes from the second leads and the parents. Interestingly, they are not the usual annoying, controlling parents. They are decent folks, but the show put them at loggerheads due to some misunderstanding just to create tension and serve up some distraction.

As I mentioned before, the A-plot is quite simple if we pare back the extraneous side plots. What is left is a sweet OTP romance and an engaging 2CP. I'm happy to see the OTP is rock solid after their confession. However, the 2CP is on far shakier grounds. When you throw in a cute little girl into the mix, I’m shipping them big time.

I’m not saying that the OTP is boring. Where the OTP excelled is their chemistry. I think the acting experience of our two senior leads shows. Their interactions feel natural and believable. Their skinship is more passionate as well. The 2CP has their moments but they are a bit awkward around each other most of the time. Not that I’m complaining but there is a clear winner if you put them side by side.

If I release my inner critic, the show would be about 7.5. It is perfectly watchable if you want something that is angst lite and uncomplicated. On the other hand, if I morph into the Romance Drama Tragic™️, then it is an easy 8.5 (9 if you only rate the last 4 eps). You just need to filter out (skip) the noises and focus on the swoon worthy moments, especially during the second half. If I were to rewatch this, I’d start at the end of ep.11 and be a couch potato for the next few hours unto the happy end. I'll have to skip forward a few times but that's par for the course.

Speaking of the ending, it is very sweet but not quite sugar overload and less formulaic than expected. Everyone, and I mean everyone, gets a happy ending. There are minor twists, but the main plot stays the course.

One odd thing though. The budding romance of the FL’s brother and the ML’s coworker. They are obviously the 3CP but somehow their timing seems off. 10 months of close interaction and he doesn’t get the hint that the girl is into him?! I’ll just put it down to an odd slip by the writer-nim.

This show is a guilty pleasure for me. Maybe you will enjoy it too.

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The maid did it! . . . Umm, actually, nobody did it

Mystery crime drama is a popular genre and for good reasons. A well-constructed one is a masterclass in clever storytelling.

The start of this series certainly leaned heavily into this genre. Do we see a murder most foul in the opening minutes? The appearance of a mysterious man with a shady past definitely adds to the mystery. The fact that this man is the father of our FL and the ex-husband of the long-suffering mother stirs up unhealthy interest amongst the nosy neighbours.

While the angst level is initially quite high due to the tension between the FL and her estranged father plus some silly side plots. We soon learn that this is more a sitcom than a murder mystery. This is not helped by the writer-nim repeatedly baiting us with crumbs of (mis)information suggesting that the father is up to no good. It was functional the first time but after several similar attempts, we just learn to ignore all the red-herrings.

Thankfully, this is no Queen of Tears if you know what I mean. ;) This show is much more about healing and growth than piling on the angst and watch the protagonist suffer. This means a HEA ending is never in doubt. However, there is an interesting divergent towards the end though. Nothing outrageous but if you are expecting the classic unicorn ending then this is not quite it. Yes, our leads are happily dating, but there are no wedding bells (for all 3 couples) nor even a hint of a baby. The ultra low birth rate in Korea was commented upon in show but has no impact on our young leads. Having fun with no strings attached is more important than having babies. ;)

This was a bit of a surprise as the parallel theme of the show is romance. We have 3 different couples that spanned all stages of life. Their romance is quite engaging and rewarding to watch so the non-committal ending, while realistic is a little unexpected.

To be fair, this show is an odd fish. It is angsty but not a makjang. It is romantic but doesn't stick to the romcom playbook entirely. It can be cartoony at times with cringey characters. Sometimes it works nicely but there are times when you'd facepalm. It is up to the viewer to decide if this is a show that is worth watching. I was in two minds early on but I was engaged enough to keep watching and it grew on me. It is far from perfect but it is good enough as a one time watch and in a good way.

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Consumer Warning: Overbearing melodrama ahead!

On paper, this show should be a top-notch production. The stellar cast, the high production value and a nice OST do present a strong case.

In terms of the central plot, it is about as transparent as it can be. It literally gave the key “twist” to us at the end of episode 1. We know with certainty what is the end game. It then spends the bulk of the Show plotting the meandering path towards that exit. It was not necessarily a difficult path, but it was very weighty and melodramatic. It does not hold back on any opportunity to tug at our heartstrings.

While the synopsis of the show hinted at an ensemble drama with a female concentric focus, it is only partly true. Yes, the three main leads are all females about to turn 40 but two are the true leads and they are Son Ye Jin (as Cha Mi Jo) and Jeon Mi Do (as Joeng Chan Young) while the third FL played by Kim Ji Hyun (as Jang Joo Hee) has a lesser role. All the male leads are firmly in support and powered the romantic storylines. Their respective families played in the next tier and move the plot along as required.

It is true that the close friendship/sisterhood of the 3 leads formed the central pillar of the story, the plot around Chan Young is what drives the bulk of plot developments. There is certainly no shortage of subplots but the majority of them were treated superficially. Not that the subject matter is lightweight (abandonment, prejudice, deceptions and more) but they are just shiny fruits hanging off the main trunk. Some were given more attention and used to stir our emotions, but all faded away eventually in the face of the all-consuming main event. To be fair, all these threads were not forgotten, the writer-nim did gave them resolutions even if it is just a quick scene or a snippet of commentary but some felt perfunctory. It allowed the threads to be closed but it doesn’t really give them their dues. IMHO, this is largely because the story is written to appeal and engage with the target audience. It is not about pushing agendas that might distract from the central theme.

There is no doubt the Show is watchable. There are swoon worthy moments and occasional rays of sunshine but I can’t help but cringe at the overly melodramatic scenes and the endless rounds of the female leads drinking, shopping, bickering and basically creating “moments”. Some of those screen time can be better used to explore some subplots that were crying for some love and attention.

Now the elephant in the room, I do pity Joo Hee. Her character is poorly developed and weak by design, suffered a lot, aimed low and achieved little in life. Her love line is contrived. She is supposed to be in a serious relationship (her own words) but there are hardly any outward signs. Just a few hints and no skinship.

You can’t really say the Show dropped the ball. Quite the opposite! The Show has a laser focus on the endgame. Nothing is allowed to get in the way of the melodrama. Every morsel of happiness is bittersweet. Every special moment is handcrafted to heighten its impact. Lingering contemplative shots and close-ups of the protagonists (often in tears) reinforce the despondency.

I have no doubt the Show will be popular but it is also polarising. Its fans will love it and wish for more. The rest of us can only lament the lost opportunities to push back some boundaries or explore relevant issues. If you start watching the show thinking that it is a rom-com then you might felt a bit cheated as the show quickly morphed into its final form. Ultimately, the Show wants to preach to the converted and it did it with consummate skill. Caveat emptor, my friends.

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A grand romance demands a grand sacrifice

I was a little speechless after binging this show over 3 days. Not many show affected me this way but it did and I was surprised.
On paper it is a low profile web drama of 24 episodes running about 30mins each. Short by c-drama standard. It started off as a decent rom-com with a dose of fantasy. It centred around characters in a story written by the FL coming to life on her 24th birthday and interacting with the FL and her friends. Lots of zany shenanigans as those fantasy characters tried to adjust to modern life (they were from ancient Babylon). Similar storyline has been used before but the show did a good job drawing us in and keeping our interests. The casting was very good. You don't have to suspend your disbelieve. They hired a number of good actors with mixed heritage and one main character even spoke Akkadian during the entire show and that is respect to the source material.

Around mid show, the tone changed and it became a bit of a thriller with a touch of the supernatural. It was a rollercoaster ride from that point on. The show swung back to romance then back to thriller plus historical intrigue and some light-hearted moments and back again. Yes, it is a bit manic and hectic when you look at it from a distance but if you are still watching by the 2/3 point, you are shipping the CP's and the story would have hooked you.

Speaking of romance, they weren't sugar coated fluff but love that transcended time and the great divide. I have to give the writer full credit for the teleport to Mount Wu running gag. It is next level! The last few episodes are heavy with the feels and the pace finally slowed. A sense of melancholy and reflection coloured the later scenes.

The writing is no doubt a key element of this drama. It is good, surprisingly good for a short drama. It dashed around both time and space but the core promise was always solid. Layers of revelations are peeled away. Yes, it can look messy but the ground work for later development was laid well in advance and it is more about gathering all the threads and pulling at the right time to turn chaos into cohesion.

The ending was bittersweet and not your typical 11th hour miracle. I accept and appreciate that because it would have betrayed the whole narrative and destroy any pretence of logic (but I was torn, damnit). We did get some kind of closure for the protagonists. We can derive some comfort in knowing that they were not forgotten and they are learning to live with the hands they were dealt. There is hope after all.

Production value is good. I heard that it was a labour of love with years of post production. They actually filmed on location in Morocco and Paris which is rare even for big budget dramas.

I'll admit that the transition is not always smooth, there are the odd plot holes and some scenes towards the end were contrived and heavy handed (aka burying the mask) but I'll accept the flaws in exchange for the complete package.
OST was good. I still can't get the opening bars of the theme song out of my head.

This show is not for everyone. The whiplash change in story telling and layered plot might put off or confuse some. If you are expecting a fluffy rom-com or an action thriller then watch no further.

It is a wild ride to be sure so test the water with your toes. Be warned, the water is deep and quite murky. :)

>>>>>P.S. There is a bonus ep.25. It is not an alternate ending but it extended the show beyond the end of ep.24. It provide some extra fan service scenes so if you are happy with the original bittersweet ending then please ignore this episode. Otherwise, it is a must watch for the fans of this show. :D The link to a Chinese only video is the comments section in MDL for this show. Thank you to cyn lynn for the heads-up. :)

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Whodunit? Who cares

J-dramas are full of quirky and off kilter characters and plots. This one is an odd mix but not in the usual way. Nothing outrageous or controversial. It just doesn't sit comfortably within any particular genre.

This drama draws us in with an autumnal romance between our leads. It was supposed to be love at first sight, yet it felt contrived considering their personalities and circumstances. Ask no questions, chingu. I am intrigued though. Will their whirlwind romance blossom?

Things get complicated when we are introduced to the FL's family. They are an odd bunch. Each have their own foibles. At least they are friendly and welcome him into their fold. Yet, something feels amiss. An unspoken presence lurks around the edge of their congenial gatherings.

We soon learnt that the FL's boyfriend died mysteriously 15 years ago. It was ruled an accident. Yet, one of the officer investigating was not convinced. He pushed to have the case reopened after all these years. He has his own reasons which I shall not elaborate further. As this is a murder mystery, I'll try my best not to spoil it for you.

If I'm being honest, I don't feel the mystery plot is well constructed. The writer-san drip feed us titbits of information and lead us down the garden path a few times. It is functional, but lacks the intricacies of a top tier crime friction.

Discounting a random killer, there are only 2 or 3 people who could have done the deed, we are literally running out of suspects. Fine, we can overlook the wobbly narrative if the romance is something special. Alas, I find this wanting as well.

While our leads would declare their love for each other from time to time, I'm not convinced. I even started to suspect the FL is using the old honey trap to get the ML involved as he is a high-profile lawyer. IMHO, it would have made more sense that way. I was perplexed. Is it really true love?

Here lies the problem with this series. It seems to think by throwing in the odd red herring and a bunch of eccentric characters, it can glow up an ordinary murder plot. It is a paper thin facade.

When we have the final reveal, I was not surprised. There are literally no other options. It was Occam's Razor after all. Having said that, there is a minor twist towards the end which was delicious.

Personally, I'd have preferred a stronger whodunit or a more swoon-y love story. What we got is a grab bag of eccentric characters pushing and pulling in their own orbits. I get the messages about family ties and freedom of choice, but the show took its time delivering them.

We got there in the end. I'm not sure the destination is worth the journey. Given the decent performances and on par production, this is a shame. Peace.

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How many dodgy lawsuit does it take to break a lawyer’s back?

I came for the promised romance of our OTP plus Lee Jong-suk’s return to the small screen since 2022. While my expectation is tapered, LJS seldom disappoints so I was a little surprised that this show didn't grab me at all. At least not from the start.

Some of the problem lies with the legal cases which form the backbone of this show. Sure, all our associate lawyers are hard working and dedicated, but they seem to spend more time sharing meals and trading banters. While cozy, it is hardly fertile grounds for a 12 episode run. The first few eps are really like watching “Law and the Lunch”.

Rather than dramatic courtroom scenes, the show seems to be hellbent on normalising the drama until they are just little ripples in your consciousness. I’m sure everything is close to RL, but watching someone's daily grind is not exactly riveting drama.

Thankfully, the OTP romance does provide some much-needed distraction. Our leads reconnected and give their aborted relationship a second chance. There is a blossom of skinship but then it settled down to a background hum. Their romance is sweet but hardly melting. This is a problem that hung around. The show went out of its way to divide the screen time between the ensemble cast. Who is the top star here? By the time you add the sundry cases and shared meals, there is precious little time for PDA.

I also grew concerned as the show seesaw between mundane lawsuits and office politics. Even when one of the cases hit too close to home, the process is measured and prosaic. Our Gang of Five delivered as expected. They lawyered away, day and night. There is no doubt they are smart and diligent. Most of it is still just grunt work. I'm sure this mirrors RL, but it is just not very entertaining.

We finally got some clarity in the last few eps. In essence, the show is about how the law is being manipulated by some, and the corresponding uneven access to legal representation. It is hardly new grounds for a k-drama. It is true that each situation is very grounded, but they feel (hate to say this) dull and transient.

Our leads are given more freedom with their roles at this point. Allowing them to flex their acting muscles. Better late than never as most earlier performance would be considered constrained. This is particularly true for LJS. He just looks tired and worn out. There are odd moments when he sparkles, but it is rare. As a low key fan of his, I am disappointed.

In the end, it is less about the cases, but the evolution of the main characters. They finally realised while they have the right calling, they are doing the wrong jobs. After much soul searching, they realigned their goals and reset their career paths. In that sense, the last few episodes are the real payoff. Most of what went before are just spadework. It is nice to watch our protagonists break out of their shells. They can finally breath. Just wish it happened in the beginning rather than the end of the run.

One thing I noticed while writing this review is how many times the word "entertaining" crossed my mind. This show is oddly lacking if you look from that angle. That is a shame. It just needed some Special Sauce™.

Any fans of our leads would enjoy this series. Sample a couple of eps if you are fence sitting. If it doesn't grab you, just move on. It does get better, but your patience might be sorely tested. Inner peace . . Inner peace. 😉

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I won the sucker bet

Based on the past performances of the two leads, I was willing to offer odds that the show will be good. I wish I finish the Show before I mortgage my house.

Still, on paper, I should be on a safe bet. It seems to be a standard BFF to lover trope with good looking leads and nice chemistry. It is a win-win formula for sure.

The problem is that the main plot went nowhere fast. The FL was lost in a sea of self-doubt and the ML is an island with a sign that reads “No Trespassers”. This is after all the flashbacks, almost kiss and daydreams. Even at this point, the plot is still viable, but it needs a firm hand on the tiller. What we got instead is a show within a show, a reality dating show, no less.

Now I’m starting to worry. If the dating show is framed as a satire or spoof, then it could be a lot of fun and there will be opportunities for the leads to interact and break down the barrier. However, for that to work, the new characters in the dating show have to be larger than life to kickstart the plot. What we got was a half-hearted attempt at an exposé which swings between banality and earnest. We are greeted by a mix of new secondary characters that are mostly cliché roles designed to fit right into their designated subplots. This meanders around for too many episodes before the Show finally calls it quits. It is frustrating that most of the introduced subplots lead nowhere and largely faded away as soon as the dating show wraps. The token antagonist stirred up some angst but escaped scot free. The Show doesn’t really need an ensemble cast. It is largely a distraction and suck the oxygen from the main OTP plot.

It is not all bad news though. The 2FL (Kang Chae Ri) is a revelation. Her character is thorny throughout the show and is borderline psychotic, but she is so much more alive than the FL. It is hard to like her character, but she is a scene stealer. This is almost the opposite of the FL. While the FL has great visuals, and her acting is solid as ever, her character is a wet mop. She spends the bulk of the Show running away from her feelings and tries to melt into the background.

Acting is decent on the whole, but the writing is a mess. By the time the leads are a couple, we are hanging on for dear life. The HEA ending and some nice developments of the side couples is small compensation for an overall disappointing show.
OST is serviceable but there is little reason for a rewatch.

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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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J-pop Rulez!

It was a challenge to write this review. Not because it is meh. Quite the contrary, when it is good, it is amazing! However, in the cold lights of a post-concert low, you do notice issues. In that sense, it is . . uneven.

Firstly, the acting of our ML! While he is always good and dependable in his dramas, he is next level in this. He is the heart and soul of this series. Period. ;)

This is also where the phrase double edged sword takes on some significance.

With such a strong ML, there is little room for the other actors to showcase their acting chops. Not that they did a bad job. Each have their moments in the sun (or rain, for that matter). Yet they pale when Takeru-san is shining so brightly. He is also the executive producer. No pressure.

Secondly, the music! Any fans of j-pop, progressive rock and even jazz will rejoice. It is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. It runs the gamut from mega live concert to impromptu recital in a music store. While the actors are not professional musicians, they trained and practiced really hard for their roles and it shows. Add a bit of movie magic and voila! Awesome, believable performances. Salut! J-pop deserves a chance to blossom.

However, it does cut both ways. If you are not into the music, then this show will be opaque to you. You can still watch it as a fan of the star, but it will be a challenge to enjoy it to the fullest.

Thirdly, the script! Oh, what a glorious mess! There is an overarching plot of sorts. It mostly makes sense. It also reserves the right to do whatever it wants to move the plot along and take detours. There are the prerequisite angst, a dollop of romance and low-key family feud. In that regard, it has a hint of a mockumentary. It is a journey, for sure. There is much healing and growth in the characters. Just don't ask too many questions. The lows will come. Enjoy the highs while you can. ;)

Fourthly, the characters! This is a Pandora's box. Some characters have depth you can drown in, yet others are nothing more than one dimensional archetype. I don't want to pull each character apart because I'm not writing a doctoral thesis. ;) Every character is flawed. Some do feel a bit self-serving though.

My one real gripe is the nasty producer. He is portrayed as a megalomaniac star maker. You can almost imagine him waking up each morning chanting "if I can't control you, I'll destroy you!!!". Consider the industry they are in, and horror stories of exploitations. It feels oddly sanitized.

Lastly, the production! Wow! Just wow! Sure, there are some rough edges but where it counts, this show delivers! The direction, cinematography and staging should be studied in relevant courses. Performing on a moving boat is a challenge at the best of time, but on a wine dark sea?

The final concert is chef kiss! They have 5000 jumping and screaming extras! Even if all of them are volunteers, the logistics is still mind blowing. This is on top of sundry location and studio shots, both of performances as well as "regular" dramatic scenes. Many behind-the-scenes staff needs to take a bow. Bravo!

To be honest, I'm still a little giddy from watching the finale last night. I know the show is not perfect. Every time I try to recall some mental note I made on an issue, my mind is swamped by an earworm tune, and the afterglow of their performance.

Not to worry. I would be nitpicking anyway and we can’t have that! ;)

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The tail wagged beautifully

I don't have a lot to say about this j-drama. Production value is decent. Acting is above average. The initial meet-cute is interesting enough to draw you in. The FL is the star of the show. Her acting is on point and anchors the series.

The A-plot is a noona romance set in a large company, so far so storyline du jour. There is the usual push-pull and confused feelings as our leads navigate a fake relationship that got real, fast. Their chemistry is good, and there is a decent amount of skinship.

However, the show lost some of the early momentum once they confirm their feelings and day-to-day work life reality starts to dim the initial glow. While their love is real, they mostly operate under misapprehension. It was a precarious situation.

For a period, the favourite reply of our FL is “what?”. No matter what the ML does, he seems to confuse and distress his dearest noona. It is further complicated by the intervention of his long-lost birth mother who is hellbent on reshaping his future under her control. While she is not evil in the classical sense, she certainly does more harm than good.

Thankfully, the last episode clears up all the misunderstandings and ties up the loose ends. While this type of 11th hour resolution is common, the writing in this case is heartfelt and effective. Rarely have I felt this satisfied after finishing a drama. Bravo!

On balance, I think this series exceeded my expectations. It is not perfect, and the late show drag is real, but some clever writing brought home the bacon. It is a solid production worthy of your consideration.

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Let’s play a game of Whack-A-Trope!

I started watching this show when it was first released. It looks alright. I got past the half way mark before I was blocked by the VVIP pay wall. I ended up watching other shows and shelved it until now. I thought I'd finish it, but to my surprise, it was quite a struggle.

After giving it some thought, this is my conclusion. While the first dozen or so eps were decent if samey to many other contemporary c-dramas at least there was enough energy to push the story along. It is obvious that the show is a grab bag of tropes from the get-go.

However, once the plot is on rail and the OTP are officially, all the momentum are gone. What is left are very tropey plots and cliche gags to try to keep things moving until the bitter end.

This is not helped by poor character development. The ML is obviously the typical cold, low EQ boss and the FL is the damsel in waiting. Rather than allowing both characters to grow (up), the writer paints the ML into a corner.

The ML is now a lovesick puppy who run through all the typical dating fails. For example, he can't cook but tried his best to cook a meal for her. It was cute the first time. Not cute by the 6th time! He is constantly asking for relationship advice but totally misses the point.

This is a man who is supposed to be an intellectual giant, a peerless lawyer. He behaves like a lovesick high schooler EVERYDAY. Yes, he is a noob to love but flogging the same horse for 30 eps, is exhausting and makes him looks like a fool.

On the other hand, the FL is supposed to grow into a lawyer that is a fitting mate for the ML. I'm sure it was written in bold and probably underlined in red by the writer but what the show delivered is largely the same meek character.

The ML is overbearing and too protective. It got so bad that the FL took a break from their relationship. Bravo GF! Finally, a bit of gumption. There was a breakthrough of sort around ep.35. It was so contrived. It went from confrontation to reconciliation in a heartbeat. Then after all the flowery speech about giving her space, respect and undying love, the ML just went back to being a green-eyed monster in the next scene. It is odd how much time he is seen not doing real work. He just seems to be stuck in a loop alternatively trying to please her and annoy her.

This type of repetition is everywhere. A kiss being interrupted by a phone call is a tired tropey nowadays but in this show, I ran out of fingers trying to count the times they were interrupted if there is a mere hint of skinship.

Oh yes, speaking of skinship, there are some, but they are mechanical and lack passion. It pretty much mirrors their chemistry. It is there and they whisper sweet nothing to each other on cue, but it is not very convincing. This is further tested when the show introduces a SFL who scored the worst own goal. Least said, the better. You want to see chemistry, watch the first few eps of Amidst A Snowstorm. You won’t regret it.

It won’t be a party if we just talk about the leads. How about the tone deaf, bootlicking junior lawyer? Someone needs to have a good chat with him. Preferably in a soundproof padded cell and behind locked door.

The grand prize goes to the antagonist, He is given so much prominence. When you consider he is supposed to be the twice winner of the Golden Scale Award yet at every turn he is proven to be a C grade lawyer but an A grade douche bag, it is sending some weird message about the Chinese legal fraternity. His denouement didn’t happen until the dying minutes of ep.36. It was long time coming but it was unrewarding. He is not punished in any tangible way. His parting words are, “this isn’t over!”. Yay . . . I think.

At this point, I must call out the handful of legal cases the drama presented to us. They range from meh to sad. I don’t know the Chinese legal system, but I don’t think the writer is much more knowledgeable. Time and again, the cases are supposed to showcase the ability of the leads, but they are so contrived, it is like reading a murder mystery backwards. Scenes in the courtroom are perfunctory.

Of course, the HEA ending arrived on cue. It is fine. The last ep is total fan service, it is FINE. The 5 minutes long epilogue is the bomb!

I could have just labelled this a fluffy rom-com and move on. But somehow, this show irritates me. Maybe it is the ham-fisted use of tired tropes, the shallow witless plots or cliché moments stuck on repeat. Regardless, I had more fun writing this review than watching the show. That's a win, isn't it?

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This show needs a scripting coach. Not a dating coach

What impressed me about this show is not the plot, which feels tropey and bloated, but the acting of our leads, especially our FL.

Allow me to explain. I knew the FL has great visuals especially her eyes. They are so expressive. She certainly looks glam from her first scenes, but her role soon required her to pull all her carefully curated facade down. We are talking total demolition. So much ugly crying, drunken antics, and serious faux pas. This is not unheard of in k-dramas where excessive drinking seems to be a national sport but most rom-coms would not take things too far and will let the leads down gently before buoying them up with a new lease on life and love. It is rare for a show to drop their FL in a pit of despair like this. So, hats off to Yoo In-na for her dedication to her craft.

Now, the plot was running reasonably well up to the halfway mark and you'd think that we are on course for an easy jog to the finish line. Unfortunately, we are hit by a relationship tsunami;
a) Both leads have had a nasty breakup, and both are hurting. Their growing feelings for each other is helping them to heal but their burgeoning romance begins to founder after their first passionate kiss. Add a couple of clingy ex's and it is a party. Hey, maybe we should start a drinking game. We take a shot after each cliche plot device. (Shot #1/2/3)
b) The marriage of the 2CP (FL's BFF) threatens total meltdown. It is also the usual growing apart/you changed trope (shot #4). I’m not saying that it can’t happen in RL, but it feels scripted and the resolution swings their relationship in the completely opposite direction without much preamble. It does make you wonder if it is sustainable.
c) The 3CP failed to launch when the older boss rejects the young pretty part-timer. It is the classic ahjussi-sonyeo setup (shot #5). The boss was burnt by a messy divorce, so he pushed back hard initially. This is not helped by a lack of chemistry between those two. Does the 3ML loves the 3FL at all or his took the path of least resistance once his male ego was suitably stroked. I see troubles ahead.
d) The 4CP's (FL's sister) romance is a textbook "love at first sight" trope. (shot #6) It is cute and sweet enough but it gets complicated real fast. Which resulted in another tropey situation. (shot #9? I'm too drunk to count)

When you consider there are only 14 eps rather than the usual 16, we have a petri dish of woes. This creates a lot of interference and left little room for our OTP.

This is a serious issue as it is the chemistry and connection of the OTP that captivated us in the first place but then it hits a wall while the ML tries to overcome a speech impediment anytime he needs to confess. All the while, the FL is suffering from terminal frustration. The extra 3 CP's and sundry ex's are fillers and they take the wind out of the OTP’s sails. Who’s show is this anyway?

By now, I'm hanging on with grim determination. There is no reason for the show to go dark on us and commit hara-kiri but there are moments of self-doubt. It is with a collective sigh of relief that the final episode delivered a sugar overdose. It is pretty much pure fan service. Not that I’m complaining but it really highlighted how the show took some serious detours before arriving at the designated spot. Honestly, I can pinpoint scenes where the ML could have said the magic words to the FL and we are home and hosed.

Acting wise, the FL is the star of the show, but the ML is very charismatic. His chemistry with the FL is undeniable. I loved his ability to portrait his inner thoughts, but I hated that aspect as well because his indecision has a major impact on the flow of the plot. However, this is a script problem.

Speaking of acting, the support cast is ok but most of the roles are tropey and one dimensional. For a shortened run, there are too many side plots/characters. It is hard for us to sort the wheat from the chaff. This is where the show lost points with me. Focus! Writer-nim focus!

In hindsight, I can see why the show wants to push the idea of loving someone for their real/imperfect self, rather than someone who is roleplaying the perfect partner. It is particularly true in this age of unrealistic expectations created by overheated social media. However, is that message consistent across all our CP's? I'm not so sure.

The show is entertaining, and I enjoyed watching our leads falling in love and healing each other. There are some skinship and a decent amount of swoon worthy moments. The rest is a bit of a crapshoot, and your mileage will differ. I do think that a better script with more clarity, fewer side plots and a smaller cast can take this show to the next level. Peace out.

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