Zogitt

The tail wagged just in time

I’m not going to mince words. This show feels humdrum for most of its run. Yes, it has its moments and when the romance is in full flight it can be heart fluttering. On the other hand, it is a tedious watch for the longest time.

The old enemy to lover trope is front and centre again. The ML is charismatic, and the FL is attractive. Both are approaching middle age. They seemed to hate each other on sight but there is something unspoken just under the surface. It is a promising start. However, the apple cart starts to wobble soon enough. So much push backs! So much snarling and cattiness. This went on and on.

As soon as they accepted their destiny, the unicorns are freed and all is forgiven. I know they are making up for lost time but scene after scene of snarly exchanges cannot be unseen.

Unfortunately, as soon as it got interesting on the romance front, the side characters start to bay for attention. For instance, the teachers at school are so nosy. Village ajummas need to take note. On top of that, the head teacher is next level. His sole aim is to be a pest and get drunk after work. Any excuse will do. The fact that he is the head teacher makes it so cringey. They sucked a lot of oxygen from the A-plot.

The writer-nim also ran through all the dating tropes. Sometimes, it can feel a bit surreal watching scenes you would associate with young actors being enacted by our 40 years old leads. It can be cute but it is hit and miss.

Then we have the patriarch of both families. The FL's grandfather is a decent man but stubborn as a mule. The ML's father is an obnoxious nouveau riche who is hellbent on exacting revenge on the grandfather because of some historical slight. Our leads are the meat in the sandwich for obvious reasons.

This lead to a series of unpleasant interactions between our leads and the patriarchs. They are close to 40 yet they are treated like kids. Verbal abuse and corporal punishment is the norm. Speaking of kids, the show did devote a fair amount of time to their school yard meet-cute and flirtation. Those flashbacks are quite sweet and certainly shows up their present day counterparts.

I was feeling lukewarm by the 2/3 mark and kept putting off chasing the next episode. Given the acting of the ensemble is solid, especially the main characters, this points to some questionable writing being the culprit. I was thankful when the last two episodes dropped as they lifted the show significantly.

Those last episodes flipped the narrative. Not only a key historical grievance was resolved but it also brought the families together at a critical time.

As expected, the last episode is pure fan service and happy endings are handed out like lollies. I won’t complain. The reward at the end made the time sink bearable. That will do. Peace.

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A video essay or voyeurism?

This show position itself as a romance drama with a strong “what-if” element. It is build upon the fantasy that a person can change gender spontaneously. Not via a sex change operation but an instantaneous and complete body reconfiguration including a different face.

This allows the show to post all kinds of hypothetical questions about discrimination, friendship, love and marriage of the same sex due to this sudden gender realignment. This is a double-edged sword as the fantastical and abrupt nature lessen some of its impact.

The Show then proceeded to put a number of protagonists through the spin cycle and force them to confront their changed circumstances. The most obvious is what will you do if your wife becomes a man, or your best mate is now an attractive woman. The bulk of the show is basically an exploration of these questions and its ramifications.

In many cases, this is what the LGBTQ+ community is confronted with on a daily basis so while the Show is set up to address a hypothetical gender change, it is really more about the LGBTQ+ community’s interaction within itself and with the larger society as a whole.

Even though the Show is not overly preachy, it can feel like the questions are asked just so that we can hear the answers from the coalface. While the informative aspect is laudable, there are many conversations and it can be a bit repetitive with the views seesawing back and fore.

It is no surprise that our protagonists all found love or at least contentment in the end. I sensed that the Show does not want to push any views too hard so for each success, we are presented with failures. This means this is largely a thought experiment. In the end, it comes down to the timeless notion of True Love Will Conquer All . . . most of the time . . . maybe.

This brings us to the voyeuristic aspect of the show. Yes, there are bed scenes involving same sex as well as straight couples. It does provide some titillation especially when it involved pairings that might be considered taboo in some societies. It is not exploitative nor egregious. You have to form your own opinion whether this is integral to the storytelling.

The Show is generally subdued in tone and the acting is solid. The fish out of water aspect does bring about some lighter moments. OST is fine.

The show is watchable but a slow burn. The ending is satisfying if predictable. Whether you find this show worth watching will depend on your expectations and reason for watching in the first place. It is a one time watch for me.
Peace out.

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The bang became a whimper

This show started as promising as you'd expect. Decent actors, interesting plot premises and genre hopping opportunities.

The Show has potential, to be sure. Different ideas worked for a few episodes and then fade away. Just when you thought this is getting interesting, it’d change tack. Case in point, the idea that magic acts were done by ghosts manipulating the props was cute and clever. That soon changed to talking about magic tricks rather than doing the deed. Similarly, several crimes were solved by communicating directly with the recently deceased. That is not new but the potential is there to create some engaging subplots and it did work for a while but that too petered out. The idea that the ghosts have their own set of rules was intriguing but towards the end, the ghost just behave like normal people. Probably the most disappointing aspect is the overarching Big Evil Spirit revenge plot which was so diminished by the end that it was more like little evil.

The Show also suffers from tonal shifts. I get that it is a rom-com at heart but it also tried to include fantasy, sageuk, crime/corruption and other social issues. A lot of the time, the impact of these themes is diminished because the show would suddenly switch to slapstick comedy or a sweet romantic scene just after a poignant moment. It does make you wonder what’s the point of the transition.

Speaking of romantic scenes, the leads do have decent chemistry but the Show swings from heavy push-pull to aegyo overload in record speed. You want it to happen but you also feel that it was not very natural. The 2OTP was a done deal and they are cute together.

The last couple of episodes were largely fan service. Most threads were closed with pink bows. I like the way they provided the ghosts closure and reward them justly. It was as sweet an ending as you could ask for but it got messy towards the end and added more plot holes. Some scenes are shoehorned in with scant logic. While some closures are heartfelt, others are farcical. The final demise of the Big Evil Spirit was a cop out.

To be fair, it is a decent, enjoyable show but it could have been better. IMHO, it felt like the writer has good ideas and they tried some out but whether it was budget constraint or difficulties in tying the various threads together, the show decided to play it safe, watered it down and fall back onto the standard rom-com tropes in the end. Am I being harsh on this Show? In a sense, yes, but not because I hated the Show. Quite to the contrary, I really liked the Show and the beginning hooked me straight away but I can also see where and how it changed over the course of the run and it wasn't for the better. The Show could have ended with a bang but, in the end, it was a sugar coated whimper.

It is not a rewatch for me. I’ll let those ghosts RIP.

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This show is an instrument of torture sold as a comfy chair

Where shall I begin?

I'm not going to mince words. Our screenwriters love to bait us with moments of fun and sweetness and then trap us in their circle of hell. Let this be a cautionary tale for you, dear readers.

Them are fighting words, yes? Nay, I say. I threw away two drafts already because I'll be banned for using offensive languages and excessive ranting. Consider this the sanitised version. Still reading? Good!

To be fair, moment-to-moment, this drama is watchable. There are flashes of romance, growth and fan service. However, it has serious issues.

This drama looks like an idol rom-com from afar. When you combine the enemy-to-lover with the forced cohabitation trope, it should be a slam dunk. Alas, this show swam against the tide with determination.

To wit, our leads work, eat and play under the same roof. So far, so cliché. Easy win, right? Yet our OTP made no progress WHATSOEVER during the bulk of its run. The fact that our OTP looks good together and has decent chemistry made the whole situation even more baffling.

There are near kisses, near hugs, near confessions. They’d push each other away with extreme prejudice. Every. Single. Time. Then loudly proclaim they will never be together; there is absolutely nothing going on between them. You can hear me groan in frustration two doors away.

It is not just our OTP’s “relationship” that is problematic. As written, our FL is beautiful, diligent and smart. I won't dispute that, but she is a mess of contradictions as well. Not dumb enough to win the Darwin Award yet not smart enough to read the room. She reacts impulsively when she shouldn't and doesn't react when she should (mostly involving the ML). This FL's persona is diabolical. What have you done, dear writers?!

How does the FL survives in the cutthroat business world? Two words . . Male lead!

Our ML is her silent protector. He exists to coach her and to undo the worst of her mistakes. He fell for her soon after they meet. The fact that the FL ignores all his signals is mind boggling. She had a long-term BF, so she is not ignorant. If this is a xianxia drama I would have said she is some kind of rock spirit who has been cultivating in a cave!

So, after pushing through 30+ eps (help me!), I thought the HEA ending is nigh. How wrong was I! The writers hit us with the Angst Titanic™.

Not only are they pining for each other after a self-inflicted separation. She kicked him out of their shared home as soon as he confessed to her. Eh? What?! Her reasons are nonsensical to me. Does she love him or not? She is so self-centred and contrary. She stayed temperamental all the way to the end. Our writers should be sent to a re-education camp just for this crime against romance.

Of course, we ended up with more yearning and suffering. I am numb by now. The reappearance of the SML is a waste of time.

Oh, speaking of the SML (FL's ex-BF), I will just say the face swapping is sad. It ranges from passable to downright embarrassing. By the time this series was released years late, the original actor has cleared his name. Such is life!

Let's cover a few other issues while we are distracted. The 2CP (FL's BFF) is boring. They run through the usual couple issues. Fun!

The 3CP (ML's BFF) is worse. He is a mommy's boy. Naive and inexperienced to the max. He behaves like a stalker. His mum is next level. She is so controlling. Some of their scenes are cringe+. We got there in the end . . yay . .

OBTW, there are no Big Bad Antagonists. Some annoying co-workers/friends, meddling parents and typical backstabbing business shenanigans, that's about it. Most of them have their redemption, especially the SFL.

Speaking of the SFL, the pairing of the second leads is designed to fail. Their union was tenuous from the start and only becomes more strained over time. There is no rejoicing when they broke up.

In the end, this show is a letdown. The first few eps look promising. I was tempted to sloth quit mid run, but I was weak and I stayed for the small sugar hits. Then sunk-cost took over. Where is my therapy teddy?!

I won't lie. It is watchable at times. I kept hoping it will get good and we can frolic with the unicorns. It did happen in the very end. By then, I'm exhausted. Could this show be saved if it was 26 instead of 36 eps? Probably, but we will never know.

I think this is the first time I didn't drop a series with such a low score. That’s on me. Peace.

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(In my best Yoda voice) “Feel the Love!”

Once in awhile a show comes along that just tells a simple story really well. No fuss, no unproductive theatrics, just the basics.

This show is all about the love story between a handsome dude and a beautiful girl 5 years his junior. Their association started when the girl was in junior high and she developed a crush on him when he was introduced as his older brother’s roommate in college. The ML played the "brotherly" role for years until the FL comes of age and he started to have romantic feelings for her. That’s how the show portrayed his side of the story and we shall leave it at that.

The Show took its time to recount their early meetings and how the girl crushed hard on him and going through all the highs and lows of an unrequited love. The Show really hits its stride when they meet again by chance after the FL finished high school and went to a college in the city where the ML is working. Their chemistry is a sight to behold.

As I mentioned in other reviews, in a romance drama, you want to ship the OTP and watch them overcome adversities and fight foes arm in arm. More often than not, dramas will have them fighting each other due to some weak plot twist and go through a breakup or two just to "spice things up". I am thankful that the writer heard my prayers and there is none of that in this show.

Instead, there are lots of playful teasing and plenty of heart fluttering moments and bonus skinship. Their deep love for each other should be distilled and bottled for sale. There are challenges but they are handled with aplomb by our OTP. The writer seems to have gone out of her way to collect all manners of relationship challenges and then set about resolving them in the most positive ways. Each obstacle serves to reaffirm their love and make their relationship stronger. There is little fuss and definitely nothing can come between these two lovebirds. There are no real antagonists and a circle of good friends cheer them on. This type of honest yet heartfelt love story is rare in today’s dramaland. I, for one, give thanks.

The leads are perfect for their roles. ZLS was born to play the lead. I believe this is her first high school drama and she did it with ease. She looks cute and vulnerable in her high school scenes. She then blossomed into a beautiful and radiant young woman in her college years. This goes double after she is in a committed relationship. CZY is handsome and showed a lot more maturity in his role. He played the big brother role well but his take on a devoted boyfriend is next level. He is loving but respectful and always caring. He will make any girl swoon. Their scenes are always worth watching and their chemistry is off the chart. You can really feel their love and commitment especially in later scenes when their resolve is tested.

However, it is not a perfect show. the FL uses a breathless, higher pitched voice when she was playing her younger self and it can be unpleasant to the ears at times. Most of the support casts are from central casting. Their subplots are largely superfluous.

Hidden Love is a sweet, fluffy romance with little angst and few stress points. It is not going to win any awards but this is a show that you can rewatch with guilty pleasure. If you have Romantics Anonymous on speed dial, then you will be doing a happy dance. However, If you want to watch a show with complex plots and matching level of angst and intrigue, then you should have stopped watching 24 episodes ago.

For me, this show has a permanent spot on my rewatch list.

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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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One for the fans or a new c-drama watchers

Let me start by saying that there is nothing wrong with this drama. The cast is good, and the production value is decent. However, there is nothing original nor unique about it. This is a little surprising because it is supposed to be an adaption from a novel. To be honest, it feels like just another tropey c-drama. Awkward.

As such, it is entertaining in a "paint by numbers" kind of way. It is like watching an amalgam of similar shows. The ML's role will be familiar to his fans and viewers of his recent dramas. The FL basically reprised her role of a sassy professional. They all look the part and everything slots into place. Easy peasy.

BTW, there are 3 side couples by the 1/3 mark (the final total will be 5). This means while the OTP are dancing around each other and sorting out their feelings, the other CP's are racing ahead and showing up the OTP. It is distracting and makes the romantic journey of our leads seems more fraught than necessary.

The business plot is all smokes and mirrors plus some mandatory flag waving. The FL struggles to start her own business which is not helped by her inept business partner. Hey, who needs enemies when he pretty much scores all his own goals.

The role of the ML is very cliché. He is the classic knight in shiny armour. He is always there to help the FL in every way imaginable. I'm getting flashbacks of Best Choice Ever. She tries to push back but we know how this will go down.

The relationship between the FL and her long-suffering ex-BF feels cumbersome. He is the nicest guy but he has to make way for the ML. His story arc feels muted and contrived.

In a sense, that's how I feel about this show in general. Yes, there are angsty moments, and the odd act of violence but it is never convincing. They are there because the playbook demands it.

Furthermore, there is insufficient original material to sustain 40 eps so there is a fair bit of padding with cliché business maneuverings and meandering side couples shenanigans.

Of course, once our OTP is official, the herd of unicorns is let loose. The last few eps are total fan service and super sweet. Not complaining because they are a nice CP and I enjoyed their swoon worthy moments, but it also feels like the show is overcompensating because it wasted so much time earlier on. It was not helped by the ubiquitous late show break-up which dragged on for too long. So many pensive looks and thousand-mile stares from our leads. I don't know if it was painful to watch or I'm sharing their pain.

As it stands, it is a solid production. It goes out of its way to tick all the boxes and stay true to the genre. Fans of our leads will rejoice. It is also a safe intro for any new c-drama watchers. Trust me, you can do worse. I don't regret watching it, but I kept seeing ghosts of shows past. I just wish it would do something original, anything.

BTW, there is a short bonus "epilogue". It is sweet but inconsequential. There is a bittersweet scene with the Sorry Card. It is mostly harmless, like the rest of the series.

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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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Confused. Diffused.

There is no doubt this drama starts with a bang. Bold images fill the screen. The colours are striking by design. The theme is noir. I'll try keep this spoiler free.

The writer-nim has a clear focus initially. She has a story to tell, and it was a powerful one. It lost its way over its short 8 eps run. The connecting logic falters. Alas, the sum is less than its parts.

If we just focus on the ending, it works, but it doesn't feel right. It is the ending we have to have because the production won't take the high road.

The case is closed. The perpetrator is punished. All the hard societal issues are still there. So, what is the message? What is the point?

Initially, I thought the writer-nim was building an exposé on our obsessions with luxury goods, acquisitiveness and social status. There are many poignant moments early on. They are stark and impactful.

Unfortunately, the story got tangled up with its own narrative. Our FL underwent multiple transformations. It is like watching someone's holiday snaps. Flick, flick, flick. I understand the FL needs to evolve into her final form. It just doesn't feel like a coherent journey.

On top of that, we'd witness her actions yet her reasoning is more nebulous. Is she good/evil/chaotic/lawful? Sometimes there is a hint of a deeper motivation (mayhaps revenge?), but she will counter that with her next move. It is confusing and unsettling for the viewers.

Where this show excels is the portrayal of excess consumption and decadence. I can fully appreciate how those temples to luxury function now. This is matched by the FL morphing from a salaried Iona to a couture wearing goddess. There is no doubt Shin Hae Sun is the star. She gave it her all. She is the focal point of many scenes.

Here lies the fundamental problem. As a thriller, it is passable. It ticked the boxes mechanically. As a social commentary, it starts strong and then the message got confused and eventually faded away. Instead of a strong "burn the house down" ending, it becomes a tacit acceptance of the status quo. The boat is rock steady.

In the end, this show is watchable in a superficial way. It pains me to write this review as there are scenes and moments that will stay with me. It could have been so much more. Peace.

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Greed is bad/Saving lives is GOOD

On the surface, this show ticked all the boxes, and it is a definite must-watch of 2025. I'm not a medico so I'm not going to say that the show is realistic, or some procedure is wrong. I see it purely as entertainment. However, it is oddly disquieting for me in parts. Please allow me to explain.

The medical emergency genre is hardly new. There are many fine examples, both from Korea as well as western productions. What usually set them apart is the impactful stories, nail-biting suspense of a life in balance and the human drama which unfolds as the team work to deny Charon his coin. The medics and patients alike are flawed but intriguing.

This drama has these qualities in spades. The ML is handsome and charismatic. He is caustic, masterful, dedicated and will not suffer fools. He gathered a young team around him as he fights to save lives in a hostile environment. Growth in the team is a must. We are hooked from the start.

This is where I find the script testing my patience from time to time. When it is focused on the Trauma Centre and its band of misfits, it is wonderful. It is often an exhilarating white-knuckle ride. Kudos to the production team.

On the other hand, pointless side plots centred around the Chief and the hospital Director leaves me cold. They have antagonist written on their foreheads. Their sole purpose is to look pompous and throw the ML under a bus. It is petty vendetta, pure and simple. I can accept it if it was a significant historical grievance, but it is not. For the Chief and his lackeys, it is simply because the ML is seen as an upstart who is not part of the Club and refused to kowtow to the establishment. The Director is worse, it is all about money and making a profit. It paints the Korean hospital system in a poor light.

OMG, they are so tropey! The whole office politics based on seniority and connection is beyond old school, but we are talking about the doctor's creed. They literally shout to the world that they are out to get the ML. Maybe it belies its Navel visual novel root. It is effective but hardly subtle. It is low hanging fruit for the writer-nim but it takes the shine off the awesome storytelling. Such simplistic handling of strategic plot developments is jarring when the next scene could be a do-or-die struggle between the ML's skill and tiny movements of a dagger’s edge.

To be fair, it is not all bad news on that front. We do get the odd redemption but it can still feel clumsy. It is more like karma slapping the antagonist in the face, hard, then pulls his pants down while laughing. Sure, it works, but I don't feel there is a mutual understanding. More like a death bed conversion.

Hence, if I were to rate the show purely on the acting, production values, OST and the A-plot then it is a 10/10. However, I must deduct 1 point for the oh-so predictable antagonist and their shallow mechanisation. It is still a top pick but I'm thankful that I can FF the aggravating bits.

P.S. I read reports that this series is designed to have a S2 and 3. Netflix, don't fail us now!

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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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The show was carried by the leads but the weak plots and problematic script is hard to ignore

This is a sports-centric rom-com. The chemistry of the leads helped to push this Show past the finish line but only just.

I can understand a lot of sports have been used as subject matter in c-dramas so finding something novel is a challenge. So air pistol shooting is about as exotic as it gets. On the surface, the Show did a reasonable job in making the sport engaging and the people involved as well. There is still a big gap to fill and a lot of that responsibility fell on the leads and they did the best they can. They are a good looking couple and they are sweet, loving and devoted to each other. My concern here is that the FL has been in several shows playing similar roles. I do worry about over exposure and typecasting.

It would be good if the 2OTP can pull their own weight but the script had them pushing and pulling in every direction for the longest time. The 3OTP was set up to fail. It was a counterpoint to the sweetness of the OTP but it was done in such a low key and passionless way that you have to wonder why the Show bothered.

Sadly, 40 episodes based on this sport and the CP's chemistry was a bridge too far for the writer, a 30 episodes run would have been more realistic and yield a tighter drama. To draw out the episode count and kept our "interest", the writer resorted to a lot of old tropes and angsty unproductive sub-plots.

Scripting issues are most evident when we were drip fed pieces of information on a key historical event, I assume the plan is for the writer to give us the grand reveal at the time of his choosing. The viewers are supposed to be intrigued and hungry for more but honestly, the plot was fairly thin so once a few pieces fell into place, there is not a lot left to the imagination. It became awkward when the viewers worked out the secret before the protagonists and we are left tapping our fingers waiting for the show to catch up! It was less of a mystery and more like a marathon.

There is the usual ensemble casts of competing teams and coaches and most were hired straight from central casting. Bulk of the angsts were generated by the win-at-all-cost attitude of the competitors. This meant dirty tricks and outright cheating. I hope Chinese sports are not like that in real life. This plot was even used in an international competition. Is that necessary? It paints a fairly grim picture of the sport. The other antagonist was the older male predator type. It was old school before the turn of the century. The way the show handled this cliché storyline was poor and feed into the misguided trope that speaking out will extract a higher price on the victim. This is a tired and questionable message for this day and age. Needless to say, good triumphs in the end but the resolution was long time coming and felt weak and contrived. After suffering through many episodes of their hapless scheming and loathsome acts, it came down to a few sentences of denouncement and "official" sanctions.

The potential is there for the show to hit a 10.9 but the weak plots and problematic script dragged it down. It was a one time watch. Peace out.

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Sageuk wears Prada™

There is a certain fascination about whether the Joseon Dynasty can survive into the 21st century. Variations of this theme pop up from time to time in the k-dramaverse.

Right from the start, this series goes all in. This alternative universe's Korea is a mishmash of Joseon tradition mingled with modernity. Some elements are straight out of historical series while others belong to contemporary idol dramas. This show doesn't so much as massage history but gave it whiplash!

Not only do you need to get your head around a constitutional monarchy with all the pomp and ceremonies dating back hundreds of years, but also a big dollop of classic palace intrigue, dynastic succession and the future of the monarchy itself. But wait, there is more! How about chaebol family powerplay and a love triangle. They are all played out under the severe gaze of modern social media. Mercy!

I would normally take a raincheck (aka run away screaming) upon reading that last paragraph, but this production has an ace up its sleeve. In fact, a pair of them.

Our leads are two of the hottest k-drama stars today. This is a dream pairing by all account. Just the hype surrounding them would be enough to guarantee traffic. Alas, all is not well in the modern Kingdom of Korea.

As I mentioned earlier, this drama is busy. There are so much going on. The show did well to cover the basics, but it can feel rushed and superficial. This is a trade-off of a 12 eps run. I would have expected 16 eps to maximise commercial returns and that would give the story a bit more breathing space.

Don't get me wrong, the series is complete. The show provided us with the required resolutions and redemptions, but they are just that. What we see is what we get. There are times when I thought the script could go deeper, but it already changed tack. The storylines are broad and many, but most are skin deep.

Of course, this doesn't mean it is a bad show. As an idol drama, it ticked all the boxes. There are intrigues, conflicts, romance and fan service. Whether you buy into the alternate timeline is a personal choice. For me, it is a mixed bag. When it is firing, it is something to behold and then it would leave me frustrated with some half baked subplot. One such example is the evolution of the Prime Minister. I wasn't surprised by the development, but it was hardly sophisticated writing.

It helps if we recalibrate our expectations. Any fans of our leads will rejoice. Their scenes are designed to make us swoon. The couture dresses, the lavish sets, the handsome close-ups and romantic interludes. They have been curated with consummate skill. For some, this is golden. Caveat emptor, chingu.

There is no doubt this is a top tier production and an easy watch. The star power alone guarantees commercial success. That is assuming the series does not stray off the beaten path. That won't be allowed to happen and that is its Achilles heel.

In the end, It delivered what the fans wanted. I doubt it will win a Baeksang, but that's not the point, is it? Peace.

P.S. Note to Korean Government. Install top-notch fire suppression systems in your historical palaces. Fool me twice . .

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