fyra

A heartfelt action-thriller with some missed opportunities.

When I think about what makes a great action-thriller, a drama like A Shop for Killers is what comes to mind. It has all the right elements: interesting characters, exceptional acting, intense fight scenes, and gripping storytelling. From the very beginning, the dark and suspenseful cinematography alone entices us as its audience, and the strong characters and engaging plot hold our attention, keeping us on the edge of our seats. The story is told in two timelines, and although I am usually not a fan of a non-linear narrative because it is often implemented poorly, A Shop for Killers manages to successfully weave the past and present seamlessly into a cohesive story for us.

We get to follow the uncle-and-niece duo, Jeong Jinman and Jeong Jian, as they start off as estranged relatives, to being forced to rely heavily on each other, to Jeong Jian abruptly and tragically becoming the sole surviving member of her family. Neither are prepared for their roles as parental figure and orphan — no one ever is — but both somehow make it work with a lot of time, trial and error, and tough love. The way these characters are able to tug on my heartstrings is something that I really admire. This is one of those stories that have minimal dialogues, and yet, every subtle action and expression is more than enough to evoke strong reactions from me. There are a few times when the drama leaves me in tears because of how wonderfully performed the scenes are. Raw emotions at its finest.

I love the child actress, Ahn Se Bin, and her ability to showcase Jian's childhood trauma and resilience. She brings this character to life, making the audience root for her survival and wish for her prosperity. And I love Lee Dong Wook's depiction of Jinman — on the surface, the character comes off as cold, strict, and unaffectionate, but there are moments when his vulnerability and hidden tenderness seep through and you can see the pain and guilt he carries deep down. In fact, from the child actors to the veteran actors, every performance in this drama is spectacular.

The action sequences are fun and enthralling. They are a composition of strategic maneuvers and split-second decisions. Some scenes, I really have to suspend disbelief in order to appreciate, but for the most part, I enjoy the intensity behind every fight in this drama. They are well-choreographed, no dull moment in sight.

However, nothing is without its faults, and A Shop for Killers has a few.

We are introduced to an unique concept: what if there is a shop for killers? In this shop, each customer must follow a set of rules placed by the owner, and anyone who breaks these rules must face the wrath of the entire network. This sounds cool in theory, and I would have loved to see this executed to the fullest extent possible, but I feel like this part of the pact is never fully explored. Which leads me to ask: what is the point of teasing us with such a compelling premise of killers coming to our hero's aid if most, not all but most, of the killers involved don't honor the agreement? What is the point of having rules, if there are no consequences for those who break the code of conduct? I expected a refreshing twist on the classic revenge story, and this drama missed an opportunity to do just that. The idea that initially drew me in is overshadowed by a more conventional but predictable revenge arc.

Even in death, the memories of Jeong Jinman haunt every episode, and it is in these moments that we learn who he really was. For fourteen years, he was not only a prisoner of his past in his nightmares but also its prey in his reality. His demise was the result of the choices he made to appease his conscience. The revelation of his old enemies and the reasons for their grievances is where, in my opinion, the plot starts to deteriorate and collapse in on itself, because unfortunately the villains are walking contradictions. If what Jinman did in the past was an isolated incident, and no one else has committed similar past actions, then their desire for revenge would be understandable to me. However, that was not the case. So, why was he the exclusive target of their vengeance?

Along with my frustrations for how the revenge aspect is handled, our protagonist, Jeong Jian, is someone I also have conflicting feelings for. She starts off as this quick-witted child, and we see glimpses of her intelligence and strength once she grows up as well, but for some reason, she becomes a muddled mess by the end. Throughout the entire drama, the audience is constantly reminded, "Jeong Jian, you are just like your uncle." But when push comes to shove, she proves that she is, in fact, not. While she is supposed to be this very capable character, she continuously makes bad decisions, one after the other. And when cornered into a confined space, her ability to combat danger is inconsistent — sometimes she is able to evade and deflect, other times, she freezes while her allies suffer.

I think my disappointment stems from the fact that I expected more from her. She was such a fighter when she was young, she had the spirit of a lion; I thought she was going to deliver the same kind of excellence when the enemies arrived at her door. Instead, the side characters are the ones who step up and do what she cannot. It is hard for me to believe that her speech is impactful enough to stop the mercenaries from collecting the bounty on her head. I try to tell myself that her crashout is PTSD induced, and this does make a little sense of things, but even so I can't help but feel like we are robbed of a moment for Jeong Jian to really shine in the end.

The villains' fluctuating motives for attacking Jian are confusing — one minute they are trying to kill her, the next, they are claiming they need her alive — and it only becomes more illogical as we reach the finale. This makes the last few episodes weak due to a lack of a clear purpose. Thankfully, the final moments steer the story back on course and redeem the overall drama in my eyes. It is obvious that the real showdown will most likely take place in season two. I don't really mind this since I believe this story deserves a proper resolution.

Although A Shop for Killers has glaring flaws that I can't ignore, I still find it immensely enjoyable. Over the span of just eight episodes, I have become emotionally invested in these characters. It is rare to find an action-thriller these days that is able to elevate the story beyond the fist fights, gun battles, and explosions. This story have intrigue, tension, and a whole lot of heart. I'm definitely glad I gave it a chance.

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Cute, heartwarming, and nostalgic.

"I always thought I had to change for someone to like me."
"I like every version of you."

Set in the 1990s, Love Untangled is a romantic comedy and youth movie about high school romance, friendships, and self-love. It follows Park Se-ri as she tries to navigate through the formative years of her life. Her most pressing problem? Finding the courage to confess to her crush. Just like Se-ri, I must confess — when I first read the premise, I rolled my eyes. I thought this movie was going to be one of those outdated stories that reinforce the toxic belief that you must conform to societal beauty standards in order to be accepted and loved, but it wasn't like that at all.

Instead, the writers took a "love yourself" and "you are beautiful just the way you are" approach, and I'm so thankful for that. The concept might be familiar, and therefore predictable, but the actors' delightful performances make the story feel relatable and engaging. The movie reminds us that diversity is beautiful and receiving genuine affection doesn't require us to sacrifice our true selves. It is a much needed reminder in a world that is constantly trying to change us.

With likable characters and an uplifting message, Love Untangled delivers just enough high school nostalgia, genuine friendship, and awkward first love to leave me grinning. I recommend it for those in search of a cute and feel-good story.

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The never-ending case: Who is Squid?

If you are reading this, just know, you have probably been here before. Or at least, that is a possibility in the world of Mobius. The average person might only have 24 hours in a day, but not Ding Qi. After a near-death experience, he obtains the ability to relive a random day on a loop, with the day resetting five times before time resumes chronologically. This gives Ding Qi an unique advantage, making him exceptionally qualified for his job as a detective. When the executives at the biotechnology company MOMA starts getting murdered one by one, Ding Qi is tasked with protecting the life of Mo Yuanzhi, the founder of the company, and uncovering the identity and motives of the killer, Squid. With the power of time-loops on his side, he expected to be two steps ahead of Squid... until he realizes that there might be another time-loop perceiver manipulating the outcome of this case.

I'm going to be honest — it feels like I have also lived through more than five long and exhausting loops after watching Mobius. One thing I've always appreciated about western crime thrillers is their use of an episodic format that features a main conflict alongside smaller and often related subplots. This familiar formula reliably prevents a show from losing momentum, keeping individual episodes fresh and engaging. I had hoped that Mobius would follow a similar pattern, but unfortunately, it did not. The writers' decision to focus solely on the MOMA case, without sprinkling in any smaller cases, sacrificed the story's momentum. It doesn't help that time-loop stories are also inherently repetitive, making the narrative feel even more drawn-out. While I found the drama watchable, the drastically slowed pacing made it difficult for me to give it my undivided attention.

The sluggish pacing wasn't the only issue; the connection between Ding Qi and An Lan was also surprisingly weak. In my opinion, these two characters function better as friends than as love interests, as they have no romantic chemistry at all. They are attracted to each other, because the writers want us to believe they are, but little else is established. Aside from their looks, why do they like each other? If we were to remove the topics of An Lan's mother and her work, would these two characters even have anything to talk about? Beyond their initial attraction, their relationship lacks any deeper foundation. While I don't expect the romance to be central to a crime drama's plot, Ding Qi and An Lan's love arc feels forced and inorganic. This left me uninvested in their storyline.

In contrast, I actually really liked the dynamics within Ding Qi's team, specifically his relationship with Duan Zheng. They make an endearing duo. Duan Zheng serves as a mix of mentor, friend, and father figure to Ding Qi. His character balances a playful nature with the wisdom of a seasoned detective, and his genuine care for the people he serves makes it easy to understand why Ding Qi looks up to him so fondly. We see this affection in scenes where Duan Zheng teasingly scolds Ding Qi for his reckless actions, but then immediately follows up with a look of genuine concern. Similarly, when Ding Qi is overwhelmed by the high-stakes of the MOMA case, Duan Zheng offers him grounded advice and unwavering support that reminds him of his purpose beyond the confusing time-loops. These small moments established a strong foundation of trust, a welcomed foil to the more superficial relationships in the story, and their scenes were a highlight for me.

Another aspect that pulled me into the world of Mobius was its outstanding cinematography. The director has a keen eye for interesting shots, beautifully capturing the urban cityscape of this fictional world, which is perfectly fitting for an action-packed crime thriller involving advanced technology and time-loops. The camera work is constantly in motion, with frequent long drone shots that glide through the streets, following Ding Qi as he races across the city to investigate the secrets of MOMA and their ties to Squid. These shots create a sense of continuous motion and urgency, even when the plot is moving slowly. The stunning visuals of the cityscape — the striking architecture, intricate streets and freeways, and illuminating lights — set up an almost futuristic atmosphere that offers a nice distraction when the narrative gets repetitive.

Despite its significant flaws — including a prolonged central case and an unconvincing romantic subplot — Mobius provided a passable viewing experience. The draggy pacing is offset by the engaging dynamic of Ding Qi's detective team and the urban cityscape cinematography. These were the very strengths that motivated me to complete the drama even when the repetitive time-loop mechanic wore thin. While it is certainly not a binge-worthy thriller for everyone, the drama’s visual style and likable characters make it potentially worthwhile for dedicated fans of Bai Jingting or time-loops.

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Trigger lacks depth and substance.

Our story begins when an influx of illegal guns fall into the hands of ordinary citizens in South Korea, a country where guns are outlawed and its population is unaccustomed to such threats. This abrupt change causes mayhem around the country, specifically in Seoul where our story takes place, as it forces the people to confront their biggest fears, frustrations, and the fragility of their society. We follow Lee Do, a righteous cop and former military sniper, as he tries to navigate the chaos, uncover the source of the illegal weapons distribution, and stop the gun violence from escalating.

Trigger is supposed to be an exciting thriller packed with action and suspense. It is a typical crime story that has been done a hundred times before successfully. And yet, even with all the variations in the world, the writers of Trigger still fail to take notes. With a weak script, the drama ends up being an underwhelming viewing experience. I fear I need to steer clear of action and crime kdramas made by Netflix from now on, as I also have many criticisms for Mercy for None, another Netflix original that is riddled with the same shortcomings too. Trigger is just the latest to let me down.

The villain here is a joke, the police force being the punchline.
And I have so many questions.

Why are multiple trained police officers unable to fight off and defend a police station against one sex offender who most likely have less experience with guns and less training than they do? Even with a whole armory at their disposal along with their combined strength and expertise, saving the lives of everyone in that precinct still falls entirely on Lee Do. What makes the situation worse is that as the only man to save lives that night, Lee Do still ends up being the one who is reprimanded with a suspension.

How is it possible that a teenage high school student with no connection to any organized crimes is able to gain access to free guns by simply typing "I want to purchase a gun" into the internet search bar, but the entire police force is oblivious as to how the guns are being acquired? In an age of technology, not a single one of them stopped to think about checking the internet first? South Korea is one of the most heavily surveillanced countries in the world, why isn't anyone monitoring the internet for suspicious activity?

And don't even get me started on the plausibility of Lee Do surviving multiple gunshots to the chest and recovering in time for the final showdown shortly after — how is this man not dead?

Everyone around Lee Do have two braincells that they collectively share and pass around among themselves, meanwhile Lee Do is the only one who is competent, intelligent, and indestructible. There are just too many plot holes to keep count of. The lack of realism and logic stops me from immersing into this world.

What disappoints me most of all is perhaps the fact that the illegal guns flooding the country are not distributed for the purpose of profit, but for the amusement of the villain who just wants to cause a disturbance in society and watch the world burn.

Trigger is a glorified action and crime drama about senseless killings for the sake of violence, masquerading as something deeper than it really is. There are real concerns that the drama brings up — such as class disparity, school bullying, a flawed justice system, and mental health — but the themes are just too ambitious for the writers to grasp and they fail to explore these issues properly, leaving the story feeling shallow and the characters underdeveloped. The gunshot sound effects have more depth and substance than the characters and overall story itself.

In conclusion, there isn't much to gain from Trigger, but you will probably enjoy it if you like Mercy for None. Both have different concepts, but they are similar in execution.

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A beautiful but fleeting moment.

If I could rate purely based on the visuals alone, Love on the Turquoise Land would be a 10/10. The cinematography was stunning. The director knew exactly how to create an atmospheric and moody world that was easy for me to immerse myself in and fall in love with. There were so many times when it felt like I could actually smell the dampness of the trees and feel the mist of the fog kissing my bare skin. If I were to reach my hand through the screen, I just might be able to touch whatever was in front of me. The lighting, artistic camera angles, cinematic framing — every scene was a magazine-worthy shot. The vibes? Immaculate. The beauty of this drama was my biggest motivation to keep watching.

Unfortunately, looks can only get you so far. In the end, depth and substance are what matter most, and that is what this drama lacked. For 32 episodes, not a lot happened. We fell into a trap of repetition; the cat-and-mouse games the hunters and earth fiends played got exhausting really quick. The slow narrative pacing held this drama back from being exceptional. I understand the suspense the writers were trying to build, but the void of urgency, accountability, and consequences for the majority of the drama was what dropped this from a potentially thrilling epic about protecting humanity from a greater evil down to a low-stakes story of generic heroes vs. villains.

Which brings me to my next point: the characters left me feeling conflicted. I rooted for the hunters because I believed in their mission, but subjectively speaking, I thought the earth fiends were more compelling. Compared to their mortal enemies, the hunters lacked personality and charisma. Their relationships felt curated like a group of coworkers united by a common duty. Their bonds were like the visuals — pretty to look at and made sense in theory, but missing genuine heart. In contrast, the earth fiends' connections felt more organic; they came off as a real family bound by a shared desperation to survive in a foreign world. I liked both groups of characters, maybe one a little more than the other, but I never felt a deep emotional attachment to either of them. During pivotal moments that should've devastated me, when their lives were at stake, I found myself mostly unaffected. And that was the problem.

While I enjoyed the experience of actively watching this drama, the storytelling was underwhelming. It didn't have the pull needed to make me pick it back up once I walked away, which was why it took me over a month to complete this. In another month, I'll probably only remember the cinematography and the vibes, but forget everything else. Because of that, I would summarize Love on the Turquoise Land as a beautiful but fleeting moment — like the warmth from light that is pleasant to bask in, but ultimately destined to fade once the screen goes dark. I don't recommend this for those who require more depth to their characters and more excitement in their plots, but those who love a visually rich drama and don't mind a slower-paced story will find many things to appreciate in this.

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The biggest villains of this story were the writers.

I have a lot to say, but I feel like so much of my time has already been wasted, so I will keep this short.

Typhoon Family was introduced with so much potential — a strong foundation, an ensemble of endearing characters, and its setting in the nostalgic 1990s. Even though the story was slow from the beginning, I really enjoyed the first half. Unfortunately, my interest diminished when the repetitiveness in the plot became too glaring to ignore. I was expecting a heartwarming story of good people overcoming hardships, with a balanced amount of wins and losses to inspire hope, and a healthy narrative progression to keep me on my toes. This was not it. The only things that were consistent in this drama were the disappointments and setbacks our protagonists suffered. Every episode was the same story of failure, just told slightly differently.

In general, I liked the cinematography and the characters. They were the reasons why I kept tuning into this drama week after week. However, as charming as they were, they just weren't enough to offset the messy writing that hijacked the plot in the second half. The Pyo father-and-son duo might have been annoying antagonists for constantly trying to sabotage the Typhoon Trade crew, but the biggest villains of this story were actually the writers. There were so many times during my watch that I wondered, what happened to the compelling storytelling that was present in the beginning? It was nowhere to be found since the Thailand arc.

I'm happy for those who loved Typhoon Family from the start until the end, but sadly for me, this was a missed opportunity. It did not have enough substance and momentum to sustain sixteen episodes, which was probably why the repetitiveness was so obvious. On top of that, the way the writers dealt with the antagonists — both the traitors and the rivals alike — was unsatisfying. The story dragged until the finale, where the writers lazily crammed all the action into the last episode as a means to wrap everything up. No matter how much I initially cared for the characters, their relationships, and their journeys, by the end, I was just thankful that everything was over. It was a mentally draining experience, taking one too many hours of my life that I won't be getting back.

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Not every story needs a sequel.

Just like what Seong Gi Hun should've done, Squid Game should've taken its winnings while it was on top, left things as they were in season one, and never looked back.

Season two and three (they honestly should've just been combined into one season) focused too much on casting famous faces and not enough on giving these new faces some depth. With the exception of one new character who made an impression (iykyk), these two seasons lacked compelling characters with relatable or emotionally impactful backstories. Unsurprisingly, well-written characters are the heart and soul of any good story. Everything here was surface-level, and as a result the entire story suffered. Why should we be emotionally invested in these characters' well-being and mourn their deaths if we don't even know who they are as people?

This season gave too much screentime to the VIPs — they were the worst characters and actors in this entire show. I don't know how it was possible, but they managed to come off as both stiff and cartoonish simultaneously. They made an insufferable season even more unbearable with their presence.

And I'm just a viewer, so the writers should know better than me: more brutal deaths + crazier obstacle courses ≠ good. Bigger don't always mean better. I am tired of these repetitive sequels that recycle old plots from the originals only to give them disappointing "twists" for the sake of pumping out new content and easy cash grabs. A lot happened between season two and three, and at the same time, no progress was made at all. Season 3, Episode 8 should've hit me harder, but instead, I was left feeling regretful for the time I've wasted here. Because seriously, after all the struggles and sacrifices, what was it all for?

I don't know who to blame — the writer, Netflix, or just capitalism as a whole — but Squid Game ironically became one of those greedy players in the game who foolishly risk it all by gambling for more... only to end up losing everything. Money really is the root of all evil.

It is unfortunate that while Squid Game season one started off with a bang, season three ended with a whimper.

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A great love story, but it will disappoint if you expected more.

It feels like a lifetime ago when news about Legend of the Female General first surfaced, and cdrama lovers everywhere cheered with anticipation. I was one of them. A female general? Tragic past? Second chance at life? War? Cool fight scenes? Cross-dressing? Romance? Deception? Angst? Women empowerment? As a huge fan of Mulan, the promises of such a premise excited me. Say less and sign me up for war.

At first, I thought this drama would be similar to the author's other works — The Double and The Glory. Both were known for their darker themes, intricate plots, and suspenseful atmosphere. However, Legend of the Female General took a lighthearted approach with more comedic moments and gravitated strongly toward the romance, overshadowing the epic war and revenge aspects that the trailers initially teased. With just the first few episodes alone, it was also evident why some viewers were frustrated with this drama, and understandably so. The episodes were short, the editing was a bit choppy, there were plot holes and inconsistencies, and the story seemed to have deviated from what I knew about the novel. Sometimes you had to really suspend disbelief and throw away logic in order to truly appreciate this drama.

Despite the drama's departure from my previous expectations, I didn't hate the lighter tone or the romance-driven narrative. In fact, I thought the romance was the drama's best attribute. With that said, I do believe that too much medicine can poison you, and the problem I had with this drama was that it focused so heavily on the romance that sometimes it neglected other aspects of the story. What I hated was the way some of the pivotal moments — specifically some of the important non-romantic arcs — were carelessly mishandled. These were character-and-plot defining events and yet they suffered from the lack of appropriate build-up and execution that they deserved, falling flat and rendering the moments as anticlimactic. The most frustrating part? It wasn't like the director and screenwriters didn't know how to create impactful moments, because they did. When done right, there were scenes in the drama that were so heartfelt and inspirational, they left me in awe. I have rewatched entire episodes just to experience the feeling of joy and satisfaction all over again because those scenes were that mesmerizing. Unfortunately, those moments were few and far between, making me disappointed and yearned for more.

The drama was far from perfect, and yet, I found it enjoyable because of my love for the main characters. He Yan and Xiao Jue were the saving grace of Legend of the Female General. They were likable and charming, easy to root for and sympathize with. They were great as individuals, but together, they were scorching hot in all the best ways. So many of their moments made me emotional or gave me butterflies, and I was invested in their love story. Even when the plot faltered, their chemistry did not. They understood each other in a way no one else could. They were each other's equal, twin flames, never doubting the other person's capability or intelligence. The way they loved each other so selflessly and passionately was beautiful. I couldn't stop thinking about them, so I stayed for their romance. They consumed my mind and my time, and I continuously allowed them to do so. If that wasn't a sign of enjoyment on my part, then I don't know what was. This drama was my introduction to Zhou Ye or Cheng Lei, and their compelling performances here were a pleasant delight.

I liked that He Yan wasn't a bloodthirsty, revenge seeking, and bitter protagonist — although she had every right to be if that was the route she had chosen. This was her second chance at life, and while she wanted those who have hurt her to pay in due time, she wasn't going to waste her new life living in spite of others. She wanted to do things on her own terms and live her life for herself. I started reading the novel halfway into this drama, and the drama's plot might have diverged from the novel, but the He Yan in the drama was very similar in temperament to the He Yan in the novel. I've seen some complaints about why He Yan wasn't seeking revenge immediately after recovering from her assassination attempt and how her personality was too easygoing in the drama, and to this I leave a direct quote from the novel, "The truth was concealed, and she had to uncover it. But before that, she had to live her life well." He Yan was wonderfully brought to life, and I loved her from the beginning until the end.

I feel like the promotions were misleading, portraying this drama as a dark tale of revenge and war, when in actuality, this drama wasn't really like that at all. Yes, revenge was an important element, and yes, there was war. However, the story was more focused on the second chances at love and life, personal growth, and self-discovery of He Yan, and by association, Xiao Jue. I can see why some viewers might have been let down after watching Legend of the Female General, as the title would give the illusion of a more action-packed and war-centric story. It is nothing like the original Chinese title, 錦月如歌 or Brocade Moon Like a Song, which suggests a more romantic and softer tone, more fitting of the story.

Legend of the Female General was, more or less, a guilty pleasure for me. Objectively speaking, the plot was a 7/10, the editing and narrative execution were a 6/10, but the main characters were a 10/10. If I was to rate this drama purely on my level of enjoyment, it would be a 9/10 overall. I enjoyed it for what it was and I will most likely rewatch it again just for my favorite scenes. Even with its shortcomings, Legend of the Female General is still a binge-worthy, addicting, and fun drama. If you appreciate a romance dominated story with some action, and you are willing to overlook some plot inconsistencies, you might also find the drama worthwhile. The actors are amazing, and their chemistry will make you blush. I recommend going into this drama with low expectations and an open mind.

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