KingC

One Big Wacky Drama.

I've been avoiding A Korean Odyssey after hearing caveats about it's quality, but chose to pick it up this year. (Lee Seungi's performance in Mouse was beyond impressive and I wanted to check out his previous works.)

I know nothing about the original Chinese story this was based upon. The only time I've heard about Sun Wu Kong was in 'An Epic Crush of Genie Lou' and in 'Seizing Dreams' by Chicken Gege. This was a positive point as I had nothing to compare the plot and characters too.

☆ The Plot:

… is incomplete, and I can see why, considering how expansive the original characters and work has to be. I'm considering this as an original work by the Hong sisters that is loosely based on 'Journey Across the West'. It doesn't follow the main characters constantly and branches out often to explore the supporting ones.


A young girl, Jin Seon Mi, is born with the power of seeing spirits, leading her to get ostracized by everyone due to her strange reactions.
When a chance encounter with a mysterious man named Ma Wang gives her a hope to protect herself, she snatches it without a second thought. Going into a secluded mansion to retrieve a prized fan as a part of the deal, she stumbles across an 'oppa', Son Oh Gong, its eccentric prisoner. He convinces her to set him free in exchange of a contract, and she does as he wishes, despite being told by Ma Wang to never listen to anything and anyone in the mansion. Now free, Seon Mi asks for his protection as a contract -- Son Oh Gong agrees to come whenever his name is called, but cons her by taking away the memory of his name. He vanishes, breaking his promise.

The first episode is hands down one of the most intriguing and interesting ones I've seen to date. I can rewatch it mutliple times and nevet get bored. The drama, inspite of it's flaws, is definitely a highly entertaining treat for fantasy lovers. Yes, there are questions that still need answers (the story is pulled from all sides and plots, and it might make it difficult for someone to enjoy, particularly if you are not much intrigued by the characters), but I was completely satisfied by the characters, cast, and the story.

☆ The Characters:

… are the best part of the drama. And Hwayugi needs a better poster than the one we have now. I can count four more characters who play very important parts and have significant screentime.
And they were absolute wackos. I'm not kidding. Except for Seon Mi, the Summer and Winter Fairies along with Bu Ja, not a single character was 100% in their right mind for one complete episode. It was weird, seeing a completely same human among the bunch of animals… that they clearly are.

Ma Wang was an unexpected scene stealer for me. I will forever remember him screaming 'ttorai!' when I think of Hwayugi. I loved his bromance with the naughty Son Oh Gong and his Secretary. This series should have alternate names such as 'The Errors of Ma Wang'.

Strange, but there was an ominous atmosphere throughout the whole drama. Seon Mi and her co-worker were the only real humans and the 'demons and deities' where depicted in a a rather grey manner. Even Ma Wang and Son Oh Gong make decisions that makes us doubt them.
Son Oh Gong in particular, was immature. I was confused as to why Seon Mi was holding a grudge against him even after 25 years, but later realized that she must have been in a state of constant distress due to her special condition.
His 'betrayal' comes back at him, though. I loved his interactions with every single character. He was quite witty too, unexpectedly, and I began to wish for his happiness.

The supporting characters are vital to the plot as a whole. Without their schemes and the intricate web that connects them to the main characters, the story would never take off. And the cast was amazing in portraying every role to a tee. (I loved the relation between Bu Ja and PK in particular.)

☆ The Music:

Hwayugi has a stunning soundtrack. I am quite shocked by how beautiful and memorable the tracks were. Someone commented on Youtube how the drama is never complete without certain songs and I agree with them.
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All in all, I immensely enjoyed the journey that I went through with every single character by the end. The finale is definitely rushed with a few last minute additions seemingly added, but I was satisfied with how things wrapped. Atleast, the ending is hopeful instead of bleak.
I wish that every single character grew up, overcame their struggles, and finally found what they sought for.

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A Good Attempt.

I had seen Psychopath Diary trending in 2019 while it was airing, but never got around to actually watching it until this year. In addition, the fairly comical poster and a confusing synopsis threw me off track.

Yook Dong Shik, a business analyst who is constantly looked down upon for being overly nice and a "pushover", teeters on the edge of his life after he is fired from his job due to the error of his co-worker. His suicide attempt ends ---because he was too scared--- and instead he gets a first hand encounter with a live murder. Attempting to flee the scene after snatching a piece of evidence, he is struck by a police car and soon loses his memories. A diary that had been found at the scene is returned to him by Officer Shim Bo Kyung, who is guilty of having caused his accident.
Unfortunately, the diary, which Dong Shik relies on to remember his past has secret: it is the 'evidence' he had retrieved from the crime scene.

Yook Dong Shik and Seo In Woo are undoubtably the stars of the show. Dong Shik (Yoon Shi Yoon) in particular was stunningly portrayed with the apt amount of comedy, madness and intensity. Several scenes of his, even the serious ones where tinged with a pinch of humour, but I was able to understand how hurt and pitifull he felt. Worse, it was absolutely hilarious when some of the missing pieces of the diary coincidentally convince Dong Shik that he was the real serial killer. But, I adored the guts and character growth that In Woo unintentionally planted in him. By the end of the drama, I was pretty proud of Dong Shik.
Seo In Woo... well, I'll choose that guy over Edward Cullen any day.
Officer Shim Bo Kyung was personally, one character whose sole purpose seemed to be to complicate incidents. She started off with a strong background, but resorts back to a regular female lead who doesn't use her instincts much, particularly during the latter half of the drama.
Jang Si Chul and Dong Shik's bromance was beyond adorable. I loved every scene of theirs.

The drama is much longer than necessary, although it's highly entertaining. I'll suggest this for anyone looking for a quick palate cleanser with excellent and interesting characters.

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Stranger Things.

Mouse is one giant science experiment gone humongously wrong. There is no other way I can describe it. The only factor that kept me going was the powerful performance of the leading cast. The story, after the first six to ten episodes, was a mess. Introducing Sci-Fi is a good idea, if you know what you are talking about. What the heck was the purpose of this drama?
Psychopaths are demonized in this. This is so not the case in reality. I'm sorry, but I fail to see any signs of the writers actually doing any research on the topic prior to sketching it into a story. I would've let it pass, but the "psychopath = killer" was purposefully shoved on my face more times than necessary.

This is also my very first time coming across a drama with so many dumb adults. It's as if nobody had an ounce of intellect or humanity in them.
I'm even more enraged how the very wrong message of "a killer's son is a killer" is the built in idea of this plot.

"Flower of Evil" is one drama that dealt with this topic. Do Hyun Soo is far from a perfect character and he does several questionable acts that makes the viewer's hearts stop - particularly at the end of episode one, where we truly begin to question his identity. He is not a fluffy bunny and he is definitely not 100% in his right mind, faking his entire identity.

Jung Ba Reum is a filthy character. But, he and Sung Yo Han were just plot devices at the end of the day. If there is anyone I would love to imprison, it would be Daniel Lee. Dude preached all about psychopathic genes and then turned into a hypocrite -- he used Jung Ba Reum as a murder machine, knowing well that he was the actual killer. Every single (adult and not from police station) person in this drama needs to have their heads examined. And Miss Choi Hong Ju?! Don't even get me started, yes, she was scared and traumatized, but literally egging someone else into killing others for her own personal reasons? She could've gone to Detective Ko Moo Chi and tipped him off. Instead, she played behind the scenes.
The Head-Hunter doesn't have brains to begin with, I would've smashed his head with a hammer the moment I met him, had it been me.

And his wife… oh boy. I feel not an ounce of sympathy for her. She destroyed Sung Yo Han's life. She literally exchanged her own son with someone. It's as if nobody knew what to do with children who are seemingly troubled. The teacher suggested having him taken for therapy, yet his father hit him. (He deserved a good beating, yes, but his adoptive mother knew his condition. She should've tried different methods to coax his self isolation or taken him to a psychiatrist.)
They are labelled as monsters from the very beginning. They know that there are eyes on them. (I sniff a few plot holes, but seeing where the actual purpose of the plot lay, I'll let it go.)

Jae Hoon/Ba Reum, desperately needed to get taken away from his environment, to someone who knew how to be with him. Instead, he was taken away and awaited upon as a sacrificial lamb for someone's political gain. I hated seeing the moments where his "aunt" just sat back and watched as he killed animals. His entire life was built around a lie. Yes, he was undoubtedly a psychopath. But, he would've definitely turned into someone better had he been properly taken care of. Instead, his killer instincts were purposefully awoken. And every single person involved watched the whole thing happen.
This was never addressed in the drama, particularly during the final episodes where every storyline was hastily getting wrapped up.

And Sung Yo Han… why the heck did they film the entire 6 episodes with him in plain sight? He knew that Ba Reum was the killer, knew of the organization, and never once attempted to contact the cops "directly". I knew that he definitely wasn't the killer right from EP1, when Chi Kook's body appeared in the box. But, he kept tailing Ba Reum, if what was shown in the drama had any form of truth. And Nepo dude should've just taken him in for questioning -- that would've made the drama about 8 episodes long and the case closed much faster.

Operation OZ. Damn. This is not Area 51 or Hawkins. It was lame. The Chief Secretary of the President was as horrible as Han Seo Joon and his wife. And the people with her? And the Bill? I don't even know what to say.

The drama dragged on longer than necessary. But, I guess the Sci-Fi aspect was the very main focus rather than the actual characters. Detective Moo Chi, Ba Reum and the police gang were my favorites.

My History teacher had recently mentioned her experience while working as a trainee in a school and it kept floating on my mind whenever I watched Jae Hoon. The boy in her experience, too was someone whom everyone were terrified of.

Jae Hoon was showing all signs of becoming a highly anti-social individual, but everyone easily assumed him to be a monster right from the get go. His adoptive mom apologized for not believing him, too late though.

All I could remember was how everyone in this drama were wronged. It was supposed to have the Sci-Fi tag as the very main one, since the 'killer' part was very easy to crack. I could not believe why nobody suspected Ba Reum in the Chi Kook case, however convincing he was. Or maybe I'm too spoiled after watching Saiai -- Dai-chan, the detective, literally kept his own first love and his friends as the suspects.

They should've removed all the scientific aspects and spent more time on developing the characters, the psychopath's past and the story. All in all, it was a wild ride. But, it's too frustrating.

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Superpriest!

I feel absolutely terrible now that I've completed watching this drama. First and foremost --- DO NOT LET THE ABSENCE OF ROMANCE TAG DETER YOU FROM WATCHING THIS GEM!

Whew! Now that I've got that out of my system, I'll try to write a review that atleast appears to be legible. Personally, according to me, good dramas are the ones that need to be truly experienced first hand instead of leaving the viewer in a dilemma as to whether to watch or not by reading the synopsis and reviews.

The very first episode introduces us to a rather eccentric and hot tempered priest, Father Kim Hae Il, who is sent back to his church in Gudam after beating up a bunch of thugs in another town. I kid you not, the priest is the very reason I began this drama. And he along with his Tsunami gang is what made me stick till the very end.
I digress, so let me return to the plot... well. Within a matter of days, his mentor and the Head Father of the Church, Father Lee, is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. When the Prosecutor Seong Ok decides to close the case without futher investigation despite Father Kim's frequent pleas, he decides to take matters into his own hands.
A drastic decision offers him complete authority to personally oversee the case... which is handed over to Dae Seok, an incompetant detective, by the perpetrators who instigated the crime. Now with multiple people attempting to hinder the truth from coming to light, Father Kim takes drastic measures while grappling with his own guilt.

This is one of the most genuinely funny and witty dramas I've ever seen. The basic storyline is pretty overused: a group of people with the ultimate power utilizes and compromises the safety and security of the people. The characters aren't really gem worthy -- they are real, raw humans who have made mistakes or "are" making mistakes.

There is also plenty of action! I have actually hyped for every single one of them! This might sound pretty un-Godly, but Father Kim need not change who he was to become a messenger of God. Sometimes, it is the power of fists that delineate our boundaries.

There is Bromance and comradeship that keeps the whole drama afloat. I loved and adored the friendship between Song Sac and Yoo Oh Han. They were secondary characters, but were one of the hearts of the show. Jang Ryung, the bob hair guy and villain was someone I couldn't hate. He was so stupid and funny. Hwang Cheol Bum, a thug turned owner of a trading store, was another interesting character. Both of them were people whom I believe turned out to be who they were due their circumstances. Not because they were genuinely evil individuals.

And the OST?! AWESOME!! I feel to laugh just by listening to them. (Extreme Gootham City is one of my absolute favorites.)

The drama does have intense emotional scenes. The underlying theme is uncovering the truth behind Father Lee's death, so there are times that we must take deep breaths. Nobody gets away unscathed. Not even our Tsunami Priest and his friends.

By the last episode, I was upset that the drama was ending. I wanted to see more punches and fights and Team Tsunami in action. It was completely fulfilling, funny, heartwarming, witty and absolutely lovable!

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A 1300 Year Old Cycle.

My review comes three years late after finally getting a chance to rewatch it.
I had followed the drama while it was airing and remember losing interest half way, watching the final episode and skipping through the scenes around Episode 11 - 14. It was this rewatch that finally made me understand why I found certain parts less than interesting.

A young prodigious man is tricked into the service of a supernatural being, Jang Man Weol, after his father was conned into making a deal with her 20 years ago.

Then, we get to see an exclusively detailed view of how Gu Chang Sung's entire life gets turned upside down as a result. I admit, he was an unsuspecting and unconventional male lead --- half of the drama, he is stuck in a state of constant dilemma, attempting to make decisions and also learn about his mysterious master, Jang Man Weol, the owner of Hotel del Luna where he is forced to work.
Jang Man Weol had a lot of "pecadillos" rather than being a genuinely evil being. But, I consider her very first decision of tricking Chang Sung's dad into selling his son to her the most cruel one. Burdened with the punishment of running the Hotel for 1300 years, she awaits to serve vengeance to the ones who had forced her through this dark path. It is now upto Chang Sung to see that she crosses the afterlife safely and remove her resentment.

I loved the three ghosts who served the hotel -- Miss Choi, Mr. Kim and Hong Joon. They were humourous. I also adored the rapport between Chang Sung, Sanchez and Mi Ra. I sometimes wished that the story focussed more on the humans than the ghosts. The ghosts whose tales were prominently followed were all emotionally depressing. I did not find them boring, as each one had a pivotal role in changing Man Weol's view on life.

The major events in the story are pre-planned by the 'deities'. And everyone of them managed to get on my nerves except for Police woman Ma Go and Medicine Ma Go. The way they dealt with the lives of living beings like cards was difficult to watch.

Last, but not the least... I could feel why Jang Man Weol sought revenge for centuries. This was also the weakest point in the drama for me. The backstory of a very important character was almost laughable. It was a moment that I waited for as I wished that it would make me find him redeemable, but in the end, he sounded like a coward.
I suddenly understand why Chang Sung was the male lead instead of him. He might not have anything heroic happening around him, but he definitely had enough intellect and loyalty in him.

I wonder how hard it was for IU to act as Jang Man Weol. She had around more than three outfits per episode and I can't imagine how exhausting it was for her and the stylists of this show. (I loved JMW's style though!)

The soundtrack of this drama is absolutely unforgettable. I can remember almost all the songs even after three years.

I do find the drama absolutely delightful and enjoyable. It's not a masterpiece, but the brilliant performances by the cast, beautifully shot scenes and a story that completes a satisfying circle is definitely worth giving a try.

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"Who does not prevent the crime supports it."

With Beyond Evil, I finally realized that I enjoy psychological crime thrillers more than romances. Though it was one of those dramas that received a momentary hype while on air, I decided to check it out as the reviews seemed promising.

Well, well. Akiyama Shinichi would be pretty proud.

Set in Manyang, a small, rural town where all its inhabitants are more like a real family, Lee Dong Shik, a police officer, has a few strange eyes on him. He was the suspect of a case from 20 years ago, a double event that included the murder of a girl and the disappearance of his own sister Lee Yu Yeon. The almost forgotten cold case is brought back to life with the transfer of Han Ju Won, the perfect, elite son of the ambitious Chief Superintendent of the Korean Police Force. Han Ju Won, unfortunately, has a plan. He is hell bent on getting Dong Shik proven guilty for his supposed crimes… while harboring a secret of his own.

I kid you not, this drama is not "who is the culprit?" kind as in Flower of Evil. It's a game of 'tag, you are it!' between two police officers who are forcibly paired up and have no choice but to work together, setting aside their differences. The first two episodes were a whirl of confusion as I desperately tried to make sense of what exactly was going on.

If you are a constant viewer of dramas, then the plot is definitely not much of a suspense -- it's quite predictable. It's the very web of intrigue and questions that tempt viewers to keep watching episode after episode.
It was also a didactic experience for me as it shed light on some of the 'stupid' laws that lets criminals get away. This is a strong shadow over the "entire" drama --- characters take actions while attempting to circumvent these laws.

Lee Dong Shik is without a doubt, the soul and star of this drama. The story is nothing without him. He knew his game well. The first few episodes of tag between him and Han Ju Won were absolutely riveting. His mind games and rhetoric questions made everyone doubt themselves and drove me mad. His dubious actions even more so. I loved how confident he was in his craft and how easily he managed to rile up the very egoistic Han Ju Won. It's my first time seeing this actor and I'm in complete awe of his performance. How can a human being portray so many emotions? That too, wild, intense and absolutely mind numbing once with such clarity and depth? All in the same episode? I could figure out his thoughts and actions within the first two episodes, but without Shin Ha Kyun, I highly doubt if Dong Shik would be receiving my approval.

Han Ju Won… ah, yes. I remember seeing a post about why nobody had killed him yet. His stickler for rules and his holier-than-thou attitude made me want to smack him at times. But, he wasn't a hypocrite and I'm glad that the writers didn't make him one. Rather, he was a victim of circumstances.
It's strange, but I loved how Dong Shik finally managed to rub off on him. Yeo Jin Goo has proved himself a versatile actor from his previous works. He did not disappoint.

Park Jeong Je, Dong Shik's best friend, is another worthy mention. And everyone from the Manyang Butcher shop.

The bromance is really slow burn. But, absolutely worth every second of your time. I loved seeing Dong Shik and Ju Won together. Their 'I refuse to tell you that I like you' attitude was highly endearing and fun to watch. Both of them had a terrible habit of blackmailing each other, and watching them attempt to untangle their own net traps shouldn't have been this enjoyable under normal conditions.

I was surprised by how much I liked Lee Chang Jin. A very, very, gray/bad/confused character, I mirrored his reaction multiple times. He had several valid points, but he was also too dumb to exist.

Every single character reached a point where they were pushed to the inevitable moment of making crucial decisions, and watching it unfold on screen was absolutely thrilling. The story veers towards a game of deception during the latter half and had several nail biting scenes that had be binging three episodes a day.

However, there are a few answers that were told just in passing, making it seem almost as if the writer had conveniently written them in to avoid leaving out any plot holes. This is starkly visible as we near the finale. And judging by the fixed episode duration and number, I am willing to forgive everything.

The Soundtrack is to die for. Music is the second most important aspect of a drama and even an average one can become a masterpiece if it has an excellent audio team.
I have 'Timeless by BIBI' and several background scores on repeat since the time I first heard them.

This is definitely one of the best dramas I've watched.
It is an absolute feast for people who love looking like the Pepe Silvia meme and enjoy racking their brains to make connections and assumptions. Its thrilling, emotional, engaging and absolutely riveting.

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Simple and Humble.

This is one of those simple movies that is buoyed solely by the emotional appeal. It invokes us to think and I loved its quiet production.
Mitsuomu, aspiring for a 'cool' job, moved to Tokyo years ago. He returns back to his hometown, now disillusioned and hopeless. Everyone expects him to take over his father's furniture craft (a job he had ridiculed before), putting him at odds with him.
However, he meets Yamato, an orphaned boy who was adopted by his Grandfather. His optimistic and lively demeanour soon changes Mitsuomu's view on life.
The relations between the grandfather and Yamato and Mitsuomu and his parents are the very backbone of the movie, despite not being strongly stressed on. Their rapport with each other was slowly built bit by bit. Romance is not a prominent aspect, but they were really heart-warming to watch.
I did wish that they showed scenes of Mitsuomu evincing his interest in Carpentry. It was told in passing and did not seem convincing enough.
Overall, it's a really pleasant watch.

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"I'll Jump Through Timelines For You."

Someday or One Day begins it's journey as a regular contemporary romance drama with a tragic twist: Huan Yu Xuan, the FL's person (Wang Quan Shen) has been dead since the past two years after a plane crash. HYX struggles to get past his demise and seeks out for hints that proves that he wasn't too much in love with her in an attempt to get a leverage to let go of him, despite imagining him multiple times. What she discovers only makes her drop back to square one. It is at this time that she gets a Walkman from an anonymous person. And from there stars the real story…

☆ The drama unexpectedly takes a smooth twist into the time travelling genre and for a while, I believed that it was just some minor fantasy element. But, no. It was an actual time travel element that had blood and bones. The characters, their choices and the whole time travelling governs the basic plot. We are pulled into a maze of events that talk about the past, or rather the past of a young introverted girl, Chen Yun Ru, and her friends Li Zi Wei and Mo Jun Jie. The only thing in common is that Chen Yun Ru and Li Zi Wei are doppelgangers of the future Huan Yu Xuan and Wang Quan Shen. Time travelling to another timeline, into another completely different person comes with a few setbacks. Huan Yu Xuan soon learns from the future that she must protect herself from a mysterious stalker and try to stop Chen Yu Ru's fate: dead by the New Year's eve of 1999. Moreover, she finds out that there exists a deeper connection the past and her future.

But, is changing the future as easy as it seems?

☆ The plot was meticulously written with a strong purpose. It tried closing off all loopholes and giving us convincing answers. I could visualize the time loop that writer had written the story with. One factor that made me not find the drama boring was the variety of characters. We spend significant screentime with closed off Chen Yu Ru and the kind hearted Mo Jun Jie. We get to know Chen Yu Ru's family and her troubles. We are delighted to see the way Huan Yu Xuan deals with situations and her vibrant personality. Her friendship with Mo Jun Jie and Li Zi Wei was a treasure to cherish. The actors performances were excellent, particularly Alice Ke, for her portrayal of the two starkly contrasting characters with precision.

We get heartbroken seeing Wang Quan Shen and his relationship with Huan Yu Xuan. There was a point where I could not see a happy ending for anyone. Time travel rarely ends up with roses, but more with roses 'and' thorns. I guessed a few minor events before it happened, but the way it was executed was smooth and realistic.

☆ The opening, closing credits' and their soundtracks captured the emotions of the drama perfectly. They implied a lot about what was going to happen in the drama at the first place, but we don't understand the symbolism behind it until we've completed about more than half of the episodes. Also, I'm not a fan of songs of the genre such as Wu Bai's 'Last Dance'. But, this drama forced me to like it.

☆ One thing that irked me was how I fell asleep multiple times, particularly during the initial episodes. Though the slow pace was essential for capturing the viewers and setting the base for the story, it made me wish that it was a tad bit more fast paced.

All in all, this is definitely a drama that you should give a try, particularly, if you are a fan of romance and time travel genre. I loved piecing together the puzzles and guessing what was about to happen. I wished for every single characters' happiness by the end. I too hope I'll meet someone someday who would also come back to me one day.

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Wrap Up.

The final stage of the Liar Game only had a single game. But, it is this lone game that people refuse to take risks with.
I enjoyed the Garden of Eden a lot. The tricks were more intricate and I failed to see through many of them, just like the second season. But, Nao-chan had an incredible character growth compared to the first season. She is much more braver and less 'stupid' than before. Akiyama never really changes. (Which is a good thing.)
Though I liked the game, I understood why it was made as a separate one without combining with the episodes. But, I missed seeing more intense games like the first two seasons. Overall, it's an almost perfect wrap up to the Liar Game. I will surely miss every player's antics.

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A Renascence in All Ways.

The Liar Game returns after a two year hiatus, completely invigorated with power and deviousness. This series might be one of the few sequels out there that outshined its predecessor.

☆ Kanzaki Nao-chan and Akiyama-kun are pitted along with Fukunaga (AKA the Mushroom from S1) two years after their last match. However, this time, they are headed for the semi-finals. The games in the second season are unflinchingly deceitful. While the players of the S1 were pulled into the labyrinthine game against their will and with no choice left, the players in this one are clearly worthy of the arena. Not only are they experienced with the workings of the game; none of them are completely unintelligent. The stakes are much higher and the opponents far more stronger. I felt incredibly like an imbecile while watching the games unfold. All of them appeared facile, but once they begin, they are a far cry from what the players were promised. The psychological play on human minds was boggling to watch. It was a battle of brains that was absolutely nerve-wracking and thrilling.
(As an added bonus, I inadvertently got to know the rules of all the games mentioned in Poker Face by Lady Gaga.)

☆ While the Nao-chan in season one was forced to become enlightened about the depth of human greed and deception, this season is where she actually proves her worth. She maintains the same personality as in season one, but it's evident that she has actually grasped the concept of the Liar Game. Still dubbed as "stupidly honest", I suddenly realized why she was an integral part of the game.
Akiyama Shinichi is still the prime mover, but he is forced to face opponents who are as skilled as he was at his craft. He is as eccentric and enigmatic as he was in the past, but we see different facets of his that we hadn't seen before.

☆ The production style is definitely outdated, but the comically dramatic laughter of the 'villain' was more sporadic than the first season, which is definitely an improvement. I also found the OSTs to be absolutely fitting for such a thrilling drama. I loved both the Capsule songs used: Sugarless Girl and Love or Lies.

☆ The first season was tamer and provided the perfect basement for the second to be built upon. I admire the writer for managing to maintain the mysterious aspect of the show and deepening the purpose behind the ridiculous game of deception. For once, I didn't find them to be desultory, but witty and intelligent. It was a true test of human nature. This aspect is given much more focus in S2, which is undoubtedly more explosive than the first.

I can see why fans of such psychological gaming shows find this absolutely unforgettable and riveting. It left me pondering about how the game represents the real world and how vacillating humans have become due to their guile. I couldn't dislike Nao-chan. Someone like her was not meant for a game like this, but she is ultimately the player who breaks all rules.

Japan adds their own flavor in all the dramas I've seen and they did their magic with this one as well. Definitely one of the few series that got me scratching my head out of sheer confusion, but kept me glued to the screen to know the outcome.

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A Bittersweet Twist.

Slice of life genres are rarely everyone's cup of tea. The realistic portrayal of life and relatable characters are what makes one fall in love with them. When dramas like Go Ahead peaked back in 2020, no one paid much attention to silly kids' genres dramas such as I Don't Want To Be Friends With You. MangoTV never bothered to subtitle it and it wasn't until six months later that Kukan Drama Channel decided to pick it up. And then the magic began...
-- The Plot:
Li Jin Bu, a 17 year old who is sick of her single mother's neglectful and careless antics decides to stay overnight at a Public Bathhouse as a sign of her displeasure and finds herself transported 20 years back to her mother's cold North Eastern hometown. Lost and confused, she has no choice but to track down the last person she had wanted to see: Li Qing Tong, her mother... who is completely unaware of who she is. Cooking up lies and jumping through hoops, guided by a mysterious man, Jin Bu takes it upon herself to change her mother once and for all.
--- The Duo:
Li Jin Bu is no angel. She is lonely, stoic and often ruthless with her words. She is perhaps, one of the most realest characters I've seen in a High school drama to date. Her mother, Li Qing Tong is not a bright one either. Slightly dumb with low IQ and high EQ, she tries her best and doing things the right way. As time goes, Jin Bu starts to grow up along with her mother and gets to know her from a different angle. The show explored the depth of their relationship perfectly. They go from mother-daughter to realizing that they are each others' best friends.
--- The Brotherhood:
Honestly, Chen Jun He, Duan Xiao and Ba Dan were characters that made me laugh and cry at the same time. Particularly Chen Jun He. His antics with his friends, his family and Qing Tong were the highlights of the show.
-- Romance:
I rarely ship ships. But, I'd die for Jin Bu and Duan Xiao. Subtle romance without words are my top weaknesses and this couple managed to hit all the feels the right way. Jin Bu never confessed outright to Xiao. And I understand why. But, she always put forward what he wants and tried to be her very best to him. Her sincerity and his trust were beyond heartwarming. Their every moment together was like a piece of treasure.
-- Overall:
I have no words to describe how much this drama means to me. It was in no way a perfect production, but it made me lose interest in other dramas for two months straight. The characters, the lessons, the sweet memories that it left for me can never be put down in words. But, I sincerely implore you to give this little gem a try. :)

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A Slow Descent Down the Hill.

First: if you are looking for the 'thrill' and anticipation that one experiences while watching Signal (2016), Beyond Evil, Mouse (both 2021) or Flower of Evil, this drama isn't for you. I will suggest this drama to anyone who is looking for a unique story of two brothers. The murder and psychological aspects all come in second.

I dropped this drama precisely at the 13th episode, then watched the final episode to sate my curiosity.
The number of times I've seen it recommended alongside other thrillers is what drove me to begin this. I should've not kept prior expectations beforehand; this would've saved the rating from getting tanked.

The story had a good start that is enough to pique my curiosity. It's already established that Lee Hyun had a traumatizing experience as a child. Now, back in Korea after his stint as a Criminilogy Professor, he is drawn to certain murder cases that revive memories about his missing brother. On the other hand, Cha Ji Ahn, a cop, has stalked him for 20 years while on search of a serial killer whose last known interaction happened to be with Lee Hyun.

I don't usually go off about female leads, but Cha Ji Ahn's character and her backstory were the weakest part of the whole plot. I never really cared about her past or romance with Lee Hyun, thanks to how the writers wrote her as an almost comical and cringeworthy caricature of a cop. The main poster doesn't include her and I can see why. (Her annoying nature becomes bearable after episode 8. She was not irritable when it came to scenes of crime discussions with her team, but I skipped everything else of hers involving a casual Lee Hyun.)

I loved Lee Min's interesting game of cat and mouse. This was what kept me going throughout the whole drama. Park Bo Gum and Do Kyung Soo blew the cap off with their performances in this one. DO, Lee Joon Young's younger self, was stunning in his portrayal of a complete psychopath, but his delivery of certain lines are going to be some of the most memorable ones in dramaland. (Particularly at the end of EP1 and almost his every flashback. Another person to add to the list of Bunny Serial Killers.)

Seo In Guk has potential, but the shifting tones in his character made me feel less emotional towards him -- it went from comedy to stoic all at once. The character Lee Hyun didn't seem to get a break. The scenes of his that I enjoyed the most were all the serious ones.

I found it hilarious that Lee Hyun got everything solved instantly with the help of the Art gallery director -- I must not have watched enough to know his true identity or this is lack of paying attention from my part.

By episode 8 or 12, I knew who was who -- biggest let down as the story seemed rather bleak and uninteresting after the big reveal. (EP12 has one of my most favorite moments: the conversation between the two brothers. Both actors delivered emotional and heartfelt performaces.) I fastforwarded quite a bit after that, eventually deciding to drop the whole thing as it did not seem to have what I sought. I will not be going back to this drama anytime soon.

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Missing Links.

I guess this drama is supposed to be a dark one filled with tension, considering that it's taking place during a time of war and their country is right in the middle of it. But..
The cast, story and even the outfits are decent, however, the story failed to grab my attention. I blame the editing.
Plus, completely skipping the past of the main leads and directly heading for the conflict was a wrong move by whoever planned it because I did not feel emotional at all.
Su Yan was particularly irritating. I don't know why, but she almost seemed slow when time was dire, did not provide proper explanations to Wen Yuan and many of the troubles could've been avoided had she reacted on time.
Don't get me started on the King. He left absolutely no impression on me, even when he was at his most powerful. Pretty sure that Su Yan could've properly handled him, but alas, the story calls.
I would suggest this if you need some "break" and watch some good acting, despite of the story.

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A Nice Snoozefest.

There. My review's title is my 'a few word summary ' of Breeze of Love.
Honestly, the actors were excellent and had chemistry/angst, but the story did not do a good job in capturing my attention. The characters did not seem to have been fully fleshed out.
The overall set up was reminiscent of Our Dating Sim, except that this one has the college as the backdrop, but unlike ODS, I did not quite buy into their relationship.
For one, the separation and the reason was cut up and stretched far more longer than necessary. Ban Dong Wook was frustrating to watch. His side of the story remained obscure until the end. I understood that he was the introvert of the story, but hey. I couldn't quite root for him.
I loved Do Hyun, though. Atleast, his reason for being pissed off was valid.

The trouble might lie in the fact that the flashbacks were just not sufficient/placed at the wrong timing for me to catch up to them.
Their relationship was nice to watch though, so give it a try if you want something light.

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"People Crave for The Normal."

As a person who enjoys binging thriller dramas, this one is sure to have ended up in my dropped/fast forward list had I tried binging it.

The very interesting discourses and comments regarding certain characters is what drove me to begin watching this drama. Slice of life dramas are not my forté. But, seeing such intense character analysis for a seemingly sunny drama was what made me curious.

Probably one of the most well loved dramas that premiered last year, "Our Beloved Summer" is the chronicles of Choi Ung and Kook Yeon Su, two vibrantly different personalities who are forcibly put together in high school to film a documentary. The Proximity Principle proved true and it's not long before their hateful relationship morphs into love. After a disastrously earth shaking break-up, they meet five years later. Now, grown up and absorbed in their own career paths, they are unexpectedly thrown together again. But, this time, both of them are determined to change for the better…

I suck at expressing emotions in general and have a penchant for accepting characters and the story as it is presented, hence watching this was personally a purely fun experience for me.

Be warned… the slice-of-life tag doesn't lie.
The story follows the ordinary lives of both Yeon Su and Choi Ung along with one major supporting character (Kim Ji Ung).

Sticking true to the tag, it's the characters who are the soul of the story. Though it began with almost little to no emotional attachment from my side, I slowly grew attached to them by episode 14. There is not much purposeful happening with the plot, so, if you are a fan of strictly plot driven stories, this drama isn't for you.

Kook Yeon-Su can sit together with Kat from 10 Things I Hate About You and I wouldn't bat an eyelid. Studious and meticulous in every aspect, she sets vigorous boundaries and rules to who or whatever crosses her path. Including Choi Ung. She has an almost aggressive reaction to everyone, trenchant and assertive with her words… which naturally makes her one of the most unlikeable students in her school.
I found her bravado tiring. But, the writers did a good job, taking time to explain her actions and errors.

Choi Ung is far from her strict good-girl regimen. He slacks off at class, is meek like a puppy and knows more social skills than Yeon Su. He understands what he has signed up for once he begins to date her. I loved how he was not driven by goals, but rather went with what his heart wanted.

The life outside their perfect bubble has an almost domino-like effect on them. These polar opposite duos had their own ways of expressing their emotions as a result. Yeon Su was more on the *tell* side of the sphere whereas Choi Ung was on the *show* side. They each await empathic responses to unasked questions. To me, this lack of understanding and failure to express themselves was the prime reason for their break up. Now, as adults, their tables have turned. They are much more aware of their mistakes and are ready to accept the error of their ways.

40% of the drama is seen partially through the eyes of the Documentary Producer, Kim Ji Ung, Choi Ung's best friend. He was a character whose presence was pivotal in understanding the leading ones. We see a deeper side of Choi Ung through him, his own personal troubles, his support and ear for Yeon Su, the rapport with his workplace colleagues… even Ung's manager and Sol - I were important.

NJ, an idol, felt really out of place. She was not annoying… but I didn't understand why there was so much time being invested in her story, which could literally be spliced out and kept as a different special episode. Her presence did incite major changes to certain characters, but I felt that the writers failed to portray her with more depth or importance. The main reason seems to be her lack of interaction with the major characters.

It's the actors who breathed life into the chara ters. They lived them. Even the minor ones. Choi Woo Shik was mind blowing in portraying the very insoucient Choi Ung. Rather than appearing lifeless and boring, he was vibrant and unique. Kim Da Mi had less internal monologues than Choi Ung, but the process of unwrapping her various layers was smoothly portrayed.

I didn't find the drama too funny, though. There were a few slapstick comedy scenes, but there was always a serious shadow in the background for more than half of the drama.

The soundtrack was overall pleasant to listen to with "Home" and "Christmas Tree" being my favorites along with the opening theme by Kim Hwan Hee.

It's a drama that I'm sure I'll probably never rewatch. But, sometimes you stumble upon a coin on the road and check it out.
As Mr. Park said to Ji Ung, people crave for the 'ordinary'. And so do I.

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