KingC

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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Humble, Yet Hauntingly Beautiful.

I came to know about the existence of this series after coming across the pilot episode, which already had amassed a whopping number of views – apparently it was already based on a widely popular novel with a huge number of fans, which sets the bar really high.

9.0 is an overblown score, but this is the best that the company had made in a while. It'll be much closer to 8 or 8.5/10. The 0.5 is for the characters.

Why did I begin this? It aired right after The Next Prince and the timing is convenient enough for me to follow throughout its run.

Well, well… Khemjira is a shocking surprise as it now sits right up there with dramas such as Not Me, Triage, Something in my Room and I Feel You Linger In The Air in my books.

It's also a heavily character driven story.
There is a high chance that one might not be able to connect to the story if the characters haven't caught up with them.
So, if you are looking for a logical, character driven, yet completely heartfelt and emotional drama, this one is for you.

I'll get started.

☆ When boiled down to the bones, Khemjira, to me, is one of those classic tales I’ve heard as a child -- young males in a family are bound to fall victim to a malevolent spirit's curse: none of them would live past the age of 21. And the women are bound to suffer illnesses, passing away before reaching old age.

And Khae knew this better than anyone else. In an attempt to save her son’s life, she names him Khemjira, hoping it would hide his identity as a male child. However, when she falls gravely ill and Khemjira starts to see the unnatural, she seeks help from Grandmaster Sek, who gives him an amulet for his protection.

15 years later, with only a month left till he turns 21, Khem realizes that his protection was failing after narrowly missing fatal blows. He confides in his happy-go-lucky friend Jettana, who decides to take him to his Master, the late Grandmaster Sek’s grandson, Pharan, a seemingly cold, young shaman with whom his fate had crossed in the past.

☆ First and foremost, there are a million ways in which this drama could go wrong - with only four characters permanently on screen, one single mystery and an established backstory, Khemjira could easily be dumbed down as boring and slow.

Is the drama slow at times? Yes.
Is the script powerful? 100%.
Is it a masterpiece? Definitely no.

To me, for a story to be solid, the plot need not have to be convoluted with twists and turns or a gazillion characters to keep one entertained.
I'm used to hearing stories like these when I was a kid, so being able to pull off 12 episodes of it while establishing the past storylines, relationships, friendships and flashbacks all into 50 minutes is no joke.

☆ We basically see Khem and his college friends visit the village for their semester break. Khem has the ulterior motive to get help from Pharan, but Pharan knows that dealing with someone else's karma is not something he should be doing. Jet and his newfound ‘friend’ Charn are invested in saving Khem from his inevitable future, but drawing all this out for 12 episodes takes skill.

(I'm kind of glad that The Next Prince was released first before Khemjira because the contrast in writing is clearly visible. That too, from the same Directors and company. I can imagine the wars that would've been waged had the reverse happened.)

Khemjira proves that flamboyance and thrills are not needed to convey a good story.
The plot has a solid direction that it was heading to. I never once felt that the 12 episodes were a waste even once.

☆ To me, the real heroes are the characters.
They were realistic, relatable and logical. It was one of those times that I've felt that I was going through a journey with them instead of watching them from the sidelines.

No story can be told well without well-fleshed out characters that aren’t air dropped into existence. Or maybe I’m telling this because I know people very similar to these college kids.
I can see people are surprised that this is a Domundi production as everyone seems to keep low expectations; a good script and well fleshed out lovable characters are all that is needed to elevate a drama to greater heights.

Starting off with the seemingly weak Khemjra, the namesake of the drama. I personally know someone who is very similar to him. Although always appearing as a smiling, caring and soft spoken boy, his backstory is extremely dark. He has only a month left to live; his mother had passed away and his father had chosen a life of ordination in hopes of prolonging their son’s life.

There are moments in the drama where his emotions explode, but it’s evident that it is solely not because of his crush on his potential savior.
Namping plays the role to a tee - Khemjira might be outwardly weak, but he was mentally, one of the strongest. And perhaps one of the most empathetic characters I've seen onscreen.

To balance for his soft and slow nature is his best friend, Jet. A sprightly young man with carpe diem as his motto, his shenanigans and fanboy behaviour is one to watch. While he sees romance in everything, Charn, a psychology student, exists to counteract and provide a rational view of matters.
This perfect balance of both supporting characters along with Khem provide a wholesome experience.
Both Jet and Charn were the comedic relief of the rather bleak story and it was absolutely hilarious.
Their friendship is relatable, lively and realistic. It is what makes this drama a worthy watch.
No character is left discarded and no storylines seem unfinished.

There is Pharan. Following his grandfather's footsteps, he takes on the role of the powerful shaman of the village, respected by everyone regardless of their age. But, the struggles he had witnessed on his path towards it has made him cold and aloof. He is initially both amused and enraged by Khem's antics, and while I did feel to whack him at times, he slowly grew on me.
He was the ‘mystery' of the show. And the writers cleverly utilised it, taking the smart route, introducing characters who have already established their position in his life, through which we get to know him little by little via flashbacks at the beginning of each episode.

Honestly, I felt to laugh whenever he appeared with sunglasses on.

☆ And last, but never the least is Rampheung, the villain of the story. Her existence and presence is what makes the drama fall into the ‘horror’ genre. But, the manner in which her tale is revealed, all the while taking sweet time to seep her icy intent into the episodes cast a constant shadow throughout it. This is where the scriptwriter won.
She is not evil for the sake of it — her backstory, empathy, grief and rage all had explanations. I couldn't truly hate her. Green, the actress kicked the ball out of the park with her performance.

Every single one of the cast members were perfect for the role. I can't find a single thing to complain about.


☆ Relationships:

The very backbone of this series. The one that I find memorable is Khem's relationship with his parents. Although it's a very sad one, and easily overlooked, it was done with care and thought – we begin the tale with them. And it's only fair that we end it with them.
Khem was in constant touch with his family all through the series. His parents’ conversation in EP2 was touching, yet shed light on the fact of how tragic Khem's life truly was.
Master (Pharan) and his relationship with his mother in particular influenced his actions and decisions till the very end.

The next are the ‘ships’.
Or rather romantic relationships. Though, I did not expect it to have too many intense moments, considering how dark the atmosphere was, the writers and characters surprised me.

I don't board any ship, but oh boy, the writers knew what they were scrawling because the development of each one of them was convincing and realistic.

Initially, Khem is enamoured by Master's good looks and admits that he simply has a crush on him; it takes him one month to break down his icy barriers. Master is initially surprised and amused by Khem's acts of service to get on his good side, but as he realizes that beyond their past lives and the curse, he was a genuinely good soul, he begins to grudgingly admit that he was fighting a losing battle.
It was slow burn at it's finest, yet hit all the marks without being cheesy.

The relationship between Master, the villagers and Yai Si were some of the other golden treasures of this show.

Jet and Charn were the abrupt couple, but never once did I feel that they were out of character. The progress of their relationship was well balanced and emotional, may it be as Jin and Da or Jet and Charn.

☆ The friendship between Jet and Khem is noteworthy because it's ultimately the one which led Khemjira to meet Master. This theme of friendship and found family persists throughout the entire series, never losing focus.
Then there is Khachen. I don't fan girl over actors, but I cheered when Net came on screen because I felt sorry for him as Prince Calvin.

☆ The overall production is rather subdued without flamboyance. Maybe because the entire production is more on the spiritual side of matters? But, it fits well with the theme.

☆ OST:
Mantra sung by Keng Harit in one of the most beautiful melodious songs I've ever heard in my life. I don't even listen to melodies or slow songs, and this one managed to impress me. (The last one that caught my attention was I Trust You by Daou Pittaya for The Next Prince.)

As for the opening… honestly, I skip it all the time because everything reminds me of going to a temple. Heck, the sound of the conch is the first thing I used to hear when I used to wake up at 5 in the morning.

☆ Another cold prickly I felt was that we didn't get to see Master's side of his feelings for Khem. The plot took over most of the screen time and we got to see only Khem's slow and inevitable fall. Master had a lot going on aside from the romance aspect and I personally felt that providing a couple of minutes for it would've been fine. It felt abrupt; some of the scenes.
I'm not complaining, though. It also might be because his character is restrained.
Another thing? The plot does get intermixed and sort of loses focus around EP4 or EP5. The romance aspect will inevitably appear bland if conveyed this way on paper, but the performances filled in the gaps. Or atleast attempted to.

☆ [I might be a bit biased in my rating as I watched this during certain turbulent times. And after the Next Prince, this one is leaps and bounds above it.]
Some random stuff that I'm writing down just to remember this drama by: The first thing that came to my mind while I watched EP1 was how my mother would never be able to watch Khemjira.

She grew up frequenting and studying in temples, enjoying temple fairs and used to speak about how she had witnessed possessions in real time to the point that it scared and disturbed even at the slightest mention of the unnatural. She also used to say how parents used to ask kids to not visit homes where young mothers or children had passed away. Seeing Master exorcising a lady in EP1 reminded me of that.


And as someone who is currently living in a location steeped in ancient rituals and beliefs, this drama speaks to me.
We literally have festivals where people draw designs, fast for days and summon deities.
Even Rampheung's story is similar to ancient legends that I heard when I was a kid. No ghost is simply malevolent in many of those stories.

Another thing? There are wild hogs where I live, so most of us are asked to watch out for hogs all the time, too. I found that scene with Jet and Charn funny because of this and it also brought a touch of nostalgia.

☆ I also wonder how good the actual novel was. I suspect that the original story was quite solid or maybe the scriptwriters were talented and had a vision in mind.
Domundi series often begin strong, then fall to aimless wandering plotlines and the only one that I truly liked was Your Sky as it delivered exactly what it was advertised as.
This series set the bar high for DMD stories in general.
Now, my attention is on Love Upon A Time, as it too, is adapted from a novel. Though, I'll keep my hopes low.

I feel like I'm bidding farewell to a friend, which this drama truly had been to me since August. It made the dark times brighter and brought about a strange sense of nostalgia, happiness and sheer joy. It was well written, acted and I applaud each and everyone behind the scenes for creating this.

I, for one, am definitely sure that Khemjira will indeed survive, for a long time in my memory.

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The Darkest Minds.

A 9/10 because this was extremely an eye opener for me. I've never investigated murderers, looked up police procedures or psychopaths and had never even known that they had certain behavioral patterns until this. Though, a caveat for thrill seekers -- this drama is no regular "thriller". It is more procedural and gives an indepth look into the lives of Criminal Profilers. (This might be the reason why I did not feel to rate it a 10/10.)

I am quite curious about how the original book was written because Through the Darkness is carried by the efforts of two budding criminal profilers, Song Ha Young and Captain Young Soo. Despite their intense passion for that specific line of work, they often face ridicule from their colleagues, thanks to the apprehension that follows anything new.

The entire story as a whole is told in an almost episodic format, loosely based on some of the major crimes that were headlines in South Korea. (As a matter of fact, Gu Young Chun, who was sentenced to death, is still alive and imprisoned.)

In particular, I was impressed and terrified by Song Ha Young, an introverted detective who was extremely sensitive to the emotions of everyone surrounding him. I have to say, he is hands down one of the most genuinely nice and fluffy male leads out there. We see his intense passion for his work. What was surprising to me was how I grew attached to even his own mother, who definitely has less screen time than any other characters who are working on the field. His rapport with his more extroverted colleague was one of the lighter parts of the show. I slowly began to care for both of the profilers and their family.

Captain Yoon, one of the major female characters, was introduced in a rather annoying fashion —- I grew to like her refurbished attitude as the story progressed, but I failed to understand her rude approach to the Criminal Profilers in the first place. I found the female reporter disconcerting as she had only a countable number of scenes. I wished to see more of her passion for her work.

The crimes were gruesome and the interviews were bleak —- but, as someone mentioned, we are the creators of our destiny. We choose to become who we are.

Funnily, both my mom and a friend of mine advised me in the exact same manner that Song Ha Young was admonished on episode 8 and 9.

I hope that the real authors as well as the entire cast and crew behind the scenes received extensive counselling and therapy after wrapping up. This show is not for the light hearted.

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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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The Traumatised Village.

Gannibal's second season can be watched as a direct continuation of the first as it starts right from where the first one ends.
And mind you. The entire story takes place within a span of one night and a whole day.
Rather than focussing on the mystery or build-up, we are 'shown' or told what had taken place straightaway. It's unflinchingly disturbing and dark, but was worth sitting through till the end.

I'll write down my jumbled thoughts here:

☆ The second season brings along everything that I loved from the first -- stellar performances by the cast, even more so in this one, (particularly the actors for Goto Keisuke, Yosuke, Iwao, Kuroe and Gin who had more scenes and importance) ; convincing and nauseating horrific scenes combined with unexpectedly emotional moments.

☆ Characters: one of the highlights would be Goto Gin, aka, the half-eaten grandmother through whom the Gotos were introduced to us in the first season.
Well, she is a character you have to watch. Her past and the point where all hell breaks loose are vividly described and portrayed. It's highly disturbing. And I'm not kidding about it.
Themes of sexual assault, rape, cannibalism, gaslighting, etc are all an integral part of this season.

While I admire Goto Gin as an individual character whose sole purpose was to somehow keep herself alive through any means, I absolutely despice her actions and think that she got exactly what she deserved in the end.
She just had to become Tantai Jin 1.0 instead of showing an ounce of empathy.

☆ In a very twisted way, I can understand why the villagers are how they are. To me, they weren't crazy. And even the final episode and the scenes depict the extent of the impact the Goto family had on them.
Keisuke and the remaining younger generation (including the villagers) were the focus of the second season and they did not disappoint.
I was very surprised to know that Nagata Takato was a part of the cast as I was unable to recognize him.
It was also unexpectedly emotional, particularly the end of EP7, where I legit had goosebumps.

☆ As for Agawa Daigo... His character was the most 'human' of them all. Yes, his enraged actions led to a chain of events that ultimately ended up with terrible consequences (although, to me, it was for the best), but in the end, he is ultimately a character I respect. (Hats off to Yagira Yuya, whose performance I had slready noted in the first season.)

All in all, it was a bittersweet journey for me. Strange, but nevertheless, memorable.

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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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A Compact and Warm Story.

I began this one in order to get out of a drama slump and it unexpectedly became one of my favorite short KDrama! What made this attractive to me was not just the romance, but the distinct characters and the struggles that they dealt with.
-- Taekyung struggled with being a loner; Shin Woo takes time to adjust and feel comfortable with strangers; Da On is bent on making everyone happy and never knows how to say no. Namjung is a cheerful and supportive friend wheras So Hee tries to get what her heart wants.
--- The pacing of the drama was excellent. With 16 episodes spanning around 29 minutes each, they managed wrap up everything quite neatly. There were some episodes I felt that would drag on certain parts, but it never did.
--- The relationship (including a love triangle) were surprisingly not too forced. Although, I still do not know when somebody is a bad actor, everyone's performance in this was highly convincing. They played and looked the part that fit their characters' personalities.
--- I loathe love triangles with deep intensity, and almost dropped this drama. But, this was one triangle/unrequited love that I felt was well written. There was no unnecessary pushing or pulling, but just went with the flow in the right way.
--- I found the setting and cinematography pleasing to the eyes. The OST in particular, was simple, but managed to capture the essence of the drama without going overboard. I was particularly happy to hear A.C.E, a band that I'd followed since their debut. (I particular loved the song Spark. Fever by Mooz is my next favorite. And the instrumental "You".)

It was nothing too special, but it had really warm vibe that we rarely get from many dramas.

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100% Warm Fuzzies.

When I meant that it was fluffy drama, I wasn't kidding. It's like an overdose of supposedly cute and sweet events leading to our leads falling in love, but I'm sorry to say that I found the main leads' storyline absolutely boring. I can't help but feel disconnected with their characters. Especially the three main female leads. I was able to enjoy scenes of them individually or with other supporting cast. But, once they were actually together, the 'comedy' part just fell flat. What was supposed to be funny came off as cringe.
I loved Zeng Li's scenes when she was having her internal monologues or just thinking by herself.
The cast was trying their best, but some scenes looked not so natural and in character.
Don't get me wrong, this drama is not unwatchable by any means. It's aesthetically pleasing and has warm color tones that puts one's mind at ease. And it was shot in several beautiful locations that I found breathtaking. I'd suggest this to anyone looking for a candy floss drama with beautiful locations, good looking actors (who attempted to bring justice to their role) and fluffy love.

Another thing that I loved was the small lessons and thoughts that each episode had. They were really heartwarming.

If I could pick a character whom I was actually curious to watch, it was Wu Ying (and Liu Yu Cheng as an extension). Their storyline was kind of off as well, but I found it more interesting to watch. Deng Hao Ran is another character whom I absolutely adore for spilling the truth to Ma Yi Yi. To be honest, all the characters grew on me, but there was something still missing in the main leads. I don't know why, but the story is beautiful as a whole.

The OST is really, really beautiful. But, there were some instances I felt that it did not fit the ambience.

Overall, I can say it was very enjoyable. The only trouble I had was this constant disconnect with some characters that made me skip multiple scenes.
I literally kangaroo hopped through the drama.

I think it's time for me to admit that I've grown too old for dramas like these. But, this certainly could've been much better or interesting. I couldn't help feeling like they tried too hard. Yet, I would certainly ask you to give it a try. It gives you a lot of warm fuzzies.

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Wrong Turn.

When a friend told me that this drama had the worst love triangle in the history of love triangles, I was tempted to watch it. Love triangles were a trope that I despiced with a viscious intensity, and I was curious to know why this one was labelled as the worst. Oh boy... nothing. Nothing could have prepared me for the terrible experience.
This is not a drama - this is a weapon of mass destruction. If there was any piece of entertainment that I coule choke to death, it would be this. I decided to write this review after going through my old posts about this drama and realized that my throat still got stuck whenever I thought about it... due to pure rage.

Yan Fei, a young businessman, is clearly unhappy and dissatisfied, both at work and in his relationship with Jimmy. When he accidentally drowns and is saved by a young boy Hai Qing, sparks fly. No amount of words can describe how much I am unable to buy their relationship. Just like the synopsis says, he gives his number to Hai Qing after sharing a steamy kiss... that did not even make sense. Flashforward a few days and Hai Qing has already lost the dude's number and is unable to call him.
Now Hai Qing... Dude is legit one of the worst brats I've ever seen in dramaland. He treated everyone around him like crap and switched personalities like those party lights that flash. I hated him in one episode, felt bad for him in the next, then hated him again. He was way beyond rude to his Grandpa. (Thank God. He passed away within the first four episodes. I'd like to think that he purposefully did it to escape the horror that was about to unfold on screen.) I pitied his future, but his horrible side managed to wipe away all my feelings for him.
I did not care about Yan Fei and Hai Qing. Even Jimmy seemed pitiable by the end of the drama. Ping Jun is the whole star of the show. He loved and cared for Hai Qing, yet he backstabbed and cheated on him without even an ounce of guilt. Yes, it is cheating. Hai Qing and Yan Fei's relationship had no build up. I don't think that one kiss can sweep you off your feet so much that your brain blew off to mars. They acted like some fated couple. I can believe that since they both are horrible in their own special way. Even Jimmy might have been crap, but so was Yan Fei to him. And Hai Qing needs some really good glasses. And a kilogram of common sense.
Ping Jun and Pinky saved the show. I didn't care about Yan Fei. I wanted to call the police whenever he showed up between Hai Qing and Ping Jun.
I don't know what the writer was trying to convey. Was he/she telling an intense love story? Was it about cheating? I frankly don't understand half the reviews praising this for its raw portrayal of real relationships. If this was how the human heart was... God Help me. I never want to fall in love.
The series did not shy away from kisses and steam. But, I did not care about anyone except Ping Jun. I wanted to snatch him away whenever he came on screen.
1.5 stars is too low. This one seems to have managed to attain all the stars ranging from 1 - 10. But, I intensely disliked the people whom I'm supposed to feel something for. And no way am I ever gonna watch this drama again.

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Intriguing.

I rated Love Thunder a 7 based on comparison with other dramas of the same kind; i.e, mini short dramas with barely cohesive storylines, even when compiled.
But, I enjoyed it quite immensely as it managed to maintain a constant momentum throughout it's short runtime. If you are reading this, bear with me for my lack of knowledge in music and the jumbled thoughts.

☆ Story:
It's doubtful whether the scriptwriter explored further into the fantasy aspect that governs the tale, as it is more of a short story rather than a full fledged novel. But, it works out for a short-form drama such as this.

In 1983, two boys, Nagi and Ao, meet at a record store and share their love for music, particularly concerning an empowering composition by Dvořák, (9th Symphony, 4th Movement from the New World), which Ao finds quite scary, yet inexplicably tearful. Nagi, who is more forward with his emotions takes him back to his home, enjoys the song for a while and expresses his liking for him. A slightly disconcerted Ao and Nagi bury a time capsule to be opened 42 years later. And thus begins a mysterious cursed cycle of fate.

☆ My Thoughts?
It very, very strangely reminded me of Someday or One Day with the only similarity being that they both rely on music as a medium/trigger of time travel.
When it comes to characters, I don't know if it was purposefully hinted, but I never believed that somebody was human.
The very urgent and passionate moments of the drama are all tinged with sombreness as we already know the fate that awaits them, yet it is what ultimately makes me stick to it.
Nagi in particular had such a strong circle of fate over his head and his devotion was evident to the point of perturbance.
Even with the short runtime, the actors did a convincing job. The director must've clearly pictured what and how each moment was going to unfold because I did not feel any gaps or discrepancies while watching the compiled version.
And many thanks to the fansubber for providing the subtitles.

Music? I don't know much, but even I was disturbed by the 9th Symphony by the end, thanks to the story and atmosphere.

It is disappointing that the mysterious aspect was not explored, but the finale left me wanting more, so this is definitely a must-try from me.

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