KingC

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.

Read More

Beautifully Poignant.

I dropped this drama twice back while it began airing as it made me fall asleep 2 minutes into the story. The overall bleak atmosphere and the inner monologue did not help, as it reminded me of Eternal Yesterday.
Setting that aside, I began to watch it after people who follow Japanese LGBTQ+ works kept posting about it.

Minase Jin, a paradigm model student who stays away from trouble and leads a carefully planned monotonous routine, has his life shaken when he accidentally stumbles upon a secret harboured by Hirukawa Haruki, the infamous delinquent of his class.

I think the charm of this drama lies completely in how the emotions are slowly built up and conveyed across the screen in that simplistic fashion that Japan has. The story is not groundbreaking by any means – but as someone said, this drama is not looking for fans, it is an art.
Both the leading actors pulled off their roles beautifully. Especially Motojima Junsei in the last three episodes, where he had to cry a lot. Though, I was a bit surprised that they cast someone who had played the younger counterpart of a character just the previous year. (Tokyo in April.)

Almost everything is from the point of view of Minase, who is a rather unconventional male lead, had he not been the narrator. Eight out of 10 episodes is a series of flashbacks where he recounts his times with Hirukawa Haruki as he pens a poetic letter in which he relates his emotions akin to being lost in the very vast sea.
Hirukawa was a much more easier character to understand.
But, I liked how they portrayed the emotions of both the teenagers – it was not all pretty and polished, but rather gritty and bumpy.
It doesn't just focus on the romance, but how it affected both of them and shaped their lives in some way - the good or the bad. I could relate to moments where characters repeatedly ask Minase to stay away from trouble. Minase himself uses the word "bystander" to describe his part in Hirukawa's life, something that he could not easily control.

I've read the webtoon, but liked the changes made for the live action.

A round of applause for everyone who worked on bringing Miseinen to life, because, honestly, it would've been one of the most boring dramas in existence if anything had gone wrong.

Yes, it's a very simple drama, but the emotions and hard work that went behind it is evident.
I hope that this drama somehow manages to reach somewhere or the right person amongst its journey in the deep ocean.

Read More

"Family."

This drama is reigned by emotions rather than a story and it's no fantasy either. There was some reality in every single character portrayed and it should be the reason alone to give 'Unknown' a chance.

It follows Wei Qian, the eldest brother who is forced to grow up and give up the frivolities of life in order to provide a safe space for his younger sibling, Wei Li, after his neglectful and abusive mother ruins their lives.
After taking up a shady job under a certain Lao Le’s gang, he stumbles across an abandoned, feral kid whom he then takes home. What follows next is a slice-of-life plot depicting how Qian finally gives up gang activities and grows up to become the ultimate ‘Da Ge’.
However, his little bubble, in which he is forever the parent to his siblings, is popped when Wei Zhi Yuan, the boy he had adopted, confesses his feelings.


Pretty sure that the title ‘Unknown’ is definitely meant for Wei Qian, the eponymous character of Da Ge by Priest from which this drama was adapted. He is the only one who doesn't know what exactly he was feeling until his younger brother took matters into his own hands. His own future is wholly dependent on making his loved one's be safe and happy.

The drama gave me all the warm fuzzies that I wanted and even moments of laughter at times - particularly with San Pang and the co-worker gang and Dr. Li. Also - when Zhi Yuan left Qian speechless with verbal/physical displays of affection. Though, in reality, I would've been the one to change countries had something like that happened to me.

The acting was top notch. Particularly, Wei Qian. I could understand his confusion the most and could literally feel his emotions and suffocation through the screen. Wei Zhi Yuan was not far behind – as someone who is poor in expressing emotions, this dude legit scared me with how open and honest he was.
San Pang, and the entire family together were wholesome and heartwarming to watch.
It's a well made story about a found family and everything that takes to hold them together.

The Soundtrack was beautiful. Particularly the opening song. There was nothing too much over-the-top about the production, either.

Pretty sure that I won't be rewatching this anytime, but it's definitely one of the more warm dramas out there.

Read More

Depressing, but Memorable.

This drama is steeped in sepulchral undertones and it's evident that the entire message has a chance of missing its mark. It's not a 'story' per se, rather the journey of the characters in particular.

There is no mincing of words – An introverted, intelligent high-schooler, Mitsuru, loses his person, the popular Yamada Koichi in an accident, which happened right beside him. But, the ‘dead’ Koichi gets up in spite of clearly fatal injuries that should have killed him.
Mitsuru now helps his ‘living corpse’ of a friend to get back on track, but he starts to slowly realize that his presence is the only thing that keeps Koichi corporeal.

As a viewer, it's painful to watch as it is evident that Mitsuru was in self denial. He keeps trying to come up with reasons for Koichi to stick around and Koichi, knowing him, attempts his very best to keep Mitsuru happy.
In a way, Mitsuru, a usually quiet individual, speaks up and tries to get Koichi to live out his last wishes.

Mitsuru is a particularly hard character to play without appearing emotionless, so kudos to the actor for not making him seem indifferent. Koichi was much easier, but his story was sad in a way.

I watched this in January, and right now, all I can remember is Mitsuru crying. Hence, why I used the word 'memorable' fir the title.
It's depressing from start till the end. Maybe that's the pain of losing someone.
It's good for a slow watch, but I'll not suggest it to anyone who has had a difficult time getting over the death of a loved one.

Read More

A Cute and Hopeful Drama.

With very unconventional characters as the leading roles and the very comedic title, I expected the drama to be mediocre. Boy... I couldn't have been more wrong.
Koi Desu: Yankee Kun to Hakujo Garu was a true delight in every sense. Yes, there were tropes that are a necessity for every rom-com out there, but it never once made me irritated as both Yukiko-chan and Kurokawa were characters whom I could actually trust.

Moreover, both of them having 'disabilities' was a fresh change for me. I have to give it to Yukiko-chan for coming so far with her amblyopia. Losing eyesight is worse than being born without one. The drama did not kid around with the term 'blind'. It attempted to educate and give an insight on how blind people manage to survive in the madding crowd. I've never heard of amblyopia/lazy eye before. So, this was another new information for me.

Kurokawa is one of the most bunny like male leads I've ever seen. Despite the scar that has him ostracized from the common people, he is positive about his relationship with Yukiko-chan and wants only the best for the ones he love. I adored his little coffee shop gang.
Shishio-san was a surprise from start to the end. I suggest you watch the drama to find out more.

Kurokawa and Yukiko-chan's relationship was so pure and funny. They were ready to accept each other as they are and sat down to talk things out.

The familial support had a strong impact on Yukiko-chan. No one ever tried to hinder her wishes. Her sister Izumi initially did try, but it got better and I loved the relationship between the father and his two daughters.

I completed this after half an year, but I enjoyed every minute. It's an optimistic drama that gives us all the good vibes.

Read More

A Tragic Tragicomedy.

I finally discovered a drama where the King is not a self absorbed idiot, but an actual, lovable human with brains .

'The Crowned Clown' is a beautiful, tragic and heartwarming story about a humble clown, Ha Seon, who is put on the throne as a decoy for the unhinged doppleganger King. Having never dealt with anything remotely related to the Court or governing a nation, he attempts to rule the people as he sees fit, angering the corrupt ministers, cheering his people, and befuddling his enemies.

The first two episodes itself were a mix of horror, terror and comedy. Lee Hun, the present King was a nutcase. I'm not kidding when I use that word. Completely addicted to drugs and a tyrannical, he murders everyone who stands against him without a second thought, including his Queen Consort's very own father. With support from his sycophantic ministers, particularly the devious Shin Chi Soo, his madness soon has conspirators plotting to kill him.

Yeo Jin Goo kicked the ball out of the park with his performance in this drama. To be honest, I began this because he was in it. And he did not disappoint. His transition from the completely psychotic King to the vibrant and happy clown was unbelievable. I began to see those two characters as separate individuals and could see no shadow of their dispositions on the other. His supporting actors were equivalent in their peformances, portraying impeccable performances which alone, elevates the quality of this drama. And Episode 15 will forever go down as one of the most epic moments I've watched on television.

Ha Seon, who is forcibly put on the throne as a decoy knew nothing about court. Haksan, the Chief Royal Secretary, asks him to stay put and leaves him instructions on how to conduct an assembly and listen to the ministers' reports while he was gone. Long story short, Ha Seon, who is shocked by the ruthless rules of the palace, bends them to his will and governs the people as he sees fit.
The plot is dependant on the political struggles, but I did not find anything annoying. The clown was a breath of fresh air and saved me from listening to the ministers spout nonsence.

Haksan and Ha Seon's rapport and trust is what made this drama watchable despite of the deep emotional battles. The intense bloodshed and the foolish mindsets of the ancient royals made me want to smash their teeths out. But, these two characters knew their game. I was completely in awe when Hae Seon stood up against everyone to serve justice. His love for his people, his sibling Dal Rae and uncle Bak Soon was heart warming. Haksun is someone who could easily be the definition of morally grey. He took risks that would make him lose his head, but with a strong conviction and backbone that made us (and Ha Seon) believe in him.

The script did not shy away from portraying the barbaric acts that the lower class faced at the hands of the so called "royal blood/upper class". I hated episode 2 in particular, where a tragic, traumatizing and cruel incident happens to a character only for it to be easily brushed off by the perpetrators.
Ha Seon suffers emotionally. Watching him was worrisome -- he was never meant for the court. His loyal Eunuch Cho and Haksan become his constant source of support. There were a number of supporting characters whose frequent appearance slowly made me like them and treat them as important ones.

Romance is not a strong aspect. But, Soo Woon, the icy queen was well acted. She was icy in the beginning and never quite drifted away from her calm and strict demeanour till the very end. This also happens to be the first time that I'm seeing a drama where the Queen has an active role in the troubles of the King. Their mutual love and support was never cringeworthy, but a joy to watch. Lee Se Young appears to be a very versatile actress who can fit into any role without making it seem over the top. I had seen her performance as a consort in another drama, where she changed from being happy and smiling court lady to a rather a bleak and silent consort. I could see no sign of that consort in this one. She fit the role of the silent Queen well.

The villains were stunningly vile. I'm upset that no one set Shin Chi Soo's beard and the Queen Dowager's room on fire.

The music was strange. There would be lyrics being sung in the background, but they blended in so well with the scene that it took me sometime to realize that there was a song going on.

I'm still unsure of what to make of the drama's conclusion. Was it happy? Or was it really sad? But, Ha Seon deserves the best. So, I'll imagine that he finally became happy.

Read More

It's not you, it's me.

I wanted to like this drama. I really did. But, after episode 5, I just couldn't pull through. There is nothing really wrong with it and story as a whole since the purpose has been already introduced to us in the very 1st episode.

Yong So Joon, a CEO who has the ability to time travel attempts to alter his future to prevent his death... which coincidentally happens alongside Song Ma Rin, a photographer.

What I found lacking was the balance between characters. We see 80% of the story from So Joon's point of view.
My biggest issue was perhaps with the female lead. It seems as if the writers put all their efforts into delving deeper into making the male lead a mysterious figure.
Song Ma Rin on the other hand reminded me of play dough. Yes, there are hints about her troubles, but for someone who has suffered so much for 30 years, she was one of the most delusional female leads I have seen. Her own evil friend points out that she was overboard with her thoughts and actions.
I did not understand her at all -- she acted cute, revealed her insecurities and that was it. If I'm supposed to sit through 16 episodes, there must be something that is worth it with the characters.
The time travel aspect is alright and the real mystert begins right after episode 5, but I no longer have any interest in finding out what lies ahead. Maybe I'll pick this drama up again someday.

Read More

The Poster Doesn't Lie.

Disclaimer: I don't know the webtoon and don't understand Korean as well. So, to me, the drama was exactly what the poster promised -- you don't know who the main character is or what I was signing up for.

I had seen people going off after the trailer, but since I didn't understand the trailer, too, I was 100% in the dark while beginning this one. Also, this drama has apparently been marinating since 2023 or something.

☆ The positives?

--- Technical: Standard production with plenty of colour and convincing performances.
--- Story Highlights:
1. Heesu's internal struggles.
2. Seung Won and Ji Yu's friendship.
3. Heesu and Seung Won.
4. Ho Sik, Heesu and Chan Yung.
5. Ho Sik and Hee Won.
6. Hee Su's family.

Hee Su was the most interesting character. His monologues, introspection and fears were what made me rate this a 7/10. Not to mention, Ahn Ji Ho was perfect for that role. The second would be Seung Won by Lee Sang Jun.

☆ The Cold Pricklies:

-- Chan Yung's individual storyline. Not gonna lie, it was plain bland and boring. I skipped most of his scenes and that 10 tennis practices or so that were stuffed in between. (That's why I cut off 3.5 out of 10 points. They took up a lot of runntime.) An episode or so of it might've been enough to let us see his struggles; but making it an important plot point which revolves around him was useless. Which was often excessive and did not progress well or add anything much to his character.

(EP10 had a whole "insert song" when it should've been spent to speed up the other characters' storylines. Not that the song was bad, but hey, dude! This is not High School Musical.)

Considering that I adored little bit of glimpses of romance we got from other couples such as Hok Sik and even Bob girl, Chan Yung's storyline should've just stuck to the same pattern. I liked Ji Yu as an individual character, but their romance was somehow pale when compared to both Hee Su's and heck, even Ho Sik's and Hee Su's sisters' lives. Probably because they were pretty generic unlike the other characters'; who had to struggle and face rejection.

Keeping aside the romance aspect, the way the character Chan Yung is written might be a major reason why I skipped almost all his scenes. It could've been interesting without making me feel as if I was being forced to choke down his scenes. I didn't care about anything happening in his life. The actor, Cho Jun Yung, did what he could with what he was given and I appreciate him for that.
Chan Yung might be a gem to Hee Su, but not to me.

Also, I don't get 'why' Chan Yung was all that great to Hee Su. That was another aspect that wasn't properly conveyed. Even the currently airing silly 'Something is not Right' and that JDrama 'Kimi Ni Wa Todokanai' does an excellent job expressing why the main character likes his best friend.

☆ Final Thoughts:
Could've been A LOT shorter. And don't get me wrong, there are plenty of JDramas and even KDramas that manage to deliver convincing stories without dragging out the plot.
They should've renamed this something like "Tennis and Class 2" or something like that. I get why so many people are pissed by this adaptation; but as I said; I didn't even know who the main character was while checking out the poster. So, I think a 6.5 or 7 from my side is a good score.

Read More

Strange, but Intriguing.

That's exactly how I would describe Utsukushii Kare. Based on a somewhat familiar trope, what made this drama pique my interest were the leading characters.
Timid and introverted Hira falls for the cold and untouchable "King" Kiyoi. It then follows their twisted connection and the moral dilemmas that each of them face.
It's 100% non-fluffy by the way.
The show never moved away from the "romance" aspect, which I unfortunately found boring. Narrated from Hira's point of view, we rarely leave his bubble.

Both Kiyoi and Hira had distinct personalities and personally, I felt that there was more room for growth and portrayal of their different facets. I am not familiar with the source material, so I might me wrong.
Hira in particular, looked a bit more lively and open during the latter half of the show, particularly after his time at college. He is definitely one of the most uninteresting protagonists I've ever seen, but there were not many characters or relations in the story to begin with. It looked almosy empty or crowded at times.
I particularly loved the portrayal of the characters in the final episode, thanks to the cast who did an excellent job. It was too rushed for my taste, unfortunately.
Overall, it's definitely worth a try if you are seeking some dramas which deal with the ugly truth of a few people out there.

Read More

Chemistry and Economics.

I'm writing this review solely as a reminder for myself about why I dropped this drama in the very first place. Don't worry. It will not affect the rating system as I have not seen enough episodes for it to get counted.
I tried giving it a second chance, but I just couldn't move forward past the first five minutes of EP4.
Now... lets get down to business.
If Chemistry along could drive a drama, then this one should be it. Both Leo Luo and Bai Lu are talented actors and they pulled off their roles beautifully. Their premise was good. But... the plot.
When it comes to the plot, in the first three episodes, we see Jiang Jun pull a few strings and get into Yuan Shuai's company much to his displeasure. Then we have about 50% of the conversations revolving around why she was not fit to do the job. Then the next 50% with him tasking her with something hard and she going about trying to desperately prove herself. The sweet stuff is scattered throughout in between. Its even funny at times. Even that was not enough for me to stick to the drama. Had I watched it completely I'd have skipped 80% of the episodes to just fast forward to scenes that I actually wanted to watch... which would be pretty much half of the drama.
I know nothing about Investment Banking and half of their conversations bored me so much that I stopped watching the episode in between or outright skipped to the fun parts. I did not care about Xu Lei and Xiao Chuan's romance. It seemed childish and might have been intentionally inserted to appease viewers' tastes. But, I simply skipped all their scenes.
In short, the overall backstory or the main plot made zero sense to me, due to my little knowledge about the business world. The romance was good. But, that alone couldn't make me stick to the plot.
If you are a fan of the leads and find their scenes sweet - please do watch it! But, if you want some actual basic plot that leads to their romance... you might understand and tolerate it better than me for sure.

Read More