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The First Rule of Fight Club is You Don't Talk About Fight Club

Not really my favorite type of Kdrama. But if you want to see Park Seo Joon get the s#@t beat out of him every other scene, then this is the drama for you. Same for Han So Hee. It was an action-packed fantasy thriller where the main star were the highly choreographed and graphic fight scenes. I rated this fairly high because I can appreciate the production value and the enormous amount of stunt work that had to go in to all the fight scenes. The acting was superb, The story line, both part 1 and 2 were well written, and the ending (the extra ending past the credits) was sublime. I was not expecting that at all! I also enjoyed seeing Kim Kang Min, a contestant on Physical 100, playing a guest role in it.

The only thing for me that I didn't like was all the fighting which came with lots of blood, and all the crunching and breaking sounds (kudos to the sound engineer). It was just too much. However, I realize it would not be the same without. it. It was a good Kdrama, just not my cup of tea. Out of the two parts, I enjoyed part one better. I enjoyed the historical sets and costumes. There also seemed to be more story than fighting. But, again, this is an action fantasy thriller, and it definitely lived up to that.

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Fun Reality Show Will Make You Hungry for More

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I tuned into this show, but it has turned out to be very enjoyable. These Korean celebrities are legitimately running a Korean restaurant in a tourist destination in Mexico. They are working hard making delicious food to serve their customers with little downtime while the restaurant is open. It didn't take long for tourists and locals to discover this great food and the restaurant stays packed. They even have a local, loyal dog who has adopted the restaurant as a place to hang. You will be craving Korean dishes once you watch this!! Most of these dishes I've eaten, and I can tell you they are delicious. Korean food is no joke...the best food!! I kept thinking that at some point customers would recognize that they are being cooked for and served by celebrities. Although this didn't happen as often as I thought it would, some did recognize V, Park Seo Joon, and Lee Seo Jin. A young customer even left a note on the receipt that said, "I love you Kim Tae Hyung." That was really precious! I didn't think Park Seo Joon could make me a bigger fan of his, but he is absolutely amazing in the kitchen as a chef!!! So versatile, and one of the calmest personalities ever! He is truly amazing! They all are, and I'm impressed at the English and Spanish they speak to the customers. I think the only disappointment in this production will be that Jinny's Kitchen will close one day. I truly believe with the popularity of Korean entertainment and culture today, there should be a Jinny's Kitchen open in every major city around the world with my city being the first. I know they would be enormously successful, and people could sit, enjoy food, drink, and good friends. Really these celebrities and/or production company should seriously think about this. It's a great business idea. If you haven't already tuned into this, give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

Edit: Just finished the series, and it is delightful. Well worth watching!! The interaction of the cast members with each other is entertaining, but what really makes this good is Bacalar, Mexico, the customers, the food, and. how the cast interacts with all of these. I hope Jinny's Kitchen becomes a real business and establishes restaurants around the world. I hope this cast gets together again in another location for some more delightful fun and food, and it is filmed so we can go along on the ride.

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How to Get Unstuck When Life Makes you Stuck

The theme of this drama reminded me a lot of Melo Movie. The trope where some sort of tragedy or event happens and people get stuck just getting by rather than getting past and moving on.

Identical twin sisters growing up with completely opposite personalities and talents discover they can trade places with each other when needed. The drama opens with the adult twins in two different locations and one, Mirae, depressed and stuck in a dysfunctional work environment is thinking about ending it all. Miji, her twin, agrees to trade places with her so she can rest and deal with her emotionally depressed state. It is in the switching that each discover how various tragedies in their lives have brought them both to this point in life. It is also through the switching they discover more in themselves that help lead them out of being stuck in a life that is just existing rather than thriving.

It is also a wonderful story of several women who support and build each other up in order to get unstuck. First the family of the twins, their mother, and grandmother. Miji, Mirae, Ok Hui, and Wol Sun. The bond between these women was the foundation for the movie and the best part about it. There was an absolutely amazing scene when Wol Sun came home and was saying goodbye to Miji that was sad, but amazingly beautiful. I loved the last scene when Miji saw the bird out her window looking at her representing her grandmother still being with her.

These were not the only strong women in the drama, nor the only strong storylines. The story of Bun Hong's devotion to Hosu, the story of Ro Sa and her best friend who was a poet, the relationship between Mirae and Su Yeon were all amazing stories in and of themselves and also showed bravery in moving forward in life after experiencing heartache.

The men in the drama were also outstanding in their own storylines of getting unstuck in life. Hosu's coming to terms with his disabilities left by the car accident that took his father's life. Se Jin resolving the guilt he felt about his grandfather and being able to move past that guilt. Even the lawyer Chung Gu being able to move past the corporate greed to taking on cases that helped the real victims.

It really is a story of getting unstuck. Whether sadness, fear, guilt, there is a way past and a life ahead. That's what the main characters in this story showed us. Along the way, you will laugh, cringe, cry, and feel sad when it all comes to an end. Because it is one of those story's where you want to just move in next door to these people and continue to be a part of their lives.

Well done Park Bo Young!!! It could not be easy playing two roles a t once. Especially when their personalities were so different. She did an amazing acting job with this.

The only weakness in the story, and I have to say it didn't lessen my enjoyment by much, was the story of Miji's track accident. It was completely unbelievable. She is running down the track and sees Mirae and Hosu hugging. This causes her to trip and fall. According to the story, this "trip" breaks her leg so severely that she can never run again, and her athletic future is dead. The physics of this don't work, so it's not believable. Running on a track might cause a fracture, a sprain, but not such a severe break as to end someone's track career. The only possible way this would work is if she had severe osteoporosis. Doubtful considering she was a teenager at the time. Like I said before, this is a small weakness and did not effect my enjoyment of the drama overall.

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1.5 kg x 100 of Humor and Comedy

Yes it's over the top. Yes everything is exaggerated. But so far it works. I just keep laughing and laughing out loud. It was only a few weeks ago I finished watching Lee Jun Young as a diabolical bully and criminal in Weak Hero Class 2. Now he is this intense, but hilarious gym rat/fitness trainer/competitive body builder who can't stop posing with his big shoulders. I've watched the first 3 episodes and I'm loving it. It really doesn't have much of a continuing storyline other than a cast of characters who workout in this neighborhood gym, and the attraction building between the ML and FL. It's the comedy that is carrying it and I have to say it's working. Working on a series like this had to be such fun for the actors. How in the heck did they actually get any decent takes? I would have just laughed my way through. I guess that's why they are the professionals.

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The Sweetest Story Ever

A Korean version of the American movie 50 First Dates without the offensive stupid guy humor that Adam Sandler is so famous for. This is the sweetest love story between two high school students. One, the FL, who had an accident that left her with the type of amnesia where her memory is erased every night while she sleeps. Enter the ML, a shy but handsome boy who asks out our FL on a bet so his deskmate will stop being bullied. However, he's noticed this girl before so doesn't really mind. The majority of the movie is their dating life, which is sweet, meaningful, and will tug at your heart. Their time together is short but strong and significant. That's all I will say and leave the rest for you to watch.

I have to say that I came home today from work having a really hard, emotionally taxing day and watching this movie was exactly what I needed. A special thanks to the screenwriter for an excellent story, the director, the production crew and all the actors who brought meaning to the story. You touched my heart.

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By the End it Was A Lovely Story

Well I came back and changed my initial rating, the headline, and adding an updated review after finishing this Kdrama. I left my initial review below which you can read if you want, or not. In the end, I enjoyed this story. While my connection with the two main leads ebbed and flowed, I really enjoyed the secondary plots the most, especially between Ji Seung and JaeWoon. Lee Kyung Han's Jae Woon was amazing. I really liked his character and thought he brought a lot to the drama as a whole. Although Jae Shin was made out to be such a cad for using the FL, I still liked his character especially as his story unfolded. I thought Yun Seung's support of her husband as he finds himself was amazing. How many people in real life would actually do that? What a great message. I loved the KLAR team, and how fun they were at work. I loved the three siblings and how much they supported each other.

I won't repeat my initial impressions about the two main leads and the beginning of their storyline. Most of the way through I was at odds with these two. I chalked it up to just a lack of chemistry between the two actors. However, around episode 12, I began to change my mind. I think seeing them in more playful scenes made the romance more believable. In the end I was rooting for them to get back together for that happy ending.

Two main things I loved about this drama were the fashions and the weather. I loved the clothes!! The costume director did an outstanding job here. I loved that it was set in the winter, so we saw lots of sophisticated winter fashion. Loved the long coats and scarves!! Loved the setting....I'm sure most was shot in Gangnam, I know the last scene was. The offices, the shops, the restaurants, the coffee places!! I really didn't like the advertisement they did for McDonalds. That added nothing to the storyline. There are still aspects of the story I didn't like because to me they didn't make sense, but overall it was a sweet story of coworkers falling in love.

First 4 episodes:
I've only watched the first 4 episodes, and although this felt like an interesting story at first, by the 4th episode it's turning into the same old thing. I'll add more to this review as I progress through. That is, if I do continue watching it. Just a few things that are bothering me.

First, the script. It appears so far this is the typical Kdrama trope that has been used a million times over. A tall, strong, handsome, wealthy ML falls for a pathetic FL and they have some sort of adventure together. This storyline plays out in the workplace where the FL is having a secret relationship with her boss who (unbeknownst to her) is getting married to another woman. As co-workers, the ML has a puppy-dog crush on the FL, but finds out about her relationship with the boss. Almost simultaneously he finds out the boss is engaged and getting married to another woman. His crush and protective instincts kick into overdrive. While his protectiveness sounds romantic, it really isn't coming off as such. It is more stalker-like, which I do not like a series projecting toxic behavior into something romantic and normal.

So why is the writing a problem? Believability and toxic masculinity
The ML, played by tall and handsome Ro Woon, is from a wealthy family who owns a department store (?? I think---nope, it is a wedding business). Why is this person working for another company instead of his family's business? This doesn't make sense.
He meets the FL while in college where he attends a career fair for the cosmetic company she represents. He is filling out an application when her stomach rumbles. Apparently he falls in love at this moment, sprints to a convenience store to buy her food, then while she is eating he guards the door so no one can disturb her lunch. So, stomach growling is now an aphrodisiac?? This doesn't make sense.
The ML is hired by the cosmetic company and the FL becomes his "trainer." His crush progresses to the point of obsession. He follows her around and this is how he finds about her relationship with the boss.
He engineers it so that she finds out that she is in fact the "other woman." Talks her into a fake relationship with him, and then proceeds to stalk her every move (under the guise of protecting her). The scene in the nightclub where he goes down on the floor to protectively stand behind her while she is dancing is awkward, stupid, and completely unbelievable. This really doesn't make sense.
I'm having a hard time with the level of obsessive, controlling, and stalking-like behavior in the ML being presented to the viewer as a loving, protective person. The way this role is written is toxic, and not loving by any stretch of the imagination.

A little about the FL. I saw this actress in Just Between Lovers with Lee Jun Ho and absolutely loved her, and loved the drama. For this part, she is doing as well as she can considering the unrealistic storyline. Her role is smart and career driven, which I like, but the pathetic side she has to carry out in order for the ML to "rescue" her stands in too much opposition to her role's personality. So, it doesn't make sense. Also, although I like both Won Jin Ah and Ro Woon as actors, I don't think they go together very well. I feel like she has more connection with the actor playing her boss, Lee Hyun Wook. I have a hard time hating him even though he deceived her because the two have more chemistry. Her wardrobe in the drama is superb---I love how they are styling her. Except for the shoes. So far she has been in high heels the entire time. I don't know if they don't fit her feet well, or if they are incredibly uncomfortable, but in some scenes she is walking very awkward. High heels can be tricky. Instead of walking where the heel meets the pavement first following by the foot and toe (the typical human gate), a female in high heels will plant the entire foot down all at once. This produces an abnormal stomp motion, rather than a smooth natural walk. That's what she is doing.

All in all, at this point its a bit of a disappointment.

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Dropped after Episode 8

I don't really think I'll be adding anything new from what other's have said about this drama. I'm a fan of Lee Junho and have loved his other Kdramas, but I just couldn't watch this to the end. When you have a slow burn main plot, you need a lot of good sub plots to carry the story and the viewer forward. I thought this would have some really good subplots, but it didn't. It's basically the story of the IMF crisis in South Korea and the tragedy that hit one family who owned Typhoon Trading. The CEO died and the employees could not hold the business together and left one by one until there was only one left. Enter the CEO's son who knows nothing about the business, has massive guilt over his father's death, and decides he can resurrect the business. The one employee left is a smart, pretty female who wants to grow in her work and is the bread winner for her family, so she commits to helping the son. There is also a spark of attraction between the two. As they put the business back together, this is where the storyline comes off the rails. This was an especially difficult time in SK's history. Businesses and banks went under, people scammed each other to get ahead, and corruption grew. All this had to be navigated to put Typhoon Trading back to gather. Stupidity and poor decisions ruled the day which always got the business into a mess which they had to dig out from under. This happened over and over and over and over again. The same plot played out in 10 different ways. The acting got clownish, it was downright boring, and although I tried....I really did.....I gave up in episode 8.

This had a good cast of actors. It really was a poorly developed storyline so there was no character development. The subplots were either poorly developed or fizzled after barely being introduced. As a viewer, I just couldn't connect to the characters and finally said, "enough." The only enjoyment was the retro vibe it gave in the clothes and the sets of this by-gone era.

Sorry to say, I can't really recommend this.

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What Do You Get When You Cross A Black Dragon and a Strawberry....?

A really cute Kdrama rom com that had just enough of a storyline to hold my attention through to the end. What I like about this story is that it didn't have the typical rom com cliches and overacting that was way too unrealistic. The lead female wasn't overly stupid, pathetic, and mean, but instead she was a strong career woman who held her own. The leading male, though dashing, could be really pitiful at times, and wasn't necessarily who swooped in to rescue the leading lady. Instead, sometimes it was our leading lady who swooped in to save the day.

There were some themes and plot lines that seemed to repeat that made some of it redundant. The storyline between the leading male and his grandmother went a little too far in her hatred for him, yet she demanded he work like a dog which he did. I think if that were me I would've said, "Screw you granny!!". That was a little unrealistic as was the sudden overnight change of heart that softened her. This is the stuff of fairy tales.

But, nonetheless, it still was a good story overall. Very entertaining. It kept me tuned in every week. Nothing especially phenomenal. Just purely entertaining, and for that I thank the cast and crew.

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There is ANGST in coupling up

Singles Inferno 3 brought the drama big time, and for that reason, it has been my favorite season so far, and that is saying a lot as I just loved season 2. Love him, hate him, swoon, or wish to throw a drink in his face, Gwan-hee brought the drama. It was entertaining, and it got people fired up and responding to the show. It also supercharged the panel and they were highly entertaining in the commentary of Gwen-hee's antics.

Here are my PROS and CONS for this season:
PROS:
The twist of the two Infernos and mixing up the contestants in the beginning. Loved this! Just wish it would have gone a little longer.

Dex being part of the panel. He really brought an insightful and entertaining contribution to the show.

All of the panel!! I loved their commentary!!

Strong personalities in the cast. I loved Hye-seon and Ha-jeon, their confidence, and not being afraid to speak their mind to Mr. You-know-who when his ego and just all-round jerkness got out of hand.

The drama Gwan-hee brought to the show. Most of the time I wanted to slap him for stringing along the girls, but at the same time, what he brought to the show was highly entertaining.

CONS:
Paradise was BORING!!! All they did was sit in a hotel room and eat. Let them have real dates where they actually do stuff.

The flower petal hot tub scenes were the worst! All the couples were excruciatingly awkward and they were hard to watch. I think it was the producers attempt to bring sexiness to the show, but instead it was just cringey.

I miss the kitchen on the island and the cooking scenes.

While I loved the drama Gwen-hee and his trio of ladies brought to the show, for the most part it seemed staged and fake.

The women in heels and carrying a bag on the beach. Let them wear comfy beach clothing!!

Really good season with a good deal of drama that can't be beat. The panel adds their reaction to the events unfolding both on the island and in Paradise. They are funny and honest in their reactions to the contestants, and brought even more to the entertainment level of the series.

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Resident Playbook has Stolen My Heart

Finished with a bang! Absolutely loved this Kdrama! There is nothing that I can really criticize about it. Nothing irritated or frustrated me. It was just pure pleasure watching it. Well done to the actors and the production crew! I hope, hope, hope there will be a season two!!

After 10 episodes:
First I have to say I have not watched Hospital Playlist, but I've watched clips via You Tube, listened to the OST, read reviews, and with that I knew it was good. I'm also familiar with some of the actors in HP.

With that said....I am enthralled with Resident Playbook!!!

I'm currently up to episode 10 of the series and I absolutely love it!! Each episode are new patient stories, new adventures with the residents, yet surrounded by continuing stories of I Young's family, her crush on Do Won who is also her senior doctor, and the day-to-day "colleagues but enemies but friends" relationship of these residents as they learn and grow into competent doctors.

It's dramatic, scary, funny, heartwarming, and so sad when the medical community loses a life. I've laughed and cried so many times in these few episodes and right now I never want it to end.

I love that they are bringing in surprise guest stars to add to the storyline, and I love it!! But this isn't carrying the story. It's great, don't get me wrong......but the cast is really carrying the story. Great writing, great actors, superior production equals perfection in a drama series. I'm already rooting for the second season.

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