Making time for the important.
Nowadays the urgent doesn't leave time for the important and that's Summer Strike's entire premise. A young woman deciding to make time for what is important for her own mental health and happiness. This is not a perfect drama but it's something I would recommend for its message.I think any warning should be that this drama is not a fun romance but a slice of life portraying sensitive issues as mental, emotional and physical pain and health. I found some of these characters so annoying because of the accuracy in which sexism, ignorance, selfishness and closed-mindedness is portrayed in the show. We all want this world to be different, but most of the time Summer Strike shows it like it is. Changes are gradual and slow. Trust the healing process because it's very satisfying. Thankfully the frustrating characters and moments are well balanced with wholesome scenes, which will have to squealing and laughing with excitement.
All these characters, who were alienated, abused and depressed were able to find each other and create a family. It's not a perfect family but it fills the house with laughter, kindness and warmth. That's what matters and I love it.
I have read comments about how Yeo-reum didn't get any development because she never "stood up for herself". I would say that she didn't need to: she was perfectly fine as she was and if anything her softness was actually the catalyst for change in others. Yeo-reum's "development", in my opinion, was about accepting herself for who she is, wants and needs; not changing and becoming tougher. I would even go as far as to argue, her softness are what makes her strong. Because she keeps putting herself out there and living her life the best she can, knowing full well she might get hurt but that there's also the chance for something magical happening. She has a rich inner life and at the end it's reflected on the outside as well. If anything, Yeo-reum "stood up for herself" in the very first episodes when she quitted her job and moved away. That decision wasn't about her running away, but about her running towards something. She just didn't know what yet.
Another important message in Summer Strike is that being soft is not a bad thing. Leaving toxic environments and relationships, it's okay. You don't have to be an ambitious person just because society expects you to be due to your intellect, gender or any other reason they come up with. Learn to know what is it that you need.
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A perfect match!
Les Belles was not in my radar and I can't remember why I started watching it, but I am glad I did because this is easily one of the best romcoms of this year. And not only that, it has a solid political intrigue on the side.Lingyu is a wonderful leading lady. She has being through it after her parents' passing, raised (if you can call it that) by her uncle and aunt, she has manage to grow to be a young lady full of confidence and self-love, smart as a fox but, because of her circumstances, she's also kind and humble. Lingyu has a very clear goal in life and plans several steps ahead to get it. It is only right that she would meet her match in Yun, a young lord who has a talent for political and military strategy and comes from a family of court officials. Raised by his uncle, an important Minister, just like Lingyu, but in a loving enviorement that has allowed him to grow to be one of the capital's most desirable talent and bachelor.
Watching these two play an extended game of wits, as they get to know each other and come to the realization they might be perfect for each other, it's an absolutely a treat. It's only enhanced by Yun's family dynamics with his cousin Xian (a hilarious mother hen), followed by the strict aunt and uncle, and Grandma's constant health ruse. Add to that Jinchuan (Yun's nagging servant) who does everything possible to get his ship sailing, and you have romcom gold.
But that's not all, the rest of the supporting cast it's also full of lovable characters with excellent character development. The Crown Prince and his siblings are a handful (iykyk) but really honest and good people; it's been a while since I have seen such great royals. Miss Chen and Miss Zhou complete the friends group, bringing some really heart-wrenching and hilarious moments.
The political narrative of this drama it's also really interesting and balances out the comedy perfectly, giving the drama some gravitas and opportunities for the characters to grow as young adults taking their places in the public arena. All the characters are developed wonderfully through their relationships but also the political intrigue they must handle, which has an emotional and action packed resolution.
Les Belles just kept getting better with every episode, until the very last scene, and keeping me on my toes and entertained. The excellency of this is not only thanks to the cast perfect chemistry and performances, but also due to the people behind the scenes. The filming locations were perfectly chosen, the sets beautiful to look at, each costume design a perfect mirror to the character wearing it. The stunt coordinator for all the action scenes and even some of the physical comedy really delivered some of the most hilarious and bloody savage choreographies.
Director Huang Ying Xiang and scriptwriter Wang Hong are a dream team; and I would love for these two badass women to work together again if they deliver this kind of high level production every time.
Don't miss out on Les Belles!!
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Dropping it and for good reason
After watching the first three episodes, I have some thoughts on this drama that give me pause.Right off the bat, I don't like how the storyline is basically based on leading man drugging leading lady to make her lose her memory and taking advantage of it in order to make her believe she is "his woman". MAJOR ICK.
When it comes to the plot of the drama, I can already tell how it's going to develop and kinda guessed the ending.
Performance wise, I am dumbfounded. Hwang Hee is the strongest link. Everyone else is overcompensating for a bad storyline. I have seen members of this cast in different roles before and I know exactly how good they can be. My guess it's that they are being told to lean on the original webtoon material, which it's fine, but not so heavy.
Look, Park Ji-Hoon was amazing in Weak Hero Class 1 but I'm frankly deeply upset he accepted this incredibly ill thought out project. Even he can't carry the crap dialogue, weirdly disjointed jumps, and underlying creepy premise for his connection to the female lead. It's just bad.
Lee Jung-sub, the director of this drama has worked in some very fun projects and scriptwriter Yoon Kyung-ah was responsible for stories like At Eighteen, so... Iike I said I am dumbfounded.
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Nicely done
Shoutout to My Hot Sexless Lover!This drama follows a group of young adults in contemporary Japan. Each are in a different stage of their lives as they try to figure out their relationships with other people and themselves. But what I really liked about this drama is that it's mostly for a sweet love letter about embracing your needs in a healthy and responsible way in order to love yourself and others.
The story overall is kinda generic, so it's really the acting that carries this drama and the actors deliver with their performances.
Overall, I enjoyed this drama for what it is: an easygoing drama about love, sex and friendship.
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Here for the leads.
I first witnessed Yu Shu Xin and Ding Yuxi's undeniable and sizzling chemistry in the cdrama Moonlight. So when I found out they were working together again, I knew immediately I would be watching. Most of this drama didn’t click with me but they make it work.I found the resolution super compelling and I would have love to see more of it. Still, I understand that’s another story for another time, and what we saw it’s what we needed to know. C’est la vie.
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Shogun is 2024's best drama
Fans of period dramas, full of intrigues and political chess plays will find SHOGUN to be their cup of tea. This is an incredible story set in the change of eras which compounds the bushido culture and the arrival of western sailors to the shores of feudal Japan.Shogun is based on a best selling novel, that fictionalizes real events about the rise of a Samurai Lord to becoming Shogun and the start of what we all know as the Edo Period. Around the end of the 1500s, the portuguese and spanish had arrived to Japan and the Peloponnese, establishing a treated that divided the region in ways that their countries could benefit from the commerce but also create colonies and spread their religion. Rumours about these lands spread among sailors for the next 50 years or so, and finally in the 1600s ships from other monarchies, such as Britain arrived in the region.
At the same time, years earlier there was a time of inner fights and civil war among the japanese. During this time, many peasants were able to socially clime in ranks thanks to their leadership as samurai and eventually became Lords. These new nobility has a hierarchy among them, of course, related to the lands they had won in battle, people and their family's history.
The story of Shogun starts during a period of peace among these Samurai Lords... or so it would seem.
One particular character, a british sailor, is supposed to be the audience placement in the story. As he is introduced and learns about japanese culture, the audience learns about it and what game the Samurai Lords are playing among themselves as the fight for power over the realm.
Legendary japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada is listed as actor and producer in this tv show. His first time, according to interviews, having a role and say behind the scenes and I have to say he has done an incredible job. This might be an american production but Sanada insisted, as producer, on having an almost all japanese crew and the end result is a 10 episode tv show where each episodes feels like watching a movie. The attention to detail from the cinematography, lighting, sets, locations, the fabrics and designs of the clothing, and performances are simply superb.
Sanada also took it upon himself to teach the younger actors how to speak the japanese from the period the story is set at, something none of them had done before. In western culture this would be equivalent of teaching Shakespeare's english. Maybe you don't know japanese and it doesn't matter to you, plenty of the audience members watching this tv show won't even know this, but I think it adds another layer to the level of commitment everyone involved in this production had when filming Shogun.
The performances are outstanding. Everyone brings their best game and the acting is very subtle, each of actor manages to deliver the strongest emotions through micro-expressions and even silence, a difficult feat when you think this is a story mainly about the art of appearances. Where everyone is holding their cards very close to their chest, so you never know what they are capable of and what will they do next.
Actors like Asano Tadanobu, Hira Takehiro, Nishioka Tokuma and Abbe Shinnosuke are incredible to watch on the screen. Their performances will leave you wanting more. But the true gems of this story are a women: Anna Sawai, Hoshi Moeka, Kouri Yuuka and Nikaido Fumi hold their own against veteran actors and play them like fiddles. They standout as Samurai women, trained in the arts of war and court alike, and play key roles into the events that develop through the ten episodes of the series. The weakest link, acting wise, is Cosmos Jarvis. I am sorry to say I have no cluewhy he was casted. His performance leaves much to be desired, like his character, and since the tv show was renew for two more seasons I am hoping he does better in the future.
This is also a slow burn, goes hand in hand with the nature of the story being told and the performances. Big things do happen in each episode but the tv show slowly builds up to the last two, that's when things really implode/explode and makes a shift to get you ready for the next season.
For all these and so much more that I can't tell you without spoiling the series, you should watch Shogun.
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A true masterpiece.
The story is intricate, smart and never stalls, a proper chess game. The characters are well rounded, their development and reasons for what they do is properly explained in a way that you sympathize even with the most ambitious and ruthless. Victor Huang’s performance, for example, as Prince Yu is one of the most incredible to watch, side by side with Hu Ge’s subtle movements as Su Zhe. But not everything is machiavellian ploys, there’s a good balance of humor, levity and drama. I fully recommend it.Was this review helpful to you?
Sweet and tender
Hidden Love it’s a beautiful love story about love, overcoming grief, guilt and building a family. The acting is really good and the OST fun. I don’t know where scriptwriter Shen Fei Xian has been for the past 7 years but, God, I am so glad she’s back!This drama had two MVPs: Sang Yan for opening his home and always being a good friend and brother, and Qian Fei for helping Jian Xu figure out his love life. Where would our leads be without them? Probably still pining for each other.
Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan carry the drama with ease and sizzling chemistry. It was a joy to see their characters fall in love and dealing with everything that came their way as a team with a deep understanding of each other. They made an effort to communicate and this made them stronger and smarter as couple. Wonderful.
If you enjoyed this drama, you might want to check out Love O2O. Shen Fei Xian was also the scriptwriter responsible for that adaptation to the screen and she clearly very talented. And if you have already seen both dramas, then good news: she’s already working on her next project!
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Easygoing jdrama
When I tell you I watched Sugar Sugar Honey in two sittings, you got to believe. That’s how easygoing this drama is.I found the story mature enough, granted with some troupe-y issues that I didn't particularly liked but the resolution was handled really well. Overall it’s nice to see a healthy relationship on screen. I recommend it!
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Drama Special Season 13: Do You Know Ashtanga?
3 people found this review helpful
Letting go of expectations and embracing flexibility
Do you know Ashtanga is a hit with me. It delivers everything you want from a young adult story: it's funny, sexy and has some really well done classic rom-com moments.Nara, our leading lady, is best described as a complainer. She's at a point of her life where things seem to have stuck: her personal and work life are not good, she compares herself to others and and even judges them.
I really appreciate a drama special centering around a young woman, in her thirties, still trying to figure out things. After quitting a well paid job and following her passion, Nara is not even close to have an answers about life and has to deal with her own insecurities, which are mostly what's holding her back, and that feels true to life. Nara goes through a journey of accepting life as it is and learning to change what she doesn't like about it. Letting go of her expectations might be the hardest part, especially when society has programmed you to be a certain way and have certain things, at certain age.
To say she's at a low point emotionally it's an understatement. That's when she experiences an adorable meet-cute with Tae-joon, the son of the wealthy family from whom Nara rents the studio where she teaches yoga.
Tae-joon likes Nara immediately, thinking of her as the perfect combination of cute and cool. He is polite, nerdy, eager to help and respectful. His attraction to Nara is based on the fact he likes how she holds herself trough life... he might be one of the greenest flags I have seen in Dramaland.
He also deals with his own insecurities about his economic status, being self-conscious about people seeing him as a spoiled rich guy having grown up with a family that it's rather snobby and not a fan of his views on life. For example, his mother berates him for collecting items to donate for the needy and insist for him to start wearing luxury brands instead of buying clothes at the smaller shops at the neighbourhood. It's clear people have misjudged him before because of his money.
The story might be full of tropes but is in the performances where this story shines. Both leads deliver their lines with such an easy chemistry, dry humor and comedic timing that's impossible not to smile at every interaction they share. The story is so well written that it feels well rounded and the world lived in, the characters full of colour.
I absolutely recommend this sweet and fun rom-com that might give you some food for thought.
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It's good.
I think fans who have been watching kdramas for a while will be able to find familiar elements in what makes Destined with You: Candy female lead, Chaebol male lead, aloof but cool second lead, unhinged girlfriend, past lives and spells. It honestly feels like describing a kdrama from the 2010s, like My Girlfriend is a Gumiho.My issue is the script. The way the story is structured makes the situations feel repetitive, with no proper development in some of the gaps within the logic of the kdrama.
The kdrama mostly works because of the undeniable chemistry between Jo Bo Ah and Rowoon. They both give really good performances, full of charm and heartfelt moments. I have been following both actors since the star of their respective careers and I am delighted to see them grow in their craft.
The secondary characters were entertaining enough but, honestly, forgetful. Yura and Ha Joon being the standouts, along side some veteran actors that overstayed their welcome in my opinion.
The production quality of Destined with You is solid, and it really shows when it "flashbacks" to the Joseon period, the transitions between dream, reality and memory it's amazing and so pretty to look at.
Overall, I think this is an entertaining watch with some issues that can be ignored if you are looking to have a good time with a fantasy rom-com.
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Camp romance galore!
You might think this is your typical Cinderella love story but you would be wrong. As a matter of fact, nothing about this fairy tale turns out to be like our heroine (and us) expect it.I freaking loved this drama and I really enjoyed spending time with these characters, which I find to be some of the most likable this year with their camp attitude and sizzling chemistry that puts other romances to shame. It was also refreshing to see a drama couple that truly felt like equals. They actually talk to each other and at the same level all the time, but they also know how to have fun with each other, openly flirting in a way that that feels candid and sexy.
Pyo Yejin and Lee Jun Young are going to be tough act to follow.
Most of it is thanks to the writing, which is solid, coherent, smart and fun. The writer, Yoo Ja, knew exactly what they were doing. BRAVO!
Dreaming of a Freaking Fairy Tale is more than a drama about a Candy heroine meeting Chaebol. This story is a love letter to self-love. In a very simple and fresh way, we are thrown into the world of these characters and see them grow into becoming even more amazing people.
Our heroine, insecurities are really well rooted and subsequently developed. We see how growing up in poverty has affected her self-worth but also how her mother's abandonment affected her dynamics with the new family his father formed. This is another point that I loved about this show: Step-mom and the two step-sisters are actually kind and cool people and the entire problem the family faces is a lack of proper communication. There's plenty of love between them.
Our hero's personal story is also rooted on a family conflict but in many ways it hasn't cripple him emotionally. Sure, he has his ups and downs but most of the time I personally believe he is thriving because he's open to new people and experiences. This is a man that it's not afraid to "follow his joy". He is a really good listener, doesn't talk down to people as someone with more money than them, and he’s also not patronizing as a man. Prince Charming? I THINK SO!!
So far, I am yet to see better than this drama when it comes to the romance/comedy genre and it's definitely one of favourites I have seen this year. Likely to make it to my TOP 10 list.
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Friendship is the true love story.
A Hundred Memories reminded me a lot of Reply 1988. Yes, obviously for the time period the story is set on but also because of the treatment some characters got. I would say this kdrama is harsher and less nostalgic, which I like more since it showed some realities overlooked in other stories.This is a lovely story about the growing pains of youth in a society rapidly changing and learning how the people we chose to welcome in our life can become our true family.
Although it frustrated me at times, I also really enjoyed watching it. I didn’t appreciate the love triangle when it was clear how the story would go and I am even mad at the WASTED time the characters (and audience) could have had on some particular developments and endings. IYKYK.
The strong point is definitely the performances. I know many came to this kdrama for Heo Nam Jun but I think we can all agree my man Kim Jung Hyun keeps establishing himself as one of the best actors of his generation. Other actors like Jeon Sung Woo and Lee Won Jung are leaving this project with a couple of hundred new fans for sure.
Kim Da Mi and Shin Ye Eun are a force of nature, and some of the most interesting actresses working today IMO. They built the core of this story with ease and charm, and I was cheering for them all the way. Their friendship is the true love story in A Hundred Memories.
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Promising young woman.
I don't use the word "perfect" lightly when it comes to dramas because, it's my opinion, there's always room for improvement. But the team behind Reborn were on a superior state of being when they created this story, something many filmmakers, producers and scriptwriters dream to achieve. This is truly a perfect drama, from beginning to end, and I am so glad I was able to experience it.When I first started to watch it, I didn't mention it on social media because I wanted to see where the Reborn team were taking a story that handles so many sensitive issues for contemporary China. It could easily turn into an over the top melodrama, with one dimensional characters, instead of serious study on how society and family dynamics can destroy the life of a young woman.
The social commentary alone is enough to consider this the best drama of the year. Period. It's not usual for a youth cdrama to so openly call out China's ugly face regarding women's marginalization and discrimination. To show in the exact way they are thought and treated as less than, a family's internalized misogyny and its consequences. All while waving into the main story other issues such as AIDS, debt, sexual harassment, domestic abuse and the clash between generations.
This might sound like too heavy of a drama and I admit it has it's moments where, as a viewer, you want to reach through the screen and burn an entire house (and then some) but the story manages to balance the difficult subjects with the more light moments of budding romance, newfound friendships, and normal growing pains. These lasts elements are crucial for our lead as she learns to stand up for herself, her sister and, even, her mother. At the same time, the family unit also learns from our lead as they slowly but surely break free from a toxic filial obligation in a way that feels both real and satisfying.
I had my eye on this Reborn because Zhang Jingyi and Zhou Yiran, whom I believe have impeccable taste when choosing a script and with this drama they have proven me right (once more). They are the stars of the show as Qingyu and Ming Sheng, two lonely teens learning that life and humans' relationships, particularly with our parents, are far more complex and nuanced than we first thought so. They come together at the perfect bad timing in order to help each other grow and heal.
But the heart of Reborn are Wu You and Liu Dan as Qing's older sister and mother, respectively. They had a lot of silent, steady work to do, as our lead discovers a family secret buried deep. Liu Dan, particularly, should be nominated for every single award under the sun for the incredible character building and development she put into Qing's mother. Everyone in the cast, to be honest, brought their A+++ game and will get something, some emotion, positive or negative, from the viewer as the story unfolds and more of this family secret is revealed.
I already like the actors cast in this drama but I have a newfound respect for them. Because they chose to involve themselves in a story that's it's a screaming denunciation told through the female gaze. Yes, the entire team behind the camera -from the producer, director and writer- are women. Only women could tell this story and do it justice.
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Unmasked, unnerving
I wasn't planning to watch Unmasked but people in social media were adamant I was missing out, so I gave it a try. I admit, they were right. This kdrama is a really good production, Kim Hye-soo simply doesn't miss. Another factor I liked was that every case presented to the viewers was actually based on a real life crimes that were highly covered by the media. To be clear, the stories presented in the drama are no dramatisation of these real life events, which touch on very sensitive issues.It's almost like a serial, following each story for one or two episodes. and each case helping the viewers get to know the main characters as they position themselves morally and ethically as journalist having to tell this really difficult stories. There is, however, a bigger case following through the entire run that I wish it would have been more of the main story. I think the drama spend too much time with certain aspects that it didn't serve for the overall development of the kdrama.
This is where I have to warn you; because some of Unmasked's episodes can be really grotesque and triggering. Having watched the whole drama, I can't say this is something I would recommend to everybody and Disney+ was smart to not make this a drama to binge-watch because I don't think this is something most people could sit through without pausing, taking a break. It's not really as bad as I am making it sound but there are episodes dealing with animal abuse, SA, chid and elderly endangerment.
On technical aspects, I think this drama is really well done. Director Yoo Seon-dong knew what he was doing. The cast had impeccable chemistry and everyone delivered really amazing and compelling performances, from the main actors to the guest roles. The standouts for me being Choo Ja hyun and Choi Dae Hoon, whom played siblings and every scene they shared was incredible. A very well deserved shoutout to teen actor Moon Woojin who delivered a bone-chilling performance. And also Ahn Suk-hwan, he was unrecognisable on this production.
Very well done!
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