I am so angry.
The japanese version of True Beauty lacks the unhinged and hilarious camaraderie from the original korean version, which it's a bummer because the friendship among the kids and how the leading lady learnt to love herself thanks to their support it was one of the best parts of the story. Instead, this version decided to put the emphasis on the romance and love triangle, which was incredibly unnecessary considering the actors got barely any chemistry together.The family dynamics were not only toned down but changed (as I am finding it's the usual move in a jdrama adaptation of a kdrama) and I wish they wouldn’t have. One of the main conflicts' in the original story, it's the FL's relatioship with her mother and the way people were constantly comparing her older sister. None of this happens in the movie, so other than the external conflict of bullying, there's no inner development to be resolved. Which, by the way, it's another thing they changed: the bullies in this are a tenth of the original and there's no confrontation or consequence to their actions.
All of this changes meant that there’s almost no comedy in this rom-com. It's just a romance about a girl who one day found out make up and it made her feel pretty.
Koki looks like a deer caught in the headlights all the time, I don't know if this was a script change or the director's fault but it's like he very loved female lead of the original True Beauty had a lobotomy. And as I much I appreciate Watanabe Keisuke, he had no business playing a high schooler when he is thirty. I'm sorry but this was not good. Miyase Ryubi has a random cameo/guest role in this, and honestly? They should have swap him for Watanabe. Maybe we would have a more compelling love triangle
It does have some nice moments, Tsuna Keito and Sato Jiro being the highlights, but that's about it.
PART 2 REVIEW: https://kisskh.at/profile/namjhyuns/review/497372
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Wholesome!
The best part of this film was the friends group, whom are literally the definition of "ride or die". Every scene with the entire group was always fun, wholesome and even endearing. There's another good point: a surprising cameo from two big actors that I would have never expected to show up in this film. Ever.Apart from that, the story is okay and well developed but there are certain points that remain unresolved by the end of the film that I would very much like to know since they are source of angst. Shin Eun Soo keeps growing as a leading lady and Gong Myung delivered, as per usual, but it was really hard to ignore he's a 31 year old man playing a high schooler. Especially, when the rest of the cast is in their early twenties.
This is a good movie to enjoy on a rainy day with some popcorn and just disconnect from the outside world.
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Doctor Ameku's detective agency
It's been a while since I had so much fun with a jdrama.Every member of the cast was great, playing each respective character perfectly, delivering great comedic timing in contrast with some more serious and deadpan performances. They all had fire chemistry together. Particularly the leads, Hashimoto and Miura, who played off each other with ease in every scene they shared.
Although, some developments (such as hospital politics) were kinda predictable, the real fun was on each medical mystery, that played as a Sherlock Holmes cast. Sometimes to shocking turn of events.
Much of the comedy lives or dies with the editing, and thankfully this drama understands this and does a terrific technical job on it.
This was the perfect drama to unwind from stress and go with it. I really, really liked this story. And I am kinda hoping for a second season, if possible.
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I liked it.
This was a very lovely drama about a romance between two co-workers who start as fake relationship for one day, only to become friends and slowly starting to fall in love. The biggest hurdle, in their relationship, I would say it's their age difference but the open communication and maturity from both of them, makes it easy to work things out any issues.I like Yukino as a leading lady. I particularly like that she knows herself and it's aware of her shortcomings and strengths. She's also older and experienced, so while Yukino dreams of romance she has her feet on Earth and understands the realities of relationships and love.
Aoshima as a leading man is fun because of his confidence on his love for Yukino but he's also aware enough to have moments of doubt, not about her but about how to approach the relationships and I think that's quite relatable.
One of the small treats from Aoshima-kun wa Ijiwaru is finding out its the sister drama to The Reason We Fall In Love, as it takes place in the same world and even company,
Overall, this was a sweet and short drama to watch if you are looking for something calming.
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A good revenge story
The Glory certainly knows how to hook you in.The production design is damn good. Although the drama doesn't name in which dynasty it takes place but from everything you can see from the clothes to the set pieces and locations, it's clearly the late Ming Dynasty. A really important point of the story that confirms this, it's the subplot regarding a powerful eunuch. The Ming Dynasty was known for how Eunuchs gained unprecedented power over state affairs. The fact the main story of The Glory centres, in part, on the aftermath of capturing all the followers of a powerful Eunuch who angered the Emperor, confirms this is the late period of this particular dynasty.
The cinematography outstanding. I love it when a drama uses light and shadow narratively, to expand the inner turmoils of a character's emotions, this is particularly effective when you are trying to destroy your entire family from within the darken rooms and hallways of their mansion on a bloody, snowy winter. This also makes The Glory a really pretty drama to watch.
Narratively speaking, the drama relies on short and exciting highs and plot twits to capture the audience's attention. Especially as it builds up to capture the root of the family's inner problems. This means as a whole, The Glory might not be as cohesive but overall very entertaining.
As for the performances, this is only the second time I have seen Chen Du Ling in a tv show or film and I am impressed with her. I think she has a talent to captivate trough her performance, no matter if she has to be calm and collected, or screaming bloody murder.
This was also my first time seeing a drama starring Xin Yun Lai and ,to be honest, it was rather disappointing. I am not sure if there was a particular description in this scripts or a director's decision but the he was simply emotionless 95% of the time, which made it very hard to connect with his character or even understand why should I even care for his revenge story. There's being poker faced, and then there's this. And this is not good.
In stark contrast, our main villain and the other family members are outstanding. Yu En Tai (FL's father) absolutely devoured this role by playing meek and slowly but surely showing his true colours; Wen Zheng Ron (FL's mother) is a goddamn shakespearean actress trained to perform in this kind of story as if she was born for the role; and Wan Yan (Concubine Zhou) was a wonder to watch as she moved swiftly among the many traps put in place by our lead.
Overall, I would recommend The Glory for most of the performances, the entertaining and production value.
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Stay in school
Study Group is likely to be remember as one of the best dramas that South Korea release in 2025. I am not kidding. The entire premise and the situations these kids face in school it's outlandish but the narrative it's told in such a fun way, the viewer gets hooked immediately.Our lead, Gamin, is a nice person. He doesn't have problems at home, he doesn't struggle financially and it's, overall, a happy and healthy teen. His only problem is that he sucks at studying and needs help ASAP because no matter how hard he tries, he never achieves his goal of going up in the school's ranks. This is obviously an issue because he dreams of going to University. He has always dreamt of creating a Study Group. A community of peers with his same goal to better themselves and grow as people, and that's what he sets out to do in high school. If only it was that easy.... Gamin and his friends have to fight tooth and nail in order to study.
This kdrama is all heart and style, which I love. The story is compelling, the script cohesive and coherent, putting an emphasis on the the characters' development as teens learning to be good people as they grow into adults. The viewer gets to see the kids go through growing pains, laugh and cry with them.
The camera work and special effects are outstanding, creating some of the best action scenes you will see this year, and going on hand with the incredible performances delivered by the cast. Nothing is amiss in this production, and I would go as far as to put it among other great kdramas like MOVING and Weak Hero Class 1.
My one, tiny complain would be that I wish we would have find out more about our main antagonist and another mysterious character, but the ending of this kdrama leaves room for a possible second season. So, considering the big hit this kdrama has become domestically and internationally, I would not be surprised if that's exactly why there wasn't more information about them. Either way, I had a really good time with Study Group and I highly recommend it.
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Spicy love affair!
Taiwan makes a strong bet, in the rom-com genre, with Let’s Talk About Chu; a heartfelt drama about how people connect with love, sex and themselves.Centered around the different stages and dynamics of human relationships between family members, lovers and friends. The script develops each story in a fun and relatable way, always backed my human emotions. The drama doesn’t judge the characters for the situations they put themselves in, it mostly presents each situation and lets the characters figure it out on their own if its really the best.
The story doesn’t rely on the difficulties of each character to bring out the emotions from the audience and does a really good job in balancing how life is both, comedy and drama. It takes a lot of elements that could be one-dimensional but humanize it with well-rounded and nuance performances from the cast.
The first episode might be all about sex but as you keep watching, you realize that’s just something to get you started talking about love, the importance of affection, intimacy and communication.
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Short and sweet
This was a perfectly fine drama full of very easy to like characters who had confidence in themselves and others. Because of this, I think the strongest part of Serendipity's Embrace are the friendships and family relations, giving us a glimpse at how the people we choose are a fundamental part of how we deal with life.The friend group was particularly special and wonderful to watch, and I loved to see a healthy portrayal of women supporting each other and, also, the possibility of being friends with the opposite sex without any romantic entanglement.
Story-wise this was a very sweet and stress free romance but I do think it wasted too much time on the flashbacks to the leads' high school days to establish their "strong connection". I get it, they were meant to be even back then but I am far more interested in their relationship now as adults than days and opportunities already gone.
That said, I was a little disappointed in the use of mental health issues to excuse bad behaviour or troupes that belong in the 2000s, were we left them for good reason. All of these are embodied in one particular character that we could have done without.
So if you are looking for a short and sweet kdrama to pass the time, this is it.
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What was that ending???
For starters, this was a great watch. The production value was outstanding, the clothing design beautiful and the performances exactly what you want from this kind of revenge story, which is subtle and over the top at the same time, somehow. The music and editing could be better but they didn't stop me from enjoying this drama.The main characters are smart, deadly and flirty. Their friends and family members a perfect fold for their cunning ways.
Wu Jin Yan and Wang Xingyue have an explosive chemistry. It's unreal. Every scene they had together got me giddy with excitement.
The villains were not your typical and I found myself equally invested in the part they had to play in this story. Their ending was befitting to their respective arcs and retribution sweet.
It's my first time watching a drama where Li Meng stars in but I am damn impressed by her. She's a powerhouse and I will be looking forward to her future projects.
This is also the kind of drama where nobody is safe and I commend the scriptwriter for going there when so many other don't. That said, if you are going to kill a major character, you can't have a lukewarm resolution.
I have spent the better part of the last hour reading and watching every interview the director, cast and crew gave about this drama because when I finished it watching I was pissed.
This might be controversial because I know this is a well loved drama, hell, I loved watching this drama but what was the director thinking changing the script of the final episode and leaving the story as an open ending? Viewers spent 40 episodes, invested in this characters, hoping for them to have a happy ending, only to be met with a final scene that can be interpreted as reality or wishful thinking. Leaning more on the latter.
A revenge story it's not something you leave open ended. And, yes, I know there's an epilogue and I think it should be part of the final episode not something you release just in case fans might be angry at what you did. This is so unserious, I am lacking words.
This drama was a solid 8 for entertainment and production value until that ghastly final scene, forcing me to drop a full number. They should have known better... and they did. Why release an epilogue if they didn't?
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Mi-soo (Han Hyo-joo) is a doctor studying towards her goal to become a cardiothoracic surgeon and working through her residency. She has a tendency for being a smartass and quick judgement, but it backfires when she misdiagnosed a woman, whose husband she assumed to be an abusive thug. So when the patient takes a turn for the worse, the husband decided to sue.
Kang-il (Go Soo) is the epitome of the wounded hero. A former soldier now turned firefighter and widower. Despite having a great team of friends and co-wokers at the station, Kang-il refuses to move on with his life, carrying the guilt of his wife dying alone while he was busy saving others.
Fate and some machiavellians ways bring these two together. The relationship between Mi-soo and Kang-il didn’t feel forced, their chemistry is fiery since the first moment. Her carefree personality brings a much needed light tone to his brooding, and his way of taking everything serious gives her a newfound weight to every decision she makes and how they affect other people’s lives.
I enjoyed it was Mi-soo who very cheekly and endearingly pursued Kang-il first. That’s right, he was the one being wooed not the other way around. In this film you will find a leading lady, willing to take risks and rejection, but also in control of her life, not letting anyone tell her how to be proper. What’s more, this way she has, actually gets her out of almost all the troubles she starts.
Kang-il’s grief was harder to watch, mostly thanks to Go Soo’s acting, which carried a lot of weight through the film. You could feel his heartbreaking and denial to move on, even when he was clearly falling for someone else. But he had lighter moments too, like when he interacted with his friends or Mi-soo, and then you could see glimpses of the real Kang-il.
The rest of the cast it’s what really made the story so enjoyable to watch. Ma Dong-seok (Police Force 38, Train to Busan) is the adorable and though Chief, who behaves like an older brother and father figure at the same time. A true leader. And then you have Kim Sung-oh (Fight for My Way, My PS Partner) and Hyun Jyu-ni (IRIS, Descendants of the Sun) friendship-turned-romance which is both hilarious and endearing. My favorite part is the cameos from Jung Ji-hyun and Yang Dong-ge, the detectives who befriend Mi-soo at the police station.
Overall, Love 911 was a fun romance with enough gravity to have actual character development and a lovely message about the meaning of happiness and living your life.
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This review may contain spoilers
It all ends the way it started. With grown men getting a beating from a tiny little woman, but this time around there’s two of them and the mobsters still run in fear and tears. Also, they were their babysitters.Personally, I through-fully enjoyed the mobsters storyline from beginning to end, and it’s so like them to get conned and end up in embarrassment yet again. In their defense, they are like a phoenix that keeps on rising from the ashes, again and again. And despite their ways, they were kind of good guys once you got to know them and kept them in line.
Another incredibly funny storyline were the neighborhood kids, who I was sorry to not see at Bong-soon’s wedding, and just kept brining laugher with every scene they were at. Their journey was equally enjoyable as the mobsters, sometimes even more because theirs was a love story with their Noonim. And I love how they went to have a little talk with Min-hyuk to know more about his intentions with their boss. I love even more than he had no idea Bong-soon had this group of high-school kids patrolling the neighborhood too. HAHAHAHA!
Also, it was good that the show clarified that Mom didn’t use physical violence against Dad *that* time around. I still believe that the show didn’t portray this woman in the right way and that her journey wasn’t all that. She’s still the bully she was at 19, the only difference is that she doesn’t use her fists. Should I be applauding this? And I would have like for Dad to make an stand other than to leave the house, for example, how about a real talk between them? He was such an endearing, honest and good character thorough out the show that I grew to love him as I love our leads. He is precious. It gives me hope that the last scene between him and Mom was much more peaceful than usually when Gook-doo’s mom was involved.
I’m also happy awesome bro Bong-ki got some screen time too. This was such a good character, just like Dad, and I was sorry we didn’t get to see more of him. I also think his storyline with Hee-ji was a little rushed at the end. And it doesn’t seem like it because Bong-ki spent a lot of time healing broken bones (thanks to his sis) but this relationship was really put to a test: Gook-doo found out not only that he had been lying through out their entire lives by keeping Bong-soon’s secret but also that his girlfriend was attracted to his best friend. So I appreciate how their friendship remained strong even after everything they went through.
As for other characters like Secretary Gong and Mr. Oh, they were another great comedy act. Especially when they were together and I love how their bromance was born by getting to know each other better through their shared experiences with Bong-soon’s abilities. Pffft!
Finally, Min-kyuk really changed through the story: started as a lonely guy looking for protection from his own family and ending up as a man with a family to protect. He was smart, honest and assertive from day one, and not once he tried to change Bong-soon into something she wasn’t. The greatest attribute Min-hyuk had was that he never made Bong-soon feel that she had to hide from the world, what’s more he even encouraged and helped her to be more like her true self and come into her powers. He always tried to be there for his girl but was more than willing to be a proud onlooker when the time called for it and let Bong-soon do what she had to do.
Bong-soon’s journey was also something to witness. When we first met her she was hiding from the world, afraid of her powers and by extention herself. These abilities she was born with had made her an outcast despite her spunk and outgoing personality, she was confident but had insecurities. Some of them born out of crush and others from the idea society holds on how a woman should be and behave.
I liked how the show connected her personal life with the city’s problems, because in a way they are one and the same, by having her best friend being kidnapped by the resident psycho. It was a good move since she was already gaining the confidence to do more with her powers by watching the news, her interactions with the mobsters and the neighborhood’s kids and Min-hyuk, who knew from day one about her powers and didn’t rejected her. He thought she was sexy! All of these factors made Bong-soon want to become the heroine of her life (beyond a video game) and I really loved to see her grow into a truly strong woman ready to take on the world.
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon wasn’t a perfect show but it was really entertaining and sweet, made me swoon and laugh out loud more than twice per episode, and I’m going to miss these characters and their shenanigans!!
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The first half to the story is light-hearted and plays fast and loose with history, devising sights gags to send up Joseon fashion crimes like shoulder pads, push-up bras and platform shoes, which are amusingly anachronistic. But the scenes also serve to paint commoner Kong-jin’s personality in vibrant strokes, such as his preference for the company of gisaeng, who model his provocative designs with sexual confidence, to his habit of hobnobbing with high-ranking snobs.
Meanwhile, Dol-suk is the hands-on artisan who excels at embroidery. He too is from humble origins but has managed through hard work to achieve the title of Royal Tailor, being in charge of making the clothes for the King and Queen, and some nobleman when their highnesses want to give them gifts. Dol-suk is also a few months away from becoming a nobleman himself, this is a very important point for what’s coming in the second half of the story.
Kong-jin, being able to work for commoners, is quickly recognized as the quintessential artist, experimenting with shapes and forms, and drawing inspiration from such mundance objects as a wine jar. His consciousness of style as an individualist statement is epitomized by his habit of burning his logo onto his costumes, the Joseon version of a fashion label.
And the rivalry between the two tailors is loaded with class implications; appalled by Kong-jin’s out-there designs, a nobleman proclaims, “A garment should reflect social status and rules,” echoing the law of the period that prescribes, legally, what each class can wear. While buttressing the hierarchical system, Dol-suk is ironically its victim, barred from donning any of the fancy clothes he makes.
A serie of events leads to Kong-jin entering the palace in order to repair his majesty’s clothes and he soon becomes enamored with the Queen, a breathtaking beauty rumored to be untouched by the king since their wedding night. Kong-jin’s intentions are pure: he wants the Queen to be happy, and she wants the King. So, he embarks in a Joseon make-over the turns more than one head and cuts some others because nothing it’s simple inside the Palace, and getting the attention of the King is of out most importance.
The complexity of the relationships between the four main characters, played effortlessly amazing by Han Suk Kyu, Go Soo, Park Shin hye and Yoo Yeon seok, is one of the many aspects of why this film is a must watch. The pretty clothes are breathtaking but the people wearing them do it in such a manner that’s impossible to take your eyes away. Each movement, color and embroidery has a meaning for the story.
I highly recommend it!
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The friends we make along the way.
I was fully expecting an office romance but I found so much more, as a matter of fact, this aspect of the drama takes a step back and portrays a more real and nuanced reality about how corporate South Korea operates. I was pleasantly surprised.If I had to pick a genre for this drama, instead of office drama, I would go with slice of life instead because -at the end of the day- that's what it is. A portrait of adulthood and what's the best way to move through the world for each character. That happen to work for a big company.
The dynamics between the characters never get melodramatic or borderline makjang, instead we are presented people with different ambitions, social status, experiences. And they all merge in their common goal.
I really liked the friendship aspect of this drama, it is portrayed in a very mature and wholesome way, among people of the same age but also among different generations. They communicate with each other properly and respect what the other is working towards in their respective personal and professional lives. Even when they have their differences, they still are there for each other through everything.
Another highlight of the drama was the second female lead, portrayed by Moon Soo Ri, who is levelheaded, kind and humble. Her story arc was really fascinating to see develop in the screen as we think, at first, she's a woman who puts ambition before anything but by the end of the drama we can see there's more her decisions.
Technically speaking, the drama also excelled with the color palette chosen for each location/set and visually deliver what the characters are going through. A very nice complement to the solid acting given by everyone on this show.
If you are interested in dramas of these characteristics, I think RACE might be for you.
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Soldier and Spy.
I imagine intelligence work is probably very much like portrayed in this drama. No thrilling chases or big action scenes, but rather a group of weary men, drinking tea or alcohol, in a series of conversations that circle an enigma. This doesn't mean the story it's not fascinating to watch, after all we are looking for a double agent who is more likely to be among our lead characters than in some far away location pulling at strings.This is a slow paced drama and it will ask things of you as a viewer. You will have to pay attention to details in the story because they might be important later on but, at the same time, you have to keep an eye on the bigger picture these characters are trying to paint. It's easy to get lost in the small things and miss out on the glaring obvious. The narrative can be a little confusing in the first few episodes but around episode 5 to 7 things started to take form as we got all of our players on the board, with different missions and objectives.
The strongest point of this drama is probably technical aspects. Superbly atmospheric in the hands of director Lu Yang. His camera work is implacable, its moves sinister, the rooms are filled with uncertainty, and the characters warily circle around — well, each other, really. The Wind Blows From Longxi looks, sounds and feels exactly right. The drama is faithful to the time period in all aspects, from the locations to set designs. The costumes, hair and make up are incredible tactile and you can feel the roughness of piece of fabric as you watch a scene. The cinematography, tho, it's the true star. The use of light and lenses in this drama are planned to the tee. It enhances and hides the characters' personality and true intentions, giving you clues through visuals instead of exposition. It's perfect.
The performances from all the cast are on par with the production, but particularly Chen Kun and Bai Yu. They prove to be at the top of their craft in this drama. The story asks a lot of them to be portrayed in a whisper, almost. There are times when physical conflicts happen and they are really well done but not as interesting as what came before and after.
I am aware this is is the kind of drama that it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think you should at least try a couple of episodes and then decide because, I promise you, it's worth it.
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Lighthearted comedy about serious issues
At first hand, Rikokatsu comes across as a lighthearted comedy but I would think it twice before writing it off as just that. Personally, I think this drama presents itself as a easy to watch rom-com but it is full of social commentary about Japan's current situation in relation to their low marriage rates and high divorce rates among older people.Saki, our leading lady, is a competent fashion magazine editor who comes from a progressive family. Because of this, she's not only committed to her work but values her independence and looks a partner who will respect these attributes. On the opposite side we have Koichi, leading man, who comes from a military family with traditional japanese values. Love triumphs over their differences, at the beginning, but cohabitation makes it impossible to look past some blaring problems in their every day life.
The drama never makes Saki say it out loud but she's clearly a feminist, this is one of the main reasons that catapults the problems in their marriage. Koichi expects from her what his mother did for his father: follow the man's rhythm of life, make all the meals, cleaning, etc. I want to make point out that Koichi it's not misogynist because he does respect Saki and sees her as an equal, in fact, when she calls him out on things he changes his behaviour but it's clear that it never occurred to him that a marriage could look different than the one his parents had. On the other hand, Saki doesn't know how to adapt to some of Koichi needs or behaviour that are absolutely normal as a couple because she's used to her parent's marriage where each person had their own thing to the point of not having family meals together once at home.
I found their situation as a mirror of Japan's society as a whole. Cosmopolitan, interesting, independent but also with a deep rich ancient tradition. These two characteristics seem to complement each other well, at surface level, but the social issues in the country it is proof of the imbalance between the two.
I mentioned that Japan currently has a high divorce rate among older people. Marriages of decades that "suddenly" crumble. Well, both leads' find themselves in the situation of having to deal with their parents' divorces because of all the reasons I wrote about before.
Most of the drama it's about a couple finding a balance and accepting there's not one way to be a family. That marriage can look very different according to the needs of the two people involved in the relationship.
Technically speaking Rikokatsu it's really good. The cinematography really beautiful and camera work a mix of traditional and more dynamic. The performances are really good from all the cast. The leads, Kitagawa and Eita, are full of charm and fleshed out their characters in a compelling way. There are no bad guys, just two people trying to figure out life.
For all of these, I fully recommend Rikokatsu.
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