What a waste.
It gives me absolutely no pleasure to tell you this drama was a hot mess. So much so, I don't even know where to start so I can properly explain myself as I am still reeling from what can only be one of the most underwhelming endings I have seen in a while.At the beginning, I was all in. Motel California starts with a funeral, a bang and a slap; and I was ready to fight for Kang-hee after seeing the way the town's people treated her. I liked her spirit and refusal to backdown and bow down. Everyone expected her to be meek at their hurtful comments and prejudices but she didn't let any of them get away with it. No matter if it was her boss, a rich kid, or even an elder. I also liked all the secondary characters and the story seemed to be very interesting.
The cinematography through the entire run of the drama it's beautiful to watch. From the daylight landscaping to the snowy nights, the neon lights and the warm bedrooms keeping secrets. Each scene a reflection of our characters' most private emotions, and there's a lot of that. It's not so much a story about introverts but mostly about repressed emotions and the ongoing effects of trauma when people don't communicate properly. The performances from everyone in the cast were perfect, each did their absolute best.
And because of all the things I mentioned before, I was seated the first few weeks of Motel California... but then the drama didn't seem to know what kind of story wanted to tell. Every episode was a repetition of the one before. I got whiplash even on the last two episodes when Kang-hee breaks Yeon-soo's heart, walking away from him, only to ask him why he didn't call the next time she sees him. The entire drama was like that when it came to the leads.
Putting aside my deep empathy for Kang-hee and everything she went through on that town, every week, she became more unlikeable thanks to her constant overemotional tantrums and complete disregard of other people's feelings. She would spat whatever she wanted, without thinking how it would affect others, leave town and then come back, say sorry and move on as nothing. No, that's not how you develop a character with deep emotional scars regarding her childhood, abandonment and a complicate family history.
Yeon-soo, her love interest, was basically her doormat for most of the drama. When he finally pushed back, I was happy because I thought there would be some kind of change but sadly very little happened. He stood up to his mother, good. I wish he would have done it for himself instead of Kang-hee. The woman was an absolute nightmare and every time she showed up I wanted to scratch my eyes.
Chun-pil, her father, would never actively defend his daughter from the towns' worst gossip or even explain himself in regards of the drift between them. His own trauma, that was mostly the root of Kang-hee's trauma, was left underdeveloped and the drama's scriptwriter decided to go with such an old-fashioned resolution that it made me want to scream.
As for their friends group, they were all really interesting characters with stories ready to be full fleshed but the drama centred so much around the Kang-hee and Yeon-soo melodrama, those secondary characters never really got their moment to shine. Not truly. Instead we got glimpses of what could have been wonderful stories about overcoming the trauma of child abandonment, domestic abuse, parents' expectations and cheating husbands.
Motel California had all the right elements to be really good and, for a brief moment, it was. Until it wasn't anymore and that was more than half of the drama. A complete waste of talent, in front and behind the camera, on a script that never figured itself out.
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Heartbreakingly beautiful
Love Me is a rare gem, and definitely the kind of drama that leans more into portraying the reality of life than giving you a fairy tale where they all lived happily ever after. This doesn't mean everything is suffering or that there's no happiness, like in reality, the characters stories have a mix of emotions and experiences they must go through in order to grow as people and a family. There's falling in love, heartbreak, separation, weddings, kids, and more.This will likely be consider one of the best written kdrama by the end of 2026. A slow paced and insightful journey into overcoming depression, grief and loneliness. All types of relationships need our effort and you just have to be brave and bold communicating your feelings.
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Entertaining and heartwarming.
I always trust Ju Ji Hoon to deliver and he has done it once again! I thought I was going to see him starring in a medical drama but turns out he Tom Cruise-d the hell out of this role. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call had me hooked from the very first episode and kept me glued to the screen until I finished the entire kdrama.The story takes you into the chaotic, adrenaline-fueled world of trauma responders with every episode packed with nail-biting emergencies, heart-stopping moments, and stories that hit you right in the feels. But it's not just about the cases-it dives into the lives of the heroes behind the scenes, their struggles, relationships, and what keeps them going when the pressure's sky-high.
I also thought it was accurate how the drama portrays what all the South Korean medical residents were protesting about last year. So, while The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call it's in extreme in some ways (to drive the point home), the situations are grounded on reality and creating well-rounded characters.
On the technical aspects such as the soundtrack and cinematography are perfectly complement the story and what the characters are going through. You can feel the tension when the alarms go off, the heartbreak when things go wrong, and the triumph when lives are saved.
If you're into shows that make you laugh, cry, and sit on the edge of your seat all at once, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call is IT. Trust me-once you start watching, you'll be recommending it to everyone you know.
Absolutely binge-worthy!
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Certified to make you laugh
This drama won't change the rom-com genre but if you are looking for a comfort watch, full of smartly use troupes and solid performances, then Love Your Enemy is for you.Directed by Park Joon Hwa (What's Wrong with Secretary Kim) and written by Im Ye Jin (The Tale of Nokdu) the Love Your Enemy tells the story of two childhood friends who fell in love during their teenage years, only for a series of misunderstandings separating them. Almost two decades later, they find each other again and quickly realize their feelings for each other never went away.
The problem is that their families have been feuding for generations and their reunion happens because one family business is buying the other's. Hilarity, more misunderstandings, clarification and drama ensues.
I think Love Your Enemy managed to mix all the troupes in the best way possible thanks to a smartly developed script and really good performances from the entire cast but, particularly, from the leads in both versions as teens and adults.
It's really the teen version, played by Hong Min Gi and Oh Ye Ju, that bring all the heart to the story and make you want to root for their second chance as adults. Leaving the heavyweight lifting of having to emotionally deal with past and present events to Ju Ji Hoon and Jung Yumi, whom both bring a maturity to the roles. They also manage to display the same chemistry their younger counterparts built their relationship on.
There are, however, some issues with the story thanks to an unnecessary subplot that thankfully doesn't take up much for the drama but it plays a prominent part in the last two episodes. There was no need for it, the main couple having to deal with their feuding families was enough but I suppose a common enemy justifies bringing them together.
The sound designs it's really well done and use in certain scenes, particularly for comedy effects. The soundtrack it's outstanding, full of bops that complement the characters' emotions.
The cinematography it's really pretty, particularly on the flashback scenes, which makes sense because it's a reminiscence of when life was full of possibilities but, at the same time, it can get dark to complement the struggles of each character.
Overall, I think this was a good watch, certified to make you laugh.
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In the mood for laughter and love
If there's one thing I appreciate about cdramas it's that, from time to time, they manage to produce a story with characters behaving their age but also showing a pleasantly surprise maturity to their actions. In recent years, youth dramas like Love O2O, Our Secret, You Are Desire or When I Fly Towards You come to mind. Everyone Loves Me falls into this category. We are presented a group of characters who are young enough to make mistakes, but old enough to be aware of their limitations, of their missteps, and learn to grow from them.I really liked both leads. Particularly Ling's spitfire personality, which is a breath of fresh air and I loved every minute she made Gu Xun sweat. But he didn't lose against her. Gu Xun was charming and overall had a great presence, boy needed to be taken down a notch tho. And thanks to the fact both leads are written as equals through their entire journey together, at the end of the drama it feels like they have come out as better people. I even dare say, it feels like their story it's just beginning.
Lin Yi and Zhou Ye have great chemistry and managed to portray their characters really well. They clearly had a lot of fun working together and with their character's development. I would love to see them work together again in the future.
The rest of the cast was also very good. The supportive characters hace each a function in pushing forward the story at the workplace and the leads's personal lives, which made for some very interesting office tension and hilarious interactions out of it. For example, at the beginning of the story leading man it's arrogant enough to know a good quantity of girls are crushing on him but for someone who claimed to be so popular, he spent a good portion of the story dealing with loves rivals from right to left, up and down. Everyone Loves Me? More like Everyone Loves Her. The results were awesome.
This was a very fun and easy going drama for me, with lots of re-watch potential. Every time I watched a new episode, it put me in a good mood and that's enough for me to recommend it.
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This drama 100% deserves the hype
In a time when we are suffering from a over-saturation of content and less than mediocre stories, particularly related to people with superpowers, South Korea has released MOVING and proved there's still hope for the genre.Like its tittle the story is in constant move, not only pushing forward but going back to different timelines to give us context o our main characters and how the things happening in present time are a direct consequence to the past. Technically, MOVING is perfect. One of the strongest points is definitely the editing and this can be seen in the way the story jumps from one year to another but you never lose track of what's happening nor leaves you confused. There are gaps to fill but with other episodes that will give you answers. The score complements the actions and emotions of the characters to perfection.
The performances are top notch and it's not surprise considering this drama is stack. If you have been watching korean dramas or films for a while, you will recognize even the most random character or one-episode-cameo it's performed by an award winning actor or actress. These people have a reputation for a reason and they deliver in every scene, with a look, a touch, a smile or a punch that will push you through a wall. For some characters in the drama literally speaking.
Zo In Sung hasn't starred in a drama since Dear My Friends (2016) and I am so glad this is his return to the tv format. In MOVING he delivered a nuance, charming and badass performance that in the hands of another would have fell flat. His character's entire existence it's what pushes most of the story forward: a person used as a weapon to kill but all he ever wanted was to live. The big mystery of the drama it's to find out what was his fate after he got separated from those he loves.
Ryoo Seung Ryong remains one of the most compelling actors of his generation, giving us the incredible story of a good man lost in life until he found his purpose and redemption. His storyline, full of gore and violence, was actually a tender love story about how far a man will go to protect his family. Marvelous.
Han Hyo Joo's character could have easily fallen into the Smurfette principle but no. She's an equal to the men who love her and those that want to kill her, with a very strong motivation to keep herself on the top of the game. This character's loneliness comes through every scene she's in, bottling everything up in order to be strong for her family but you can tell she's waiting for a chance to be free and, most importantly, for her son to be able to live freely.
Ko Yoon Jung, Lee Jeong Ha and Kim Do Hoon are really promising actors, particularly considering they hold their own while performance with so many household names. I think Kim Do Hoon and Kim Sun Kyun probably gave one of the most heartbreaking yet beautiful stories in the drama.
Like I mentioned before every single actor in this drama brought their A+ game face but I would be doing a disservice if I didn't mention Kim Hee Won, Cha Tae Hyun, Ryoo Seung Bum, Park Hee Soon, Yang Dong Geun, Jo Bok Rae, Park Kwang Jae, Kim Joong He and, of course, Kwak Sun Young. She in particular was SPECTACULAR.
None of these characters are one-dimensional, they are not defined by the label society wants to put on them. They are all joined together by the experiences, hardships, love, motivations and ambitions they share. At the end of the day, related or not by blood, they are a family. Even the so-called enemies.
MOVING it's absolutely worthy of the hype that surrounds it through all social media and news outlets putting in the category of one of 2023 best tv shows. I only regret I didn't have the time to watch it sooner so I could have add it to mine.
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When I tell you there's nothing interesting about this drama, I mean it.
I started watching The Love Equations because I remembered all the good comments about it. The first few episodes were nice and I was excited for a cute drama. Now I understand they were probably because this drama it's probably how they discovered Gong Jun.Luckily, I have seen him in Begin Again -a drama from the same year as this one- and other more recent projects, which is why I can say he delivers a good performance, perhaps the strongest in the entire drama, but the story is no good and the chemistry is simply not there.
The story overall is filled with scenes and plotlines poorly developed, particularly when we are dealing with subjects such as mental health. I understand this is a character driven drama but when I tell you there's nothing interesting about it, I mean it.
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In addition the film questions whether people are capable of change, as well as whether we can change people’s impressions of us.
Chung’s unforgettable family drama promises both to devastate and uplift audiences in any country where this masterpiece stands a chance at being released.
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Good but censorship cut its potential
Ashes To Crown’s cinematography and art direction is one of the best I have seen in a while from a drama. And the story was engaging as we watch four top schemers trying to outsmart each other, but it’s evident this project suffered from the censorship.This is the type of story that needed some room to let the events breath and allow the viewers to see how the chess pieces were slowly moving in the board. Sadly, that didn’t happened as it was obvious by the butchering editing of what should have been a 30 episode long cdrama, cramped in 24 episodes total.
I personally take offence for Tang Xiaotian who delivered a masterful performance. I absolutely adored his character’s scheming cute little butt. He was ruthless, cold, calculating and honest. Quiet like a tiger waiting to pounce. They all knew who he was and he wore it with pride.
Zhou Yiran’s character also deserved better. It’s the first time I see him play a soldier/General and I think it would have been fun to see more of it.
The relationship between the Xie brothers was also a fascinating side story that was butchered by the censors and editing.
I think this a case of a cdrama that had all right elements but was unable to deliver its full potential for reasons that are beyond the cast or crew.
Still, a fun watch.
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The truth will set you free
The Scarecrow proves to be a really well made noir murder mystery with the performances, from the entire cast, being its strongest point.I can’t say this is a kdrama anyone can watch as it’s deeply frustrating and infuriating. Especially when you know it’s based on real events.
Unlike the famous Bong Joon-ho film, this kdrama flips the story and delivers a first hand account on what the victims of this case went through at the hands of the police and prosecution. Even decades after the events.
There’s no justice in this story, even when the truth comes out. The pain lives on as a open wound, festering, leaving those who had to go through this terrible experience changed forever. The good are broken down by guilt and the weight of responsibility, the bad get away with murder for too long.
Still, the final scene let us know there’s hope for healing. The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.
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Lovely story
There's a famous saying that claims "the way to a man's heart was through his stomach" and this story, from the anthology kdrama series Love Track, explores it with a twist.A lonely office worker, with very little going on in his life, finds himself lost in life. Not really happy with how things are going, falling into a mindless routine and feeling ignored by people. Until one day, he visits a new restaurant and tries the french onion soup and feels instantly revitalized. Now, when things don't go his way, he visits that same restaurant and asks for his new favourite dish. That's until the chef from the restaurant decides to no longer have this particular dish on the menu.
I really like this story because it felt really relatable. In the busy everyday life, it's easy to feel lonely and not really see beyond what's in front of us, thinking we go unnoticed by other people. But, if we look up from our plate, we can see there's actually kindness, friendship and, even, love waiting for us as long as we are willing to take a chance.
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I honestly didn't think it could get worse...
But here we are. After my rant about the first part of this story, I went and watched the conclusion of this adaptation because I was hoping now that the characters were going to be university students, perhaps the story would pick up. I was wrong.Not only Megami Korin: After has all the same issues as its first part, it also has the nerve to brush off bullying and stalking as things you for for someone else’s sake. It’s a new level of delulu I hope to never see in a jdrama or jfilm ever again.
PART 1 REVIEW: https://kisskh.at/profile/namjhyuns/review/497366
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The importance of being earnest.
I admit I had high expectations for this drama. For starters, I really love Zhu Yi, the author of the original source material. She has a way of writing really beautiful stories about love and growing pains, that touch on subjects such as loneliness, self-love, friendship and overcoming society's prejudices in contemporary China, without making the characters' realities too harsh and cold. In her stories there's always room for hope and change.Adding to this, I already knew Director and screenwriter Chu Yu Ning thanks to his impeccable work in the classic romcom It Started with a Kiss (and its sequel). So, I knew not only he would do an outstanding work but the team that he would bring to for this adaptation would be up to the highest standards. Finally, when it was announced Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan would be starring as Sang Yan and Wen Yifan, I knew this would be probably one of the best dramas of the year. I was right.
The First Frost is a beautifully shot story about two people loving each other unconditionally because they share a deep understanding of whom the other person is, and accept them with flaws and all. Sang Yan and Wen Yifan were never friends, they were always meant to be more, and their relationship is certainly based in a partnership of equals that respect each other. And because of this, they are able to navigate natural feelings in life such as heartbreak and fear of abandonment, and other more harsh situations such as overcoming childhood trauma and parents' neglect.
Every character in this drama was casted perfectly and all the actors brought their A+ game. Even when I fundamentally disagreed with some characters, such as Yifan's mother, the character and story building made me understand she was product of society and her environment, but I give props to The First Frost for delivering one of the most satisfying resolutions to this particular storyline. For too long we have been characters narratively forced to forgive neglecting or downright abusive parents, Wen Yifan said we are doing things differently from on.
There's a lot of value and importance in what The First Frost has to say about women's experiences through life, and how much we need positive people (of all genders) around us. Sang Yan is not perfect but he certainly is an ideal that we should aspire to, particularly the men. Yifan's journey was to learn that you don't need to be healed in order to receive love from others. Or, perhaps even more importantly, to love yourself.
Absolutely recommend watching this drama that delivers a powerful message through great character building, a compelling narrative, superlative soundtrack and writing.
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An honest and mature drama about relationships
I really liked this drama. It was a calm and mature slow burn romance between adults in different stages of life, and a diverse insecurities and personalities, trying to figure out their relationships but also life in general.This felt like a honest portrayal of modern love and friendship, that was sweet and fun, never overly dramatic. If there was any drama between any of the characters, it was due to misunderstandings, and these never lasted long as these are people who care for each other and actively try to fix things by communicating properly and even clumsily. Sometimes you don't have the words or the perfect speech to win back someone. Other times, actions speak louder than words.
Overall, this was a really fun drama that I would watch again in a heartbeat.
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It's a movie
I was today's years old when I found out this movie existed, and I inmediately had to watch it. As a kid growing up with manga and anime, Saint Seiya holds a special place in my heart and, although I am not a die hard fan, I remember the story pretty well.Let's start with the positive. Director Tomasz Bagiński has some experience with productions based on myths and fantasy (he as executive producer of the Netflix tv show The Witcher), so the development of the CGI was really well done. The costume design decent and chosen locations for the film to be filmed at, as well the sets, really good. The casting was solid, although I admit I have seen the lead actors give better performances before but they did what they could with the script they were given. And that's really the issue with this live action of the japanese classic.
The negative is definitely the script, it's weak and it deviated too much from the original story; never fully embracing the mythos surrounding these characters or giving them proper development. You have a villain that will stop at nothing, only to have a last minute change of heart which it's incoherent considering this character never had any proper development, to the emotional gut punch falls flat. The sacrifices made in the story also hold no emotion, we never get to meet the characters long enough to care.
Mackenyu and Madison Iseman do what they can but the script never gives them enough material to work with because this is an origin story, which means the film is too busy world building and not giving us scenes with them bonding, so when the plot changes to the supposedly poignant resolution, it's awkward as hell.
Overall, I would recommend this film to have something in the background as you clean around the house or something like that.
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