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Completed
Ingredients
29 people found this review helpful
Jan 10, 2021
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Goodbye is not goodbye.

First I would like to say; If slow burn fluffs aren't your thing then it may not be for you. That being said, I absolutely loved it. The story, the chemistry, the music; Everything about it. Jeff and Gameplay took their characters; Marwin and Tops and made me feel very connected to them through their internal struggles of finding their passion, finding their own path in life; Marwin with his music and Tops with his cooking. All while sharing a bond with Tops' recipes made especially for Marwin, who he has feelings for but is too afraid to say so, not realizing he feels the same and vice versa.

The Ost is so beautiful, Jeff's voice is so amazing. Definitely recommend checking on his covers on youtube.

The chemistry was amazing, I would always get butteflies with every stare and touch. I would also burst into tears at the emotional moments with the way they pour their hearts into what is being said.

Sad to see it go but happy with how it ended, wouldn't mind another season in the future though. After all, Tops needs to keep those cooking skills in practice and learn new recipes to keep his future customers happy; His current day one is already satisfied with his love alone but making music can tiring on an empty stomach hehe.

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Completed
Minning Town
29 people found this review helpful
Jun 23, 2021
23 of 23 episodes seen
Completed 22
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

If you build it they will come.

This is a story about the Chinese dream. It is vivid, it is visceral, it is unflinching, it is moving; it is about community, sacrifice and bold dreams. It is not a fairytale.

As part of the government's fupin 扶贫 or poverty alleviation program, an impoverished village in Xihaigu, one of the least inhabitable regions of the land-locked Ningxia province, is to be resettled in Minning Town, a brand new settlement several hundred kilometers away on the edge of the Gobi Desert. Young Ma Defu, a fresh graduate and junior cadre member is tasked to convince the stroppy, irascible and rightly skeptical inhabitants of his home town to abandon their ancestral homes for the freaking Gobi desert!!! The hostile, savage and utterly desolate beauty of the terrain is stunningly captured in an arid, sun soaked and brilliant palette that immediately conveys the daunting enormity of the task ahead. The drama chronicles the immeasurable trials and hard won triumphs of Ma Defu and his team of dedicated experts who together with the intrepid, early settlers, had conviction that if you build it, they will come.

For a flag waving fupinju, this drama does not shy away from criticism - the sheer boldness and absurdity of the effort to tame the Gobi and how poorly planned and under resourced the initial effort was, the bureaucratic impediments, numerous setbacks and mis-steps, misguided policies, self serving and corrupt politicians are all scathingly laid bare while remaining focused on the main characters. Because first and foremost this story is about real people, mostly peasants who even when they are stupid and myopic, they are compellingly relatable - everybody has an aunt or an uncle or a neighbor or knows someone who is just like that. They are true backbone of resilience and endurance upon which the Chinese dream is built upon. This is the kind of drama that usually has me rolling my eyes, but in this case, practically every episode managed to move me to tears.

The standout character among the all-star cast of rivetingly portrayed characters is Rayzha Alimjan's haunting and inspiring depiction of Li Shui Hua, an ordinary peasant for whom the poverty alleviation program didn't come soon enough. Like many of the villagers, her name contains the character shuǐ 水 because water is such a scarce commodity that any name containing 水must bestow luck on the owner. But alas, her dreams are worth less than the price of a donkey and misfortunes befall the young Shui Hua. But this woman just rolls with the punches and nobly soldiers on, retaining a kind of inner joy, optimism and dignity that radiates from her dusty, sun burnt skin and labor torn body. When her dreams elude her, she moves on and sets and works toward new, more realistic goals. It is most fitting that the man with small vision tries to build her a well while the man with great vision builds her a dam. This is by far, the strongest, bravest, best written female character I have seen in c-drama. As for the actor, she was pretty great in Longest Day in Changan but this is her memorable, hopefully award winning performance.

As much as I enjoyed every moment of this drama, it took me an incredibly long time to watch it. This drama is not over dubbed and the characters speak a local Northwestern dialect that I initially struggled to understand and I really dislike reading subtitles. But I got used to the dialect after the first 8 or 9 episodes and after that I embraced the lively and colorful proliferation of local dialects. There were many hilarious lost in translation moments where the villagers struggled to communicate with experts from Fujian (a southern province) who were sent to help create a mushroom industry in their non-existent local economy.

If I must criticize, I think the drama is a bit too short and some of the time jumps at the end skip important moments in some of the characters' lives that I cared about, especially Defu. And I admit that the ins and outs of mushroom farming was too vivid and a bit too much information for me - I will never quite be able to enjoy mushrooms with the same relish again. That said, if the Ningxia vines are as resilient as the people, we may one day see some vintages of Ningxia wines that give their Bordeaux and Burgundy peers a run for their money.

Like most, this kind of genre is not my usual cup of tea. But this one is different - as a product of Daylight Entertainment, it is as close to a masterpiece as something of genre can be. It is marvelously well written and gorgeously shot, not at all dry or heavily bogged down by propaganda. At the same time, it really brings to life not just how China lifted 750mm people out of poverty (as defined by the World Bank) since 1990 (the beginning of this drama) but WHY they absolutely had to do it. It is an unprecedented achievement in the history of the world and this drama truly tells the story in a way that does it justice - from the perspective of ordinary people. Even though overall I rate this a 9.0, in many places and moments, it feels like a 10.0.

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Completed
The Pirates 2: The Last Royal Treasure
29 people found this review helpful
by Yuki
Mar 2, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Very fun movie to watch

If you are looking for something to watch that will give you a good laugh, this is the movie you are looking for. A fun movie to watch with the whole family.

This one is different from the first Pirates movie since everything is different.

The visual effects are better than the first movie and they made use of cg for the animals instead of using real ones. They've shown a lot of effects this time especially the fire, water, and lightning.

The actors are really great. All did their parts well even those supporting casts with little screen time. Everyone delivered well. Hands down most especially to Kang Haneul and Kwon Sangwoo. Their fight scenes are so good it will put you at the edge of your seat. Lee Kwangsoo is indeed really funny. Most of the funny parts came from him.

Highly recommended to watch.

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Completed
Si Jin
60 people found this review helpful
by arpar
Mar 10, 2025
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

Great chemistry and fast paced

Everyone has different opinions, and that's why cdramas are so great because there's something for everyone.
This drama really suits what I like. The best point for me of this drama is the chemistry between the ML, FL and the FL's brother.
They make a great trio. You can immediately sense the chemistry between the ML and the FL. They look very natural and comfortable with each other. You can sense that the ML liked the FL at first sight, and that the FL only has eyes for the ML regardless of how many men chase her.
For me the flashbacks of the FL and ML's previous romance make me look forward to them getting back together even more. They both are very good at acting with their eyes, when they look at each other you can see their love and care for each other.
The FL's brother adds a nice comedic element to the main duo, and his character development is something you don't see much in similar dramas.

I've seen people say the ML's character is the same as in the rise of Ning (another drama which I liked a lot). Yes they do have similarities.
They are both scheming, have some sort of hidden agenda and control an influential group. However, in rise of Ning, his character is serious like 90% of the time, where as, while he is serious here, there are also a lot more moments where he plays a more comedic or relaxed role. I think his role in this drama is more similar to his role in 'are you the one.' There a more moments where he acts romantic, comedic or even foolish, that brings a lighter feel in my opinion.

One thing I think that sets this drama apart a little is the fast paced nature of the plot. Especially at the beginning, there are almost mini arcs regarding the FL's sisters that in another drama might take 5 or more episodes to see the problem or drama resolved. However in this drama, problems with the FL's sisters and problems the FL faces early on are resolved within 2 episodes normally. I like this fast paced nature as it keeps the plot engaging, but it can feel a little rushed and confusing at time due to the different characters being introduced in a short amount of time.

I also really like how for the most part any misunderstandings or secrets are cleared up explained quite fast, their communication and honesty is so refreshing (besides the FL's big secret, but that's understandable).

As for the main antagonist, I do think their overall 'reason' for hating the FL and her family is not really convincing, but they do sell it well and make it believable. I think this is due to the acting of the main antagonist. She does a great job of portraying her craziness but also calmness. As the main plot and main villains are revealed, I think the story continues to become more engaging.

I think overall, this drama blends romance, comedy and a bit of seriousness well. I really enjoyed the ML and FL's relationship and their trio with the FL's brother. To me, they really made this show. The villains are engaging and it's interesting to find out the reason they hate the FL, even though in the end some may consider her reason silly. The main villa does a good job of selling it. If you are a fan of the FL or the ML, you will definitely enjoy their romance and their chemistry, and will thus enjoy this drama, just like I did.

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Completed
The Secret Life of My Secretary
65 people found this review helpful
Jul 1, 2019
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
As overdone as secretary/assistant and boss romcoms have started to seem to me recently I decided to still give this one a try, and I'm glad I did. Along with all the usual clichés about an overworked and underappreciated secretary and a hypercritical perfectionist boss, there is an interesting twist to the story that at least makes it feel a little different from others. I had no idea how to feel about this drama after the first episodes, but soon I found myself looking forward to the next episodes, tropes and all.

What got me looking forward to watching every episode was not the story but rather the two main characters. The best way to describe their chemistry is extremely cute, like giggling while watching cute. I think that is mainly because of Kim Young Kwang as Director Do Min Ik. Even at his worst behavior, there was just always something super charming, sympathetic, and cute about him, and it really is an interesting role. He is matched by Jin Ki Joo as his personal secretary Jung Gal Hee, who despite being the kind of doormat that usually annoys me, she was also very cute in a way that made me want to root for her. Together, their super cute chemistry kept me involved from the very beginning, and I couldn't help but get hooked just from wanting to see them together, which never got old for me. At times the romance is super cheesy, but it's delicious cheese in my opinion, which made me overlook a lot of the show's other flaws.

The rest of the cast is pretty entertaining too (especially Gal Hee's blind brother and the campy Veronica Park), with one major exception... Koo Ja Sung as Ki Dae Joo. I don't know if it's due to inexperience or not but I found Koo Ja Sung to be extremely boring to have such a major role. Many of the actors knew how to play up the comedy and the drama but he seemed one note throughout. It was extra noticeable whenever he was in scenes with Veronica Park, who was such an over the top character, and in comparison, his character fell completely flat. There was an ambiguous nature to his character which did work for the story but he still never had much of a personality or depth in a show full of so many broad characters.

As for the story, it's mostly everything you've already seen in this type of drama with a random twist that at first seemed silly but it definitely made things more interesting. I also loved the way that part of the story unfolded visually. There is also a mystery element to this drama that was intriguing enough to make me want to know what was really going on, but it was the cheesy romance that really kept me watching. This is also a generally lighthearted story. Even though there are serious elements nothing is ever taken too seriously, even when characters are in tears or in danger. That definitely made it hard to take this drama too seriously or expect too much from the plot. There is also dual identity part of the story that is very far-fetched but was still fun to watch. I honestly had no real complaints while watching, but the ending did feel rushed. Still, I appreciated that they didn't add unnecessary new conflicts and rivalries to try to fill in the time, and stuck to telling one storyline without a lot of distracting sideline stories.

Would I watch this again? If I'm in the mood for a cute romcom, then yes. The cute parts are definitely rewatchable, and the short episodes are constructed well enough to not get too boring. However, I'd much rather see Kim Young Kwang cast as another male lead in a new romcom soon!

Overall I recommend this drama even though it's not joining my official list of favorites. It's more like a guilty pleasure drama. I think the key to enjoying it is to not expect too much or overanalyze the plot. There is also a reoccurring theme about what's really important in life and relationships that I liked. This drama may not have been what I expected at first sight, but I'm definitely glad I kept watching.

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Completed
Gogh, the Starry Night
65 people found this review helpful
by Audrie
Oct 19, 2016
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
Daebak! Woooo this drama is one of the best dramas I've watched for many reasons! If you're looking for a light rom-com drama that does not drag on- with characters that don't make you cringe or annoyed you should seriously watch this!

Basically this drama is about a women who works at an advertising company as she enters a crossfire of various love interests including her ex-boyfriend. Despite this, it's a hilarious comedy that looks into how she copes with her work and personal life.

The Good
Can I give a huge hug to the writers for not dragging on this drama at all compared to like 99.99% of the other dramas i watched?? Like damn, considering the 20 episodes- one wouldve thought that 'oh no... there must be some dragging on going around' but don't be deceived! Each episode is around 20 min; hence the reason why there are 20 episodes, but there is never a dull moment!

I seriously loved the storyline as everything gets resolved at the end and the main character isn't as annoying as other female leads. The actors and actresses were spot on! I loved their chemistry and their acting as they got along pretty well and portrayed their character well!

The music was fun and light and all the tracks were enjoyable!

The Bad
There's not much to say about the bad- but imho, i think that whenever there was a 'sick' scene where someone is coughing or sneezing- it was very obviously fake and not well done. I would prefer if they could somehow made the sneezing and coughing scenes not as forceful.

Overall? This drama really is good since it's light and not as melodramatic. If you want something to pass time with or something that doesnt make your brain hurt too much, i seriously recommend this drama!

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Completed
Nodame Cantabile
34 people found this review helpful
May 8, 2011
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I've given it the highest score in everything, because it's my most favorite story ever. Being a big lover of classical music and always charmed by world of musicians I really couldn't ask for anything better. The acting is outstanding, not only the leads, but also the supporting characters are all very lively and unique. Some of them may feel a little bit overdone, especially foreigners played by Japanese actors, but they will make roll with laughter. Takenaka Naoto as Franz Strezemann was just epic. Apart from all the enjoyable silliness, the drama, at least in my opinion, was very touching at times, especially the follow-up story in specials and movies. That's why I highly recommend to watch it all.Even my husband, who usually don't care about that "asian stuff" that I'm crazy about, loved it and watched it 3 times with me. If you like classical music, but you think of it rather emotionally than seriously and you enjoy anime-like gags, you will have a blast watching this. I did!

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Completed
Melancholia
34 people found this review helpful
Jan 1, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0

Like a refreshing lemonade in the Summer

My very first review! Watched this with a bit of prejudice as age-gap romance was there. But I'm glad I did.
Instead of rushing into everything, the writer gives us a slow-burn romance that is both logically and dramatically appealing.
Happy to see both the Male and Female leads having strong personalities. Entire cast gave their best performance. Everything fit perfectly and we have a closure after completing this series.
Thanks to the entire team of Melancholia for this treat. Would re-watch again in the future.
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Completed
Ghost Doctor
34 people found this review helpful
Feb 22, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

This is what all kdramas should aspire to be

My biggest issue with Kdramas is that they tend to get complicated for the sake of being complicated and there's a lot of them that are like that. This one, is not one of them.

Is the story original? No. Does it have to be? No. You get what you expect when you read the synopsis and everything stays in its lane which is very, VERY rare for a Kdrama. You expect a medical, bromance drama with a touch of supernatural and that's exactly what you get. There's a bit of romance but it only adds a bit of flare to the characters and story and it stays in its lane and does not take over which I find that WAY to many does, which is why I tend to stay away from anything that hints about romance in the synopsis.

The story ties itself up nicely and there's pretty much only one thing that I felt was a bit left out, a character that leaves in the early, middle-ish part of the story. I felt like he should've been there to tie some things up but never shows up again. Though it is possible that the character added some character development to the main characters that wouldn't have happened otherwise that I never realised. This is only a minor detail though.

Now the acting was great as usual. Rain and Kim Bum did great as the main characters and their chemistry with each other made the show. I've seen a lot of people complain about Uee and saying that they don't like her acting. I haven't seen her in anything else so I can't speak of her other stuff but here I thought she was fine, so I'm just gonna put that complaining to the usual hate I see pretty much every female lead/actress get because they are the female lead and the male lead is "so hot" and can't do anything wrong.

I also saw some stuff about Son Na Euns character. Not really anything about her acting but rather that her character didn't feel like main, which I kind of agree with. Amongst the "mains" she had the least impact on the show but she definitely was an important support character and I don't agree with the comments that the character is useless and doesn't do anything.
Of course we can't forget about the veterans such as Sung Dong Il and Tae In Ho which you'll see in like every other drama, doing what they do best as usual.

The music is not bad, just that the last couple of dramas I've seen has had amazing soundtrack and these ones didn't really hit me in the same way.

All in all, It's been awhile since I've followed a Kdrama from start to finish without any breaks which in my opinion speaks for itself. This is a great watch, that all I can say.

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Completed
Secret Boutique
34 people found this review helpful
Apr 29, 2022
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

I was immediately enthusiastic. It is exciting. Intelligent. Complex. Stylish. Cinematic. Touching.

In "Secret Boutique", the boutique itself is actually not the main focus, but rather its boss. With what her boutique secretly offer she has made herself irreplaceable for the established upper circles of society .
- An eye-catcher: Kim Sun-a as Jenny Jang in always exquisite, stylish fashion and with sunglasses that are extravagant in every lighting condition. She acts mostly calm, controlled, superior, with a poker face and in every situation a suitable solution to the problem.
- A joy: Go Min-si as an intelligent Baduk (Go) player and equal strategist who suddenly stumbles into Jenny Jang's team.
- A ray of hope: The fact that this KDrama lives on the many powerful female leads. Three Jaebeol ladies (!) included. The 'men' here tend to be tame shepherd dogs in the service of 'their' ladies...

I was immediately enthusiastic about "Secret Boutique". The KDrama is exciting. Intelligent. Complex. Stylish in the high-end segment. Often almost cinematic in light, colors, camera and set design. And despite all the sublime arrogance, sophistication and need for (self)control, it is also touching. Human traits are presented not only abysmal. A warming grounding in cordiality comes along with the characters around the Go player Lee Hyeon-ji.

Calling the story of "Secret Boutique" a romance wouldn't be appropriate. Feelings still play an important role - here and there and over there, too. Deep feelings no less. Nothing is shallow here. But primarily I would describe the KDrama as the exciting story of a revenge campaign. A story about the (emotional) price of such a vendetta. In addition, an intriguing story about the unfair, corrupt and criminal machinations of the greedy rich, who unscrupulously go over dead bodies, too. A compassionate story that offers insight into the very particular structure of the Jaebeol empires, which channel their power within the family (at the expense of trust, warmth and closeness). A touching story about love and loyalty. Also about how roles, norms and social structures as well as an ambitious ego hurt your own heart. In addition, the KDrama came up with a profound punchline that takes the Jaebeol worldview to the point of absurdity: the Jaebeol daughters, who are so convinced of their elitist, inherited noblesse and who consider themselves so much more valuable due to their lineage, actually do not have any Jaebeol-blood at all ... "Secret Boutique" portrays all of its drama characters in a complex, multi-faceted and tangibly human way.

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Completed
The Chaser
34 people found this review helpful
by Cheer
Oct 1, 2013
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
If you’re in the mood for an intense thriller then you’re in the right place.

It’s a shame that this drama didn’t get the right international attention despite the fact that this is one of the best produced K-dramas back in 2012.

This is a journey in the harsh world of political schemes and the higher ups power struggle where the jungle law is effective: “the strong consumes the weak”. However, a man defies that law and starts his own journey of justice to defend his beliefs accompanied by fellows and confronted by whoever who gets hold of power. The Chaser’s screenwriting is almost flawless if we exclude some events, nothing less from a genius writer named Park Kyeong Soo who never fails in delivering delicious witty dialogues full of wisdom quotes. The thrilling events will keep you at the edge of your seat; just get ready to throw yourself into a ride of consuming twists and endless turns because that’s the core of this drama: Extremely Intense screenwriting.

If I have to talk about acting, I would say it’s high-class and very penetrating especially the main leads’. With veteran charismatic actors like Kim Sang Joong and Son Hyun Joo, you’re bound to expect perfect roles’ portrayal and astonishing acting skills. Other actors were also fitting and quite enjoyable to watch.

As for the characters, you will find yourself compassionate towards the protagonist and not hating the evil figure mainly because he succeeds at making you understand his motives. The rest of characters were appreciated especially their development but if I have to mention the most absorbing character in this drama, I would say Chairman Seo Dong Hwan. He had such a complex character that can be described as a man of wisdom, who represented power but those qualities can also be interpreted as filthy power and misleading wisdom.

It's a given that intense dramas with several twists would lose its factor of surprise once it's rewatched that's why its value is low.

To summarize, you should watch this if you’re looking for a good thriller, unique plot, cliché-free storyline, top-notch acting, powerful screenwriting and deep characters. However, if you’re searching for a romantic plot, cheesy events, light drama or idol actors then you shouldn’t be reading this in the first place.

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Completed
Seducing Mr. Perfect
30 people found this review helpful
by Rourou
May 9, 2012
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
1) The reason I watched this:

At the time, I needed something cliche to watch so this seemed to be the right option.

2) Storyline/Plot:

Well, it wasn't that special or original, it's one of the common rom-com stories that you can find anywhere but it wasn't boring.

Positive points:

*Funny moments mixed with romantic moments along with serious moments made this film appealing somehow.
*The seduction element was somehow hilarious and childish which excludes blank moments during the story's development.

Negative points:

*This is your usual rom-com so don't expect anything special from it since it had all the cheesy-cliche moments that you probably saw before.

Story: 5.5/10

3) Acting/Cast:

*Henney Daniel: his presence made this film very interesting to watch plus he was speaking good English not the sort of English that would hurt your ears. I am going to be subjective about his acting because all I saw there was only looks and *inser shallow feelings*.

*Uhm Jung Hwa's peformance wasn't bad but the role didn't fit her age, there were serious age probems in this film.
*Anyway, the chemistry was acceptable so no hard feelings about the acting department.

Cast: 6/10
Acting: 4.5/10

4) The ending:

This was your typical rom-com ending but I have to say that I didn't appreciate the final scene.

The ending: 7.5/10

5) My impression (How did it affect me):

*I had fun while watching this film mainly because of Daniel which means my shallow feelings took over while watching this plus it's one of the fewest rom-com films that I rewatch sometimes only for my shallow feelings.

My impression: 8.5/10

6)Overall:

*If u like rom-coms then you would like this.
*If you want to watch a good looking male lead then this is for you.

Overall: 6.5/10

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Completed
Our Dining Table
34 people found this review helpful
Apr 14, 2023
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

YES!!! KILL ME WITH CUTENESS!!

Omg how do I even explain. Everything is so amazing here. Totally love the healing vibe and the characters are so amazinggggg.
Tane is totally carrying the show. Every time he is on the screen, I just wanna scream out loud. He literally has such a natural chemistry with the other two characters. Yutaka and Minoru are killing it. Currently I am just waiting for the new episode where they grow closer. They are so adorable. Yukata's awkwardness around Minoru and Tane and him slowly warming up to them is so amazing. It's nice to see Yukata finally trying to achieve happiness.
Storywise, this is amazing. I love the development and the pacing. Fluff, cuteness plus mature characters all at once.
I already have a feeling, I will rewatch it when all the episodes have aired again and again.
Overall, this is an amazing drama which deserves more attention. If you need a good smile and cute plot, this is perfect for you.

So I made the mistake of starting this too soon. I should have realized, Japanese dramas only air one episode per week. and Now I am dying for the next episode. Hopefully, there won't be too much angst cuz this is literally my comfort drama currently.

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Completed
Diary of a Prosecutor
34 people found this review helpful
Sep 12, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Authentic! The people, the stories, the setting. Affectionate, humorous & true to life characters

"Diary of a Prosecutor" is an extremely delightful, unconventional and, despite all the sometimes snappy, sometimes cheerful, sometimes pitch black, sometimes heartful humor, it also offers a quite serious, profound examination of jurisdiction and practically handling the law. This embedded in the simple everyday work-life of ordinary people, told from the perspective of a provincial prosecutor. The script is based on the essay "Civil War Prosecutor", written by a real prosecutor and inspired by his personal experiences.

So it is primarily about the everyday life on the office floors and behind the office doors of the public prosecutor's office. First and foremost, this is about profane workdays that often last until late, including dinner and drinks with colleagues. However, this is also about a noble task, the juggling with legal regulations, the ideals of a just society and the diplomatic basics in dealing with superiors in the strict hierarchy from the bottom to the top. And last but not least, this is a potpourri of different individual stories of quite ordinary people who face the challenges of their inconspicuous lives every day anew, and eventually grow from them - as it is in life...

In other words, you get: a variety of people you grow fond of as you get to know them better; a job-portrait that is subject to the highest expectations, but whose credibility in the country is still not easy. And a (fictional) outskirts - a town at the seaside, famous for its oyster harvest. The filming took place in Tonyeong-si in the very south of the country, where practically the entire crew (around 150 people, including cast) stayed during the five-month shooting period... Provincial life is thus breathing from every pore of the KDrama - everything is a bit more relaxed, closer to nature. Seoul is far away…

Conclusion: Authentic! The people, the stories, the setting. The dramaturgical 'trick': the greater narrative of the omniscient narrator. The humor that comes along with it. Sometimes ironic, sometimes satirical, sometimes bone dry. Bottom line: funny and complex at the same time. Affectionate, humorous and true to life personality portraits. In script and play. The cases and the ethical questions involved go deep at times. And yet it is people who deal with it. Colleagues. Eventually in competition at times. Imperfect people, with weaknesses, even if they wear robes. Yet, people who can excel themselves at times, too. Other than that, the days, weeks, months and years go by, case after case, team dinner after team dinner...

As far as Korean life and culture is concerned, with this KDrama you can get pretty close to the people and their everyday world in many ways. Because of this and a wonderful overall concept, whose good spirit works on all scales, I consider “Diary of a Prosecutor” highly valuable.

Maybe it's a bit unusual at first. Don't let it irritate you. Keep going. I´d say it is worth it...

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Completed
Switch Girl!! Season 2
33 people found this review helpful
May 18, 2013
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
If someone had told me I would watch Switch Girl one day, I'd have laughed. This show is the most random thing I've ever watched, so full of absurdities and manga-like situations you either approach it with no intellectual expectations or you'll sue the production.

And yet, here I am writing a review for the 2nd season, after having marathoned through the first in one night and this one in the next.
The plot is full of cliches - from a narrative point of view, the 1st season was much better - with a little too much lingering on evil sex slave dealers laughing crazily and raising their malignant eyes to the skies. There have been moments I wished they would just go on with the plot (whatever that was), since the drama only has 4 hours time to tell it.

The force of this show is therefore not in the plot, but the characters. Nika, our heroine, is possibly the most adorable being in the northern emisphere. I simply love her. Not because I can rely, or because she's realistic, or because she's flawed but for a combination of those and an amazing ability to surprise me. I couldn't stop laughing at her antics, her sitting in the middle of a square crying about her pubic hair showing from under her underwear. The second after, I would empathize with her. Yes, she's a crazy character whom you can either love or hate, but not ignore.

Arata is the silent hero every girl dreams of, and the chemistry between these two is quite striking if you think this drama is romantic despite having no such ambition.
All the side characters are insane and some deliciosuly hilarious. The villains, on the other hand, are so stereotyped they are forgotten the moment they are out of the screen.

Music is nothing special in this one, while I thought it was quite well chosen in the 1st season.

All in all, I am ready to recommend this drama to:
1. clever people who have put their brains in the fridge for some time to recharge it and don't want to use it for a while
2. fans of Renn Kiriyama (someone has called my name?) and/or Nishiuchi Mariya
3. girls who want to learn what to avoid before a romantic evening with their boyfriend, such as wild hair removal or litres of aphrodisiac perfume
4. lovers of manga-like, over the top comedy

If you're one of the above, enjoy your watch!

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