Reviews

Fifty Shades of Pink

Fifty Shades of Grey, this isn’t. There are parallels to be drawn involving primarily the contractual relationship trope and the BDSM theme, if it isn’t already apparent. That is where the similarities end, however. Despite the R-18 rating, I would consider Love and Leashes to be much less intense and provocative but rather more fun and heartwarming. After all, this film is meant to coincide with this year’s V-Day which takes place in just a couple of days. Hence the more upbeat and romantic vibe, this is definitely a case of love being slowly unleashed.

Jung Ji Hoo is your average salaryman working in a 9 to 5 job. Unbeknownst to his co-workers, however, he has another side to him - one that involves a fetish for BDSM. One day, due to a mix-up by the delivery service, a female colleague finds out his secret. What transpires subsequently involves a whole lot of awkwardness and embarrassment as well as the resulting suggestive intimate moments, before eventually leading to something more profound.

Directed by Park Hyun Jin, who also co-wrote the screenplay adaptation with Lee Da Hye, the source material is the Naver webtoon entitled The Moral Sense conceived by Gyeoul aka Winter, which was serialised from 2015 to 2018. The original score was composed by Kim Hong Jip and Lee Jin Hee, with Lee Sun Kyu playing the guitar. Principal photography took place from April to July 2021.

What I Generally Liked

Running at just under 2 hours, I thought the film was rather entertaining and eventful. The concept is refreshing, by Korean or even Asian standards, for a mainstream production distributed globally by Netflix. You don’t often come across BDSM-themed romance as the main feature of the story and in this case, the subject matter was handled in a very tasteful and mature manner.

For me, the main takeaway from the film has more to do with the relationship dynamics in terms of the emotional connection between two individuals rather than purely the explicit nature of the BDSM acts themselves to be manifested as a comedic effect or cheap thrills. I particularly appreciated the nuances drawn from the eventual growth of both leads and the organic evolution of their relationship. Additionally, the film explores elements of office politics and gender discrimination that are very much borne of a deep-rooted patriarchal culture.

Given the involvement from Netflix, the film unsurprisingly delivers reasonably high production values. I’ve enjoyed the overall quality of the visuals presented and the set designs, while the accompanying music score nicely complements the ambience of the scenes.

My first time seeing both Seo Hyun and Lee Jun Young in lead roles and they gave a pretty decent account of themselves in their portrayals of Jung Ji Woo and Jung Ji Hoo respectively. I haven’t read the webtoon but I do think they managed to personify their characterizations the way they were intended to be convincing and relatable to viewers, to a certain extent.

The ML is just adorable, almost like a puppy who loves playing with whips, handcuffs and candle wax. The FL, on the other hand, is like a deer caught in headlights. At first, anyway, as she gradually gets a hang of the whole situation. In fact, her transformation from the down-to-earth girl next door to a dominatrix behind closed doors is quite remarkable.

For the most part, the film comes across as quite lighthearted but things do get a tad serious in the final third, where we get to observe a bit more substance in the portrayals of both leads as they finally deal with the repercussions of their actions. I honestly feel that Seo Hyun generally did more of the heavy lifting in this film.

Final Thoughts

As a feature length film that is meant to be mostly a romance comedy, I think the scope of the storytelling is quite extensive. Perhaps certain aspects could have been fleshed out more, such as the respective backstories of the leads and interactions with the people around them but I honestly think those aren’t particularly major issues. For all intents and purposes, and without giving too much away, I was rather pleased with the final outcome and closure to their story. Suffice to say, all’s well that ends well.

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The happy ending we wanted!

First, I saw this is Japan when it first came out and Japanese is not my native language, so there was some dialogue I didn’t understand. However, using context clues it was easy to infer what was being said based on the scene. The biggest things for me was that it was still a love story between Kurosawa and Adachi. Kurosawa was still just as in love with Adachi as he was in the series, however you got to see Adachi demonstrating his love for Kurosawa more confidently and openly.

If you were looking for a BL filled with nonstop cutesy moments, over the top romantic expressions, or mature content scenes, then you will not like the movie. However, if you’re looking for a movie that focuses more on how Adachi and Kurosawa navigate issues that many long-term, open, same sex couples face, you will like it. Personally, I especially like that it addressed the families, instead of just glossing over the fact that many Asian families have very strong feelings against having openly gay children, especially sons. SPOILER: I especially loved that just as marriage is the end result of many long-term heterosexual relationships, Kurosawa and Adachi’s marriage was the ultimate end result of their relationship as well.

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I feel like several people were confused by this movie because they were thinking too much of it, I found that the answers to everything were on screen; it was quite a simple story actually.

If I had to sum it up it's a touching story about youth.

One thing I absolutely loved about the movie was the way it depicted youth. It showed you immature teenagers trying to act older than they actually are. The cast, while all much older than actual teenagers, managed to portray the childishness of adolescents perfectly, something that I find very scarce in media.

Another thing I enjoyed was the way it was shot, it was refreshing. Seeing all those gorgeous scenes made me want to watch the movie even more.

Would I watch this again? Most likely not but it made for a good experience and it was filmed so beautifully so I would definitely give it a go.

I recommend it to anyone who would like something to watch on a dull summer's evening!

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Well I was blown away.

I watched this movie because it played at the cinema when it was the world movies festival. It was the only Korean movie so I didn't chose to watch this movie because the trailer was good or because I've hear it's good.

One moment there was a smile on my face, the other moment my eyes were teary. It's a story that hits the hart.
In the beginning the writer doesn't give us all the information we need to know what's Han Gong-Ju's mystery story and background. The flashbacks tell us what we wanted, or maybe didn't want to know.

This movie is a little different. It's not the average Korean movie. What I like the most about the movie is the feeling I get from it. The movie/story feels 'real'. In Korean drama we often get a lot of lovey-dovy dramas and a lot of cry-with-buckets movies. But most of them are unreal and we let them go when finishing the story. Sometimes the truth is harsh. This one still stays in my mind, even if it's a few day ago that I watched it.

The actors don't get a lot of make-up which shows the real beautiful Korean beauty. It's Chun Woo Hee second main role, I have never seen her act before but I'm totally convinced of her great acting skills. You'll see that she's very talented. The supporting roles were also really good. I'm looking forward to more of these good actors and other works of the director. I'm definitely a fan!

The rewatch score is only a 4 because I think the movie is at it's best watching it for the first time because of the stepwise construction of the story.

I think the director, the writer and the actors did a great job. I really recommend this movie.

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KDrama sure can do historical drama. Goryeo-Khitan War is another prime example of this

"Goryeo Khitan War" is a historical epic intended to honor not only the historically exceptional achievements during the Goryeo-Khitan War, but also half a century of KBS (Korean Broadcasting System). And it does. Perfectly done in all instances and scales. What's even more fascinating is how it succeeds to fill ca. 1,000 years long bygone history with life in a gripping way - close to the facts and colorfully embedded within the midst of the political milieu surrounding the royal court.

If I hadn't accidentally stumbled into the filming set in the early summer of 2023, this thoroughly historical KDrama might have slipped a bit back on my list. But this personal connection eventually made me more curious. And now I'm full of praise.

32 hours long history lesson - history can be told so vividly… Complex personalities, an even more complex political context and a highly demanding challenge of war come very close to the audience. You don't have to be of Korean origin to be inspired - by its heart, intelligence, daring, perseverance and humanistic ethos. It is not about simply enumerating historic facts. It is colorful, complex, character driven – what happened about 1.000 years ago comes as close as it gets: Those years around the turn of the millennium at the beginning of the 11th century, when the 8th king of Goryeo - the then still quite young Hyeongjong of Goryeo - had to face the successive invasions of the numerically superior, Khitan of the Liao Dynasty.

What happened way back then obviously has happened a long time ago, but actually many policymakers today could be inspired and encouraged by the political attitude that is being exercised here. Even though facing the acute threat, this canny, courageous, responsible king isn´t willing to simply fly on sight, but rather acts cool-headed and with foresight. He is someone who does not shy away from complex, fundamental, unpopular, but far-reaching, forward-looking structural reforms... And then there is a government official, who not simply and opportunistically cares about himself, but about the cause - about the people, the country and the ´good´ (even if uncomfortable) decision.

The book "Sweet Rain in Winter" by Gil Seung-soo certainly contributed significantly to an excellent script. The historical greats, both large and small, impressively come to life. Romance is secondary, bromance is the theme here. By this I mean less the homosexuality of Mokjong, the 7th king of Goryeo. Rather, the intense struggle and relationship between King Hyeonjong and Gang Gam-chan, a scholar, government official, mentor of the king and crucial military commander during the third Goryeo invasion.

The KDrama offers a distinctively Korean (chapter of hi)story. One with a lot of pathos and even more ethos. One about people and their relationship dynamics, about their character strengths and weaknesses.

KDrama sure can do historical drama. Goryeo-Khitan War is another prime example of this.

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MAMA! MAMA! Anti-Fan!

Mr Queen made me laugh. Mr Queen made me annoyed with anger, made me feel empathetic. Most of all, Mr Queen made me invested. As soon as we were thrusted in the Joseon environment, just like So-Yong, we were confused about what was around us. We were constantly learning about who the real So-Yong was, who the King was, who and what can we trust, if anyone. There was a lot of drama that was so crucial and nerve-wracking. However the drama is a comedy at heart. How Mr Queen blends the two vastly different tones is near on perfect. Any superlative would do. Tonally, the comedic elements hit hard everyone, even with the antagonists of the drama. There is one episode that is one of the most pivotal regarding the plot development, and its 90% comedy. Laugh out loud comedy. And it only enhanced the storytelling. The comedy is just as important to telling the story, explaining the characters thoughts and emotions as the serious scenes. Shin Hye Sun is the heart of all this.

Shin Hye Sun and the Queen is one of the greatest performances you'll see in Television. Her character is easy and yet hard. Gender swapping characters would usually have easy tropes to go through in order to get a laugh. But Shin Hye Sun is a great mix of subtle and over the top. Not only does she have to act more like a traditional woman, she has to act like a Queen as well. To act like a lady, but with class and grace.To act like a lady, but with class and grace. There are so many layers of the character that are needed to come across to please other characters so she can stay in her position. It's quite remarkable how there are many different faces to the characters that she has to transform herself into in every scene. Shin Hye Sun’s character shined brightly not only individually but within any interaction with those around her which in turn made them stand out as well. The King, in particular, comes to mind. The King has many faces. There is a darkness there among the naive, pervy yet innocent act he has adopted. Kim Jung Hyun looked like he had the time of his life when interacting with the bizarre So-Yong, but Kim Jung Hyun delivered when it came to emotionally crippling scenes. The King has many fears and those fears become your fears throughout the drama because of the immense acting on display. The whole cast which is more like an ensemble held up their worth in weight. Bae Jong Ok as Grand Queen Dowager and Kim Tae Woo as Kim Jwa Geun were exceptional in their own right. As were the Palace employees and other friends. Chae Seo Eun, who played So-Yong’s Maid, Hong Yeon, did superbly in her debut role. Compared to those around her, Chae Seo Eun is able to stand out. Surely someone to look for in the future as a talent. The acting is well crafted as well as the writing.

There is a reason Mr Queen is one of the most popular dramas of its time and drew quite high ratings. Mr Queen, to me, is now one of those dramas that you must see. And I believe it'll stand the test of time as well.

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Fake it till you make it.

Regeneration is an excellent short suspense thriller. The narrative opens with a reporter He Shan witnessing the kidnapping of her contact Fei Ke. In classic Christie style, five strangers including He Shan are summoned to an island mansion for the reading of Fei Ke's will. They are each asked to share their memories of Fei Ke before the will is read. As implied by the homonym of his name, Fei Ke was not who he appeared to be; he showed a different self to each of them. As they piece together their memories, a complex, disturbing and moving picture of Fei Ke emerges.

Jing Boran delivers a compelling portrayal of Fei Ke as a charismatic, amoral "fake it till you make it" kind of character. I don't think any other actor could have evoked such complex and contradictory reactions. At many points in the narrative when I wanted to absolutely despise his Fei Ke, I found myself searching for excuses for him. Yet when I could have and should have empathized with him, I found myself judging him. All of the characters have many layers that peel off like an onion. Like Fei Ke, they all have at least one moment of hesitation before they almost willfully make a fatal, life changing decision that takes them down the path of no return. By the end of this web of lies, the only story that moved me was that of the two lovers star crossed who ended up as collateral damage. Everyone else reaped what they sowed; even Fei Ke who believed his own lies to the point he deceived himself more than anyone else.

The plot pulled me in from the start and kept me wanting more with each reveal. However, at the point of reversal, changes were deliberately made to the original novel plot, likely to avoid book spoilers. I think this was big mistake. As a result, plot holes emerged and the final three episodes did not come together as well as they could have. In the novel, the group gathered because the main antagonist wished to make amends. That is simple, straightforward and easy to understand. In the drama, they gather as a result of a convoluted and rather far fetched revenge plot. Some of the character designs and motives were changed in to make this work. Some of it just didn't make sense as those parties could have achieved their objectives in more direct and effective ways. This is made worse by the melodramatic storm at the end where everyone does silly things for some cheap thrills.

Even though the ending was overly dramatic and could have been more tightly written it was dark and consequential. All things considered, this is a suspenseful and thought provoking watch with many unexpected twists and reversals. And If you need a shallow reason to watch it, Jing Boran looks yummy in every scene. My rating 8.0/10.0.

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One of the most important contemporary directors of today, Shunji Iwai gives us a suspenseful emotional ride in his latest film "A Bride for Rip Van Winkle". It reminds me a lot of "All about Lily Chou Chou"(also directed by Iwai) on how it uses the internet as the main element in the movie, how it affects characters minds and their relationship, simple chatting before social media now. This movie will make you realize how social media affects our society, how most of us make it our safe haven and sometimes create a fake identity and how that fake identity would factor in constructing our own, not giving much of a story away, the theme would be so obvious if you compare the 2 relationships of our main character had here, one living with lies and the other ironically real. Having said that, the theme in this movie was so strong and possibly the first time that was explored to this extent and just like Iwai said "I would like to show how we take to living in this world that our ancestor left us", so thought provoking indeed.

With 3 hours long this is perhaps the second longest Japanese movie I've ever seen next to Love Exposure and that is mainly because most climactic scenes were all shown in slow motion, it seems the director reiterates the point of what we should feel, some may be bother by it but I'm not as I see the reason for it, scenes before those slow-mos were so subtle so it's like a storm after a calm sea. Another reason is the criticism he is known for which is his film has a tendency to drag and some scenes were like that especially scenes that has metaphor in it or with meaningful dialogues, if you're like me who is into that then this will make the movie more engaging to you.

The film is basically a character study of a Nanami(Haru Kuroki), a part time teacher who is like a shadow, she has no personality, the film lets us follow her as how her character develops throughout the story, with Iwai's directing and Haru Kuroki's acting this film is an immersive experience. You can separate the movie into 3 parts the classic fall, perserverance, and finding happiness. The first act started when Nanami meets this guy on social media then without much thinking she eventually marries him, but the problem is she didn't have the ideal family, her parents were divorced and seems like their relatives broke the ties between them. Then she decided to hire Amuro(Gou ayano), a guy she met on social media, a jack of all trade ala Gintama, it is Amuro who provide fake relatives to her wedding. The end of the first act is strong as Nanami is humiliated and defeated and that first act sets up to a more interesting second and even third act. When I said suspenseful emotional ride I mean it as plot twist after plot twist, lies after lies got revealed but the biggest mystery is the title itself "A Bride for Riple Winke", what is relevance of that title in the story? Who is Riple Winkle? Well the way the movie reveals it is so clever, it's a work of a mad genius and definitely I didn't see that coming at all. Just like most of Iwai's films this film features misfits characters, those cut from society, this movie will depict their engaging journey and how will those character find love and happiness. Although with that engaging premise and roller coaster of emotions I had, still one important question in the movie remains a mystery although I'm sure that that was intended, I experienced that in All About Lily Chou Chou and I experienced it again here, I just don't know what to feel, I just thought of giving you a heads up cause that might annoyed you as well.

Great Cinematography to me is not just beautiful but also meaningful, it's just like in painting great painting should fascinate you, it should make you look closer to examine the details and not just stare at one and says "this painting is beautiful", you could have all the colors on your palette but if it's dull it's dull. Movies by Iwai are the best example for this they have the best cinematography I've ever seen that makes the movie so immersive and this movie is not an exception, his emphasis for lighting was really obvious here, it is stunning, extracting the natural colors in a scene, a perfectionist he truly is. Music really adds up to the emotion in those melodramatic scenes, particularly is that one scene with Nanami after the first act, the Visuals, the Slow-mo, the Music, the acting, it is perfect, I literally pause the movie and gather myself, stupid smile left on my face, instant goosebumps.

Iwai really loves using subtle actors in his films and the reason for that is because that kind of acting is most suited for his style of filming, before he had Aoi Yu and this time Haru Kuroki. Haru reminds me of Aoi Yu a lot they can even switch roles here and the strength of the character will remain the same, of course I'm not saying Aoi Yu is better, they are equally talented and Haru might even have some edge in drama and definitely in comedy. About haru's performance, I am one hundred percent convinced that this was her best performance I've seen from her and mind you I've seen a lot where she is considered great namely "emperor's cook" "juhan shutai" "little house" "solomon's perjury". The character she played here is so complex that one wrong move would make that character annoying, one wrong casting and the movie would be ruined, hard to explain it without laying spoilers, only you would realize what I meant when you watched it. There is one character I can't reveal here because of spoilers and it's a shame because I was equally impressed with her with haru and her name is not even included here on MDL. The character is crippled yet strong; she's like a playful spirited fairy and those eyes omg. The chemistry between them was magnetic, a total contrast to each other yet they share similarities, they want happiness. Gou Ayano although not as good as those two, it is his charisma that makes the character more mysterious and that is really important as that character is somewhat the one who drives the story. I have this theory about him that I will post on the comment section if you want, just click the spoiler button.

Movies like this makes me realize why I was fascinated, why I admire Japanese cinema so much, it is just that there is no other country that can offer me a story like this. Movie like this make me realize what kind of taste I have for movies, why I crave for original plot with clever twist, why I love thought provoking themes as those makes the movie to me an immersive experience. With that said, even with some draggy scenes or things remains unanswered I just couldn't give this lower than 9. Not a masterpiece but a must watch.

Check my Blog for other reviews & other JDramas stuffs. (｡◕‿‿◕｡)
https://thatjapanesedramaguy.blogspot.com/

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Star in My Heart, I originally started watching this on a whim, I added it after a random find. After watching Reply 1997 I felt in the mood to watch an older drama, one that ironically also came out in 1997. So needless to say, when I started watching this I didn't have much expectation for it. The oldest Kdrama I had watched before this one had come out in 2006.

From the first episode I knew I was going to like this drama. It starts off with Yun Hee as a high school student, taken out of an orphanage by a friend of her father. She's taken into his rich family and inherits an arrogant step mother, an annoying step sister and a creep step brother. Typical Cinderella start out. But the story progresses little by little until Yun Hee is already half way through college. The time gaps, I will note, did confuse me a little. They're implied by change of hair or change of events, it's not stated how much time has passed, rather something you have to pick up on yourself.

The story overall was good. While nowadays it may be clichéd, Star in My Heart was one of the dramas that paved the way for modern Kdramas. To me, I found it really refreshing and a nice change of pace. There wasn't the over amount of angst and drama, but rather just the right amount. Another thing I loved was the lack of confusion between the leads. There was some, but they understood each other. And the love triangle is really hardly there at all. But it didn't take away from the drama at all, actually it made me like it more.

The acting was done really well. Choi Jin Sil did an excellent job as Yun Hee, and I was really sad to hear about her death. Yun Hee was a character who stood up for herself. She had her limits and didn't let the petty things get to her. And the actress also portrayed someone else in the drama, really contrasted her original character. Ahn Jae Wook as Min Hee was also really well done. I loved his character! He has such an amazing voice, too, and I'm pretty sure he was singing live during the show. Most of the times in modern dramas it's often lip synching through audio when it's supposed to be live. Cha In Pyo as Joon Hee was also a favorite. Not getting as much screen time until later on, but becoming one of the most important characters in this drama. His character was always supportive and he knew what he was doing as a leader.

Other characters, such as Yi Hwa, Yi Ban and their mother did their roles fine. Yi Hwa was probably the most annoying character in the drama, but her mother followed closely behind. Yi Ban was annoying, but I found his character pathetic and wimpy and couldn't help but laugh at his character on screen at serious moments.

The music was the best part of the drama. The soundtrack has become a favorite of mine now. As I mentioned above, Ahn Jae Wook has an amazing voice! Such songs as "Forever" and "Hurt" have lingered in my head even after I finished watching. The theme song "Always Beside You" is also nice. As are all the instrumentals.

I don't normally rewatch that many dramas, simply because there's always a drama I haven't seen calling my name, but I can see myself rewatching this one some time down the road. As I mentioned before, it was a refreshing and nice break from the modern Kdrama.

Overall, I would recommend this drama to anyone looking for a change of pace or something that would nowadays be lesser known. If you're the type who doesn't like to watch older dramas, maybe because of the quality, then maybe this is not for you. The quality I found to watch I felt was good for a drama 15 years old. You're not going to get much better than that unless you buy the drama.

I think I'll always picture the leads look the way they did in this drama.

If you do decide to watch it, keep in mind that the fashion may not be what you consider "good" simply because the styles have really changed since then. The lack of cellphones as well. Only one character had one in this drama. And the difference in the sound of the music. I, personally, love a lot of things from the nineties so I loved the music. But I understand that may not be the case for some.

Anyways, hope this review convinces you to check it out! It's worth that much at least (:

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I can't find faults with this drama. I'm sure there are some there, if you dig, but damn, I don't want them to be pointed out to me because this drama took me completely by surprise and I fell head over heels in love with it.

What was I expecting? I enjoy a good time travel, especially when it mixes modern and Joseon eras, ala Queen Inhyun's Man. And I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, so I was looking for a light romp and plenty of fish out of water fun stuff etc. Well, I got that and so much more with Live Up To Your Name. Firstly, the story... the plot itself wasn't too complex, a doctor from Joseon who practices traditional oriental medicine more out of greed than empathy, is transported through time to modern day Seoul to meet a cardiothoracic surgeon who see's her patients only as the internal organs she can repair. As they start to learn more about each other and their different methodologies, so do they also begin to learn about themselves. You see, more than anything, this story is a character story, and though it might start off as a story of things and circumstances happening to our characters and making them react, it evolves into a story about choices, self-determination, and ultimately, what it is that defines them as people. They learn and grow together in such an organic way that it is beautiful to watch in action.

What I love is how the writer had such a delicate touch when dealing with heavier topics. It could have gone the route of being preachy, but I don't believe it ever veered there, and even the characters who made wrong choices were also humanized in a way that didn't make you absolutely hate them. The romance, of course, was pure gold. Whoever cast Kim Nam Gil as Heo Im and Kim Ah Joong as Choi Ahn Kyung together as the leads deserves a medal. Not only was their chemistry off the charts, but it was so natural and realistic, that I almost felt voyeuristic in some scenes and all they had to do was look at each other. Kim Nam Gil was simply amazing start to finish and has the ability to be goofy and bumbling but also serious and intense all within the span of seconds. Kim Ah Joong took me a while to warm up to, but I think part of that was due to her character's thawing out with each episodes, and by the end, I was definitely mesmerized by her skill. I'm not seen anything else with either of them in, so I'll definitely have to look out for them both.

I can't comment too much on the OST only to say that it suited the themes, wasn't overbearing, and highlighted the poignancy of the show. I'm sure I'll pay more attention on re-watch, which I most certainly plan on doing.

I also want to mention a little something about the medical aspects of this drama. Yes, it is about medicine, both modern and traditional, and yes, it does glamorize medicine in ways that aren't necessarily realistic sometimes, but I can forgive because it is a fantasy (time travel, hello?). But, if you're not into medical dramas, this might not be your thing, however, let me just say that the medicine is just a vehicle to drive the show, it's not really what this show is about. If you are a sucker for character driven stories, then give this one a try. Just close your eyes every time someone sticks a scalpel or a needle into someone else.

And lastly, the method of time travel aka the gimmick that brings Heo Im from past to future, is one of the most unique ones I've seen, and not one I would voluntarily choose. Yikes!

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I had to take a couple of days to process my thoughts before writing this review. I have never been so affected by a drama before in my life, and honestly I don't know if my longing for this drama is something I'd ever care to repeat.

I started this hoping for action and serious topics. I wanted plot and not romantic shenanigans. The drama starts off being pretty much all about a cop looking for his kidnapped daughter. This guy, however, is far from likable, and I found it difficult to sympathize with him in his plight. Why? Because he was, to put it simply, crazy, violent, and screaming. Lots of screaming. Lots of swearing. Lots of beating up suspects without evidence, heavy police brutality. This dude cared for nothing and no one but his daughter and wouldn't hesitate to brutally assault anyone he perceived to be in his way.

That's where Clone #1, Sung Joon, comes in. Don't worry, I won't spoil anything. He has no memory of who he is, but Chief Jang decides poor Sung Joon is the key to finding his daughter. When these two meet, this is when the story really kicks off. I hated the detective for the first 2 episodes, but he does become more tolerable thanks to Sung Joon, who is kind and warm and patient where Chief Jang is crass, rude, and prone to fits of random rage.

So for the first part of the drama, I watched because I was invested in the development between Jang and Sung Joon. I thought they were a great pair and really balanced each other nicely, and I'm a sucker for any kind of non-romance relationship focus. Chief Jang treated Sung Joon like a tool at first and didn't see him as a human being at all, and I wanted to see that change. There was some mystery and plenty of action for the first 6 episodes, but then it slows down and becomes mostly just drama and mystery with action sprinkled in.

Eventually, the plot moves away from the father-daughter focus and we realize that ultimately this is a story about two clones. It's a sad story. Don't watch this if you don't want a ride on the rollercoaster of emotions. One clone is "evil," selfish and out for revenge and the other is kind, selfless and willing to put his life on the line to help near-strangers. But the characters are not simple, and evil clone is not actually just an "evil clone," but is a deep, complex character that will remain in my mind pretty much forever.

What is the story really about? It's about clones learning to be human. It's about a father and his daughter. There's also an evil dude who wants to cure his illness and there's his evil spawn who aren't really worth mentioning but the story isn't really about them. No romance, just friendships and family relationships. Yay!

Without Yang Se Jong, this drama would be nothing. His portrayal of three characters is something you really have to see for yourself. But let's say I had to keep reminding myself that it was the same actor. He brought the clones to life in a way that made me feel like I personally knew them. The other actors are good too. And JJY is so much more tolerable when he's not screaming his head off.

It's not a perfect story, and there are aspects I wish had been different (more interactions between the clones, more father-son bonding with Jang and Sung Joon, less of the secondary cop characters), but these factors don't change my love for this drama. I can't stop thinking about it and have already rewatched most of it 2-3 times.

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A sad & highly topical social issue, dealt with in a palpable, exciting, sensitive, touching way

"Revenge of Others" is set in the world of South Korean high school students. No teenage squabble, but a story with substance and depth. With flexibly intertwined subplots, it offers a sad and highly topical social issue, dealing with it in a palpable, exciting, sensitive and touching way. Should you watch? Yes!

"Revenge of Others" (like "Weak Hero Class 1" in 2022) deals with the topic of mobbing /bullying. In Korean, the slang term 'wang-ta' is quite common, and for me helped for a better understanding of the special and increasingly dramatic situation surrounding bullying at South Korean schools, which can even lead to suicide. (See side note below.)

This KDrama spotlights a Seoul high school where there appears to have happened a suicide. Everyone is shocked. Some know more. But if the sister of the victim, who has been living separated from her brother for many years, would not try to get to the bottom of it, then this would be a sad case of suicide without a murmur. It probably happens all too often in one way or another that fundamental questions in an apparently obvious case are left unanswered. However, this KDrama bravely wants to get to the bottom of the matter and its circumstances - here in the person of Ok Chang-mi.

As so often in the context of bullying, the adults don't look too good and don´t offer anything promising for making a difference regarding those fatal peer group dynamics. They are left outside. The high school students have to find a way for themselves to get along with their classmates - if possible highly adjusted underneath the social wang-ta radar (or at least with a solid network).

"Revenge of Others" is a production for the international streaming market. Things rarely get too brutal at Disney, though. The amount of violence is therefore limited (compared to e.g. "Weak Hero Class 1") and instead there is more room for relationship dynamics in side plots, causal connections and shades of gray.

By the way, in connection with "Revenge of Others" there is also a whole series of promising actors to admire!



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SIDE NOTE: --- Wang-ta in South Korea ----

With Wang-ta, the focus is not so much on the 'act' - bullying or harassment - but rather on the entire context of active and violent marginalizatin of an outsider. For example, it can be used as a swear word for the excluded person or as a description of the bullying activity. In a collectivist society like South Korea, group affiliation and group interest is paramount. This applies not only to the family, but also to the school class and also to the peer groups within the class or school. Unfortunately, this value system results in a fatal situation when it comes to actual bullying: bringing shame on the group, the outsiders are at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Whether it's because of school performance, family background, origin, belonging to an undesirable minority, looks, dress, a handicap, an unusual belief or an abnormal inclination: Wang-ta is a label that no one wants to personally be confronted with. Everyone agrees on that. At the same time, Wang-ta becomes a free pass for more or less cruel mobbing/bullying. Worryingly, perpetrators, victims, and witnesses alike accept the premise: all forms of bullying, almost anything related to Wang-ta, is permissible. The perpetrators take advantage of this, the victims immediately feel even more inferior in terms of their shortcomings (of whatever kind), and the bystanders silently nod the action as justified - or even actively join in. There is no moral barrier against this specifically cultural, collectivist background. It can even get out of hand. There are cases where the entire school has ended up participating in one person's wang-ta. From a Western, individualistic point of view, this is perhaps difficult to understand, because apart from group norms there are other socially recognized ethical principles that could be introduced as a serious confrontation of wang-ta behavior. Unfortunately, this hardly is the case at South Korean schools with a collectivistic social culture.



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SIDE NOTE: In connection with this KDRama also an additional side note on
--- Punishment vs. Suffering of Victims ---

The psychological trauma for the bullying victims are with long-lasting effect. Unfortunately, the punishment of perpetrators is not proportionate to this day. Punishment is rather harmless - it may be annoying to the perpetrators, but not really a deterrent. Far too much must have happened before expulsion actually occurs. A corresponding entry in the files is actually completely deleted two years after graduation. In fact, nothing is left behind on the perpetrators' side. On the other hand, from the memory of the victims the experience cannot be so easily erased ...

The documented cases of wang-ta in South Korean schools (yet many are not officially reported) have steadily increased over the past three decades. According to a study by the Ministry of Education, between 2013 and 2017 the cases have more than doubled from 11.749 to 31.130. There are also increasing numbers of victims who saw suicide as their only way out. It has now been empirically documented that South Korean pupils with a personal Wang-ta experience are more suicidal than those without. Suicide is by far the most common cause of death among 10 to 24 year olds. Almost 1.000 young people took their own lives in 2020 alone.

In respect of the lack of serious consequences for the perpetrators in Wang-ta cases and their comparatively unsatisfactory punishment, a kind of vigilante justice has been established among the families of the victims concerned. "Revenge of Others" picks up on this (similar to "Angry Mom" ​​a few years earlier) as a theme in variation.
In fact, facing a lack of serious alternative punitive measures it seems not uncommon for relatives of victims to pay someone of the same school age to take care of an appropriate 'punishment' - i.e. 'undercover'. Clearing up violence with violence is of course a dubious solution. Sadly, this seems to be the only way to show real consequences to the perpetrators and give the victims at least minimum size satisfaction. ...Although it should be probably considered more of a satisfaction for the relatives of the victims, because the victims themselves still have to deal with their psychological wounds and scars for a long time. Revenge does not undo the painful experience of mentally and physically harassing exclusion...

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I am upset about how Jojo never considered Sunoh's feelings.

First of all, let me say that I never really write reviews, but this time I got so baffled I had to.

The story evolved around 3 characters where one(Sunoh) got completely walked over because he wanted to get his happiness back, second(Jojo) stayed as messy as ever, not even bothering about how her actions would affect Sunoh. And third(Hyeyeong) got the girl just because he somehow became a certain option but we don't know why it was never made clear why Jojo couldn't choose Sunoh anymore when she swore that she'd never love anyone more than him. Yet she kept running away from him, not even trying to give him an explanation. She just pierced his heart with her words and left. I really wanted her to become more mature as the years passed, but she stayed as a victim and never came out of that state
And above all the "Love Alarm". The app remained in their daily lives even after everything.
If we think that this whole drama was about not trusting an app for choosing a loved one but our own hearts, then why did JJ go to such lengths to get the "spear"?! The application was not destroyed, nor ever used by main leads. They still relayed on the app and who rang whose alarm Although that couldn't be trusted. As Sunoh's mother said her husband still rings her alarm even tho he's cheating on her. Or we could think that this drama was about the pain of unfulfilled first love and moving on but they failed to deliver that message.

Furthermore, I knew SO & JJ had no chance(it kinda become more clear when teasers came out), I hoped they'd clear out their misunderstandings as grown-ups should. but oh boy.
I am upset about what they did to the characters and how they pushed Sunoh away. He had so much potential to emerge from a broken teen to an accomplished adult, to grow and learn self-love, but writers ruined his character. They destroyed him and then gave him a "happy ending" I'm sorry what?! he isn't even being himself around Yukjoo. He had to heal first and then get back with her. However, at least she treats him right, and really loves him so I hope she'll make him happier.
Jojo never returned the smile she stole from Sunoh. She made him cry and walked away after saying "I'm sorry" but never solving for what.

Despite being painful as hell, I really loved the last meeting scene of JJ & SO. That scene carried so much pain and nostalgia, their thoughts of what it could've been or what will never be. I wish she told him the truth behind everything right there, the entire dialogue they shared lacked honesty, and that meeting had to make them let go of each other. (mostly SO) but of course, the writers had to make Sunoh accept the confusion instead without any clarifications.

On the other hand, Gulmi had more character development than I expected, watching her chasing hearts was rather entertaining. even tho she was faking it she was learning to treat others better. (hopefully)
I don't know why nobody said anything about Dukgu, his appearance was rather short.

I must admit actors did a great job portraying their characters with what was given to them. The cinematography was wonderful, the scenes were shot beautifully, and the brightness was a bit off but it was still fine.

Edit: For those who think I disliked the ending because JJxHY was endgame let me tell you that it's not like that. Since I knew that would be the ending from a long time ago. My main concern was what they'd do to characters and how they'd end up developing them. what would happen to the love alarm & if they'd stopped using it?
JJ returning a smile to Sunoh didn't imply her dating him. All I meant was for her to give him any clue of what happened because at least he deserved it. The best she could do for a person that still makes her emotional was to give him proper answers, so he could move on. That would be a humane thing to do. (from my point of view obviously)
My (and the majority of comments) main complaint here is still the execution of characters and not giving them decent conclusions.
SO basically became the wasted character for the convenience of a writer to write the JJxHY arc, he was used as a plot device for the ending. he was portrayed as a pitiful person who tried to hold on to what made him happy in season one and in season 2 they still continued using him as just that.
the writers didn't even bother to give him proper closure at the end of the season, we see him still holding on to his feelings, but right before it ends he lets go. The writers were so bet on pulling that "it's all fine" card that they somehow thought that ending him up with someone he doesn't even love (for now) was a solid idea.

The only reason why I watched this till the end is Song Kang who is one of my fav actors. He keeps getting better and better, turning into a prominent actor. Can't wait to see his upcoming projects.
As for If I recommend this or not, watch it if you can deal with heartbreak. Season 2 has a whole different vibe from Season 1.

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Honey as Lube, GO WATCH IT

THIS IS SO GOOD. Like actually GOOD good, not “I watch for the pretty faces” good (although yes, the faces are stunning). But I mean well-written, emotionally intelligent, gorgeously acted good. The chemistry between the leads is off the charts and Im pretty sure they are not acting, they are in a whole relationship and forgot to tell us. (I am in fact delulu)

Anyway the chemistry between jin and akin is ridiculous. These two accidentally invented a new form of communication via eye contact because GOD DAMN, the way they orbit each other?? the tension?? the softness?? it’s so natural it makes other shows look like staged table reads. (Ya I am shading some bl's so what) THE POINT IS...it’s warm. it’s intense. it’s addictive.

The writing is tight, thoughtful and they actually use the characters' personalities and histories to drive the story, not just to sprinkle in backstory when it's convenient. everything connects.

Ok now let’s get into why boom and smart are actual sorcerers.

Boom’s physical acting is a whole experience. like, the man acts from his spine, from his kneecaps, you can tell what his character is feeling from the way he slumps his shoulders or tightens his hands. He uses his body language so so well.
And Smart’s vocal acting is unreal. the way he shifts tone depending on who he’s talking to, what he wants, what he’s scared of...ugh it’s so precise and layered. Sometimes he says something soft and i’m like “oh no... oh NO he means that.” his voice will crack just a little and suddenly I am spiraling.

And their scenes together?? good god, all of it is magnetic. I was locked in. The range is INSANE. like one minute I was laughing because akin is being a lovable menace and the next I am pausing the show to just BREATHE.

And YES. yes. there is a certain infamous scene involving HONEY (I know ya'll came in here for that trending honey scene) which sounds unhinged (because it is) but it’s also deeply emotional and a whole metaphor for love and indulgence and knowing someone so well you can give them exactly what they crave. It’s symbolic and it’s sweet and yes jin knows what akin likes and wants to give him everything and that is beautiful. I was deeply moved and deeply stressed. Peak television. okay, I want to frame it and then power wash it.

I hope boom and smart get everything after this. I hope they win awards. I hope they get roles that challenge them and let them show all the layers they have clearly got stored up. And I hope everyone watches this show so they can scream about it with me.

WATCH IT, fall in love. and text your friends “YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS” every 5 minutes. (Because mine screamed at me after saying I will drop it at episode 1, I picked it up and I love it so give it more than one chance please)

You’re welcome.

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tbh i went into this drama not expecting much, i only really started it bc of sato but i ended up loving it so much and couldn’t wait for the next eps. obviously it’s based off a shoujo manga so i was expecting it to be cliche and cringe but it wasn’t. the plot is the typical shoujo storyline with a tsundere ml however he’s actually really affectionate and cares a lot just doesn’t show it much. the fl isn’t actually naive or that annoying she’s just very expressive and open about her feelings towards tendo. sakura and tendo are adorable together. although it’s a medical drama it’s not the most accurate depiction of the field so don’t take it seriously.

the acting is great. obviously sato is a good actor and mone is really good too. the actors are able to convey both comical and serious scenes well without being too over the top (like some manga adaptations)

overall if you want a great lighthearted fluffy drama where the leads are really cute then i recommend it. like i said it’s not a medical drama to be taken seriously so if you want that don’t watch this as you’ll probably get frustrated at the inaccuracy lmao. watch it for the romance, not the medical aspect.

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