Reviews

dud

it started off with a good shock factor then went downhill. the main fl was consistently irritating from start to finish. i was naturally pessimistic they weren't going to accomplish a lot before the end, and as soon as main fl started doing everything her guide said not to, i completely lost faith in her. plus the 'my friend's still in there' vibes and calling friend's name when she clearly checked out got on my nerves. writing didn't do a lot to help you get attached to the rest of the main group on top of that, but i did appreciate geon woo not being dumb when it counted. it took everyone else way too long to shift gears for me.... entire drama gave me anxiety just from wanting it to be over sooner. only people ready to do their job was the big sister and her right hand man. 2/10 if i'm being honest. for an occult type drama, it didn't really do anything refreshing or new. you won't miss out if you skip it.

Read More

Saddest One

I have seen just 4 eps and I’m already sad like each eps shows each pain and suffer of each individual through two great actors. when Dong-Man said that he wanna be in the other side of the world, I was in tears. And when Dong-Man and Eun-a both fought up there places it was masterpiece, like showing that quiet people can sparkle very thoughtfully. it a best one to watch

Read More

A Wish For A Life : Would You Still Press The Button?

I honestly didn’t expect to finish this in one sitting, but I got so sucked into the mystery that I ended up binge watching it. "If Wishes Could Kill (Girigo)" is one of the best supernatural thrillers I’ve seen in a long time. If you’re looking for a drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you question human nature, this is the one.

The plot is so unique and creepy. It’s about a group of high schoolers who find an app called "Girigo" that grants any wish you want. The catch? Once your wish comes true, you only have 24 hours left to live. It sounds simple, but the way the story unfolds is so intense. It’s not just about the horror; it’s about the secrets between friends, the desperation, and how far people will go when they’re pushed to a corner. The mystery behind who created the app and why it exists kept me guessing until the very last second.

The cast did an incredible job! Jeon So-young as Se-ah was so powerful, you can really feel her determination to save her friends. Kang Mi-na was also a standout; she played the popular girl Na-ri with so much depth, making her more than just a "pretty face." Even the guys, Baek Sun-ho and Hyun Woo-seok, were amazing. Their chemistry felt so real, which made it even more heartbreaking to watch them struggle against the clock. You can really feel their fear through the screen.

I planned to watch just one episode before bed, but the cliffhangers didn't let me! I ended up binging all 8 episodes in one go because I literally could not stop. The pacing is perfect, it doesn't drag at all and every episode adds something new to the mystery.

If you like dramas like All of Us Are Dead, Night Has Come, or Death's Game, you need to watch this immediately. It has that same high-stakes energy where you never know who is going to make it out alive It’s dark, emotional, and very psychological. It makes you think: Is your greatest desire worth your life? Do yourself a favor and go watch it right now. Just don’t blame me if you stay up all night like I did!

Overall if you are a fan of supernatural, horror genre with thrill, this one is a must watch!!!
[Note : This is just my personal opinion and rating. Everyone has different tastes, so if this isn't your type of drama, that's totally fine we don't all have to agree!]

Read More

A Symphony Of Dark and Light

Artistic Approach to the Frame
Right from the start, it becomes apparent that the author of the script Jo Sung-hee, as well as the production team, did not perceive it as such, but as a work of art. Cinematography is nothing less than the language of poetry, and each frame seems to be carefully thought out, filled with a nostalgic lightness reflecting the beauty of our bittersweet existence. Costume design and other artistic decisions are more than just an aesthetic element, but rather a means by which the emotional state of the characters comes alive on screen.

Ensemble of Characters
A drama can only become a complete masterpiece when none of its characters remains on the sidelines. Even if Lee Sung-kyung and Chae Jong-hyeop give outstanding performances in leading roles, it is worth noting that the brilliance does not stop there but shines through everyone else.
• Kwon Hyuk and Han Ji-hyun portray their characters so vividly that any side story becomes the main storyline.
• And Oh Ye-ju, along with the rest of the cast members, performs with such sincerity that it becomes difficult to realize that what we see is not real life.

Final Thoughts

It is not often encountered nowadays to witness the technical finesse paired with the nakedness of human emotions on stage. Each and every member of the cast, regardless of the size of their storyline, was portrayed with reverence and elegance.
My gratitude goes out to the actors and the directors of the play, as well as the entire crew who brought this "Radiant Season" to life. You have built a paradise for the spectators – a world where everything is acceptable and nothing could be more beautiful than what has been done here.

Read More

SPOILER WARNING
-
-

Just like Season 1, this is a really excellent Season 2 with a fresh new storyline.

We discover that she didn’t actually die, and that her mother’s “Najin” saved her. Honestly, I think everyone suspected she would be saved this way as soon as we learned there would be a Season 2 and that she was still in the cast. But it works well it’s nicely set up, so I thought it was cool!
On the other hand, Tae Sang has an accident and loses his memory at the beginning. To be honest, I was like “oh no, not another memory loss plot device…” but the way the story unfolded actually convinced me.
Their first “reunion” made me smile: she confronts him in the street, but at that moment he doesn’t recognize her at all. I found that scene really sad, but it made sense in the story.From then on, he becomes more and more present in her life. The scenes where he starts remembering fragments of his past had me hyped! I knew the real reunion wasn’t far away.Then comes the intense scene in the lab where he takes a Najin to save her. From that moment, I thought he was insanely badass. He was completely furious, smashing through all the enemies, and she was fighting alongside him. It was such an intense scene in every way I loved it!After they finish fighting, he stabs a metal bar into the enemy’s shoulder. It was a satisfying and powerful moment, and from there I was super excited!Then we get the real reunion: he runs outside to join her and they share a long, tender kiss. It was very emotional.I found all the moments they spent together after that really touching and sweet. But as usual, new problems arise and we head into the finale. The final battle was intense seriously, bravo, I loved it! At the same time, she starts losing her Najin… The ending is both sad and happy. She struggled so much to restore his memories, and now it’s his turn to do the same for her In short, an incredible story!Just like in Season 1, the acting is flawless nothing to complain about. The cast delivered perfectly.The music is great too.I highly recommend the entire series!

Read More

Rewatch, got reminded why i dropped 2 reasons (Day, and ending)

From the start i thought this was gonna be one of my favorites and up until like episode 5 it was.

Day and mhork both work with each other cute care for each other ,even when clearly mhork is putting in way more than day however they have a mutual respect even with their bickering they get through day's troubles.

I have 2 big problems though first, DAY.
After episode 5 i dont know what happened to Day's character he just started annoying me after Day and Mhork finnaly kiss it all startes going downhill for me.

Another side note which isnt that important but i didnt feel the kiss scene was appropriate but thats honestly the least of my problems in this.

Anyways, first thing that happened where my eyes started rolling was Day KNOWS Mhork likes him teases him about them not 'syncing' as fast as him and August, first of all so fucking cruel and so unnecesary? even if they laugh it off this is just so not okay i tjink Mhork taking it so well is weird...

Second when they're running the marathon he's pissed about hearing that guy offer Mhork a job when 'he gets tired of being a caretaker' ans gets upset ans tgrows a temper tantrum like a toddler but then keeps pushing away from mhork and continues saying he doesnt like him. the fuck? So you want to trap him to you someone that loves and cares for you, he has zero disregard for his feelings at all. Him pushing away Mhork but gwtting all pissy and angry when he wants to leave is genuinely almost lowkey abusive.

Letting go sometimes is love, Mhork gladly did that even if it hurt him with August. And yet Day will keep leading him on while actively pushing him away.

mhork is a shinning green flag while day is a beige one at best.

Im at episode 7 right now but previozsly i dropped it at 10 episode i dont remember what happened to piss me off but i have an inkling its day creating issues and being selfish.

Probably wont finish it, i liked it until episode 5 but i will drop it. Also it seems like i was FAR from the inly one complaining about the last 2 episodes.

What a shame since i love jimmy and Sea, ans with the acting i have zero complaints they did a FANTASTIC JOB.

unfortunate all around.

Read More

My two passions : Jesus Christ and fighting.
S01 : 3,5/5
S02 : 2,5/5

S01 : Super funny, although a bit old-fashioned in its staging, which is too functional. This collection of zany characters never misses a beat, they are all prodigiously silly. The villains' henchmen behave like bored children waiting for the school bus. I love this kind of Conan O'Brien humour. (I'll try to forget all the diarrhoea jokes, though)

Kim Nam-gil is so cool. He fights really well, the action isn't neglected at all, and he's so funny ! I didn't know he had this comedic side to his acting. "God gave me the gift of dealing with scum like you, not forgiving them." What a man!

But what about the role of the fat guy who eats all the time ? The answer is clear : no, don't. And actor Ahn Chang-hwan, playing a Thai migrant with an exaggerated, grotesque accent and a high-pitched voice, is perfectly Korean from Korea. It's on a par with Apu in The Simpsons... I've seen enough Thai films and series to know that people don't talk like that over there.
On the other hand, Kim Nam-gil dresses up as a woman (episode 11. And he'll do it again next season) and it's not a comic or demeaning device, he acts 'normally'. He wears a suit in the colours of the transgender flag, by the way. This is probably not a random choice, given that Korean Catholics are particularly reactionary and fight with all their might against LGBT+ rights. We want more Father Kims in the clergy and fewer transphobes.
In episode 15, the prosecutor plays golf and wears a badge that says "bon coup" in French. It doesn't mean what you might think.
And then, at the beginning, we are introduced to a psychiatrist, who later reappears shrouded in mystery, only to never be mentioned again. This character was introduced for no reason. Strange.

S02 : Dear K-drama writers, can you spare us these endless eating scenes ? Please. For God's sake. Or at least make an effort with the sound. You don't talk with your mouth full ! Bad manners. Literally, every other scene involves copious swallowing !

This season follows the same formula of action and humour, with much more slapstick and gesticulation. And shouting, unfortunately. Not really my thing. It gets on my nerves at times. A show that was rather silly has now become downright mind-numbing.
In addition, the lore expands and proves to be more coherent than that of John Wick. The production, meanwhile, follows the evolution of Korean series and their standards, with much more polished staging than the first season. We are even treated to a single-take sequence shot in episode 1 where the heroes fight on several floors of a building. Well done, Father Kim. You're kicking ass like Jesus drove the merchants out of the Temple. What's more, episode 3 has a scene shot from a subjective point of view. They're trying new things.

That said... this season struggles to match the first in terms of pace and humour. It's a bit boring with all these pointless conversations between the antagonists. Twelve episodes in, and in the sixth one we're still being told how bad we are ? Great, I don't care, guys. Nine episodes before anything really happens in terms of the plot. After a while, we couldn't care less about your stories.

I like Bibi, she rocks, she sings, she acts, okay, okay, but where's Keum Sae-Rok ? Where is she ? Free Keum Sae-Rok.

Given the radical change in cinematography and acting, I don't think I'll be watching any more of this director's productions because he's clearly just putting his name on other people's work.

Read More

First of all: end and abolish prison. Also : acab.

"Tell yourself that you are already dead. And that you remain alive as if God were giving you a bonus. You have to live, whether it's to regret or repent." Wise words from the prison chaplain.
These prison episodes begin in the most fitting way and shift towards the idea that when you want something, you can achieve it, and that only your burning desire will turn the hero into a vengeful monster ready for anything. Let's admit it. But the friendship between these two men is very touching.

The series alternates between tragic seriousness and grotesque excess, without ever making up its mind. The way the hero realises what a trap he has fallen into, for example... The evil genius behind it all turns out to be too stupid to imagine that his victims would talk to each other, apparently. Anyway, the whole series is like that. You shouldn't look too closely, and then you can just let yourself be carried away by the revenge. In the end, the longest part was the first episode ; after that, it flows smoothly.

Worth watching for the action scenes, the suspense and to fuel your justified hatred of the rich. Provided you don't think too much about the many absurdities in the script. (How does this boy finance his vendetta ?) Notably this surprising ability to be stabbed in the stomach and make a full recovery, or that mysterious invulnerability to concussions.
The least implausible thing is seeing the police fabricating evidence and happily obeying their cruel superiors. The villainous tech bro tells us : the rich and their militia are evil simply because they can be.

Bravo for the sword fight. "Washi o washi" as we all say.

Read More

With this director and screenwriter, obviously we had to watch it. Kim Go-eun, as a bonus, we can't say no. Park Se-jun's intriguing music completes the picture. He makes good use of the solo bassoon. I appreciate the effort. (Even if that minor sixth leap sounds like the theme of The Force beginning.)

At the beginning, we are introduced to complex characters who have room to exist and develop. We expect nothing less from this team. The understated direction chooses its moments to intensify the stakes of the story, then becomes more academic when the actresses' performances demand it. Thus, we follow the story in the most natural way possible, without questioning the (many) oddities of this far-fetched scenario. The original text of ‘Little Women’ is far removed from this...

One criticism I would make of this K-drama is that it resorts to certain plot devices to add artificial suspense. Certain elements of the plot are resolved in a very convenient, even miraculous way. The whole Singapore section, for example. (Singapore, the wet dream of every fascist on the planet) It's reminiscent of the 2013 film Samar, and that's not a compliment. The twists go so far! These secret societies that scatter blue flowers all over the crime scenes and reveal everything (but not too much at once, let's save some for later) when our heroines question them. Strange, strange.

"The rich risk their capital, the poor risk their lives."

From the very first episode, there are references to ‘illegal’ torture (we'd like to think so, but it was perfectly legal) against people suspected of espionage (being "communists"). The scene is set: the cruelty of the rich. You don't become rich without stealing, killing, cheating and being complicit in all of that at the same time: inheriting.

I think it's good that the alcoholism of one of the characters raises the issue of taking substances to keep up with work and cope with pressure. It's a problem that no one wants to address; bosses are happy to see their employees work themselves to death and then accuse them of bad behaviour when they no longer want them.
It really hurt my heart to see how it was used against her. That said, this theme disappears quite quickly. And excuse me, but when you quit alcohol, you suffer serious, even fatal, physical and mental consequences. It deserved better treatment. Here, it seems like a bit of an easy plot device.

Another thing : the rich great-aunt somewhat undermines the dialectic around money. If we can count on providential help, what's the point of repeating over and over again how desperate these young women are to find money to survive ? It somewhat undermines the illustration of how poverty makes you exploitable and disposable. And so we wonder, where was this immensely wealthy woman when her family was living in poverty ?

What's more, all this talk about pride when you're poor is rather annoying. When you need money, you don't turn your nose up at it, and those in power know this very well indeed. We feel indebted when they throw us a few crumbs, but for them it's nothing; we cost them nothing and they gain so much.
Similarly, trying to justify this great-aunt's actions by saying, "Yes, but being a woman was hard", well, being a poor woman is undoubtedly much harder, and it still doesn't justify getting rich off the deaths of others. At least this old lady seems to have a keen taste for the paintings of Juan Gris, Jacques Villon and Serge Poliakoff, and she's quite right.
And now that I think about it... she could have told her nieces so much about that blue orchid thing, but she didn't say a word ! What a joke.

"Do you really believe that the rich are always the aggressors and the poor are inevitably their victims? That's a lie that poor people tell themselves."

On the other hand, violence among wealthy individuals, towards each other and towards their children, is shown in a stark light. It is their way of validating their worth ; this social position is maintained through violence against others and against themselves. One must undergo "discipline" to remain in line and thus "earn" their's superior position. This is demonstrated in the work of French sociologists Pinçon-Charlot. (not sure if their books have been translated in English) However, it is worth adding that violent fathers exist in all social classes and are never good fathers.

The ambitious mayoral candidate says at one point that his father was a Vietnam War veteran and a victim of Agent Orange. It is curious to see how Korean productions so rarely mention their country's participation in this war against Vietnamese independence on the American side, and how, coincidentally, it is only to talk about a very sad old man who is ill, and never about the Vietnamese he surely killed... The screenwriter does the same thing in Tempest, briefly mentioning the war but without saying what it entailed. There is something to question here.

I notice a lot of annoying things (which no one will read, thankfully. I write too much), but to be honest, this series keeps you hooked throughout. You want to know where it's going, and each episode ends with a scandalous cliffhanger. Scandalous ! Even if it's a senseless mess at times (the youngest little sister who serves as a sort of pet throughout and then disappears because one really don't know what to do with this character...), I devoured it all in a ridiculously short time. I'm so weak. And any story that doesn't involve virile males in search of action, I'm in.

Useless bonus :
_The heir locked up in a luxury psychiatric hospital reads Le Comte de Monte Cristo and later sends a text message under the pseudonym Dantès. A true fan.
_The shameless advertising for chocolate squares wrapped in plastic (we see it in countless K-dramas) is completely off-putting. Buy a whole bar and cut your own squares !
_From one series to the next, we end up seeing the same places. I recognise the house of the evil rich people and the three sisters' flat on the roof. With that church tower right next to it.

Read More

An extremely dark series. Set in a wintery night-time atmosphere. It scares the hell out of you with the most ordinary things (a glance, a shadow on the ground that disappears, someone knocking on the door, your loved one saying strange things) while talking about ghosts. It's powerful. Anyway, spirits don't exist, I say it loud and clear. No one will silence me. If they did exist, we would be constantly harassed by billions of dead people. Through the power of my cosmic brain, I have solved this mystery.

The story remains captivating despite its slow pace. Through these possessions, this diminished vision and these growing shadows, we are clearly told about the desire to die. Let me be clear: people who take their own lives also wanted to live. Those who want to understand will understand. That is what this story is about.

"I had never lived solely for myself, not even for a moment. I had never made a decision or gone to a place because I wanted to. Why and for whom did I mistreat myself so cruelly ? The one who dragged me into the darkness was none other than myself. I was killing myself. I refused to die once I realized that. I'm going to start living for myself."

Apart from that, Kim Tae-ri's performance is phenomenal. A very demanding role in which she has to go through all the negative emotions, on the verge of exploding into a thousand pieces, changing expressions, screaming angrily, suddenly crying, seeming lost and then herself again, at the height of despair. The final scene with the lighter is mind-blowing. It's incredible how well she conveys the struggle against herself and her darkness.
However, the dinner scene with her former university friends in episode 5 was unnecessary. Why do people do this to themselves? Why see people you don't like? Why do we have to put up with awkward and painful moments like that? I'm not here to suffer, I'm doing fine on my own. No need to help me with that.

"Even if you feel like dying because you're frustrated and overwhelmed, no one will acknowledge how you feel."

That being said, I hope that seeing everyone absolutely terrified at the thought of someone knocking on their door will give you an idea of the world I live in. Welcome to the club.
However, fellow ghosts, communication is key. You just stare at people silently, and no one understands what you want. Please be a little more serious about your demands. Also, you don't exist. So stop it.

Ps : Naturally, the ghost is left-handed... There's no smoke without fire. (I'm just saying)

Read More

love, drama, courage, sadness, a perfect mix of everything that makes a true banger!

A really, really great season!

It has love, drama, courage, sadness, a perfect mix of everything that makes a true banger!
I loved the story of a father and his daughter searching for their wife/mother.
The creation of the monster is clever: once you find out she’s looking for her mother, it’s pretty easy to connect the dots between the monster and her. Personally, I figured it out right away I was like “that’s her mom, for sure!” and I was right lol.

The little romance between her and Tae Sang was super cute. The reunion scene after he temporarily disappears is hilarious especially the part where she threatens him in the middle of the street. Dude really doesn’t care about being discreet at all!

There are some very emotional moments too, like when she discovers that her mother is the monster, or when her mother tries to protect her. The ending is intense: they manage to destroy the place and escape. The boat scene where the enemies try to stop them, her mother showing up injured and wanting to attack Jang Tae Sang… and then the daughter stepping between them.
That moment is really touching her speech and her “death” hit hard.

Overall, it’s a solid story. I never had a single boring episode.

The acting is excellent big bravo to the whole cast.The music is really cool too.And the monster’s design and execution are very well done. I never once felt like it looked cheap or badly animated.

In short, a very strong Season 1!!!

Read More

Be close to your friends and even closer to your enemies, as they say. This little game of cat and mouse works beautifully. These two guys are evil incarnate, cop or gangster, same piece of work. Friend or foe, they don't know anymore.

80% of the time, they're just a bunch of yob sulking and chain-smoking cigarettes. (I learnt a new word : yob) But the atmosphere and staging are spot on. The police are real bastards, violent and cruel, without mercy. Realistic. (But, of course, at the end we're told that they're the good guys. Make no mistakes !) There are still two female characters (two more than in many stories of this kind) and they are relatively well written, with their own motivations and making their own decisions. (As for the Bechdel test... that would be asking too much, though.)

The fights are very brutal and raw. It seems as though nothing happened because the story remains simple, but in reality, there are quite a few twists and turns in store for us.
It totally deserves its high ratings. Ji Chang-wook is excellent, but to be honest, everyone is very, very good.

The theme music for the series sounds like something Ennio Morricone would have composed. It fits so well with the final scene, where the two "heroes" walk together through Seoul at night. I find that ending perfect. Tragic.

And finally, how convenient that the Japanese and Chinese speak impeccable Korean. And there is a certain view of China... each scene is accompanied by a little piece of music in a caricatured pentatonic scale. All Chinese people are portrayed as cold and violent. We are clearly being sent a message.

(TW: SA) The hero is assaulted, although the series does not present it that way. He makes it clear throughout that he is not consenting. And he shows no interest in this woman. Their strange relationship is fuelled by silences and his lack of enjoyment in being around this woman. I don't really understand this choice.

Read More