Reviews

Pointless season

I have so many things to complain about that it's hard for me to talk about the positives, which weren't that many to be honest, except some interesting games.

First of all, they should have stopped at the 2nd season. I really don't understand why they had to continue the story, everything was solved, we had a good ending! It made no sense for them to go back to the games. Again. And the ending annoyed me too... Really?

I don't have complaints about the acting/cast but I have so much to say about the characters! Usagi who I really liked in the first two seasons irritated me so much in this season! Ryuji too... I didn't like we had just cameos from certain characters that were really important in the 2nd season.

I hope someone will talk some sense into the screenwriters and not continue this. We are way past what could be done plot wise.

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A series with a good heart but lacks the finesse of a truly good story

Typhoon Family is a series with a good heart, but lacks the finesse of a truly good story. It refused to venture out of comfortable territory as similar situations unfolded involving the same villain, becoming easily predictable. This formulaic approach became increasingly frustrating because ironically, just like running a business, some risks NEED to be taken in storytelling to elevate its quality. Alas, as much as it started with a lot of promise, it did not achieve a lot of its potential.

Where the show succeeds the most is its sentimental atmosphere. With the nostalgic styling and music, it is one of the few kdramas where I was mostly convinced by the backdrop and felt myself being brought back to the 90s. I also genuinely liked the characters and empathized with their struggles, but wished they were not stuck in such repetitive scenarios and were given more to do.

As a whole, Typhoon Family is worth watching but not a must-watch.

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A Royal Love Story That Stole My Heart

I just finished The Next Prince tonight, and wow this BL series truly deserves the title of one of the best BL of the year. The story is simple but magical, the chemistry is natural, and every episode pulled me deeper into their world.

What I loved most is how heartfelt the pacing feels. Nothing is rushed, nothing is forced just pure connection that grows beautifully. The leads carried every scene with emotion that made me smile, ache, and fall in love with them.

It’s the kind of series that stays with you even after the final episode. Warm, romantic, and unforgettable. If you’re looking for a BL that delivers both charm and heart, The Next Prince is definitely a must-watch.

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Stability in Unstable Times

This drama clearly showed that even in the midst of crisis, survival is possible...particularly when one is held together by a sense of family, even when that family isn’t blood-related. Tae-poong, the male lead, faced the sudden death of his father, who ran a trading company called Typhoon Family. Coincidentally, his father died on the same day the South Korean IMF crisis hit, leaving many businesses in shambles and some completely closed.
Determined, Tae-poong took over his late father’s company and worked to guide its employees toward stability amid the economic storm. The drama did a commendable job of illustrating how each employee’s life was disrupted by both the IMF crisis and the loss of their boss and yet many still chose to return to Typhoon Family to support their new captain. Bold, right?!
What stood out most to me was how the employees collectively gave their all to stabilize the company, even under severe financial strain. Each individual revealed distinct strengths from sales and accounting to networking and language skills highlighting the value of teamwork during uncertainty. The female lead, Mi-seon, was portrayed as a smart, hardworking, and resilient trader who faced criticism from a colleague simply for being a woman in the field, the nerve! Her perseverance and eventual recognition reinforced her position as a capable professional and, quite frankly, a boss lady.
Beyond the workplace, the romance between Tae-poong and Mi-seon was genuinely charming. Their chemistry felt organic, and their mutual support (both professionally and personally ) added emotional warmth to an otherwise tense narrative.
Another notable aspect was how the drama portrayed different forms of family and personal hardship, including single-parent households and children without parental support. These narratives added emotional depth and grounded the story in social reality, making moments of success feel genuinely earned.
That said, the drama isn’t without its shortcomings. The recurring “loss-win” cycle repeated setbacks followed by recovery at times felt overly repetitive and slowed the pacing. This may be a deal breaker for some viewers; however, within the context of an economic and business drama set during a financial crisis, the repetition felt thematically justified, as it reflected the unstable nature of businesses at the time. Additionally, while Mi-seon eventually earned respect in the workplace, the early depiction of sexism was difficult to watch. Although it was addressed later, those initial episodes were particularly frustrating.
Overall, this was a heartfelt drama that thoughtfully explored resilience, teamwork, love and family in all its forms. It remains both emotionally engaging and intellectually grounded, making it well worth watching.

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If there is God...

I hope you won’t watch this movie for Christmas. The title, Christmas Carol, may mislead those searching for a film to lift up the holiday spirit. Instead, we are given a gut-wrenching story about a crime that was never properly addressed—one that becomes more and more depressing as the events unfold.

I feel this movie is made for people of faith like me, to provoke our religious ideas about God’s providence, His blessings, forgiveness, and redemption. The film asks: If God is real, how can you believe and trust in Him when He allows such terrible things to happen? But I would say that the pain and anguish we feel in the face of evil are themselves proof that there must be some higher justice. In the end, I really liked this movie, even though I don’t think I will want to watch it again.

The main actor, Park Jin-young, plays both himself and his brother, and he was truly pushed to the limit to authentically express and convey the emotional reality of his characters. The other actors were good as well, but he displayed a rawness of emotion rarely seen on screen. So even if only for his performance, this movie is worth seeing.

Now, let us sing a Christmas carol. Which one is your favourite?

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A Hollow Attempt at Dark Comedy

Not Other Choice” is a film that never justifies its own length.
From the very beginning, it becomes clear that Park Chan-wook does not have a grip on dark comedy. The film mistakes boredom for depth and builds a structure that is scattered, heavy, and unfocused. It tries to criticize everything—family, society, ethics, justice, media—but ends up saying nothing.

The so-called humor is completely absent. Every line feels clumsy, improvised, and painfully forced. After the first thirty minutes, the movie becomes almost unbearable. The characters are surprisingly unlikable—rare for Korean cinema—and the protagonist goes from being laid off to committing murder without any believable motivation.

The attempt to adapt Western satire to a Korean context simply doesn’t work. The values, tone, and moral foundations don’t translate, and the story collapses under its own confusion.
Lee Byung-hun tries, but never looks natural.
Son Ye-jin is the only redeeming element: every scene she’s in carries more emotional truth than the entire script.

In the end, the film feels like a mix of Breaking Bad and Ozark—but with none of the intelligence, tension, or moral clarity that made those works great.

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Leads are grating. In line with other viewers, I found the fiends more compelling than the humans, which is telling a lot since they're the antagonists. I approached this as a fantasy-heavy watch, but what I got was romance set against the backdrop of an impending apocalypse. I kept fast-forwarding every time the leads appeared. Dilraba gave it her all, and she does what she can with the material, but that’s not enough to save the character or the show. The root problem lies in a tepid plot and underdeveloped characters.

Action scenes never quite land; they start promising and fizzle out as the series wears on. The early sequences feel cool, but soon settle into mediocrity. Cinematography is the one consistently redeeming trait—beautiful to look at and probably what kept me watching until episode 7. The series had immense potential, yet it fails to meet expectations or justify its tonal shifts.

I hope future Chinese genre output signals a shift toward more compelling characterizations that deserve rooting for. If the lead’s idea of “freedom” is to run away, that approach feels superficial and unsatisfying. It’s a shame, because with stronger writing, this could have been a standout—but as is, it doesn’t meet the bar.

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A Storm of Talent, A Breeze of Flaws

ACTING HEAVYWEIGHTS: THE CAST THAT DELIVERS

If you watch for nothing else, tune in for the performances. Lee Junho is the show’s pulse, taking Kang Tae Poong from reckless Apgujeong kid to a man changed by family responsibilities. Every emotion hits deeply. Kim Min Ha matches him with warmth and grit as she navigates both workplace and family troubles. Kim Min Seok and Kwon Han Sol round out a cast that sparks with chemistry. It’s an acting masterclass—full stop.

‘ROMANCE REDEFINED’: LOVE, NO CHEESE REQUIRED

Forget predictable romance. The leads’ connection grows quietly and honestly—never forced, always intentional. You’ll remember the blushing beachside kiss, but it’s their easy partnership in both life and business that sets them apart. This is K-drama romance with real depth: subtle, refreshing, and genuinely worth rooting for.

RETRO VIBES, FOUND FAMILY FEELS, AND A MOTHER’S REINVENTION

From retro gadgets to the buzz of a fax machine, Typhoon Family nails late ’90s nostalgia. The early episodes hum with both collective anxiety and resilience from the IMF crisis—history as atmosphere. But the real heart is family, both by blood and by choice.

Kim Ji Young’s journey as TaePoong’s mother is a true revelation. She transforms from a sheltered wife into a self-reliant matriarch, quietly taking charge when everything seems on the brink. Watching her steady the ship—caring for her son, Miho, Beom, and even Grandma—brings a layer of authentic warmth and strength that’s hard to resist. Her scenes are a blend of tenderness and grit, showing how survival sometimes means inventing yourself anew, even as the world falls apart.

Even so, I often wished for more everyday moments between TaePoong, his mother, and the rest of the found family. While there are touching scenes, TaePoong sometimes feels on the sidelines in these relationships. A few more shared meals, quiet conversations, or simple family routines could have deepened the sense of connection and made their bonds even more believable.

WHERE THE STORM FIZZLES: FLAT VILLAINS AND RECYCLED CONFLICTS

Not everything hits the mark. The promising IMF backdrop gets pushed aside pretty quickly, and the main antagonists—especially Pyo Hyeon Ju—start strong but fall into repetitive patterns. Pyo Hyeon Ju, in particular, feels more like a plot device at times, with schemes that come off as over-the-top and lacking real emotional stakes. Instead of evolving or surprising us, the villains stick to the same playbook—tantrums, petty setbacks, and even burning inventory (yes, literally)—which might move the story forward but doesn’t add much tension.

It’s a shame because the villains never feel like they’re truly worth the leads’ struggles, and that takes the edge off the drama. A deeper dive into their motivations or backstories could have added more emotional weight to their clashes with the leads, making the story more engaging overall.

THE FINAL WHIRLWIND

The last few episodes finally pick up steam, bringing a well-earned sense of hope and connection. Despite its flaws, Typhoon Family offers genuine warmth and moving moments, making its celebration of resilience and togetherness linger long after the final credits. Typhoon Family ultimately finds clarity about resilience and chosen family—even if it takes a winding road to get there. When the show leans into these themes, it doesn’t just weather the storm; it glows.

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Don’t listen to the haters, absolutely obsessed!!

I was hesitant to watch this drama reading some of the reviews, but I learned through my larger list of dramas, that some of them are unjustified.

I personally like that dark side of it, after all, it is a drama, a fictional story that shouldn’t be taken so seriously. Fan Xiao is very intriguing, his manipulation, games made me want to watch the next episodes with curiosity and I was always wondering if he at any point was genuine or just messing around. Sometimes he left his guard down, and others it felt like another manipulation. At the same time, Lang doesn’t seem that genuine as well, I was also wondering if unexpectedly he was playing games as well. Nevertheless this drama serves a lot, the tension, the chemistry between the main leads is really good, and the story is not boring at all, I cant wait to see how it unfolds.

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Oldie but Goodie

Because this is my First Life - 16 Episodes 2017

In short, this is a story of a young writer named Yun Ji Ho (Jung So Min), who quit her job and is in need of new living accommodations. She meets Nam Se Hui who is need of a roommate and source of rental income. They both come to an agreement through the use of a marriage use as a contractual tool that fits both their needs.

This was an interesting story from start to finish. The hook of the story is Nam Se Hui (Lee Min Ki) who plays an emotionless character much like Spock of Star Trek or Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. Both enter the contract with no personal feelings for one another. But over the course of the program, they both fall for each other.

Some reflective and self narrating scenes were on the verge of being too long. But luckily that line was never crossed. There were many scenes that were exceptionally well performed. Jung So Min performed several scenes in which she had to show sorrow or other emotions that were very impactful. So much so that I felt her performance rivelled many other award winning productions.

The pacing of Lee Min Ki's character was perfect. He possessed a number of emotional and social barriers the were the essence of his character. The writers were careful to remove those barriers brick by brick in a suspenseful and meaningful manner, making it so much more interesting and rewarding.

There were two other side stories involving the main lead's friends. Their stories held up in their own right. Interesting and very well played out. If given a chance, those stories and actors could have been another series in and of itself.

There was just enough humor and twists to keep the interest for each episode. Many of which had a ending leaving you wanting to see the next episode immediately. Spoiler : One such example is that the first kiss actually happens at the end of the first episode. How is that for a hook?

This is just one of a few series that I have viewed with Jung So Min. And she has yet to disappoint me. I believe she possesses so much star-power that is often overlooked. Performances in Alchemy of Souls and Love Next Door just to name a few.

OST had some really good songs that fit the shows perfectly. Very lite and upbeat. However, I have only selected one to add to my current playlist.

I recommend this series and rate it a 8.5 out of 10.

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I really wish I could give this a 9 or 10 but...

The story was perfect, probably one of the best fantasy dramas I've ever seen UNTIL, they simply regress most of their progression as characters and couple for some episodes for definitely not good enough reasons, SPECIALLY after all they went through already.

I'll try to explain without spoiling anything, but it's like they spend a lot of time building their trust for each other, having it broken once, and then solving misunderstandings by proving how much they truly care for each other, rebuilding this trust, just for having it broken AGAIN for... reasons. And from there is basically 6 to 8 chapters of pure needless and frustratingly slow angst. I know this is somewhat standard for romfan chinese dramas, but this one feels specially jarring because it was PEAK AND ALMOST PERFECT until that moment. The characters were smart, there were no plot holes, no dumb misunderstanding, everything literally made perfect sense until that point. And honestly, the characters already went through what should have been the ultimate test to prove themselves for each other. They even share a very specific dialogue that should mean that there'll be no way for them to simply 'go back' to how they were before. And then shit happens, everything dumbs down a little, we go over the same problem for the third and fourth time, the pacing which was great tripped big time and never really got as good as that point, even when it does get better again.

I not saying all of this to say i didn't like this drama, on the contrary, I'm giving this a 8.5 due to my pure love to the main couple's chemistry, the characters, and the somewhat perfect story they had going until certain point. But honestly, it was so good that when the problem happened, it felt so much more disappointing.

But still i recommend it a lot! Now that I've vented, I'll talk about THE GOOD THINGS (besides its greatness until a specific point)
- Main couple chemistry TO THE ROOF!! It's in my top 3 at least.
- Definitely a how to write a female character done right. I love how the FL can be feminine, sweet and very powerful and inteligent at the same time, in a very natural way. Something a bit rare in this genre.
- The make up and clothing of the main cast was very pretty, detailed and purposeful. I specially love everything about 27's characterization and he is not even a main character.
- Creative story and background. The worldbuilding is a lot more creative than the common 'heaven realm x demon realm (or "animal realm") we see in most romfan c-dramas. Very interesting.
- Great music. You can feel already the quality from these dramas when they have specific music for specific moments and characters. It feels special.

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So trashy it's a ton of fun to watch!

This series was a wild ride.
I don't look for Oscar award winning acting performances, but some of the acting in this was really bad & over the top.
The writing made no sense at a lot of points, the musical score was repetitive and unimaginative. Let's not even start with the special effects & fight scenes...
Chet as a character especially was terrible & I found myself laughing whenever he appeared on screen.
I do want to commend Offroad for really exuding aura & confidence as Pheem in the first ⅔ of the series. It made him incredibly attractive & he had great chemistry with his romantic scene partners.
All in all I was incredibly entertained by the series & laughed a lot almost every episode.
So to me it's so bad that it's kinda good.
Will definitely be inviting a bunch of friends and watching this with them.

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A Patience-Rewarding Underdog Tale

Typhoon Family has one of the slowest first episodes I’ve sat through. I was genuinely fighting for my life to stay awake. But it’s also the kind of show where you feel the potential underneath, and I’m glad I pushed on because it eventually delivers.

What sets this drama apart from other underdog stories is both what makes it endearing and what makes it frustrating. Unlike Hot Stove League, Designated Survivor, The Winning Try, and similar dramas, there are no small victories along the way. There’s no steady progress or tiny wins to keep you hopeful during the journey. Instead, the drama seems to save everything for one big, ultimate payoff in the final episode. It’s realistic, but the lack of progress almost made me quit more than once.

One of my disappointments was the wasted potential of the female lead. Kim Min-ha is a genuinely great actress, and I’ve seen her shine in other works, but this drama never gives her the room to do so. The way her character is introduced makes you expect major growth and meaningful contribution. Instead, she keeps trying but never truly delivers, and it is consistently the male lead who ends up saving the day. She feels more like an extension of the story rather than a central force in it.

The romance is subtle and charming, even if it doesn’t offer many fluttery moments beyond the Thailand sequence. What it lacks in excitement, it makes up for in sincerity. Their chemistry builds quietly and steadily, and the development of their relationship is handled with care, making each shift in their dynamic feel natural, authentic, and earned.

The standout of the entire show is Lee Jun-ho. He is the heart of this drama and steals every scene with ease. The way he portrays Kang Tae-poong, with sincerity, joy, sorrow, hope, and that dorky charm, is infectious. You feel everything with him. Watching his growth from an easygoing, carefree person to someone who carries real responsibility and becomes someone others rely on is one of the show’s best qualities. He is also incredibly good looking, to the point where it’s impossible not to stay glued to the screen.

The group dynamic is another major strength. They may be a company, but they function as a true family. Their camaraderie, playful banter, loyalty, and determination to survive together are heartwarming. The found family element shines throughout, and each supporting character feels unique, consistent, and delightful in their own way.

Typhoon Family is a drama that takes its time, sometimes to a fault, but it ultimately finds warmth, heart, and purpose. It succeeds in creating characters you genuinely root for and moments that feel earned. By the end, the journey feels worthwhile, and their victories feel like your own.

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HOPE WARMTH SUNSHINE- LIFE REALITY CHALLENGES

i almost felt like a typhoon co. employee... their struggles were my own struggle, got so connected with the characters, especially the perseverance and sincerity of kang taepoong (uri junho ssi)

the slow burn romance was everything, the natural chemistry between lee junho and kim min ha 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻

The IMF setting and the tsunami it brings in every episode was heartwrenching, BP inducing LITERALLY!! BUT at the same time the warmth of typhoon family and the golden retriever energy of kang tae poong... Balanced everything out!


and the ending was just... YOU GOTTA WATCH IT TO UNDERSTAND!! 🌺🌹🌸🌼🎍💐 😭 the most beautiful closure I've seen yet!!! 📸 gonna miss them all for sure!!!

THANK YOU TYPHOON FAMILY 🌀

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