Reviews

Dumped the slump

The best I can do for my mental health right now is to drop this kdrama. This comes from someone diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder since 17 years of age.

I shouldn't have picked it up. I don't enjoy this writer's dramas. I will stop trying, not matter how much I like the cast. It's not worth it.
The writer hasn't learnt anything since secretary Kim when she suggested wine to fight insomnia and/or didn't do her research.

I do understand Asian culture has intricacies that I might not totally appreciate or understand but they seem detrimental no matter what part of worldly society we're talking about.
Depression is, for sure, a real illness just like breaking a leg but its treatment isn't as straightforward. Depression is not something you work on like dieting to get a "summer body" (which is also problematic). It doesn't have a schedule and it's not a race to the top. It's more like a hurdles race in the middle of the forest with no signs or GPS, at night and alone and without a prize at the end.

Generically calling it depression when she seems to have a burn out from overwork and lack of rest and PTSD from the accident doesn't seem quite right but I'm not a doctor. Her psychiatrist also doesn't seem like one. I never saw a psychiatrist as smiley as that one. It was scary.

South Korea has a problem with work hours, making their workforce work the regular 40 hours plus 12 hours of overtime which amounts to 52 weekly work hours. And their government keeps wanting to increase them.
Dramas are, ultimately, a comment on society. If you're not accurately commenting or trying to breakdown society's problems, you're probably amounting to them.

If a drama doesn't intend to do social commentary, it should at least be entertaining. I wasn't entertained. Everyone turns out annoying. There's only so much bickering and immaturity one can handle.
There wasn't even romance. There's a limit to how many "I like you but I'm not ready, I'll only be ready for love once I'm not broken" one can handle. Most human beings are indeed "broken" and even "broken" people deserve love.
There was no romance, no chemistry, no humour. I won't be watching any more dramas by this writer. They're obviously not my thing.

p.s. don't drink alcohol to fight insomnia, alcohol is a stimulant and it will do you more harm than good, especially in the long-term. also, don't drink alcohol while taking medication, especially ones for a mental illness.

p.s.s. if you're struggling with depression, ask for help if you can. Also look around you to find out the root cause. It could be your brain chemistry fight against you or it could have another cause. Many times, it can also be a symptom of the capitalist society in which we're forced to participate. Taking meds when your brain is not ok is absolutely acceptable and fundamental but don't forget to get therapy as well.

Read More

Blessings....Or not

This serie has an interesting idea, it was indeed difficult to bring such topic, a bit provocative and , as I dare to say, done smartly.

I'm not the person who have the right to say it's right or wrong (obviously, you know the answer) but it's not shocking to me, I won't go in details but I've learnt that similar cases could exist, unfortunately.

I don't know how to explain my feelings but I was, for sure, invested in the story, it even gave me goosebumps, I love the settings, the atmosphere (pleasing to watch and omg they still make me want to go to Thailand to visit the Temples) and of course, the acting was really good!
I was already familiar with some of them so I was glad to see them again in a different project and for the other, it was a nice surprise.

The music was interestingly fun and catchy, mixed of modern / rap music with a traditional vibe (I mean, it reminds me of the prayers?) and I think I recognized Milli's voice, I think it's her with another artist.

It's somehow an interesting approach to show some cultural and belief with younger generation along with the perception of today's religion (I'm sorry it was a bit awkward, I don't knowhow toexplain correctly...)

Finally, I would recommend it for all the "reasons" I have mentioned above, it's worth the watch to explore this subject.

Read More

Amalgamation of Average Blooming into a perfect drama

At the time of writing this review, currently the drama "Lovely Runner" is at an all time high rating of 9.2 on MDL which to those who are unaware may sound like is this really the best KDrama of all time or is this drama a masterpiece? In my opinion is neither of these. It actually does not have the best plot, acting, direction or music. However, the amalgamation of all these not so perfect things had somehow created a final product which is absolutely a GEM OF A SHOW. Let me explain how:-

First the PLOT :-
Anyone can read the plot as mentioned from the summary on MDL and know that time travel is a huge plot device in this drama. Just like every time travel content out there, there is a mystery element as how does ones actions in the past timeline is going to affect the present timeline and the thriller element as to how the FL will save the ML. The show nailed this aspect as you will always be on your toes as what will happen next in case of action and tense scenes as nothing is predictable. Because FL is from future, she tries to figure out what really happened in the past so that she could turn and change things the second time. Also, the romance plot is definitely one of the best elements of the show and I will discuss it in detail shortly.

Second the DIRECTION :-
The director did a really good job in establishing the past timeline by using real life famous incidents that have happened in the past so that the viewers can have an idea of what exact dates the drama is happening in and as you watch more episodes, the timeline and dates become really important.

Third Acting and ROMANCE :-
No one can deny the fact that in Korean RomComs, the ML and FL romance is make or break for the drama. If its subpar then not even a masterpiece storytelling can save the drama from failing. Fortunately, here the ML character "Ryu Seon Jae" played by Byeon Woo Seok and FL character "Im Sol" played by the lovely Kim Hye Yoon brought one of the most electrifying chemistry and wholesome relationship game to KDrama world. The drama has set a new GOLD STANDARD OF ROMANCE on which future Korean romcoms will be judged by the viewers.

The standout as per popular opinion (I also agree) is Seon Jae as he is the greenest of the green flag boyfriend material ever shown on KDrama screen and no doubt why very female viewer is dying to have a boyfriend like him since Byeon Woo Seok with his stellar potrayal has caused a storm in the KDrama world and catapulted himself to be in the league of the most desirable Hallyu Star globally.

I feel a little sad that less attention has been given to Kim Hye Yoon by the fandom whose FL character is the catalyst of everything and is the emotional core as well the main protagonist of the show. She is a terrific actor and totally excelled at portraying all kinds of emotions throughout the show especially her crying scenes which are quite a few to say the least. Me being a male Kdrama viewer, has to mention that in all the scenes set in present timeline she looked drop dead gorgeous and I felt in love with her. She is adorable in the way she acts and the reason the show has "Lovely" in its title.

Skinship in this show is not a joke and one time I had to double check to see whether I am really watching a Korean drama as OH BOY this drama has one of the most steamiest and hottest kissing scene of recent times. Kudos to the actors for portraying with full commitment and causing us to swoon and to have butterflies in our stomach with their great onscreen chemistry.

Fourth the Music / OST :-
Most of the OSTs are not only memorable but also used at very appropriate times in the show for evoking certain emotions that certainly kept most viewers hooked. Notable mentions would be "Spring Snow" by 10CM and "Like a Dream" by GIDLE's MINNIE.

Fifth the Rewatch Value :-
The kissing scenes have great rewatch value if you know what I mean :-) But on a serious note , the dramas has multiple time jumps and time travel scenarios that watching it 2-3 times will be a breeze. From now on, this will be my comfort Kdrama to watch.

FINAL VERDICT :-
Just stop wasting time on reading the reviews and go into the world of Sunjaeyaaa & Solaaa and experience the wholesome drama for the first time.

Read More

A Must-Watch: The Enchanting Magic of 'Lovely Runner'

"Lovely Runner" embodies all the hallmarks of a superhit drama: a perfect blend of comedy, romance, time travel, intricately crafted characters, and a captivating plotline. The chemistry between Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon is electrifying, with their performances seamlessly transitioning from the sweetness of first love to the depths of melodrama. Kim Hye-yoon’s portrayal of Im Sol, a delightful and whimsical character, consistently brings smiles and lighthearted moments, while Byeon Woo-seok’s Ryu Seonjae emerges as a profoundly tragic figure, facing multiple deaths throughout the series.

"Lovely Runner" is not just a story of love and loss; it’s a rich tapestry of human emotions and experiences, beautifully portrayed through its well-written characters and engaging plot. With its perfect balance of humor, romance, and drama, it stands out as one of the finest K-dramas of 2024, leaving a lasting impression on its audience.

Read More

if you liked the drama, I suggest you skip this rant.

It is a nice slice-of-life story... it's tagged as a boy's love, but what you might expect from this series is more of a bromance, with BL elements sprinkled here and there...

The story is about a two childhood friends who have spent a majority of their elementary school days with each other. Out of the two boys, Natsukawa and Kazhuhito, the latter is supposed to have a crush on the former. They spend their elementary days frolicking and having fun with each other and their respective families and doing whatever school children do to enjoy their holidays. Natsukawa prepares icecream for Kazhuhito, takes care of Kazhuhito whenever he is scared, play a lot of games and up until this point, the story seems cute and fluffy; it is after this point does everything start to go downhill, atleast for me. They part ways in middle school and while Natsukawa becomes the caretaker of his sisters throughout middle school and high school - cooking for them, cleaning the house, and basically act as a second mother to them while Kazhuhito is pretty busy trying to make it big in baseball. As someone who really values their work, its almost unfathomable for me to think that while in the pursuit of something important like this, Kazhuhito has feelings for someone. And that too for a someone he hasnt seen since elementary school. Its not realistic, again atleast in my eyes, because let's face it, humans are not that loyal. And most of them have the attention span of a goldfish.

It is a slow burn, so the characters are meant to be awkward, caring and quite gentle in the way they express their feelings. But this idea has been stretched so thin over the production of this entire drama, that you begin to wonder if you are the fool for actually believing Kazhuhito has feelings for Natsukawa... and its so enforced, this idea, that it has almost completely dampened the chemistry between the leads. There is literally nothing that you can feel from them. I dont know why, but its just not there.

Oh, but you can definitely expect some "dialogues" here and there. I am from Tamilnadu, India, so there is a very popular dialogue from here from the movie "Manal Kayiru", where one of the characters monotonously asks his son-in-law if he is fine and does ask all the general pleasantries, which makes you feel as though he is reciting something that he mugged up. It really does feel like that. Those dialogues dont convince the viewer from any angle that Kazhuhito is in love with Natsukawa.

The last episode was actually quite nice though. They emoted their feelings of shock, happiness and joy of having found that they both like each other. Its quite cute and lovely. But apart from the last episode, the entire series was a snoozefest for me.

But again this is just my opinion, and is not meant to hurt anyone's feelings.

Read More

A Fun but Muddled Mess of a BL

I am a little surprised to how popular this BL series is. The popularity could be the result of how sexual this show is and how different it is from your typical BL. I really enjoyed the first half of this series. However, halfway through, the series seems to lose its steam and the plot. When Kinn and Porsche became a couple and had BL couple-like moments that were cute, it felt completely out of place. Moreover, the main couple became less interesting than the character of Vegas.

A major problem with this show is that the characters are not consistent with who they are throughout the series. I don't mean characters have moments of growth. Porsche changes throughout the series, as does his little brother Porchay. On the other hand, characters like Vegas and Kinn are sociopathic earlier but then become broken teddy bears after a couple of episodes. It just makes sense and feels like a fan-fiction kind of logic.

Vegas, in particular, is a character who makes little sense. He is shown as a soulless, violent manipulator. Yet, after torturing Pete, he becomes a vulnerable, broken little boy with him. Vegas's father is cruel as well, but then he meets his sister and becomes a crying sack of shit.

By the end, we have twist after twist after twist, adding unnecessary complexity to the story to create a clean ending.

I was interested in the relationship between Porchay and Kim. I found Kim to be interesting, but an underdeveloped character.

Vegas and Pete became an irrational but interesting couple that I wanted more time with.

Tankhun was a load of fun in every scene.

Read More

Doctors review on medical drama !

I'm a doctor and I hate that they butchered all the nomenclature and procedures. FL says she is performing cardiac tamponade. C tamponade is a condition not a procedure. In one episode she says get the ABJ done. It's ABG. ML just performed acupuncture and treats pneumothorax. Friggin BS is that ? Where did the air go. Where ? She does tube thoracotomy for pneumothorax on one person that's somewhat sensible. ML treats cardiac arrest caused by blockade. Meaning MI with acupuncture. How ? How did the artery get cleared man. Electricity from the needle went and melted it off? This guy is oriental doctor for humans and animals too. But it's a drama and not real life so I'll let go of it.
This drama aims to propagate to naive people that oriental medicine is equal to modern day medicine, if not better. Misleading is an understatement.
Since beginning ML tries to tell FL something about the fallot's tetrology girl, that she didn't know. But in the end he doesn't say anything about it. So even put that scene if it's not useful.
But one thing that just got me hooked till I finished is their acting. Chemistry, meh!

Read More

Only if you have nothing else to watch...

Well, this year's japanese bls have been more of a miss than a hit! And this one unfortunately is on the miss side!

It is a cute slice of life, childhood friends to lovers, unrequited long-time crush, an endless string of clichés and repetitive tropes filled drama. Mind you, it was not bad but it was completely forgettable and something we have already seen so many times.

The actors had zero chemistry and the kisses were not even pecks, so why bother? The characters were also clichés: a former baseball player Kazuhito, cold and taciturn apparently emotionless but actually hiding his feelings really well. The other one was the opposite: jumpy, confused and indiscreet. It was so painful to watch when he was prodding the baseball guy about his love life, asking increasingly rude questions and even offering to sort it out for him and get him a girlfriend. Ryota is indeed a very unlikeable character. He seems young and cheerful but is actually immature and impolite and completely unaware of his surroundings: "Read the room, Ryo and shut the fuck up!"

The most interesting character was Haruna, baseball guy's best friend who cunningly pushes the two towards each other, inciting them to finally talk. I want to see a drama where he's a main character.

The baseball guy was too cute (I want to see more of that actor!) the other one was too creapy. Towards the ending, I kept thinking of Cherry Magic, thai version, where Achi accepts Karan's feelings out of gratitude but still very uncomfortable together. I had the same feeling here, less pronounced but still present: Ryo still seemed very uncomfortable...He was also worried for a long time about the acceptability of their relationship and even though Haruna explained some basic truths about Kazuhito, he semed more interested in keeping a roommate than getting a boyfriend. Very ambiguous!

Forgettable plot but well produced without major problems unless you count boredom.

Read More

Second Chances.

I think it's time to admit that some types of mature romances aren't just for me. This was the case with this show.

Miyata Akihiro, a sincere and diligent editor of a business magazine by chance gets to meet his first love, Iwanaga Takashi while working on an article. However, he is still haunted by his previous experience as a teenager with the untouchable Iwanaga sensei, who had bet on their love. Now, as adults, Iwanaga once again expresses his interest in Miyata-san, who is determined not to fall for the easy-going Iwanaga-sensei again.

The characters, particularly Miyata-san is the reason I held on until the end. He was careful and cautious with his words and actions. I was never once annoyed or angered by his choices.
As for Iwanaga sensei... I have no idea about him even after the end. There was so much more to him than what was being shown, but I just couldn't feel anything for his character at all.
I enjoyed the flashbacks, but they seemed incomplete to the story, inspite of giving some glimpse into their past, particularly Miyata-san.
Both the actors nailed their roles, and the overall atmosphere of the drama was pleasant.
It seems to be one of those dramas, which I feel had a lot of potential, but somehow managed to miss me.

Read More

interesting plotline, bad execution

When I saw this on Netflix I was elated. I mean, two academic rivals meeting each other again at the lowest point of their lives resulting in them finding solace in each other? AND falling in love in the process? That's literally my cup of tea. Unfortunately, I ended up being disappointed.

First and foremost, I disliked the romance. I barely felt anything between the leads. Their chemistry was nonexistent. I could tell they were going for a slow-burn romance. But where were the subtleties that makes a slow-burn a GOOD slow-burn? Instead we have Jeong Woo ignoring his own feelings towards Ha Neul, knowing deep down he likes her. Girl, the whole world knows you like her. I'm tired of those clichés.

The theme surrounding mental health was well explained. However, the comedic aspect ruined it all; it felt off-putting. Though, maybe that's just a preference considering I love mature dramas without comedy more than whatever-this-is.

Ending my review as I've only watched 5 out of 16 episodes

Read More

A Lackluster Decline: When a Script Goes Off Course

I couldn't help but wonder if the writer experienced burnout halfway through the script or perhaps became overly medicated, leading to a loss of clarity. The quality of the script undeniably plummeted. We tuned in for an intricate revenge plot and got a hot mess of nonsensical actions instead.

And let's talk about the female lead—what a letdown! Her performance was so lackluster, and her character felt like an afterthought. She had one expression the whole time, like a deer in headlights.

Here's hoping Lee Jae Wook picks a more promising project next time. We know he can do so much better!

Read More

i don't like this one

most of the actors are overacting all the time, too many filler, too many "coincidental" scenes between main characters (falling into each other,...). Additionally, there are many details that are given only once and are not repeated or developed or explained (the first time the male lead dies of depression - why is he depressed?, the scene where the female lead discovers that
her mom hides her illness - has their relationship changed?, the female lead can escape the fate of being crippled but find it difficult to save the male lead?). In particular, what annoys me the most is the pair of supporting characters (the female lead's brother and best friend). They're too loud and don't really contribute to the main story line

Read More

Worth watchiing!

especially for Ryan Cheng’s acting. He’s fierce and intense (and very handsome). He and the 2nd FL have good chemistry and make the story interesting. The ML and FL didn’t have much chemistry but at least Esther Yu changed her annoying baby girlish voice to a whispering voice.

I love that the sister had a completely different personality than female characters in most dramas. She was shamelessly pursuing Jin Fan. I found her character was quite refreshing.

Overall, I recommend this drama. It wasn’t perfect in any way but still worth watching.

Read More