Annalisse
Unlike the first season QOM 2 really leaned into the over-the-top comedy and all of the cases felt very disjointed. It was weird. Almost like from season 1 to season 2 there were different directors and production teams. There wasn't though, I checked. That seamless blend just wasn't there. Instead it felt more like the series was trying to tell everyone's story in a way that highlighted the individuals away from the rest of the cast rather than having a true feel of an ensemble cast which I loved from season 1. I mean, it's a mystery/police drama: it's all about the ensemble!
Not to mention the sudden appearance of Detective Ha's brother who was never mentioned in season 1, Profiler Woo seemed to become even more robotic in season 2, where he was actually a relatable character by the end of season 1 with a budding bromance between him and Detective Ha, and the most anticipated plot revolving around Hyun Soo was confusing and never really explained in any way to make her story relevant.
I know this might all sound critical but there were some positives: the comedy was good and the individual performances were stellar. If nothing else, anytime the medical examiner, Hwang Jae Min was in a scene I was laughing my head off.
The ending felt very much like they are expecting a season 3, which I'm against if season 2 is any indication. There were so many open ended questions left but I honestly don't care. I'll admit that I only finished the drama because I was hoping against hope that it would all come together in the end, but it never did. So all of the big reveals and whatever closure there was just didn't feel as gratifing as the 1st season. Too bad. for all intents and purposes everything was there, but it was put together in the wrong way.
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I don't know what it is about C-dramas, but I accept their corniness and over the top acting more so than any others. It's like they're in on the joke with the viewers, so its ok by me. The story overall has a lot going on! There is LITERALLY something for everyone: Romance, friendship, action, fantasy, ALL the different time periods, vampires, werewolves, magicians... just to name a few. But the overall story is about a master and his disciples who time-travel into a person's past-life to fix a problem they are having in the present. It's a nice plot that introduces all sorts of mayhem and time jumping, and every time its a different story. So if you don't like the time period and plot in episodes 4-7, then maybe the plot and historic period in episodes 8-10 will do it for you. The common thread through it all is Ye Yin's meetings with past-lives of the people she knows and one very clingy vampire she keeps running in to. The awkwardness, the cuteness and pure comedy that follows will make you stick around just to see what happens next and how Ye Yin will get out of the problems she started in the 1st place!
Even though this doesn't have a romance tag (as of right now) there is some romance. An eternal love triangle to be exact. There are hints that there is some huge history between the two main men in Ye Yin's life, but we only get flashes here and there (probably saving it for season 2!)
The acting was over the top, and corny... but it fit the tone of the show and had me LOLing the entire series.
Like I said before, I was in a certain mood to really enjoy this series. So I understand that it may not be for everyone. But for getting me out of my drama slump, making me look forward to a 2nd season, and forcing me to watch some episodes RAW (bc I just couldn't wait for subs) this was near perfection IMHO.
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Story: Its a continuation of the first series. So if you liked that then you'll like this one. The only real difference is that there is a solid ending for everyone (you may not like it, but...)
Acting/Cast: I really can't complain. Even though I rated this as a 8.5 overall, I can't argue that the acting was bad. It was amazing, especially considering the racy topics. Whether I loved, hated or was just frustrated with a character it was solely because they were doing their job well.
Music: Cute and fitting. And when the actors sang or the band played it was believable and appropriate for the scene and characters.
Rewatch Value: Nope. I mainly watched this in order to find out how a few of my favorite characters would end up (hopefully together!) so it was hard to really get into everyone and truly appreciate the drama as a whole and it never really won me over fully. But (depending on who you find yourself liking) there are some VERY funny and rewatchable scenes.
Overall: It was ok. Better than the first, but still left me wishing for a few different endings.
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This review may contain spoilers
WOW! That was all I was thinking for the last few episodes with my mouth hanging open. I feel like every few months I stumble upon an awesome Japanese mystery/thriller that reminds me why i love this genre so much!Story: Refreshing new twist to an old plot line-a female villain?! Its usually a crazy male who is playing cat-and-mouse with the police and takes an interest in the lead during the investigation. In Siren, its completely reversed-its BECAUSE of the interest the villain (Kara Tachibana) takes in Yuki that the cat-and-mouse game begins. And boy what a game it is! But don't take anything at face-value because the ending will leave you scratching your head and surprised at where all of the twists lead you!
Acting/Cast: Perfection! Let's be honest, without a good charismatic villain manipulating everything behind the scenes series in this genre would not be worth the watch. And Nanao as Kara Tachibana delivers crazy flawlessly (so much its scary!) I can't see any other actress pulling this role off as well as she did. As a matter of fact, there are other times and in flashbacks (which I won't speak of so as not to reveal any spoilers) when she is portrayed by another actress, but it falls short in comparison. And Matsuzaka Tori as Satomi was the perfect lead to play off of. Watching the two fight over Yuki for 9 episodes was a real chess match!
Music: Don't look for an OST that you can sing along to, but the instrumental build up to some of the more shocking moments were well-placed, and the comedic moments were cute and well timed.
Rewatch Value: A must. Especially the last few episodes when everything comes together and is being explained. I like to think of myself as a somewhat smart person, but I had to go back more than once to make sure I was following along without getting confused. Because the 'big reveal' at the end needs time to sink in and understand....And I'm still not quite sure I've got it all right!!
Overall: Highly recommended to ANYONE! Its got the romance, thriller, mystery, action and so much more.
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Story: Same old same old- jerk guy falls for the naive country girl despite himself and ruins every chance at the relationship by being a jerk. Nothing new, but I always get sucked in anyway so....
Acting/Cast: Great. I was especially surprised that some of the Kpop stars were as good as they were. It can go either way most times. I wasn't familiar with any of Monsta X's previous acting work (if there is any) so I was happy with how they played the overworked boy band. Such a stretch -_- And Yoon Bora was adorable, no complaints here.
Music: Daebak! There is nothing that gets on my nerves more than when a drama is centered around the dance or music world and the songs are crap. Not the case here! Especially since Monsta X is involved and performed their own music. I downloaded it immediately after I finished the episode it was in.
Rewatch Value: Although i really enjoyed this one I much prefer Noble, My Love as far as rom com webseries, but this was a decent one wrapped in a couple of hours worth of marathoning.
Overall: It wasnt the best, but darn it, it gave me the warm and fuzzies. So if you're in that kind of mood I suggest this and say enjoy!
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Story: BE WARNED- if you're not a fan of the overbearing and manipulating in-law theme, then don't even bother with this drama. The entire plot is based around the mother-and-daughter-in-law relationship. While it was funny and a bit annoying to watch in the beginning it just became downright disappointing to watch the daughter-in-laws get treated as badly as they do and take it, while the sons are easily let off the hook. I will say that it all works out in the end for all of the story lines and the mothers learn their lessons (kinda) but boy was it a LONG 12 episodes to sit through and watch because of it. It helped that In Yeong helps check everyone from time to time, but the relationship between Kang Jun Su's mom and wife was just sad and unbearable.
Acting/Cast: Awesome. I can say that because I really believed in Ryu Soo Young's nerdy but lovable character Myeong Seok (which is saying a lot since I'm used to him being the bad guy from other dramas). And even though I hated some characters my heart still melted when they found forgiveness ;-)
Music: Cute and on trend. Especially for whenever Oh In Yeong was supposed to perform. Hilarious, catchy and cute.
Rewatch Value: Go for it! My favorite part to rewatch about a rom-com is the falling-in-love part. I'd happily skip over the overbearing mothers-in-law. (I mean seriously?! Right up until the last episode....)
Overall: You have to be in the right mood to appreciate this one (a happy, love-dovey, cheesy mood). At 12 episodes its perfect for a weekend drama-thon.
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Plot: Nothing new here: bold serial killer taunts the police to play his game and try to catch him, but the execution of the series was great. How each crime is slowly linked to the major mystery behind who the main killer is and why he is on this 'seemingly' random killing spree was interesting to watch. I love it when there are subtle clues for the characters and the audience as to the main motives behind the villains. Gives a series more depth and gets me even more invested.
Acting/Cast: Sooooo good! From the cops to the crazy criminals to the unfortunate victims, it was all well done. I can't think of anyone I'd replace.
Music: All I can say is that the tension was felt in every scene and the fear for all of the characters was only enhanced because of the music. It wasn't overly dramatic and it fit every mood and scene well.
Rewatch Value: Normally I would say that the rewatch value for a mystery is low because once you see it some of the thrill of uncovering it is gone. That is not the case here. Because of the individual cases that all end up being connected to the major plot line you might pick up some points you might have missed the 1st time around. Plus the cases themselves are so 'creative' I wouldn't mind revisiting them again!
Overall: I highly recommend this for and crime/mystery lovers. Be warned though, there is NO ROMANCE or even a hint of it. At best you'll get a nice warm feeling from the loyalty and friendship between coworkers. The focus is entirely on the mystery. And I'm fine with that alone (for once ;-)
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Story: Don't let the summary fool you, like it did me. The drama goes in depth about the lives of the main characters' lives before the major crime happened and how they are all related to each other. Usually its a hit or miss when a drama or movie decides to go from flashbacks and flash forwards in order to solve a mystery, but this totally hit the mark for me. There is slowburn goodness that will make you want to pull your hair out at times, but it never felt like it dragged. And the whole "N" thing was clever and was laced throughout the drama in subtle and cute ways right to the end.
Acting/Cast:This could've been in the melodrama genre there were so many tears and conversations about emotions. Oddly enough, the actors did a fantastic job portraying their characters in a sincere way that I felt for them more than I thought I would and it didn't feel as heavy as it could have. Not for one moment did I consider someone else for any of the roles: everyone from the hard to read and distant Sugishita Nozomi to the doting old landlord. EVERY character was broken in some way, and even though it was only 10 episodes we get to see how deep those scars run for each one. Each individual story was really moving and pitiable. How they were all weaved together was masterful.
Music: Haunting and full of anticipation. Not necessarily an OST I'd download and listen to for fun, but effective.
Rewatch Value: Not really. The core of the story is a mystery, so once you know the how and why everything happened, most of the thrill is gone. (especially considering the ending -_-)
Overall: This is an ultimate slow-burn in romance and mystery. It did take me a few episodes to really get into it, but once I did I couldn't wait to see how everything unfolded. My biggest pet peeve is how the romantic plot ended. I mean REALLY?! Everything else was wrapped up with a nice bow except the 1 plot line I was desperate to end somewhat happily.Still, this is a great watch. Definite recommendation for a stormy weekend.
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Story: This drama centers around the honor of old samurai families. The way the families were presented gave off more of a Yakuza vibe, but that was one of the things that drew me in. There is an unfortunate love triangle that just KILLS me because we really didn't need that. It was just... sad and heartbreaking.
Acting/Cast:The good characters were angels and the bad characters were downright unforgivable. Aiko was TOO much! But, like any good 'villain,' the plot line would have been so boring and gone nowhere without her. And, even though I went into this drama really interested in the main couple (Seiko and Takeshi) the supporting couple (Mayumi and Ryu) were solid too. (Glad they'll be focused on in the sequel)
Music: Good. Whenever a drama's OST allows me to recognize the drama instantly, I can't really hate it too much.
Rewatch Value: No. Although I love watching Lakorns, the 2 hour runtime is a bit much to sit through the first time around, let alone a second time when I know exactly what is going to happen and when. Especially when it comes to the ending that only wrapped up for our main couple in a happy ending. Most everyone else got a bad ending, and anticlimactic ending or no ending at all. I'll give the writer/director/etc the benefit of the doubt that it was left like it was in hopes that the sequel would cover some.
Overall: I'd recommend it. This isn't something that is easily marathoned like other dramas. As I've said the runtime is a bit much for casual interest. But if you're interested in dipping your toe into the Lakorn pool, this isn't a bad place to start.
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Story:Its a simple plot: a guy is determined to learn English so he can follow the girlfriend who dumped him to the US, only to fall for his English tutor.The slow buildup of their relationship is too cute, and the misunderstandings that happen because of the language barrier only gets funnier as the movie goes on. I promise, the joke never seems to get old!
Acting/Cast: The supporting characters are so over the top and ridiculous you can't help but to laugh. The comedy between the main couple, Pleng and Gym, mostly concerns them falling in love with each other, but their friends and other supporting characters bring moments of pure joy and you'll ending up dying from laughter! I have nothing bad to say about the acting from any of the actors. All of them seemed to find the perfect balance between comedic timing and heartfelt emotion.
Music: Great! If you stick around for the credits there is even extra singing and dancing that made me lol even more!
Rewatch Value: DO IT! Its so sweet, and cute but has these epic scenes where you'll find yourself grossed out but laughing and unable to fast forward because its so good. That's the only reason I can see for this movie ranking 7.8. I'd recommend it to any rom-com lover *.*
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Story: The idea of a soldier coming home from war and not realizing that his wife has died sounds like it would make for a real tearjerker. BUT this movie somehow hits all the right marks to make it comedy gold!
Acting/Cast: The cast makes this movie great! If it weren't for Pee Mak being so incredibly naive and trusting, most of the jokes would have been dead in the water. And, even though the friends catch on quickly, the characters and their methods of proving Nak is a ghost are just as foolish. There is a charades scene and their behavior afterwards had me crying from laughing so hard! Don't let all the comedy fool you though. The underlying heart at the end of the movie will have you crying from all of the heart-felt feels. (make sure you watch after the credits to, because everyone's life afterwards is just as funny as the rest of the movie).
Music: When even the characters comment on the ominous music that sounds when a 'ghost' appears, I could care less if the music was good or bad. It added to the comedy, so I'm happy!
Rewatch Value: Although it doesn't really say, a major part of the fun for this movie is trying to figure who is really dead/a ghost. Once you know that some of the joy is lost. But if you found it as fun and enjoyable as I did I can totally see making this a weekend re-watch with a big group!
Overall I really enjoyed this. The only reason I gave it a 9 instead of higher is because I'm not usually one for the over-the-top comedy genre. I like subtle comedy that is woven into stories and make serious characters into fools for a little while...and this was not that at all. So the fact that I liked it as much as I did is a huge deal all by itself. So if you're in a fantasy, romantic, funny kind of mood give Pee Mak a try.
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Story: Don't let the poster fool you, the comedic parts of this drama are more towards the beginning and the second half gets darker than I was expecting so it kind of threw me. The overall plot was interesting and fresh, vampirism as a virus rather than a completely supernatural theme was a nice change. But it was a bit heavy on the scientific jargon at times and it made me zone out from time to time.
Acting/Cast: For me, the reason the entire drama fell short for me was the acting. For some reason I just couldn't connect with Ri Ta's character, and because of that I didn't really like the building romance between her and Ji Sang. And I love a good romance, but the chemistry is key in making me root for the couple through everything, and this totally missed the mark for me. Everyone else, I loved their characters. As a matter of fact I LOVED Ga Yeon's character more than Ri Ta, & thought that if the actresses had changed roles or if Ga Yeon had been the lead Ji Sang fell for I would have loved this drama. But as it was, the romance was not doing it for me, and that was half of the drama. Shame.
Music: Good, not great.
Rewatch: No. It was hard to get through it the first time without dropping it once i was halfway through. I will say that the comedic parts with certain supporting characters are gif-worthy and remain my fav parts. Other than that...
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Story: 1 more vampire love story to add to the list for me. 200+ year old vampire finds love after losing his previous girlfriend before he was turned. Its been done. The actors are what saved this drama for me, but the little twists that help bring the couple together just add to the fluff.
Acting/Cast: This could have easily turned into a horrible drama that tried wayyyyy too hard, but it wasn't (not for me anyway). The actors did a great job of making the characters entertaining and likable, so I was interested in how the story would unfold for them. And let's be honest, Tang Danson plays the brooding vamp very well: dark, mysterious and aloof....which made his scenes where there was comedy involved even funnier. The female lead, Hei Lam, was great too. She's not your average damsel in distress, the girl takes judo for fun and can kick some butt, BUT she still needs to be rescued every now and then.
Music: I didn't really notice anything special, but when the action started it did help amp up the mood.
Rewatch Value: Sure! Its only 9 episodes. So if you're craving a bit of fluff from a genre that is usually all dark and brooding, rewatch away!
Overall: Its not the greatest drama of all time, but it certainly was entertaining and the actors made me fall in love with the characters and kept me interested for a 9 episode marathon. The ending is a bit...meh...but it gives you a bit of everything and some nice eye candy that I highly recommend.
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The Palace Season 2: The Lock Pearl Screen
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Story: Same old same old. There are evil and overly ambitious people in the palace that make the love triangle a tug of war for the entire 36 episodes. Honestly, by the time I was on the last few episodes the niceness of Lian Er was just frustrating and the bad endings for the evil characters weren't as satisfying as I would have hoped. Maybe if there were fewer episodes that kept drilling into our heads just how bad the palace people were and just how much they could torment our heroes it wouldn't have bothered me so much. Also,I did not like the amount of time that some side stories had towards the end. FYI writers: I DIDNT CARE! I found myself fast forwarding through most of that.:-)
Acting/Cast: Good. It annoyed me that some characters from the first series played different character's in this one. The main one I spotted was the old emperor in series 1 played 17th Prince's teacher in this one. Other than that, I will say that the cameos by 8th Prince and Qing Chuan were adorable and was a nice nod to series 1.
Music:Laughable. Every time a character would ask Lian Er to sing suddenly the music would kick-in over her singing and we're supposed to believe she was the one singing! It made me laugh every time. But the OST was nice and whoever did the actual singing was good.
Overall: Based on my review I know it sounds like I hated this series BUT, I knew what I was getting into from the 1st series. I WANTED to watch something cheesy, with over the top effects and characters I love to hate. And boy did I get it! It was cheesy and cute and the ending salvaged a lot, ALOT of the flaws for me! Glad I finally watched it, but I'm not going to continue with the series. This was a good place to stop for me :)
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