cassey
This review may contain spoilers
Review (no major spoilers):The hype is real and well-deserved! This epic adventure is must watch for fantasy fans. The movie explores what happens after the death of a hardworking fireman Kim Ja Hong (Cha Tae Hyun), as he meets three guardians/grim reapers that will guide him through seven trials in hell, as he seeks reincarnation.
What’s wondrous is the two worlds are both equally traversed in the movie, and there are fascinating scenes where we parallel have things happening in the living world that affect hell too. As we travel through mystical hell, the different gods (the cameos are awesome!) judge different aspects of Ja Hong’s humanity, and the mysteries of his life are slowly revealed to us.
I really enjoyed the trio of grim reapers who guided Ja Hong, with Gang Rim (Ha Jung Woo) as the brains, Hae Won Maek (Joo Ji Hoon) as the brawn, and Duk Choon (Kim Hyang Gi) as the heart. The whole cast is so so good! I rarely watch kmovies so it’s a pleasure to discover movie talents like Ha Jung Woo.
Cha Tae Hyun is always solid when he plays the everyman. D.O. never fails to amaze with his performance. Kim Dong Wook (as Su Hong) shone in a multifaceted character. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of adorable Kim Hyang Gi in dramas. But Joo Ji Hoon is the most pleasant revelation to me as he carries the movie’s dark humor with his comedic quips and expressions! Someone please cast him in a romcom soon lol.
As k-stories are, underneath all the flair of the CG which is a feast for the eyes, Along with the Gods tackles serious relevant themes that ends with a pinch through the heart as we unveil the unconditional love of a mom for his sons, and the filial love of the sons for their mother, which will make you hug your family closer. There are so many stories not yet explored in this universe like the past of our grim reaper trio. I’m so excited for the reported sequels and spinoffs to come.
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It IS the winsome foursome cast (and characters) that makes this drama. After my disappointment with MLFAS Do Min Joon character, (admittedly he is dreamy) but failed to stretch Kim Soo Hyun's acting prowess. He is simply adorable here as Baek Seung Chan. It is quite similar to his Dream High Sam Dong character, but Kim Soo Hyun managed to incorporate mannerisms that is uniquely Baek Seung Chan. He is the glue that held this drama together.
IU. IU! She really ran away with this one, and the best part of this drama by mile. To think, after the first 2 eps, I was dreading how she will hold up to the 3 other actors, as I was cringing on her apathetic bored scenes. She slowly grew on her character, as her story arc gradually became the most engrossing part of this drama. As opposed to MLFAS Chun Song Yi (who is amazing, btw, don't get me wrong), Cindy didn't need any superhero to keep saving her in times of trouble. I keep waiting for someone to come and save her out of a rut, as kdrama tropes are wont to do, but she didn't need them at all.
Gong Hyo Jin and Cha Tae Hyun. They did get the short end of the stick with their story arcs, esp. Gong Hyo Jin, but it is to the likability of the characters that I was still invested in their friendship story arc by the last episode, and it is rewarding, despite the somewhat rocky path going there.
The villain is great here! MLFAS really failed me with its cartoony villain. By the end, I still didn't understand the killer's motivation. In contrast here, that the situation and motivation is something that is happening right now in our world, and the last scene with the villain is perfectly done.
The weak point of this drama is definitely the love quadrangle which went on and on, one good thing though nobody got malicious, just funny petty jealousy all around. As a fan of k-variety, I also wished for more story on the producer life. It did take a backseat when the love lines got tangled, but it did tie up nicely at the end.
I know the drama did well by me, if after the last scene, I already miss the characters, and didn't want to leave their world.
P.S. Kim Soo Hyun's ng scene of laughing boisterously at Gong Hyo Jin's aegyo drunk act is so funny! Didn't know he can out-laugh Cha Tae Hyun :).
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Good suspense with engrossing romance
Deserves the hype! You know it's a good suspense thriller when stakes are high, it's just the right amount of bonkers crazy, and you're worried as heck about the fate of the leads on the show that you can't stop playing that next episode.
I admit I'm weak for this type of romance, a bit messed up, high stakes, tortured misunderstood hero and the love and trust of a good woman despite the odds, and everybody even fate are turning their backs on him. He obviously cares for his family and jumps hoops for them, but he can't express it as we do.
Ji Won understandably felt very betrayed by all the lies, but later on remembers all the everyday little things her husband does for her. The way he takes care of Eun Ha, he cooks for them, comforts her when she is stressed out at work, it doesn't need to be grand. He was always there for her.
I have to say Moo Jin has to be my fave character on the show. His frenemy relationship with Hyun Su (Lee Jun Ki) is both comical and fascinating. He half-hates Hyun Su but assists all the time, he just can't help it, and gets caught up in all the Do siblings troubles. Never expected it to be like that, after their first tense encounter. And his rekindled romance with Hae Soo, I ship them so badly.
Kim Ji Hoon definitely needs to be in more dramas again, looking crazy good with that long hair. (spoilers) Because of the highs of the show, I'm a bit underwhelmed by the ending, I understand why the writer gave Hyun Su some memory loss, it's a chance for him to be reborn without all the burdens. But the execution was a bit chunky. Oh well, it's been a good run, and hopefully serves as reminder to look beyond initial prejudice and biases.
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Spoilers:
As with all time travel dramas, be prepared to be confused as heck, that's a given. Then when things start to unravel and you put two and two together, the writers unleash some 'no no' scenarios during time travel stories. Like two Li Zi Wei's meeting one another, and doppelgangers also add to confusion. I love the concept, but wished it was laid out clearer.
Those twists near the end are brilliant! The reveal that the killer also has a time travelling doppelganger, and Chen Ru overpowering Yu Xuan for control of her own body, and impersonating as her to earn Li Zi Wei's affections. Simply wow. I cannot help but commend Alice Ke for this role.
You cannot blame Chen Ru though, there's something not right about the way Li Zi Wei and Huang Yu Xuan took over Wang Quang Sheng and Chen Ru's bodies, that felt a bit like body snatchers. The drama did provide a good resolution for that, and I have to admit one of the best drama endings I've seen in awhile (yes I'm giving you the side-eye kdramas!).
We got a good angsty solid romance here, and as we travel with the lovers though time and space, we got a little bit of everything from different stages in their lives, and the issues associated with it, whether its high school, college, or adult life.
I wish there are more heartfelt dramas like this out there exploring and pushing the boundaries. These are the types of dramas that give kdramas a run for their money. Not to mention, watching an 'oh so charming' Greg Hsu is like the cherry on top of a delightful drama treat.
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This review may contain spoilers
Nobody does whimsy better than the Japanese! I’ve been grumbling for some time now why modern fantasy stories tilt towards the dystopian genre, making magic and the supernatural all about gloom and doom 99% of the time with 1% hope at the end of it all. If you’re kind of sick of that too, Destiny Kamakura Monogatari is definitely worth a look.This is about a husband and wife tandem who lives in Kamakura where they meet strange creatures and phenomena in their day to day life. I simply loved this world! It’s rife with stories of spirit festivals, of grim reapers, of Hogwarts Express-like trains, of body-stealing souls, and of forbidden treats.
That cast is awesome! I’ve been lured to this movie by my fondness for Takahata Mitsuki, playing the wife Akiko to writer Masakazu portrayed by Sakai Masato. They have quite an age gap so some of Mitsuki’s mannerisms here feel similar to what she did as Kahoko. Who stood out for me was the amazing Grim Reaper (Ando Sakura), she made a small role shine through. And special mention to badass Auntie Kin.
The movie ultimately portrays unconditional love even beyond death. Unfortunately (mild spoilers!) where the movie stumbled was in the climax.
Overall, that was still such a fun adventure, and I’m wistful they make more sequels as the Kamakura world is brimming with more magical tales of wonder to tell.
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It's easy to see why this is such a hit. It has the winning formula that made "My Love from Another Star" a phenomenon mixed with a twist on the North and South Korea's "it's complicated" relationship. Not to mention the two gorgeous leads that act well, oozing with chemistry and charisma. The second Otp though kind of feels forced.
I find myself more invested in the side characters, esp. the North Korean village ahjummas (who are a hoot) and of course Captain Ri's fun troop of soldiers, maybe include Rat there (another amazingly written character). And Captain Ri's dad, he is badass and kind of saved the day.
In other dramas it will all be about the hero and his awesomeness, but I love how writer Park Ji Eun writes her heroines, and puts her in centerstage where she belongs, and not as a side character or love interest only. Seri is not the typical sunshine heroine, she's smart, kind, but she's not perfect and it's ok to be complicated as real people are. She can be boastful or full of bluster, and was also depressed. I'm just disappointed that almost 3 eps are spent on her being sick, but that's probably due to real life circumstances?
The writer also did her best in balancing aspects of North and South Korea. North Korea may be way different from what we're used to as the capitalist way of living, but it's not that North people are all bad or South are all good. Even if I was not head over heels with this drama, it's a satisfyingly good watch, and will certainly go down as a kdrama romcom classic that can be recommended to all fans and newbies to k-ent out there.
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So what is Alhambra exactly? It explores what happens when a guy gets involved in a game which becomes a nightmarish reality. From the moment, Hyun Bin as rich CEO Jin Woo comically dragged his heavy suitcase up the long flight of stairs of Hostal Bonita, I was in for the ride.
There's simply nothing like Alhambra in dramaland yet, and I hope it starts a genre trend. It's mainly a scifi thriller with a futuristic theme, but at its heart it's still about very human things like love, family, and friendship kdramas excel at. There's a tragic tone throughout, but there's lightness and hope amidst it all.
Finally, Hyun Bin is worth the watch alone. He is the heart and soul of this show. Jin Woo is Memories of the Alhambra. His unforgettable performance here is truly one for the books and will leave a mark in your kdrama-loving heart.
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Urban fantasy kdrama done right
I didn't expect to enjoy this show so much, even if it's in my fave genre. It does rehash a lot of the Goblin/Vampire Diaries type cliches of fated tragic love between immortal & mortal, past lives, reincarnation, and such. But the show executed it well, and kept the story fascinating with rich folklore.The show hooked me from the venture into the mysterious island to the interesting Voldemort-esque villain, and these all connect to the main overarching story of the fated OTP. It borrows inspiration from famous horror and fairy tales, but they made it their own. This was what I wanted Joseon Xfiles to be.
The only thing I wished different is the OTP, I like Lee Dong Wook, he committed himself wholeheartedly as the otherworldy fox from the visuals to even acting in some questionable CGI scenes. He and Jo Bo Ah are good in their roles, but the chemistry unfortunately fell short. Yet again another drama where I ship the bromance more than the romance.
I like Kim Yong Ji since 'The King', she tends to go overboard at times, but what if Kim Bum and Kim Yong Ji are the main OTP here? Yes, they're deliciously wicked in their roles, and she has a cute love arc with the vet, but makes you wonder what could have been right? KIM BUM. YUM. The long wait for his drama comeback was so worth it. He made all complicated facets of Rang shine through, and made a crazy villain like him a sympathetic character. We really need to see him in a lead role soon.
Great worldbuilding and supporting cast, from the fascinating otherworldly characters Yeon and Ji Ah meet, to the Underworld immigration system headed by the sister of Hades and her comical husband, to Shin Ju and Rang's adopted 'kids'. It's such a delight. If you love your supernatural kdramas in the vein of Master's Sun, Along with the Gods, Arang, this is worth a try, good full-blown fantasy kdramas do come far in between.
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Not PHR's best work but still worth a watch
Park Hye Ryun dramas Dream High, I Hear Your Voice, and Pinocchio are some of my all time faves. I haven't finished While You Were Sleeping though because I find Suzy and Lee Jong Suk's chemistry more sibling-like than romantic. I was looking forward to Startup but was not really sure about the casting, which was a foreshadowing of things to come lol.
Startup is not at par with PHR's greatest hits, but it's still a solid, positive, engaging drama about the struggles and perseverance of youth in the technological startup business. Yes, maybe it's bogged down by the controversial love triangle, but well...at least everybody's buzzing about it, and catapulted Kim Seon Ho's dimples to popularity.
I'm the last person to be a fan of messy love triangles, but I think the drama from the start has been obvious that Do San is the end game. It's just that PHR put a twist on the beloved romance trope of mistaken identity through love letters. If she followed the usual trope then Jipyeong is the end game.
I have a Nam Joo Hyuk allergy from Bride of the Water God, he did better here as Do San, though it's not enough to overshadow Jipyeong. Do San seems like a beta hero made from the same cutout as Dream High's beloved Sam Dong, but Kim Soo Hyun knocked that role out of the park with an endearing accent and trademark heartbreaking cries. Sam Dong also had a life- altering sickness there which would have put everybody on his ship, while Do San's troubles about confidence feels like just our everyday troubles. It lacked drama oomph.
I do commend PHR for trying something different from her usual drama that tackles some kind of whodunit mystery crime. Her trademark endearing relationships and good drama mixed with good comedy is still evident. Suzy was a good surprise! She's always her charming self but I'm impressed with how more controlled her acting looks in this drama.
It's just Kim Seon Ho's Han Jipyeong has such a good backstory, with that gruff but secretly selfless role we're all weak for, and on key scenes that mattered he brought his acting game. Honestly he didn't get a lot of screentime, also pretty Kang Han Na. I really wished there were more Mom-Dal Mi-In Jae scenes, but their personal differences were just smoothed out off- screen, suddenly all is well and there was no emotional payoff from their initial fallout. Despite all that drama off-screen, and what- could-have-been's, I'll be on the lookout for PHR's next project, who knows maybe it'll be Jipyeong's own happy ending.
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Easy breezy slice of life family drama full of warmth
No wonder this is such a hit, an easy breezy slice of life family drama, Go Ahead is the happy pill for gloomy 2020. Whatever you're going through right now, or missing your family so damn much, this is the perfect comfort watch, complete with comfort food porn.Such a charming ensemble cast oozing with chemistry helmed by Seven Tan, who is such a natural actress and comedic talent, Song Wei Long who is drop dead gorgeous, relatively greener but held his own, and Steven Zhang who really shone in this drama. I love his Zi Qi! Sun Yi as bff Ming Yue also did well. And the most adorable dad ever Hai Chao played by Tu Song Yan.
I'm not a fan of the Ling Xiao-Jian Jian romance, maybe it's second lead syndrome, their feelings are deep-rooted since childhood, but I'd prefer a more gradual transition from adopted siblings to romance, than stolen kisses as confession of feelings. I appreciate though there's no overwrought love triangle. But this drama is not about romance anyway, its strength lies in tackling relatable family matters and great friendships.
With a 40 episode drama, there is a slight drag in the middle. The probably only stressful stuff in this drama is the 'mother' issue, but the drama balances that with warm scenes. Thank you for the endless warmth, Go Ahead, and the reminder to push forward whatever hardships we're going through, there's always someone to hold your hand, as there are bonds even stronger than those tied by blood.
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I find it refreshing Kim Eun Hee wrote such an imperfect vulnerable Crown Prince. He's not a superhero that will just swoop in and save the day. As his background is a scholar, he's not used to the military machinations, but it's good to see his growth, even with the pains, as he needed to grew up quickly for his people.
Spoilers:
And that last sacrifice, that is the test of a true leader, when the well-being of your people is more important to you than any throne.
He sacrificed for the healing of the nation, as opposed to the Cho clan who committed such despicable acts to desperately hang on to power.
If I have one hang up about Kingdom, I have to say I wanted more emotional punch from the deaths, as the shock factor is there, but because of the fast paced nature of the story and the short seasons, we don't have enough time to linger on the relationships. Regardless, I'm one of those eagerly salivating for that Jeon Ji Hyun + Joo Ji Hoon pairing for s3.
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Spoilers to follow:
Every episode is in two parts: 2017, as we figure out what happened in the past, between the two brothers, and 2037, as we bridge who is who in the future, which is my new fave trope. This is kbromance at its finest. In 2017, you sympathize with Yeo Jin Goo's Woo Jin as he carries the burden of what's happening to his brother. Then switch to 2037, and you wonder what in the world happened in between those years, and it's now the older twin Joon Hyuk looking for the missing Woo Jin. That's refreshing, usually the viewer will only follow one sibling's point of view the whole story.
What a great ensemble cast helmed by Yeo Jin Goo (who was so amazing here) and Kim Kang Woo, to great discovery gorgeous Gong Seung Yeon, she's suited to be a badass action movie star. Lee Gi Kwang and Ahn Woo Yeon also did well. They're all so good I didn't even miss that there's just subtle suggestive romance between the four leads lol.
That penultimate episode when finally "the two worlds", 2017 blended into 2037, and we discovered Woo Jin has already died, was simply heartbreaking. I didn't know whether to applaud or cry. So sad yet so well done. A tragic ending for all the suffering the twins went through. Yes, they did a cop out and he still lived through a clone, but it's not the same. It's a fascinating question the drama tackles about clones but there's just not enough time.
I'm a bit blue this show is underrated, it deserves more hype than it had. This scifi thriller tackles a lot of ethical questions in the field of progress and science, and is a must watch for all scifi and kdrama fans out there. Looks like there's no follow up project yet from the Circle PD's, but I'll definitely be waiting for more from them.
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Prison Playbook is a hangout show, similar to US sitcom show How I Met Your Mother. In contrast to how kdramas became worldwide phenomenon as addictive bingeable watch, Prison Playbook and other creations by Reply PD's, are familiar friends you want to hang out with everyday, to see how they're doing. Basically, the drama is Je Hyeok being a fairy godmother granting wishes here and there lol.
It was slow at the start, as the drama sets up all the characters, and Reply PD's always want to put the most unflattering UGLY haircuts on the cast, but once the ragtag gang of boisterous prison inmates are all together, I'm already invested. The best part of the drama is when they're all in their cell with their hilarious shenanigans, whether it's just getting hot water for ramen, or distributing the food. This drama is not only about the big heartwarming moments, but the small quiet ones as well.
Great big cast and lots of cameos, esp. the prisoners. My favorites has to be Loony and the ever smiling warden lol. LOONY. Why Prison Playbook, why?! I'll forever be salty.
Another regret I have is probably Jung Kyung Ho's role. I've been amazed by his talent since Falling for Innocence, and his role here is not meaty enough, it's always an extension of Je Hyeok. I appreciated their friendship and felt that hug in the end, but I wanted more from his story outside of being Je Hyeok's best friend.
Lieutenant Paeng even shone more in his role as grumpy but empathetic correction officer. I love it that actors that are usually typecast as villains, are flipped here.
I don't know if it's because of the infamous Reply shipping wars, but the PD has made conscious effort to veer away from that. The drama has realistic uncomplicated relationships, but not memorable in the long run. Maybe they want to highlight the prison life and not romance. But why not have it all, right?
They showed just a gist of the harsh reality of prison life, and it shows that there are lots of reasons a person can get imprisoned. It's not always because they are guilty, sometimes it's just life, or plain bad luck. A person can still have a new life after, it should not be a death sentence. At the end of the day, prison should be a place for repentance and reform.
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First, the source material parallel worlds is a fascinating topic, but needs good execution to make it not confusing. The production group should have made the differentiation of the two worlds more obvious.
Second, casting is definitely crucial in all projects, that's why stars are getting paid big bucks to bring the audience in. Sadly, Lee Min Ho looks more suited to action genres like City Hunter, which I enjoyed him in, than as the King, he has the regal presence but failed to bring more oomph to the role.
He's better on the 2nd half of the show, but he doesn't have romantic chemistry with Kim Go Eun at all, and kfans can be very forgiving for plot holes as long as the OTP is sizzling on screen.
Woo Do Hwan & Lee Min Ho pairing has potential, but there was a lack of back story for Yeong aside from being the Unbreakable Sword. But omg Woo Do Hwan. I stan! I probably need to watch all his dramas now. Him playing dual roles, Eun Sup trying to be stoic like Yeong and Yeong trying to be fun Eun Sup is comedy GOLD. He is wasted on all these serious roles. Can someone cast him in a romcom soon, with Kim Yong Ji pretty pls. Why isn't she in more projects?
The support cast is strong from Lee Lim to the Prime Minister, Kim Kyung Nam, esp. is a pleasant discovery from this show. Why did we get so little screen time with Lee Min Ho, Woo Do Hwan, and Kim Kyung Nam on screen, oh the lost potential.
Still, live watching and analyzing Kim Eun Sook dramas are always worldwide kfan events, I enjoyed the parallel worlds, and the concept of having a 'clone' in another world, and figuring the heck out who is who. Hopefully not being a breakout success won't affect the big budget investment on these types of fantasy genre dramas, as they always push the boundaries of what kdramas can be.
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The world building itself is fascinating as there's a village of widows coexisting beside a gisaeng house, who are composed of all female assassins involved in a mysterious plot? Yes, count me in!
Jang Dong Yoon impresses as he transitions seamlessly from boyish Nokdu to widow Lady Kim. He has good comedic timing and has kind of baby Kim Soo Hyun vibe (from Producers) about him, I'm curious to see his continued growth as an actor. The OTP pairing might not have reached magical squee levels for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed their easygoing chemistry and relationship that slowly developed through solid friendship.
My breakout star of the drama is undoubtedly Kang Tae Oh, with his fascinating turn as Lord Yul Mu. From his head turns, to his smirk and strut, he wholly embraced the complicated facets of his character. I won't be surprised if I see him in a lead role soon.
This is a drama where the characters are well drawn out and multi faceted. Even those guys we love to despise, the drama took time to show their perspective and make us understand their human flaws. Not to mention all those beloved side characters, esp. the women, who are badass.
The first half of Nokdu about crossdressing and light moments, differed a lot from the second half which was more court politics and heartbreak as Nokdu searched for his identity. On the surface, the crossdressing might seem a gimmick for laughs, but through this, the show uplifts women with its portrayal of female empowerment, and uplifts the soul through its message of freeing oneself with thoughts of hatred and revenge, as it can consume and destroy you.
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