Is he good or is he bad?

Good… Bad… I flipped flopped between both answers with every episode I watched as the story was masterfully weaved to keep me in suspense right till the end.

The courtroom drama was superb and I absolutely enjoyed the way the devil judge punished the criminals. All the twists and manipulations that went into getting the desired outcomes were very well written and very engaging.

Seeing the devil judge’s stark contrast between his two appearances (hair up and hair down) while at work and at home brought a smile to my face and I was soon captivated. The other contrast between his cool outward appearance and his love for his niece was night and day and he did it brilliantly.

The storyline is one of the best I’ve seen and coupled with great pacing and editing, this drama was thoroughly enjoyable with its fair share of surprises and reveals.

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Cry me a river of tears

Reading some reviews, I knew there would be heartache but went ahead to watch the first episode and I was hooked. This drama toys with your feelings of melancholy and longing to the extreme so if you are in the mood for this, just make sure you have your tissues nearby.

Lots of coincidences made this story overly dramatic but I overlooked this as I bought into the ML’s love, pain and suffering. It was an added bonus that he was handsome with a great physique - my preferred male lead unlike those who are too pretty-boy and skinny. The FL was a good match for him and while I enjoyed her acting most of the time, it was a bit annoying during some of her screaming scenes.

It was sweet during the brief moments when the leads were happy together and yet bittersweet when you know it could never be a happily ever after ending for them.

I appreciated that the ending was not rushed and even the side stories had satisfactory endings.

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Cotton candy romance

A nice introduction to Japanese romantic drama for me. Finished it in one sitting as it’s only 8 episodes with each only lasting 20+ minutes.

I wanted a fluffy sweet romance and this drama delivered with good acting and an unusual storyline. On some levels, it is realistic as there are many people who have been caught up in their pursuit of career building, that their personal life takes a back seat. This drama explores the intimate side openly and I liked the way we could hear the thoughts of both the leads.

Good for those needing a quick dose of romance without needing a strong plot or character growth type dramas. Just like cotton candy! Airy sweetness made from only a few grains of sugar.

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Captivating in spite of its flaws

Romance was touching and I appreciated the way it developed without the usual drawn out hidden feelings that other dramas like to use. One of the sweetest moments for me was the walk in the snow. Something different with a little extra touch to hint at the budding romance.

I found myself reading the synopsis of each episode while waiting for the advertisements to finish playing - something I have never done before as I prefer to let the drama unfold without spoilers. So many twists and turns that I ended up reading all the synopsises ahead of time! Strangely though, it didn’t spoil the drama too much for me but helped warn me of impending heartaches.

The storyline for the 2 main romances was strong. The falling out of love / separation reasons were well written and did not involve jealousy or love triangles. Unfortunately, the non-romantic plots were not very strong.

I love period dramas for their costumes so was a bit disappointed with this drama - the gauzy material for the male costumes did not sit well with me as with the last Emperor’s costume which looked too big for him. Music was also a miss at times with English lyrics and modern beats. While the 4th Prince’s acting was good, he didn’t really embody a ML persona that I envisioned for this drama. The 3rd and 8th Prince were better for me in terms of looks and physique. My last gripe is how the ending looked like it was set up for a second season.

A decent watch if you’re more interested in the romance and how it changes over time.

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A true ROMCOM! :D ;D :D

I thought I would find it too weird to enjoy a romance that involved a body swapper so I have been putting off seeing this drama. But surprisingly with each episode I watched, I found myself starting to see the FL more as a female instead of the man who was in her body so the romance became sweet and funny.

This drama pulled of comedy very well with on point exaggerated acting and sharp witty dialogue that flowed naturally and was timed perfectly. It managed to strike a nice balance with some of the more serious stuff going on such as back stabbing and plotting.

I wasn’t expecting historical accuracies here so was thoroughly entertained with this story. Good to see the love triangle not overused and working out nicely for all. Each episode ended with a big cliff hanger that kept me hooked until the wee hours of morning. Beautifully planned as I cannot remember another drama that managed to keep setting up such dramatic cliffhangers for every single episode.

Do expect that the last episode may leave you feeling a bit let down as the ending was mainly a convenient type of happy ending leaving some unanswered thoughts.

Overall, a good drama to make you chuckle if you do not analyse the story too deeply. After all, this is clearly fantasy since it involves body swapping with a person 200 years ago. So just go with the flow, accept the quirky storyline and you’ll be rewarded with a drama that embodies the true sense of the word ROMCOM.

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Life Lessons with a Quirky Touch

This was a feel good, light drama with a unique story line where I enjoyed the writer’s version of how heaven is managed and the purpose of the mystic pop-up bar.

Although some parts of the story was predictable, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment as the acting was good and I liked the pace at which the flashbacks were introduced until the whole 500-year old history was revealed.

What kept it real was the different people’s grudges / regrets and I found myself being able to relate to some of it. Some lessons learned along the way as well. The beginning episodes focused more on this and dropped little hints into their past lives. My curiosity was piqued and thankfully I didn’t have to wait long before more was revealed. Not earth shattering but satisfying enough if you don’t expect too much.

I liked how the story kept some suspense on the 2 male leads’ past lives. And quite cleverly kept me guessing who the FL would end up with as well.

A good watch if you are after something simple and heartwarming with a touch of quirkiness.

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Romance right up my alley

I’ve usually avoided modern day dramas as I prefer the settings and costumes of historical dramas but was hooked on this from the first episode.

The story line was unique and I loved being able to glimpse into a likely North Korean rural lifestyle which gives me a better appreciation of what we take for granted everyday like running water inside the home and 24-7 electricity. Being transported to Switzerland every now and then was a feast for the eyes though I found it a little odd that Kit Kat chocolates were highlighted there.

The chemistry between the two leads was strong and it was a realistic romance that blossomed from just feeling right with each other rather than the usual overly dramatical stereotype of strong kind female who does loads of good things which catches the eyes of heroic male lead that saves the female lead. Here, they started having feelings for each other before the male lead started to show his more heroic side.

Love triangle was not overdone and this is much appreciated and I liked the little snippets at the end of each episode which I initially missed as I was quick to jump to the next episode. So do watch until the closing credits.

My heart strings were tugged repeatedly with each goodbye the leads had to go through so it was a welcome break to have some comedic relief from the wives in the military village and Captain Ri’s subordinates.

I enjoyed the story telling style which creates the right amount of suspense and tension as little bits of information in the past are revealed at different times. It was a sweet destiny with many encounters between the leads which although we know is not likely to happen in real life, we are more than willing to escape into this romantic fantasy.

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Charming narration of the girl-impersonates-man story

Although the FL’s impersonation of a man was even less successful that that of The King’s Affection, her cute demeanour and impish smile made watching this drama most entertaining.

It was also a big plus that I loved the ML’s charming smile and their chemistry together.

The general story was the typical ones found in other palace dramas as well but this was told well and had little differences to the story that made it very engaging.

One of the earliest Korean period dramas I watched and I am loving the story telling style much more than the average Chinese drama.

A good watch especially if you find the ML handsome and the FL beautiful.

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Not your usual Palace drama and it was MOST entertaining :)

Palace dramas usually focus on the king and his beloved so it was so refreshing that this storyline was between one of the princes and a court historian.

The FL was pretty and witty and paired well with the boyishly charming ML. Theirs was a romance that was sweet and funny and made me feel good.

Learning about how historians played an important role in the palace was eye opening and this focus made the whole drama more appealing to me as it was something I had not known about before.

Do watch this if you need something lighthearted and romantic.
You will find yourself smiling at the end of the drama :)

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Light hearted romantic comedy with a unique story line

The first wuxia I watched last year and it brought back many fond memories of kungfu shows that I watched in my teens.

Zhao Lu Si was cute and charming and had wonderful chemistry with her male lead. The story line was unique and entertaining. Seeing women in charge and men as subordinates made for many a good chuckle.

Do not watch this expecting an epic story with super realistic props and settings. This was a low budget drama which wa well made.

This drama is perfect for those wanting a simple story that is entertaining with some romance and laughter.

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Heart Stirring Journey

I never thought I would write a drama review but Mr Sunshine changed all that.

If you are the type who can easily figure out the punchline to a story based on a few words, please only read this after you have finished this drama. Assuming of course, you prefer to get immersed in the story without knowing where the story will lead.

“This is my history” “This is my love story” launched me into more tears the second time I re-watched this scene the day after I finished the whole drama. Although the drama ended with hope, I was unable to shake my feelings of sorrow for the tragic end for so many of the characters.

Lee Byung-hun was phenomenal as Eugene Choi, displaying a range of emotions from commanding to charming to endearing where he said, “... the beginning of revenge or the end of jealousy”. Certain scenes where the lighting showed his age made me appreciate him as an actor even more after finding out he was older than me and that he had also starred in Squid Game.

I loved how the relationship between Eugene Choi, Gu Dong Mae and Kim Hui Song developed into one of trust and brotherly love. I found Kim Hui Song annoying at first but was moved to tears when he burned the marriage letter. Gu Dong Mae was the cool bad guy which had some of the wittiest remarks when the 3 of them had drinks together.

Kuno Hida was the alluring hotel owner that was cool, calm and collected with a fabulous wardrobe of western dresses. She was a multi-faceted character that was a Japanese widow-hotel owner to most, a Korean daughter of a villain to few and an undercover supporter to the King that no one knew about. I particularly liked her role in getting Lady Ae Shin back to Joseon from Japan and her letter to the King after blowing up her hotel.

The attention to detail for the costumes and settings were on point. The wars and fighting sequences were very graphic and realistic. The scenes with the battleships were so real that I found myself wondering how much cgi was used. So it was a surprise to be able to spot 2 scenes which looked like it used blue screen.

This story was one of the best I’ve seen. But above all, the story telling was very real, without the usual unrealistic back stabbing and plotting that most historical dramas portray. Brilliant!!

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A journey that started well, took a detour and ended with…

… rain and a mirage.

Despite knowing that the last few episodes will be rushed and unexpected, I wanted to watch this as many have raved about how good the first 3/4 of the drama is. With each episode I enjoyed, my heart filled with dread to think how bad it could get towards the end… Thank goodness, it wasn’t as bad as I had expected.

The first 20 episodes were promising - good story which was beautifully shot, nicely paced and well edited. Then in the last quarter, the story unfolded very quickly with many things happening without much explanation so you were forced to accept things as they were (when the story revolved around the betrayal in Wu).

A romance that is realistic and grown up from the way they are attracted to each other to the way they express it to each other and sadly, to the way they contemplate if their different needs will make them happy to be together. Kisses are few but so much more meaningful than Wonderland of Love. The romance atmosphere sizzles instead with beautifully captured looks and embraces. Past the halfway mark, the romantic moments got a bit draggy and forced.

Humour done right with just enough to lighten the atmosphere and not over the top like My Journey To You. It is woven into the story naturally and does not just focus on one character being the court jester of the drama. While most of it comes from the self proclaimed expert on women which he plays very well, I also laughed out loud when the princess went from suicidal to talking about sweet and sour flavoured poison. I also loved the humorous sign language moments which are not usually found in dramas.

Acting was top notch. Both the ML and FL were good together and their chemistry in the beginning episodes were more touching. What I unexpectedly enjoyed were the sparks of love of the other 2 “couples” - very heartfelt and touching. 2 characters which I particularly like are the Princess and the Casanova. Seeing the princess transform realistically from playful and naive to independent and smart was a joy especially how she tried to save herself when she was “left behind” after her brother was rescued. My heart was constantly tugged with the complex Casanova character - the actor brilliantly portrayed his carefree attitude which hid so much deeper emotions within.

The fighting scenes were well choreographed and I enjoyed it despite it being super hero level martial arts as they also showed the leads sustaining injuries from the fight.

I accept what happened to the ML and FL in the end as it flowed well within the story. But the flash forward sequence (more than 10 years later) which vaguely alluded to children that could have been theirs and a dreamlike sequence which happened with a character that doesn't have a strong bond with them did not sit well with me. I would rather see how the princess turned out in the future and let her be the one to reminisce about the heroes.

Random notes:
1. Episode 10 - Crimson Guard received a secret message from a pigeon in the usual 2 inch length cylinder vessel. Next scene shows her unscrolling the message 5 inches long from top to bottom and 7 inches wide…
2. Not sure why all the romantic scenes were ok then for the one at night in the cave, there was the dreaded giant spotlight shining from behind the couples face… and the light came from the cave…

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Let down during the final episodes

I wanted to like this drama so although it wasn’t outstanding during the first half, I still found joy in seeing the ML’s subtle expressions in keeping with his loner persona. Unfortunately, the last few episodes spoilt it for me.

First, it had the classic mysterious open ending which is a pet peeve of mine.

Second, the storyline after the ML was resurrected felt very disjointed and forced. I would have rated this drama higher if they ended it then and tied up all the other loose strings for the other characters. But, the story decided to give another conflict for a dramatic ending which felt almost humorous when the evil spirit kept going into different bodies. The interaction between the ML & FL also suffered and I cringed every time they looked at each other in surprise or worry whenever they were faced with something new.

What I did like about the drama was the production quality. Sets looked good and outdoor scenery was gorgeous. CGI was a bit of hit and miss but generally ok especially during fighting scenes. I generally don’t comment on make up but really liked the eye make up for the Merfolk. Nice and subtle but enough to show they are different.

Another good thing about this drama is that it didn’t push the jealousies tropes. Although there was a SML, I liked his attitude towards and interaction with the FL. The character of the scheming princess was one I also liked as I enjoyed her being fleshed out as someone not purely evil but as someone who also does care. The actress playing this role did it wonderfully and I looked forward to watching her expressions to see this changes.

The FL’s acting was acceptable to me but I didn’t like her hairstyles and that kept getting in the way of me seeing her as a good match to the ML. When she had a fringe, she looked like a little school girl and it made her face look rounder. When it was swept to the side during the later episodes, it looked plastered down and like a wig instead…

As for the ML, I am biased as I am a fan from his work in the Untamed. While some see him as expressionless, I see the subtle changes in his eyes which the director does well in close ups. It was nicely contrasted with more carefree actions and expressions during the time he lost his memories. So if you are his fan, give this drama a go. Otherwise, best to skip it.

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Intriguing story with a touch of romance & passionate kisses!

I liked this unique storyline where the FL goes back in time and tries to undo all her previous mistakes. And for some events, no matter how much she tries to change it, it still happens anyway. But with perseverance, she continues to work against fate and changes the outcome of the people she cares about.

Towards the end, it was no longer about her undoing her past misdeeds so the story fell flat for me. And when the ML and FL started to acknowledge their feelings for each other, it was very stingy on the romance but instead gives us some passionate kisses and even a bedroom scene before marriage.

Overall, it was entertaining if you don’t expect too much. Thankfully, the ending was an happy one.

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