Shelfleigh
United States
Fun Premise With Little Character Development
Reset was a quick and fun psychological mystery thriller. I typically shy away from the time loop genre as the “what ifs” tend to drive me crazy, but I couldn’t pass up a premise so similar to the movie Speed. The show layers intense action sequences with an intriguing “who done it” mystery, and, at fifteen episodes, the story is a quick and entertaining binge. It had some plot holes and pacing issues, but it was overall a fun and frenetic ride.While the plot kept me entertained, I found myself frustrated with the characters. Secondary characters, such as the suspects of the bombing and the police officers, are given more character development that the main protagonists. Ziao He Yun is by far the more developed character as he actually has character-driven interactions outside of the main plot. Li Shi Qing is given little to no backstory other than broke college student. These two had loads of chemistry and excelled at the emotional beats of the story so it was disappointing to not know them as well as the secondary characters at the end of the show. More time fleshing out their backstory would have made for an impactful, not just interesting, story.
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Cute Romance With Overboard Product Placement
FIYS features a cute romance between Ton Yao, the first female e-sports player on the team, and Lu Si Cheng, the team’s captain. The actors, Cheng Xioa and Zu Kai, had excellent chemistry together. It seriously had some of the best kissing scenes and romantic gestures I’ve seen in a Cdrama before! I absolutely adored Lu Si Cheng. While he had a standoffish personality, at his core you could see the care and attention he gave to the people in his life. Zu Kai played these attributes to perfection. I was less impressed with Cheng Xioa’s performance. She did sarcasm and pouty really well, but it got a bit tiresome after 20+ episodes. A bit more emotional range would have been appreciated. The secondary characters were all interesting and unique in their own way even if the rarely got to have their own stories outside the main plot.As this is an e-sports drama, it included tons of game footage. I found these parts to be rather uninteresting and boring, but the animation and shots were well done. In fact, the overall production of the show was top notch. However, the slick camera shots and beautiful cinematography came at a price. Product placement is RAMPANT in this show. Full on scenes were spent with characters essentially buying something without any main purpose to the plot or story. The actors did well with those scenes - I, personally, would have laughed if I had to shoot a mini-commercial during a drama as an actor.
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This review may contain spoilers
From RomCom to Melodrama
The first fifteen episodes of this show were truly amazing - a vivacious female lead; a brooding hero; hilarious sidekicks; fun shenanigans; and an interesting premise. It had enough serious to make the implausible plot seem realistic, and enough comedy to make it delightful to watch. However, the last nine episodes completely turned this lovable crew into the pain train of melodrama. It was awful watching the male lead switch from cinnamon roll to bitter adversary to the female lead. Even worse was the fact these episodes occurred because the two leads refused to be more open and honest with each other DESPITE promising to do just that. Sigh. The ending of the series was also rather a let down. I wish the leads had more time in the real world together than just a short scene at the end.Was this review helpful to you?
Cute Premise, Problematic Execution
While the premise to this story was cute, I didn't love the execution. The biggest problem was the sound editing. It became increasingly obvious as the show went on that the lead actress was dubbed - the movement of her lips and the dubbed voice were just slightly off from one another. I'm uncertain if other characters were dubbed, but it was not nearly as obvious as the FM lead. I also wasn't the biggest fan of her acting. She seemed very stiff and standoffish, particularly in comparison to the ML lead's passion and adoration. It's not an issue in the earlier episodes, but I'd expect her to be less stiff the more they dated each other. All that said, it was refreshing to find a drama featuring a couple with little communication issues. Others may have attempted to come in-between them, but they were committed to each other. If you prefer a couple with drama, this may not be the show for you.Was this review helpful to you?
Gripping Action with Sweet Romance
It took me two attempts to get invested in this show, but it grabbed me by the throat once it happened.❤ OMG, the romance blew me away. It had it all - pining looks, hand holding, unrequited (or not so unrequited) love, forced proximity, and marriage of convenience. While the romance isn't the driving factor of the story, it certainly builds episode by episode as Sae Bom and Yi Hyun work together to keep the residents of the apartment building safe. The chemistry between them, their absolute loyalty to one one another, and their refusal to back down on fighting for the things they loved made them one of my all time favorite couple duos.
❤ There is some shady shit going down in the apartment building prior to the lockdown, all of which comes full circle as the resident secrets begins to unravel the longer the quarantine continues. Their are certainly some memorable characters and interactions. I will admit some of the storylines for secondary characters petered out by the last episode. It would have been nice to have some clarity on whether or not the characters in peril during the end of the lockdown made it back to the real world alive and unharmed.
❤ I have been really impressed with the expansion of zombie lore over the past year! First this show and now All of Us Are Dead are giving us some interesting zombie alternatives. Honestly, this was a terrifying premise as infected individuals switched between madness and sanity.
❤ The lockdown and quarantine elements of the show certainly paralleled the real world during the Covid-19 epidemic. It explores themes of isolation, fear, and panic as the residents are moved into lockdown. If you're someone with PTSD from Covid-19, perhaps this show isn't for you (at least at this time).
Watch if you like: ?Slow burn romance | ? Zombies / Undead | ? Engaging female lead
Find it: Viki (12 episodes)
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Friends-to-Lovers Perfection
Fight For My Way snuck into my heart from the moment I started watching. I loved almost every element of this contemporary romance.❤ Be still my heart - Ko Dong Man and Choi Ae Ra had the best friends-to-lovers story I've seen in a long time. Their connection on screen was immediate, and their adorable confusion as their feelings deepened for each other was utterly unforgettable. Whenever they were on the screen, I could not take my eyes off them.
❤ I have a new girl crush, and her name is Ae Ra (and actress Kim Ji Won). I loved how all of the people in her life, including the hard core martial artists, cowered before her. She had some memorable moments of escalating situations or pushing characters who she felt were threatening herself or her loved ones. I want to be her new best friend!
❤ If anything, this showed just how versatile Park Seo Joon is as an actor. It was like watching a different person act compared to his performance in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim. I think my preference caters to his himbo version rather than the sophisticated businessman, but only by a margin. He played Ko Dong Man so earnestly with the perfect touches of confusion, vulnerability, and determination.
❤ The story did an excellent job of showing two different types of relationship dynamics. You have the two main leads moving from friends to lovers. On the other spectrum, you have the second leads going through a rough patch during their six year relationship. As a string unraveled for one couple, another string would bring together the other couple.
❤ The discussion about dreams versus reality, especially in their twenties, felt so relatable. I understood completely their drive and passion for their dreams, yet their weariness and somewhat acceptance of their circumstances.
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Angsty Plot with Ambiguous Ending
Like other series in the past, I think I watched this show at the wrong time. I wanted a fun and fluffy romance, but got an angst filled plot and ambiguous ending.❤ The highlight of the series is 100% IU as Jang Man Wol. When she was on the screen, you could not look away from her. She was a messy, emotional, and materialistic immortal with a touch of vulnerability giving her enough humanity to make her story (and redemption) plausible.
❤ The leads had tons of energy and chemistry. Unfortunately, Yeo Jin Goo as Goo Chan Sung was so one-dimensional as to be laughable. He was a character that could not stand on his own outside of the story. I'd also say the romance is not the driving force of this series, but more of a factor in Jang Man Wol's character development.
❤ The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. It truly is a cinematic experience on the small screen. I can't think of one scene that didn't feel fully realized.
❤ While I enjoyed the side characters, few of their stories felt integral to the overarching plot as they were all crammed into the latter half of the series.
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Humorous & Heartfelt
Let me tell you - this show and this romance had me hook, line, and sinker.❤ The romance is the heart and soul of this show. Kim Min Kyu and Jo Ji Ah are electrifying on screen. They each find solace and value in themselves from each other, building each other up even as the lie tears them apart. While I think the lie could have been releveled earlier, I still loved the juxtaposition of it all.
❤ The show featured several other romances outside the main couple, all of which were sweet and funny.
❤ If you've read any of my reviews in the past, you know how much I adore found family. Kim Min Kyu, Jo Ji Ah, and the Santa Maria robotics team are the perfect example of lonely people coming to lean and love each other.
❤ The concept of a robot looking and functioning so much like a human has always fascinated me. How would we as human process such a evolution? While much of the show focuses on the romance, it does explore the actions of such a technology out in the real world. It was such a beautiful and moving experience watching Aji-3's journey from concept to reality.
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Gripping Story & Compelling Characters
All hail the show that first got me interested in k-dramas!❤ If you're looking for an action-packed story with a grim dark setting, you've come to the right place. Squid Games is not for the feint of heart - it's gruesome, visceral, and haunting with lots of on-screen violence and gore.
❤ OMG, the characters were utterly unforgettable. Some will break your heart; some will betray you; and some will make you want to scream and laugh all at the same time. The characters are multi-faceted with understandable motives. It can be quite unnerving to understand why a character is acting a certain way even as their actions put others in dangerous or perilously situations.
❤ All of the actors gave powerhouse performances, but I have to give an extra amount of credit to Lee Jung Jae as Seong Gi Hoon. I disliked him so much during the first episode, but he somehow managed to turn me into his fan by the end of the series.
❤ The setting, music, and general vibe was atmospheric and haunting. No expense was spared on the production, and it showed. It had such a polished look and feel as to make everything feel very, very real.
❤ This has a lot of social commentary looking at the problems and challenges people face in a society that has pretty much ignored or cast them off. It certainly is thought provoking.
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Legal Thriller with a Touch of Romance
I watched this at the wrong time. I wanted something sweeping and deeply romantic, but what I got was a psychological legal thriller with moments of romance.❤ The best part of the show are the various cases. While the structure was similar to the "case of the week" style popular in Western shows, they did tend to be extended over multiple episodes. I found them all to be fascinating with multiple layers and details. I also really enjoyed the detective work that went into discovering solutions to the cases.
❤ The dreaming sequences were well executed, if a bit repetitive. There were several times when I would get confused between the dream and reality, although I think it was supposed to be part of the equation.
❤ The OST for this series is absolutely outstanding - it truly set the tone between the romantic, emotional, and tense beats. The instrumental music is probably one of my favorite scores ever. If I had one big complaint, it would be that the opening sequence did not match AT ALL the actual show. It always threw me off how whimsical and dreamy the opener was compared to the darker moments of the show.
❤ The poster for the series makes it look like the romance dominates the story, but it truly doesn't. The romance between Nam Hoong-Jo and Jung Jae Chan is super slow burn. It was like watching grass grow in the dessert. Once they finally accepted their feelings for one another, they became a smidge more romantic.
❤ I loved Jung Hae-in as Han Woo-tak. He had such a calm and stoic presence to his scenes. I also loved how nerdy he is, and how it shows in his room.
❤ This is another story focused on "found families" - one of my favorite tropes ever. I love how the three main leads, as well as Jun-Jae's little brother, end up being adopted by Nam Hong-Joo's mom, Yoon Soon-Sun. All of their scenes were such a delight.
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Creepy And Campy
I'm surprised I liked this show as much as I did. I'm not going to lie - the first four episodes didn't really hook me.❤ I found Bong Soon to be a rather bland character despite her interesting ability. Around the halfway mark she became more of a fully realized person rather than a caricature of a superhero. The show did a pretty good job with her powers, and, for the most part, I felt her natural strength.
❤ God save me from love triangles. They are usually so cliché and tiresome no matter the circumstances. I did like all of the actors so at least I didn't dread every episode, but I much preferred it once the triangle was wrapped up.
❤ The MVP of this show, and probably the only reason I stuck it out initially, is Park Hyung-Sik as An Min-Hyuk. He has to balance between love sick puppy, remote CEO, and slightly crazy anti-establishment asshole. And, my god, does he excel at all three. He completely and totally won me over, and his obvious joy and love for Bong Soon was absolutely adorable.
❤ The side characters are a bit much, particularly Bong Soon's "kids" and the mafia-style antiheroes. Most of their scenes were meant to add levity to a somewhat dark storyline, but it felt rather pushed into the story rather than layered into it. That said, I did enjoy how everyone comes together in the end to stop the big bad of the series.
❤ Finally, I have to comment on the number of placement adds. They are so obvious. It's also interested how the last episode, while giving us a pretty "happily ever after ending," also felt like the showrunners attempting to add as many product placement ads as possible.
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Sweet & Heartwarming
After watching some amazing horror and fantasy k-drama shows, I was hesitant to choose something more lighthearted. I will be forever grateful to my husband for pushing me to giving it a try because it is now my favorite k-drama to date! Below lists all the ways I fell in love with this sweet and heartwarming show.❤ It’s easy to fall in love with Hong Du-sik (or Chief Hong as most of the residents of Gongjin call him). He’s easy going, intelligent, hard working, and charming. The actor, Kim Sun-ho, shines at creating this affable character without his performance coming off as forced or insincere. You can see how much Du-sik loves his town and the people in it. It’s not till the end of the season that his story is revealed, but the last few episodes really hit home the reasons behind his lifestyle decisions.
❤ It’s a lot harder to connect to Yoon Hye-jin. She is initially portrayed as materialistic, judgmental, and remote in the first few episodes. And yet, when her guard is down, you also see she’s compassionate, driven, and decisive. It’s utterly fascinating watching this woman who has built up walls for most of her life slowly allow the residents of Gongjin into her heart. Kudus goes to the actress, Shin Min-a, who is able to pull off such a complex role.
❤ The romance is so sweet and giddy. When the story starts, it was difficult imaging Du-sik and Hye-jin falling in love as they were complete opposites. The show spends time building up their friendship before any other feelings are expressed. Their romance teeters between giddy and sweet, making for fun moments and memories between the two.
❤ Typically I detest love triangles, but I actually adored the execution of it in this show. The show excelled at creating separate moments for each of these relationships individually and as a group. It created an interesting tension between the three as they began to express their feelings mid-season. I also appreciate the love triangle is quickly wrapped up once everyone is open and honest with each other.
❤ The heart and soul of this town is the relationships between people. While they don’t always like each other, they do put their conflicts aside to be there for one another during times of crisis and celebration. All of these various threads come together to create such a rich tapestry that truly make Gongjin feel alive. I can’t think of one character I didn’t absolutely adore by the end of the series.
❤ This show brings together so many elements to create the perfect and charming small town setting. It had a fantastic score filled with whimsical and lighthearted music, which set so much of the overall tone of the show. Who will ever forget DOS and Yoon-Oh’s songs? Not me, that’s for sure! The snippets of the beach, the docks, the vendors, and aerial shots of the entire town were absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t help but feel as if Gongjin were a real and bustling place, one I can’t wait to visit (even if it is only on my screen).
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Multifaced Story Within A Story
I cannot begin to express exactly how much I adored this story, but I’ll give it a try anyway.❤ Dan-O is everything you could want from a protagonist - she’s feisty, passionate, driven, and courageous. You can’t help but root for her as she pushes against her destiny to create her own story.
❤ It’s absolute perfection watching Dan-O and Ha-roo fall in love. Their romance is like eating warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven (the highest of compliments from me). This is very much a “first love” story with a focus on looks and hugs, not kisses.
❤ I 100% could not get enough of the friendship between Dan-O, Har-roo, and Do-hwa. I loved how they supported one another, particularly when they went on one of their “missions” to change their fates. If anything, I wish the other self-aware characters had been more integrated into their story and shenanigans.
❤ This story is multifaceted, layered, and always intriguing. It’s very much a “story within a story” so be prepared for lots of surprising twists and turns.
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Zombies + High School = Good Times
This show combined two things I love - zombies and high school drama! While the middle of the series felt rather bloated, I mostly enjoyed this interesting take on zombie lore with a large ensemble cast.❤ The opening shot of the show does a phenomenal job of showing all of Hyosan High School’s various locals. And, boy, does it not disappoint in allowing the school to be the showcase of the series. We get to see action sequences and zombie hoards everywhere in the school, from stampeding into the cafeteria to hunkering down in the gym’s storage unit.
❤ While the romances are always secondary to the zombies, they are still wonderfully executed. One love story revolves around an unrequited love between two long time friends, and the other romance focuses on the class president and a former bad boy. What’s not to love?
❤ At the heart of this zombie drama is friendships - both those made prior to the outbreak and those made in the desperate days afterwards. All of the main teams lose party members, and their deaths are impactful because we’ve seen the deep bonds of affection between them all.
❤ Part of the charm of the show is the levity it brings in the middle of all the darkness and despair. I do think it has a rather hopeful ending, but it still hurts. It is, after all, a zombie show so be prepared to lose some of your favs along the way.
❤ Cheong-san showed up and did his homework. The actor, Yoon Chan-young, has made a fan for life. He had so many excellent action sequences, heartfelt emotional breakdowns, and spades of chemistry with all of the cast.
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Mixed Bag of Romances
I truly enjoyed the main romance of this show. The leads had excellent chemistry together and their romantic relationship progressed naturally as they learned to co-parent together. The child actor playing their son was absolutely adorable and precocious! He should have had way more screen time in later episodes, but he is often not present as the story focused on the workplace drama. Speaking of the workplace drama, the overall story arc and message was positive. It can be challenging watching a story about sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace, particularly if you have experienced it. Min Hui was inspirational, and her teaching other women to stand up to workplace abusers was beautifully executed. It did drag on too long, but I blame the episode count.My biggest complaint are the side romances - neither were interesting or integral to the story. Which is not to say I didn't enjoy their characters. The addition of Min Hui's found family in Zhou Ruji and Cao Mu brought a certain amount of credibility to the story of a young career woman raising a child, particularly one with heart issues. Their friendship and love for Min Hui and Min Quanquan was enough for me. Rather than padding out so many episodes with their individual love stories, I wish we had spent more time with the core family.
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