Weirdly interesting

I hesitated so many times before starting this drama because the storyline was weird. A girl turning into a dog but a huge turn off for me. But being a fan of the main leads, I finally started. Still, I find it weird but I like how events are unfolding. It's that kind of drama that would make you laugh or smile all through. I like how romantic feelings between Seo Won and Hae Na isn't rushed. Things are happening at a slow pace as they spend sweet little moments together.
The little suspense around Hae Na's attempt to break the curse really does it for me. I keep wondering if she'd be able to do it. Also, till now, I still don't know whose side Bo Gyeom is truly on and I hope to see in the subsequent episodes.

Read More

The result of a powerful plot and amazing acting

It took a while for this drama to be released and I must admit, it was worth the wait. If I had to describe this drama in three words, I would use outstanding, thrilling and action-packed.
Set in the joseon era(1945), this drama is a moving and captivating portrayal of survival amidst Japanese invasion. It always focuses on a girl's quest (Yun Chae Ok) to find her mother and she joins forces with the owner of a pawn shop, Jang Tae Sang.

The storyline is unique as compared to other dramas about zombies or creatures. It is a level up. Seven episodes in and it's been nothing but thrilling. It is imaginative, fascinating and keeps you engaged with powerful scenes. Every single episode was well-delivered.


The emotional aspect of the drama was greatly felt when Chae Ok came to face to face with her mother and had to come to terms with the fact that she was no longer human but a monstrous creature. It was sad and moving.

The costumes, effects, cinematography and visuals was top-notch and truly impressive .

A job well done to the entire cast especially the main leads Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee. They did amazingly well in bringing diverse emotions and acts to life. It was pure naturalism which it was riverting and enthralling.

This is a solid 10/10 for me and I think it deserves more recognition. It's a must watch.

Read More

Realistically Wholesome

Slice of life kdramas are my favorite genre to watch. It embraces everyday life stories and events. There's no fantasy, no chaebol family drama, no serial killings or murder, just real life situations and welcome to samdalri served that well.

Away from the busy and bustling city of Seoul, a successful photographer (Cho Sam Dal) who has experienced a fall from grace and has become a topic for ridicule due to betrayal from her assistant relocates to her hometown, jeju. There, she reunites with her old love (Cho Yong Pil) and childhood friends. Adding more liveliness and stimulating tourist instinct is a peek into the life of jeju inhabitants and beautiful parts of jeju island. That is the story of welcome to Samdalri.

The storyline is simple, lightweight and very relatable.The drama portrays the fact that hatred, envy and jealousy mostly doesn't live far. It comes from our circle and people close to us. Who would've thought that Samdal's assistant who wanted to debute as a photographer at all cost would be the same person Samdal's boyfriend cheated on her with.

One likeable thing about this drama is that it focuses more on self-growth than revenge, that's on Sam Dal's part. She could have decided to get back at her former assistant for what she did and expose her but instead, she focused on herself, embraced and discovered other parts of herself and ones she has forgotten and grew through the process bearing in mind that her talent could not be taken away from her. Thus, she came back stronger. This show is a classical example of "people can try to imitate you as much as they want but they can never truly be you". Also, Yong Pil's father let go of the grudge he was holding against Sam Dal's family for a long time and allowed her to be happy with his son.

Additionally, the romance in the drama is subtle. It is not too intense and it is not too dull and that complements the drama well.

The entire drama gives off a warm, healing and peaceful vibe and captures realism in the most beautiful way. I loved it.

Read More

An Audience Pleaser

Set in Gangha, Jin Yi Soo, a chaebol who has everything at his disposal, joins the police force after he gets involved in a case. There, he is added to investigation team one. Together they unravel and solve mysteries and bring offenders to book.

Flex x cop is thrilling from the get-go. Although the plot is nothing extraordinary or new, the drama is gripping and keeps your full attention. It is action packed as well. The emotional and moving scenes are also perfectly sandwiched in various episodes.

One likeable thing about this drama is that it is fast moving. The events follow one another rapidly and none is dragged on. Each episode presents a different story development.

A noticeable standout feature is the relationship development between the leads. The focus is not on them becoming lovers and the change in attitude towards each other takes a gradual and steady pace. They slowly upgrade from a chaebol cop and a detective who hates his guts to great working colleagues and friends who look out for each other. Even without being lovers, their chemistry is unmatched.

This drama is definitely an audience pleaser as it contains a bit of every element present in kdramas and it's so exciting. It is that one kdrama without a single boring episode. It is a must-see. Can't wait for season two.

Read More

A well-executed drama

Wonderful world takes us on an emotional, vengeful and grieving journey into the lives of people who have lost their loved ones and have gone through very difficult moments . It starts with Soohyun, a famous author, who losses her son in the most tragic way and ends up killing her child's murdered because the justice system failed her.

The drama is poignant, outstanding and heartfelt. It evokes deep emotions and appeals to you emotionally making you shed a few tears. With it's good story telling, wonderful world captivates and takes its audience on a journey with the characters. The drama dwells on themes such as death, marriage, revenge, family, betrayal and political influence.

Using Soohyun and Seonyul's story, the drama illustrates how people deal with the pain of loosing their loved ones; the remembrance, the never-ending grieving process, etc. Every part of it is well-written and well-executed.

I absolutely loved Cha Eun Woo's character in this drama. It was quite refreshing to see him play an entirely different role than what he usually does. He nailed his role so well in this drama.

Wonderful world is a must-watch. It will touch your heart in so many ways and make you cheer for ordinary people like Soohyun and Seonyul who are trying their best to give a second shot at life and to experience happiness after going through so much pain. I wholeheartedly recommend this drama.

Read More

A thrilling and captivating sageuk

"who are you?", she asked.
He responded, "me? I'm your man."
This extract is from a scene I chanced on that piqued my interest in this drama.

Love song for illusion narrates an arresting tale of sacrifices for power, love and revenge. The story unfolds in the Asatae Kingdom. Prince Sajo Hyun who's considered a weaklin by his father suddenly develops a personality disorder (two conflicting personalities in his body) after seeing his father brutally murdering an entire family. His other personality goes by the name "Ahkee". As fate would like it to be, prince Sajo Hyun crosses paths with the only surviving daughter of the household his father murdered, Yeon Wol, whose thirst for revenge seems unquenchable.

The plot is quite fresh, thrilling, interesting and has an engaging and swift narrative. The way in which the story develops, the unexpected twists, great dialogue and character development are this drama's greatest strength. The drama has scenes that draws in viewers and keeps them completely hooked and engaged. Although action-packed, the drama has poignant scenes which appeals to audience emotionally.

One thing that sets love song for illusion apart from other dramas is its unique love triangle. In this drama, the love triangle is between a woman and two men who share the same body (Sajo hyun/Ahkee). This becomes another source of conflict bringing more suspense, intrigue and anticipation.

The chemistry between the leads, Sajo hyun and Yeon wol is palpable. Their deep affection and the length they're willing to go for each other is greatly felt in the drama. Their romance even feels sweeter as they overcome challenges together. They give some delightful lovers moments which is heartwarming.

The drama is full of wonderful characters. Each actor fervently performed their role by bringing authenticity to their characters making the story more compelling. The most incredibly played character is that of Sajo hyun/Akhee which was played by Park Ji Hoon. I am not exactly a fan of Park Ji Hoon but this is his third drama I've watched and he is very good. He really played the dual personality role well. The switch in language, attitude, facial expression, tone and demeanor were perfectly done.

This drama has made it to my list of most enjoyed dramas and i highly recommend it. It's a solid 10/10 for me.

Read More

The "SHE" Power

I've always been a fan of dramas with amazing female cast and if they're badass? Even better. This drama served that well.
The drama is about two women Jung Seo Hyun and Seo Hee Soo who got married into a chaebol family; Hyowon family but try to break free amidst lies and deceit and strive to overcome whatever stands in their way to achieve what they truly desire.
They storyline is quite unique. Although dramas about powerful families and marriages are common, it is rare for daughters-in-law to rise against their husbands' family. Also, it is rare to see daughters-in-law team up together. Rich powerful women in most dramas like to abuse authority, take advantage of low class women, exhibit bad parenting, etc but this drama takes a different approach. This drama has mothers acting against injustice, overcoming the impossible and fighting to tackle prejudice. Above all, it projects how fearless a woman could be and the extent to which she can go to achieve what she has set her mind to.
The drama also questions the idea of true happiness in a life of glam, connections, privileges and wealth. The Hyowon family is an extremely powerful family,one could easily draw the conclusion that being married into such a family would be a dream come true. It is not as rosy as it seems as the couples in that family are not genuinely happy. What they put out is just a facade to uphold the family name. Things happening behind closed doors like not allowed to speak with the press, not allowed to wear certain colors to family gatherings, early separation between a mother and her child by sending the latter to a boarding school abroad etc. was a problem for the women married into the Hyowon family. Most powerful families have rules and regulations one needs to follow and this drama captured that.
Apart from the plot, the fashion game of the characters is top notch. They literally served the best elegant looks, especially the leading duo. Their taste in clothes and accessories dominate Evert scene. Luxury labels such as Bulgari, Chloe, Bottega Veneta, Dior, Prada, Hermes etc could pass for the sub theme of the drama. For a family that needed a golf cart to take them around the house, spending a few billions in clothes was no problem at all.
One admirable trait about the leads was their strength, determination and strong will to cut ties with a life of secrets and lies packaged with galamour. The zeal they had for fighting injustice and standing for what they believed in was remarkable and inspiring.
The drama ended on a good note as Jung Seo Hyun and Sao Hee Soo achieved what they truly wanted. It was rewarding and satisfying.
Hats off to the cast for bringing the characters to life with their acting acting. They portrayed diverse emotions really well.
For a drama that tells women to recognize themselves and what they truly deserve, live their best life and stay true to themselves even when they're dominated by men and the odds are against them, it's a solid nine out of ten for me. Nine because I had a little issues but I highly recommend this drama.

Read More

A Queen's Tale

This drama will forever be at the top of my most enjoyed traditional kdramas. This is what I call a masterpiece, a well-done drama by all standard. The plot is amazing and the acting is incredible. The order in which events unfold in the drama is unique and fascinating. It has a bit of everything; romance, comedy, palace life, palace politics, sorrow, etc.
The drama vividly and beautifully captures the life of royals as well the bond between a mother and her kids irrespective of her position in society. The bond Queen Hwa Ryeong has with her children is so great and she goes to any extent to protect and shield them from harm.
The drama also highlights the fact that evil is much more prevalent in the royal household than anywhere. Concubines plotting against the queen, grand queen dowager killing people off to make sure her favored ones take the throne, a prince plotting against another prince, a royal physician killing a prince, the royal kitchen used as a means to poison the grand heir, amongst others. So much evil exists in the palace. However, it doesn't always prevail if there are people who can rise against it.
The drama is really interesting, satisfying and worth the watch.
Oh, how I love the queen. The entire story was centered around her and her acting was perfect. As a queen, she was outstanding, bold, courageous, compassionate and would do anything to subdue evil and unfairness. It was rewarding to see her efforts yield results:
She was able to find out the root cause of the late crown prince's death.
She was able to protect her children.
She was able to protect the wife and children of the late crown prince
She was able to secure her position as queen
She was able to bring queen dowager's evil deeds to an end
She removed all obstacles that interfered with Prince Seongnam becoming the next crown prince and even found a situable princess for him.
Most importantly, she was the greatest support and confidant to the King. No one had his back like she did.

I loved the princes especially the grand princess. Each prince had their own charm, dynamic, way of composure and view of life that spiced up the drama. It was just beautiful to watch.
Hats off to those who did the cast selection for this drama. The actors delivered and nailed their roles. They certainly ate and left no crumbs.
I highly recommend this drama. I've watched it thrice already and I will re-watch it again. It is worth the watch.

Read More

Bang Da mi's slayers: the powerful, the rich and the greedy

The drama is centered around seven people who in one way or the other contributed to the death of a young girl; Bang Da mi. Lots of questions crossed my mind as I watched this drama. How could a mother be so heartless? How could a mother not have any love for her child? How could a mother join forces with her daughter's killer to satisfy her crave for money and power?
How could a person be so cruel to humiliate and hurt a friend who was there in her time of trouble and need? How could a police officer who's supposed to be an advocate for justice forge evidence to trap and ruin a person's life? How could a person disown her mother to maintain her image as a celebrity? How could a father swap his baby with someone else's ? How could a father help his son commit crimes and get away with it?
This drama vividly captured the extent to which people would go to satisfy their selfishness and greed for wealth, fame and recognition. It also portrayed the length people would go to ruin and kill whoever stands in their way. Again, this drama tackled how people would do anything to save themselves, even join forces with their enemies as long as the odds favor them.
This drama also supports the assertion that bad parenting can contribute to how a child would turn out to be. Perhaps if Chairman Sim had really disciplined K and handed him over to the right authorities, he wouldn't have turn out the way he did.
However, the twists and turns in the drama was too much. Matthew Lee's appearance which could have marked the beginning of a gruesome revenge ended up becoming the gateway for more shocking revelations. Also, the drama was a bit one sided as everything was working in K's favor.
Nonetheless, the acting was top-notch. Every role in the drama was well-delivered. I look forward to season two hoping it'd be more thrilling and satisfying.

P.S.A : Don't watch this drama if you didn't enjoy Penthouse.

Read More

An absurd but comically pleasing treat

Chicken nugget is a drama about a girl named Choi Min-ah who enters into a machine to relieve her fatigue but ends up turning into a chicken. Her chances of turning back into human rests on the shoulders of her father and her admirer.

The plot is far-fetched and hilarious. Although dramas and movies are people's imaginative and creative write-ups that are brought to life and are sometimes devoid of realism, this drama is too much. A human being turning into a chicken nugget is extreme. Kdrama writers never cease to amaze their audience with the extent of their creative ideas which is sometimes weird.

Nevertheless, this drama is comically satisfying. The entire drama is full of humorous and amusing scenes. Scenes that would make you laugh hard, keep you entertained and happy are what makes up this drama. The dialogues and mannerisms are so funny and would linger on the minds of its watchers for a long time.


Looking for a light-hearted, comedy filled and unrealistic drama to watch? Then chicken nugget is the drama for you.

Read More

Loved brewed in the office

The drama centers around a young CEO, Veekij Kraiphiwat who has prosopagnosia and cannot differentiate between faces. He relies on name tags to distinguish between his employees at work. He then decides to hire a secretary to help him connect with the world and that's Mirin Neeraumphan Phaisanphi.
The plot isn't extraordinary but the drama started out well. Although it was short, the story captured the circumstance that led to Veekij's face blindness; separation from his mother.
One amusing and exciting scene was Veekij's first encounter with Mirin. Their bickering was funny but cute. An interviewee exchanging words with her potential boss? We don't get to see that everyday.
One likeable thing about this drama is how events unfold. Everything is straight to the point and the story is not dragged on. The drama also made use of non-linear narrative; events in the drama go back and forth between past and present, making it easy for audience to discover crucial information when necessary.
My only pet peeve is that the plot was too formulaic and predicable.There was no new twist or dynamic to this office romance drama. Everything was expected, nothing surprised or caught me off guard. Veekij's interest in Mirin, Chanon's alliance with Tanya etc was way too obvious. Everything unfolded like dramas we've seen before. It felt as though the story wasn't given enough detail and that was disappointing. For a 14 episode drama, it would have been so much better if certain things were added to beef up the drama.
Nonetheless, it was entertaining and interesting to some extent and if you're a fan of office romance dramas, I recommend you watch it.

Read More

A Worthwhile Watch

My demon is a fantasy kdrama centered around a demon, Jeong Gu Won who looses his power to a young heiress, Do Do Hee (transfer of tattoo). In his quest to get back his tattoo, Gu Won becomes Do Hee's bodyguard and eventually marries her. The marriage is contract based and mutually beneficial. As he safeguards and protects Do Hee from life threatening attacks, Gu Won could monitor her and keep an eye on his tattoo which was on her wrist. Gradually, they develop romantic feelings for each other.

The storyline is thorough and interesting. The drama captures the reality of being adopted into a powerful family. It is not all lovely and rosy especially when it has to do with properties. Also, the drama gives insight into the fact that Gu Won's encounter with Do Hee was fated. They actually had a past life together as YiSun and Wolshim and were lovers. Additionally, I liked how the drama provided a back story on the series of events that led into Gu Won becoming a demon. It was impressive.

The drama has powerful and engaging scenes that would keep you hooked. The highlight and centerpiece of the drama is the tango scene. That iconic dance scene will surely go down in kdrama history. Everything about the scene was just pleasant to watch.

One of the distinct features of this drama is its wonderful cast, whose performances keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Each actor nailed their respective roles.

The chemistry between the leads, Jeong Gu Won (Song Kang) and Do Do Hee (Kim Yoo Jung) was sizzling. They showcased a convincing act of young love that is passionate and beautiful. This makes viewers' hearts flutter.

The OSTs were great and I loved all of them especially the introduction song; True by Yoari.

A point of criticism for me has to do with the love triangle. For a couple who were already doomed due to their piteous fate, the love triangle wasn't necessary. It was great that it ended quickly giving DoHee and GuWon the chance to love themselves as much as time would allow.

Another point of criticism has to do with the scene where Gu Won disappeared. That scene looked so much like a scene in Goblin. There are a lot of creative and artistic choices she could have made use of but she chose to do the exact same thing to the extent that it was the same clothing color. It looked as though she copied the scene vividly from the other drama. That was really disappointing.

Nonetheless, I found the drama interesting and worthwhile.

Read More

Definitely not first rate

This is a chaebol melodrama. When Han Taeoh, a poverty-stricken but intelligent and smart young man teams up with Kang Inha, the illegitimate son of a chaebol family to help each other rise to the top, they did not expect their plans to be interrupted by selfish desires or the presence of a girl, Na Hyewon.

This drama's plot is utterly captivating. The dialogue is also realistic and convincing. Being a drama where issues on assets, inheritance, finances, ambition and greed are dominant, the tone is quite serious.

Although the drama has the tendency to draw audience in, there were some parts i found disappointing.

Th impossible heir has unlikeable characters. Almost everyone in the drama is either greedy and wants to even covet what's not theirs or overly ambitious and would make use of any available person or opportunity to rise to the top.

Another point of criticism has to do with the female lead's acting which was very terrible. This is my first ever drama of Hong Su Zu and it was a huge let down. Her character as Na Hyewon was effortlessly flawed. Her inability to show diverse facial expressions was evident in every scene of hers. Even in situations that required sorrowful expressions, she came off as stoic. However, as a rookie, i'd give her the benefit of the doubt hoping she'd grow and improve with time.

Although the drama ended on a good note, it wasn't satisfying. For me, it was poorly executed and lacked certain details. All in all, the impossible heir wasn't bad, just that it could have used more story development.

Read More

Love amidst books

Romance is a bonus book is a slice of life kdrama that captures the highs and lows of life in the most beautiful, vivid and captivating manner. The drama revolves around a woman, Kang Dan Yi, who puts her career on hold to focus on her marriage and raise her daughter. Unfortunately, her marriage ends in a divorce leaving her penniless, homeless and jobless. Kang Dan Yi seeks help from her best friend, Cha Eun Ho.
As no company wants to hire someone who has been on a career break for years, Dan Yi bets on the one thing she knows best; her love for books and takes up a task support job at a publishing company where her friend Eun Ho is a chief editor. In the quest for achieving professional excellence alongside great friendship, their true feelings for each other comes to light.
The drama is uplifting, inspiring, comforting, motivating and realistic. The story thrives on the ordeals and struggles people go through to get a job especially those who haven't worked for a while. The drama captures the reality on the ground; the tears, disappointments, failed interviews and hopelessness of the unemployed.
However, this drama offers comforts and motivates one not to give up with the hope that there will surely be light at the end of the tunnel. Dan Yi's situation was pitiful and discouraging. This is a woman who couldn't even afford to buy herself a new pair of shoes. She could have shrank but she didn't. She continued to press on and even as a task support, she took on big tasks and contributed accordingly. At the end, her life took a positive turn.
The drama also portrays the day to day activities of a publishing company, Gyeoroo Publishing, which is the main setting of this drama. Every step involved in book publishing is shown and it appreciates the work of key players such as the editor, book designer, marketing and sales team, the illustrator etc. It also highlights the struggles publishing companies go through to make sure a book is a success.
The romantic aspect is not left out either. Dan Yi, in her quest to overcome the challenges of life finds love with her friend Eun Ho. Their romance is soft, sweet, beautiful and healthy. Friends to lovers and Noona romance troupe is exhibited in this drama; one that would make you smile, cringe and make your heart flutter as well.
This drama is one I'd call a masterpiece or a skillful piece of film making. If you're a fan of books, friends to lovers troupe, interested in the publishing world or in need of a drama to comfort you and give you a ray of sunshine, then this drama is for you.

Read More