Reviews

Time traveling to the past to see a lover

Greetings, everyone! I am thrilled to be back with another K-drama study. In my previous review, I shared my thoughts on the second season of The Uncanny Counter, which I found to be an enjoyable watch. Today, I am excited to share my review of A Time Called You, a recently released Netflix drama I binge-watched in just two days. It's been a while since a show captured my attention to the point where I contemplate it even while working. Thus, I'm eager to dive into the drama and explore my thoughts in greater detail.

Disclaimer: There may be spoilers, so read at your own will

Story:
A Time Called You has an enjoyable story that kept me wanting to see more of it. I loved how the case tape would take Han Jun Hee back to 1998. Ahn Hyo Seop from Business Proposal starred in the show, and I loved his acting as he fits well with the whole story. I did like the mystery aspect that the show throws at us occasionally. It was nice to see them portray two characters in the show as the male lead, and the female lead did an excellent job with those two. The time-traveling stuff was executed perfectly, making me wonder what would happen next. At some moments, the story was hard to understand.
One scene I like is when Min Ju and Nam Si Heon lie together under the tree. It looks so cute. I have never seen the original version, but this remake was all right. I've seen a couple of time travel shows before, but this might be the best I've seen. The show's final scene made me tear up a little as the two main characters meet each other.

OSTs:
I loved all the OSTs that this show delivered. The piano-driven song from Kim Min Seok, who provided killer vocals that kept me coming back for more. Lim Kim had an acoustic ost one that was another one I kept listening to on repeat. Kei has to be my favorite artist who released a song for this show, as you can feel the emotion from the singer's performance. The only OST I wasn't crazy about was Newjeans, as it felt lifeless to me, but I still returned to it a few times. I have still been having these Osts on repeat since they were released.

Overall, A Time Called You is getting a B from me for being a great show, but not one that thoroughly blew me away. The Acting and music fit well with the overall vibe of the show. I was excited about this show, and it was worth the wait. I'm excited to see what the next drama will be bringing to the table for me. I hope you all have a great day or night wherever you are.

Read More

I don't understand why this is so popular

I tried. I really tried. I found the premise intriguing but the show just could not hold my attention. I do not feel any chemistry behind the leads. I find myself drifting off and doing other things while watching. There are endless scenes of people drinking, talking... It's all a blur. I dont think the male lead is bad in acting etc, I have seen worse, but he seems so bland and expressionless ?‍♀️

At first, I thought it was me. I have watched really intense wuxia cdramas before this and I thought I needed something more intense. Then I realised that it is nowhere near the standards of my favourite like Another Oh Hae Young.
Pretty puzzled why everyone loved this, because there's very little that makes this drama stand out ?‍♀️

Read More

No words are enough to describe this - from a person who didn't know this was a remake

Firstly, if you're looking for a review without any comparisons because, just like me, you found this drama by itself, be my guest.
As a person who did not watch the original, I really wish we could just appreciate this on its own, instead of pointing out every single thing that tells both dramas apart – even if they are good or bad.
I started watching this, not even knowing it was a remake, and found it astonishing. The whole plot really gives you some food for thought, it's truly a well-told story. It checks every box in what I personally find in a good drama: romance, thriller and mental health issues (yes). The ending is just perfect in my eyes, makes the entire show worth it.
For the OST, the songs were charming and, unlike many people I have seen here, the main song perfectly fitted the emotion that this drama was supposed to give – a certain nostalgia and desperation.
Another thing I would like to talk about is how much Jeon Yeobeen shined as Kwon Minju, I was in complete awe all the time. However, I must complain, there is a lack of women in this story, which makes her the only remarkable female in the entire show.
This show really left a strong impression on me, so I think I will keep on thinking about it for a few days and remember it for a long time. It's simply that beautiful and intriguing, it truly touched my heart.

PS: this is my first review + english is not my first language so I gave my best

Read More

It was a story about humans and human nature, defects of the legal system, morality and family relations.
"The blood is thicker than water."

A play of expressions and symbols.
The camera work was beautiful; it struck me in the very first episode.

The characters were complex and well played out.

Music really amazing not only as a use in the story, but also a in itself.

Overall, one of the best ones I've watched.

-

It reminded me a bit of Twin Peaks.

As in:
A new cop goes to a weird small town, in which everyone seemes to have secrets.

I'd say Beyond Evil and Twin Peaks cross eachother somewhere, but are going elsewhere.

Read More

Deserves More Love - A Real Surprise

I'm so glad I saw Egg and Stone through to the end. The first few episodes have some over-the-top and slapstick humor so I did not expect the show to include such well written and serious scenes for the romance and main plot as the show progressed. The over-the-top bits of humor definitely subside as the episodes go on, but still come through in welcome doses. I love how this show was able to blend elements of silliness into a solid story of a woman and her new found friends journeying through the martial arts world. I laughed out loud while watching, appreciated the WTF moments, and experienced a variety of emotions as I watched the characters evolve. I didn't expect to be so touched.

I'm sad to see the ratings for this drama be rather low by MDL standards because I really enjoyed this show. I heard comedy and decided to give it a chance even though the title didn't sound too appealing to me. I had no investment in any of the leads, so I watched purely out of curiosity and for entertainment.

I think Xu Lu and Caesar Wu did an amazing job together. They were committed to their roles and the relationship between their characters was beautiful.

I originally was going to give this show a 9 or 9.5, but when I filled out the stars category and gave everything a 10... well... I'm going to give it a 10 because it deserves better, MDL!!! If you are on the fence about watching, please give it a fair chance.

Read More

Now this is how you do a disaster movie!

The headline says it all. One of the best disaster movies in the entire game!

Emergency Declaration is an outstanding film that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. With a gripping storyline and exceptional performances by the cast, it's a must-see for any fan of suspenseful thrillers.It is well acted , well produced, screenplay to die for and pacing that is heartracingly sublime! I was a total sweating mess watching this and thats exactly what a disaster thriller should do!

On top of the thrills- it delves into complex moral dilemmas and the human psyche under extreme pressure. The movie does commentary and thought provocation searingly well and that is so amazing to pack in the high stakes of everything.

The visuals are striking, and the use of sound adds an extra layer of intensity to the viewing experience.The cast delivers outstanding performances across the board. Everyone is phenomenal and all convey the desperation,determination or greed of their characters brilliantly.

Overall - its a must watch. Truly a top contender in the disaster movie game because of its ability to create a palpable sense of urgency and emotional connection with the characters.

I can see this being a future cult classic of the genre.

Read More

Oh my...

Well...this is the story of a dysfunctional friendship group with lots of toxicity and poor behaviour. I guess there must be some friendships that are this bad in real life, but my advice would be to run.

Straight off in the early episodes, there are a number of NC scenes. They are the kind that leave much to the imagination...but also don't....(the car scene!).... Neo (Boston) as a jealous, sex obsessed 'good friend' is not what I expected, but he's very good at it. Mark (Nick) as the lover who wants to be a permanent fixture in Neo's life is heartbreaking to watch. It's that feeling of desperation and longing that is almost too much to bear. There's a particular scene that really showed all the pain of wanting and finding out the truth and he was great.

What I like: Neo's acting - I've only seen him in roles where he plays the slightly silly friend, but his role as the jealous, selfish friend, is well acted. Mark's acting: I thought I didn't know who he was, but then realised he was in Moonlight Chicken. Such different roles and he's so good. I think I love him! ? Khaotung (Ray): complex character, well acted, great facial expressions (as usual)

What I don't like: there are parts of Neo's role that feel like he's a cartoonish villain. Force: I don't like the character and not impressed by his acting.

It's like reading a book and you want to know what happens in the next chapter, so I'll be watching until the end.

Just watched episode 6 - Book's acting in this episode was top tier (no pun!). I haven't liked his acting before, but the last scene was brilliant. So wicked and so cool, but so full of raw emotion.

This is becoming crazy! It was heartbreaking to watch Mark's character as he sobbed, but what a good actor! There are so many self-serving characters that I can't look away....

I'm still watching this toxic mess and every week, Neo's acting and character get better.

Episode 9: what I liked: First (Sand) and Khaotung (Ray) have great lines and have such tender, sweet scenes. Loved it. Neo's acting (obviously!)
What I didn't like: not sure I like Papang's character (Daddy (ugh!) Dan) - a mix of needy and a little creepy

Read More

Why should you watch this ?

It's an interesting portrayal of the relationship one has with others but most importantly one's self. I really enjoyed the focus on self discovery. Loving yourself first, looking at your reflection in the mirror and being content with whom you see.

The love and affection that the main characters had for one another was beautiful, seeing them grow individually and together was unforgettable. They were just 2 people figuring out whom they are, what they want in the future and to whom their hearts yearn for, truthfully. Bilkin and PP Krit's acting abilities really gave their characters a voice. As viewers , we got attached to them because of how genuine and relatable they were.

I have watched this more than once and I promise you the moon, you won't regret watching it. If you aren't in a relationship, gurl aren't you about to feel single !

Read More

Ceva intr-un ambalaj stralucitor

Basically, it is a mix of cliche, variety show style shooting, brand advertising (not very subtle). Acting...disappointing, commercial clip level packaged as drama. The secondary actors, some are veterans and know what they are doing, but even the venerable grandmother does not patch up the script from the pieces. Poor direction and editing, I've seen better graduation projects than this. The picture still has a few successful frames, but the actors are posing, not acting. The negligence of the team reaches the ridiculous with the Indian actor playing the role of an Arab prince. Even school children know that no one but an Arab can be an Arab prince and only an Indian can be a maharajah. plus it's poorly played, like the western roles. It is so full of contrasts, as if it were a suitcase covered with labels from all the airports. The second bad series, with famous actors, in 2023. Start thinking Netflix subscription is overrated.

Read More

Handsome couple, interesting story, odd pacing and acting?

The main reason I was interested in this drama was Ren, he is unbelievably attractive and his acting was pretty good as well. I don't really have any remarks on it. Kazuma's acting was a lot more awkward, escpecially because of his facial expressions. The rest of the characters were decent and provided more of a side role. I did like the French guy at the end, his acting was noticably the best and he was really handsome as well. Overall, this is a short BL with sweet moments and a decently interesting story. I recommend to watch.

I do want to add that I found this BL to be a bit more realistic than other BLs, where one's reputation because of their sexuality could change and how people can deal with it in a realistic way.

Read More

For those who enjoy revenge without the romantic aspect.

First, I would like to say that this was definitively one of the better dramas out there, especially for a short one. The story is not all over the place, so they really stuck to the plot line. For the most part, this is a very straightforward story.

The music:
I watched it on YouTube so there were like one or two songs that played, and sometimes the volume was going in and out.

The story:
The plot starts out as your typical rebirth after being killed and betrayed by the one that she loved and now aligning herself with another to take revenge. One of them more scheming main character very focused on her goal and straightforward and the revenge is center stage, not the romance.

The acting:
As far as the secondary couple or the antagonists of the story go they did a marvelous job portraying their characters. They actually had the chemistry of a couple. Honestly, it seems like they were more center stage than the actual leads because, honestly, other than the female lead executing her revenge plans, there wasn’t much interaction between her and the male lead. I think the male lead did a good job of being a stoic character but the dynamics between him and the female lead, which is so strange it definitively gave more brothers in arms than romantic partners. Given how young the female lead is, I must give her props because outside of the supposedly romantic scenes her acting was pretty on par for a character that was seeking revenge. The one that takes the hat is the one who played the secondary league she definitely chewed up the brattiness and craziness of an overly spoiled rotten side chick. She embodied jealousy so well that she definitively gave me a run for my money. The dynamics between the two female characters were impeccable.

It was a nice watch, I want people to remember that this is a short series and not a full-length one, and in my opinion, it would have done well as a mid-length drama so we could have gotten a little bit more background information and development on the relationship of the leads. And it would not have been a bad idea to maybe change the leads for two individuals who gave more couple than comrades. It was nice to see a short drama that was so well executed because, despite the lack of background information and extensive development, we still got to enjoy a well-executed revenge plot which I absolutely love. Especially since everybody who needed to get their karma got it.

Read More

It gets better...

This is the first lakorn I've seen so I knew going into it that it would be different from anything I've ever seen before. I also knew that the romance aspect was not going to be a big part of the story.

That being said, even going in armed and ready, the first half of the series absolutely DRAGGED for me. Not because there wasn't anything going on but because it was the same thing over and over and over again. I honestly ended up skipping most of the scenes with the second wife and her maid because every single time was "how do I get my son to succeed Tian?" And whenever the wives were arguing it was just supper catty to me. Then, as sweet as Lady Phin was, her voice sometimes just got on my nerves because she sounded like she was whining, even when she wasn't.

There's a lot of questionable actions going on which, I normally don't pay too much attention to because not much can phase me. But when Li started trying to send Mat to seduce her own son then drugged him and Phin to make them sleep together, thinking "if he has sex with a woman, he'll stop being gay," that was seriously messed up. And I almost felt queasy when they were sitting down to dinner with the mushroom dinner although I suppose that was the point so kudos to the writer for that one, I guess? I suppose the bad characters had to do some pretty nasty things in order for their redemption to be that much more satisfying and so they kind of accomplished that too. But it could have been done in maybe half the time. Especially since EVERY conversation was overheard by someone else. It should have moved the story along faster but it didn't during the first 80% of the series where it was a constant plot point. Honestly, for as big of a mansion as they were living in, there was ZERO privacy and apparently everyone was just happening by at the right moment.

Now, the second half was getting better as Tian started standing up for himself and flat out saying "I don't want to take over the family business and hide what I am anymore." Nevermind that no one except is brother listened to him but as we see him get more and more frustrated, the viewers are just waiting for the explosion to happen.

Speaking of the brother, I think the best part of this show was Tian and Yang's relationship. When they were on screen together, it was always phenomenal from start to finish. I really can't say enough good things about them and really, Tongtong's performance as Yang was probably the best throughout the entire series. Apparently, being a lakorn means there's bound to be some overacting which I definitely agree with. Especially Jan and her maid.. they were distractingly overdoing it which was also part of the reason I skipped their scenes.

The last couple of episodes really hit hard in an unexpected way for me. With how ridiculous the series started out, it really ended strong with some major feels and declarations. Some of the speeches could have been edited a bit shorter, especially Li's while she's there surrounded by everyone and she addresses each one individually. But still. I found myself tearing up a few times, especially toward the end.

Overall, I would say it was a worthwhile watch though I don't really see much re-watch value in it for me personally. Maybe if there was a Tian, Yang and Jiu cut, I'd watch that over and over. But this was a long series with a lot of repetitiveness that brought me really close to dropping it. But if you decide to start this, I'd suggest to stick with it because it gets better as it goes.

Read More

Interesting plot with A+ acting

Went into this one blind as I haven't seen the og one (I tried but couldn't even get past ep 1). This is my first time watching Jeon Yeon Bin in anything but I've become a fan.

Despite what some are saying in the comments, I think Yeon Bin slayed all her roles with my favorite being Junhee from her college days. There is this innocent charm added to Yeon Bin's timeless allure during this timeline. The ATCY team did such a great job showcasing her different charms as they jumped through the timelines and I was genuinely impressed. If I were to be a harsh critic, I would give the drama itself an 8 but her performance was a true highlight. Kim Tae Ri , Kim Go Eun and Jeo Yeon Bin are the rare breeds in the industry that demonstrate the epitome of acting and why it should be appreciated as an art form. They truly understand how an actor should utilize their body and eyes to convey specific emotions/showcase a character. Without giving away any spoilers here, viewers are in for a treat as Yeon Bin goes through the various transitions.

Without necessary expanding the number of episodes or just by adding one to two episodes, I feel like the storyline and characters could be fleshed out more. Speaking for myself, I wanted more details about between the leads as college students/adults and what they went through as a couple. There were snaps here and there but I didn't think it was enough especially when they dated for more than a decade. Perhaps they could show some key milestones, when Junhee graduated, how the two celebrated when she got her first "real job" (as her character was goal oriented while the ML was more of a romantic), their first fight (and how they reconciled) or when they first met each other's parents. What I'm trying to get at is that the show didn't show enough moments of the two being each other's soulmate, why they love each other as much as they do. There's a part in the drama where Junhee mentions Yeon Jun knows her better than she knows herself but the drama doesn't go further into it or show viewers what she meant. It's a shame because I'm sure the actors would have delivered these scenes well.

**slight spoiler**

They also could have also expanded on In-gyu's character(?) as it lacked depth and felt flat (not an actor issue, there just weren't scenes to show his development). And lastly, with such a complicated storyline with intersecting timelines, viewers definitely needed more explanation on how it all worked (not sure if the og did well on this component). I became very confused by the end of episode 9 and had to resort to third party sources to understand what happened. Perhaps it needed to be broken down more for the average viewer (or maybe I am just the only one missing a few brain cells), an aspect I believe the writer/director could have done better at.

This also leads me to highlight a detail I thought could have been changed. The present story starts one year after the ML's passing and I thought they could have changed it to 3 or 5 years instead. The fact the coworkers at the office thought Junhee should've moved on is a bit odd (I'm not saying she should be sobbing everyday but it would be normal to stay single for awhile after such tragic). As an interesting opening, it would be nice to have someone confess their feelings to the FL but she kindly rejects them. She goes back to her apartment that night and the viewers see all the old photos, only to realize she is still mourning her bf who passed some years ago and is only putting up a front at work/in front of her friends. There is a flashback to when her boyfriend's sister told her about the engagement ring and she cries. A few days later she receives a mysterious cassette tape and the story begins there.

All in all, I enjoyed the show. A few misses here and there but definitely worth your time. I mentioned this at the beginning but you should watch this show just for Yeon Bin's performance alone (the others did well although there's definitely room for improvement); her scenes are for the acting manual.

Read More

I Tried Really Hard To Like It!

First of all.I put the Spoiler Tag but don't be afraid.Iam not giving away any important detail.Just my thoughts about some scenes,which were way too absurd and nonsensical,in a very vague way.

Do i recommend this Drama?
Short answer is NO.Absolutely NOT!
As for the long answer..Well keep reading.

What i liked:
Good Production quality,nice Cinematography and beautiful Osts.I really loved both intro & outro songs(hence my 9 stars)
Yes,iam done with the good part.
Let's move on.

After watching the first episode i was already conflicted about the drama.I should have known better.The first impression is always important!

Cast/Acting:
Oh my!Where do i start..
Half of the actors were seriously miscasted.And few of them really do not deserve so bad written roles.
I made a short comment in the feeds, few days ago,after watching the 1st ep.I copy/paste :

"Iam not familiar with the 2 male leads but the rest of the cast is Top so i guess it won't be any issue regarding Acting."

Iam taking all back...Better chew than talk,maybe?lol

When i saw Jung Sang-hoon was one of the mains i was so happy because he is one of my biases.And to be honest he was one of the reasons i started it in first place.
I loved every role he played.Ive enjoyed his acting every single time.Here ,it was a pain to watch.
I don't know if the actors had full liberty to act as they pleased or were under director's full and strict guidelines.
Either way,acting was mediocre at best and bad most of the times.

The Drama is full of(wannabe)emotional moments and the actors were supposed to convey all those emotions through their lines,their expressions,body language etc.This is what an actor does,right?Well i assure you i can show more genuine emotions and shed some real tears better than them.Harsh comment but true.
And i do know they are good actors as ive seen them in other dramas.I know they have talent.Here i cannot put my finger on what was wrong.I guess is a combination of bad direction and bad writing.

Characters:
Half of the characters were portrayed like clowns.Too many annoying and silly chars,most of them added nothing to the story.Like seriously,apart the 6 mains who were the base of the story,the rest were decorative.
Also towards the end a new character was thrown out of the blue.I wish i could open writers heads to see what the heck they were thinking.
The only mature and really likeable was the little brother.And guess what!He had the least screen time!Go figure!

Story:
The main idea was excellent.The story was interesting.And yes,the cliché conclusion is that the execution was bad.Bad,, bad REALLY BAD!
The story is like scattered pieces picked periodically by the leads during the drama and then they acted like had no idea about what to do with these pieces or totally forgot them.

And here is the main reason iam too bitchy and nagging so much about this series!

Genres: Action, Thriller, Mystery, Drama..

A crime/mystery drama having more silly moments than a verified Comedy,is too much to take.Its something i can't easily digest.Iam not talking about the necessary scenes with a comical touch to relief any tension.Iam talking about those over the top ridiculous moments to make you shake your head and pull your hair too.
I had so many "WTF" while watching..
Please tell me who nowadays finds a fart scene funny??Seriously is there anyone?

Also the amount of stupid decisions made by almost every character,is ridiculously high.
Not to mention the usual incompetence of the police force,including our main detective lead.
Who,under certain circumstances was in a bad shape,but still after finding a very important physical evidence,he just safekeeping it for a year and after he has a delayed... epiphany and thought to search it further.My poor walls had to put up with me and my screams!
I hate(well, not like)Romance but most of all i hate forced romance.No chemistry whatsoever between the leads.And also be careful who you ship with whom..
Again one of those unnecessary romantic plots for the sake of having a non-tagged romance.I can't.


A mild and so-called spoiler:

One of the biggest "WTF" was the scene where inside the interrogation room,a prosecutor gives to a murderer a knife and a fork to enjoy his steak.Oh!the murderer is without handcuffs too!Bravo!Such a smart move!

I can continue and write so much more but i don't want to spoil the fun for you.Lol!
Iam sorry i may sound bitchy and rude but this is not inspiring or creative writing.Its just..sloppy.
When the writers themselves dont have a clear path about their story how do they expect the viewers to like and support it?
I couldn't.

Suggested overall: 5.5 Iam a big heart!Im giving this a 6!

Seriously i must find the courage and start dropping dramas because i can't continue like this!

Read More