Reviews

After watching several lakhorn series, I had my doubts about this one. But after reading a review I decided to give it a shot. I must admit that I am pleasantly surprised by the series. It was actually really good. The plot was so unlike any other lakhorn series that I’ve seen. There was no cheesy moments, no extra dramatic females. No jealous ex. Just straight good stuff. Then chemistry between the leads was absolutely perfect. It has so much emotional depth that you could understand each characters feelings and delima. There was romance, action, tear jerker moments, stress and some hilarious moments (lots). Highly recommend this to anyone looking for an upbeat romantic and often funny series.

Read More

It´s a series to ENJOY if you let your guard of "I need high content" down

YES, It was not high quality, I do admit that but after all, this series made me light up. I really liked the easy storyline and the almost parody-like "twists", it really made the whole series so unique. Why do I think so?

There are some "bad" (BL) dramas out there, which don´t seem to have much effort included during filming BUT this series feels like, they didn´t have much but they created something beautiful with it. I mean, it was extremely fun to watch. I was wheezing because of some scenes. For example, the perspective when they had beaten someone up, the perspective. Quite hilarious. It had some emotional scenes as well but in the end, the plot cracked up, after all, it was such a relaxing time to watch.

Nevertheless, the chemistry between the actors was very charismatic and they must have had fun filming it. You could see it. Except for the -clapping- part, that must have been a little awkward.

After I had finished it, I realized that sometimes the quality doesn´t matter as much as the effect it has on you. For myself, I am going through a lot, but watching this was cheering me up. Also reminded me of my short movies when I was younger.
I believe that, in the future, there will be even more Chinese BLs to be proud of! Cheer up everyone.

Read More

I used to think the saying "the criminal is the one you suspect the least" meant the criminal was too good at hiding that no one could "see them".. but now I realize, it just means the writers just keep them hidden..
the level of the twist was vernica mars s4 level.. and I actually think this season felt more scripted and that they had more adlib in the 1st season. I mean, it's not a drama, but it's not a variety show..
the camera work sucks and and editing was too rushed during the solving of the puzzles.. it's not all bad per say, but I prefer crime scene (which I highly miss) and the great escape.
the cast though were 10+ everyone did great, especially the girls❤ the best part is that they actually let them have their own characters. and sehunnie baby did great too!
it's kinda smart that they used high skilled actors for the side characters, it almost felt real ;p

my rewatch values are either a 1 or 10, and this is fine with one watch ;p

Read More

Good Cast, Average Series

I didn't think I was going to watch a fantasy series for a while after I watched A Korean Odyssey but whatevs. I wanted to watch a LMH series and the last 2 he's done are fantasy.

This was an average series with a really good cast. I thought the storyline was interesting in the beginning but then it started to get a little boring for me just b/c I was getting a little tired of the parallel/past life storyline of the characters. At any rate I think it's a good show to watch once even though the ending and more accurately episode 20 I didn't care for that much at all.

What I loved of course was LMH. The rest of the cast was really good too. I have never seen the FL, Jun Ji Hyun in anything else but she was really good here as the mermaid. She and LMH had really good chemistry and they look good together! I really adored Shin Won Ho as Tae Oh, cutest hacker ever and Lee Hee Joon as Nam Doo. There were some really good comedic scenes and as usual the wardrobe department was on fire. Really loved the Joseon Era clothes as well. I really liked Yoon Ah, the little girl and the homeless woman who become FLs friends.

There are some really standout episodes like episode 6, episode 9, episode 11 and episode 18. Unfortunately, episode 20 is a letdown but we do get our happy ending so I will leave it at that.

Read More

started from the top.. now we are here

This drama started off incredibly strong. So much so that the latter half of the drama dropped my rating from 9.5/10 to 8.5/10. 8.5 might seem a bit high considering how annoyed I was at times but these characters grew on me so much that I simply can't bring myself to give this a lower rating.
The writers were the ones who honestly f'd up a big time. Haeng Seon and Chi Yeol are one of the best couples I've ever seen. The actors have great chemistry and my heart fluttered so much at their scenes. I truly want a love like that for myself.
But the cons of this drama really started to overshadow the chemistry at times.
The murder mystery got wayyyyyy too much screentime considering that there was no mystery. They revealed/ made it insanely obvious way too early. I was getting annoyed at how it was dragged out more and more.
And while the murder mystery was getting dragged on, they also had like 20 different characters who had ongoing stories but all of those were left unfinished and/or unpolished. Sua was the one that pissed me off the most. Did she even end up getting therapy ? or did she magically heal from those hallucinations because why were we even shown those scenes?
Hui Jae and his family were also shown a lot but somehow they didn't give any of these characters enough time to redeem themselves. I pretty much liked the last episode but I have to admit that this drama tried too much.
Way too many characters who needed serious therapy but somehow everyone was doing okay at the end..
sigh
It's a bit disappointing to admit that with these actors and their chemistry, this drama could have been so much more if the writing was a bit more consistent.

Read More

Love is a many-splendored thing. This show is not.

Our OTP first worked together in Once We Get Married and it is a very good pairing. The romance was sweet, and their chemistry was undeniable. I was really looking forward to this show to see if we can recapture some of that magic.

Let’s be frank, the plot of this show is paper thin. Our OTP met and fell in love 5 years ago and broke up due to some misunderstanding. She was pregnant, but she kept it a secret from him. They met up in the present and things develops from there. The obvious question is whether they will get back together. The writer has the same idea and within the first dozen episodes the show already has the HEA ending in sight. However, the writer threw a curve ball and the relationship hit the rocks in ep.13. The plot then went around the mulberry bush several times before hitting another roadblock a few episodes later. This reset all the relationships including the 2CP’s. We then moped around some unproductive side plots that padded out the episode count.

The OTP are back on track by ep.23 but we have gone through many silly dating tropes that would have been amusing if it was done at the start of the show. It just feels tiresome when it pops up at ep.20. It goes to show that they added so many fillers between ep.13-22.

Stretching a thin plot is nothing new to c-drama when episode count can reach 40+ but you still need a solid foundation to support the flimsy subplots. Unfortunately, this show is structured somewhat back to front. The initial spark of a new romance happened 5 years ago. We only see glimpses of it in flashbacks at the end of each episode. Otherwise, the OTP behaves more like bickering parents that is stuck in limbo between reconciliation and divorce. There are precious few resolutions but repeated setbacks.

In terms of characterisations, the ML is supposed to be some kind of investment wunderkind, but we hardly ever see him do a day’s work and he ended up being an immature proto-dad and a pest to the FL. On the other hand, the FL is hardworking and pulls double duty as a tech visionary and a super mum. However, she is one confused lady when it comes to the ML. She alternates between pushing him away (unconvincingly) and pulling him in (irresistibly). I hate to say this but the plots involving the leads are insipid and their characters are tropey and beige.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that the role of providing titillations falls on the shoulders of the 2CP. They certainly give that a good go but the pairing of a beautiful sexy noona with a naïve inexperience hunk is a no-brainer. If the 2nd side couple lacks originality, the third is definitely the odd couple but not in a good way. The young 3FL is all gung-ho with the love at first sight trope but then she decided to be a martyr to his unrequited love of the FL. It was not helped by the 3ML being totally insensitive to her feelings until it is too late. Of course, this means their relationship bounces around with all kinds of exaggerated set pieces and tropey dating mishaps. Honestly, it is as if the show is overcompensating for the lack lustre central plot and double down on the side couples so that they can generate the heat and craziness that is MIA from the OTP for the first 2/3 of the show.

BTW, I don’t get to say this often, but this show is redeemed by the young child actor. He is so cute, and wise beyond his age. Time and again, he is voicing our thoughts/frustrations about the futile antics of his parents. For this, we give thanks. He does get in the way of their romantic pursuits once in a while but that’s a small price to pay.

As I mentioned before, the last few episodes are pure fan service and lead us directly to the HEA ending we have to have. The strong chemistry of our leads made this watchable. The show knows this and dials up the skinship and swoon-y moments. I can’t complain even if they are shoehorned in at every opportunity. While this is going on, the screen time of the child actor is greatly reduced. No siree, none of that mood killing third wheel, tyvm. This is a shame.

The show also tries to build up some tension with shenanigans from the antagonists. Unfortunately, most of this is quite transparent and are used to set up the eventual downfall of the antagonists rather than to threaten the leads.

I still ship our OTP unreservedly but this is also why I'm disappointed with the show. It has the right actors and it ticked all the boxes, but it also feels insipid and lazy. The extra fan service and sugar hits towards the end, while appreciated, is not a substitute for quality. Dare I call it a cynical exercise to milk the popular pairing of the leads and maximise return on investment? Peace out.

Read More

What a Wonderful Drama!

There have been so many disappointing dramas lately, that start off fairly good, but then go down the drain due to poor screenwriting, directing and storyline, but this is not one of those. Kudos to the screenwriters, Director, and the exceptional ensemble cast for creating such a beautiful, heartwarming story!
It may first appear to be a very simple story, but as it unfolds, you can enjoy the richness of the characters of this community.
We get to know the characters in a very natural, flowing way, which made me care about each and every one of them.
The scenery and cinematography are travelog worthy and had me checking the map several times as I planned a potential trip to the area in the future. Cultural traditions are honored and presented in a way that we can appreciate all that is involved in preserving a cultural heritage.
The rhythm of life that is portrayed in the drama, affected my daily rhythm in a positive, healing way, and I actually slept better while watching this drama.
The characters are a delight, from the youngest children to the oldest grannies, and of course our main young couple, whose romance was beautifully developed.
I generally do not rewatch dramas, but I will be rewatching this one. Rewatching it will be like going to visit some dear friends. I wish they were planning a season 2, but I have not heard anything about that.
This is a beautiful drama, and I highly recommend it!

Read More

The Regnant Queen

Queen Seon Duk is a critically acclaimed epic sageuk production that continues to be held in high regard even to this day, since its release more than a decade ago in 2009. It has taken me just as long to finally watch this remarkable drama as part of my classic watch project, and what a fulfilling journey it has been. All the plaudits rained upon this production have been well deserved indeed, where it has won numerous awards, including honours at the 46th Baeksang Arts Awards.

The Story
The drama is partly a biopic, which cleverly fuses fact and fiction. Set during the turbulent period of the Three Kingdoms, the premise is based on the official records of the Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa. However, the storyline is primarily driven by the events chronicled in the controversial Hwarang Segi. The screenplay is infused with much creative liberty, thanks to the writing flair of dynamic duo Kim Young Hyun and Park Sang Yeon, who have written countless epic sageuk including Jewel in the Palace, Tree With Deep Roots, Six Flying Dragons and Arthdal Chronicles.

Queen Seonduk, the first female sovereign of Silla, and her achievements have been celebrated through the ages across all historical texts. On the other hand, historians have argued whether Lady Mishil, her arch enemy, had existed in the first place. Nonetheless, regardless of the historical accuracy, the characters and events are magnificently depicted in this incredible story of love, revenge, betrayal and sacrifice.

The Production
For an MBC drama that was released back in 2009, the general quality of production is worthy of praise indeed. Filmed on location at MBC’s famous outdoor film set, Yongin Daejanggeum Park as well as Shilla Millennium Park, thus reflecting the high levels of authenticity in its set designs. The costumes in the drama, particularly those of the Hwarang, are deserving of acknowledgment.

On the other hand, the cinematography feels quite dated in terms of the camerawork and the typical overuse of close-ups, which is prevalent in older sageuk dramas. You really do get to see actors’ microexpressions up close and personal. The action choreography is not the best, in terms of the swordplay and fight sequences. Interestingly, although this is a sageuk, there are elements of wuxia blended into the choreography. Perhaps this is influenced by Hwarang Segi’s almost fantastical account of the legendary powers of the Hwarangs of Silla.

The Characterisation
This is one of those rare occasions where I actually root for the bad guys instead of the good guys. Although this drama is focused on the character development and accomplishments of Queen Seon Duk, I was won over by Go Hyun Jung’s characterisation of Lady Mishil. She successfully encapsulated this larger-than-life figure who is arguably the epitome of female empowerment, charisma and wit, despite being the ultimate villain. This woman has screen presence and gravitas aplenty, and I honestly feel that she carried the entire show. Other character portrayals that I have enjoyed include Kim Nam Gil’s extraordinary interpretation of the complex and layered anti-hero, Bidam as well as Jung Woong In as the somewhat amusing and rather fun Misaeng.

On the contrary, I feel that Uhm Tae Woong’s depiction of Kim Yoo Shin is a bit flat, where he wears the same lifeless stoic expression throughout the whole show. Meanwhile, Yoo Seung Ho’s Kim Chun Chu is rather one-dimensional. I do think that Park Ye Jin’s Princess Chun Myung is more convincing than Lee Yo Won as Princess Deok Man and later Queen Seon Duk. I know Lee Yo Won has her admirers but I think she was outshone by Go Hyun Jung who went on to win the Daesang at the Baeksang.

Music
The original score, composed by Eom Ki Yeop, is exceptional for a production of this magnitude. Most sageuk soundtracks tend to be inspiring and surreal, which is the case here as well. The main title, comprising upbeat orchestral music, is an absolute favourite. I also love Mi Shil's Theme (미실 테마), an evocative operatic aria. Viewers may not be aware that IU contributed a song to the soundtrack, the lighthearted and catchy To the sea (아라로), which is a fusion of traditional instruments and pop music.

Overall
Queen Seon Duk is actually composed of three major arcs - the first 25 or so episodes before Princess Deok Man enters the Silla palace, the beginning of the palace politics that transpire in the second arc, and the final phase after the key events that take place in episode 50. I personally enjoyed the first arc, which had a measure of action, adventure and excitement. The second arc feels somewhat more regal and solemn in terms of the court machinations. The last 12 episodes probably could have been set aside, since I’m rather torn with the ending especially for one of the characters in question but, suffice to say, all loose ends are neatly tied up.

For fans of epic sageuk, this drama is certainly worth your while to check out. It might be a little old, but this is definitely gold.

Read More

Go for it!

It's been more than seven month's still there are cases and pandemic situations. As day passes, there is no fear among people about the seriousness of Covid-19. We start living our normal life.
After watching this series, i came to know how serious it is and how people are suffering and the painful treatment and how hard doctors are working!!
It is really good to know those trembling things through series
I'm grateful to director's and cast members on behalf of public for showcasing the hardships of patients and hardworking Doctor's!!
Thanks for this meaningful series!!

Read More

A moment of silence for that spectacularly bland ending

Like many recent big budget Korean shows trying to capitalize on the Hallyu wave, The Silent Sea suffers from unrealised potential. There is nothing spectacular about the show except for its cast, budget and cinematography which would have been perfectly fine. There are many shows that are well received by viewers even when these are the only three strengths of the show. So what set Silent Sea apart?

Overall:
The pacing is slow and the camera pans quite a lot in the initial episodes to show us the scenery which is exquisite BTW. There are some beautiful scenes and some real fast shots during the action sequences. All good till here.

There were few indications from the beginning though. A lot of unanswered questions. Dialogues that went nowhere. Some illogical & impossible sequences but these are all not a major turn offs. The stellar cast and great acting by Bae Doona and the rest of the actors was a big draw. The musical score did not intrude on the scenes too much. The plot was also okay, or else we wouldn't be here watching it in the first place. The show was on the right track till episode 6 with minor veering and thats when it lost its marbles.

The unnecessary segues, the wasted scenes where they tried to drag out emotions instead of having scenes that would attempt to logically introduce some of the subsequent illogical actions of the crew and the open threads really bogged down this show.

The Silent Sea could have been salvaged if it was only the last episode that sucked but unfortunately as it was the entire ending sequence which spans two entire episodes in an 8 episode show, it left me with disappointment and dissatisfaction. These two -dis words unfortunately are the last two impressions you want to leave an audience with, after a show's completion. This is also the reason why a lot of people remember only the bad things about Silent Sea even though the show was entertaining and the actors did a great job.

So would I recommend this show to others? Yes, its not bad for a one time watch as long as you are okay with the wasted potential. The first six episodes were a solid 8 for me and it only goes downhill for the last two so, it is tolerable to watch the beautiful cinematography (including Gong Yoo) and appreciate the effects.

If only the ending sequence was better! A 7/10 from me.

Read More

Story: The typical story where boy and girl grew up together treating each other as siblings but end up falling in love with each other. I usually think things like this is cute so I picked this one up. The beginning really got me hooked, but as it progressed it really lost me. I felt like nothing really interesting happened and everything was just so predictable and that the story was just so t-y-p-i-c-a-l, which made it really dull to watch.

Acting/Cast: The mains I must admit are really good looking. Chloe is really pretty and Jasper is super cute especially when he smiles. But them together just did not work - there was no chemistry at all. Same goes for the supporting cast, it felt like everyone was just literally reading their lines.

Music: I really like the opening song "That Girl" it's catchy and I had it on my replay list for awhile. Super cute song.

Rewatch Value: Little to none. Nothing really stood out in this, just a really typical drama.

Overall: This was a decent watch, liked how it was only 13 episodes so at least there wasn't the whole issue with dragging. I thought it was a nice and cute drama, but not one to put on your plan to watch list if you haven't already seen it.

Read More

*** WATER MARGIN - All Men Are Brothers ***

I loved this series.  It has a lot of action and a little light comedy, but what impresses me the most is the men of honor and chivalry helping the oppressed seek justice and their bonds of brotherhood.  Sometimes to do the right thing one is impelled to cross lines, meaning that there is no black and white in every situation, but different shades of grey in between.

The music could have been better and in some of the fight scenes, the filming was blurred and unsteady.  Perhaps the cameraman had too much caffeine, or wine...
It was refreshing to see this book come to film because it's a great story that deserves to be told over again in each generation because it seems there will always be corruption in this world.  To remake and update this series with the fantastic CGI special effects and an immersing soundtrack would really do justice to this timeless classic.

It's a much needed break from other action dramas that insert cheesy romantic side-plots to grab younger audiences by adding teen idol heart-throb actors to boost the ratings.

Also consider - 'Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre' or 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'

Read More

Double K FTW!!!! I think every gay man and woman goes through similar denial phase in their life at least once. I just love the dynamic between the two and of course with their friends and family. Been rewatching it a few times.
Max and Tul’s chemisty is undeniable. They make you believe that they’re really in love. Even the kiss between them. You can definitely forget that there are other characters in the series that you can focus on.
Definitely a must watch and prepare kleenex just in case to wipe your tears away. Cant wait for their next adventure this upcoming November.

Read More