Yes, I know many people think this show is over-hyped with all the rom-com cliches that it could find. Sometimes, I listen to the keyboard critics (like when I passed on “The Heirs”), and sometimes I don’t (like I did in this instance). But I am glad I did not listen, not only did I find “King the Land” enjoyable, I found a newfound appreciation for Yoon Ah, whom I wasn’t really too keen on when I saw her last in “Love Rain.”

Are there other pairings with better chemistry than Jun Ho and Yoon Ah? Sure. But I will recognize Gu Won’s and Yoon Ah’s effort in portraying two people who couldn’t be more opposite of each other. One who constantly smiles as she sees the silver lining in every situation, and has the tenacity to tackle challenges despite setbacks. While the other has a persistent cloud over his mood, because of his mother’s mysterious disappearance that he sees as abandonment.

Despite his lack of emotional intelligence, Gu Won tries his best with what he can, and after meeting Sa Rang, he learns to become more attuned to the needs of others. I also loved how the rest of the cast contribute to Gu Won’s character development, from “The Six Siblings” to Sa Rang’s Grandmother, they all shape his world view that allowed him to develop programs that are considered progressive for his hotel business, treating his employees and regular customers as “kings” in their own right despite their status.

To say that this drama is without its flaws is a lie. Could the product placement be less ubiquitous? Yes. Could the drama use fewer tropes? Maybe. But in the end, when Sa Rang realizes that the genuine pleasure of serving people isn’t necessarily being in the most prestigious lounge serving top-tier customers but in the every-day common folk, do we see the fundamental principle of this drama.

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Story: Cat and Dog are actually people and not animals who chase each other around: one seeks pleasure outside of his supposedly-committed relationship, while the other seeks stability, but neither really getting what they wanted.

Acting/Cast: No acting prowess to speak of, but what can you expect from an adult entertainer.

Music: Nothing to write home about.

Rewatch Value: If only to figure out the logistics of how two men can fit in a small bath tub.

Overall: The film poses the question whether a “carnal connection can transcend into love?” And for me, the film does not answer this hypothetical query, and only serves to be gratuitous and self-indulgent.

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I wanted to only write one word about this movie: Terrible, but this site doesn't allow it, so I have to write about how terrible it is in more than 500 characters.

So what else should I say about it:

Story: Simple enough, two boys got the groove on.

Acting: Horrible. You can clearly tell they are just reciting the lines. Monotonous expressions.

Music: None to speak of

Re-watch value: Even 6 minutes was too long for this short film.


Watching a hamster go around in circles for 5 minutes would be more interesting than watching this POS.

And don't tell me that 6 min is not enough to do justice for a movie. Other equally short films have done better. "SummerDaze" is one example.

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With a title like “Silent,” I had a feeling that this would be an emotionally heavy drama. The drama begins with the story of a woman who is currently engaged to her boyfriend, but she still sometimes wonders about whatever happened to her high school sweetheart. Tsumugi’s fiance, Minato, also spent time looking for that same answer, because back in high school, the three of them were friends. Their trio dissolved when Sou cut all ties with people who knew him before he lost his hearing.

After the three united later, not by choice on Sou’s part, things begin to change. Despite Tsumugi’s insistence that it is Minato she loves, he ends their relationship anyway because he knew he couldn’t hold a candle to Sou’s place in Tsumugi’s heart. On the other hand, Sou pushes Tsumugi away, and shoots down any semblance of rekindling their old feelings for each other.

Throughout the entire show, I felt that Minato’s self-sacrifice was unnecessary. He did not give himself any credit for being good enough for Tsumugi. And the same goes for Sou, who arbitrarily assumes that no one, not even his girlfriend, would be supportive of him if he divulged his condition. His faith and trust in Tsumugi was so little that he did not think that Tsumugi would be there for him when he eventually becomes deaf.

Although I understand the part where Sou considers himself as a burden to others, and his self-exclusion was just a coping mechanism that he adopted. Meguro Ren as Sakura Sou portrays this man who has hearing loss with great care and sensitivity. He is certainly the star of this show.

The rest of the cast also carried their own weight and delivered performances that are nuanced and natural. From Kawaguchi Haruna as Aoba Tsumugi to Kaho as Momono Nana, everyone did their utmost best in representing their characters.

The drama touches on the struggles of people with hearing impairment, how some may deal with the condition (whether from birth or later in life), and how the people surrounding them may deal with the issue differently. From the overprotective mother to the supportive sister, each of them shapes how Sou views the world as being unable to hear.

The drama also dispels some assumptions that people with hearing loss can have on those who do not have to deal with the same condition and vice versa. This poignant drama will make you feel empathy for those who live in a world filled with silence.

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How to rate a drama where the first part had me at the edge of my seat, while the second part almost lulled me to sleep? Hence my dilemma with Alchemy of Souls. I wasn’t sure where part two went wrong, or was it because part one was so amazing, it was hard to replicate the same excitement when I watched it?

The bad of Part 2:

- Though the leads are physically attractive, Jang Uk and Bu Yeon didn’t have the same spark as Jang Uk and Mu Deok.

- The pacing in this one dragged endlessly despite its short length. They spent more time wallowing than fighting.

- All this soul-shifting back and forth, like jumping from one body to the next, that defies the laws of fictional logic? How can the drama just explain away why in this instance, it’s okay to shift, but in that instance it’s not? I can’t keep up anymore with whose body belongs to which soul and whose soul is now inside which body.

- As for the secondary characters, it looked like everyone was just there for the sake of being there and going through the motions. You know which character that caught my interest? The god-damn turtle!

- And all the reminiscing. What’s the point? Am I supposed to believe that Jang Uk grew fond of Bu Yeon, because she’s Bu Yeon, or because she exhibits Naksu’s mannerisms and thoughts?

Part 2 Verdict: A shadow of Part 1. (8 out of 10)

Combined score: 9 out of 10.

Overall impression: Should have stopped at Part 1.

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Nothing prepared me for this drama. I went in with no expectations, and I came out with a new understanding of how people can take different paths in life, and still succeed as long as they put their heart in it. Not to say that they haven't produced dramas with inspiring messages of how to live your life to the fullest before. But this sports-oriented show delivers that message without being preachy.

The drama kicks off with Zhou Yu Tong as an efficient personal assistant who is quick on her feet, excels at handling multiple tasks, and successfully resolves many issues for her demanding boss. Liang You An crosses paths with an athlete trying to make ends meet by joining a competition sponsored by You An’s company.

Song San Chuan becomes smitten with You An at first sight, and his loyalty is endearing and his smile adorable all throughout the drama whenever You An is around. He latches on to You An as his saving grace when he finds himself in limbo and could not get past his trauma playing professional badminton, as it reminds him of his mother, who abandoned him during one of his important matches. You An saw San Chuan’s potential and suggested that he switch sport.

New to tennis, San Chuan struggles to find his footing with his unambitious teammates and a new coach with peculiar training methods. But his tenacity and You An’s faith in him made San Chuan shine in a sport that had shunned him at the beginning. Through this journey, San Chuan understands he can rely on his family and friends for support, and that he didn’t have to bear all the burden. I also liked the fact that You An developed a backbone and learned how to say no to her ex-boss or to others who thought they could easily manipulate her.

I enjoyed this drama a lot, and there were no secondary or tertiary characters that made me pull my hair. All the characters were well-rounded, even the seemingly devious ones. “Nothing But You” tells us that everyone can achieve their dreams: if you don’t give up, have faith in yourself, and have supportive people surrounding you.

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Japan really knows how to do age-gap romance. This light-hearted drama, albeit formulaic, has its angsty moments. Bratty, spoiled high-schooler, meets a recently divorced woman who is down on her luck. Despite suddenly finding herself homeless and penniless, Hayame still is tenacious when it comes to doing what’s right and wrong. However, because of her unintentional destruction of someone else’s property, Hayama concedes to Issei’s dice game of life. Although Hayame is reluctant to play along with the outrageous requests, she sees no way out until she’s able to pay off her debt.

To no one’s surprise, Issei becomes enamored with the resilient Hayame. But so does Issei’s brother, to the consternation of many others fangirling over the inn’s young master. Though love triangles or love trains abound, we know who the end game will be. Although, I would have been equally fine if Seigo and Hayame end up together.

His love for Hayame spurred Issei’s character development, and there’s nothing cringey about wanting to become better (more responsible, more mature) in order to gain her affections. Issei’s grandmother and butler are adorable as supporting characters. Aside from the obvious references to the Cinderella-trope, this drama is a delightful, easy watch.

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The drama started out strong, with a formidable female character who is as resourceful as she is kindhearted. I enjoyed Song Yi as Liu Yu Ru and initially assumed that she will be a pushover due to her dainty appearance, but she held her own despite the circumstances surrounding her family. With a twist of fate, Yu Ru got herself hitched to the male lead, despite her fervent adoration for another man.

For his part, Bai Jing Ting portrays Gu Jiu Si with all the playfulness when he was a delinquent and with all the seriousness when he became a high-ranking official. The two leads ooze enough chemistry to make their sham marriage believable. However, I almost gave up mid-way through this drama as it dragged through politics but I was interested enough in Gu Jiu Si's character development to continue.

I also liked the secondary characters, especially the brotherhood between the two kings and the friendship among the young group who were supportive of each other despite past grievances. Jiu Si and Yuru's benevolence knows no bounds, that it sometimes becomes a detriment to the show. Perhaps the message is to forgive those who wronged you, and people who make mistakes can get a second or a third chance. But just because it's a noble thing to do, doesn't mean that people should get away with murder and still be able to live their lives without consequences.

I feel that the final episodes were a bit anti-climactic for me and the drama lost some of its steam as it tries to wrap up some loose ends. But all in all, a decent offering, if you take a break or two,

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I almost dropped this drama due to its lackluster reviews, and the FL rubs me the wrong way as she always look sleepy and sad even when she's peppy. It must be the eyebrows or the horrendous hairstyle she sports that is just bugging the beejeebies out of me, but the ML's visual more than makes up for it. I couldn't believe this is the same guy from Love and Leashes as Jun Young looked so nerdy there despite the occasional half-naked scenes. I'm telling you it's all in the hair.

But before I digress further, I must say that this drama grew on me. I wasn't really expecting much from a cast mainly comprised of K-pop idols, but they are decent and you can see they are trying their best portraying their roles that are not too far from their profession. I enjoyed the parts where they were being idols: the practicing, the dancing, the music, the on-stage presence is as expected but nothing further given that they don't have much to work with.

A drama that tries to expose the dark side of the K-pop industry seemed good on paper but how it was executed was not. It is like the drama is trying to do so many things at once that it failed to excel in any one area. It is also trying to do a David vs Goliath story with a small entertainment company going against a conglomerate, but the end fell flat as nothing much was done except an article by a lone journalist that will most likely be forgotten by the next juicy gossip.

The plot suffered from the uneven, choppy writing as it tries its damned hardest to pair off couples that have no chemistry except for convenience's sake. But if you are willing to overlook all these weak points, and just focus on the feel good story of people reaching their dreams in spite of obstacles, then "Imitation" is not so bad as it seems.

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This is such an endearing story about a group of misfits coming together and working towards a common goal, that is to become Spirit Masters. Although the intentions of each started somewhat differently when they joined Shrek Academy, they eventually bonded after journeying through different lands. Tang San was there to hone his skills; Zhu Zhu Qing was there to confront her arranged marriage partner; Dai Mu Bai was there to train in hopes to defeat his brother; Ning Rong Rong was there at the insistence of her father; Ou Si Ke was there to experience life to add to his stories; Ma Hong Jun was there because he had nowhere to go; Xiao Wu was there just to follow Tang San.

There was no character that really stood out for me as they each had their own strengths and weaknesses, but I have to admit that Xiao Wu became annoying after causing Tang San so much trouble because of her insistence to tag along wherever he goes. I was cringing every time she flutters her eyelashes at the oblivious Tang San. Surprisingly, I liked Lan De and Xiao Gang as the Founder and Grandmaster of Shrek Academy, how their teachings greatly influenced the "Seven Devils" in their quest for knowledge. Doulou Continent is not just a fantasy drama about spirit cultivation, but about found family and lasting friendships.

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I only picked this up as the sequel for One and Only, thinking it would at least give some sort of closure. But aside from the similar names and some scenes from the prequel, there's not much else to go by. If the drama was to stand on its own, I would have passed on this. It was moving slower than a snail that even a grandma on a walker would be faster than this. The only saving grace was the acting of Bai Lu as the happy-go-lucky FL and Ren Jia Lun as the introverted ML. Their screen-time together are the only ones I look forward to, especially when Shi Yi initiates almost all of these romantic moments due to the professor's cluelessness.

Aside from the FL, ML, and the eye-candy Ci Sha as Mei Xing, the rest of the characters were pretty bland to me, if not ingratiating. The ML's mother was spineless against her ambitious son Wen Chuan, coddling him even when does despicable things. For her part Qin Wan treats Shi Yi like she's a nobody and a fly who hovers around her step-son. But it is actually Tong Jia Ren who buzzes around Sheng Chen despite being married to his brother, who is in turn chasing his ex-girlfriend around. There are too many family entanglements in this drama for me to keep the relations straight. There are some funny moments, a lot of sad moments, but this drama lasted forever and ever that I couldn't wait for it to finish.

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Story: A teenage boy suffers from panic attacks every time his girlfriend wants to be intimate. He is not sure whether the reaction comes from his distaste of girls’ bodies or something else, as he finds himself being fascinated with a naked boy lounging on the rooftop. But almost the same thing happens when the other boy tries to touch him. The short film presents a backstory of trauma suffered by the MC at the hands of his father, but it was unclear whether the father sexually abused his son, or whether the boy was being punished for having impure thoughts and acts of pleasure are heavily reprimanded.

Acting/Cast: Mediocre at best.

Music: Mediocre at best.

Rewatch Value: If only to analyze why the MC hyperventilates with the thought of impeding physical contact as there maybe differing interpretations.

Overall: The film leaves a lot for improvement, and poses more questions than answers, like how brazen are the two boys cuddling almost naked a few feet from another group of boys ogling at girls. Or how the girls, knowing that they were being spied on, still tried to put on a show in the hopes of catching the perverts in the act. The inclusion of this latter part seemed off-tangent and unnecessary in such a short film. At the end, nothing is resolved but only offer up more confusion.

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Story: This is a coming-of-age story about a pre-teen discovering his feelings may not be conventionally normal, when he was asked to re-enact a love confession in front of an acting class. The plot was simple yet impactful.

Acting/Cast: Surprisingly good acting coming from the titular character, naturally-talented kid.

Music: Somber and soulful and yet not overpowering.

Rewatch Value: Highly recommended.

Overall: Nothing remarkable if you only go by the premise of the story, especially for a short film, but the combination of all above elements makes it worthwhile.

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Story: Seems simple enough. Ex-lovers reunite in this short film. One has a family and the other getting married. Both men who I presume were torn apart due familial or societal expectations or maybe some other reason we will never know.

Acting/Cast: Surprisingly not bad, but not great either.

Music: White noise.

Rewatch Value: You get the moral lesson of the story, is that you cannot regret or reverse the decisions that you made in the past and you have to live with that said decision.

Overall: This short film is trying its best to be poignant but falls a lot short from the goal. My only question is why would you invite your ex-lover to eat with your family, when you are so clearly afraid that your wife may find out what you were to each other before?

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