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Unexpectedly good

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2018 Chinese drama with 24 episodes that are 45 minutes long.

He Xie (Lin Bo-Hong) has a hit manhua entitled “Crystal Love”. Over time his control of his own creation is fading as he fails to come up with new content. His publisher is on the verge of having other authors publish stories under the title when He Xie is involved in a car accident under a billboard of the villian Lu Zixing, (Li Hao Fei) from his manhwa which results in him being sucked in to the story. He finds out that he must turn the evil villainess around and plug the many plot holes in his story in order to return to the real world. Lu Zixing likes the male lead of the manhwa, Gong Cheng (Huang Jun jie), and to change the end and the characters, He Xie must keep Lu Zixing away from Gong Chen so the romantic interest, Pei Encai (Huang Yi Lin) can win Gong Chen’s love. He Xie forms friendships and falls in love in this world of his making but finds there are consequences to staying.

Spoiler 🚨 I unexpectedly liked this more than I thought I would. I am not a huge C Drama fan because I find many of the female leads to be kind of whiny and needy. For me that was the Pei Encai character - she had some moments where she was okay but most of the time, I just found her behavior irritating. Not the same for Lu Zixing she was spirited and took action when it was needed. I would have loved to see her together with Gong Cheng because he was so sweet that I could see the two personalities balancing each other well. I found the premise to be really unique and it held my interest to see how things would resolve and develop. I liked the friendships that formed and thought all of the characters were really well developed. It ended well - I like when things are "wrapped up" but I did not completely understand what had changed enough for him to stay. But I liked that he was able to stay and it did not end leaving you hanging or on a note of sadness. For a Cdrama it is one of the best modern I have seen and I would recommend it. I still prefer Kdrama though so it rates below the best Kdramas I have seen for me.

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Edge of your seat suspensefull

This is a 2020 romantic crime drama with 32, 30 minute, episodes.

Tae-Pyeong (Ok Taec-yeon) has an ability he never asked for and does not like. He is able to see the events and people that exist in the moments leading up to a person’s death. Tae-Pyeong, allows few to get close to him and lives in a mansion with his mentor/Teacher/ surrogate father, Baek (Jung Dong-hwan) and Attorney Lee Yeon-Hwa (Ryu Hye-rin). Tae-Pyeong keeps to himself as he has found that he is unable to help change any of the fates he sees. When a serial killer known as the Midnight Killer abducts a girl Tae-Pyeong had just seen, he finds himself pulled into a very convuluted crime. While Tae-Pyeong helps the police with the investigation, he is stunned when he meets Detective Joon-Young (Lee Yeon-hee). She is the first person that he can't foresee their death. It is comforting to look at someone and see normal things rather than a disturbing prophetic vision. Tae-Pyeong and Detective Joon-Young frantically work together to figure out how the past has influenced the present in order to stop a serial killer dubbed the Midnight Killer.

This was edge of your seat suspenseful the whole way through. spoiler alert ** his ability to see the moments before death was very useful to the police, once they believed him. There was a lot around the topic of nature versus nurture in regards to the serial killer. Therewas an attempt to shed the serial killer in a sympathetic light but he was completely remorseless and blamed others for his actions the full way. The story was interesting and compelling and there was depth to all the relationships. Thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.

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Would have rated higher except for a really disappointing scene

8.5/10 is my rating for this 2012 South Korean romantic comedy that has 16, 60 minute episodes.

It is hate at first site when Yoo Eun-jae (Lee Si-Young) first directly encounters the star professional baseball player Park Mu-Yeol (Lee Dong-wook). Dong-wook is the bad biy of baseball and known for playing a bit dirty. Eun-Jae is a die hard fan of Mu-yeol‘s rival team and is convinced Mu-yeol is responsible for cheating her favorite team out of a win. When words come to blows between Mu-Yeol and Eun-jae’s father, Eun-Jae deploys her Judo black belt skills to teach hot headed Dong-wook a lesson. Unfortunately the brawl was captured on video and to avoid scandal for both the company where Eun-Jae is a bodyguard as well as to protect Dong-wook’s professional career, Eun-Jae must agree to be Dong-wook’s bodyguard so the can attribute the incident to self defense practice. Hilarity ensues as they each try to get one up on the other. Time starts to show them they are more than just a match in temperament and sport enthusiasm. Can an anti-fan learn to love the object of her dislike?

Having seen Lee Dong-wook in Goblin, I was excited to see him in this different type of role. The mustache was a surprise but actually looked really good for the part of a baseball player. It is one ofthe more comedic dramas I have seen and I was giggling right along. Spoiler alert ** There is this part though where they get in a physical altercation and I cannot think of a way they will be able to make that okay. I am never ok with a man physically hurting a woman unless his life is in danger. After they get back into their amusing bicker and such but, for me, that part was disturbing and unnecessary. After that incident their relationship became very cute. They toward the end they both get in a fight and another guy in the friend circle beats her up. I was not ok with that either. It was like the producers were like she is a bodyguard so it is ok for the men in her life to hit her. I disagree. Never think it is ok. Around those two it was really cute and ended really well. The “robot” couple/side romance between her friend and the team manager/secretary was super cute as well. It ended really well. I would have rated it higher but for the two violent scenes mentioned. Still well worth the watch.

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Thrilling and fun to watch

This is a 2013 paranormal romance thriller written by the Hong Sisters. It has 17,60 minute, episodes.

As a rich but emotionally cold chaebol, Joo Joong-won (So Ji-sub) seems to have it all. He doesn’t realize what is missing until his fate takes a turn and he encounters Tae Gong-shil (Gong Hyo-jin), who unwillingly sees ghosts. For some reason, quite by accident, Ging-shil discovers that when she touches Joong-won her nightmarish encounters with ghosts goes away. So she strikes up a bargain to help Joong-won recover a lost fortune in exchange for being allowed closely by his side.

Spoiler alert ** I love the character Gong-shil. It would be absolutely horrifying to see the things she does and have no idea how to make it stop. It is a bit reminiscent of the American movie “The Sixth Sense”. Like that movie she sees dead people and if she solves a problem they can go on. The thing is she does not have the courage to face them until she discovers her magic bullet which is Jon-won whenever she is around him the ghosts are at bay. At first he wants nothing to do with this odd girl but as he begins to understand more about her he starts to care and genuinely wNt to help. Two different people who compliment each other. It was exciting and entertaining and is one of my favorite.

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Surprising in much more sexual content than in most

This is a 2012 South Korean Romantic Comedy movie with a run time of 1:57 (HH:MM)

Yoo-Jung (Kim Ah-Joong) is not your typical South Korean female, she owns a lingerie company and is a bit more of a free spirit with her sexuality. Desperate to bring the spark back to her long term dating relationship, she calls her boyfriend to have phone sex. What she does not know is she dialed a stranger one who is heartbroken from seeing his ex, who he had a long term relationship with, get in the car with another man. Hyun-seung
(Ji Sung) answers the phone on a night he attempted to drink away his sorrows. When the sexy voice on the phone starts murmuring words that are the fabric of every man’s sexy dream, he just goes with it figuring he is getting a free sample or something. At the end of the call Yoo-Jung discovers it was not her boyfriend and is horrified over her sexy conversation with a stranger. Hyun-seung calls after a upsetting incident planning to get relationship advice and instead gets an earful from a mortified woman. Once they talk it out and realize the sexy call was a case of mistaken identity they begin to talk for real. Each find the other easy to talk to and a series of phone calls lead them to meeting in person. After an intimate night together their feelings grow deeper but Yoo-Jung‘s boyfriend finally proposes and Hyun-Seun
g s girlfriend returns. Did fate play matchmaker or was this brief interlude the thing to put their love lives back on track with their former partners?

Spoiler 🚨 This was way more risque and ribald than I am used to with South Korean movies and television series. There were a lot of sexy scenes that are unusual based on hundreds of shows I have watched. It was refreshing as their relationship just seemed a lot closer and it was easy to see how they would’ve developed feelings so quickly for each other. I really liked both of the main actors and the chemistry between the two was really good.
The storyline was interesting how just a chance meeting may lead to the love of your life. It reminds me a bit of an American movie I saw called “He’s Just Not That Into You”.. The aspect that reminded me of that was when someone does not move on to the next level in a relationship it could be due to the fact that they are not as into the person as would be best in a committed relationship. And when someone leaves and then comes back later it’s often best not to take that person back because at some level there was not enough love to keep the relationship going. I liked it all the way through and it ended well.

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Serious 2nd guy syndrome

This is a 2010 South Korean Drama with 20, 60 minute episodes.

Seo Yoo-kyung (Gong Hyo-Jin) has worked for three years at an upscale Italian restaurant, La Sfera. Her dream is to become a pasta chef at last place her mother took her to before her death. Finally Yoo-kyung gets to move up and start making pasta but suddenly a new chef is hired and, due to a past incident, he does not like women in the kitchen. Chef Choi Hyun-Wook (Lee Sun-kyun) finds reason to fire all the women including Yoo-kyung. He trained in Italy and brings three Italian chefs who worked for him in Italy to fill the gap left by the women. Not one to give up, Yoo-kyung keeps showing up to work despite being fired. She is determined to fulfill her dream by learning all she can from this Italy trained Chef. Admiration turns to something more but Oh Sae-young (Lee Ha-nul), Chef’s ex appears and she is determined to win him back. Sae-young is friends with the owner, Kim San (Alex Chu) who insists she get a job as Co-chef. Kim San has a secret crush on Yoo-kyung. With a cooking war between the Italian and Korean Chefs, a grouchy head chef who scolds at every turn and multiple love triangles, things really heat up in the kitchen.

*Spoiler 🚨 I could tell this took place 10 years ago as the male to female relations were dated. South Koreans, in everything else I have seen, have closer equality between men and women than they did 10 years ago. I thought the chef was overly harsh in his methods and that she was treated unfairly at times for the simple fact she was a woman. Any time there was an undesirable task, all the men would suggest Yoo-kyung do it as the lowest ranking chef. I actually liked 2nd guy, Kim San, way better as he was very kind to everyone and watched over her for three years, hiding his identity and pretending to be a customer. I was really disappointed with the ending was because she had the opportunity to go to Italy and cook and he, without her knowledge, substituted one of the male cooks so that she was an able to go. He did not want her to leave which is understandable but it was selfish. She was concerned about her father and his health but I think if he had told her he would watch over her father while she was gone then she would’ve went. It seemed all the chefs that had not been trained in Italy were at a disadvantage and as a woman she already had a disadvantage. He had the opportunity to go to Italy as well so it would’ve been good had they just gone to Italy together. Heck the father was also a cook he could’ve gotten some training in Italy as well or at least lived there with them. I don’t know I was just disappointed overall with the way she was treated and the fact that she didn’t speak up for herself more. The second guy was actually much better to the women and I really like that. Overall it was good but the whole woman thing just kept it from being great for me. And I am not somebody who is strongly women’s liberation I think a balanced approach is best. I think there are things women do better and things men do better but if a woman wants to do something or a man that is traditionally one sex or the other I think they should have all equal opportunity with it. It really bothered me the way the South Korean team treated her throughout. So I would recommend it as it is interesting to see what it may be like in a South Korean Italian kitchen but with the awareness that it is a period in time and the way the women are treated could be annoying to some.

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Great story a must watch for kdrama fans

This is a 2017 South Korean drama with 16, 70 minute episodes

Han Se-joo / Seo Hwi-young (Yoo Ah-In) is a famous author who hits a slump shortly after he meets one of his top fans, Jeon Seol / Ryu Soo-hyun / Anastacia (Im Soo Jung) Jin Seol was an Olympic level shooter who lost her desire to pursue the sport when holding the gun would bring on flashes of disturbing memories. Jin Seol is thrilled when her delivery service leads her to drop off a package at none other than Se-joo’s house. However, Se-Joo is not a fan of people in general and particularly this fan who finds excuses to seek him out. The package contains a typewriter that Se-Joo admired in an antique shop but was told it was not for sale. Seems the owner had a change of heart. The typewriter is not just any typewriter but holds a secret that ties Se-joo, Jin-Seol and a third character associated with the typewriter, Jin-oh / Shin Yool (Go Kyung-pyo) together. Collaborating on a novel about their past may break Se-joo out of his slump, allow Jin Seol an excuse to be around Se-Joo and reveal how and why the three are drawn to each other.

Spoiler 🚨. I liked everything about this. The reincarnation angle was interesting and the back story with the ghost was compelling. It was clear that their past story would be sad so it did not fall too heavy when the sad part occurred because it was expected. It kept you guessing just enough to make you want to keep watching. The love stories were believable and relatable. The friendships were heart warming. Getting a slice of life of that era in Korea was interesting.. The only thing that detracted and kept the ending from feeling thoroughly happy was not knowing what the future held for the ghost. It is a thoroughly engaging story with great character development, an intriguing premise and interesting plot. I highly recommend this for a wide audience but those interested in modern history, that like mystery, action, supernatural elements and romance will particularly enjoy this one.

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Disappointing the story that could have been

This is a 2018 South Korean television mystery, horror romantic drama with 32, 30 minute, episodes.

Lee Da-il (Choi Daniel) has a detective agency where he helps to solve cases that the police are not thoroughly investigating. Private detectives are neither respected nor recognized by law enforcement which is why Da-il has to approach situations solo. After observing his success with a kidnap case, Jung Yeo-wool (Park Eun-bin) decides to get close to Da-il by serving as his assistant in the hopes he will help solve her younger sibling's bizarre death. A mysterious woman in red, Sunwoo Hye (Lee Ji-ah) appears at the crime scenes and seems to be involved in the victim’s deaths.

Spoiler 🚨 I literally thought the male lead would be a detective who went after ghosts. As it turns out he is a detective who is a ghost and winds up needing Yeo-wool as he does not have physical ability to even open a door knob. The lady in red trashes him every time he comes around her. Yeo-wool develops feelings for the ghostly detective early and it is hard to understand as although he is nice not a lot is going on that would make her have loving feelings for him so that seemed too early and too much.

If you can get past the first quarter of the show it actually gets really interesting. The lady in red makes Damien from the Omen movies look fairly nice. You quickly start to wonder how anyone is going to be able to stop her. As you watch her creepy smile and hear the way she gets inside people’s heads to unlock their deepest fears about themselves the fear all of the characters have for her is completely legitimized. The relationship between the leads makes more sense and Da-Il becomes more of a force to reckon with.

So the middle was great but the ending was not. It is one of those where the leads can never fully be together. He was a ghost through the majority of the movie and then they found out that he was actually alive and a living spirit but you wondered if the serial killer was going to kill his body. They got through all of that found him, got him in the hospital in
and you’re thinking yeah he’s not doing so good sort of in a coma has some brain bleed but something miraculous will happen they’ll find a way to get rid of the ghost and he will return to his body. That is not what happens. In order to get rid of the ghost, or rather evil spirit, they had to trap it in someone’s body and then that person had to die. So guess who that was. So after doing the final heroic deed and getting unplugged from life support, Da-il is spotted by Yeo-wool and you think maybe he came to after he was off life support and none of his frienspds knew. Nope. He makes an appearance again as a ghost and she’s just like well just stay around until I feel like I can be without you. Then they all start doing this Ghostbusters thing and that just seems like the way it’s going to be. But then you’re like wait a minute the only way they could get rid of the one evil spirit was for someone to trap it in their body and then die. So are they just gonna find people that are on the verge of death who will invite the ghost Or evil spirit in so they can trap it and die? Or did they suddenly find a way to get rid of them other than that? So it was a weird ending that was really unsatisfying. I might forgive the slow beginning because the middle was so good but the ending of it brought the rank right back down for me. It’s worth watching if you like Supernatural just because she’s a really, really evil spirit. So it’s a good supernatural for the genre. But in terms of romance it lags because it really isn’t a happily ever after.

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Lacks development and substance

Ban Ha-na (Kim So-eu) is doing what she can to prevent the closure of her club “One Plus One” she also dreams of one day opening her own food truck. Na Do-jeon (Xiu Min) works as a Pierrot as he enjoys making others laugh. The two happen across each other one day and Ha-na invites him to join the club. Not only does he join but he teaches Ha-na and the others how to be Perriots which helps them save the club. Ha-na and Do-neon fall in love.

If the story seems simple and the plot predictable It is. There simply is not enough time for deep plot or character development. I liked it for what it was but still felt it was missing an element of intrigue or surprise. If you want quick fluff or are a fan of EXO then it is worth it for those purposes.

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Living the dream

This is a 2019 South Korean comedy drama with 12, 1 hour episodes.

Sri Bo-ah (Kim So-the) is a 25 year old owner of a bath house. She was a promising webtoon artist but after having her work stolen by a Sunbae who becomes famous from it, she becomes jaded and hides behind her failing business. When Park Choi-go (Park Sun-go) quits his promising job in the cubicle jungle to pursue his dream of owning a chicken restaurant, he finds the bathhouse a great location and arranges to lease it from Bo-ah’s grandfather, Seo Myung-dong (Myung Kye-nam), who owns the building. Myung-dong says he will discount the lease costs if Choi-go will hire Bo-ah. Myung-dong hopes that losing the bath house and gaining a job will be a recipe for renewed success for his granddaughter who has put her life on hold after her negative experience as a webtoon artist. But Bo-ah has other ideas and thinks Choi-go is just a bored rich guy playing business she vows to do all she can to drive Choi-go out of business so she can resume her “safe” life. Hilarity ensues when every plot she attempts to harm the business winds up helping. Things get complicated when the two start to develop feelings for each other and Bo-ah starts to regret her early transgressions. Some things have been set in place that are hard to stop. Choi-go is as nice and optimistic as Bi-ah is surly and pessimistic. Can these two opposites find love and realize their dreams?

Spoiler alert. This was unique in that the female lead was the one who was not very nice in the beginning. Usually it is the male lead in dramas that starts out mean to the girl and she slowly wins him over. It was opposite in this and it made it unique. The male lead was so nice to her from the start and through all the hardships the female lead created that I would find myself angry at the female lead on his behalf. It was one of the funniest dramas I have seen though. It was extremely amusing to see her plots backfire. I liked all of the plot twists and how the characters grew and developed. It made me very hungry for fried chicken. The romance was very cute. And it ended well with all but one minor plot point wrapped up.

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Very funny a good cheer you up series

This is a 2014 South Korean comedic tv series with 20, 60 minute, episodes.

After their rock career suffers a set back, members of the band Excellent Souls (ExSo): Kang Hyeok (Park Min-woo), Yoo Han-cheo (Lee Si-eon), and Han Ki-Joon (Dong Yeon) are persuaded by their lead singer Lee Min-ki (Lee Hong-gi) to give up their life in Seoul and take on farming to raise money to finally debut. Lee Min-ki’s grandmother left him a plot of farmland that had little value in real estate but could yield valuable crops such as cabbage. The village where the farm is located is comprised of villagers who are not very welcoming of outsiders especially city boys. The boys fight an uphill battle to win favor and much needed help from the villagers. Min-ki grew up for a time in the village and has fond memories of his first love, Kang Yoon-hee (Lee Ha-nuI). Yoon-hee is now a single mother and the village leader and Min-ki’s one connection to his past in the village. Can the boys gain the villagers acceptance and produce a crop that will give them a fresh start?

Spoiler 🚨 This is one of the most comedic dramas I have seen. It is very well cast and the young actors do a great job of conveying the struggle of being out of your element. They make so many hilarious mistakes and have you rooting for them the whole way. I fell in live with all the characters in the village. I loved the way everyone had each other’s backs no matter what. I was so interested in the music I looked it up and PT Island is on my playlist. Min-ki’s character was so dynamic it was easy to understand why people would follow him easily.

I had mixed feelings about the ending. On one hand it made perfect sense but, on the other, I wanted to see the full success as I knew they would get there. Walt Disney applied for a loan some 200 times before he succeeded and those types of dreamers that never give up, almost always eventually do. Min-ki is that type of dreamer and it made it so enjoyable to watch.

I highly recommend this fun, feel good, movie. When it ends, you will miss all the characters like they are your good friends. You will want to spend time in the village with all the crazy, but lovable, characters.

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One of my favorite Action Romance

Kim Je-ha (Ji Chang-Wook) was a top special forces soyldier turned mercenary in the Iraq war. He falls in love with a local and is instrumental in getting her a job as an interpreter. His plan to marry his love and get them both out of the war theater goes terribly awry when she witnesses something she shouldn't and is killed in front of Je-ha's eyes. Worse he is framed for her murder. He is determined to seek revenge and escapes, for a time to Barcelona where he runs across a beautiful young woman who seems to be running from someone and pleads for his help. The girl is Go A-na (Im Yoon-ah) who has been kept as a veritable prisoner her whole life to protect her father's political aspirations.

Unsure if the young woman is crazy or indeed in danger Je-ha only half heartedly helps her and she is re-captured by her step mother's guards. As the result of an illegitimate relationship, Go A-na is kept under tight guard.

Fast forward back to South Korea and a series of events results in Je-ha, who is in hiding in his home country, catching the attention of Presidential candidate's wife, Choi Yoo-Jin (Song Yoon-ah) Realizing his skill as a great asset to her security team, she offers to provide an alias for him and ultimately an avenue to clear his name. Je-ha is assigned the code name K2 and is surprised to discover his first assignment is to guard the girl he ran across in Barcelona. Yoo-Jin and Je-ha find they have a common enemy, Park Kwan-soo (Kim Kap-so) who is political rival to one and fiancé murderer of the other. Meanwhile Jang Se-Joon (Jo Sung-ha) has allowed his wife to imprison A-na with the promise to not cause her physical harm.
While guarding her, K2 gets to know A-na and understands that past tragedy has led to her current fragile psychological state which is not completely unlike his own. The two find love but must navigate the danger of a political world full of lies, murder and corruption. Some will stop at nothing to gain the ultimate seat of power. A-na is not the only one who finds K2 attractive A-na's stepmom has been in a loveless marriage as a rich heiress able to fund her husband's political ambitions but having lost his heart to A-na's mother. She has possibly done the unthinkable once to remove a romantic rival and A-na is already a constant reminder of her husband's infidelity so Yoo-jin needs no excuse to eliminate her. K2 must play a dangerous game to free and protect the woman he loves while maintaining the alliance he needs to exact his revenge.
This has everything I love in a good action movie. It was sort of James Bond meets Bruce Lee. I was not sure Ji Chang-Wook could play another character I liked as well as Healer but I have to say he did. He plays this almost super hero level character with a vulnerable streak that has you rooting for him the whole way. The A-na character led such a sad life that it was a happy moment when K 2 entered the picture as you knew he would make things right. The plot was complex and every other character was such a twisted blend of good and evil it kept you guessing to the end. I loved this movie and thoroughly enjoyed it. Chemistry between the leads was perfect and believable. It had a nice romantic element. The only slight flaw was the overly obvious product placement it broke the fourth wall several times. Highly recommend yet another excellent Ji Chang-Wook action movie.

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If you are not focused just on the romance, it is a great supernatural series

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2024 South Korean Dark Fantasy, Action Legal thriller. With 14, 60-73 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then a review

Synopsis

Judge Kang Bit-na (Park Shin-hye) is mysteriously stanbed to death in a park and erroneously winds up before Hell’s judge, Justitia (Oh Na-ra). Justitia does not like humans nor does she feel any empathy for the murder victim who was before her by accident so she sends her to hell. This angers Bael (Shin Sun-rok), a major demon who is essentially second in charge of Hell. To punish her, Bael forces her to inhabit Kang Bit-na’s body and identify ten evil amd remorseless sinners who do not get full punishment through the justice system and send them to hell. eternal punishment. She only has one year or her existence will be snuffed out by Bael. During the course of serving as a human judge, Justitia/Bit-na encounter Han Da-on (Kim Jae-young) a violent crimes detective, who becomes suspicious of the judge when he notices many of those who appear before her meet an early demise.

Review

This was a fresh take on sins and judgements and the role of supernatural characters such as demons and angels.  It reminded me of a book series I read by Piers Anthony "Incarnations of Immortality" where every role, God, Satan, Grim Reaper were just jobs.  I found the Hell's judgement aspect of this series very interesting.  Who wouldn't like to think that those truly evil among us might experience an "eye for an eye" type punishment.   It was entertaining throughout.  Well-acted.  And ended reasonably well.  I might watch it again and highly recommend it to fans of the genre.  It's not as strong in terms of the romance but very strong as a supernatural drama. 

Spoilers

Like so many others my main critique was with the romance element.  I did not dislike that it had a romance running through it felt like an afterthought in many ways. It would have felt more integrated if the ending had not been so nebulous.  Does she love him enough to stay behind and be human or not?  I thought the chemistry was fine between the leads but it was just hard, in general, to envision someone so strongly enamored with justice being okay with a partner that is essentially a serial killer.  She was just doing her job and wasn't going after anyone that did not deserve it, but the absolute joy she exhibited in carrying out the brutal and grisly punishments was disturbing.  It was like a serial killer that found a sanctioned purpose for what they already enjoyed doing. The main guy was so good that pairing him with someone who could kill anyone in that manner was just a hard match up to buy. 

It also made no sense why she would be offered the chance to essentially send 10 to hell in exchange for becoming human.  What did it benefit hell to grant her such a thing?  She would have had to carry out her job whether or not she was rewarded.

They seemed to leave it open for there to be another season.  It ended, they were together, but it could be only temporary (three years and she is on her last year when it ends) depending on whether or not she decides to become human.  I don't like nebulous ending.  I know streaming platforms like to do that so they have the option of additional seasons if it is popular.  But it breaks what is great about South Korean shows where you know generally there will be one season.  And there isn't this open-ended decision about future seasons or not. 

#TheJudgeFromHell. #ParkShinHye #OhNaRa #ShinSunRok #KimJaeYoung

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Lighthearted but with surprising depth on the topics of emotions and marriage

Review

8.5/10 is my rating

Scroll down for a unique synopsis if you want to know what this is about. There aren't a lot out there and it gets confused with others of similar title.

Marry You is what I feel constitutes a hidden gem. I have watched over 400 Asian dramas, mostly Korean, and mostly rated on average 9.0 and above. So, I am very selective, but I am also running out of things to watch that fit all my criteria. I dug deep in my search to find some hidden gems, and this came up as one of them. This Korean romance isn't one of those high-profile hits everyone’s talking about. And I think it is somewhat a factor of it not being widely available or maybe the opposite is true. But the fact that it is not all the buzz is part of its charm—it's a hidden gem that fellow movie and drama lovers who enjoy sweet, feel-good tales might want to seek out. I rated it an 8.5/10, which for me means it's solidly enjoyable and worth recommending, even if it doesn't quite reach perfection. I'd still suggest it to anyone who likes romances that tug at the heartstrings without getting too heavy.

Overall, the story follows Bong Cheol-hee (Lee Yi-kyung), a kind-hearted bachelor from a quiet island village, and Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min), a civil servant who had a bad experience which made her firmly against the idea of marriage for herself. What unfolds is a predictable romance in the best way— the kind where you know from the start that these two, one who is ready for marriage and one who has sworn off marriage, warm to each other, build a connection, and hopefully find their happy ending. It's heartwarming and cute, with plenty of moments that made me smile and root for the characters. Bong Cheol-hee, in particular, is the standout; he's such a sweet, genuine guy—helpful to everyone around him, including the adorable niece and nephew he's raising—that it's impossible not to cheer for him. Jung Ha-na is sweet too, but her past created some emotional flaws more guarded in her emotional interactions. She portrays this happy go lucky persona but her deep self is uncertain and unwilling to gamble her emotional well-being for love. The supporting cast, including the quirky team at the marriage agency bring some fun energy and light humor without overdoing it.

If you're looking for a cozy watch that celebrates kindness and second chances in love, this one delivers. It's not groundbreaking, but in a sea of more intense dramas, its simple charm is refreshing. Just know it's the type where you settle in for the predictable beats of a good romance—you're always hoping they'll get that good ending. If you know me I am not one to recommend anything that has a tragic ending.

Spoilers

There are several plot holes and frustrating aspects that keep it from scoring perfect on my scale.

First off, the whole setup with the marriage agency felt inconsistent. The mayor pushes this as a special project to boost his re-election, pulling in the entire team like it's a temporary gig, but then it suddenly seems like a well-established operation with long-term plans. At one point, they're handling over 90 clients—that's no small number, and it makes the agency feel way more permanent than the initial "quick fix" vibe suggested. It just didn't add up smoothly. They also aren't really experts in relationships but that is the role they are playing in the way they interview each client. And then they are held responsible if there is not a good outcome as if they are somehow matchmaking experts. No-one has that formula of love that dialed in. Sometimes opposites attract and sometimes they absolutely detest each other. There is just way too much complexity in human emotional interactions for anyone to predict the perfect match. So, it was an odd unit in that regard.

Then there's Jung Ha-na's (Jo Soo-min) past relationship with her college ex (the one who faked an affair to break things off). It's weird that she forgives him so easily once the truth comes out about his father's gambling debts. And he should've been upfront and let her decide, instead of staging something so hurtful—it left her feeling rejected and pitied, which is a real stigma for a woman. So when he comes back, tells her the truth of what happened when their relationship ended and claims he wants her back it never reached second guy vibes because, obviously, she wouldn't fall for that. Or she certainly shouldn't. But what really made it so I never got strong second contender vibes, is she friend zones him, he tells others he hopes to win her back but then does absolutely nothing to show romantic interest; he just seemingly accepts the friend zone and acts disappointed later without making any real moves. It was frustrating to watch, like if you want someone you have to tell them. Just watching and having some kind of weird jealousy from afar does not make you a strong second man character. He expected her to come back to him without her ever even knowing he still hoped for that.

The dynamic with Oh In-ah (Ji Yi-soo) was another head-scratcher. The show build them as a possible second romance. That the two rejected exes will wind up together. They were friends enough to conspire to make Ha-na think they are having an affair. Then they meet regularly to talk about how much they long for the leads. Even stalk after them a bit together spying on their growing attachment. And, there is this pizza scene that shows how much they think alike. Almost completing each other's sentences. Serious couple vibes. Any minute they should be confessing, and it would make sense given the entire series seemed to build to that. But, last few episodes she not only gives up on lead guy but then she jumps into an arranged marriage while Choi Ki-jun (Koo Jun-hoe) stays a bachelor? It didn't make narrative sense. Why the build up to a second romance if that was going to be the conclusion?

Bong Cheol-hee’s (Lee Yi-kyung) backstory as a former firefighter had this bizarre side plot where he saves a rich guy, who later picks him up in a fancy car. I thought it was building to something meaningful, like the guy becoming a benefactor or mentor, but nope—it just fizzles out. It seemed like it was only there so Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min) could mistakenly think he was involved with shady types like the mob, but it came across as a forced, pointless detour. And he just gave up being a firefighter and is now what? A sous chef? An island bum? I mean I really liked him but he has two kids and now a girlfriend and needed to have something serious going on. I thought that was a little weird. It ends with him coming on as a special member of the team - but that didn't seem permanent.

There was a recurring pattern of immoral or near-criminal behavior getting brushed off too easily, which really pulled me out of the story. For instance, Oh In-ah (Ji Yi-soo) essentially pays to have Bong Cheol-hee’s (Lee Yi-kyung) niece and nephew kidnapped and shipped off to boarding school without his permission. When it's revealed, she just shrugs it off like, "Oh, I thought you'd like it," and everyone forgives her. You arrange to have the dead beat father come kidnap the kids and ship them off - that is not a forgivable action. But it was like oh well she is sorry and thought she was doing the right thing. I mean there is a whole scene where he essentially says that and that was so out of character for him. He adored those children. Why would he forgive some girlfriend for trying to ship them off? And his brother? He is like bad on you man. And that is essentially it.

Even creepier was the mayor's son storyline. There are all these reports of women being assaulted and how it is not safe for women to be out and all indicators point to this masked mystery man. It builds like he's this predatory figure, almost leading to something as serious as date rape, with all the tension around women not being safe alone implying he's the culprit. And he acts so creepy to In-ah and tries to do something we don't fully know to her when she pretends to be drunk. Yeah, she head butts him and he ultimately apologizes but what he did was criminal. They figure out it is the mayor's illegitimate son who has mommy issues because of it, and the mayor is feeling guilty and going above and beyond for the son, and they all feel sorry. So, the mayor asks nicely, and they just drop it—no charges, no fallout. The whole thread vanishes, which felt like a massive cop-out after the buildup.

What was really frustrating in terms of the romance itself was we waited so long for Bong Cheol-hee (Lee Yi-kyung) and Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min) to finally get together. They are finally admitting their feelings and showing affection and she suddenly gets cold feet about long-term commitment and marriage? It contradicted her earlier damage from the breakup, where she was heartbroken because she truly wanted to marry. Why flip that now? Hadn't she forgiven the ex, admitted she probably would not have followed through herself had she known the real reason, and had all these insights on relationships through observing other couples. Wasn't she emotionally grown and healed now?

Bong Cheol-hee (Lee Yi-kyung) absolutely carried the show—he's so sweet and decent to everyone, from the women in his life to all the people around him, that you can't help but root for him. The niece and nephew are just precious, adding that adorable family element. In the end, they do end up as a couple, which ties things up nicely. There is no permanence, like it shows a proposal but I wasn't clear if she accepted or not. Just an "I love you" I guess that was a yes? But they are a couple plus two. And she just seemed like good buddies with the kids. I wish Jung Ha-na (Jo Soo-min) had stepped up more as a true mother figure for the kids. They needed that stability after losing their parents, but she comes across more like a friendly aunt or distant relative—playing guitar while they're in the background, not really engaging like a committed partner would. A happier resolution for me would've shown her fully embracing that role, making the family feel complete. Still, despite these quirks, it's a recommend from me for its overall sweetness.

Synopsis

This is a 2024 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 10, 60-minute episodes.

Bong Cheol-Hee (Lee Yi-Kyung) is a warm-hearted single guy from the quiet island village of Cheongdo who is juggling odd jobs while raising his mischievous twin niece and nephew, Bong San-Yi (Seo Woo-Jin) and Bong Ba-Da (Ahn Tae-Rin). He was featured in a documentary just about being a young bachelor and the island and that results in him getting roped into a quirky government matchmaking scheme. The mayor formed a special team to help solve the decline in marriage problem and appoints the only civil service expert they know of, Jung Ha-Na (Jo Soo-Min), to act as the "government expert" on matchmaking based on a former job she had at a dating agency. At first reluctant, because one of her previous matches resulted in tragedy, she is promised a promotion and decides to accept the special assignment short term until she meets the criteria for promotion. Ironically, Ha-na actually hates the idea of marriage largely because of her ex, Choi Ki-Joon (Koo Jun-Hoe). And, as luck would have it, Ki-Joon, who is also a civil servant, is assigned as the supervisor of the government matchmaking team. Ha-Na, as the perceived expert, is assigned Cheol-Hee who is seen as a difficult case due to his carefree lifestyle and the fact that he comes with two children. But determined to get that promotion, Ha-Na pushed Cheol-Hee toward eligible ladies like the fancy chaebol heiress Oh In-Ah (Ji E-Suu). But proximity breeds unintended feelings and even though they are like country mouse and city mouse and there are a lot of hilarious mix-ups there are also a lot of heartfelt moments centered on love and family. Cheol-Hee may be the only one that can convince Ha-Na love is worth the emotional risk.

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Couple more often stay together relative to the South Korean version

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2019 Chinese dating reality show modeled after the popular South Korean show of the same title.

First I provide a synopsis then a unique review.

Synopsis

This is the Chinese version of the Korean reality dating show of the same name. The show starts with six singles, three men and three women who enter the chosen house location one at a time the first day. They cohabit the “signal house” (which changes each season) with the women sharing one bedroom and the men sharing two bedrooms. The overall goal of the show is for the singles to go about their daily lives while freely flirting/sending signals with the other occupants of the house. There are few organized activities, the main focus is on them living together and getting to know each other more naturally. At the end of each day they send a signal (an anonymous text) to the opposite sex single of their choosing and the detectives must determine who will send a signal/text to whom.

Signal House rules

>Singles must return to Signal House each night

>Singles cannot reveal their age or occupation until the 2nd day

>Singles cannot directly confess their like or love at any time during their stay

>At the end of the day, singles can send an anonymous text to one other house member

>Singles can go on one official date but each female picks a location without revealing her choice and the males choose the location they prefer.

Celebrity Panel/Detectives

Du Haitao is a television host and actor. He was born in 1987. So he would have been about 32 at the time the show was filmed.

Victoria Song is a singer, dancer, actress, model, host and author known for her work as the leader of South Korean girl group f(x). She was born in 1987. About 32 years old when the show was filmed.

Yang Chaoyue is an actor and singer in the Chinese group Rocket Girls 101. She was born in 1998 and would have been 22 when the show was filmed, she is the only season 2 panelist that was also a panelist in season 1.

Zheng Kai is an actor and television personality. He was born in 1986 and would have been about 34 when the show was filmed.

Rainie Yang she is an actor, singer and television host. Born in 1984 she would have been 36 when the show was filmed.

Pearl Poon also known as Poon Ngai Tung. Is a Hing Kong born actress. She was born in 1995 so would have been 24 when the show was filmed.

Liu Xuan Former artist gymnast. Born in 1979. Would have been 41 when the show was filmed. After she retired from gymnastics she turned to acting and television presenting.

Ren Jia Lun also known as Ren Guo Cho (English name Allen) is an actor and former professional table tennis player. He is a guest panelist in episodes 3 and 4. He was born in 1989 so would have been 31 when the show was filmed.

SINGLES

FEMALES

*Yang Kaiwen (Nickname Kevin). Fashion Toy Designer. Was an Animation major at Communication University China. Born in 1994. 25 at time of filming.

*Zhang Tian Film and television show producer. Double majored in Gender Studies and Film at Syracuse. Her company has offices in Bejing and Los Angeles. Born in 1996. 24 at the time if filming.

*Wui Pei Graduated from University of South Florida with a degree in Business Management. Holds the prestigious position of Director of Human Resources for an internet based company. Born in 1990. She was 29 years old when this show was filmed.

*Pan Zhengru. General Manager at an event planning company. She was born in 195 and would have been 24 at the time the show was filmed.

MALES

*Wu xiangwei (William) Champagne brand ambassador. Swiss hotel management school, project management major sommelier echondon sommelier of 2018 from food and wine 1991 and many other awards in the industry. Born 1991. 28 at the time if filming.

*Zhao Qi Jun He is a Beijing Culture Construction Foundation Investment Manager. Attended the University of Nottingham Finance and Investment and graduated with a masters in business administration MBA. Born in 1991. He would have been 28 at the time.

*Chen Yi Chen Part time English teacher. Attending the University of Canberra and majoring in business at the time of filming. He was born in 1996. He was 24 at the time of filming

*Huang Zhengxuan. Head of sports medicine at an anti aging cancer prevention center in Bejing. Born in 1995. He was 25 at the time of filming.

Review

The detectives/celebrity panel in this are nearly as entertaining to watch as is the drama playing out as the singles interact. Zheng Kai is so funny I was often laughing out loud at his antics. I have watched several reality shows with celebrity panels but this has been, by far my favorite.

One thing reviewers that have watched both the South Korean and Chinese versions of this show comment consistently is they like the Chinese version as the couples tend to stick together more. I have watched all the South Korean Heart Signal to date and wholeheartedly agree with this assessment. There is far less surprise in who they pick and who they reject and the reasons why they might go that way. It can still be frustrating when us self appointed matchmakers, watching through our fourth wall, identify a couple that seem perfectly suited for each other but one of them does not go that way. We must remind ourselves that these are real people with real feelings and it is often the case that the heart and mind do not agree on romantic choices.

My favorite part of these shows is watching such wonderful friendships and budding romances develop. It highlights how fragile an early romance can be. At the point where no one has fully confessed their feelings (and in this show they can’t( what seems like a rock solid situation, can be severed relatively easily. It is also important to keep in mind we see only a small portion of all the footage that is shot as the singles go about their lives. I am not suggesting they steer the outcome with the editing, but what I am indicating is there are small things that happen between the singles that we do not see which add up to a different outcome than we may expect.

The one disappointment I have in the Chinese version is there is not a lot of effort put in to show us what happened with the singles after they left the show. As viewers we feel we get to know the singles a little and care about what happens with them. I think it is unreasonable to think they would only choose others that were in the show to date, they are obviously going to return to their normal lives and have a different set of people they interact with. But I know I am not the only one that would like to know how they are doing. As much of an emotional roller coaster it can be for the viewers, it is even more for the singles.

I highly recommend this to anyone that likes reality television particularly those that are fans of shows like “The Bachelor” or just anyone that likes dating reality shows this, to me is a level up from that. It is all the good parts but with a lot more morality than you would ever find in such American shows which are highly sexualized. This, is my favorite out of the 4 seasons of south Korean Heart signal and the one season of the Chinese Version I have watched so far. I would rewatch it in the future with someone who had never seen it.

Spoilers

If you are a fan of the couples you think really like each other getting together you will likely be happy with the outcomes for these singles. Two couples emerge and you could clearly see the progression of their relationships. If you like seeing people that you might think are very well suited choose each other it could go either way. But you are not hit from left field like I have seen with some of these where you feel cheated by the outcomes. Yes, Season 4 of South Korean Heart Signal I am talking about you. Yes, Games of Thrones you are still on my sh&*^t list that way.

One thing about the Chinese version of the show I am not a fan of, is for the travel date they allow the female with the fewest signals (texts), cumulative, to have first choice. That inevitably winds up being the “catfish” (the female or male that arrives late with the soe purpose of mixing things up). I have only seen two of the Chinese Heart Signal shows now but it does frustratingly disrupt the flow and dynamics of those very fragile relationships that have developed. They typically choose singles that are outgoing and somewhat forceful in their approach. Since it is so hard ingrained in most of us that stealing someone else’s boyfriend or girlfriend is a bad thing, it is hard for the viewer not to feel badly toward these “catfish.”

Over all the shows like this I have watched, I notice how hard it is to be a super popular single. Because most of them have developed friendships with everyone else so matter who they pay attention to or ultimately choose they are hurting multiple people they have become friends with. I think the tears in their rooms are genuine and they really struggle with ow to choose and interact with the one they have settled on while doing the least emotional damage to all the others. Oddly I think that also winds up effecting who they choose in some cases, I have seen where I am fairly confident they made a completely surprise choice because they think if they choose that person, not even in the running, the others won’t feel as rejected.

I also notice a pattern with some, particularly the women, and often the catfish where they select the most emotionally vulnerable single and use emotional blackmail to get them to date and, in one case I think, choose them. Having interacted with some people like that over time I feel I am particularly in tune to that type of personality.

After I watched the show I went to see what I could find about what the singles were doing. It is much easier with the South Korean version as they post and interact on at least some of the platforms people in the United States use. But, with the Chinese version, I think they post and interact on Chinese social media platforms and I would not access or download those even if I spoke Chinese because our countries do not have friendly relations. I think even TikTok is a security risk so I would not access those places where more about what happened after might be found. So, it is hard to find information but there is a little bit out there.

The few mentions of these singles after the show basically confirm their humanity and they have the same issues and struggles as everyone. Yang Kaiwen and Zoa Qi Jun were engaged and are most likely married or well on their way to it, by now. That couple have did not have any major drama or break ups after getting together from the show. There are some really solid posts where they announced so that seems to be true that they are engaged/married now. Zhang Tian and Chen Yi Chen seem to have more of an on again off again relationship. Shortly after they were together there was a leaked message where Yi Chen seemed to be asking Tian about her past where she may have done more than what the Chinese consider an appropriate pace of dating. It is unclear whether his discomfort with her having so many past relationships broke them up or if it was his agent that preferred he be single but something definitely broke them up, at least for a time. They unfollowed, took down picture and Yi Chen even put out a statement defending Tian but also indicating they were taking a break. Several years later there were more indicators they may be back together. There were pictures taken at Disneyland of them separately but the background and other aspects were such close matches that netizens felt they were actually together at the park. And there are pictures of them from a photo booth during that same timeframe.

I think part of the magic of the show is it is a situation that rarely if ever would happen in real life. You have a group of highly attractive and successful people who live together for a time. It’s like the popular show “Friends” only a reality based situation. It is clear why it is so hard for them to choose who they want to finally select or who they want to go on a date with. It would be hard to have a really bad date between any of them. So you go out with your second or even third choice and you are, at minimum, friends with them if not slightly or more romantically interested in them. That would be a hard choice. And, I think they take rejection especially hard at times because these are such “cream of the cop” people that they are nt used to being rejected in their normal lives. They may be more used to rejecting the feelings of others than they are being rejected themselves. And, in normal life, you don’t reject someone then still have to live with them and/or potentially have to do a follow up show with them. You don’t have people tracking your moves after you are no longer on screen. So, it changes all the dating and interacting rules we are used to as it is that unique of a situation. It causes them to agonize even more over that final choice, I mean if your choice is between two equally amazing people you would be all the more worried you may make the wrong choice.

One of the most heartwarming moments with the detectives/celebrity panel was at the end of episode 10, they did a little “After Signal” and brought some of the singles into the studio. Some of the panel were beside themselves and absolutely starstruck. Knowing all the detective/celebrity panel are famous people themselves it was so cute to see them overcome when they saw the singles. It shows how intense we all feel for the singles as we watch them and feel like we know them. The odd thing is we know them from what they show us but they don’t know any of us at all. They at least might know the panel a little but we, as viewers, would feel the same emotions and could you imagine if you saw any of the singles and reacted to them like you were old friends. So, it is a very odd situation in that way for us viewers as well. We get to know these singles and their personalities better than we might know some of our own friends or at least their is the illusion that we do (people who know they are being filmed and in the context they are in are unlikely revealing all of their true selves). I, for example, was surprised when Kaiwen was acting so shy when introduced t the detective/celebrity panel. What I remembered of her from her interactions with the other singles, was she was fairly outgoing. But I had to remind myself of some things. First we all present ourselves differently depending on the social situation. We don't present ourselves at work typically the way we act at home. It’s not fake, it’s an adaptive way to respond to different environments. For Kaiwen, she was meeting people she considered to be celebrities without realizing they were reacting to them like celebrities (they were on more equal footing than they realized). Plus, she was rather shy to the others in her earliest times at signal house but then got more outgoing the more they all became like friends. So she was more of an ambivert than one might think going off the last impression. It is very much an illusion that we know any of the singles with any depth, we are seeing how they are in one highly unique situation. Which is why I understand they go pretty private after the show could you imagine having that may people that feel a friendship like connection with you and might want to fawn over you when they spot you in public? Celebrities deal with that a little but usually they are acting in a way or playing a role that is not them. Reality television participants are being themselves (well whatever version of themselves they might display in such a public format).

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