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Light and Fluffy but also explores some deep topics

10/10 is my rating. This is a 2021 South Korean romantic comedy drama with 16, 70 minute episodes. Alternate title is Dal-ri and Gamjatang.

Kim Dali (Park Gyu-young) is tasked by her boss (at the museum where she works as a curator), to pick up a VVIP from the airport. However, VVIP Mr. Jin is not the only Mr. Jin coming into the airport that day and she winds up picking up the wrong Mr. Jin (Jin Moo-hak played by Kim Min-jae). This case of mistaken identity winds up being a fateful encounter as Dali offers the traveler a place to stay when his credit cards do not work. They part ways the next day and Moo-hak immediately regrets not getting her number but believes he will see her again before leaving the Netherlands. Right after they part, Dali discovers her father has died in South Korea and immediately leaves for her home country. Moo-hak leaves the Netherlands without seeing this girl he found an immediate connection with only to soon discover the girl he had been looking for is now the heiress of a museum he lent a significant sum of money to. Dali remains in South Korea to save the museum, which is her father's legacy, but finds there are multiple creditors looking to be paid. Moo-hak is torn between doing whatever it takes to recover the money and save face with his family and helping out this girl he finds so compelling. Moo hak knows a little something about making money having helped his father build a global food company from the ground up. Add in a wealthy ex fiance, a girl who is obsessed with Moo-hak, the mystery surrounding the real reason for her father's death and the current state of the museum's finances and the viewer is in for a wild ride.

I loved this movie from start to finish. It did not have any of the tired tropes that I sometimes find annoying, there were tons of suprise twists that suprised even someone that has watched hundreds of dramas. Dali is now one of my all time favorite characters I loved how she was such a thoughtful, kind and caring person yet could, at all the right times, really lose it. Moo-hak was so genuine and you could really see how he had gotten to where he was and even understand his crazy penny counting. Spoilers*** In the USA, at one time, kids were often not told they were adopted for fear of the social stigma surrounding a child that is not blood related. It was all tied into the stigma around being born out of wedlock. As the prevalance of that social stigma has decreased, so has the stigma around being adopted. Not to say it is not still present, it just isn't as widespread as it once was. In as much as this is an "accurate" portrayal in South Korea, it seem that social stigma is still something that is dealt with as well perhaps to a slightly higher degree. I was surprised that her simply being adopted could cause such a major hit to her social standing. There was also the concept of "old money" versus "new money" which is something that is tied to class distinction, to varying degrees, in developed societies perhaps the world over. I really like how she stood up to her ex-fiance and never validated what he did to her by going back to him. There are certain things a person can say or do to another person that there really is no going back from. Dali was generally calm, level headed, and sweet. Her character was the type that spreads calm when she walks in a room. I liked that you could tell she had learn those traits from her adopted father. I was happy the uncle came around and actually apologized to her for the horrible things he said to her. The museum staff was, on balance, loyal and I was glad they did not wind up turning on Dali as that would have lessened my enjoyment of that slice of life "family." Dali stood up to Moo hak's dad when he told her he didn't think her and his son should be together. It was truly a love that conquered all and it made it all the more sweet overall. They really tricked us with the year separation, I thought she had left for a year because of the father's disapproval. That is a trope I am not found of - that whole leave for 1, 2, 3 or you know 5 years, sometimes don't even call or contact, come back and everything is all hunky dory. The writers must have known that because they tricked us into thinking she left for a year then went "psych they were together the whole time". I would rewatch this and highly recommend it to anyone that loves this genre. So good. One of my favorites.

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Loved the main male lead he was like a puppy so sweet and cute

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2017 South Korean Romantic Comedy drama with 16, 60 minute episodes.

Baek Joon (Kang So-ra) learned at a very young age that she only had herself to rely on. Her father died after devoting his life to the Gangsu group but was ruined financially after exposing corporate corruption. After witnessing her father's downfall as a result of his alliance to one company she vowed to never chain herself down in such a way. She happily works multiple part time jobs to avoid chaining herself to what she perceives as a large corporate monster. Kwon Jae-hoon was Joon's first love and he has remained friendly but not directly expressed any romantic interest. He is responsible and career driven to a fault and often criticizes (he considers it encouragement). Joon for not seeking out a more permanent position. The difference in opinion on what comprises responsible adulthood is suspected as the reason Joon and Jae-hoons relationship has never developed beyond friendship. Byun Hyuk (Choi Si-won) is a Chaebol and as the younger son of Byun Kang-soo (Choi Jae-sung), the chairman (of the Gangsu group) Byun Hyuk (Choi Si-won). Since he is has not been tasked with any major responsibilities in the company, his main goal is to stay out of trouble and keep the companies' name out of the papers. As a carefree rich playboy, Hyuk finds himself frequently doing things that foster negative attention and his childhood friend and current "keeper" Jae-hoon is responsible for cleaning up the messes Hyuk makes. This "fixer" role has now fallen to Jae-hoon who observed his father doing the same and resents Hyuk because his father once took the wrap in Hyuk's stead. Joon accidentally meets Hyuk when the hotel where she works at winds up kicking them both out for different reasons. The hotel failed to recognize the hotel owner's second son so Joon also assumes he is a "commoner" just like her. The two get to know each other as Joon helps Hyuk make his way in the outside world (Hyuk is avoiding going back and facing his dad over his latest escapade). Hyuk is immediately enamored with this girl who is unlike any he has ever known - she gives him the confidence to break out of his playboy mode. Which is actually just what his older brother, Byun Woo-sung (Lee Jae-yoon), the elder son of Byun Kang-soo, fears the most. He wants to be the sole successor to his father and is worried Hyuk may mature and take all or part of what he considers to be his. Joon assumed that Hyuk had money and status so he had everything and Hyuk assumed that Joon had neither and thus did not have anything. As the two grow closer they learn that having everything material can equate to having nothing that matters and having nothing material does not mean you have nothing that matters. The three Hyuk, Joon and Jae-hoon all have reason to resent Gangsu group and work together to expose the corruption. Both men like Joon but one wants her to change while the other loves how she is.

Spoilers. I loved how confident and independent the lead girl was. She also had a wisdom that extended beyond education and that is what drew people to her. Hyuk was smitten from the moment he met her and it was easy to understand why he would have been, The second guy was handsome but very somber and somewhat of a tsundere toward the girl. It was hard to feel very sorry for him because he literally had years to confess to the girl. Hyuk on the other hand followed her around like a happy puppy and readily confessed to her. Hyuk’s dad was abusive both physically and emotionally to his sons. He was even physically abusive to some of his employees. Not very likable as a father. Hyuk’s mom was like Hyuk and it was refreshing to have the wealthy mom actually love the idea of the lead girl as a daughter in law. I loved how Hyuk made friends with Jun’s friends and they helped them carry out their many missions. I have seen the bias people have about wealthy people thinking they are all out of touch and have it made. I personally have never felt that way. There are nice, down to earth, wealthy people as well as.poor people who have no compassion for others. Being rich or poor does not define how you are as a human being. i am also a firm believer that children can be very different from their parents. This series explored both of those concepts. I found the ending a bit rushed and inconclusive. The brother had done horrible things but it seemed nothing happened to him. Our lead couple are leaving on a trip together but she never made her feelings for him clear. Overall it was good and I recommend just the ending fell a little flat.

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A slice of airport live with a surprising element

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2018 South Korean romantic drama series with 32, 35 minute, episodes

Han Yeo-reum (Chae Soo-bin) struggled hard together a job at Incheon International airport. However, her clumsiness and tendency to act on her emotions has caused some of her supervisors to look down on her ability as an employee. Yeo-reum has a series of encounters with a man who has amazing strength and agility and saves her from having a fatal accident. When Yeo-reum is transferred to a new team she winds up being supervised by Leo Soo-yeon (Nam Da-reum), the man who saved her. Soo-yeon prefers to keep a low profile but events keep happening that reveal his unusual abilities. He realizes that Yeo-reum is often misunderstood and begins helping her by fixing her mistakes and encouraging her to be confident. In turn, although she has first hand experience with Soo-reun’s unusual strength, she keeps it secret which earns his trust. With a slice of life of a passenger services team, there is rarely a dull day at the airport. Will understanding lead to love for the somewhat unlikely pair? What happened to Soo-yeon that resulted in his exceptional ability?

Spoiler 🚨 Overall I liked this very much. It was well acted and had enough interesting things going on in the airport all the time to keep you engaged. The main story was well paced and believable.. You got to know the whole cast of main characters and enjoy several side relationships. I also thought it was unique and interesting that there was something very special about his abilities. I don’t know South Korean culture well enough to know if this accurately portrays the way some look on disabilities. In the United States I know we like to think we are further along but from first-hand experience I can say that people do still discriminate in the workplace. The toughest disabilities to deal with are the hidden disabilities. Because the male lead used a assistive device his disability was hidden and, with the device, he had super human strength. That became one plot point - him trying to hide his different ability but still act in situations where superior strength was helpful. The backstory on him and his brother was very interesting and they gave you just enough detail as it went along so that you got little bits that kept you guessing and forming predictions. I liked their boss because she was everything I envision in a good supportive boss and I thought the way the female lead flourished under her direction was very accurate in the way a good leader can bring out the best in people. Where I felt it lacked a little was towards the end, and that might be a bit of cultural misunderstanding. To me it seemed like he was a little bit old not to get that if he just gave it a year or so to be back in the wheelchair that he would have the rest of his life to experience all the things he wanted to. It felt really selfish to me that he was willing to die because, at that point, there were so many people around him that would be hurt by that. I was glad when he finally made the decision to do what he needed to do and I usually don’t like when they go away somewhere for a while but in this case it made sense. The one thing about that which was not consistent was he didn’t even contact her during his time away. As much as he hated being away from her for even a day it was hard to buy he would go that length of time with little contact. Then in the scene when they finally reunite it just shows the back of his head and I would’ve liked to of have seen the expression on his face after reuniting with her. I really like the second guy in this one and I found it very admirable that he was willing to have any role in her life even as just her friend. There were several times when second guy could’ve been selfish and made it difficult for the male lead but he cared about her enough to take care of the lead guy even when it would’ve been more advantageous for him to take his chance with her. The ending felt a little rushed after we had gone through so much with him being willing to die. There were also some loose ends with some of the other couples where it felt like there should’ve been a happy ending there as well. Those that prefer a more realistic ending may be OK with these things I mentioned. For me I like well tied up and perfectly happy because I watch these as an escape from adulting and all the difficulties to go with it. Still recommend this just be prepared for some sad moments.

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Contract marriage grows into something more

8/10 is my rating. This is a 2004 South Korean television series spanning 16 (60 Minute) episodes and noted to be the pioneer of the Koreen “romantic comedy.” Han Ji-eun (Song Hye-kyo), an aspiring scriptwriter, lives in a house called "Full House" built by her late father. Her long time "friends" send her away on vacation and sell her house to scam the money. When she makes her way back to South Korea she finds that her beloved house now belongs to Lee Young-jae (Rain), a top South Korean actor. They strike a marriage contract and Ji-eun cooks and cleans to pay off her debt. Since it is not a "real" marriage Ji-eun and Yong-jae see other people. Young-jae finally has a chance at a girl he has loved since childhood and Ji-eun finds herself pursued by the man of her dreams. But living in such close proximity starts a growing love between the two housemates.

Spoiler 🚨 I really liked both characters and their romance was actually perfect in its imperfection. It did, at times, feel like we were seeing and repeating the same cycles again and again and it got a little frustrating - that is why I did not rate it higher. I had comments on and noticed a lot of the comments were around that as well - that it repeated scenarios too much. I thought it took a deep look at love and what the heart wants. Someone can have all the right elements and your brain says pick that one but the heart may go a completely different direction. I thought it would be a simple, sweet, story and it really wasn't simple at all. It was also somewhat of a period piece as you can tell, based on some more recent dramas, that relationships are changing. He was almost obsessive compulsive about cleaning as it seemed they cleaned everything every day regardless.

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One of my All Time Favorites

10/10 is my rating. 2017/2018 South Korean Drama spanning 32 episodes (~30 minutes per episode). Yoo Seung-ho plays the male lead, Kim Min-kyu who developed a life-threatening allergy to skin contact with other people due to childhood tragedy.  He is the wealthy chairman of a company and lives his life in near complete isolation due to his allergy.  His nickname is baton because he carries an extendable baton, in the rare instances when he is out, to insure people stay at “arms” distance.  A team of researchers have developed a very life like robot named AG-3 and Min-Kyu is scheduled to test it.  The robot is modeled after the female lead, Jo Ji-Ah, as she is the ex-girlfriend of the head robotic scientist.  The team is depending on Min-kyu’s positive impression of the robot for funding for their research.  When the test is scheduled to begin an accident short circuits the robot and there is no time to get her fully back online in time for the test.  Jo Ji-Ah (Chae Soo-Bin) who is an inventor with many failed projects and huge debt agrees to play the role of the robot until they can repair the robot and swap out.  To make it believable she is given special contacts that tie her to the real AG-3 who is able to provide the level of information on topics expected of a robot (such as what is the weather report, current stock prices, or calculate this complex equation). AG-3 becomes the first friend Min-kyu has had in 15 years and the confidence he begins to feel allows him to venture out from his isolation.  The intrigue rises as Min-Kyu suffers from conflicting feels of love for what he believes to be a robot (although it seems his heart senses what his mind does not acknowledge.  Jo Ji-Ah begins to see past the gruff exterior to the beautiful person within and also begins to love Min-Kyu. 

Spoiler 🚨 I read this did not rate high when it was aired.  I found the 32 episodes just flew by and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end.  The male and female lead are just beautiful together and you can completely see why and how they would fall in love.  There were love triangles, a mystery, suspense and comedy – all the things I have come to love in Asian Dramas.  I have found, in general, that Asian Dramas end a bit different than American romances in that it either goes beyond “happily ever after” or simply fails to neatly wrap everything up.  This one did a great job of balancing that.  I think this has moved to my number one slot for Asian Dramas thus far – it has a unique premise, fully developed characters, a believable scenario and is just fun to watch. 

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Seo In-guk really carries the story

8/10 is my rating. This is a 2014 South Korean drama with 17 (+1 Special), 1 hr, episodes. Also known as High School King of Savvy.

High School varsity ace hockey player, Lee Min-seok (Seo In-guk) is living as a normal high school student, when his brother, Lee Hyung-seok (also played by Seo In-guk) calls him and asks for a favor. His brother has been abroad and is due to report to a new job as a Director at an IT conglomerate. Something he won't divulge has happened and he needs Min-seok to pretend to be him and fill in until he can get free and take his place. Normally that would be an impossible request but, despite the 9 year age gap, the brothers look like identical twins. Being loyal to his brother, Min-seok agrees to the farce and a colleague at the company is aware of the ruse and helps Min-seok fit in - in the otherwise alien corporate environment. Min-seok is supposed to be a puppet but turns out the young man has a knack for the type of work and starts to make a name for himself at the company, and also gains favor with the company President. Jung Soo-young (Lee Ha-na), is originally a contract employee at the company who Min-seok finds himself drawn to. He eventually falls in love with her and helps her get a permanent job with the company. His rival, Yoo Jin-woo (Lee Soo-hyuk) senses something suspicious about this mysterious new director and vows to get to the bottom of it. He is also jealous that his father seems to find more favor with this bright new director and, eventually he is also jealous of Soo-young who he also falls in love with. To further complicate things, fellow high schooler and Soo-young's younger sister, Jung Yoo-ah (Lee Yeol-eum), has already confessed to Min-seok and, despite his repeated rejections, considers "hubby Lee" her man. With so many twists and turns can Min-seok continue to fool everyone until his brother steps in? Can he overcome the age and generation gap between him and Soo-young? What if she finds out he is only in high school?

spoiler 🚨 I really liked the beginning of this. In-guk is a great actor and I just enjoy watching him. I liked how he was able to handle both roles so well. He seems so different when he played the older brother it was almost eerie the way he was able to make that transformation. He seem like a different person. Soo-young has a freshness and innocence about her that is much younger than her age and he is actually rather mature for his age In the beginning. So early on it is easy to see the attraction. Towards the end it lost me a bit when it was revealed he was a high schooler and it just felt like his character underwent a dramatic change and he suddenly seems less mature. I also found it disappointing that his hockey career ended because he could’ve went on to be very successful and then could have taken care of her even though she was older. So it started really good but the last half or so was it not quite as good. It was redeemed though in that it ended well. I’m a fan of happy endings and this one definitely had a happy ending. There were some loose ends though that I did not feel were tied up such as the brothers never learned about the illegitimate child angle and I was unsure who exactly the illegitimate child was. It also wasn’t completely clear to me what exactly the president did to Min-seok’s dad. I wanted to know what happened with the brother since Min-seok did not wind up going to Germany. I thought at one point maybe it would be revealed he was the illegitimate one and find out that Jin-woo was his brother and then he could’ve stayed on at the company and just been a very young executive. It does allude to the fact in the end that he is going to make it big because as he won some thing but I wasn’t quite clear with that some thing was. That felt pretty sad. It was good but could have been a bit better. Well acted though. Jin-woo was somewhat of a villain yet I had a very deep sympathy for him and wanted to see where his life went and wanted the relationships he developed to continue at least as friendships. All in all I liked it just had a bit of a drag point and I wasn’t a complete fan of the change in Min-seok’s character and how he was on a very successful path but then all of a sudden hockey ended and he had nothing going on at the company. Worth the watch just not one of my top choices.

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Liked this for paranormal just a few things that fell a tiny bit short

8/10 is my rating. This is a 2016 South Korean supernatural romance tv drama spanning 16, 60 minute episodes. It is also known as Okay Ghost, Let’s Fight.

When Park Bong-pal (Ok Taec-yeon) was young, he gained the ability to see ghosts after a failed attempt to completely exorcise an evil spirit from him. Not long after the evil spirit murders his mother by pushing her into traffic. His father has a weapon that would destroy the evil spirit and stays away from his son so the spirit will chase him. From a young age, Bong-pal’s only parental figure and companion is the monk who failed to fully exorcise the spirit. At first he is terrified of the ghosts and his strange behavior makes him a social outcast. He learns he can fight and destroy malicious ghosts to earn money to live on and also save money for a procedure that would take his ghost site away. On one job he encounters Kim Hyun-ji (Kim So-hyun) a ghost of a different sort who begins to follow Bong-pal when she discovers something about him is allowing her to see the events leading up to her death in flashes. In order to get him to help her she agrees to help him fight ghosts that are stronger than he can take on alone. The evil spirit has inhabited the body of one of Bong-pal‘s professors and seems to have an unnatural interest in the duo. Feelings grow between Bong-pal and Hyun-ji but those around remind them their love is impossible.

Spoiler 🚨 I liked the early episodes and found it very interesting as they solved their ghost cases. I liked the romance between the two leads. About half way through it started to feel very predictable. When she came back to her body she was very different than she had been as a ghost and that was a bit disappointing. Still overall I really liked it just thought they could have kept her character more consistent and could have had a better, less predictable, plot twist.

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Was it Real? Does it matter?

8/10 is my rating for this 2017 Chinese comedy drama. Run time is 1 hour and 30 minutes. It is a remake of a 2015 South Korean movie entitled "Wonderful Nightmare."

Review

My rating 8/10

For a movie-length story, I thought it did a reasonable job emotionally connecting you to the characters in a short amount of time. The premise itself was compelling with a blend of fantasy, family drama, and romance. The focus was not on the romance but more her journey and a transformative experience.

What stood out most to me was the emotional growth of the female lead and how the film explored the value of ordinary life, family, and connection. The movie has a very warm emotional core, especially in the quieter moments between the family members. The little boy absolutely stole the movie for me. His scenes felt the most genuine and emotionally impactful. That is what showed her the sweet side of being someone's mother.

One thing that kept the movie from rating higher for me was how much potential the concept had for a longer format. This easily could have worked as a drama series because there were so many emotional layers and unanswered questions that the film simply didn’t have enough time to fully explore. The ending especially leaves a lingering sadness because of everything the female lead experienced with the family and how abruptly that connection disappears.

A lot of viewers seem split on the ending. Some appreciate its emotional ambiguity and focus on personal growth, while others — like me — found it heartbreaking and frustrating not knowing what truly happened to the family after the timeline reset. The emotional attachment built during the story makes it hard to simply accept that separation so easily.

Spoilers

The emotional core of the movie is really about the female lead (Li Yitian) learning how to love, connect, and value relationships rather than focusing only on career success and personal ambition. After the accident and supernatural intervention, she temporarily experiences an "alternate life"? where she is married with children — something completely opposite from the isolated life she originally lived.

What makes the movie emotionally difficult is how real that family becomes to her. And how real it is to the audience. The little boy especially forms a genuine emotional bond with her, which is why the ending feels so sad. After spending that much time loving and caring for him, it feels almost impossible to imagine simply returning to normal life and moving on.

One of the biggest unanswered questions is what actually happened to the "alternate family" once Li Yitian returns to her original reality. The film never fully explains whether that timeline was erased, whether the family continues existing without her, or whether they were only part of the supernatural “lesson” she needed to experience. That ambiguity was likely intentional, but it also leaves a lingering emotional emptiness. It was even more confusing because her spiritual guide says what happened to the real mother and that if she wasn't there they would have already experienced that loss. So that alludes to the fact that they are real and had a real wife/mother.

To me the story felt as much about that family as it did about her so not knowing what happened with them made it feel very incomplete.

The man on the plane and her flirtatious connection with him shows she is clearly open to having a romantic connection with someone. Open to love. Ready to have that be a part of her life. But that also felt sad, weirdly like cheating, because she didn't try that hard to find out what happened to the family she was briefly a part of.

Li Yitian seems to have accepted that family is no longer accessible to her. But viewers, such as me, would feel no closure for the other characters we became equally attached to. Did they lose their wife and mother as the spirit guide had indicated? Since they were able to write her into their story, did they just then erase their existence after she left entirely? Or, did they change them back to the way they were and thus she would not be able to find them because their names and everything may have changed? It was a nebulous and sad way to close that off.

That unresolved feeling is probably why the movie sticks with people emotionally after it ends. There’s a sense of grief attached to the experience because the family felt real, here spirit guide seemed to indicate they were real, and yet her actions indicate, once she tried a little, her complete willingness to give up on that family.

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Really the best of kdrama

10/10 is my rating. This is a 2013 South Korean television series with 18, 60 minute, episodes.

Jan Hye-sung (Lee Bo-young) and Park Soo-ha (Lee Jong-suk) share a bond around a crime that occurred when they were children. One was a victim and the other a witness. The tragic event impacts the lives of both main characters as well as the daughter of Hye-sung's mother's former employer (Hye-sung grew up with the daughter as her mother was a live in housekeeper). The killer vows revenge on Hye-sung for her testimony as a witness and Soo-ha states his intent to protect Hye-sung for her brave deed. Time passes and Hye-sung becomes a defense attorney. She had an impoverished childhood which makes her original intention in law just to make money. Soo-ha looks for Hye-sung knowing the killer will soon be released. Hye-sung does not immediately recognize Soo-ha from that childhood connection. However, when she finds out he has a unique ability, he can hear what people are thinking, she beings to utilize his skill in the court room to solve cases. Soo-ha's childhood housemate and frenemy has now become a prosecutor (who was with Hye-sung and was also a witness to the crime but did not testify). When the killer is out he begins his plot for revenge but in a society where reform is believed in, will anyone believe the two that he hasn't changed? Soo-ha will stop at nothing to protect Hye-sung but can she convince him that killing the killer makes him no better?

Spoiler 🚨 I loved everything about this drama. It had romance (and a love triangle of course), suspense, action and mystery. It was very well acted - I have loved everything I have seen with Lee Jong-suk. The roles he takes are complex and the storylines are always exciting and surprising. Lee Bo-young's evolution from a non caring only out for me person to someone that cares deeply about justice is great to see. You can tell it was always there and just took the right person and right set of circumstances to develop. I also liked the friendships that developed and the competitive nature of both the women and men who bettered themselves through their interactions with each other. It is a deep, moving and complex story. I would put it at the top of any list to watch especially for those that love a good mystery or suspense romance. Just a great drama!

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Both of the leads are great hard to miss when they star

This is a 2018 South Korean romantic comedy that has 32, 30 minute, episodes.

Yoo Jung-eum (Hwang Jung-eum) was a diving athlete until events in her life caused her to give up the sport. Her friend hires her into her match making agency because Jung-eum was a much better athlete than she is a matchmaker. Kang Hoon-nam (Namkoong Min) seems to be everywhere Jung-dum is and they have a series of encounters. Hoon-nam ghost writes a relationship column and is so successful at helping people groom themselves to be a love interest that he turns his cousin into a player who causes havoc in Jung-eum’s company to the point that she is blamed for her client’s bad behavior and given one last chance to redeem herself by getting dates for a cadre of clients who are deemed undateable. Not having the skill to turn the folks around herself she seeks out the person ghost writing the advice articles that have proven successful. Jung-eum is surprised to siscover the relationship guru is none other than Hoon-nam a man who, based on their earlier not so positive encounters made her agree to never appear in front of him again. Can she convince him to help her? If he helps can they get dates for the Undateables and even find love themselves?

Spoiler 🚨 Jung-eum’s job as a dating consultant or matchmaker is very interesting. I like how sweet yet feisty she is. This is another one where I wish I could split the female lead in two because I liked the second guy a lot. I like all of their friends and the side stories are really cute too. It is funny that the lead guy is supposedly a dating expert yet he has such a hard time figuring out his own relationships.The leads acted this very well as you can see them as a couple and their personalities, in terms of their characters, were very complementary. There was just enough intrigue with a mysterious past that it made you want to discover the whole story. I was surprised I liked this as much as I did. It is very predictable and not very complex but so well acted and overall still entertaining that it is one I would highly recommend.

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My wish is that this was Just a Story about Genies

Overall Review

7/10 is my rating. Just not my thing.

I really wanted to like this show. I find genies interesting and expected a light, fictional dive into that magical genre. The characters are vivid and the leads, Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy, have undeniable chemistry, but the show’s irreverence toward sacred concepts makes it unsettling. There was a dark twist on principles that felt like an insult to Christianity. Those with strong religious beliefs, such as Christians or Muslims, may find this show deeply disturbing due to its flippant handling of good and evil. The main character and romantic interest, Iblis, is explicitly Satan, punished by God and still called by that name, despite being a genie. With all of this, the plot, while unique, simply crosses too many moral lines in my opinion. I wouldn’t watch it again—it made me uncomfortable the first time (pretty clear to me rooting for any entity called Satan is a strict no), and I can’t recommend it to others who avoid anything that might violate religious principles .

Spoilers

The main character, Satan/Iblis, isn’t all bad—he’s kind to Ka-young, shows empathy, and plays tricks to “help” people. Not very Satan-like, right? And we’re supposed to root for him. Rooting for Satan is a problem if you’re religious. Some gloss over this and say but it is fictional. But this isn't even a gray area in religious doctrine - you simply do not root for any entity that is entitled Satan. Then there’s Ejllael, the angel with black wings and zero empathy, who tortures his assistant Irem for mistakes. So, evil acts good, and good acts evil. Ka-young, the main girl, is a psychopath trained by her grandmother Pan-geum to avoid murder, channeling her urges into skydiving or rock climbing. That’s fine—not all psychopaths are killers—but she’s abusive to Iblis, pushing him off buildings and beating him with bars, which he fears. We’re supposed to find this funny? I didn't. I don’t root for abusers. The creation myth—God making genies on Wednesday, angels on Thursday, humans on Friday—mimics religious stories but twists them in a way that feels disrespectful to both Christianity and Islam. Ka-young’s a “good” person because she doesn’t kill, but her violent streak undermines that. When she wishes her grandmother to be her age so they’ll die closer together, Pan-geum becomes a young, reckless version of herself, losing all grandmotherly wisdom. Ka-young bets Iblis that random people’s wishes will be good, but most are selfish and greedy, suggesting humans are inherently evil. I was glad the bank teller Bu-gyeong got caught for stealing from Ka-young out of apparent jealousy—ridiculous. Then, Pan-geum flirts with Min-ji, Ka-young’s childhood friend, in a gay subplot that feels forced and creepy, since Pan-geum knew Min-ji as a child. I’m tired of obligatory gay couples, especially when they add morally questionable elements like this. The show’s attempt to humanize “villains” doesn’t justify its disregard for sacred values, and it left me completely turned off of anything else this show had to offer. Which wasn't much. The back story, origin story, became the main focus in the last few episodes to the further detriment of the show. It was no longer about a genie and a romantic interest now it was just a continuation of a battle between the Angels and Genies. That was better as just a back story.

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Promising storyline with disappointing delivery

Review


5/10 is my rating. “Tastefully Yours” begins with an irresistible foodie premise but sours into frustrating character arcs, inconsistent romance, and major narrative blind spots that undermine its culinary charm.

Spoilers

This drama had the potential to deliver a rich, emotionally satisfying story grounded in food, culture, and personal growth—but what it served instead was a shallow, frustrating series that consistently undercut its own best elements. The most glaring issue is the romantic dynamic between the leads. While the female lead, Mo Yeon-joo, is portrayed as a proud, guarded chef, her treatment of the male lead, Han Beom-woo, borders on cruel. She mocks him, flirts with her ex in front of him, and then disappears without a word—only to hang up on him when he tries to reach out. Which was not too surprising as she had cried when the ex came, a clear sign she still had feelings.

Instead of letting her go with dignity, Beom-woo follows her across countries, abandoning all sense of pride. This isn’t romantic—it’s embarrassing. He had established himself as confident and desirable in Seoul, and yet spends most of the series groveling for someone who offers him nothing but scraps. It brings to mind the old saying: “If you love someone, let them go. If they come back to you, they’re yours. If they don’t, they never were.” Yeon-joo never truly came back—not emotionally. And Beom-woo never stopped chasing a version of her that didn’t exist. The imbalance in their dynamic made the romance feel more painful than poignant.

The series also drops the ball on multiple subplots. Shin Chun-seung (Yoo Su-bin), the son of a respected gukbap chef, quietly leaves his family’s restaurant to work at Jungjae—but we never see any meaningful reaction from his father. There’s no pride, no disappointment, no exploration of generational tension. It’s a thread left completely dangling. Likewise, Beom-woo’s original rivalry with his brother—who deceived and betrayed him—is abandoned with barely a shrug. There’s no payoff, no revenge, no resolution. He simply accepts it and moves on, stripping the story of any narrative weight.

Another repeated frustration was the obsession with recipe theft. If stealing culinary ideas is such a common threat in this fictional world, you’d expect some professional-level protections. NDAs, secured documentation, legal contracts—anything. But instead, characters are reckless and paranoid in a way that feels implausible and lazy. It’s not tension—it’s sloppiness.

Even the emotional moments fall flat. The “meet the parents” dinner where a Korean father suddenly accepts his French in-laws just because the food was good is a perfect example. The show wants to convey that food bridges cultural gaps, but it skips all the necessary emotional groundwork. One good meal does not erase deeply held beliefs, and the instant resolution felt more convenient than heartfelt.

And then there’s the matter of the Sapporo arc. Yeon-joo disappears without saying goodbye to anyone, not even her closest colleagues, and Beom-woo’s reaction is to track her down and make a grand romantic gesture. But nothing about it feels earned. She treats him with indifference and rejection the entire time, and instead of growing from it, he just continues to follow her like a lovesick puppy. The emotional labor is entirely one-sided, and the show never gives us a reason to believe their love is mutual.

So many promising elements—like the hinted chemistry between Beom-woo and the former head chef from Seoul—are introduced and abandoned. These wasted opportunities pile up, making the drama feel incomplete and confused about what it wants to say.

In the end, Tastefully Yours looked beautiful but lacked substance. The food cinematography was lovely, and the atmosphere had moments of charm. But the emotional heart of the story was hollow. With stronger character development, clearer arcs, and a more balanced romantic dynamic, it could have been a standout. Instead, it’s a disappointing mess of undercooked ideas and overused tropes, served cold. I think having only 10 episodes played into this as well as it provided limited time to develop characters and relationships and finish subplots. A few minutes of each episode you could fast forward through as it replicated the ending if the last episode. So they even wasted more minutes rehashing the previous episode’s ending.

Synopsis

This is a 2025 South Korean romantic comedy centered in a restaurant culture. There are 10, 60 minute episodes.

Han Beom-woo (Kang Ha-neul), is the second son, a chaebol heir who has grown up competing with his older brother for their mother's, Han Yeo-ul (Oh Min-ae) approval. To outpace his brother and expand their ever-growing culinary empire, Beom-woo has used some questionable methods. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Mo Yeon-joo (Go Min-si), a spirited chef, when pursuing a particular dish she was making. Yeon-joo's stubbornness in sourcing the best ingredients, tailoring the menu to whatever she decides to cook (rather than marketability) and keeping things small have nearly bankrupted her. Beom-woo’s brother, Han Seon-woo (Bae Na-ra), and celebrity Chef Jang Young-hye (Hong Hwa-yeon) conspired to get Beom-woo displaced in the family business so Beom-woo shifts to developing Yeon-joo's business. At first the lively chef and spoiled chaebol repeatedly clash and argue but as they come to realize what the other has to offer the business, they start to function as a team. As they work collaboratively to safe the restaurant, they realize they have growing feelings for each other.

#TastefullyYours #HongHwaYeon #BaeNaRa #GoMinSit #KangHaNeu

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Well paced heartwarming romantic series with small town, friends to lovers and revenge elements

9/10 is my rating. This is a 2023/2024 South Korean romantic comedy with 16, 70 minute episodes.

First I provide a unique synopsis then review.

Synopsis

Cho Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook) and Cho Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun) were childhood friends who grew up in a small community on Jeju Island. The adults termed them soul mates as they were born minutes apart on the same day. And their life follows the trajectory of that destined fate as close friends as children then a young couple later on. An incident drives them apart and lead both to separately pursue their dreams. Yong-pil remains on the island as a weather forecaster to fulfill his dream of providing accurate forecasts so that others will not die from weather events as his mother did. While brilliant in his field, he is a thorn in the side of the other forecasters as he is very vociferous in his demands for perfection in forecasting. Many of the youth from the Island are eager to escape that limited geography and make their mark in big city Seoul. Sam-dal also wants to escape the small town and is determined to thrive in Seoul. After much hardship, Samdal finally becomes a highly successful fashion photographer known under the professional name Cho Eun-hye. At the peak of her career, she is in the circles with all the top celebrities as a highly demanded artistic and entertainment photographer. A series of events causes Cho Eun hye’s professional and personal life to completely come apart. Samdal decides to take a pause on her career and leave the city that now felt like it turned on her. Her hometown has always been her safe haven filled with all the people she was once very close to. When Samdal and Yongpil find themselves back in the same circles, they discover their feelings for each other never died. With two very different dreams is there a way for them to be together without sacrificing their own life goals? Can Samdal prove her innocence and re-establish her career?

Review

This is a really good romantic drama with friends to lovers, coming of age and even revenge elements. People who grew up in an island culture or in a small town will relate to a lot of the content. It is an overall feel good romance served up with slices of small town life. The small insights into Haenyeo (female diver) culture is a bonus.

Spoilers

Yong pil’s dad Cho Sang-tae (Yu Oh seong), was so emotionally and physically abusive to others I seriously disliked the character. It was satisfying, in the last few episodes, when the rest let loose in him. Look she wasn’t just your wife she was my best friend, my mother etc. You are not the only one grieving. I wish someone had said your wife would have hated this. He was obsessed with her leading up to them being together and was obsessed with her after she died. Blaming her best friend when his wife as an adult who chose to go was misplaced anger. He was such a cruel selfish person, I was glad he came around for the other characters but I did not feel there was any redemption for him.

The assistant who falsely accused her was eventually revealed as a liar. That was great to get to see some justice served. A little bit more about her and the fall out of her misdeeds would have been better as so much of Samdal’s story centered around her assistant’s lies.

I loved the story with her older sister and ex husband who so clearly still loved each other but had been driven apart by his horrible family. I would have liked to see them get remarried.

The chemistry between Shin Hye sun and Ji Chang wook was surprising. I just never pictured them together as they typically choose very different scripts. But they are both such great actors it was completely believable. I became a fan Of Ji Chang wook from his action shows but this sweet boy next door role worked perfectly too which just shows his diversity.



#WelcometoSandalRi

#JiChangwook

#ShinHyeSun

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Had potential

Also known by the titles “Hi” and “Welcome”. This is a 2020 Fantasy Romantic Drama with 24, 30 minute, episodes.

Kim Sol-Ah (Shin Ye-eun) has an artistic mind and an active imagination and works at an ad agency but dreams of writing Webtoons. She categorizes people as either dog like people or cat like people. She thinks she prefers dog like people because cats are generally quiet and independent. When the boy she has had feelings for since high school (10 years), Lee Jae-sun (Seo Ji-hoon) suddenly returns Sol-ah finds herself thrown back into longing for the guy who broke her heart by suddenly leaving and having anither girlfriend. It is a mystery as to why he kissed her and acted like he wanted to be with her and then suddenly left. Friends before the brief interlude Sol-Ah falls back into the pattern of friendship all the while wondering what happened and wanting more. Jae-sun seems relatively cold toward her but does not say why. Seo Ji-hoon newest ex brings a cat they both had and says she can’t keep it and for him to take it back. . The problem is he’s very allergic to cats so Sol-ah steps up and says she will keep the cat while he finds another place for it. What she doesn’t know is this is no ordinary cat. Something about being around Sol-ah makes the cat turn into a human. Suddenly this strange boy is appearing around Sol-ah. When she finds the stranger in her house she mistakes him for her step brother she never met but is to share a house with. She renames the cat Hong-jo and decides to keep hi. As her feelings grow for the cat she begins to feel an attachment for her new housemate as well. As she grows more distant from Jae-sun he discovers he still has feelings for her after all. Who will Sol-ah choose?

spoiler 🚨 I started out liking this one really well. The premise was interesting and I like the supernatural aspect. I was also really happy when the lead girl did not continue to pine after someone that did not seem to have any feelings for her. I thought the relationship she developed with the cat was one any animal lover could understand. They sort of creep into your heart even if you don’t really mean for them to. It was a little harder to understand how she developed such a deep connection when he turned into human form. While I was happy to see her able to move on and not long for somebody that didn’t seem to want her, it was sad for her to love so deeply someone she could never be fully with. When the second guy actually came around and you found out his backstory I found out I was rooting for him too. There were several ways this could’ve ended happily but, for me, it made me feel really sad towards the end and I was not happy with the way it ended. In fact I would’ve found it much better and rated it much higher if I wasn’t as disappointed with the ending as I am. For those that don’t mind endings a little sad it may not bother them as much but I don’t like ending a series I otherwiseI enjoyed on a sad note. It had “Pirates of the Caribbean” Syndrome in terms of a sad Situation. It reminded me of how I felt about “Absolute Boyfriend” where the ending had me irritated - it felt like such a waste.

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Too emotionally brutal for me, I do not like seeing people suffer

7/10 is my rating. This is a 2021 South Korean dating reality series with 15, 61-164 minute episodes.

First I will Provide a Unique Synopsis then Review

Synopsis

This show brings together 10 singles (5 women and 5 men) for a chance to rekindle old love or find someone new. Eight of the singles were formerly in a relationship with one of the other house members but broke up for a variety of reasons. During the show they live together and go on dates and do activities to get to know each other. They send texts to a person they are interested in at the end of each round. With each batch if texts the singles receive a separate message indicating whether or not their ex chose them

House Rules

You cannot reveal who your ex is or mention it directly.

Any expression of feelings or skinship, except confession, is permitted.

On the first day, your age and occupation are not revealed.

You cannot share each other's SNS or contact information.

Cleaning and meal duties are handled in a rotation of 2 people (1 male, 1 female).

Residents eat together every evening.

Celebrity Panelists

Jung ki suck (known as Simon Dominic) Hip hop artist and co-ceo of a record label. He has also been on many variety, shows and done cameo appearances on television series. Born in 1984.

Lee Yong jin Comedian and singer. Born in 1985.

Kim ye won is an actress and singer. Born in 1987

Kim Ah Young (known as Yura) Actress and idol singer with the girl group “Girl’s Day”. Born in 1992

Kunpimook Bhuwakul (known as Bam Bam) is a thai born idol rapper and singer with the boy group “Got7”. He was born in 1997.

Singles

MALES

Yoon Jeong gwon. Cafe staff. Instagram influencer. Born in 2001. So about 20 years old during the show.

Seon Ho min. Semiconductor technology sales representative. Majored in technological engineering. Born in 1992. So about 29 at the time.

Lee Joo Hwey Game company employee. Project manager who worked on games such as Battleground. Prepares launches for new games, and analyzes competitor games to make improvements to company games. Born 1994. He would have been about 27.

Kwak Min jae. Restaurant manager. Plans to open his own Mexican restaurant. Born in 1991. Would have been about 28 at the time.

Lee Sang woo Eyewear brand Ceo. Born in 1995. Would have been about 26 at the time of the series. Joined in episode 10.

FEMALES

Lee Hye seon Graphic Designer. Designs for web and mobile platforms. Edits youtube vidos and provides one on one tutoring.. Is a freelancer who works from home. Born 1995. Would have been about 26 during the series.

Kim Bo hyun Model and Youtuber. Majored in computer engineering. Liked coding from a young age and was designing an app. Born in 1995. About 26 during the series.

Go Min Yeong. English instructor for university admissions. Born 1997. She would have been 24 at the time.

Coco Lee. Singer and reporter. Hosted a part on Entertainment Weekly with the Hollywood actors from “The Avengers”. Ex Bladee and Cocosori. Born in 1991. About 30 at the time.

Jeong Hye im Model and Youtuber. Born in 1993. Would have been 28 at the time of the series. Joined from Ep. 8 (Round 8)

Review

In the most general sense it reminds me a lot of “Heart Signal.” The singles enter the house one at a time, there is all the awkwardness at first, they all live there and they send texts to those they are interested in. They also go on dates sometimes they pick and other times are more coordinated. All of that reminds me of “Heart Signal.” The entire central component, of there being exes is where it is dramatically different as the jealousy is ramped up when it pertains to someone an individual used to think of as their exclusive partner. I think it is a mistake to put people who have only been apart for months in a situation where their ex is flirting with other people. It caused a lot of drama (which may be the point?) but it was hard to watch the pain and heartbreak various individuals experienced. I also thought they should clearly screen out those that are only coming on the show to get their ex back. It should be someone that is open to considering a new love.

i thought this show had particularly harsh elements and I was not comfortable watching the emotional pain a lot of the individuals were going through. It also felt like it biased who they might choose based on such a heavy presence from their ex.

This is not one I would watch again nor recommend to others just because there are so many better options available. But, someone who really enjoys reality shows and wants to see the wide variety might want to watch it as the ex aspect is a very unique angle.

Spoilers

What was clear to me is people who have only been split up a short time are not ready to objectively consider if someone else may be a better choice for them as a romantic partner. Some of them indicated they broke up because of some very real problems with their relationship such as cheating and fighting a lot. If you break up because you are fighting all the time it is very unlikely a short break is going to resolve all your issues. As viewers I am sure we had our opinions of who was best for this or that person but that was rarely who they picked. Judging whether a relationship is good or not based on how happy the people seem when they are together does not seem to be a successful predictor of who the people will select.

South Korean’s are very private about their romantic lives in general so it is hard to look up if any of them continue to date after the show or if new couples form. There is a lot of interest on the part of those that follow the show on what happens with the singles after. I was in the Coco and Min Jae should get back together camp. I thought that had such healthy, mature, interactions and seem to have so much fun naturally when they were together. The rest I thought made a good original choice to break up as watching their interactions in the show I did not feel they were particularly good for each other.

i think it is a bit more challenging watching from an American culture lens as women in the US pride themselves on independence so the “taking care of” me expectation that some of females have has a very different interpretation for American women. Some American women would view that as having a “Princess” mentality or being needy. That definitely had influence on who I thought was good for this one or that.

There were times when an ex would sort of make their ex off limits and I didn’t think that was in line with the spirit of the show. Making someone feel guilty for dating an ex, I don’t think that would have happened if the exes had been split up for a longer period of time.

Each episode was long and there was a lot of emotion displayed. I had a hard time getting through a lot of it as so much of it felt unnecessary. Struggling couples and ex couples need to deal with their issues in a healthier environment. Simply seeing your ex with someone else can spark competition and make you forget what was wrong with your relationship in the first place.

I thought telling the exes whether or not their ex chose them and then, later, who their ex chose was particularly harsh. That type of emotional damage could last beyond the show.

#EXchange1

#EXchangeSeason1

#Jungkisuck

#SimonDominic

#LeeYongjin

#KimYewon

#KimAhyoung

#Yura

#KunpimookBhuwakul

#BamBam

#YoonJeongwon

#SeonHomin

#LeeJooHwey

#KwakMinjae

#LeeSangwoo

#LeeHyeseon

#KimBohyun

#GoMinYeong

#CocoLee

#JeongHyeim

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